Ironman Mark VI - Foam - Australia - First time build

[P4r4dox86]

Hi All. Another Aussie here from Adelaide.

This is my first post, I only joined up yesterday, however I've been stalking the site for a while getting ideas for projects. I noticed this thread a little while back and your suit is looking awesome mate.

I'm currently working on a Cap. America (Avengers Movie Version) and I'm planning on using foam with a urethane coating, as per Xrobots method, for the helmet and I've picked up my foam from Kmart as well after having seen your post. Before that I was at a bit of a loose end. It seems good quality and it's cheap, so thanks for the idea.

As for heatguns for foam forming, I picked one of these up from my local Bunnings yesterday for $20, haven't tried it yet, but it seems just as good as the rest but a simplified version and much cheaper.

XU1 Heat Gun - Bunnings Warehouse

The same brands makes a mini rotary tool that I picked up for $20 as well which should come in handy.

 

[madrick]

Venator: I was weary about the costume not fitting either! I'm 6" and well built. I used the scaling methods from XTreme Tactics How To Scale Your Pepakura Armour-Tutorial

I've just built an arm (which was the big test for me, making sure the arms weren't to small) and it fit!


Pariah + Telnet: THanks mate


Lukey: Hey Lukey! I didn't have to heat up most of the pieces. I just followed the pepakura designs and it came along REASONABLY well. Not good all the time, sometimes you have to edit some things so they fit. Why this happens? No idea haha


P4r4: Welcome! This place has been an invaluable source of info. Good luck with your Cap. AMerica costume. If you have any questions, I know everyone on here will be more than happy to help.
You should make a thread of your progress?
Thankyou for the heads up on the rotary tool, I was interested in getting one of these to smooth out some rough edges.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/products...ch=XU1+&searchType=any&searchSubType=products

 

[AkiBadtrip]

Looking great! I regret not making a detailed post like yours. I started mine last Feb of this year and probably went on a 2month hiatus from 3rd week of March and just continued earlier this month. I'm glad to see things are working out for you. There are tons of info out there that can help you with this build. Like TheHeroTutorials from STEALTH on Youtube

Cheers mate :cheers

 

[madrick]

Aki: Thanks Aki! If you have any more photos you should make a thread anyway! You could also talk about the remainder of what you have left.

To all the Aussies! Unfortunately we can't get Plasti-dip as easily and as cheap as our American counter parts. From what I see they can get it for about $6 a can! I look on the Aus plasti dip site and they want $33 not including postage!!! I really want this suit to turn out good so I'm going to take the plunge. The cheapest I could find is on eBay Performix 11203-6 11oz. Black Plasti Dip Spray Can | eBay $6 a can but postage is gonna be a bit.

According to How To Make Halo Spartan Armor it takes approx. 8 cans to do a full Halo Spartan Armor, so I'm going to get 8. It's going to cost $165.67 including postage (about $55 without postage) :\
hmmmm the things we do

 

[Rinzler]

We need to find out who retails it in what cities. My closest would be Gold Coast & Brisbane, would love to find somewhere I could pick some up while up visiting family (1hours drive for me).

Surely some Aussie members might have some info on who might sell it over counter, I have heard Repco and Jaycar might but haven't heard anything back from them yet).

 

[SChristides]

Distributors of Plasti Dip (plastidip) Performix range of products in Australia


click on your state down the bottom. But if the ebay store is anything to go by ($32) then best be searching for an alternative.


http://www.therpf.com/f24/how-plastic-coat-foam-costume-pieces-146539/

 

[P4r4dox86]

@Madrick: Thanks man, I actually started up a thread yesterday, so I'll see how I go! Yup, that is the mini rotary that I got. Again, haven't tried it yet, but it seems to just be a smaller, simpler version of the Dremel ones, so it should do the trick for the minor stuff I'll need it for. I hope yours comes in handy as well.

