Cosplay Sky - season 12 corduroy jacket

This month in my costume reviews I’m looking at the season 12 shooting jacket offered by Cosplay Sky.

Based in China, Cosplay Sky has been making costumes for over five years and specialise in a lot of Anime and genre films and tv shows. Their style can be very angular with broad lapels and flared skirts.

Dark Red Corduroy Trench Coat

Price as of April 2013 - $150

The CosplaySky take on the season 12 shooting jacket, is a stark contrast to the version Baron Boutique I previously reviewed.

The immediate difference is the colour. Where the Baron Boutique jacket is way too light, this is way too dark.

The colour chosen is a deep burgundy rather than a more screen accurate burnt orange colour. This reminds me more of the season 18 greatcoat, which I’ll be reviewing in due course.

The pocket are correctly constructed, but are all way too big, boxy and angular to look right.

The original jacket has a shabby, baggy feel to it and this is all just too crisp and sharp for my liking.

The pockets are correctly trimmed along their tops, but it is too wide and bold as well as the wrong colour.
With the jacket too dark and the trim too light and wide, it makes them stand out too much.

The jacket has grey elbow patches which are by far a much better match to the real jacket compared to the Baron Boutique version, but they look to be fabric, possibly a felt rather than leather. I may be wrong - please correct me if you have one of these jackets and can confirm it to me.

There is an interpretation of the sleeve pocket, but it looks to be too large in my view.

The one part of the jacket that to me is seriously lacking is the back. The belted back is very unflattering and lacks the looseness of the real thing.
There are the gusseted sides to the back, but they just don’t look right and the overall effect of the back is that it is more fitted than it should be.

So, looking beyond the colour, how well does the jacket look?

Well the only way I can describe how I see it is to describe it as a caricature of the jacket.

All the details are there - the flapped box pockets; the belted back; grey elbow patches; the gusseted rear; the curious flapped sleeve pocket - but they are thicker, bolder, wider than they should be.

You can see the cutter of this jacket is more used to making the replica Anime costumes seen around comic conventions the breath of the US, with their angular lines and shapes.
This should be the original shabby-chic look The Doctor is known for. His slightly disheveled appearance that masks a brilliant intellect.

Getting my ducks in a row

You’d have hopefully seen my completed Fourth Doctor costume.

One thing which finishes of the ensemble and is the icing on the cake are my set of flying duck brooches!

They are something I have always associated with the coat, but now I look back over photographs and episodes they only appeared in one adventure, The Power Of Kroll.

I’ve been looking around for a decent set, and along the way have picked up some suitable candidates.

Here’s what I found.

This was the first set I found, and I’ve seen several sets of these on eBay.

Cast in resin, the colouring is very stark and cartoon-like. I can’t help thinking of Daffy Duck when I see them.

As a quick place-holder set they fitted the bill very well, but I was always going to be on the look out for a better design.

A set identical to these are on the coat on display at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff.

This set are quite a bit smaller my the first set I bought, but are just as effective.

They are more like the ceramic versions original seen in the 1970s.

I like them, but am not too keen in the blue colouring.

This is actually the latest set I have bought and are a more stylised design.

I think they are actual ceramic, so I’m pretty sure they date from the 1970s or 1980s.

The colouring is much nicer, in oatmeal and brown with a touch of green.

They are wonderfully kitsch!

This final set are the same moulding as the blue ducks above, but are painted in a more subtle colour scheme, akin to the brown tones of the period set I recent purchased.

The way they have been painted and partly rubbed off, gives them a nice aged appearance.

These are my personal favourite and are the ducks I currently have on my coat.

FURTHER 4th Doctor items on eBay

A few more original costume pieces from the Fourth Doctor era have popped up on eBay.
Here’s what I found.

Robots Of Death
Skirt worn by Toos

SOLD FOR £350

This is the skirt worn by the character Toos in the classic 1977 Doctor Who story Robots of Death.

It is simply a stunning piece of design and has obviously taken many hours to produce. It is in near perfect condition for a costume piece of this age, with no loose seams or missing pieces. Dozens of ‘jewels’ and adornments have been painstakingly attached. I can’t over-emphasise just how impressive this piece looks up close – it’s amazing!

This is a rare opportunity to own a costume worn by a key character from the Golden Age of Doctor Who – don’t miss out!

