How to make a non-amputee gun leg for
Cherry Darling Halloween and Cosplay costumes
Illustrated instructions with contest winning examples
 

The real
 "Cherry Darling"
 Lacey Henderson
from
Amputees In Hollywood
at
Comic Con 2007
San Diego
California
USA

"It was such an absolutely amazing, unbelievable experience. THANKS AGAIN AND AGAIN"

Lacey Jai  Jul 30, 2007
"[Playing] Cherry [Darling] was amazing and I think, probably till I die; she will always be one of my favourite characters I've ever played. And I feel quite protective towards her, so hopefully nobody will put her down. And if they do, she can just shoot them in the face with her machine gun. [Laughing] I think the whole thing in expecting to see this movie, I think you should expect to laugh and dry-heave at the same time and just go in knowing… just sit in that roller coaster seat, you know, buckle up and go along for the ride. And have fun… gosh. And I hope to see people with a machine gun leg for Halloween outfits next year." - Rose McGowan

Cash prize will be awarded for best costume design for 2010
See below for contest details

submit contest entry photos and/or video here:
 
e-mail

Success will be limited to lightweight individuals with slender legs and good flexibility.
The gun leg device should not be worn for any extended period of time
nor while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
 
The process starts with hiding the part of the leg to be replaced by the gun leg using 6 inch Ace bandages, or a Capri length body shaper and support pantyhose as our past winners have done to hold the leg flexed and the foot tucked in.

 

Next a plastic bag is pulled over the “stump” as a separator from the casting tape. The casting tape is worked using rubber gloves and is not dipped in water to give more working time for forming to the “stump”. Starting around the knee the casting tape is applied to about 4 - 5 layers deep working up the thigh. This may take 2-3 three rolls of 4 inch casting tape. Once the casting tape has set and becomes rigid it is slid off the “stump” along with the plastic separator bag.



 
Delta-Lite Conformable
4 inch x 4 yds
Fiberglass cast tape

http://www.medonthenet.com/delta-lite-conformable-casting-tape.html
 

 

 
With a little trimming around the top  you will have a rigid knee bearing socket that can be donned, and to which the toy gun can be affixed. Using additional casting tape.

 

You will need to cut to length at the barrel and/or stock for you own height. A metal or wood dowel can be inserted through the length of the gun to reinforce it for strength.

Once it has been cut to length the barrel is set into the crutch tip and fixed into place with acrylic putty.

The crutch tip gives a safe base for walking on the gun leg prosthesis.

The socket and replica gun are joined together using more casting tape with the replica gun in proper alignment for walking on the gun leg.

The toy gun can be purchased off of E-Bay.

 

The comfort level will vary depending upon how flexible and how slender the individual is.
The more flexible and slender the more comfort.
One should not wear the prop for any extended period of time.

Below are some additional fabricating tips from others who have successfully made one.

Halloween 2009

   When I saw Grindhouse in the theater, I immediately KNEW I just HAD to be Cherry Darling for Halloween.   Although, I realized that it just wouldn't work to paint a gun on my stockings, so I had given up that dream.  This year I struggled and struggled with costume ideas, and was overjoyed to find your site!  I immediately started shopping for costume supplies. 
 
The local businesses that sell the Juzo AK Stump shrinker aren't really retailers and don't sell to the general public, so I used last years winners tip, using ace bandages.  I wrapped them around my foot and waist, rather than around my leg.  I then used a capri length body shaper and support hose over that.  Luckily, my boots were tall enough to cover the capri.  The "casting tape" I was able to find at the craft store, and the "crutch tip" was actually for a chair, from the hardware department.
 
I wasn't sure how to secure the knee bearing socket as, with the pantyhose on, it wanted to slide off.  I had some tacky gauze, left over from the last time I had given blood, so I used that to wrap around my knee and give the cast something to cling to.
 
I went to a concert that night and wore the "prosthetic" for about three hours.  I did more hopping than walking.  This loosened the grip of the gun to cast after a while.   
 
My machine gun was a plastic toy, therefore, not as sturdy as I would have liked, and unfortunately, I actually had to pull the trigger to fire, unlike the real Cherry.
 
I am excited to wear the costume again to Dragon*Con!  I will reinforce the gun stock, possibly with a metal pipe (or get a sturdier gun) and attach it to the socket with fiberglass.  And I will potentially use a toupee bonding adhesive to attach the socket to my knee!
 
When I took the costume off I had people coming up to me shocked that I had both limbs!  IT WORKED!
 

