You have no idea how long it took me to find this video and I am so happy to see this video wasn't lost I wanted to ask and I hope this isn't too much to ask but if you could you think you can make a step by step DIY video on how you made your wings I know there's other videos that make wings but your wings will always be my favorite number 1 on my list so if it's to much I would love to learn how you create such an amazing master piece
I have a character from my comic book named phantom raven and I want to build a costume for him and I want the wing to look official like this what do I do fahbooom comics
Thanks for the quick response. You've inspired me to look at more areas of creativity. Spent time at Michaels, and looking for feather suppliers. Thanks again. Luv, lite, and laughter
+Dirk Ferlen You want feathers? Ostriches Online was my feather source, which, sadly, has now closed their doors, but they recommend Fancy Feather for all our feather needs.
+Dirk Ferlen I agree, Dirk. I'd say "thriving" is very true. New project is underway, but first, my first art show! (first one in my whole life! (no pressure!))
Rachel, I have to say your wing design is inspired. Honestly, It is superior to many of those I've seen built for film and TV use. Your use of aluminum screening is positively inspirational. Assuming you're still reviewing comments on your video, I wanted to ask you some questions which I don't believe have been asked: How much force is required to move the wings in either direction? How far do you have to pull the lines (fishing line?) in order to fully deploy the wings? How much time does it take for you to safely deploy / retract them? How does the application of force change over the course of deployment (do you apply more force at one time than another)?
Very nice work indeed and I would not be surprized that others out there in TV land copied your hard work! Anyway, the true sign of a great costume is being able to use it in 'real' terms. This costume not only looks realistic but you can move in it like you actually have had wings forever! That is more than well done!! Thanks for showing your work! I do hope you get credit for all this as well, and I hope you keep creating, perhaps work in the industry with your great imagination! Cheers, from a fellow artist in Canada. Vicki
Hi Alexandra, I used aluminum screening for the wing "muscles" or "Skin" and wove the flu (feather's hard tail) into the screen. I then gently constricted the screening around the flu and glued it in. In the numerous years the wings have been in existence I believe I have yet to loose a feather! (It works)
I don't know if im too late, but did the sheet metal keep all the feathers in alone, or did you glue them down as well? Also, what type of sheet metal did you use? did they sty in well?
Danica Rodriguez Yes. I bought then from a company called Ostriches Online. They have, sadly, closed their doors but they recommend potential customers to go to Fancy Feather for all our feather needs.
Oops. I'm stupid. I didn't look at the other comments. But now that you say it was a cord, I kinda have an idea on what you did. This is so cool! I've been wanting to make a pair of Dragon wings for a cosplay. Thanks for helping me figure out the structure! Your work is the best!
Thank you, my work comes largely from learning from other attempts to solve similar problems (be it from other people or from nature). Asking is by no means stupid. :). When we ask, we hear the answer(s) and learn. Asking is a very wise approach to learning.
Indeed it is! I appreciate your work and enjoy your videos. I love learning about new things and wish to expand my horizons as I grow. Thanks to you, I have gained a step closer to my goals! Thank you!
I hope you don't mind Me asking, but how did you get the wings to move even when you had your arms closed? Most people do it 'the motion of the arm triggers the wing to open'. So how did you do it? I'm baffled.
So, as you assessed, my wings opened via a "pull chord" approach, yet there is one complication; if someone opens their wings by pulling a chord, then if that was pretty much the entire design, when their wings were open it was because they were pulling on the chords. This design approach does work, but when the wings are open it monopolizes the arm position (extended). I thought "what is the arms could get a bit of help with the pulling and be able to take a break." So I attached abroad to the ends of the pull chords and a hook to my sides. Then I'd just pull the wings open, hook the string in the hook and relax my arms because the hooks were holding the wings open. Cool? I enjoy problem solving.
Wow! Thanks! I kept looking for the right design for a pair of wings but everything I tried failed. It might have just been I was looking at it the wrong direction. Thanks for straightening things out for me! I will try this! Thank you so much!
+Sakura23165 I used a bunch of materials: Aluminum mesh, construction wire, super glue, lazy susans, fishing line, flag holders, a thick leather belt, a backpack, sheet metal, screws, and, of course, LOTs of pheasant feathers (almond, tail, flight and body).
Quick question that I looked through a pile of the comments and don't see, sorry if I missed it. Also thanks for responding to questions on youtube! you deserve a medal. How do you deploy the wings, and how do they stay deployed? I assume it's a cord? is there a spring mechanism? Been trying to figure this out for a while. Thanks for any help, beautiful work.
Ecco Pierce Thank you for your comments/questions. You nailed it: The wings deploy via pull chord. I welcome any other questions you may have. Take Care.
