Batsuit: Arkham Origins V2

[Jroymosman]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Just purchased a bunch of material. Hoping to get started on my costume next week. Two questions: Do you just mount the abs, chest, etc onto another foam sheet (like the one's that you make the gauntlets out of?...I guess a better question might be, "What kind of material do you have BEHIND everything? Where did you buy your cutting board? Thanks again for your willingness to help and offer advice. I have had the opposite experience in the past and it is very frustrating. Thank you for answering questions, offering suggestions, and just being helpful when sharing your ideas. Very much appreciated.

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Just purchased a bunch of material. Hoping to get started on my costume next week. Two questions: Do you just mount the abs, chest, etc onto another foam sheet (like the one's that you make the gauntlets out of?...I guess a better question might be, "What kind of material do you have BEHIND everything? Where did you buy your cutting board? Thanks again for your willingness to help and offer advice. I have had the opposite experience in the past and it is very frustrating. Thank you for answering questions, offering suggestions, and just being helpful when sharing your ideas. Very much appreciated.

no problem man. I don't understand why people would become members of this community if they wanted to keep everything a secret.
As for your questions, in its current state, the pieces are just taped onto the mannequin but this is just to hold them into place for the pictures.
The abs are in fact glued into place onto a 2mm craft foam sheet. This way I could align the abs and then wrap them in vinyl without worrying about them moving around. Next I'm going to get another sheet of foam(probably 5mm) and try making an interconnecting piece that borders the chest and the abs. Then I'm moving onto the details on the ribs. I'll take a couple pics of the process as I go.

Good of luck on yours!

 

[Jroymosman]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Thank you! So, your finished product will have 5mm foam sheets as the "foundation" (so to speak)?

 

[DJdrummer]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

The vinyl looks AMAZING! Definitely taking inspiration from your process if I'm ever doing an armored superhero costume.

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Thank you! So, your finished product will have 5mm foam sheets as the "foundation" (so to speak)?

the foundation was going to be the 2mm sheet in which I was going to layer the detailing layers on top. But I might change it up a little. Playing it by ear and seeing what works best for what I have done so far.

The vinyl looks AMAZING! Definitely taking inspiration from your process if I'm ever doing an armored superhero costume.

thanks! The trick i think is finding the right kind of vinyl. Some are too thick and won't shape well along complex curves. I'm actually surprised I haven't seen more people go this route. It really gives it something extra.

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Finally made the frame for the abs. And was originally going to make the abs/chest a one piece by interlocking them into one backplate but it was making the whole thing too stiff and difficult to contour against myself. Cut off the plate behind the chest and the fit is much better.


Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr

 

[Nhatz]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Nice man!!! haven't updated my Arkham Origin thread here but gonna build my V2 of that.. been busy taking commissions

 

[Lightslinger]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Reznor, what do you recommend for pants? I'm thinking Tactical Pants? They all come a little baggy but they have the right look, I could maybe try to find some slimmer fit or even get them tailored.

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Reznor, what do you recommend for pants? I'm thinking Tactical Pants? They all come a little baggy but they have the right look, I could maybe try to find some slimmer fit or even get them tailored.

Im currently stocking some black jeans which will mostly be covered by armor and shin guards. But I think what I would want is some jeans that have a little bit of a matte finish to them like those that look like they have a layer of wax on them.

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Making slow progress on my suit.
Starting the templates for the ribs.
Hand sewing Velcro to keep some of the plates in place.
Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr


Purchased some terraflex at my local Tandy leather today. Going to remake the frame around the abs. Not only do I feel it's a little too thick of a frame but also If possible I want to keep my foam visibility to a minimum.


Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr


After a painful first attempt, I scrapped it and started again. I'm pretty happy with this frame. Not sure if I'm going to glue it into the frame or maybe use magnets. In any case, i just need to sand it down a little and add some paint. Coming along...
Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr


Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr


Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr

 

[Jroymosman]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

This is really coming together! Very impressive. When you are making gauntlets, chest pieces, etc., do you glue all of the pieces together before you shape them, or do you have to do the shaping first? For example, with the gauntlets, do you cut out all of the layers and glue them together before heating up with the heat gun and shaping?

 

[CosBlade]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

This is looking great!

