Halo 3 Master Chief WIP UPDATE: 20APRIL2011 Helmet is 99.9% Done

[tubachris85x]

Been dying to do this one for the longest time since Halo 3 came out. I'll be getting armor in the coming month or so, but managed to pick up a 2nd hand casting of one of Adam's AR's here on this board. I'm very pleased with it so far, not having too many issues just yet. However, lack of proper materials I'm used to working with I can't seem to find out here..Anyways, so far the hardest part has been trying to attach the barrel properly and make it level! Keeps wanting to stay sideways...

So here are some progress pics, just got it in this past week. Still need to paint it up. Not going to do a whole lot while I'm in AZ away from home, but really want to add the cool electronics in the future!


Got around to drilling the holes and prepping them for the bolt details. One other issue is figuring how I can attach the MagLight and still be able to remove it to change batteries out in the future. Don't want static details unless I have to!

Along with the AR, I do have a finished Link M6 Gulf pistol and one of Matsuo's SMG's. I'll be getting my gear from thorssoli. Already have one of his helmets

Can't wait to get started on it!!

-TC

 

[thorssoli]

Re: Master Chief Build!

Don't forget to post pictures of that masterfully produced helmet...

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

Don't forget to post pictures of that masterfully produced helmet...

:lol I'll be getting in the near future in the mail from my parents!

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

So today, I put a few coats of silver over the AR, and attached the barrel (and it's straight!!). I'm having somewhat of a debate. I want this to be fairly accurate, but I'm having trouble deciding what to do. Looking at the references, the upper portion has almost a "metalic" grey to it, or I guess, almost a gun metal. I'm thinking about using a dark grey for this portion and "dry wash" silver over it to give it somewhat of a sheen. IDK, I'll play around with it.

Might add the flat black to it tomorrow. Not sure yet what I'm going to use for a temporary ammo counter. Just might leave it as is until I get back home..

/rambling

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

Getting there, alot further than I expected to be considering all of the time contraints and whatnot being in training lol People around me still don't know how and or where I'm painting this. I will say that I'm not incredibly happy with the silver paint I got. It got the job done, but comes off easily, especially on the barrel, despite sanding the crap out of it. The only benifit though is that these paints dry almost instantly. The black came out really well, and I'm going to be getting a clear coat/dull coat for it so I won't have to worry about that coming off from use.

I also got some help on the more accurate gun metal color, which I'll have to order online, but will make this AR look 100x better and more accurate. After I can get that done, I'll just weather this up, get the maglight on it, and it's good to go.

Again, not happy about the silver, but it's gonna be getting painted over. The silver is just the base coat anyhow..

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

Yea, so according to USPS tracking, the first half of my armor was delievered today lol Unfortunatly, I won't be able to recieve it till monday! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR..

That was rediculously fast shipping considering I'm in the middle of absolutly no where Arizona!!

-TC

 

[Kommissar]

Re: Master Chief Build!

looking forward to seeing a finished paint job on the rifle, are you going to give it some scuff marks, weathering?

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

looking forward to seeing a finished paint job on the rifle, are you going to give it some scuff marks, weathering?

I'm going to go light with the weathering on this one. I just ordered the gun metal paint so that will be coming in around the 21st. The in-game AR's had very subtle weathering (ie, small scratches, and scuffs, but nothing significant) I might just hit the edges and what not to let you know it's silver underneath

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build!

So today, i got a nice big box from Thorssoli! Got everything so far except for the torso and forearm pieces. I feel alot of it will fit me alright, considering I'm a big guy. The only issue that I'm going to have as of now is modifying the thigh armor to be able to slide onto my leg, as I can't get it past my calf/knee at the moment.

Other than that, just need to do alot of grinding and sanding. The lower legt armor should fit no problem after awhile of grinding. So here it is as of now!

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build! Armor pieces in!

Just some things while playing around with the pieces. Everything is very well made, very strong and very accurate. While most of it can fit me after modifications, I'm going to have to eventually make or aquire larger pieces to make it more proportional for my physical build. This definatly fits tall, skinnier builds, unfortunatly, I'm just naturally "proportionate." The pieces that I will have to get in larger size is the butt plate for sure. Thinking on it now, it just needs to be significantly wider, which would push the side closer together. The front part of the cod appears to fit me well so I don't think I'll have to really do anything there.

The next thing is the thighs. I'm thinking the only real way to solve this is to cut off the inner part of the ring, and re-build it so that it's wider. The only thing is that I cannot attempt this until I recieved the foam inserts in the future.

Hmm... I'm thinking I might have to wait to do alot of this stuff until I get back home where I can actually spend a good amount of time on it with all of my tools...

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Master Chief Build! Armor pieces in!

This is getting frustrating. I think I'm just going to send home most of the gear. I don't have the necessary tools, time and space to do what I really need to for the modifications. The thigh pieces are going to need to be widened, becuase I've grinded as much material as I could, but it's still not getting past part of my bone and muscle on my leg.

I got to work grinding down one of the calf pieces, and I can get my leg through it, however, the inside has a crimped indentationas part of the details, which prevents my size 15 double wide foot from getting past. I'm going to have cut off a section and make it removable if I want this to work as well.

As for the butt plate. The only way I could get this to work for me is to cut it straight down the center and make it wider with bondo and whatnot. This would make it cover what it has to, while at the same time, pushing the sides further up to the front, making it easier for me to fit it to my size. The only drawback with doing this is that the butt plate will appear disproportionate.

