Show and Tell: Cosplayer's Ultimate Guide to EVA Foam!

[@tested]

Cosplayer’s Ultimate Guide to EVA Foam: amzn.to/3POZVjp Find more of Beverly's work at www.downencreativestudios.com/ kzbin.info and instagram.com/downen_creative_studios/

[@corygleason7273]

Can you build Rasputins evil relic from the movie Anastasia??????

[@DownenCreativeStudios]

Fun fact: I originally submitted 600 pages to my editor because I was worried that I wasn’t thorough enough! I’m just so pleased that Adam enjoyed my book and my processes!

[@HAL9000.]

Amazing amount of work and love in that book. Must have taken a lot of time and thought. Well done and thank you.

[@CheZfrmdaWestWisc]

Hope you collaborate with Adam again it must have drove traffic to your page (got me to go over there where I learned about FX paint a flexiblepaint for EVA foam) and Adam appeared to have fun doing the dress form video. so maybe something with foam next? 🤔

[@jody024]

Well deserved recognition!

[@lesliemartin1520]

Just ordered the book. My son is getting into cosplay and we work on his creations together. This is exactly what we need! Thanks for writing this and thanks, Adam, for this review!

[@Blackspire_Cosplay]

@@lesliemartin1520 hi did you find that the book worked well for making patters for preteen boys. I ask because in the video i saw alot of great examples but everything i saw was for the female body.

[@HMFan2010]

While it’s not necessary, it really helps if you have experience in sewing clothes, the fundamental purpose of which is: how do you take a flat piece of fabric and get it to conform to the curves of the human body? Likewise, if you’ve learned how to “foamsmith,” your skills will be easily translatable to conventional garment construction. While the two disciplines have their differences because of the materials involved, I feel that they help to inform one another as you learn how one technique in one discipline might be and can be applied to the other. In addition, one has access to materials like Fosshape which can inhabit BOTH worlds (Fosshape is a non-woven (like felt) thermoplastic which behaves like fabric until you heat it at which point it becomes rigid and self-supporting. Adam did an episode on this material in June 2023 with Beverly Downen as a matter of fact). I look forward to getting Beverly’s book. Happy foamsmithing, everyone!

[@thedoctor755]

Agreed, to some extent. I sew costumes (mainly Star Wars), and most of the materials I use are not stretchy, but also not form-fitting (flight suits, baggy trooper uniforms, etc)... a bit like EVA in some places.

[@breakbuildrepeat4571]

Bev's work is incredible. We loved when she did the build-along class.

[@Merennulli]

SKS and Bill Doran are both amazing creators, and both encouraged me with my own builds (Bill Doran when I posted in progress pics on Twitter many years ago, and SKS when I stopped by their booth at KC Planet Comicon), so I am looking forward to learn more about someone who you would put in that company. You are absolutely right about the design skills involved, and that was the area I needed to learn most when I was still cosplaying.

[@Justrex01]

Both Steve Smith and Bill Doran are my heroes. Along with Odin Abbott, Evil Ted Smith, Benni and Svetlana from Kamui Cosplay and Thomas Hanna from Much Props. And a few others I may have forgotten. Many many amazing people who share their talents for free. And of course, Adam Savage.

[@nathanhiggins860]

I bought Beverly's book, it's really good. Covers things that haven't been in other books or guides. Lots of great pictures and goes over lots of different materials and tools. Highly recommend this if your new or have been doing this a while.

[@roryoutdoors5431]

Foamsmithing! My new favourite made-up maker word! I made a full Phase 2 Clonetrooper armour suit last Halloween for my son that turned out AMAZING thanks to all the content and guidance out here on the KZbins from other channels who follow Adam for inspiration and techniques. Thank you for continuing to pump out my favourite content on the net!

[@FlexDRG]

Not sure if foamwork (vs metalwork) would be a better word for it. Rather than foamsmithing vs metalsmithing.

[@Justrex01]

@@FlexDRG Us foamsmiths *grin* use foamwork as well. We try to be easy to get along with.

[@roryoutdoors5431]

@@FlexDRG "wilsmithing" when you're REALLY doing it by hand :p

[@padoco73]

Also the title of 3 books by Bill & Brittany Doran.

