I made my Star Wars Chewbacca suit from 45 bags of hair extensions
- Published
Paul Smith in a Chewbacca suit he made using 45 packets of hair extensions
Cosplayers often go to painstaking lengths to look like their favourite characters from science fiction and fantasy.
But one man has taken his dedication to a new and very hairy level.
Paul Smith has become an expert at making the Chewbacca costumes he wears at conventions across the country.
It takes him 300 hours and dozens of bags of hair extensions to make each suit at his home in East Lothian.
The 54-year-old engineer is a self-confessed geek who has spent thousands of pounds building his collection of outfits.
It includes six Wookiees - the species Chewbacca belongs to in Star Wars.
Paul, who has been building radar for defence contracts under the Official Secrets Act for almost 40 years, attends 80 to 90 conventions and events a year.
Paul Smith twice met the late Peter Mayhew - who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films
He told BBC Scotland News that he bought his first Chewie suit - then started making them himself by copying that outfit.
Paul said: "Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca was 7ft 2in and with the suit on he was 7ft 6in.
"I'm 6ft 2in and I needed another foot so I built a form of stilts - posts made from wood - to raise my height.
"He's a big guy so there is a lot of suit and hair."
The process starts when a friend sews a mesh suit using Paul's measurements and adds length to the legs.
Paul then buys bags of hair extensions from wig shops.
"I need about 45 bags of hair extensions per suit," he said.
"The mesh suit is completely covered in holes and I use a latching tool to attach the hair.
"I did research on how to do this. It can be a bit monotonous but it is worth it in the end when you see the public's reaction."
Paul has six Wookiee costumes among his outfit collection
Paul has a pair of sandals that he wears as the hairy suit covers his feet.
He then attaches a set of toes - made by his father - which pop out of the costume.
"All you can see of Chewie's feet are his toes. My dad carved them out of balsa wood as he is an engineer too," he said.
Paul wears the same toes for each suit. He has three versions of Chewie because Chewbacca looks different in each of the Star Wars films.
He also wears black latex gloves so no flesh is showing - even though the hairy sleeves drop over his hands.
Paul Smith as Chewbacca with Joonas Suotamo who replaced Peter Mayhew as Chewie in the films
Paul buys kits with the fibreglass skull, the teeth and latex covering to build the Chewbacca head.
And he sources the bandoliers - special leather bags - from a expert in the US who makes them for Chewbaccas across the world.
Paul is a member of several groups of volunteers who go to conventions and events to help raise money for charity.
He is in the Rebel Legion UK - which is for the "good guys" in Star Wars.
Paul is also in the Imperial Scottish Garrison - which is for "the bad guys" - as he has two Stormtrooper and one Shoretrooper outfits.
And he is a member of the Fifth Legion, which is for characters from other films.
Paul's non-Star Wars costumes include an animatronic Iron Man suit that has moving parts, a Predator outfit and a Mandalorian.
He explained: "I've been hooked ever since my first convention - I'm trooping most weekends. I don't get paid for it, I just love it.
"I've made great friends doing this. I have great fun with the public and I help so many charities along the way.
"I used to not do a lot outside of work but now I'm doing something and raising money too. I feel like I'm making a difference."
Paul keeps his Iron Man outfit on display in his sitting room at home in East Lothian
Paul was selected to attend the red carpet events at the European premieres of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in London.
His next convention will be the Capital Sci-Fi Con, run by the charity Children's Hospices Across Scotland (Chas) at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh this weekend.
Paul will be alongside Raiders of the Lost Ark actor Paul Freeman; Star Wars' Denis Lawson; Star Trek star David Ajala; the eighth Doctor Who, Paul McGann; and Power Ranger Steve Cardenas.
Paul as a shoretrooper from the Star Wars films
Laura Campbell, head of community fundraising and retail at Chas, said Paul and his fellow cosplayers were "inspirational".
"Capital Sci-Fi Con simply wouldn't exist without passionate people like Paul who help to make it the wonderful, popular annual attraction that it is."
She said the event had raised £370,000 over the past nine years.
"A great deal of its success is down to Paul and his fellow cosplayers who, out of the goodness of their hearts, offer up the gift of their personal time and spectacular costumes year after year.
"Their infectious passion and dedication to bring smiles to our families and sci-fi fans who attend the con each year is just extraordinary and we can't thank them enough for their commitment to our charity."
Paul Smith with David Bradley from Harry Potter and Doctor Who actor Colin Baker at last year's Capital Sci-Fi Con
Although Paul has many costumes, Chewie is his favourite.
He said: "I learned to make the noise Chewbacca makes, it's a gurgle sound you make with your throat.
"I've met Peter Mayhew twice - the last time was a month before he passed away. He was pleasant and others who knew him said he was a really great guy."
Paul has also met Mayhew's successor, Joonas Suotamo, three times.
And he is looking forward to putting on his own Chewbacca suit again this weekend.
Paul added: "I used to find it uncomfortable and it can be hot in the summer but I'm used to it now.
"It's really helped my posture as it keeps me upright."
- Published3 May 2019
- Published27 October 2018
