FemShep N7 Armor, Valkyrie Rifle, + Omniblade (Mass Effect 3)

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Wow, that is a nice looking rifle kit. Sadly, you are correct about how a Nerf feels.

Yet, what is this move you speak of? Moving usually has a negative effect on hobbies.
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Yet, what is this move you speak of? Moving usually has a negative effect on hobbies.

It’s a long story. If you’re browsing this for some costume tips, you might want to skip this, because it’s off topic.

Otherwise, crack open a beer.

My former roommate is someone I worship with a fandom most females reserve for Justin Timberlake. He is awesome, and continues to be awesome – so keep that in mind when reading the next two sentences. He was on the Army Golden Knights parachute team, and out of state for an airshow when a driver hit him, a few days after I created this thread. He was cycling with a friend and thrown off his bike. The accident has left him paralyzed from the waist down. In October I watched his progress through videos my other roommate, his girlfriend, would send me over email.

He basically went from breathing tubes, to doing stunts in his wheelchair most bodybuilders couldn't handle, in a matter of two months. The docs were so stupefied by his progress that they want to keep him at rehab, because he has a chance of walking again. But if not, you’ll see him in the Paralympics.

So now I am roomateless and possibly moving - but I’m happy to hear that they are going to keep challenging this army ranger with proper therapy. My costume is a tribute to him. All the patience and self-control he has had to endure makes my creative frustrations look like nothing – so I am also challenging myself, to make this one of my best efforts.

Commander Shepard will be my portrait of the respect I have, for real soldiers who don’t quit.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Sorry that I am not at SWC anymore or could help and learn about vacuform molding.
Ranger vocabulary is full of four letter words but two that aren't are fail or quit.

I really hate trying on a tablet to type. 21st century crap!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

May i ask where you got your "carbon fiber" from?

Top Vinyl Films

Ranger vocabulary is full of four letter words but two that aren't are fail or quit.

Well said!

Here is a pic I snapped of the ABS vac-formed pauldrons, and progress of the under-armor. I can't decide if I want slightly thicker straps than those around the legs - and it may need some interfacing. They are basically patterned like riding chaps.

Really need to get the interior of that neck guard done, it is super flimsy right now.:unsure

I should be rigging this up soon, so that I can actually test it on myself.

 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Wow, just by itself so far it would make a stellar costume, and thinking of your end goal... wow
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

So far this costume looks great, I really like the carbon fibre effect panels, such a nice touch.
I hope your room mate is doing well, send my regards.
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I want to move around in this costume without being hindered by the ab plates, so they may be cut separately (a lot of Shep costumers keep them as one unit, which is probably better if you are doing foam) and mounted onto the bodysuit in some way that I haven't determined yet. The fabric I am starting with is a synthetic woven suiting material with just a tiny bit of stretch.

This design has the benefit of revealing a somewhat accurate strap alignment between the shoulders, and keeping a good amount of tension in the torso lining.

*Snip*

I want to avoid velcro. Ideally there will be none of it on the patterned suit. If this material behaves correctly I will probably secure the armor to the lining, and have the peace of mind that comes with not having things attached by velcro. You know - when you get knocked really hard by someone walking through a crowd, and your costume piece stays on, but looks crooked and you don't realize until you happen to walk by reflective windows or something. Drives me nuts.

Who knew this was actually an engineering process? Lol. I'm starting to find that out more and more as I do my "R&D."

I had similar thoughts about the ab plate, and I'm going to try, but with the armor piece I'm doing (Aegis vest/Serrice council chestplate) it will be tricky, because pieces wrap around the sides and the ab plate has very little negative space. I'm more attached to accuracy than the ability to sit down, but I'm gonna try to see if I can have my cake and eat it, too. XD

Any particular reason why you have a strong aversion to velcro? I'm thinking I'm going to have to use a combination of straps and velcro because my body shape is more curvy than lean, and things tend to obey the laws of gravity much more than I want them to. So, have pieces strapped on, but also tacked on with velcro to keep them from sagging in places. (For example, if I just strapped my thigh plate on, it would eventually start to slip and sag down my leg if something didn't keep it in place.) I ask because if you've got a way to strap things on and keep them from creeping down, I'm all ears.

