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

[electraflier]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Harbor freight sells diamond coated cutting disks very cheap too. They are a smaller circumference as well which helps alot, plus they dont explode into flying fragments of shrapnel! I too seriously recommend the flex shaft harbor freight sells an off brand for about 29$, well worth it. It has been indispensable for my build. BTW the gun looks awesome! Can't edit to see it with the LEDs! Love your updates and always look forward to the next!
M

 

[metal wood]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

just get totally blown away when i see projects like this come together, i hope to one day be at this level (by my 90th B-day is the goal). really cool and amazing to look at.

 

[Fly4v]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Even in its fully cured state, the dust makes my hands/face itch. I have to change my clothes a billion times when I work with the stuff, and I immediately put them in the washing machine.

The washing machine is next to the backdoor for that very reason. The rifle is coming together nicely.

Do you have an electronics kit pre-built or doing the LEDs and battery pack from scratch?

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

just get totally blown away when i see projects like this come together, i hope to one day be at this level (by my 90th B-day is the goal). really cool and amazing to look at.

Thanks, I'd give you a prize just for realizing that it is time (and effort) that makes you skilled at something, not a celestial blessing or innate motor capacity. Most of us are visual creatures and have all the necessary abilities to be creative. I've been doing visual art my whole life, sometimes learning as an adult is harder because we don't HAVE time, but you can accelerate your skill by doing a lot of research here.

Do you have an electronics kit pre-built or doing the LEDs and battery pack from scratch?

I'm building it from scratch but it shouldn't be too hard. Got all the stuff ready to go, I just need to cut some acrylic for the inserts.



Prepped with light sanding to get rid of some very minor seams. Got a first (thin) coat of primer, using a brush and Liquitex black gesso (same stuff I used everywhere else). I have an 8oz bottle, I've used it for the whole costume, including the leather and parts I have scrapped - and it still isn't gone yet!

My mannequin arm, which is the same size from shoulder to wrist as my arm. This thing is a beast.

 

[electraflier]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I have a bunch of questions LOL! That black liquitex black gesso looks great! Is it durable/chip resistant? Is this better than the flat black in spray cans?
I tried flat black spay paint on some underpieces and it scratches very easy.I will have to strip eevrything I painted already *sigh*
I have decided to use an epoxy two part black coating designed for machinery as it is durable as heck...however, would this brush on paint be a possibility for fiberglass armor? I am not going to battle damage my armor, but I do want to wash silver over the edges on the black and black/grey onto the dove gray...
Thanks!

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

When I upgrade, I usually stick with what I have until I can go all out.

I want a Foredom rotary kit. Maybe as a graduation present to myself. I've dropped hints to everyone I know, they don't seem to be taking me up on it.

It's an attachment to your Dremel: Amazon.com: Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment: Home Improvement

It would be around $30 vs. $200+ for a Foredom (which is a good choice).

 

[electraflier]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Neiko brand on eBay sells a whole set with a 15 speed drive and flex adapter that fits dremel bits as well for about 29$. Good value too, it's what I have!
Figured I'd rather spend my money on supplies then blow it all on one tool.

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I have a bunch of questions LOL! That black liquitex black gesso looks great! Is it durable/chip resistant? Is this better than the flat black in spray cans?
I tried flat black spay paint on some underpieces and it scratches very easy.I will have to strip eevrything I painted already *sigh*
I have decided to use an epoxy two part black coating designed for machinery as it is durable as heck...however, would this brush on paint be a possibility for fiberglass armor? I am not going to battle damage my armor, but I do want to wash silver over the edges on the black and black/grey onto the dove gray...
Thanks!

Durable isn't a word I'd use to describe this stuff by itself. It is, however, so thin that it is readily absorbed by surfaces that have been prepped with a bit of sandpaper, or are porous (like leather). It will wipe off of smooth glossy surfaces like my workbench, though.

The primer, rolled on metallic acrylic, and glazes on this suit are all so thin, there really isn't any buildup of paint. It doesn't chip, peel, or do stupid things that acrylic likes to do, because I've taken steps to minimize it.

I use high quality acrylic (high pigment load) so I get the color without a lot of gunk. I might make a video to explain this better when I have more time.

Here's a good page that explains paint and pigment properties. If you want to understand paint, it's worth your time to read.:thumbsup
The material attributes of paints

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Here's a picture of the gritty, gooey, gluey process. This leg armor is getting serious paint damage from all of my tape and glue removal. But I didn't consider the job done in the first place.



I've been trying them on and noticing that the weight of the leather around the upper thigh really wants to pull the underarmor waistband down. I need to install some stronger elastic at the waist, I hope that would solve it.

Making the leg elastics tighter would almost certainly fix that but then my thighs start looking like sausage links (where the straps go across the inside of my leg). It looks really dumb trust me, you don't need a pic to prove it.

