Shauapufu: Butterfly Wings & Colors

[hiei_kurama27]

So I decided to make a Shauapufu (Hunter X Hunter - manga-only character) cosplay.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/hiei_kurama27/shaua-face.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/hiei_kurama27/shaua-wings.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/hiei_kurama27/shaua-wings2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/hiei_kurama27/shaua-wings3.jpg

He requires butterfly wings. So my question is, if anyone has ideas on how to make butterfly wings?? I want to make them almost 1:1 (to-scale) ratio to me. But it should have to be smaller because of con rules. Also if they could be re-tractable (also because of con rules), that'd be excellent.

I was thinking of going the wire route, bending it into shape. But Id like others' opinions please.

Additional Question: Hunter X Hunter fans might make better judgement, I dont know, but besides the obvious black, what color would suit the blank areas of the wings? Also the hair? Since there are no official colors, to my knowledge, Id like some help in that area too.

Thanks so much in advance.

[samsama]

Yah I would definitely go the wire route. I would get some heavy duty bendable gauged wire from the hardware store. I would probably use a stretched sheer fabric so you can paint them or air brush them to your liking and also add spray glitter to them to make them look more mystical. Thats probably the route I would take.

Retractable huh? How exacltly would that work... ?? Ratio sizes I am so not good at.... But I am sure you want to still be able to walk in them and be able to go places. On size wise though I am not too sure. If you were to enter a cosplay contest I would definitely go big but enough to walk. If its just for fun then I would just walk in medium sized wings and maybe make them so you can wear them like a cape when you don't want them out. Not quite sure how to do the retractable with wire though...Boning you may be able to have a stiff, but pliable wing that you can bend a certain way to put them insome thing like a pack and when you want them out you can just release them from the pack. Although you would have to put them back in everytime you did this. What do you think?

[hiei_kurama27]

Air-brushing. Now that's a spiffy idea.

I dont mind the ratio, I agree it should be a medium size for cosplay. -_-; Anyways, like a cape when not in-use? That's right. Besides the pack idea, I have a vague and fuzzy mental sketch of a plan for it. I dont know if it'll work, but I can think on it tonight.

I really appreciate your reply. Thanks so much.

[samsama]

No problem! I am a sewer and cosplayer myself and I like to help people and make them look good. :) I made wings using wire (they were huge) and I used chiffon. BUt i probably should of used a lightweight sheer stretch fabric just cause the chiffon made it really heavy. So hence Why I told you about airbrushing cause you can take pantyhose or a mesh kind of material and just air brush it the colors you like and keep it nice crisp and neat. Stencils (made by you of course) would help with the airbrushing. :)

[hiei_kurama27]

Nice. Thanks for the chiffon/sheer tip.

[samsama]

No probs! You know I never know why people never check their threads in this section! O_O I would expect a lot of people in the cosplay section right!