Is Peter Jackson a mystery auction buyer?

A news story doing the rounds this week, emanating from the Entertainment Weekly website, concerns Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson.

It’s been long known that Peter is a Doctor Who fan - especially of the Sylvester McCoy era.

In August 2011 I reported the news that Peter Jackson showed off his original Doctor Who costumes to Sylvester himself when he was auditioning for his role in The Hobbit.

The current story centres on a quote from Peter where he expresses his desire to direct a future episode of Doctor Who, stating he’d do it and only ask for a Dalek in exchange for his fee!

But the part of the article that caught my attention more than anything was the photo of Peter surrounded by part of his collection of Who props.

Firstly he is wear a (not so good) Tom Baker scarf. “So?” you might ask - but if you look carefully you’ll see it is part of a lot that sold at Bonhams in 2007.

The sale was of particular note as and ORIGINAL Tom Baker velvet frock coat sold for £8,400 - but a poorly matched ensemble costume sold for a staggering £24,600!

The scarf he is wearing is part of that costume.

It would now appear the buyer was none other than Peter Jackson!

Furthermore the Cyberman lurking at the back looks to be one of those sold at the 2010 Bonhams Doctor Who Auction.

It might appear that this A-list director has been a secret auction stalker for quite some time...

Magnoli Clothiers - season 16 Frock Coat

The past couple of months I have reviewed the Fourth Doctor coats on offer from Baron Boutique and Cosplay Sky. This month I thought I’d have a look at the options from Magnoli Clothiers.

Based in New Zealand, Magnoli Clothiers makes reproduction vintage and popular film costumes. Garments are made in Thailand and India, with accessories and some leather goods made in America, China and New Zealand.
Originally making Indiana Jones costumes, they have branched out to cover a wide variety of film and tv clothes.

Currently the only Fourth Doctor item on offer is the season 16 Frock Coat. A version of the season 12 shooting jacket and the season 18 greatcoat were available, but seem to have been withdrawn from sale.

Baker Frock Coat

Price as of March 2013 - $850

Having seen the original coat on display at the Doctor Who Experience, I find it difficult to like this replica.

My first problem is how the coat is displayed on the website. It is creased and crushed, in desperate need of a press or steam, making it look like its been rescued from a charity shop. It is shown on a mannequin, but is buttoned up - a state the coat is never seen in on screen, so makes it look even less like the original garment.

So now I have that off my chest, what about the coat itself from a design view.

The fabric used, though from a distance looking not a bad colour, is far fro the right weave. It is described as a tweed, but has a visible waffle finish to it which isn’t right.

It lacks the weight of the Harris Tweed the real coat is made from and looks more like a suiting or jacket fabric.

The cut of the lower part of the coat is too straight and doesn’t have the flare that a classic frock coat should display, looking more like a Cromie overcoat.

The lapels and collar look way too small, and the waistline pockets by comparison look too large!

Across the body of the coat, the placement of the buttons is incorrect, with them in two vertical lines rather than diverging.
Again, if the construction of the coat was understood, this would not look like this.

The trim is made from bias binding, which is a cheap alternative to the correct woven braid.

The button holes on the lapels look too small and lack the impact of the original. Their placement is a bit off too, with the top-most too close to the lapel point for my liking.

The back of the coat is unseen, so I cannot comment on if it has the correct large back pockets in the skirt; the princess seems on the upper back or have the right spacing of the waistline buttons.

MORE 4th Doctor items on eBay

Not strictly a screen worn costume, this item popped up on eBay this month and I thought it worth sharing as it is beautifully drawn.

The Brain Of Morbius
costume design

SOLD FOR £51

I was lucky enough to own the original of this sisterhood costume sketch for many years. Before I sold it I had 2 copies made. One for me, and one for a friend. Sadly the friend passed before I could give it him. Hence now after holding onto to it a few years I feel the time is right to let another collector enjoy it. It is printed on top quality glossy paper. You will not be disappointed. The original would cost a lot of money now, so for the true fan this is a cheaper version. I only have one when its gone its gone.

The size is 42cm lengh by 30cm width. Also this isn’t some cheap photocopy done by myself. It was done at a local art supplies shop on their professional equipment on super thick glossey paper.

