I need help with my soviet suit project

[ThatNasaGuy]

Hello internet!
I am a huge and I mean HUGE space fanatic. For years now I've wanted a spacesuit replica more than anything. Well I'll finally try to get to building one of my own (hopefully). I am really interested in Soviet technology, but I also wanted a lunar suit, so after long consideration I decided to make a krechet-94 replica. I thought that since it had way less parts that moved or detached than on the apollo a7l suit (like the gloves or the LEVA) it would be easier to make. The most intimidating things for me however are the hard-body (picture below) and the silver sun-visor (I chose the "For all mankind" design since I liked it more, also picture below). I have an idea on how to make said visor but I'm still pondering on the main body. The only reasonable thing that I came up with was to make a mold of the body from styrofoam and then cover it in fiberglass (or cloth) and cover it in resin. Any other ideas on how to make such a rigid body? Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you dear reader for your time,
ThatNasaGuy

 

[lmgill]

We made the "For All Mankind" suit, and it is not 100% correct. But I do not believe the real torso in your picture is the real Krechet moon suit torso.
I'm pretty sure the Krechet torso ended at the lower waist.
Look up Adam Savage's videos on the hard suit he made. He used a clever technique to make his HUT. If memory serves, he made the "openings" in wood, then draped fabric over the space between and resined it.

Another way, is to use Styrofoam to make the basic shape, but polyester resin will eat the Styrofoam. It's also difficult to get a nice detailed shape in Styrofoam.
So, I would carve it in Styrofoam, smaller tan you want, then cover it in drywall plaster (at least 3/8") and once dry, carve and sand the finished shape. This will sand nicely, and you can add new material anytime you like. Then, once your happy with the shape, wax it (2 or 3 coats), cover it with FRP and dig out the foam. Or, make the glass piece in 2 halves and remove the HT and glass it back together after it's removed. We do this with are EMU HUTs.

 

[JohnSpaceUK]

Yeah, i was going to say about Adam's hard suit with the fabric and resin. Seemed like a weird technique but came out great, particularly because the fabric made some lovely, natural curves.
IIRC he used "lazy Susan" type bearings for the arms and lower torso, and a wood frame to hold it all in place while curing.
Its been lodged in my mind too for a while, because you sound like me!
I was thinking about using the technique to build something more forward looking, with an integrated 1/2 dome, more like the new lunar suits.
I've dabbled with suits, but only really the gloves - I had an Orlan glove for a while, and tried to replicate it. Turns out, gloves are hard!
Kinda pivoted my spacesuit making into cosplay instead. Its more forgiving!

 

[laellee]

For using a frame and draped fabric coated in resin, this is how a lot of custom auto subwoofer boxes are made to get the unique shapes and flowing lines. Might find something on YouTube?

 

[ThatNasaGuy]

We made the "For All Mankind" suit, and it is not 100% correct. But I do not believe the real torso in your picture is the real Krechet moon suit torso.
I'm pretty sure the Krechet torso ended at the lower waist.
Look up Adam Savage's videos on the hard suit he made. He used a clever technique to make his HUT. If memory serves, he made the "openings" in wood, then draped fabric over the space between and resined it.

Another way, is to use Styrofoam to make the basic shape, but polyester resin will eat the Styrofoam. It's also difficult to get a nice detailed shape in Styrofoam.
So, I would carve it in Styrofoam, smaller tan you want, then cover it in drywall plaster (at least 3/8") and once dry, carve and sand the finished shape. This will sand nicely, and you can add new material anytime you like. Then, once your happy with the shape, wax it (2 or 3 coats), cover it with FRP and dig out the foam. Or, make the glass piece in 2 halves and remove the HT and glass it back together after it's removed. We do this with are EMU HUTs.

I wanted to split the hard body like in the picture and then connect the two halves with resin. I don't know if it's a good idea tho. Or maybe i should split it like in the second picture. It's hard to decide, since I've never done something like this before. And also I wanted to thank you for your response! I'll definitely check Adams video out. And also I wanted to mention that It's very exciting to talk to you :>.

 

[lmgill]

Well, that's the life support back pack, and how you get into the suit. You will need that to open to put it on, if you plan on making it accurate.