Ace, the energetic and unforgettable companion of the Seventh Doctor, is a firm fan favorite, and for many cosplayers, recreating her iconic jacket is a dream. Like many, I was initially daunted by the sheer number of badges and patches adorning her complex jacket, but after years of wanting to bring this cosplay to life, I finally embarked on the journey in 2014, completing it in January 2015 – although, is a cosplay ever truly complete?
The internet is a treasure trove of resources for aspiring Ace cosplayers, and I owe a huge debt to those dedicated fans who meticulously analyzed blurry screenshots to decipher the jacket’s intricate details. Their hard work paved the way for many of us.
My aim here is to build upon those fantastic resources and offer a detailed, section-by-section breakdown of the badges and patches on Ace’s jacket. Consider this your definitive guide, compiled from my own deep dive into the world of Ace’s wardrobe. While I’ve strived for 100% accuracy, the placement of badges sometimes seems to shift between scenes, adding to the jacket’s wonderfully chaotic charm.
Get Ready for an Image-Rich Exploration!
Before we dive into the badge breakdown, let’s acknowledge the invaluable resources that guided my quest. These websites and communities were instrumental in my endless eBay hunts and research:
You can also explore my Pinterest board here, which gathers all the resources I used, alongside links to some of the badges themselves. While specific eBay listings may expire, the board provides a visual reference of what to search for.
The Foundation: The Jacket
To begin, you’ll need the base jacket: a Knox Armory Black MA-1 Flight Jacket. Searching for this specific brand on eBay will yield results, but be aware that the Knox Armory name can inflate the price. I opted for a more budget-friendly approach and found a basic MA-1 Bomber jacket in black on eBay UK for around £14. The UK eBay marketplace is generally a good source, with many listings under £20.
Regarding sizing, these bomber jackets tend to run large. I purposefully sized up, mirroring the slightly oversized look of Sophie Aldred’s jacket on screen. However, I might consider downsizing in the future for a more fitted silhouette.
Decoding the Right Arm
(Remember, “right” and “left” refer to the jacket as you wear it.)
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Alt text: Close-up of the right sleeve of an Ace Doctor Who cosplay jacket, showing Soviet star pin, NASA shuttle patch, magnifying glass patch, and Watchmen badge.
Starting from the top and moving down the center of the right arm:
- USSR/CCCP Soviet Army Star Pin: This iconic red star pin is positioned near the shoulder. eBay is your friend here; I easily found mine for around £3.50. Simply search for “Soviet star pin.”
- NASA Enterprise Approach Launch Test Shuttle Patch: This classic NASA patch adds a touch of space exploration flair. I sourced mine from eBay, but Space Boosters is also a reputable website specializing in space-related patches.
- SBI Magnifying Glass Patch: This enigmatic patch remains a mystery. Its meaning is unknown, and even dedicated fans haven’t cracked the code. I even intended to ask Sophie Aldred about it at a convention, but alas, I forgot! While elusive on eBay, you can find a high-quality recreation, along with other harder-to-find patches, on Spoonflower. Ordering a fat quarter sample in heavy cotton twill is ideal; the size will be virtually perfect.
- 1986 Watchmen Logo Button Badge: A nod to the seminal graphic novel, this badge is readily available and affordable on eBay. Search for “Watchmen badge” or “Watchmen button.”
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Alt text: Another view of the right sleeve of an Ace Doctor Who jacket cosplay, highlighting the Triumph pin and BR Advanced Passenger Train pin.
Moving to the left of the central badges (as you view the photos):
- Triumph Circular Pin: Another relatively easy eBay find. Search for “Triumph pin badge” or “Triumph motorcycle pin.”
- BR Advanced Passenger Train Pin: Interestingly, the badge in this position seems to vary across different episodes. Some believe Sophie Aldred herself added the train pin after filming concluded. I included it as it was a lucky eBay discovery, but a “Free to Fly Harley Davidson” pin is also a screen-accurate alternative. Rumors even suggest a Rupert the Bear pin might have appeared here, though clear photographic evidence remains elusive.
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Alt text: Right sleeve detail of an Ace cosplay jacket, showcasing the Kings of Full Aces pin and Harley Davidson Eagle pin.
