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For the Enclave! An Interview with Dominique de Leon Cosplay

Dominique de Leon is well-known for her craft, but the 21-year-old costumer and prop-maker has some secrets about making a name for herself in such a short time.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about giveaways, it’s not about posting everyday, it’s about posting interesting, unique content and engaging with your fans!”

Dominique has been making costumes for almost four years, starting off in her parents’ basement, and recently expanding into a workshop in her own California home. When a friend invited her to FanimeCon in San Jose, she was hooked.

“The first costume I ever made was San from Princess Mononoke,” she recalls. “I thought it was the best costume ever, even though I was wearing blue jean shorts and Ugg boots. At the time, I felt like the coolest person ever! I was inspired by the other amazing cosplayers I saw there; some of them are actually some of my best friends today! I just wanted to learn more so I watched lots of Youtube videos and talked to other builders.”

Eventually, Dominique started building post-apocalyptic costumes based on some of her biggest pop culture influences. “If you look at my work you can tell that 90% of it is replicas from video games and 10% original designs. I am heavily influenced by Fallout and Mad Max. I have also made video game costumes from other genres besides post-apocalyptic, like my Daedric armor from Skyrim and Garrus Vakarian from the Mass Effect series.”

Interestingly enough, Dominique’s all-time favorite prop is also the same prop named as the favorite of Chris Hockett in our last costumer interview: the Multiplas Rifle from Fallout New Vegas. Dominique’s version was commissioned for a customer and it features 18 different LEDs and a super sturdy build that she was especially proud of creating. But it is hard to pick just one favorite when you’re as talented as Dominique.

“Another one of my favorite props was my Bandit Shotgun from Borderlands. I really love that piece because it looks like it is straight out of the game. My favorite part of propmaking is when I get to paint, and there was so much of it (on this one)! In order to get the cartoony look you need to know where to put the highlights and outlines.”

Her Borderlands paint work is not only exceptional on her props, but also her costumes. A now-famous selfie she took in a hotel bathroom at Dragon Con has become viral, garnering an untold number of shares and likes across Facebook, Twitter, and especially Instagram.

When it comes to new ideas for a fresh project, Dominique says that she is usually most creative when a subject is fresh in her mind. “Like a game that I just played or a movie I recently watched. For example, my next two big projects are Doom Guy and Trico from the Last Guardian. But sometimes it’s just my favorite all-time characters!”

She even comments on how much her technique has grown and evolved in those four short years. “I used to be limited by my skills and experience but after almost four years of practice and trial and error that is no longer an obstacle. I can make anything I put my mind to.”

Dominique and her fiance Zach team up to make costumes that they consider to be unique, most of all. While the focus is on detail and quality of work, Dominique also has a strong focus on making costumes that most people just don’t make for whatever reason. This is especially evident with her Enclave power armor. “Most power armor cosplays are Brotherhood. I chose to go with Enclave because I LOVED the design and no one else was doing it. I like to think that they are very in game accurate.”

Dominique is a regular at several fan-based cons around the country, showcasing her wide variety of costume genres, but her best post-apocalyptic work comes out at Wasteland Weekend every year.

“I have SO much fun at Wasteland. It’s my home away from home. I am apprehensive about making original designs but I am so proud of the few that we have made and I can’t wait to come up with more.”

Dominique’s Wasteland Weekend line-up usually includes her Borderlands and Fallout kits, but she enjoys original creations as well. “I get artist’s block quite often when trying to come up with an original design or concept, but I am particularly proud of my Fallout-inspired Enclave military wasteland jacket. It was my only original to date that I had a clear direction from concept to completion. I’m also a sucker for anything Enclave so it makes me happy that I could include that in the outfit without it screaming Fallout.”

When asked about any advice she may have for new propmakers and costumers, she had some pointers that are important in any situation. “First of all, make sure it’s something within your skill level. There is nothing worse than working on something that is too hard and getting upset with it. Cosplay should always be fun!”

References are also a key part of Dominique’s research for any costume or prop, as well as advice from those who have already been through the same trials and errors as you will be facing. “A lot of cosplayers would love to talk about their work with you. That’s one of my favorite parts of becoming a known cosplayer. I love helping people and giving advice. People are sometimes surprised then I answer their DMs because they think I’m ‘famous’ and don’t have time to answer their questions. The truth is I’m just a person. It makes me so happy that my silly costumes I made in my parents’ garage can inspire you! I am lucky enough to now have my own home with space for a workshop room so now I have even more time to devote to this amazing hobby that I love so much and is such a huge part of my life.”