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

This is really coming together! Very impressive. When you are making gauntlets, chest pieces, etc., do you glue all of the pieces together before you shape them, or do you have to do the shaping first? For example, with the gauntlets, do you cut out all of the layers and glue them together before heating up with the heat gun and shaping?

thanks. It depends on he piece you're building. The gauntlets for example I don't heat shape at all. I hold the foam against a cylindrical tube and shape the pieces as I glue them and the glue makes them hold the desired shape.
the chest however I did have to pre-shape with heat prior to glueing the pieces together.
so really there is no finite answer to that as each I project is different and might work better using one method as opposed to another.

This is looking great!

Thank you!

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Sanded it down, two layers of primer. Sanded again. Then two layers of paint. Finish isn't as smooth as it originally looked after my last sanding but it's okay. Guess I'll have to fine tune my sanding techniques. It's useable though and loads better than the foam version I was using previously.
Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr

 

[Jroymosman]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Looks SOOOO good!

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

This is looking great!

Looks SOOOO good!

Thanks guys!

Round two on abdominal frame: I was unhappy with the rough texture of the terraflex so I sanded it back down to the base material using 80 grit sandpaper. Added 3 coats of wood glue then sanded with 220 grit. Added 2 coats of shellac then sanded 220 grit. Added 2 coats of primer. Light sanding. Two coats of flat black. You can still see a little bit of brush strokes from the wood glue that I unfortunately didn't completely sand down(probably should have sanded between coats), but the end result is much much smoother than my previous attempt. (Also worth noting is that I only sanded the outer frame. The depressed area where the abs will sit received no special treatment)
Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr


On my last Origins Suit I used Allen bolts as a personal touch, but this time around I'm looking for some good rivets or eyelets to shoot for authenticity. These ones look good. Just wish I would have found them before I painted this thing so I could have applied them during the molding process . Ugh. Now I'm going to have to drill some little holes so I can insert them for them to sit flush. Hopefully I Can do so without harming the paint in the surrounding areas.
Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

During my endless pursuit of perfection I managed to dream up a new template while on break at work yesterday... Even though I tried to convince myself I was completely satisfied with the one I was using. Got home, sketched it out and went to work. An hour later I had this... Was able to modify the bottom of chest slightly, rounding it out more at the ends and added a little more width so I could give the chest more contour, allowing me to actually give the area between the pecs that little concave look. Also the top of the pecs I cut out as separate pieces and contoured them as well which overall gives the chest more dimension. Haven't covered it in vinyl yet but I'm pretty happy with this one... Contemplating first adding a layer of terraflex to make it more durable, although Im not sure if want to sacrifice the flexibility... Have to think it over. Just wanted to share.


Untitled by Jerry Adams, on Flickr

 

[CosBlade]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

I would have thought your last piece was perfect, but seeing the countors of this one I can see why you wanted to take another crack at it.

That should look great when you cover it in the vinyl. Also, if you want an idea for a quick fix for durability without sacrificing flexibility, just get some military webbing and glue it to the backside of the seams. That will pretty much guarantee your seams never break, and it will still allow you the same range of motion. Hope that helps!

 

[Reznor9]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

I would have thought your last piece was perfect, but seeing the countors of this one I can see why you wanted to take another crack at it.

That should look great when you cover it in the vinyl. Also, if you want an idea for a quick fix for durability without sacrificing flexibility, just get some military webbing and glue it to the backside of the seams. That will pretty much guarantee your seams never break, and it will still allow you the same range of motion. Hope that helps!

thanks for the compliment and the tip! I'll keep that in mind for my questionable seams. But what I was referring to as far as durability was that if the foam gets pressed against too much or pushed in too hard, it could leave an indentation. In most cases it springs back, but it's happened before where the indentation was permanent. I mean for a suit that is going to be weathered anyhow maybe not a big deal... But I don't know. Might be cool to have something that feels hard and sturdy like a real piece of armor. Lol. Just a thought...

 

[Jroymosman]

Re: Batman: Arkham Origins Build - Version 2.0

Can't wait to see how you do the shoulders... I made a first attempt at shoulders last night and the pattern that I tried did not work out at all, unfortunately... I ended up watching a couple of Evil Ted videos, so I think that I have a better handle on it now, but I'm curious to see how you do it simply because my costume is so similar in design to the one you are building. Everything looks great right now!