Captain America, suit and shield

Captain America's classic comics suit and round shield, built from a stretch-fabric base and a foam shield prop, for makers ready for a first larger build.

The classic comics Captain America wears a blue suit with a white star on the chest and red and white vertical stripes around the midriff, a blue hood with a white letter A on the forehead and small white wings at the sides, and red gloves and boots. The lower face is left uncovered. His round shield has rings of red, white and red around a blue centre holding a white star. Film versions use different armour panels and colours, so choose one version and stick to its references. The base is usually a blue stretch bodysuit, sewn or bought plain. The star and stripes can be sewn or bonded fabric panels, or cut from thin craft foam and glued on. The hood can be sewn from stretch fabric, with the A and wings cut from white craft foam or fabric. Buying red gloves and making boot covers keeps the build manageable. The shield is commonly cut from EVA foam, with thin foam rings added on top for slightly raised edges, then sealed and painted. A pair of straps on the back lets you carry it on your forearm. Many conventions treat a shield as a prop under their weapon rules, so each convention's weapon rules apply: check size and material limits before you build. Cut foam with a sharp blade on a cutting mat, cutting away from your fingers. Contact cement and spray paint give off solvent fumes, so work outdoors or with strong airflow and wear a respirator rated for organic vapours, not a dust mask. If you heat-shape foam, keep the heat gun moving and wear heat-resistant gloves. Younger makers should have an adult handle or supervise blades, heat and solvents.