Overwatch’s Widowmaker is a popular cosplay choice for a reason; the character is iconic, possible to bring to life with broad strokes and still has the depth for an expert cosplayer to explore further into the details.
Cyprus-based cosplayer Rena has kindly shared her Widowmaker, and I’m impressed. Geek Native has permission to show some photographs, but let’s begin with this Instagram video showing the sniper’s rifle’s glowing visor and mechanical articulation.
I asked Rena ‘why Widowmaker?’
I fell in love with the design of Widowmaker from the first sight. It was 2016 when I first saw her. I’ve just started to cosplay, I was very young and I made only easy cosplays that time. I wanted to cosplay her so bad but I understood clearly that it’s impossible goal for me. Many years Widowmaker cosplay was like a dream for me. She is a real goddess for me and I was afraid to try to be her because I thought that I don’t look like her and I don’t have any similar things in my appearance to look like her. Many years I prohibited myself to dream about that cosplay but day by day I became more experienced and confident in cosplay and decided to make my dream come true.
The most important thing that I understood from the beginning: the rifle and the visor must work automatically and must be top shelf just like in the game. I found a professional crafters who could make for me perfect rifle and visor for Widowmaker, they are Crafterhold. They said that it will take about 6 month to make the rifle and the visor so I’ve started to wait and make other details by myself.
I’ve started with a wig, it was my first experience to create such a difficult wig with a large ponytail with a wire frame. I ordered 2 wigs and tried to make a wig but first attempt was unsuccessful. I threw it away and started again from scratch. The second attempt was a success! I proceed to a part for a shoulder, bracer and boots. There was some unsuccessful attempts again so finally I asked crafter to make a bracer too because it’s construction was much more complicated than I could imagine. And still I wanted the perfect cosplay so difficult details I prefered to delegate to the professionals.
After 6 month of working on the rifle and the visor crafters told me that there are a lot of difficulties with automatization and it will take more time to make it perfectly working like in the game: two modes, sniper and melee. It was 2020. Covid pandemic has started. It slowed down work on the project a lot.
In the beginning of 2021 when the rifle should be ready, crafters told me that it’s impossible work for now and they can’t give me my rifle which I was waiting since November 2019. They said that they can make for me a new rifle but it won’t have automatics. And they will improve automatic one slowly like an experiment. I was broken into pieces with that news because my dream was broken. I understood that it was really difficult one but I still had a hope. As time went I continued to wait and hope.
One autumn day the crafters told me the best news! They completed the automatic rifle and they will give it to me! It was like blessing to me, I was really happy and I couldn’t believe this is true.
I needed 6 months more to get done the rest of the details and then in June 2022 the photoshoot of Widowmaker finally happened!
I just can’t with a top shelf quality of the rifle and the visor quality! Those things look just like from the game and also they move just like in the game. They both have 2 modes. The visor: open and closed. When it’s closed the light pulses like in the game.
In 2016 I couldn’t imagine that it’s possible, it’s just insane for me. I’m really happy to bring Widowmaker to life and be like my goddess. It is very challenging project and also very hard to wear it. For example the rifle weights 7 kg. But for now I can say that it’s the cosplay of my life so I will be happy if people will see it and appreciate it!
About Widowmaker
Widowmaker is a character from the popular game Overwatch. She is a master assassin and renowned sniper whose sharp eyes and quick reflexes make her a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Her deadly capabilities are matched only by her icy, calculating demeanour. With her sniper rifle and signature visor, Widowmaker is a powerful force to be reckoned with.
The French ex-ballerina is blue due to special training, and altered physiology allows her to slow her heart, an ability which results in the strange colour.
Widowmaker’s skills make her a valuable asset for any team, and she has been known to turn the tide of battle with a single shot. Whether you’re an Overwatch veteran or a newcomer, Widowmaker is a character you don’t want to underestimate.
Rena has a Linktree page, and you can jump straight to their Deviant Art, TikTok or exclusive content Patreon.
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