Jin Roh armor project...

There have been live action, comics, and anime versions of Jin Roh, but IMHO, the anime armor is by far the coolest. I thought I'd dust off a project that was shelved a few years ago, and finish it up. Has anyone else watched this anime?

I think that even if you haven't seen the anime, the armor is still cool, meeean-looking armor. B)

Here's a scan from a Jin Roh book:
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Reference pictures from the anime:
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And the 12" Medicom figure:
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To start on this project, I've decided to tackle the most important piece: the mask.

A big problem is that the anime design changes from frame to frame. I've been working with a very cool fellow member (maybe he'd like to chime in) and a perfect mock-up of the toy just didn't look right. The mouth was too long. It was too different from the anime.

After some key changes to adapt more to the anime--the 2nd revision--it still didn't look right... something was off.

Another total revamp, and the 3rd version looked exactly like the anime from the side profile. Problem is, as it turned out, the animators cheated.

A perfect side profile meant the mask looked funky from the front. A perfect nose from the side meant too small of a nose from the front. The anime mask couldn't exist in the physical world. There needed to be a compromise, but what? How?

The fourth revision, a hybrid between medicom (a physical representation that we know can exist) and anime (the aesthetic shapes and proportions we're trying to copy) is the best bet.

...this is where you guys come in. Any thoughts or comments? Suggestions?

Anything at all about the mask, the armor, tips and tricks will help. This is a really cool project that I've been wanting to do for a long time now, so I'm incredibly excited. Hopefully you guys are interested as well...


David

the hi-impact guys did the anime armor a few years ago, which looked awesome.
one of them also posted detailed pics of the armor a while back, which i saved off somewhere for reference, i can send them to you later if i can find them.

personally, i really like the live action "stray dog" version of this armor... i think the mask just looks meaner or something. but the anime version is cool as well.

-Jeff

and speaking of stray dog... heres my mask and helmet

Yes, the mask has been done. Here's mine. The armor, however is not as easily accessible.

Any pics of the live action movie version around?

i have a TON of screencaps at home.... this is the only one i have stored online right now.

My advice would be to pick up the Japanes Mook for Jin-Roh that has all the detailed production drawings for the anime. I have on, it's pretty cool.

yeah, i have it too.

I think I prefer the Anime version to the ones that folks have now - I'm assuming that's the live action version. Either way, they are cool - just if I had a choice, I'd prefer the Anime!

I think I remember seeing some Kerberos guys in Dragon Con or perhaps Comic Con pics - might be worth a search!

-Raj

Hooha

http://images.cosplay.com/showphoto.php?photo=476481

Originally posted by bothanspy@Mar 1 2006, 04:38 PM
Yes, the mask has been done. Here's mine.

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The one you and darcjedi have is the Stray Dogs version (live action). I prefer the anime one. The Stray Dogs looks like a poodle (small, pointy nose :P) while the anime looks like a wolf (wide face, gas-mask snout). But this is just personal opinion, and that's why I'm going for the anime mask.

Yes, Hi-Impact did the anime one. Hopefully it's okay to post this image:
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The one above is from the Japanese JR book.

The H-I mask is nice, but there are noticeable flaws that I can't help but notice since I've stared at dozens and dozens of reference pictures for countless hours. I wont nitpick though unless someone from Hi-Impact wants me to.

It's a very nice mask, and probably costs a lot less than the one I want in fiberglass, but I'm just a perfectionist and want a "definitive" version.

Does anyone have ideas for the eyes? Any 3P0 builders want to chime in on how they do the 3P0 eyes? My main concern is diffusing the light from the LEDs so it doesn't look like a bunch of individual LEDs, and will still allow someone to look through the eyes.

Kylash, very nice Stray Dogs.


David

Originally posted by synasp@Mar 2 2006, 12:33 PM
The Stray Dogs looks like a poodle (small, pointy nose :P) while the anime looks like a wolf (wide face, gas-mask snout).

I haven't seen the live-action picture, but have seen the anime and was very impressed, not only by the design of the mask and armor, but also by the visual design of the film overall.