Cosplay Sky - season 13 Frock Coat

I’ve recently been looking over the Fourth Doctor costumes on offer from Baron Boutique. This month I thought I’d start to have a look at the options from Cosplay Sky.

Based in China, Cosplay Sky has been making costumes for over five years and specialise in a lot of Anime and genre films and tv shows. Their style can be very angular with broad lapels and flared skirts.

Ecru Brown Long Trench Coat Suit

Price as of Feb 2013 - $189.99

This coat is a replica of the tweed Frock Coat Tom Baker first wore in The Android Invasion.

My first point of review is always the fabric for a coat, and from the looks of the photos, they have used a wool tweed material not unlike the Donegal on Matt Smith’s series five jacket.

Although not a screen accurate match for this coat, it certainly goes someway to reflect the drape and feel of the original coat.

The collar looks to be made from velvet rather than the thunder-cord corduroy on the screen worn coat, but it is in the right area for colour so not so bad.

The buttons on the front are a bit out of position, being in two vertical lines, rather than diverging at the top.
The choice of buttons isn’t too bad, though the cuff ones should have been a lot smaller - they look very clunky and draw the eye too much.

The cuffs themselves are oversized and misinterpreted. They have been done like the cuffs on the Sixth Doctor Frock Coat, but should be flush with the surface of the sleeve.

The elbow patches on the sleeves look very large and almost take up half the length of the arm!

The back of the coat seems to be lacking the princess seams and the buttons are too widely spaced.
The back split is dead centre, which isn’t right, as it should under and overlap.

The large pockets on the back of the coat are placed way too high and far too close to the centre. Quite how you would reach to put anything in them is beyond me.

Lengthwise the coat looks to be about right, with a decent flare to the skirt, though the lower back could have been more nipped to emphasis this.

The lining is a pale silverish blue, which actually isn’t far off the correct colour.

All in all this isn’t such a bad coat. I’m surprised as to how it looks, compared to some other the other coats Cosplay Sky offer, which I shall be reviewing over the coming months.

Check back each month for a new review.

Four Frock Coat - Bob Mitsch is THE DOCTOR!

A little while back I took some photos of me wearing my recently finished Four Frock Coat.

It’s great fun to mess around wearing a costume like this - makes you feel the part.

But when it comes to Tom Baker costume photoshoots, Bob Mitsch is the Master - or should I say Doctor - at it!

Photo © Deverill Weekes www.deverillweekes.com

Let’s face it, it was only a matter of time before he wanted one of these coats, and now I’ve made him one, he’s bee having fun getting his photo taken - posing like a a good un!

Photo © Deverill Weekes www.deverillweekes.com

He’s still getting his costume together, and by Gallifrey One next month will have the waistcoat, better trousers and the all important episode specific brooch!

I can’t wait to see how he looks when it’s all done.

Photo © Deverill Weekes www.deverillweekes.com

Baron Boutique - season 12 corduroy jacket

Last month I gave the low down and my opinon on the Fourth Doctor coats on offer on eBay.

I had a lot of comments about the reviews, so I thought I’d take a look at some other options out there.

This month, Baron Boutique’s season 12 corduroy jacket.

Baron Boutique are based in Nepal, and have been selling a wide variety of garments since 1998, of which their replica film and tv costumes are only a part.

At present Baron offer a number of Doctor Who related clothes, of which there are two Fourth Doctor costumes.

Fourth Corduroy Coat

Price as of Jan 2013 - $299

This corduroy jacket is a copy of Tom’s first costume from series 12.

Straight off the colour - which is too bright and garish compared to the screen worn jacket - is way off.

From the swatch it appears to be the right sort of corduroy fabric, though I cannot confirm this definitively.

It’s a great shame they are using the correct fabric, but not the correct colour. A little more work could have lead them to the right shade of red.

Corduroy is traditionally made from cotton, so takes well to dyeing. I am not sure what they have used for the elbow patches or pocket trim, but if they are synthetics it would be theoretically possible to over-dye the jacket to a better colour, but great care should be taken if this is attempted.

So, ignoring the shortcomings of the colour, let’s look at the structural details on the jacket itself.

The jacket has large patch-pockets, with an inverted box-pleat up the centre, edged at the top with a brown trim, possibly leather. A flap above the pocket is closed with a leather football button.
This has been very competently replicated here, though the buttons are too dark.

