Axelle

Main photos:


Other photos:


Fursuit Name: Axelle
Database ID: 2678
Added: 2011-04-03
Last updated: 2012-08-09
Nb views: 6513
Species: german shepherd
Gender: Female
Built by: Laken SteelJaw
Description: A realistic German Shepherd half-suit with head, two sets of handpaws, feetpaws, tail and optional digitigrade legs with shorts.
Owner: Laken   
List fursuits owned by Laken
Created: 2010-08-01
First appearance: Rocky Mountain Fur Con 2010
Cons attended: FC2012 , RMFC2010 , RMFC2011 , RMFC2012
Cons planned: -
Toonyness: 0
Partial Fursuit: yes
Special Types: wireframe head , mesh head , moveable jaw , digitigrade
Available for performing: yes
Characteristics: Axelle is a generally laid-back Shepherd from working stock, though she has her silly and hyper moments. She's curious and generally a happy creature, though she'll snap into work mode if the need arises!
Notes: Axelle is a partial to a "half suit", with several interchangeable components to fit different circumstances. The head is built with a combination of heavy gauge wire and plastic canvas, with foam detailing. The jaw moves well with one's own mouth movements. Details include taxidermy-style cast resin eyes, custom sculpted, realistic nose, custom sculpted full upper and lower jaw set with tongue, whiskers, drybrushed markings, custom sculpted claws, pawpads and solid-core tail. The suit consists of head, two sets of handpaws (one for long-sleeved shirts and one for short sleeved shirts), tail that straps onto a belt, digitigrade legs with shorts and footpaws with pawpad tread. Vision is through the tearducts and is reasonable to limited depending on lighting conditions.

Axelle is a far better suit than my first suit and implements many engineering and style improvements. The head is built the same as Laken, wire and plastic canvas with foam, but the moving jaw is anchored wire to wire with small bolts. The jaw is supported by the main load-bearing steel wires that run through the head, making it exceptionally strong. This head is a lot smaller and tighter fitting, and far more comfortable. Smaller vision holes limit sight a lot more with this head, but the style and comfort trade offs are worth it. This is the first suit where I've truly worked with fake fur, as well as my first experiences with paw pads, casting resin eye blanks and body padding. Everything on Axelle was had made by me, including her claws, jawset, nose and eyes. I am giving some thought to trying to finish her into a full suit, making her truly convertible.
Suit Journal:
08/01/2010 - Suit was completed after several months worth of work. She made her debut at Rocky Mountain Fur Con 2010 as a partial with head, arms with handpaws, tail and footpaws. After wearing the suit at the con I lined much of the inside of the head with "fun foam" as well as gave the chin additional padding to up the jaw sensitivity. Her cheeks were also padded slightly to give her more cheek ruff and to make her appear less anorexic. Since the con she's made appearances at the AuroraFurs gathering, as well as Halloween 2010.

03/01/2011 - Built digitigrade legs to go with the partial suit. Axelle made her first appearance with digitigrade legs at the AuroraFurs meet that week.

03/12/2011 - Axelle visited AnimeCon Wasabi 2011 Saturday evening. She was spotted with Lucretia the goat.

04/15/2011 - Axelle made the rounds at StarFest 2011 in Denver. She took 1st place in the Fantasy/Literature division of the costume contest.

10/21-23/2011 - Axelle made an appearance at Oklacon 9. She was outfitted in a pilot's uniform, complete with goggles, full-length pants over new digitigrade padding (built for a new suit) and spats. Axelle first out of state con, and mine too!

10/29/2011 - Axelle made an appearance at the annual ColoFurs Howl-o-Ween party.

10/31/2011 - Took Axelle out Fursuit bowling! Was able to roll an 81. Axelle won the costume contest for the bowling alley as well.

1/15/2012 - Axelle made an appearance at Further Confusion 2012! She had a rather amusing encounter with a frightening wolf-demon!

1/16/2012 - Axelle made an appearance on the east-bound California Zephyr! The Amtrak #6 was somewhere in the Nevada Desert when Axelle decided to explore the observation car with her new friend Harvey the Husky from Salt Lake City.

3/24/2012 - Axelle made an appearance at Denver's Anomaly Con 2012! She wandered around with her wild dog friend Kopano and had a great time in the steampunk environment.

6/23/2012 - Axelle went grocery shopping with Kopano the African Wild Dog. The canine pair brought a lot of smiles to both employees and late-night shoppers. Most of the adventure was caught on video. Sadly, after this outing the decision was made that Axelle should probably be retired soon.

Statistics

Members: 3990

Fursuits: 4478

Photos: 20392