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

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Since I last posted, all I've been trying to do is get the carbon fiber on the shoulder pauldrons.

Words can't explain how tedious and difficult this is, ***so I made a video***. I've gotten some questions about this vinyl, and I think you can see from this whether it is something you want to deal with or not. Do I recommend it? No. If I wasn't on holiday break with several hours to kill who knows how many weekends/anti-social Friday nights in my studio this part would take me.

Made a couple of attempts and I'm not really happy with any of them, though the version in that clip is the most promising yet. First I tried to make a center seam, thinking this would ease some of the tension.



But lining up two sides symmetrically - not only on each side of the piece, but also when I wear them on each shoulder - was going to be a whole different headache so I scrapped that plan. It was decent practice.

Then I cut darts into the vinyl to try to ease tension similar to what you might do with interfacing or fabric when sewing. This works - but you have to be really careful to pull only in the exact direction of the cut, or it will rip right across the area you're trying to cover.



Here is the current one.

 
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Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I was going to suggest a heat gun, but now that I've actually watched the video, I'm only going to suggest gloves... lol
You might need those hands to finish your costume.

Very cool though! It does look like an exercise in patience. I want to find a project like this that I can really explore different techniques on, but all the costumes I WANT to make are usually suits...
 
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Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Have you tried searching for fit problems with applying vinyl to a car? That might get you more tips because, well cars have curves. If you haven't that might give you some ideas. Everything looks pretty bad*ss so far!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Your Femshep is raising the benchmark higher. Outstanding. Inspiring.

Picking up some great tips, thank you for taking the time to explain your methods.

*Subscribes*
 
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Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Darth Mule said:
I'm only going to suggest gloves... lol
You might need those hands to finish your costume.
Click to expand...
Oh god, if ANYONE knows where I can find child-sized heat resistant gloves, I will pay any price. This is the main reason I haven't started on the omniblade yet. I've looked at gloves for hairstylists, but those get bad reviews. The heat coming out of that gun isn't any hotter than a hairdryer for that vinyl - but the length of time I'm doing it is painful.

Note: cotton and (soft) leather don't really protect my hands that much, but I need something that will not bond with heated plastic, or make me clumsy. I know most people recommend Ove gloves, but those things are monstrously huge, even the small size.

Sluis Van Shipyards said:
Have you tried searching for fit problems with applying vinyl to a car? That might get you more tips because, well cars have curves. If you haven't that might give you some ideas. Everything looks pretty bad*ss so far!
Click to expand...

This website was helpful, I was basically doing what he describes, but it was nice to have my technique confirmed by a pro. He mentions using a windshield-wiper motion:

When you have no choice but to install a graphic on areas that involve severe compound curves it is impossible to install the graphic wet. It must be done dry. This requires practice, but it is the way the pros install all graphics. Dry installation causes the graphic to stick firmly to the substrate.

 “When you need to conform around a curve you can pull and stretch the graphic slightly to mold it to the curve,” Dickman says. “If you find yourself in this situation, going slow and in very small steps is the way to go. Use the edge of the squeegee to push the vinyl out 1/8 of an inch at a time using an arching motion, sort of like a windshield wiper, keeping the graphic very taut. Then apply heat with a heat gun or hairdryer if necessary.”
 
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Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Doing a lot of stuff today, I feel like I need to make up for the time I wasted on that vinyl. Really happy with how these are coming out:





Hopefully I'll get these and the ab plates vac-formed tomorrow, and then I begin the test-runs with my underarmor.
 
Looking at the video and your description, it might have been easier to just laminate on a piece of actual carbon fiber.

Sent from my Etch-A-Sketch
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Ab plates have been resolved. There actually isn't as much mystery here as I thought.

I put foam over the plaster, and used thicker foam in descending order, so that when the plates slid over the ones below I would be sure they would fit - though at this point I'm not sure how necessary that was.





When I held this ab plate as a single unit against my torso and bent forward, before it was cut, it actually did not hinder my movement any more than an underbust corset. It is fairly short in its entirety.

The bottom piece will be secured to the belt area, and not move. The middle piece will be secured to the stomach underarmor, and the top piece will be fixed to the chest armor. This is what will essentially allow them to descend on top as the render suggests. Magically that works with my natural movement.The narrow side pieces may be secured to the plates, or to the fabric hem, I haven't decided yet.

View attachment 133259



I will make another post about the final design for the under armor and how these have been permanently attached later. I've also been finishing up the neck guard, vac-forming the arm braces, and making a temporary assembly for the N7 rifle.

Now I have some unwrapped presents that need attending.
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

This is coming out fantastic! I just finished the whole series with my FemShep recently, so it's cool to see the armor in real life. Great job on the abs, too. I wonder if any of the (manymany) Iron Men could adapt this to their ab plates?
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

drknotter said:
This is coming out fantastic! I just finished the whole series with my FemShep recently, so it's cool to see the armor in real life. Great job on the abs, too. I wonder if any of the (manymany) Iron Men could adapt this to their ab plates?
Click to expand...

We have similar systems that have been employed for a while. It is the way I designed my Mk VII files. Check this link for a video of a guy that built my Mk VII files.

http://sdrv.ms/RPibYt

This fem shep suit is looking awesome!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

havent commented here in awhile! armours looking amazing!! keep it up!
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

If you haven't already, check out this Fem Shep, she did a great job and it's very inspiring!

I've been traveling a lot and got stuck in that post-xmas blizzard on the way to see relatives. Came back to my studio and managed to find the energy to work on stuff:






I'm pleased with how these look, especially from my own point of view. I really feel like I'm in a video game, in a way that doesn't quite happen with costumes that aren't space suits.




And I now have a carbon-fiber six pack. My secret - eat lots of holiday cookies and chocolate.

 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Thanks everyone!

My goal for today was to test fit the upper half of the costume with the rifle. But the pegs holding the rifle parts together are a little loose (nothing is glued yet, because I'll be putting lights in it), and it became apparent that awkward posing with it was a hazard. Maybe I'll find a way to temporarily rig it with wire or something. For now, I suited up in my room. I had that moment every costumer feels where you're standing in your bedroom next to piles of laundry, but nonetheless convince yourself in front of a mirror, "I'm a badass."

I don't like wearing stuff while it is essentially taped to myself, because it looks like I have no idea how to fit a costume. The pauldrons will NOT be floating that high, but you get the idea.

Comfort. On a costume scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being something easy to move in like a superhero unitard-suit and 10 being a stifling victorian gown, this is probably a 6 right now. Some of it will get a lot more comfortable when it is secured to my body, like the arm braces. They want to slide all around my wrist, and if the angle is slightly off, I can't flex enough to touch my hand to the same-side shoulder.



I have a dinner party to go to, wish I could just show up like this.
 
Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Uh! WOW.

I know what I want for Christmas. :cool

Certainly a great teaser pic and no convincing required, "You are a B.A.!"
It is amazing that your armor looks so real. This will be so great with your rifle and everything completed.
 
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