Jessie Raspberry FFV7

Jessie raspberry build

In 2020 I played the ffv7 remake and Jessie was fast becoming a fav. Character. In fact I liked many of the designs this round! During the pandemic times I built Tifa, Jessie and my Lightning in clouds skin! It was the year for final fantasy for me  (and about time too! )

My Jessie cosplay was actually one of my first builds using EVA foam in different thicknesses. Foam had been apart of my builds before, but usually covered in worbla.  I decided to challenge myself and make Jessie out of just foam and used no worbla this round.(except on her gun)

Reference pic:

Materials:

I will include my amazon associate links to the things I got on Amazon! If you choose to purchase with them I will receive a small commission to help fund my cosplay! Every little bit helps! I wouldn't share anything I wouldn't use myself :)

EVA foam and Barge- Redmoon cosplay supplies

Pants-thrifted (Northern reflections)

Wig - Arda Jeanie ponytail wig

Hardwear- amazon and ali express:

Chicago screws-

https://amzn.to/43BRR9K

Belt clips - https://amzn.to/3P7SL9l

D rings- https://amzn.to/3p0eFAM

Boot Buckles

rectangle https://amzn.to/3Nv8SNf

Square- https://amzn.to/3Pted9h

Body Suit- amazon https://amzn.to/3qJw29q)

Mesh top- amazon https://amzn.to/3X11Vqd)

Boots- Ardene

Vinal- my stash

Gun- thingiverse uzi base- moddified

Time stamp: A couple months because of slow mail in pandemic

The build:

I started with her breastplate and used 4mm EVA foam with 2mm overlay. I started by pattering off one of my mannequins in masking tape. I checked the fit on myself before moving onto foam, making adjustments as needed.

I transferred the pattern onto EVA foam and cut it out. I used Barge contact cement to glue my edges together. Once the front and backs were glued together I heated them up and adjusted the curves on my dress form, smoothing it out as best I could.  I made my pattern for the 2mm foam armor overlay over this curved base layer the same way as before, and used barge to glue the cut out 2mm foam on to the base.

I filled my gaps and seams with foam clay and smoothed them with water. This was actually harder than I thought it would be to get a smooth transition. I waited for it to dry completely before sanding the seams down to help blend them better.   

Next I started on the shoulder pauldrons! I ended up modifying kamui cosplays shoulder pauldron pattern, which was a helpful base to get the shapes right. I made the first one as it was intended but it didn't look right for Jessie.  I had to modify things now that I knew what curves to change and made it a couple times until I got the curve in the shoulder just right. I used a heat gun to help get those curves and formed it around a styrofoam sphere coated in tinfoil.  I added the top guard and under details with barge and the basic armor was there!

Patterning out the "leather" parts for under the shoulder took a couple tries but in the end I am glad I re did them. I used duct tape and seran wrap to make my pattern off my shoulder. I placed the pauldron on top and drew where it would sit.  I then cut the pieces out of pleather and sewed them together. I used 2 pcs on each pauldron, sewing them right sides together and then turning them out. I top stitched the edges around the borders to keep the puffiness down. I used E6000 to glue the foam pauldrons down where they needed to be on the pleather, securing them down more with her rivit details. I used brass Chicago screws off amazon for all her "rivet" details.  ( I love Chicago screws because there reusable!)

In between lockdowns I was able to find pants when a thrift store re opened. I had some fabric on order but it took  forever to arrive. ( it came well after Jessie was done!) I ended up using it for masks and some of my Triss gown layers in the end.

For Jessies pants I used the scraps I took off the legs of the pants to make her pant cuffs and pocket flaps. I had very little left over fabric after this.

The boot pattern for some reason was challenging for me. Once I finally made the test armour, I had a good pattern to work off of and modified where needed.

I made the strapping and details for her boots (which I grabbed from Ardenes online on sale) first then got to work on the good copy of the foam shin armour. If I were to remake these  I would have added a zipper to a seam to make them easier to take off/on.

Her bodysuit I ordered on amazon and added black stretch pleather to it around the neck and legs. I also found a fishnet shirt online and chopped it shorter for over top.

I sewed gloves out of some scrap stretch red pleather I had left over from another project. I used Angelus leather paint in dark brown to paint them the right colour.  I made her glove armour from foam and attached it with chicago screws once it was plasti dipped and painted.

I used the same pleather for her red wrist cuffs as well and added a buckle.

Her pouches and belts were made from  pleather and the hardwear I ordered on amazon. It took a while to arrive with the pandemic slow downs,  so I ordered them early on in the build.

I plastidipped all my foam pieces  and painted everything with silver Lumiere paints.( In the order I completed things)

Her wig was from arda and  I only had to re style the ponytail and style her bangs. The long clipon ponytail  was perfect for this and I just made a red wrap for the clip from scraps, with the matching headband.

The gun:

I found a free file on thingiverse for an uzi and I printed it.  I used worbla and 2mm eva foam to mod the gun to look more like hers. I also printed our Wedge some hand grenades I found as well!

My friend gave me a materia ball that I also polished up for another prop!

Photos : Nigel Murray march 2022. With Avras_curiosities as Wedge!