 

Halloween 2008








 

I went completely off your instructions, except I used 3 ACE bandages to hold my leg up against my butt instead of one of the stump shrinkers that you recommended (just because I couldn't find one for sale around here). But it was definitely your website that made the entire project possible!!!

Then I put on a pair of pantyhose with the bottoms cut off.  The panty hose smoothed out the bump from my foot against my butt.  Also, it helped as a way of being somewhat modest as the pantyhose cut just right works as "hot pants" under the skirt (I went to work in the outfit....and won the costume contest too).  One side of the pantyhose was cut right up to my hips so that side could be like a pair of shorts.  The other side of the pantyhose was cut just below the knee, so it was acting as an extra "bandage" around my leg that I had held up. 

I worked at an ISP all day and am at a desk all day, so I didn't really stand too long.  Most of the time my leg was propped up on a chair next to me.  During the periods I had to stand, though, I was actually very comfortable - my balance wasn't that great, but I was definitely comfortable. 

I wrapped the ACE bandage around my foot up to my butt completely with the pantyhose on top of that.  The skirt I made was slightly loose just in case.  FYI, I'm about 5' 3" tall, and weigh about 100 pounds.  The gun I used was actually a working Airsoft brand gun with the tip sawed off and held in place using 3 minute JB Weld glue :)

Thanks for including me on your website!!  I'm going to blog about it so everyone can see :)

I used this website and these pics when designing my costume.  Mine came out great!

I love that you have video demos too. That really helps. I'm really visual, especially with how too stuff. It's too hard for me to only read directions and see no pictures, or vid! Fantastic Job

Thanks so much for sending me all the instructions - my leg came out tops

It was great she took first place at the costume party...thanks for the info as I said you should box up that idea of yours and make some money on the 31st of every year...lol

I just wanted to say thank you for your website. I couldn't have pulled off my Cherry Darling costume with out it. The videos are really helpful too!
 

Here are pictures of my wife Katie's Planet Terror costume for entry in the contest:

May I also add she is a non-amputee and there is no photoshop involved.

The gun was like the 2008 winner, an airsoft rifle that was disassembled and cut shorter in several places. A wooden dowel was screwed in to make a little sturdier. The butt of the gun was already removable and a wooden board was screwed in for her leg to rest on. Padding was duct taped on with white duct tape.

Your website gave us several ideas to hold her leg up but what we ended up doing was pretty simple. She put on some pantyhose with the one leg cut off and we simply duct taped her leg to her butt. Her leg stuck out the back at an angle but from the front you couldn't tell. White duct tape was used then to attach the gun and then an Ace bandage covered all of that.

We had a Halloween party at our house where she sat for most of the time. Because of the heels she was wearing and the fact she put all her weight mostly on that foot she had to take if off after about an hour and a half. So really the costume looked great but wasn't that practical. Part of the problem also was the screws in the board her knee was resting on came loose so those should of been tightened as well.

I would also recommend what it says to do on your website and put one of those crutch tips on the bottom which we couldn't find if you do plan on walking on this thing.

As for the clothes part of the costume Katie sewed all of it herself, as trying to find the right looking stuff was pretty hard. We make costumes every year and demand that they be as accurate as we can (which started with me) and I really think I've created a monster. She demanded much of herself to make it and for it to be right, and I'm very proud of the job she did.

I came across your webpage in looking for a “How to” guide on making the Cherry Darling costume. Although I didn’t really follow your directions to the T since access to materials was limited in time for the party I attended, but overall it got major reactions! See attached picture.

I cut the end off one leg of a panty hose and wrapped it in ace bandages. I then made a cast from Plaster of Paris.

Thanks! I hope to be posted!

Halloween 2010


Will your photo/video be here?
 

4  Contestants – 1st prize $50

 8 Contestants – 1st prize $75

10 or Contestants - 1st prize $100

Contestants will be judged on creativity, photo(s)/video submitted, and narrative.


submit contest entry photos and/or video here

e-mail
Winner will be notified and photo posted the middle of December 2010.

 

Dalyn has given permission to publish some of her re-enactment poses as
 "Cherry Darling" from the movie  Planet Terror

I try my hardest to make every costume I wear as realistic as possible, and this is so awesome to be recognized for it, especially for an aspiring actress!
Thank you very much,
Dalyn Dougherty

Checkout Cherry Darlings of 2007.
 

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A special thanks to Martina Bucci for being my model for videos and photos.

 Last update
December 16, 2009