Hi Rachel! Could I ask You a question? I need a pair of this beautiful wings (Not in Brown colour but in white) for a rapresentation of The Passion of Gesus here in Italy, could you help me? Could you give me your mail? Thanks
Hi there, amazing wings you've made! I'm making my own pair of wings (first time), and I've just ordered a small amount of feathers... Though, I'm wondering, I saw you wrote somewhere down in the comments that you used about 3000 feathers, how many of those where the large feathers? how many medium and how many of the small ones? Just have to ask, as I need to have an estimate of how many I should end up ordering... I do have a different design on mine though, but it's nice to know how much others have used on different parts :) Thank you so much for sharing!
absolutely incredible.. im attempting my first set of wings for a Skarmory cosplay and this is just so inspirational. its awesome to see what people can come up with when they apply good ideas and hard work :) watching this is 2015 and still the best set of wings ive seen :)
+Zaphy Thank you! One of the main reasons I posted this video was to give others who want to try their hand at making a pair of wings a "sneak peak" as to how I did it. Good luck to you!
Beautiful wings! I am in the process of making my own and have hit a few snags so thought i would check out others. May I ask just out of curiosity, how many feathers you ended up using? im not sure how many to order for mine
unlike many cosplays ive seen, this one actually looks realistic. You clearly understand how the wing works and put time and effort into making it.I would gladly pay 900 $ for something like that. you earned my full respect man!
Ah, as far as materials, I used Golden Pheasant tail feathers and pheasant almonds, aluminum screening, construction wire, PVC tubing, Lazy Susans, fishing line, flag holders, sheet metal, a leather belt, a backpack back and numerous screws. I hope this helps! Any questions, feel free to ask.
I really need to know how you do the shape of the wings with the aluminum mesh... I'm trying and I can't and also I have less than 2 week for the festival xD
+sara cristina The aluminum mesh is pliable so I bent into the shape I wanted it to be and then opened it up and put some shaped construction wire inside the mesh. Then I whip-stitched the wire to the aluminum mesh. Hope this helps!
hi please could i order one smaller wing about a an arm size for u? im a striving new beginner cosplay and was lookin for some chibi wings i thought these wings design were really good and thought i might ask :)
Thank you for your interest, but I don't make wings for hire (right now), so I recommend you either go to a Haloween store and purchase a pair or try and make your own.
Your wings are amazing. I need to create a pair for a project, could you just tell me what you used at 1:21 to create this volume and how you attached it to the structure? Also, how did you attached the feathers? thank you
+Полина Черникова Good question, however, unfortunately, in order to answer that question, one would need to know the size and shape you wish to achieve for your pair of wings to calculate how many feathers you will need. So! Here is what I did. I ordered samples of feathers I was thinking of using (just 1 or 2 feathers), then when they arrived, measured them and calculated how many feathers I would need. This is what I did, it does work. This would answer your question. Good luck!
Amaaazing work, would you please, pleeeeeeeeeeeease explain to me how to make the mechanism to move the wings it's not very clear but it definitely seems very clever
Thank you! Sure. Long and short: it is a pull chord. I have a rod attached to my back on one end and the other end is attached to a hinge. This hinge attaches to a second rod (about 1/4 the way down the rod. Pull the 1/4 rod side down with a chord, other side (3/4 side) goes up. I hope this makes sense.
Hm… not entirely sure, but about 2 feet for the both the back pipes and the extending arms, but please note, my tail feathers were each about 2 feet long.
Hello Rachel , i'm wondering how you have made the base of the wings ? becaus i made one for meself but the always fell down what did you use ore mayde if i may ask ?
Good question. The base is very important for a pair of wings. I got a backpack I did not love and removed the outer pouch (leaving the back padding and the straps). Then I sewed a piece of sheet metal (with fishing line) to the back padding after I drilled screw holes and attached flag holders to it. I also attached a waist strap to it to stabilize it on my back. I hope this helps!
Those are the greatest wings? What material is the frame made from? It looks a little like white narrow PVC pipe. I mean the frame pieces that form the top edges of the wing.
Thank you. The "bone" material is, indeed, PVC. The "muscles" that the feathers are woven into are made from aluminum mesh strengthened with construction wire.
these look like wings made from nature. the details are so beautiful and realistic. what is it that you used on the tops (caps?) and the backs? it looks like tiny baby feathers... so beautiful again, thank you for sharing and taking the time to make them!
Thank you! I do it because I love it. Here I'll let you know what I used from elbow of wing to feather tip (outermost long feather). The small feathers on top are almond feathers (body feathers) then the next feathers are secondary feathers, then flight feathers then the long ones at the tips are tail feathers.
I can try. I a guessing each wing has 2 cubed feet of volume inside each wing. This space is very important. This space contains the PVC wing "bones," the construction wire mesh reinforcement and the pull chords for each wing (most if it, anyway). This space was made by carefully shaping the aluminum mesh "skin" around it to make the space.
