Another femShep armour.

[kingpin141]

Hello and welcome to my first attempt at a replica costume. I've made a few outfits before but strictly cardboard and duct tape. This will be the first time I've EVA foam. Or worked on anything this big. I usually make 1/35th scale models. And the armour isn't for me either, it's for my sons girlfriend. I've got till Halloween. This is what I've done so far. First up the templates for the front and back torso.
Next up my first attempt at sculpting with the shoulder blades. I used insulation foam and then vac formed them. They've come out well but the surfaces need some clean up. The foam will stay inside the plastic to give it strength and give the LEDs something to sit in. You can't see it in the pics but the light in Xbox green. I cut up and Xbox game box for the transparency.
And finally Shepard isn't Shepard without a weapon. I had the chassis of a long defunct SA80 BB gun sat in me shed for years. Now it has a new life. I'm going to try and make it look as close as possible to my weapon of choice, the M96 Mattock. My mate Albert is a genius with wood so he's to cut out the white template in the pics out of some sort of wood. They will clad the SA80 and i'll pimp the surfaces with plastic. I wasn't happy at all with the first handle so made one much to my liking. It looks like a Mass Effect weapon.
And finally I'd like to give a massive shout to Freya Williams. Her FemShep armour is Absolutely Gobsmacking. She's given me a star to aim for and the inspiration to get off my arse and actually do it. Plus this is practice. After this I want to make myself this as well.

 

[kingpin141]

The foam has finally arrived. I've started the back. The basic shape has been cut. The joins between the mats are far from invisible. Does anyone know of a way of hiding or masking them.
And the beginnings of the shoulder pack. I'm going to get some carbon fibre effect fablon, and see if sticks to the foam.
The Mattock so far. Do I keep the gun here or should I start another blog in the replica props part. I'm using foam insulation to pack out the body. I'm going to try and turn the handle into the sights. I using the technique Yummi has used in his lunar explorer cockpit displays. Hopefully I'll end up with an aircraft style H.U.D. when you look down them.

 

[Metrocop]

Whenever I've seen someone make a Shepard costume, it's always been great. Even the modest ones look good and I'm sure you won't disappoint.

Just take your time, measure, check for symmetry, along with being persistent and attentive to detail. Otherwise looks like a good start, keep it up.

 

[kingpin141]

More work on the Mattock. I've decided that as I can't manage an exact replica, This will become the M96 Mattock A2. The handsome fellow modelling it is Albert, the Kato of carpentry.

And finally the lights for the H.U.D./crosshairs.

 

[kingpin141]

Not a lot to show for a fair amount of work. I've been trying to get the LEDs and HUDs lined up. I think it'll look reasonably good once it's all properly sealed. If I can do it, i'm tempted to add an lit ammo power selector switch. The symbols for each are . The only fly in the ointment being they have to be about 5 mil square. I've no idea if I can do it or not, but I'll never know till I try.

- - - Updated - - -

And also, joy of joys. Fablon does stick to the foam. The smooth side anyway.

 

[kingpin141]

I've pretty much the whole day working on one square inch of the Mattock. And I am seriously happy with it. The ammo selector switch is done and lit.
Here it be..The indicators without the switch
lit.

 

[kingpin141]

Due to budgetary constraints I hving to change how I'm building this armour. I need more EVA and a heat gun. neither of which I can afford so Im having to go back to cardboard and duct tape. Having said that I can do a lot more detail etc with them. I going to try and get different types of black tape (gloss/matt etc) as it wont take paint. I'm going to use the EVA where ever I can but I know i'll end up using more card/tape than I want to. Here's the first piece, The collar. The challenge is making the duct tape look like it isn't duct tape.

 

[kingpin141]

The basic leg armour done blackView attachment 331288View attachment 331290 fablon over black duct tape with silver duct tape trim. Now i just need work out how to tone it down. I duct painted the collar without fabloning it and that gives nice contrast. And finally a use to use mu old work belt. The duct tape sling will hold theholster and keep the leg armour up.

 

[kingpin141]

Sorry about yesterdays erratic post. I've got a new phone and i'm still figuring it out. Here are the missing leg armour pics.

 

[kingpin141]

Boobs! I've given up on em. As I can't form the foam the round chest armour has been canned. Instead 'm going to use the Rosenkov materials chest plate. Layered slabs of armour I can do. Here be the design. Unfortunately I'd already made the back of the armour so it will be a mish mash of armours. This is how far I've got so far.. More painting with Duct tape. I'm hoping to use the foam for the chest slabs so I can atleast get some in there somewhere.

 

[kingpin141]

Yay. I've made something out of foam. The chest piece is massively over engineered. Lots of foam and glue. I used plasticard superglued to the foam for the hard surfaces. And best of all it fits.