[@thomasbecker9676]

"Foamsmithing" just sounds cringe.

[@dropnoelfield295]

I'm not much of a maker, built a few shade houses out of scrap, leantoo's, tables, that sort of thing, but watching Adam get his beautiful geek on is fun to watch.

[@jimruddy6083]

I am in awe of Beverly's innovative design and build talent. Now have to add instructor to that list.

[@coregeek]

Ahhh, so awesome to hear Adam mention all of my friends here! Beverly’s book is a great resource. She put so much work into it. Great to see it covered by Adam. Also, I’m still so thankful she included a photo of me and many other cosplay/makers in it.

[@SKSProps]

Great job Bev! I agree she did a good job showcasing the fundamentals 👍

[@TesserId]

Funny thing is, I've sometimes bought books like this full well knowing that all I was interested in was seeing how such things are done. But, now that I think about how many maker videos I watch that are far outside my area of interest, I guess I'm not shocking anyone. Yeah, so now I'm watching a maker video about maker books of things that I will never make myself, and I like it.

[@crisr.8280]

This is very inspiring and motvating. I'm a new foam crafter her and I've always loved watching your maker videos, good sir. Watched you on Discovery first and now following your channel for over 3 years now.

[@chrisunderhill8853]

Its one thing to be good at something, it's on a hole different level when you are willing to teach your technique and quit frank the secretes. There is no amount of money that can tell the story of how important it is to learn from the master that has the patience to show you all the little, tiny detail that makes all the difference. this is super special and thanks Adam for sharing. Thanks to Beverly for the epic book and knowledge passing on! Cheers.

[@kerseyfabs]

Thank you Adam for the review! I'm not into foamsmithing but my children are and I'm going to pick this up for them to get started.

[@johnlane5525]

As an relatively newish maker I appreciate step by step guides its been a long road to getting where i am at and early on this kind of guid would have been super cool

[@mattgpdx1123]

Beverly is the best! I hope everyone get's to meet her at a con someday. She's one of the most kind and supportive people you'll ever meet! :)

[@Foundations01]

The little pause after Adam said "I would do it if I had a cosplay book..." makes me excited to think of the possibility of a future Adam Savage costumes/props portfolio book. Adam has such an amazing collection and accompanying stories that should be photographed and shared in large format coffee table hardcover!

[@Jedimanda]

Adam is holding my book. ADAM IS HOLDING MY BOOK! ahhhhh!!!! Enjoy it Senpai! 🎉

[@DL-fi5cc]

The transparent bubble part of the Prometheus helmet was actually made by a Birmingham company called CMA Moldform that no longer exists, I started working for them after they completed it and they had a copy. I think the mold had an inflatable or collapsible centre.

[@jetshadowcrow]

Thank you and Beverly for sharing this wonderful information, which gives sooo much opportunity for foam smithing(and with my kids nonetheless).

[@jacksonhazeltine9291]

Always love your Show-and-Tells. Keep them coming!

[@punishedprops]

I love this so much! Great work Beverly! =D

[@BrainyBrunetteBarbie]

Beverly is awesome and so friendly! I had the pleasure of meeting her at a recent costume convention and she was so fun to talk to! I hope I have the opportunity to do so again soon.

[@coatman9294]

This book looks very indepth when it comes to foamsmithing. Also a big fan of Bill Doran and his books, another creator that I like is Kamui Cosplay, she has a few other books that'll be great for the cosplay library, including sewing, led lighting. Worth every penny

[@lars_larsen]

"... it is a hug to makers everywhere... " - Adam Savage Well, I have never before found a single sentence so effective at convincing me to want a book.

[@davidmarden4789]

The question is.. Why don't you have a cosplay book, Adam?

[@RobbBoswell]

Epic show off! Great book.. order placed! I have wanted something like this for years!! Thank you Mr. Savage! 😊 🤘🏼🇺🇲

[@roxiepoe9586]

I like to watch a few of your videos in a row when I need to remember why I want to love what I do and to show it. (I am a potter/painter/stitcher and sometimes it is hard to keep the why alive.) Thank you.

