(Not just) Another Mark 4 WIP ;p

Hi everyone!!

My name is Danielle, and I'm a costume-holic.

Well, I imagine that's how the start of "meetings" would go..if we had any!

Anyway, I've only been involved in the costuming community since August; when I went to Fanexpo dressed in green BDU's from Battlestar Galactica. I was swept up in the awesomeness. Since then I've been seeing what new bigger, badder and greater costumes interest me that I can do.

That being said, every October me and a gaggle of people decide what theme we're going to go with. My sister came up with the Avengers (like that's original) but I agreed. We were assigned people based on our attitudes and social standing in the group.

I got Iron Man.

Or, in my case, Iron Woman.

I've been reading like crazy all the inputs, opinions, and different ways to make this costume. I could spend days going through the threads. Ultimately I decided to work with two mediums: foam for the arms (and possibly legs) and fiberglass for the body, helmet and shoulders.

Pepping the files took 3 tries--first reduced by 10 percent, then 15 percent, and ultimately I am somewhere around 12 percent LoL!

The foam went well. I used Stealth's files (thanks man) along with his painting process of Plastidip, adhesion promoter, automotive paint (with a coating of vinyl paint) and sealing it with an Acrylic Laquer. Ultimatly the foam has six layers of paint on it, not counting the Plastidip or finishing. 4 layers of Paint, one layer of Vinyl paint and one layer of metallic speckle paint. I also used EVA foam and found it nice to work with. It didn't crack and it holds well under pressure.

The fiberglass stage went well, too. I love pepping. LOVE IT. I don't even mind fiberglassing. But bondo??! OMG.

The shoulder and neck piece is what I call "battle damaged" with small imperfections. Even with the Mouse sander, that was a pain in the you know what.

So I ordered Evercoat Rage and it came today. I'll be sanding the fiberglass a little more before applying it and going as slow as I can.

The painting of the resin'ed piece was pretty much the same, except one less layer of paint and no plasti-dip.

Below find some photos. I know it's not perfect, but man I am having a great time making it and I am pretty comfortable knowing the end result will look good as I practice, practice, practice and take lots of advice and critique. Costuming is a hobby, but it's also an experience.

I also posted some other photos of the costumes I had--me as a Viper pilot, me as Lady Two-Face and me as a Jedi (with the Rebel Legion.)

Thanks guys!! Now to enjoy a cool drink and sand my brace piece.

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...-20-31_924.jpg (foam arm, unpainted)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...-18-57_187.jpg (foam arm, with light source)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...-36-55_615.jpg (seeing if the scale works with the pepped shoulder bell)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...7-23-29_65.jpg (painted foam arm with repulsor)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...-23-52_373.jpg (outside of painted foam arm)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/2012-0...-00-24_305.jpg Stark Industries (workstation)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/IMG_7545.JPG (neck piece and first attempt at bondo / fiberglass = the mantle pieces with authentic battleworn look! lol!)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/IMG_7546.JPG The arm piece, without me wearing it.

OTHER COSTUMES

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/428414...19223788_n.jpg (Me as a Jedi)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/473118...99780527_o.jpg (me as Lady Two Face with custom suit)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/540613...86436938_n.jpg
(another Two Face shot)

http://duatdesigns.com/extras/484249...87760905_n.jpg
(Me as a Viper Jock with custom flightsuit from BSG--Screen accurate WIP)

Nice collection of costumes! I very much understand the secret of "battle damage" from my experience with the detailing process. I also like the red paint you used for your Iron Man armor, may I ask what color you used?

Good work! It's interesting that you are going with a mix of mediums. There is no way I would have the patience to do pep and glass! My foam mk VII is wearing my last nerve!
I'm digging your other costumes. That viper jacket is amazing!!
Good luck. Keep us updated!

Hi Guys!

Love to share the colors, especially for your Fierfek. Your custom work was absolutely stunning.

I usually see bright red iron men out there, and I don't really dig it for my "version". I went with Dupli-Color's Red Inferno. Nothing says Iron man like red inferno.
It also has a nice metallic sheen to it. I believe it's for general GM cars (colors).