I am quite interested in this project and would love to have a helmet, but don't know what I can contribute other than enthusiasm.

On the other hand, I do live in Tokyo, so if there are reference or other materials from Japan that I may be able to locate/provide, I will do my best to do so!

Originally posted by synasp@Mar 2 2006, 03:33 AM
The Stray Dogs looks like a poodle (small, pointy nose :P) while the anime looks like a wolf (wide face, gas-mask snout).

i think saying that the anime one looks like a wolf is stretching it a bit... and dont kid yourself, it has the same "pointy nose" that the live action one does.

I'd love to help out with this project! I've done a LOT of research and reference collecting as well. I can't help much with molding and casting BUT I can help with creating the masters.

As for lighting the eyes... David, I've sent you a PM.

-B89!

id like more info about lighting as well...ive got mine working fine but when it comes to seeing, the lenses fog up quite fast...

Beeb, replying to PM...

Originally posted by darcjedi@Mar 2 2006, 03:45 AM
i think saying that the anime one looks like a wolf is stretching it a bit...

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the best way to explain how I'm approaching this is... well, like the "day after" and you're sitting around with your buddies. They all saw who you left the bar with, and while she wasn't all beer-goggle good-lookin, some post-event self-convincing goes a long way. So just let me have my "anime mask is the greatest mask in the world" opinion!!

Okay, so whomever reads this, PM your 3P0 buddies and ask them how they did the eyes. From what I understand, it's the eye, then a smaller tube inside that (which the person looks out from) then the LEDs surround the tube... I'm not sure how well that would work. 3P0 lights aren't very well diffused.

I'd be sooo willing to lend some moral support to this project! BTW, where do ya'll get the german helmet's for the masks. I haven't been able to find anything 'cept real or replicas that cost upwards of $75 - $a billion bucks!
cheers! JAson

mine is pvc, cant remember the site i got it..but it was only like $35.

Originally posted by Kylash327@Mar 2 2006, 02:26 PM
mine is pvc, cant remember the site i got it..but it was only like $35.

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dayam! Someone, anyone, hook me up with that site!?

Ohhh interesting project! I love the anime version too! HI setup is nice, but like you said, there are some noticable differences, which really do stand out, but awesome work all the same.
Not really in the know to offer any advice as of yet, so I'll just hide in the shadows and watch the masters at work!

well, if youre looking for ideas on how to light the eyes, heres something i made for my ecto goggle project i'm currently working on. its just a ring of styrene that i have superglued leds into and wired together in parallel... it seems to work pretty good, the only thing i need to do is come up with some kind of diffuser.

Here's a japanese fan-made anime-style Panzer Cop suit. Scanned from an old B-CLUB magazine from '91. I have a lot of Panzer Cop/Jin Roh stuff that I've collected over the years... one of the nicest items would be the old Kaiyodo kit of the anime-style Panzer Cop... which would be excellent reference [along w/ the manga] for making a full-size suit.

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hm... I'm going to have to play around with LEDs. But very nice goggles!! Is wiring LEDs in parallel the best? Exoray posted a nice diagram on how to wire LEDs a while back... I lost it though.

Do you guys think 8 super-bright LEDs is better than, say, 10 standard LEDs? The argument for standards is that it'll be easier to diffuse.

For some anal reason, I need my props to feel "functional" so even if no one will see the inside of the mask, it still needs to look like a real mask, not a prop, from my POV. I've got a cool idea on how to power the eye LEDs as well as the fan in the mouthpiece (that will suck air in from the jaw guards down into the chest).

marcvs66, cool picture. That's a weird blend of anime (mask, helmet, shoulder) and live action (chest, thighs, legs). I'm liking how uniform the red eyes are glowing though...

Do any of you have more pictures in your reference libraries?

actually, that armor pictured above is based on the other live action movie "the red spectacles"

edit: added a few screencaps

and i just realized that i had the hi impact armor pics stored on my web server. if i remember correctly, one of them told me before they didnt mind them being used for reference, but if anyone has any objections, i will remove them.

http://www.darcjedi.com/jinroh/