First time build- Mk VI - COMPLETE! Pics from Halloween!

Okay, I did a foam build over the last few days. Here are the results. I'm much happier with this one and I'm going to continue with it. I did have to remove the piece under the chin so I could get my head in. I'll have to rig a way to attach it with velcro or something once i have it on.

Take a look. Any feedback would be really appreciated.

-Jeffrey

BTW, I don't know why my pics are posting sideways. They are not that way when I upload them but then they appear that way in the thread. Sorry!

I got busy over the weekend.

I decided to give up on the foam helmet build for now. I don't think my skills are quite at the level I need to get the results I want on such an important and complex piece. So I ordered a cast helmet from the awesome Pannaus Props. Great deal and great work. You can see his stuff here:

http://www.therpf.com/f13/iron-man-h...ts-due-149999/

So now I've moved on to creating some armor. I bought foam from foamorder.com (I live in SF so I just went to their store, I didn't order online.) I started with the left arm and made the forearm and bicep. I think I'm getting better. Although I did give myself a nasty blister from a glue burn.

I'd love some feedback or advice from anybody. So far nobody has responded on this thread, but I'm going to keep updating it anyway!

-Jeff

Nice stuff so far! Keep up the good work!
I want to begin building but im just not sure where to start. (what materials to use, where to purchase, etc.)

I like how the arm turned out, though I don't recognize that forearm piece. Maybe just the angle, though. In any case, that's 6mm foam, right? Where at on that Foam Order site did you find it?

In any case, pepping for me takes forever because, apparently, significant others require attention now. O_o I'm still fiberglassing my helmet (which may end up being too small, but I've gotta bondo it still so I can cut it apart to be worn), and while that sits, I've started piecing together the chest piece.

Starting to think foam isn't such a bad idea, but I want durability and long-term use, so I think I may go the bondo-on-foam route.

How are you sealing your foam?

sdusso1 said:

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Nice stuff so far! Keep up the good work!
I want to begin building but im just not sure where to start. (what materials to use, where to purchase, etc.)

Thanks!

foamorder.com is a great place to get EVA foam.

Yoga Mats, Exercise Mat, Polyethylene Foam, Yoga Mat, Exercise Mats

I used the 6mm (1/4 inch) EVA foam. I like this stuff because it doens' thave any texture. A lot of people use the anti-fatigue mats you can easily pick up at Home Depot or other hardware stores. But it usually has some kind of texture on it. I just didn't want to deal with it so I went with this. Plus I was able to buy huge 40"x80" sheets.

The rest of the supplies are all pretty common craft stuff. Hot glue, hobby knife, tons and tons of blades.

DarkMessiah said:

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I like how the arm turned out, though I don't recognize that forearm piece. Maybe just the angle, though. In any case, that's 6mm foam, right? Where at on that Foam Order site did you find it?

In any case, pepping for me takes forever because, apparently, significant others require attention now. O_o I'm still fiberglassing my helmet (which may end up being too small, but I've gotta bondo it still so I can cut it apart to be worn), and while that sits, I've started piecing together the chest piece.

Starting to think foam isn't such a bad idea, but I want durability and long-term use, so I think I may go the bondo-on-foam route.

How are you sealing your foam?

I find the foam is WAY easier to work with. I was terrible with those tiny little edge pieces when I tried doing the pep work. I plan on applying a plastic coat on this. Check out XRobot's videos about doing this. It totally inspired me.

XRobots.co.uk

And for foamorder.com, go to the industrial section and look for "closed cell foam". Here's the link:

Yoga Mats, Exercise Mat, Polyethylene Foam, Yoga Mat, Exercise Mats

Lookin' good man! The biceps looks well done

mushroomhunter said:

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Lookin' good man! The biceps looks well done

Thanks, mushroomhunter! I think each piece I make gets a little better. I expect when I get to the end, I'll want to go back and remake these first few.

Small update. I've been working away on my costume. I completed the foam build on the right bicep and forearm No pics right now. BUt it looks pretty much just like the left arm.

I made the chest harness and armor over the last week or so. Here's some pics. I'm pretty happy with how the chest has turned out so far. I'm still going to clean up the glue seams. Also thinking of adding some more detail.

As it's been said many times, weither for foam or resin, save the helmet for last or near last. Lots of complex cuts and exacting angles, if one is off, the whole thing can get out of sink.

Still your first helmet is better looking than mine. I think I'm on my 4rth helmet now and I'm still not terribly happy with it.


Your build is coming along nicely btw, can't wait to see the finished results.

Pics to show the whole thing, first vs 4th.

Looking really good!

I don't understand why poeple keep saying do the helmet last, I did the helmet first and found it very easy. Awesome work by the way keep it up.

Just for consideration as for why:
1. Helmet have two way bend on faceplate, forehead, top helmet and back helmet. This can be achieved by heating or just follow the template. More cut will make it closer to original curve, but more chance to have sloopy result.
2. Most of what happened is the faceplate won't touch the chin/lips area, or pushed back. Unbalanced jaw, starting from chin. Forehead won't fit the top
3. Identical cut is needed, otherwise you have asymmetrical sides. Helmet is more likely the focus of the whole suit. People will easily see any unbalanced or imperfection there.
4. Ring cut for helmet's ear
5. Mod for easy access, otherwise you'll end up with helmet that is too big, ears getting red, or wear balaclava.
6. Eyes could be tricky to build and electronics assembly might be confusing.

My purpose is not to discourage, but once we have the skill set to overcome these, the helmet will look more beautiful. Again, depending on the skill set, it is a learning process after all.

PS: don't ended up like me. See my tips post and you'll know why I suggest to hold doing the helmet first

lookin good so far man

Question for people:

How many LED's are best used for the unibeam/arc reactor on the Mk 6? I'm looking at strings of LED lights on ebay and I'm not sure what the magic number is.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Jeff

Finished the Back last night. That was a bear. So far, I think that was the hardest piece I've made. I'll post pics later. It was 1:00 AM when I finally finished gluing it.

I'm going to try using 30 LED's for the arc. But I'm still open to any suggestions if people have any.

Your armour is coming along very nicely mate, i especially like your arm pieces you made...very clean.....currently in the process of making my arms so hopefully if they come out anywhere near the quality of yours then i'll be very happy

mark0017 said:

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Your armour is coming along very nicely mate, i especially like your arm pieces you made...very clean.....currently in the process of making my arms so hopefully if they come out anywhere near the quality of yours then i'll be very happy

Thanks Mark! Yeah I'm happy with how the arms turned out. I still need to do some cleaning up of glue seams on every piece with a soldering iron.

Has anybody found any Pep files for the hip pods? I found one but it's password protected so I cant modify it for foam building. I haven't found a file that's been modded already for foam building.

Any leads?

Thanks,

Jeff

UPDATE:

It's been a little while since I've updated this. But I've been building away. This morning I tried putting some pieces together with the buckles and velcro I got to see how it's coming together. So far, I'm pretty pleased with how it looks. My girlfriend took a few pictures.

I've also built the cod and the left thigh but they are not in the pics.

I'd love some feedback.

And special thanks to Stealth for his awesome tutorials on youtube about how to put everything together!

-Jeff

That suit is looking insanely proportionate. You fill it very well.

but man...my neck.

use photobucket :P