Great to see the progress so far! The faux carbon fiber pieces look sharp! (Too bad I'm doing a custom color. :unsure)
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

This is definately turning out to be the best FemShep I've seen , I look forward to see it finished !
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I am really looking forward to your posts and pics with the articulated abs!:popcorn
War Machine builds typically have single piece ab/cod and it really hinders mobility. (painful too I am thinking):confused
I was thinking plastic plates over foam or fiberglass panels connected by elastic.
I like you really want to avoid too much velcro.
You are making a convert out of me concerning vaccu-forming, so I will have to start looking into it at some point! Formed ABS secured to a foam understructure might yield good results?
Did you build your vaccuform machine or are you using a commercial model? You said it was huge and Cantankerous, so I assume its commercial?
Thanks! Ever and always a fan of yours!
M
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

So far this costume looks great, I really like the carbon fibre effect panels, such a nice touch.
I hope your room mate is doing well, send my regards.
Thank you!! I will :thumbsup

Any particular reason why you have a strong aversion to velcro?

View attachment 131786

Short answer: I want to be this guy. LOOK HOW AMAZEBALLS HE IS! But Commander Shepard doesn't have a license, so she'd be strapped to some brosef. I really wanted it to be my roomate. The parachute part made me sick last time, and if I accidentally barfed on him, he would still love me. I think. If Commander Shep puked on a stranger, there would be nothing but everlasting shame. Would be a good story though I guess.

I will be doing stupid things in this costume, so, velcro is out, except for tiny places maybe.

Is that what it's going to look like when you're done? ;)

I should look EXACTLY like him when I'm done :love

Did you build your vaccuform machine or are you using a commercial model? You said it was huge and Cantankerous, so I assume its commercial?
Thanks! Ever and always a fan of yours!
M

I actually am using a commercial one. A lot of this costume is being made at Techshop - you pay a monthly fee kind of like a gym to use a bunch of different equipment. That's one reason not being able to work on this costume is so painful, just like going to the gym, if you don't go, its money out the window.

MY SEMESTER IS OVER!!
I have no idea what I want to work on today! I'll report back later!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I actually am using a commercial one. A lot of this costume is being made at Techshop - you pay a monthly fee kind of like a gym to use a bunch of different equipment. That's one reason not being able to work on this costume is so painful, just like going to the gym, if you don't go, its money out the window.

They were supposed to open one near me, but it fell through. And then I ended up on a mailing list for the one up in North Carolina or something. :rolleyes
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)


I'm sorry but you've been asking for it.

1584jd2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Thank you for the tip! We seem to have a Techshop here in Orlando! I am planning on looking into it tomorrow!
M
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I love builds like this, I always learn so much. Keep it up!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I thought the plans for it fell through a couple years ago.
Looks like my enthusiasm was premature. Initially I had googled from my phone and there seemed to be a site and links, but further exploration showed all the links are dead. Main site list of locations show none in florida. Oh well, it looks like I'll have to follow x-robots plans and build a vaccu-form machine at some point.
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I'll ask my manager if they plan on opening any in new locations... I know they are trying to expand.

Been working here and there on several things.

Starting sculpting the forearm parts with apoxie sculpt, and taking care to bend it around the curve of the arm as I see in some references. Its one of those things that tricks the eye, depending on what angle the reference is facing. Made version 1 of these and didn't like it under the vac former. I'm just going with my own design judgment here.

I don't want it sticking to my mannequin arm so it's got lightweight interfacing wrapped around.




Started sculpting the ab plates.



You can see I have them sightly curved - I'm following the contour made by the chest plate. If they were perfectly flat, they would NOT stick under there. Hopefully it will be just right.



And I've been gluing, gluing, gluing.




Really hope that tape doesn't rip off all my paint. Stuck it to my shirt a few times, but I just couldn't figure out a way to clamp it without warping the plastic overnight.
 
Back
Top