But once you have your technique down, have created a few pieces that you’re proud to show off, and are ready to show the world, where do you take it from there? Dominique has some great advice for promotion as well.

“One of the biggest things I did for myself when I decided I wanted more traction to my social media pages was ask bigger pages to please share my work. I had interesting and unique content which I know was a big part of it. Having Bethesda share my Enclave power armor and the official Borderlands page share my Psycho and Kreig were huge honors and got me TONS of traffic.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about giveaways, its not about posting everyday; it’s about posting interesting, unique content and engaging with your fans! There is nothing more special then someone recognizing you at a con and getting to talk with them.

“And no matter how big you get, stay humble.”

Cover Photo by Eurobeat Kasumi Photography. Mouse over images below for photo credits.

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Building Fallout Props on a Budget with Chunk-A-Nuke Props

Christopher Hockett got into the post-apocalyptic culture just like I imagine the rest of us did: he grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. Mad Max, Waterworld, The Postman, Escape From New York, and The Day After are all movies Chris cites as influences for not only the way he was raised, but also his style of propmaking.

Chunk-A-Nuke Props is Christopher’s brainchild he began after running across a AER9 Laser Rifle build from Volpin Props about eight years ago. “I have always been crafty since I was little and figured I would give it a go,” he said about duplicating the iconic Fallout 3 weapon.

But Chunk-A-Nuke isn’t all about expensive materials and fancy technology; Chris prides himself on making the best props on a tight budget. “I just have this thing for repurposing,” he told me. “And the way the clothing, armor, and weapons have this grimy, rusty, and hastily thrown-together look due to using whatever you can find laying around to make what you’re crafting serve a purpose, even if it is not what that piece was originally intended for.

“I would have to say that I am a repurposer or just a Cheap-o,” he continued. “I don’t exactly have the money that other big name prop builders have and I don’t want to let that stop me from doing what I love, so I use trash, common household items, and freebies. I try to spend as little as possible. It’s a challenge but that’s how I like it.”

Chris also goes by the name LIBERTYprime (or, at times, L1B3RTYPR1M3) in most of his professional work, dating back to an old moniker he came up with for The Wasteland Outpost forum. That site and community helped him create his first build: a suit of T45d Brotherhood Outcast armor and matching Gatling Laser from Fallout 3. “I still have them both on display with my Fallout collection,” he said. “I don’t think I can ever bring myself to get rid of them as they hold a special place in my heart. I love just looking at them and remembering how it all started for me.”

But Chris admits that his technique hasn’t changed much over the years, aside from his painting style. “I still use trash and whatever freebies I can.” In fact, a Multiplas Rifle that he credits as his favorite work so far was built using electronics that Chris wasn’t sure would even work. “It was quite a challenge for me to build due to the overall shape and the electronics. I’m still surprised I was able to get the lights to work with the junk I used.”

Right now, the goal with these props and costumes is to have the largest Fallout prop collection anywhere. “I think I’m pretty close if not already there,” he said. But aside from the collection, he hopes to just keep making props that people will enjoy. “I really just want to inspire people to get out there and build something.”

That inspiration comes in so many forms with Chunk-A-Nuke’s portfolio, but the underlying lesson here is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make something memorable. “Don’t let funds, lack of tools, or your skill set get in the way of getting out there and just building something because there is always a way,” Chris offers. “Take as much constructive criticism as you can and don’t get upset when someone says that you can improve on something. It may hurt your feelings a bit when you spent so much time on something but I know it has helped me tremendously and I actually look forward to people pointing out the flaws in my work. Not everyone out there is trying to be a troll.”

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By Hand and Beard: An Interview with Schlieber Didl of Deadbeard Props

An unfortunate fire accident and a love of Skyrim came together to help create one of the best up-and-comers in the world of post-apocalyptic propmaking: Deadbeard Props.

Owner and designer Schlieber Didl created the one-man shop back in 2014 as a hobby to build props and costumes he admired from movies and video games, but it was a clash with fire that led to the unique name. “I picked the name because I’ve grown my beard since I was a teenager,” the Austrian native told me. “So my friends joked about beards and names like blackbeard and metalbeard, because I am a metalhead (black and deathmetal).” A shop fire damaged his beard so badly that he had to shave it all off, and Deadbeard Props was born.
Self-described as a mix of “sometimes chaotic, complicated, and improvised,” Schlieber says that his style is also a healthy dose of accuracy with a keen attention to detail.