The sleeves have charcoal leather elbow patches, but light brown suede ones have been used here.
My impression is the sleeves are too narrow and trim. They look a lot looser on Tom.

On the original jacket there is a curious flapped pocket on the forearm close to the cuff.
I have not established what this pocket is for, but the jacket is based on a shooting jacket, so could be an ammunition pocket or the like.

The Baron jacket has a token flap on the sleeve, but it looks twice the depth of the original and has no pocket underneath.

The back of the jacket is okay, but I feel the inverted pleats are are little skimped compared to the original jacket.

The collar and lapels are pretty standard, and cut well on the Baron jacket.

Overall it’s a pretty good effort, though personally I feel it lacks the bagginess and character of Tom’s jacket. Baron’s work tends to be very crisply cut and slimly fitted - which is a bonus for anyone seeking a Tennant Suit, but on this occasion it goes against the finished appearance.

If a better colour fabric was used, or it could be over-dyed, it would look ten times better. Asking for a looser fit, or simply giving measurements with a couple of extra inches here and there would help to.

Where machine washing a jacket such as this would ruin the shape, on this it might be an idea to slacken off its tight line.

As a casual jacket it would be fun to wear.

I might even have a go myself at some point. I’ve seen some period Edwardian patterns in my cutter’s guides.

Pocket props - TARDIS Tuner

Today I wanted to share with you a little eBay purchase I’ve made recently, which is a throwback to the 1970s and my childhood.

I’ve been looking around for a couple of props to pull from the excessively large pockets in my Tom Baker coat while attending conventions and events. I need something amusing, trivial and retro - and preferably something Fourth Doctor appropriate.

I can remember reading Doctor Who Weekly from its very first issue in 1979.

Two enduring memories are the Mr Bellamy adverts which hogged the colour back cover, depriving us of another precious colour photopage; and the comic-strip style advert for the TARDIS Tuner.

Made by Shortman Trading, The TARDIS Tuner was a Doctor Who branded toy which seem to be perpetually pushed in Doctor Who Weekly.

Essential just a medium-band radio in a chunky black plastic casing with a circuit that makes a series of lights flash and sounds beeps and bops, it looks way more exciting than it actually is.

It bears no relationship to anything seen on screen and stands alone from anything Who-related at the time.

According to the advert the Tuner boasts:

• Mind blowing volume control


• Built in radio receiver,
  picks up radio 1, 2 & 3


• ‘Laser light control switch’


• Constant flashing laser lights


• Radio tuner for crystal clear reception


• Time warp bleeper control switch


• Tough moulded matt-black casing stands up to the heaviest landings


• Sliding door for battery supplies

A working mint condition Tuner in its box with instruction leaflet can command around £100, often more.

But for what I wanted one for, an unboxed not mint, but working, I paid a fair price for it.

Ironically I never owned one in the 1970s - though not for want of desiring one - it was just outside of my financial grasp at the time, so getting one now is like a childhood dream come true!

I’m looking forward to the right moment to whip it out! Wink, Wink ;)

Replica 4th Doctor costumes on eBay

This past year I’ve spent a lot of time working on screen accurate replicas of the Tom Baker season 16 Frock Coat, as well as preparing to make a proper replica of the Romana Pink Frock Coat as seen in Destiny Of The Daleks.

I’m by no means the first or last person to have a go at either of these costumes, and if you cast around there are alternative cheaper options out there.

So I thought it timely to take a look at what can be bought for a more modest budget.

 At first glance these coats look pretty good, but at closer inspection there are a few shortfalls worth noting if you are looking for something more screen accurate.

Ecru brown long trench coat

Having worked on this coat extensively this year, I can immediately see a number of serious shortcomings in the cut of this coat. Some are quite picky, but others are more obvious.

• One of the outer pockets is missing! The lower left-hand pocket has been omitted

• The lower pockets have been confused, and large flap-less pockets are added at the back

• The waistline pocket is too big and crashes the buttons. It should be close, but not that close. The buttons could be moved, and should be in a slight diagonal line, converging at the bottom

• The piping around the edges of the lapels and pocket flaps are not the right colour. It needs to be a real dark brown (almost black) rather than a mik chocolate colour

• The buttons on the back are set too far apart, and the back vent is exactly central, where it should overlap and be off centre