Maetel - Dr. Ban #1

La Metal Royal Family

I never thought there would be a #2 post on Maetel in this blog! Upon seeing the above gorgeous artwork, on a Leiji Matsumoto group on facebook, I was very intrigued by that pendant in the centre, and I did a bit of research. Unfortunately, I never watched the complete Galaxy Express 999 anime series, nor read the complete manga, just 20 something episodes, 5 volumes of the manga, and the movies. So, I didn't know that object. It turns out that picture is a family portrait! It's Emeraldas, in light blue, the older sister, Maetel, in yellow, the younger sister, La Andromeda Promethium, in lilac, the mother (in her later - evil - form),  and the pendant in the front centre is the father, Dr. Ban. Dr. Ban was a genius scientist, who invented the human to cyborg process, but, contrary to his wife, regretted it, but was killed for it. Not actually killed, his body is gone, but his consciousness was transferred to the pendant. And it talks! It's the male voice we sometimes hear talking to Maetel, I just realised.

Dr. Ban

So, that's how my cosplayer brain works, I decided to make one for myself! And maybe two, and give one to Carol, my friend who also cosplayed Maetel. I already drafted it on Freehand (today I'll try to print it at home, but I think I ran out of ink), and I plan to make it with insulation foam, 2mm EVA foam, and trinkets I have at home. I'll just have to buy the chain, paints and the centre visor, which maybe I'll have laser cut in plexiglass. I still need to find a better picture of it, to know what really is on the visor.

Prop Break Up

• main body in purplish black (maybe metallic black with purple highlights), in insulation foam
• inset visor with silver frame, in 2mm EVA foam; periwinkle blue, maybe mirrored, plexiglass
• 2 buttons below the visor, I think silver metallic rivets
• 2 sets of LEDs above the visor. I'm thinking red(?) plastic gems
• 2 "horns" where the chain attaches. the horns should be in the same insulation foam, reinforced with a wire inside; the top parts either trinkets or something from the hardware store, painted gold, or even EVA foam, if I don't find anything; the loops, those small loops for hanging frames, from the hardware store.
• golden chain

+ Interrupting a long project with shorter or smaller prop or project, especially when I feel a bit unmotivated, is a way to get the gears going again.

- In the middle of a pandemic, even if we're not on lockdown anymore, but where money is still short, even this small expense leaves me uncertain if I should spend it. Especially when it's a costume I seldom wear, because it's too hot!

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Start sculpting the main piece(s), and check with the store what kind of file they need to laser cut the plexiglass, and if they also engrave it. Go shopping for the other materials.