The 34-year-old currently works as a gardener for his family’s business, but spent 12 years building custom interiors and fiberglass body kits for cars. While he has had no formal artistic training, he credits the car customizing job as an inspiration for learning to do things by hand.

“I started out knowing nothing about propmaking but now I’m to a level where I can say that I can build nearly everything I want,” he described. “It took a lot of practicing, trying out material and learning how to use them, but that was the fun part. I learned everything by myself with tutorials and a lot of asking, trying, and listening to advice from propbuilder friends I met in the last 2-3 years since I started.”

Schlieber’s first build was from Bethesda’s Skyrim, but since then he’s enjoyed making masks, weapons, helmets, and other props from Borderlands, Mad Max, and Fallout. “I only build things from games and movies I like. Maybe if Bethesda would bring out a new open world game, I would build things from that game,” he joked.

When Deadbeard Props started, there were only a handful of propmakers out there making tutorials and videos, but Schlieber soaked them all up. “Thanks to Youtube videos from Punished Props, Volpin Props, SKS Props, Folkenstal, Jarman Props (and many more) for inspiration and motivation. And when I see something I like and want to own and place in my gaming room, I build it. Playing games and looking at other artists’ work is my inspiration.”

Out of everything he’s made since 2014, Schlieber names his NCR Ranger costume from Fallout New Vegas as his favorite. “It was my first helmet, EVA foam, and weapon build,” he said. “This was the point where I began to work on costumes and helmets. Helmets are my fav.”

Schlieber’s current projects include several of the most iconic props and costumes from both Fallout 3 and 4. From Fallout 3, he’s building the Alien Blaster, helmets for the Hellfire Trooper and the Mechanist (yes, the Fallout 3 Mechanist) which he hopes to eventually turn into full costumes. And from Fallout 4 he’s working on the complete version of the Mechanist from that game, plus the Thirst Zapper, the Super Sledge, and a collection of Nuka Cola bottles. “I want to own a complete set of all Nuka Cola in the game,” he said.

He has also very recently been getting into 3D modelling and printing, thanks to some help from his brother and 3D Fusion. “I don’t like 3D printing very much but for fasten up some builds it will be helpful,” he said on his website when he announced his adventures with the 3D tools. “Some tiny and rounded greeblie parts are too time consuming to build and this is why I decided to go the next step into future.”

But as busy as Schlieber is with these ongoing projects, he beams at the idea of passing on his own knowledge down to the next “generation” of propbuilders. “Try to learn everything about everything and don’t stop practicing,” he advises. “Don’t be shy to ask other propbuilders for advice and help, and always try to make your stuff as good and accurate as possible.

“Challenge yourself to get better and better. Build things you like, not things because other people build it.”

A big thanks goes out to Schlieber for doing the interview, and be sure to follow along with his work on his Facebook and Instagram pages. Next up on the agenda is Joe from Daedalus Cosplay, so look for that one coming soon!

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Interview with a Raider: Larry Hastings of Vulture Productions

What was once left to Hollywood pioneers like John Mollo, Tom Savini, and the late Dick Smith has now taken on a new life of its own in recent years. Propmaking and cosplay is enjoying an amazing new level of respect in modern pop culture thanks mostly to resources like YouTube, social media, and our desire to work with our hands again.

The majority of propmaking and costuming seems to focus on two main topics (high fantasy and video games), but we’re more interested in those that specialize in the post-apocalyptic sub-genre. From Nuclear Snail‘s now-infamous weathering technique of dragging a leather jacket behind a car to the plethora of Fallout weapons made from resin casting, post-apocalyptic propmaking has gained a solid foothold in the industry.

So for this inaugural interview, I sat down with Larry Hastings of Vulture Productions to talk about his inspirations and what got him started in the post-apocalyptic costuming game.

“I originally got started in prop making by constructing my own mandalorian costume,” Larry told me. “After a while I felt the need to branch out and try some other things. Not knowing where to go, I stumbled upon some post-apocalyptic costumes on Google one day and figured I’d give that a shot.”
But it was the German scene that really affected Larry the most. The Wasteland Warriors group has a style that Larry saw as more advanced than anything he’d seen before. “Their costumes are extremely detailed and everything is busy with just the right amount of rest areas in between,” he said.

It’s that German style that Larry still draws from today, with the German Wasteland Warriors even learning from his style. “That’s insanely amazing to me,” he tells me. “They’re the reason I started doing this to begin with. It’s an honor to hear that. It’s like I pulled inspiration from them and now they do it from me. Everyone helps everyone with what they make.”

