Dorothy Gale “Ace” McShane, was a companion of the Seventh Doctor. She was named after the main character of The Wizard of Oz. Naturally violent and also clever, Ace was skilled at using her knowledge of chemistry (despite failing it for her ”O”-levels), making bombs filled with an explosive of her own devising called Nitro-9.
In 1987 while she was in her room experimenting with the extraction ofnitroglycerin from gelignite, a time storm swept her up and transported her to the deck of Sabalom Glitz’ spacecraft, the Nosferatu, which was docked at Iceworld in thefar future. Trapped on Iceworld, she got a job as a waitress and formed a relationship with Glitz (TV: Dragonfire), whom she lost her virginity to. (PROSE: Happy Endings)
Some time later working for Anderson in Iceworld’s Icecream parlour she met theSeventh Doctor, whom she referred to as “Professor” and his companion Melanie Bush, whom Ace nicknamed “Doughnut”. When Mel left the Doctor at the conclusion of their battle with Kane, he offered to take Ace with him in the the TARDIS, and she enthusiastically accepted.
APOLOGIES FOR SUCH A LONG INTRO. But not everyone is familiar with Ace.
The Jacket: The requesting anon didn’t want much on this, so I will only give a brief overview and links.
The jacket itself is classed as a black, MA-1 Bomber Jacket. It is covered with various badges and patches, many of which are hard to find now and will have to be made or brought on ebay or auctions. Depending on how accurate you want to be of course. And there is the wonderful huge, ACE on the back in red and gold.
Ebay has many MA-1’s but make sure the collar and cuffs and such are correct. And you don’t want one that fits you perfectly, Ace’s looks a tad big for her. And make sure it’s black! You can probably find bomber jackets on other sites and even in vintage stores.
Ace’s Patches and Badges.
Patches and Badges, Searching and Sourcing.
It wont be hard to find info on the jacket itself. It’s finding the patches and badges that will be the hard part.
EP: GHOSTLIGHT: Ace wears, to my knowledge, three different outfits during these episodes. A men’s tuxedo, a victorian dress (its set in 1883) and an off the shoulder top in old gold with black trousers.
This ref is mostly for the dress. White with black, bordered embroidery, it has a square neck and its a full length dress. I can’t decide on the exact style. There are dresses with square necks from that era and there are cuirass? bodices that resemble the top. And as the skirt/bustle, again how to pick an exact style. It has a little ruffle on the bottom, so it could be like a petticoat style or a fantail skirt.
Thissitemight be able to help you. They sell patterns also.
As for the tuxedo I think a regular one would suffice. White bowtie though. Not black. Her hair is done up for this outfit. It’s down in a lovely style for the dress.
EP: SURVIVAL: This outfit is easier. A simple pinky red, V neck shirt. I think the sleeves are either a 3/4 length or pushed up to the elbows. Black trousers, could be jodpurs? They have that style to them. Red, white and black belt around waist. Reminds me of a tie but that could be just because the ends come to a point. Black lace up shoes.
Metallic strip earrings in bronze? Or copper.
Worn occasionally with the bomber jacket.
I feel like it’s worth noting that in this episode there was supposed to be romantic subtext between Ace and Karra. Which would have made Ace one of the first LGBTQA characters on Doctor Who.
EPS: THE HAPPINESS PATROL, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH: Black skirt with white patch in the middle, black tights with lace up black boots. White and black striped shirt with tighter striped collar. Occasionally worn with the bomber jacket. The collar of the shirt is also black and white stripes but thinner stripes. The collar is pointed, not rounded. Any shirt would do, you may just have to make the collar though.
Hair done up in a ponytail? with a red tie. I can’t tell the earrings, when in doubt when batman ones.
EP: THE CURSE OF FENRIC: Another hard to place outfit. Definitely circa 1940’s. Mostly blue grey? stripes on lighter blue gray. Not helpful sorry. Short sleeved with a white, collared blouse underneath. Her hair is rolled and covered with a red snood.
I thought the dress might be a red cross outfit as the colour and style are similar. But that dress is all one piece where as Ace’s is a jacket plus a skirt. She also wears a badge/brooch I can’t find any clear pictures of. But she’s not wearing it the whole time.
Worn with plain dark stockings and sensible black, slip on shoes.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
EP: DRAGONFIRE: Two outfits for this one! A black, sleeveless dress covered with a white tabard. Worn over red tights. Her hair is done up in a bun for this. The tabard looks a bit frilly around the edges? I think she wears her batman earrings with this outfit too.
The other outfit is a white multicoloured 80’s shirt with black bike shorts over red tights. The bomber jacket is worn over the top. Hair is done in a ponytail. Short, black lace up shoes.
A tabard is worn in medieval times. Short or no sleeves usually. Resembled a tunic. Eventually worn by knights and tied at the waist. As Ace’s is seen to be.
EP: BATTLEFIELD: Short ref for this. Long sleeved turquoise top, with a black V neck, short sleeved top worn over it. Black trousers, black lace up boots and the bomber jacket. Worn with those metallic earrings again and her hair is done up again.
THE 80’S SHIRTS: The jazz motif one is worn, to my knowledge, only in Remembrance of the Daleks. It’s worn with the flowy, short black skirt with the white patch and black stockings. As well as the bomber jacket of course. Red notes, yellow instruments.
The other one is multicoloured shapes and worn in Dragonfire and Silver Nemesis. It’s worn with black bike shorts and the bomber jacket.
Wish I could again be more helpful.
The baseball bat is a big one. And yet I couldn’t find any tutorials. It’s an aluminium bat, decorated in white and black. There is a thin red line between the silver and white, at the top of the bat. The handle is mostly black. I can’t tell you how to give it it’s special powers though. Not unless you have the Hand of Omega handy? Get it? Oh shut up.
Black and grey back pack. Any should be fine so long as you can fit most of the bat inside it upside down.
Nitro 9! Plain silver canisters white rounded white tops. I think those metallic drink bottles going around would work if you took off the top. Likethese. But you can get cheaper ones.
Slingshot is also a nice prop. Or A rocket launcher if you have one handy :P
The BATMAN EARRINGS! Not a prop but very awesome. Can’t find them anywhere though. But don’t stop looking! Ebay has tons of batman earrings but none like that.
Her hair hmmm… Dark blonde? Or light brown. Possible armpit length. Just past the shoulders. Long enough to be done up in ponytails, buns or just have the top layer tied back.
Try ebay, ARDA, and wig stores. If your hair matches hers, GO FOR IT!
WISH I COULD BE MORE HELPFUL.
But it’s so hard to find refs of Classic Who outfits, especially if they were companions. I suggest you pick one then search for a dvd copy of it? The only known uploaded episodes can be found on Dailymotion but they are craaaaaap. Invest in a dvd. It will probably have better quality as well.
2087
germansingergirl
blakekathryn
jbbartram-illu
tangentwithtanner
janainaart
izzy806
origamiaround
vaporwave
yousharknotpass
