Fallout New Vegas NCR Ranger Armor

[LamplightMungo]

Hello all, this is my first thread, so here goes nothing I'm pretty new to cosplay, but I've been playing in post-apocalyptic scenario airsoft events for about 4 years now which involve scrapping together fun costumes, so I finally decided to take my Fallout gear to the next level. I love the website and it's already given me some tremendously helpful tips & pointers. After tinkering around a bit and learning the basics of working with EVA, I decided to share with you all my first major project of some NCR Ranger armor to get my feet wet before I eventually work my way up to a full suit of power armor. I'm hoping to have a good Ranger costume for Tampa Comic Con in August.

Please excuse my crappy cell phone picture quality :$


I started with a basic template that I found online that I've seen several other people on here use, and cut it all out with a beveled edge



Sanded the edges a bit, heated & shaped them, then glued them onto a full size backing. Most people I've seen tend to just attach the pieces at the seams without much of a backing, but I definitely like the thickness & sturdiness of the two full layers.



Next I took out the woodburning tool for some damage effects



Next was painting. I did a sealer of dark gray Plastidip, then a base layer of Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze, and then I painted in all of the battle scars in silver acrylic. Next I took Rustoleum Camouflage Deep Forest Green and rubbed it on with a rag to give it a used worn look. I absolutely loved how that final color turned out, the picture doesn't properly capture it. I painted the stencils with Krylon Pebble so that it looks a little dulled down and not like brand new white paint. Then I retouched some of the battlescars with more silver. I dabbed metallic gunmetal gray around the outsides of scarring, but I'm not a huge fan of how that looks up close after it dried; too shiny for how dark the color is. I think next time I'll get a similar shade but in a flat/matte.



I finished up my weathering with an acrylic wash. I was worried a dark color would ruin the nice shade of dark green I had made, so I used a sandy tan color on it - made sense since they're primarily in the desert. I think it was a good contrast color to fill in the cuts & scratches against the dark green without really ruining the base color


Overall, I'm pretty satisfied for a first attempt, but I'll most likely be giving it another try and probably just giving this one to a buddy. Going forward on my second attempt, I'm definitely going to re-do my stencils a bit to clean up the big gaps between the pieces. I also thought the neck protector was a little small on that template, but I'm thinking I need to tackle making the helmet before I expand that at all. Next on my list: I'm gonna spice up the New Vegas armor with some FO4 combat armor legs

Feedback, thoughts, & advice for my next attempt? I'm really interested in other weathering suggestions to go well with the dark green color. Most people do black with silver popping through, so I don't know how well dry brushing some orange/red rust on would really mesh with that.

 

[Rnc88]

Welcome to the RPF! Looks good so far! The tiny detail scratches really add to the depth, and the green is killer! With regards to painting rust, in my experience, a thinly brushed purple prior to rust red and orange really helps with depth. Of note, as the ranger gear is pre-war riot armor, you could adapt it to your liking, i.e. on the next one you could write TPD (Tampa PD for the comic con, or your home city) instead of LAPD. on a similar tangent, you could do salt weathering to give the illusion of exposure to the ocean/gulf. This can be done by using a spray bottle with white watercolor paint, and hitting the armor lightly. Sorry for the rambling nature, just love the concept of gulf commonwealth armor! As for the neck guard, smaller is better, mine was 100% accurate to the game model in scale, and even at six foot five, I could barely move my head without hitting it, requiring a redesign. what type of combat armor legs are you thinking, normal or heavy? good luck, cant wait to see more

-Rnc

 

[Yeexsters]

My god, I love it! I originally had the idea of putting my pieces on a shirt, but so many of you guys are just putting the foam pieces on another foam piece. Also, I love the idea of Fallout 4 armor pads.
Like Rnc said, I can't wait to see more!

-Yeex

 

[LamplightMungo]

So the biggest lesson I learned for next time is have my strapping setup ready and installed early. I went with a basic X pattern on the back that pulls on it at weird angles, and I waited until the end to put that on, so the end result of those two factors is that it now doesn't quite sit where it did when I formed it to my body. Eh, you live & learn. If I can't find anything while thrifting then next time I'll shell out for some all-purpose suspenders from Lowe's.


As for the combat armor legs, I'm going heavy on the knees & shins, sturdy on the thighs. I figured I'll already be cooking in my duster, no reason to fully enclose my thighs, haha. The thighs & shins are almost ready to paint, I just need to fill in the seams on the trim and pick up some elastic to strap them on.

 

[Dspongberg]

Gotta say I'm very happy to see so many other people doing Rangers. Also here's how I did my Chest rig strapping, the bottom is held by the belt anyway.

 

[Yeexsters]

Damn, dat's some really hot strapping, I gotta say. I'm currently on my third attempt on making the armor piece. I plan on using velcro straps on the back, so It'll be adjustable.
-Y

Gotta say I'm very happy to see so many other people doing Rangers. Also here's how I did my Chest rig strapping, the bottom is held by the belt anyway.


View attachment 639338

 

[Dspongberg]

Once you have it set to your dimensions you don't really need to adjust it, I used old adjusters off a backpack and a belt clip. Also contact cement is fantastic for foam work, My strap is held on with that and also sewn to it as well.

 

[LamplightMungo]

Does anybody have tips for weathering my duster a little bit? I got a screaming price for it like new....almost too new looking, haha. As you can see it's a dark color, so I want to lighten it a bit around places like the elbows. I wouldn't mine poking a few holes in it either if there's a way to make it look organic and not like I just purposely cut it with a knife.

 

[HighlanderFX]

I would suggest trying various cutting tools like scissors, xacto knife, etc..and practice on a similar material. That way you will know what to expect with each tool, and possibly find a method you like. Also, less is always better when it comes to weathering, as you can always add more weathering later if you decide you aren't happy with it.

For making it look dirty, I'd say try "misting" earth toned spray paint (black, dark browns) onto your jacket. That is what I did for mine, though it looks like your fabric is a good bit darker than mine. You can also try dry brushing acrylic paint on certain areas.

I probably should have added a bit more around the rim of the garment.

I even went as far as dabbing bleach onto certain areas to make it look discolored (the splotched areas that look almost orange like towards the bottom of the jacket)

Hope a few of these ideas help!

 

[Yeexsters]

Fabric paint and randomly stabbing it with a knife is what I'm going to do, might even set it on fire. I've also seen someone pulling a jacket behind their car.

Does anybody have tips for weathering my duster a little bit? I got a screaming price for it like new....almost too new looking, haha. As you can see it's a dark color, so I want to lighten it a bit around places like the elbows. I wouldn't mine poking a few holes in it either if there's a way to make it look organic and not like I just purposely cut it with a knife.

View attachment 639608

 

[Dspongberg]

I found a simple and fast way to make the wear on the shoulders, use a Hammer and dolly and using an inelastic collision to use the pressure of the hammer hitting the dolly to burn a hole in the fabric. I creates a fantastic hole that looks aged and almost melts the stray strands and prevents fraying.