The biceps just needs to be put together, they'll fit for sure. I am anticipating that the torso will fit me as well. I've already come up with how I'm going to strap everything together. The forearms and helmet I know won't be an issue. The biggest hinderence for this entire thing is that my lower body is what gives me my height. My torso is big but within a reasonable average. Just broad shoulders...

To top it off, the barrel on the AR popped off again. I'm switching to a plastic barrel and plastic welder. The JB weld is not working at all for some reason

IDK, I know what I need to do and what I need to do it. I can't afford it at this time or am capable of getting what I need here. Very frustrating...

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

This morning, I went back to look at the pieces. I've come up with some ways to work on this and make it work out. First off, I can't do the Thigh's until I get the inserts.

For the calf/lower leg, I've determined my best option is to cut the front, lower portion of the shin, and make it removable. This would allow me to put it on, and the re-attach the seperation piece. I'm considering using some strong rare earth metal magnets for this. I chose this portion because it's not only the part with significantly less detail, but is also the thickess and would be structurly sound in the end. It's going to leave a small seam line, but it's my best option.

I've reviewed the belt/butt plate. Turns out that it might be alright for my size. After looking at some reference, its only supposed to cover so much of a particular area, and it seems to do so based on what I've seen after looking over it again. I'm still going to have to extend the sides though, and I think I've found the solution.

If I can get the clamps, adhesives and what not, I'll begin with this build...

In other news, I recieved the accurate gun metal paint, and got around to painting the upper portion of the AR. I'm going to get pics up as soon as I can tonight.

-TC

 

[thorssoli]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

When I first assembled the space diaper I went through the same thing you did.

I spent a lot of time going over references before I was willing to believe that Spartan 117 was showing quite so much cheek. The trick is to make sure you put together your undersuit so that you've got the other details there too. That way it's not just your shiny butt hanging out of your costume.

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

So here's the AR. Unfortunatly, the camera I was borrowing from has horrible image quality. I was actually thinking about getting one of these cameras since their "Hale Proof" (inside joke) so I apologize for the horrible images, but these are the best ones out of about 50 I could manage to get

I started to notice that on the topside seam, the paint is reacting with whatever filler was used, and isn't cured completly. I did just buff the newly painted areas using my palm to create some heat, and the gunmetal area has a very subtle sheen going on now, but I'm probably going to be going over that area once I get my mouse sander shipped here..

Im going to be eventually getting my own camera, of course, with much better photo quality...

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Ok, got myself a somewhat cheap, but good camera. I started today with the mods for the thigh, and for the lower leg..unfortunatly, the issue with cordless dremels is that they die right when you don't want them to, so I'm going to have to wait to finish cutting the piece off of the lower leg.

So what I just did today was seperate the ring portion of the thigh and started to extend it by using the some JB quick putty (same kind of thing as the "green to white technology" but stronger) When I get it closer to where it will be wide enough, I'm going to start prepping it to attach the seperated piece. I'll then be using strips of plastic to overlap the insides of both sides, and use some plastic welder and fill in the gaps, sand and finish off.

Also, here are BETTER pics of the AR

As you can see in this pic, where the seam line is, there is something that reacted with the paint. It's retained the silver fine, but the gunmetal didn't so well. It's dry, but can feel tacky to the touch...I'll need to fix this..(sorry for the messy room)

-TC

 

[007halu]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Nice rifle！keep it up

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Nice rifle！keep it up

Thanks!

Alrighty then! I did a bit more cutting with the lower calf. I had to keep cutting further up the back of the ankle, but I know now what I need to do for the second calf. The problem turned out to be the area on the back bottom where the "light" would go. My heel kept getting caught there, so I cut all the way up to the upside V on the back, and now my foot slides right through. My calf sits really tight with the top opening (which is what I wanted cause it's accurate/the undersuit appears sealed with this part) but I'm going to widen it up just a little more.

As for the cut pieces, I'm going to clean them up and re-attach the back heel pieces, and clean those up as well

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Ok, so here's how I cut the calf piece. I did the cuts gradually, to try and not over-cut what I needed..however, that part of the plan didn't work completly out lol Needless to say, I have several small parts that need to re-attached to a larger whole. However, this means I know exactly what to cut, and to leave it all as is so that one will remain one complete section

Here ya go. I was walking around wearing it for a good amount of time. The thing fits me perfectly (still uncomfortable at the moment from rough plastic) and should be no problem getting to work out as it should.

So here you can see all the pieces that need to be re-attached, filled and cleaned up.

Debating how I want to utilize the magnets with the faux buckles though. Kept these intact fortunatly, gotta think on it...

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Well I was able to pick up some of the Krylon Olive drab ultra flat. I just tested it on one of my hand plates, will post some pics of it after it's fully cured and I can sand it a little bit. I feel it's the perfect shade for this suit!

-TC

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Halo 3 Master Chief WIP

Ok, so here's the paint test, if not, I'll leave it as is. I might touch it up with some silver acrylic down the road though. Anyways, I'm not going to really weather the costume too much, since the actual game model only really has minimal weathering and the most being on the dented portion of the chest piece. I might however, might be going for a "Anouncement trailer" masterchief, which has just a bit more weathering on it.

I'm actually quite pleased with the color, it has the color shifting qualities that the game has in different lighting. The first pic, is more brown where the second pic shows it to be more green.

-TC