That post that SChristides has linked to is the technique I'm going to be trying out on my Cap helmet if I can get the foam to do what I want initially. The Smooth-On 65D that he mentions is a Smooth On product, and the distributor list for outside of the US is here:

| International Stocking Distributors | Mold Making and Casting Materials Rubber, Plastic, Lifecasting, and More

Luckily for me, the Aussie guy who stocks it is here in Adelaide! So I've already contacted him last week and he stocks it. Here is the price listing he sent me:

Yes we do stock the SC65D in the following sizes;

Trial kit 1lt $36.90
1 gall kit 8lt $211.87
5 gall kit 40lt $995.85

Not sure how much you'd need for a whole suit though...so it could get expensive. Even more so than the Plasti-Dip.

 

[Rinzler]

My wife is going to Adelaide this afternoon I got a dirty look from her when I asked her to get some for me since she's going down for a baby shower :S

 

[P4r4dox86]

LOL! Where abouts is she traveling from to get to Adelaide? Is it a long trip for her or a bit of a short jaunt? Because if it's a decent journey just tell her you're trying to be efficient

 

[Rinzler]

Ballina NSW to Adelaide, but she's gone now and they may query it in her bag :S

 

[P4r4dox86]

Sucky. No checked in luggage to put it in? I'm not sure if he ships it out interstate, but it's worth an email to ask.

 

[Rinzler]

I just can't believe there are no retailers for this stuff in Australia from a big chain like Repco or something :S In fact all our materials seem waaaayy overpriced.

 

[Lukey18101990]

@Madrick: Cool, cheers mate, I suppose practice makes perfect, I'll give it another go and hopefully it comes out as good as yours. Thanks for the advice.

 

[PariahAU]

just a heads up guys, I was looking into local alternatives for casting and found this site Mould Making Supplies and Model Making Products for Moulding and Casting in Melbourne. (not sure if they do rubber paint, but they do epoxy resin/plastics)

they have several products here that have the same properties as the smooth on products, except the mix ratio is more like 10:1 rather than 1:1

I have not personally purchased any of these, but thought I should share. I will say that it appears that pricing is a little cheaper, but not by much.

 

[madrick]

I have finished the arms!

For those in Australia, I bought my strapping/ webbing from Bunnings Warehouse. You can buy it off of eBay but it was too expensive and they only sold HUGE lengths of it. I bought a 'Luggage Strap' for about $6. It also came with a clip! I bought all my plastic clips off of eBay eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d 24 for $14.

I then followed Stealths tutorial on youtube for connecting all the pieces. TUTORIAL - "SUIT UP!" How to Connect Foam Armor Costume Parts - YouTube

The shoulders and arms

Chest piece, side.

Chest piece, shoulder connections.

All connected!

The mess of making it all! haha

 

[P4r4dox86]

Looking good mate! What did you use to attach the straps to the inside of the foam? Doesn't look like hot glue. Also, what was the width of that Bunnings strapping out of curiosity? Have you decided on a painting method yet?

 

[Tychan]

Dude, how do you get everything looking so clean with that foam?

 

[madrick]

P4r: Thanks mate! I used hot glue! haha The strap is 25mm in width (1 inch). I'll be using IndieFilmGeeks method for painting
Movie Props, Costumes and Scale Models | the RPF

Tychan: Thanks Tychan, that's a huge compliment!

I cut all my foam out with scissors and I use a blade for the fiddly bits.
My gluing technique

No technique
You just splurge the glue onto once piece

Put it against another and it squirts out the sides :/

My technique
I thinly run the glue along the side of the foam

I then FLATTEN it out with the side of the hot glue gun.

When the pieces come together, no over squirt.

I then reinforce the pieces by sealing it behind with glue.

 

[P4r4dox86]

So you used hot glue for the straps as well? Ah ok, it just looked more yellow than the rest lol.

 

[madrick]

Oh yeah, that was some weird glue stick I bough from Dick Smith, don't know why they came out yellow...