If that doesn't work, I may snap the waistband to the stomach underarmor, and have another band going under the spine armor on my back, essentially making suspenders.

I'm really anticipating daylight savings, even though for that whole week it will feel like waking up at 4AM every day instead of 5. I can't STAND having only one hour of light left when I get home from work. :angry

I've got a really long two months before I can pick up the pace on this thing again, and every hour of it is agony. When my costumes are in the 70-90% done range, it's like I can't sleep until I figure out how everything is all supposed to come together. With my current schedule just staying in shape so that I fit into a costume I started almost a year ago is a challenge, too.

 

[Fly4v]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Making the leg elastics tighter would almost certainly fix that but then my thighs start looking like sausage links, you don't need a pic to prove it.

Current schedule just staying in shape so that I fit into a costume I started almost a year ago is a challenge, too.

First point. lollol

The second, has a familiar ring to it but mine has an odd twist. My roommate had an idea that he and his wife would have fitted jeans made on their wedding day... on their anniversary they would have to fit in them.

 

[frakthisschist]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Do you think attaching the leg armor to the underarmor is the only way to ensure the armor stays in place? I'm coming up on my deadline for a convention this Friday, so I'm trying to avoid sewing the space chaps, but I don't want to readjust them every two seconds either..

And I have now experienced the delight of working with carbon fiber vinyl. Trying to make those seams straight on the pauldrons is pure torture. Mine do not look as nice as yours, but they don't look awful either. Compromise.

 

[vargatom]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Heh, I've lost weight in the past two weeks trying to finish my suit on time
(Did not make it though...)

This one is still looking very good, can't wait to see it finished!

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Do you think attaching the leg armor to the underarmor is the only way to ensure the armor stays in place?

Yeah I'm really glad I have the carbon fiber behind me for the most part. At least until I make a helmet.

You could probably just make an elastic belt, and have two straps going down the sides on either leg and attach the armor to those, with at least one strap across the inside leg to hold it in place. I know some people velcro it directly to the suit, but mine is out of a thin spandex material that is fairly loose. The leg pieces would pull on the suit and look crooked after a little bit of walking.

 

[Emmabellish]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Just wanted to jump in here and say that I've been loving following your work these past couple of months. I'd like to make a set of N7 armor one day (working on Aria right now, though) and you work so far is very inspirational.

 

[frakthisschist]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

You could probably just make an elastic belt, and have two straps going down the sides on either leg and attach the armor to those, with at least one strap across the inside leg to hold it in place.

Brilliant! I'll try that out. Thank you.

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Just wanted to jump in here and say that I've been loving following your work these past couple of months. I'd like to make a set of N7 armor one day (working on Aria right now, though) and you work so far is very inspirational.

Thanks!

This is a part of the suit I've been putting off for... months. Attaching the ab plates to the underarmor:

Used some foam upholstery fabric, mainly because I wanted something really porous to grip the plates and adhesive. It isn't the toughest stuff in the world but it doesn't rip, either.

I sewed these to the underarmor which is sort of visible in the way they hang here.




The seams are starting to fray. Haven't been careful trying it on...because putting on a costume is the least fun part.
On the plus side, since these are all stuck on now, test fits will go much faster. Hopefully I'll have time to try this out with the chest armor and legs tomorrow before I have to hit the books.

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

I did some test fitting this morning, and decided to document the process.

*At this point, only the top of each ab plate has been secured to the underarmor, by sewing machine.* I wanted to see how they would behave with just this method alone.

First I tried the ab and leg pieces.





Adding the rest of the lower body made it significantly more difficult. Notes: feet are getting brutally stabbed by shin armor, intestines mildly prodded by upper leg armor, stomach flub is pinched by rib cage armor.


Most importantly, I could still kick someone's ass, if I needed to.




One thing that has me worried are those belt and hip details. If this is what the ab plates want to do when the bottom piece is not secured to the belt, I wonder what that will mean for mobility when I get those pieces constructed. The abs want to slide all the way down to my legs, essentially.



Going to make a quick run to the art supply store today, one of the things I MUST get is a stronger elastic band for the space chaps. When I did the crouches, I had to hoist them up every time I stood.

 

[Fly4v]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

Great range of movement.

What happens when you check arch with your abs, shoulder and neck piece?

 

[Freya Willia]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

What happens when you check arch with your abs, shoulder and neck piece?

Good question. The neck guard and chest plates are all very static no matter how I am moving. By contrast - abs and shoulders will definitely move around a lot. I do anticipate some limited overhead arm movement with the neck guard and shoulder pieces combined, but it shouldn't be horrible - my shoulder pieces are pretty tiny.

I haven't figured out my favorite way to permanently attach them to the suit yet which is why they are not in these pictures.

 

[Fly4v]

Re: FemShep n7 Armor: SYNTHESIS (ME3)

If you still intend to thumbsup with your suit may have to do it minus the neck piece. Did you have a chance to look up the chamber?