[@NitaKerns]

Beverly does incredible work! Ive never worked with foam, but Im going to buy this book to support such a talented woman!! 🎉❤ ✌️Girl Power! ✌️

[@STLUlrich]

I just picked this up for my adult kids who still use my basement and shop for all their cosplay builds. I wonder who will find it on the reference shelf first!

[@hraefn1821]

I hope that means you hid it on their reference shelf because that is just a brilliant idea XD

[@STLUlrich]

@hraefn1821 i put old fashioned paper grocery bag covers on all my books.

[@hraefn1821]

@@STLUlrich nice~

[@henryhollis4287]

Love the monment when Adam says "I would do it..." and the momentary pause where I suspect hes thinking " Actually, I can do that!" and he probably will.

[@Justrex01]

I have several cosplay making books on my shelf and refer to them often when I'm stuck on a process. Mostly Bill and Britt Doran's books which are awesome, but Grace Willow and Benni and Svetlana from Kamui Cosplay and a few others. Hoping to talk Steve Smith into doing a book. Maybe you could help with that? *grin hint hint* I'll look into getting Beverly's book and adding it to my knowledge base. It looks awesome. Thank you, Adam! You're my hero.

[@kirinfire9960]

foamsmithing deserves its flowers and more its such an impressive craft

[@thir13enthman]

I'm really excited to see Adam tackle Foam-Smithing. I can't wait to see what he makes with it.

[@camwinston5248]

This is an outstanding guide book.

[@Iskelderon]

You're gonna have a ton of fun with that! Don't forget that there are some cases where you're better off doing some pieces in Worbla (what Svetlana "Kamui Cosplay" Quindt started out with before expanding into more materials), though I'm not sure how that kind of thermoplastic holds up in the California heat during transport.

[@thedoctor755]

That looks like as great book. But how does it compare to the Dorans' Foamsmithing books? Those were pretty amazing!

[@chrissewell1608]

I have been wanting to build a cool, Starwars costume, but my wife would think I was nuts! Maybe I can make a few for the grandkids, for halloween!? But the EVA foam looks easy to work with!

[@harbl99]

There's still time to get your 'Vader and his little stormtroopers' group costumes in order. Just saying. SKS Props here on YT does great step-by-step videos on how to make everything from basic two piece bucket helmets to full suits of multi-part samurai armour to video game and superhero costumes in EVA foam. His templates/patterns are available free IIRC. (I have no affiliation with the channel, just enjoy his howto videos)

[@olsonspeed]

Outstanding, I have alway been currious about the process of turning foam into a wearable armour, sold!

[@CCornelius-ot8dd]

I own a larp, and man, what would be amazing is having that stack of information to be able to learn from.

[@se1j114]

Thanks for letting me know that this book exists,i bought a copy 🥰

[@SaviorSix]

I've been struggling with my N7 armor cosplay. I'll have to pick this up on the way home.

[@DoubleVGames]

thanks for sharing Adam! I've been meaning to get into cosplaying and was looking through some foam cosplay diy videos. will definitely check out this book

[@njones420]

Off-topic, but my signed Savage-industries apron just this minute arrived at the door :) It's lovely, and wearing it now...hoping for many many years of use!

[@raymitchell9736]

Looks fantastic... "Foam smithing" that's a new word to my lexicon! First time I heard it used, and I immediately knew what it was... that was an odd experience.

[@joec8079]

MAN gotta get this! Thank you!

[@bubba_good]

Classy gift box! Thanks for the recommendation, I bought it today.

[@vonoostenstein]

I grabbed most of these books off Humble Bundle a few months ago. I haven't done anything with the wealth of knowledge yet, but I knew I would kick myself if I didn't jump on the deal.

[@letthemcode7199]

Hey adam. Love the show. Did you ever wonder if you could add a barrel to the death ray to focus the energy

[@FatalLordAce]

I got all those books in a humble bundle recently they’re cool

[@thomasbecker9676]

It's amazing to think that no one could make costumes or props before EVA foam became readily-available.

