Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1999 - 56

Fishing Net:

Drape fishing net over the bodice and collar and pin in place. Since fishing net is malleable, \\~th the
right amount of easing and stretching a seanlless surface is possible on both. The collar takes one piece
of net, the bodice takes two (one on each side.) When draping the net over the collar give a generous
amount of allowance on all sides since it is a complex shape to drape in one piece. Once the net is
pinned in place, coat one to two layers of sizing to bond the fishnet to the felt's surface.
Egg Cartons:

Front View

Back View

Use egg cartons to make scales and a flexible spine. Cut scales
from the bottom sections of cardboard egg cartons, approximately
100 scales are needed. Coat the pieces in flexible glue and water
\~th a thicker consistency to that used on the felt. Allow to dry. Cut
the spine from tbe inside of two egg cations. 1\vo full lengths are
needed. Connect the lengths together by papier-mache. Coat spine
\~th the glue/water mixture on both sides. To reinforce the spine
run a piece of sized cable cord along its underside and glue in
place.
Textured Art Paper:

Use textured art paper to create the surface texture on the three
stomach plates and collar inset pieces. For reinforcement apply a
thin layer of felt to the back of the paper \\~th spray adhesive. The
felt acts as a cushion to help prevent buckling. Apply thick sizing to
the felt to seal it. Allow it to dry, tben coat the front of the paper.
Glue the stomach plates and shoulder insets over the corresponding pieces of sized industrial felt.
Figure 2

Final Construction:

Pattern Pieces (Not to Scale)

Glue the three stomach plates together. Once dry glue them to
the bodice, The bottom plate overlaps the bodice by approximately
JAn. Papier-mache at'ound the edges of tbe stomach plates to blend
them into the felt. Stitch inset pieces into collar. Sew the cording
at'ound the edges of the collar and bodice. Stitch or glue the scales
to the bodice. Hand sew hook and eye tape to the center back of
bodice. tine the bodice by molding knit to the inside and hand
stitch in place.
PAINTING:

A. Collar front; cUi 2 - felt
B. Bodice cup; cut 1 .. ti~1l
C Bodice center front; cut 2 - fell
D. Aodice side front; cui 2 - fell
E. Color back inset; cut 2 - fclt & paper

Figure 3

SUM

MER

Paint the felt using multiple layers of assorted acrylic color. Use a
base coat of medium purple, then scumble over the base \\~th a
mix of dark green and mat·oon. Dry brush gold to highlight the
fishing net texture. Paint a base coat of medium green over the
stomach plates and shoulder insets. Paint another coat over this
\~th gold textile paint. When the coat is dry, dry brush green to accentuate the paper's texture. Paint the scales with a pale green.
Brush over that \\~th a dat'ker green, then shadow with a green and
F. Collar frolll insel; cut 2 - fdt & paper
maroon mix. Diy brush the scales \~th gold. Repeat the same proG. Upper stomach plate; cuI I - fclt & paper
cess on the spine, front and back. Paint a base coat of green and a
H. Center stomach plate; cui I .. felt & paper
I. Lower slomach plate; cut I .. felt & paper
top layer of gold on the cording. On completion of painting, coat
the armor with a French Enamel Vat'rush to seal it. Mix metallic
pigments with the vat'rush to create a more luminous sheen. Once
the painting has been completed stitch spine to collar. To attach spine to bodice stitch snaps to cording
on underside of spine and onto center back of bodice.*:.

TZ>&T

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