Positioned to the right of the central badges:
- Kings of Full Aces Pin: This playing card-themed pin was an eBay score for me, costing around £6. However, be mindful of shipping costs, especially from US sellers to the UK, which can significantly increase the overall price.
- Harley Davidson Eagle Pin: eBay is once again your go-to source. Look for sellers specializing in motorcycle badges, as they often have a wide selection.
Front Right Panel Details
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Alt text: Front right panel of an Ace Doctor Who cosplay jacket, featuring safety pins, whistle, Blue Peter badges, Union Jack pin, American flag, Ace Roofing patch, pirate pin, and NASA Columbia patch.
Starting near the armpit:
- Safety Pins and Whistle: A row of large safety pins extends upwards from the bottom of the armpit, curving over the shoulder. A plain metal whistle hangs amongst them – perhaps for signaling during a sudden alien invasion or spontaneous space rave?
Moving from top to bottom:
- Blue Peter Badges: These coveted badges are awarded by the BBC children’s TV program Blue Peter to children who send in outstanding letters and contributions. The BBC maintains strict control over their use. Sophie Aldred was permitted to use only two of her own Blue Peter badges on the jacket. I have the blue badge, earned during my childhood. I opted against including the silver badge, as I never earned one myself – a personal choice. Many cosplayers purchase replica Blue Peter badges on eBay, but I chose to represent the missing silver badge with a red question mark pin instead.
- Union Flag Shield Pin: Another eBay find, this is actually the second Union Jack pin I purchased, as sizes can vary. The original pin features “Carnaby St,” but this detail is unlikely to be scrutinized closely.
- American Flag Pin: Self-explanatory! eBay is awash with American flag pins.
- Ace Roofing Co Lee Patch: The origin of this patch is another mystery. However, it’s included in the Spoonflower fabric bundle mentioned earlier.
- Pirate Pin: The source of this pirate pin remains unclear, possibly Disney-related? Regardless, it’s notoriously difficult to find. I eventually tracked mine down on eBay.de (eBay Germany).
- NASA STS-61C Columbia Patch: Available on eBay and from Space Boosters. To accurately replicate the jacket’s patch, you’ll need to carefully trim the names from the bottom to achieve a fully circular shape.
Badges positioned left to right at the bottom:
- Rupert Bear Club Button Badge: Surprisingly hard to find an original, at least during my search. I sourced mine from a fellow Ace cosplayer on Etsy: Ace McShane Button Pin Badge Spider-Man.
- American Football Pin: Another challenging find, this pin was also sourced from eBay.de with the assistance of fellow Ace cosplayers.
- Charlton Athletic FC Pin: Relatively easy to find on eBay or directly from the Charlton Athletic Football Club website.
Phew! Halfway there! Still with me?
Front Left Panel Details:
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Alt text: Front left panel of Ace’s Doctor Who jacket cosplay, showing USSR hat pin, Villiers badge, Fanderson badge, lacrosse pin, NASA Challenger patch, and skull and crossbones badge.
Across the top section:
- USSR Hat Pin: eBay is your source. This pin is notably seen on the jacket after the Curse of Fenric episode. It’s a bold, space-filling badge.
- Villiers Motorcycle Badge: eBay again. Search for “Villiers badge” or “Villiers motorcycle.”
- Fanderson Club Badge: This one is tricky. To officially purchase a Fanderson badge (the fan club for Gerry Anderson productions like Thunderbirds), you typically need to be a member. While I admire Thunderbirds, joining a fan club solely for a badge felt excessive. I opted to create a printed version from Zazzle, which ended up being slightly too large.
Middle Section:
- Lacrosse Pin: These pins are commonly awarded at school lacrosse clubs. I found mine on a school supplier website.
- NASA STS-51L Challenger Patch: eBay or Space Boosters are your options. Similar to the Columbia patch, you’ll need to trim the extra names from the bottom for screen accuracy.
- Skull and Cross Swords Button Badge: Barely visible on the screen-used jacket, this badge serves as a filler and adds to the overall layered look.
Bottom Section:
- Poker Hand Pin (Top card Ace of Diamonds): Another lucky eBay find, this pin came from the same seller as the Kings of Full Aces pin.