[@Iskelderon]

Nah, EVA foam and Worbla just lowered the entry barrier since you no longer have to mess as much with vacuum forming like in the original Star Wars days. Hell, you can build an entire HALO armor and only need vacuum forming for the visor.

[@thomasbecker9676]

@@Iskelderon I was being sarcastic. The EVA-generation of "builders" behave as though they're the origin of fan-made costumes and props.

[@NitaKerns]

@@thomasbecker9676 quit being a baby.

[@EriksBlue]

Thank you this is so interesting

[@grendel1960a]

appearing in a photo as a cos player is only topped when you appear in costume in a history book - eg I appear in costume in several photos in a book on vikings

[@rong1924]

Don't forget Evil Ted Smith down in LA. He's got some great foamsmithing techniques.

[@djstumpy7399]

That book looks really good. I have punished props book and, a few others on digital but I tend to forget I have them . I need to get investing in physical copies in the hope, they will help motivate me to push my making further. I'd like to figure out how to make a Robocop style suit so that , I can put on by myself. (It's red dwarf man plus suit from episode DNA an episode I highly recommend watching.) I wonder how many others feel physical books still are better.

[@Rei-Rei]

We are all familiar with the term "hero prop", but I was wondering if there's a name for the regular versions, the less heroic, stand at the back of the crowd and don't get involved props?

[@cmdraftbrn]

been trying to make foam terrain for the last couple of months.

[@EricMulek]

What were the other books in that bunch? My partner and I have wanted to get into this for a while, maybe these books will be the thing that helps us do it. Depending on the supbject, I find a physical book really helpful because you can quick go back and reference it without the putzing around and distraction that comes with looking it up on line

[@TesserId]

8:04 Layout? Seems I've seen sequences portrayed in a circle. And, yes; "it matters not much at all."

[@dodger0101]

I’ve been watching Bill Doran over at punished props for a about a decade. He’s another foamsmith.

[@SeanBlader]

Should've gotten Beverly out to talk about the book and the hardest things in it.

[@shanejayell]

That's pretty neat. :D

[@shohamblau]

So, you gonna do the mondeshawan cosplay now?

[@coreyshields5941]

Maybe Adam should have a Cosplay book

[@austinwagner3231]

I see the word "IMMORTALITY" on the white board behind Adam. I would love to know the story surrounding that appearing in his shop.

[@jakd.rabbit]

Could you please go over more related to the styrene sheets you used in making the model of your childhood home? I'd love to see some recommendations on where to find that stuff as the closest thing we have to "local craft stores" in Tennessee are Hobby Lobby (who only carries scrap packs of that stuff) and Lowe's (who only carries it in a certain size and wants $40 a sheet).

[@thomasbecker9676]

In the 00's we'd buy "for sale" signs and sand the printing off.

[@jakd.rabbit]

@@thomasbecker9676 well, Dollar Tree does sell those in 6 packs. I kind of just wish he'd cover it again and maybe provide an Amazon link to one he'd recommend as looking for styrene sheets brings up a lot of variations and it is hard to tell if you're getting the same thing he was talking about or not.

[@thomasbecker9676]

@@jakd.rabbit I mean, polystyrene is pretty much polystyrene, just in different thicknesses and colors.

[@jakd.rabbit]

@@thomasbecker9676 see that was another reason I wanted him to cover it again as I'm also unsure of what thickness to use for model making as some of the Amazon option have quite a range of choices and I didn't want to order something too thin.

[@nathkrupa3463]

Nice video sir

[@KristenK78]

My 13yo wants to build Terraria armor for Halloween - I think I need to get him this book!

[@miyahollands6136]

Will it answer the mysterious methods of how the sleave meets armpit?

[@workchriscano5593]

my future opinion of return to the middle ages will be future fashion????

[@chrissewell1608]

I was like Adam, when I was a kid. I can't afford to buy that!.... I can build it, myself!

[@brikhouse22]

Why don't you have a cosplay book?

[@thatverydepressedfancylad]

Oh snap Adam, you should make Big Daddy from bioshock 😅

[@thesevendays.]

I want the book for learning. Not even for cosplay haha.