Today I spent an hour sanding away on the second part of the shoulder bell. I realize that when people say go slow....they mean...GO SLOW lmao. It's much, much smoother than my first piece but not perfect yet. It'll look like the hulk shoulder punched me a little bit, but, with a little silver paint on the bumps it'll look intentional. If anyone notices at all.

Tomorrow I paint the second shoulder bell piece and bondo the right shoulder bell. I used Rage by Evercoat and while it's no easier to put on it's alot easier to sand (sometimes a little too easy).

I took a pic of me today all covered in Evercoat soot. It was a laugh lol I'll post it soon

Thank you Helagak for the Viper jock compliment, it was my first build from scratch and it's a personal favorite!! (i've also admired your posts!)

Awesome job!!! Keep up the great work.

Hey all,

I'm getting the hang of this body filler--though sometimes it requires so much sanding the little Mouse sander I have does an uneven job; it sands too much and goes right down to the paper in some places while a little pinhole is still left right next to it. Nothing spot putty can't fix, but, some more practice and I'll get the hang of this stage of the build.

Posted a photo of the completed right shoulder bell which is a drastic improvement from the more bumpy left shoulder bell.

Also posted a picture of the pepped chest piece.

I'm nearly all done sanding the back of the brace and that's the final piece before I start putting what I have together for a photo.

I'll be taking a break to do some other work and start a Capt. America shield (for our Capt America) and will probably mix the work into this thread. It is, after-all, not *just* another mark 4!

See you when phase one of this build is all done!

Pepped the back today, I don't even like thinking about how long it took.

But they do look beautiful together.

Moving onto the Abs to do a greater amount of smaller work before I even think about body filling in such a major piece as the chestpiece. Still need more practice with that stage--but at least the pepping is done.

Catch you guys soon!

What weight cardstock are you using? I use 110#

Hi J0we!

I bought 110 cardstock as well, but this is 80lb matte cover purchased from a professional printing company. It's much thicker than 110 cardstock sold in stores, and holds up really really well to the resin beating I put it through.

Whats the latest build you've done?

Thanks for letting me know about the paint color. I've been looking for the right color for my Iron Man helmet. You're making good progress, I might try my hand at one of these suits one of these days. How is that Evercoat rage filler working for you opposed to the Bondo brand?

Comparing rage to Bondo is like...comparing 2 ply to 4 ply toilet paper. In a sense--it just doesn't beat it and you know when you're working with one vs the other.

The rage sands better, gives you a longer application time and actually is a bit smoother when being applied. It sands a little *too* easily, actually, and I wind up sometimes sanding all the way down to the paper when I'm trying to sand the part right adjacent to it. I have trouble keeping bubbles off of the build when applying it over creases and the like but, really, that's the biggest issue I have so far. And that's user error.

I would definitely recommend going for a more top shelf body filler like rage and will never, ever use over the counter Bondo again. I went from doing one piece a day because of the frustration level to 3 pieces a day (and then just getting tired with it lol)

Hi Everyone

Here are some photos of me in the completed build so far. What I call "Phase One"

I couldn't put on the other shoulder bell, fingers or other hand because it's hard for me to do it alone.

But enjoy what I could, you get a good idea of what it looks like!

I'll have to try that rage filler out. If it sands easier and smoother, then that is just what I'm looking for.

Your suit is coming along great. You have the LEDs already installed too.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks Fierfek, coming from you that means alot ;p

The LEds aren't installed so much as...nestled nicely into the palm so tight they can't move lmao! Def try the rage filler. It's so worth it!

After much blood, sweat and cursing; my Mark 4 suit was finally finished for NYCC two days before it opened.

Right now it's going through several modifications, because after 3 uses it did crack in some places. My frame is so very small for a suit built for a man I have some trouble getting the pieces to line up correctly, particularly in the shoulders. I think the bells are too small or the shoulder pieces on the back too big--it's hard when you're a 5'3" woman to pull it off...but I feel the suit was a total success and speaks for itself. I am very proud to call it my own and can't wait to do great things with it!

Thank you everyone for your support, advice and invaluable help. I learned alot about myself in the process, and miss the work in progress.