Let’s face it, cosplay is here to stay. For those of you who might be asking, “What is cosplay?” allow me drop some knowledge: Cosplay (a portmanteau, or blend, of the words ‘costume’ and ‘play’) is the practice of dressing up as characters (or ideas) from such media as manga, anime, comic books, cartoons, video games, and films.
The term ‘cosplay’ was coined in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Since then – thanks to the proliferation of events like Worldcon, ComicCon, BlizzCon, and others, this “performance art” has grown from an obscure subculture into a commonplace, mainstream avocation.
Cosplay can take on any and every form (Captain Crunch?!) but with the imminent release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars cosplay has grown in popularity – and will likely continue to do so – by several orders of magnitude.
Inherent in the spirit of cosplay is constructing your own costume. And now, with the explosion of 3D printing technology, it has never been easier to do. Check out these 3D-printable Star Wars wearables.
Love it or hate it, the crossguard lightsaber from Episode VII is all
anyone’s talking about. Over at Thingiverse.com, maker LeFabShop has posted plans for the now infamous weapon wielded by the mysterious cloaked figure depicted in the trailer. The cool thing about this particular build is that it is fully customizable meaning that you can interchange pieces to make a single lightsaber, or even Darth Maul’s double-bladed saberstaff. You can change blade color, handle, top, and base to create a lightsaber that is truly unique to you.
If you print the crossguard version, be sure you don’t impale yourself or cut off something important when brandishing this ill-conceived sword (now you know where I stand on the subject). May the force be with you.
Storm Trooper Helmet
Plans for this full-scale, wearable Stormtrooper helmet by maker Geoffro are available on Thingiverse.com. You can print and decorate it yourself or upload the plans to Shapeways or Sculpteo and let them print and assemble it for you.
The helmet is composed of 16 parts so some assembly is required but, honestly, it’s a small price to pay for being able to make and wear your own Stormtrooper helmet. Just don’t hit your head when you break into a room looking for intruders!
Han Solo’s Blaster
Over at MyMiniFactory.com, maker Elliott Viles has created plans
for a one-piece, full-size replica of Han’s weapon of choice. You can download schematics for free and print one for yourself or buy
an already-completed, fully-painted version. It’s an excellent opportunity to complete your Han Solo costume with this iconic sidearm. Oh, and Han shot first!
Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber
This 3D-printed replica of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber by maker Kirby Downey can be found at MyMiniFactory.com. Unlike the crossguard lightsaber discussed previously, Mr. Downey has designed a solid, one-piece version that only requires minor finishing and painting. It’s an excellent alternative print design when you need to quickly replace your weapon after losing it (and your hand) in a fight with your father.
Mandalorian (Boba Fett’s) Helmet
Admit it, Boba Fett was the coolest. Say what you will about Darth
Vadar or Darth Maul, Boba Fett was the true badass of the first six episodes. And now you can 3D print your own version of the iconic Mandalorian’s wicked helmet. Maker jstaton26 has published plans for a relatively simple, eight-piece construction over at Thingiverse.com. You can print it and paint it yourself (personally, I like the original green version the best), or upload the plans to services such as Shapeways or Sculpteo and have them print it for you. It’s never been easier to become everyone’s favorite fictional bounty hunter. Just remember: “No disintegrations!”
So whether you lean toward stormtrooper or Mandalorian, lightsaber or blaster, there’s no doubt that it’s a great time to be alive (where cosplay is concerned). Take advantage of the availability and relative low cost of 3D printing and print one of these excellent replicas today.