[@juandediosreyes8526]

Hello. Do you know how the monsters on the Power Rangers show are made? Thanks!

[@Jamster3116]

So help me I have to say this... Do a foam cosplay builders guidebook. you gotta. Full astronaut suit first though please!

[@MarceloVolcato]

EVA foam is an amazing way to make the impossible, possible!

[@thomasbecker9676]

In what way? It's just a different material.

[@eleycki]

Eva Foam sounds like the name of a famous cosplayer!

[@TheStockwell]

I'm absolutely clueless about a lot of this. I thought Eva Foam was probably a new character in the MCU. 🙄

[@Turnpost2552]

I thought it was about Evangelion

[@Ropetupa]

​@@Turnpost2552some kind of soft shelled EVA-prototype? Looks like a sheep maybe? :)

[@TheStockwell]

@@Ropetupa 😆

[@TheStockwell]

@@Turnpost2552 Har har har! 😸

[@padoco73]

The book looks to be very nice, but I'm still a little partial to Bill & Brittany's books.

[@koooniiin]

Will you attempt to build a replica of the Antikythera device from the last Indiana Jones movie?

[@claytonsharp9737]

holly shit ...you should have a cosplay book

[@davidwaynemain]

Ive got this flight suit idea ive had since i was in highschool. Drew a few parts up but a lot is still in my dome. Id love to experiment with this stuff to get an idea as to how it would fit and everything would be mounted on. Adam.....if you're interested in changing the face of personal flying applications......hmu

[@jamesc.5734]

Adam you should write a how to book "Myths about making busted". :o)

[@claytonsharp9737]

can you cast a finished EVA foam piece ...easy ? as a foam smith myself and a cosplayer eva foam is so forgiving the entry level is ...ok not great if your big more

[@SKSProps]

yes you can mold and cast eva foam pieces. I did this for a couple of client builds a few years ago because I could scratch build the helmet faster than having it printed. Then I used rebound 25 and smooth cast 65d as my resin of choice

[@duodave]

100% Adam should write a cosplay book.

[@PurbleDragon]

Things that make me wish I had the money for cosplay...

[@babbagebrassworks4278]

EVA foam book? That's cool. Found out diode lasers can cut EVA foam, hmm. Not really interested in Cosplay but I did make a Stig helmet for the kid years ago. EVA for non cosplay stuff needs a google...

[@geraldstiling3735]

My only advice "go sparingly with the glue ,and the heat gun"🤖✂️.

[@DerTroglodyt]

At the start of the video my brain went like: Why is he calling her Beverly? And they should totally do a colab: Adam Savage and Eva Foam. Guess I'm going to see a doctor now...

[@nekokna]

hahah loved that you are also cursed with the graphic designers knowledge

[@paulpixphotos]

Loving the Amazon style, product size pose image used for the Thumbnail.

[@canajian]

👋😎👍

[@price5647]

Yeah spicy thai.

[@BanishedBuilds]

First comment

[@TheStockwell]

"First comment" is a lazy, lame, and pathetic excuse for a comment. 🙄

[@rong1924]

All this Cosplay love when Adam's "Silicon Valley Comicon" has been cancelled indefinitely without explanation... Grrr!

[@ManLand]

Fan of you but the reason is on a Prometheus suit is because the FANS LIKE ME just thought the Structure of the movie was a piece of CRAP...to put it politely...running from a rolling donut wouldn't save you?...turn left maybe, right? it's that simple ADAM ... the story of the movie was all out of retorted mentalism...It just didn't even come close to safety concerns of ever todays, Coronavirus standards and this movie just FAILED with any common sense period...I mean give me a movie where just on actor made a mistake on a design but ALL DESISIONS??? Geesh! The people that watch this bullshit and paid for it to watch deserve commonsense in a movie even though it's so-called scifi...

[@spencernorby6075]

Scifi relies on the suspension of disbelief. Without that, most physical elements can be silly.... Scifi is about the people story. It is quite apparent that you are not a sci-fi fan. That is fine. Do not denigrate a genre you do not like. It's just not your thing. Lots of people do not like what you like or don't. Next year you might suddenly like it and poof, it suddenly becomes your thing.