But Larry’s style wasn’t always so detailed and inspiration, he confesses. “Like most people I started off using dirt. Now for my weathering I use paints, dyes, and a ton of other things — sometimes even rust powders.”

Larry describes his first piece as “a mess” compared to what he has now, although it’s something he can’t part with. “I don’t keep it around because I don’t think I couldn’t get rid of/sell it, but to remind me of the progress I’ve made in the past few years… which has definitely been evident.”

And it’s that progress that Larry is most proud of, although he admits that he doesn’t currently have a definitively favorite piece. He is, however, proud of a set of heavy armor he built from real steel, leather, and durable plastics. It’s a set that was inspired by one of the Wasteland Warriors and has become his latest signature costume. “Thus came my honor Vulture gear,” he described. “The one with the big gun I carry. God, I love that whole outfit, although most of the armor pieces can be used for other costumes.”

Larry and the Vultures

With that peer inspiration comes other forms, mostly from Fallout 4. “When I can’t figure anything custom to build, I play Fallout… like, a lot. So I built my heavy cage armor from Fallout 4.” Other inspirations include historical references, like those of World War I. “Currently I’m working on a trench soldier wasteland costume. I’ve always been in love with the trench warfare look and I figured it’d be awesome to mix that with wasteland costumes.”

Larry and the rest of the Vultures (a group of friends and fellow costumers who make up Vulture Productions) were recently hand-picked to help with the Southeastern Commonwealth movie being filmed in Florida. The Vultures packed up their best gear and braved the 13.5-hour trek from Ohio to the Sunshine State to help with props, costumes, and even a bit of acting.

“Everything about that trip was kick ass, except the 13.5-hour drive,” Larry joked. “But no sooner than we arrived in Florida we were put in a hotel then Frank (Bowen, creator and actor on the indie film) was going to his workshop to finish up some things. As dreary and sleep-deprived as I was, there was no way in hell I was gonna skip that. So needless to say for the first two days I was up 35 hours. Just pure excitement.”

Larry and Frank met during a photoshoot for Fallout costumers at Dragon Con this last September. The Southeastern Commonwealth webseries is set in the Fallout universe, based on the collection of states in the American Southeast known by the same name. The first episode, “Will to Power,” was released late last year with Larry and his crew being featured in the second episode. “We worked on a lot of stuff and shared stories and had some good times,” Larry recalls. “The filming was insanely fun, also! There was some damn good times down there and more will be had soon as no sooner than we finished the filming we were already talking about an episode three! So keep an eye out for that as well.”

Larry with the Vultures and Frank Bowen at the 2016 Dragon Con Fallout photoshoot.

While Larry is currently at the top of his game, he says that he wouldn’t mind going professional with it, although it’s not a hard and fast goal. “I’m not really attempting to make anything out of what I have. I have, however, met an amazing group of people. There’s Steve, Danny, Nikki, Frank, Josh, Nathaniel and so many more people than I know I’m forgetting to mention. But I love all those guys (and gals). Maybe in the next few years I’ll meet more people like them. That’s all I could ask for, however I wouldn’t be upset if I got offered a job to make costumes for movies, shows or just general costume production. That’d be pretty awesome also.”

In closing, I asked Larry what advice he’d give to those looking to get into this field. Thanks to helpful YouTube tutorials, propmaking is more accessible than ever, but Larry believes that it still comes down to hard work and plenty of practice. “It’s a learning process,” he admits. “Like most things you aren’t going to do the best just starting out; you have to commit the time and energy to it. Many a time I’ve bashed my head trying to figure out how to make this and that fit together and also look good, so you just have to stick with it. Find what makes you happy and make it post-apoc. Don’t listen to anyone who throws your ideas down, you can literally make almost anything fit into the genre so long as you apply the time and effort. Look for inspiration, talk to people who inspire you.”

And most importantly, don’t be intimidated by the big leather-and-spike-clad Wastelanders who dominate this hobby. While Larry describes himself as a “post-apocalyptic, town raidin’, whiskey drinking, cigarette smoking, irradiated wasteland badass” on his Facebook profile, he’s a genuinely good guy. “You’d be amazed how many of us are fun and friendly people who just love to talk about our work with fans. Just keep at it!”

I’d like to thank Larry Hastings for the interview and encourage you to check out his work at Vulture Productions as well as on The Southeastern Commonwealth webseries. If you have a post-apocalyptic propmaker you’d like to see featured here, shoot me an email and let me know!

Next up on the interview agenda is Mark Cordory of Mark Cordory Creations! Look for that interview coming soon!