- NASA Space Shuttle Pin: eBay is your best bet.
- Harley Davidson Live to Ride Pin: Not too difficult to find, but many listings originate from the USA, potentially doubling the price due to shipping costs.
- Thunderbirds Logo Button Badge: Similar to the Fanderson badge situation, official badges are often club-exclusive. I purchased mine alongside the Rupert Bear badge from the Etsy seller mentioned earlier.
Left Arm Badge Breakdown:
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Alt text: Top section of the left sleeve of an Ace Doctor Who cosplay jacket, featuring BSA patch, 1987 patch, Camel pin, BC Rich Guitar pin, and Brands Hatch pin.
At the top of the left arm:
- BSA Motorcycles Shoulder Patch: eBay is the place to search.
- 1987 Patch: Included in the Spoonflower fabric listing.
- Camel Pin (Single Hump): This pin is tucked towards the inner arm. Fairly easy to locate on eBay. Mine has a tendency to detach itself at conventions…
- BC Rich Double Neck Guitar (White): This one has eluded me so far! However, I know it’s out there on eBay. I currently have a silver single-neck guitar pin as a placeholder.
- Brands Hatch Pin: These pins appear on eBay regularly, but be prepared for a bidding war. This was my third attempt at securing one – they’re surprisingly popular!
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Alt text: Middle section of the left sleeve of an Ace Doctor Who jacket cosplay, showcasing the 1983 Spiderman badge, Safe Driver patch, Nuclear Power No Thanks badge, and Communist star patch.
Continuing down the inner left arm:
- 1983 Spiderman Button Badge: Mine came from the Etsy listing.
- Safe Driver Bell Atlantic Award Patch: I haven’t seen this patch sold individually, but it’s included in the Spoonflower fabric sample.
- Nuclear Power? No Thanks!/Smiling Sun Button Badge: Surprisingly difficult to find in English. eBay is worth checking, or consider creating your own.
- Communist Star Patch: I opted to make mine myself, but pre-made versions are available for purchase. I’m keeping mine because Paul McGann (the Eighth Doctor) complimented it! *stupid grin*
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Alt text: Lower section of the left sleeve of an Ace cosplay jacket, featuring a football patch and United States Paratrooper patch.
On the outer side of the left arm:
- Football/Soccer Ball Patch: Widely available from various sources, but mine was sourced from eBay.
- United States Paratrooper Patch: eBay again, secured with numerous safety pins.
The Iconic Back “A”
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Alt text: Back of an Ace Doctor Who cosplay jacket, prominently displaying the large red “A” with white and yellow “ce” lettering.
The centerpiece of Ace’s jacket is the large red “A” with a white backing and yellow “ce.” It’s surprisingly smaller than I initially imagined. I crafted mine from spare cotton twill fabric. The “A” is glued on and shows some battle damage from conventions and the infamous Expo hailstorm of 2014. The “ce” section is a replacement; I reshaped the original and eventually succumbed to hand-sewing it on.
The Completed Ace Jacket Cosplay
Here’s the full view of my completed Ace jacket:
Completed 2015
Alt text: Full-length shot of a person wearing a completed Ace Doctor Who jacket cosplay, showcasing all the patches and badges.
Final Cosplay Notes:
- Time Investment: Give yourself ample time to assemble this cosplay! Sourcing all the elements takes time, and some badges are significantly harder to find and acquire than others.
- Budget-Friendly Options: Pins and badges can become expensive. Don’t hesitate to create your own! I made some patches and button badges using spare fabric and paper taped over existing badges when funds were tight. Don’t feel pressured to have only “genuine” items. Cosplay is about creativity and resourcefulness.
- Have Fun! Ace is an incredibly rewarding character to cosplay. She’s a beloved, strong, and all-around fantastic character. Enjoy the process and wear your jacket with pride!
If you have any insights, corrections, or further information from your own Ace jacket research, please share them in the comments! I’m always happy to expand this guide and ensure it’s as helpful as possible for future Ace cosplayers. For any questions, feel free to drop me a message here or connect on my Facebook or Tumblr pages.
