Kid needing advices : )...

[Clow]

...(for a change)

Hey everyone, i'm kinda new around here, so first ; It's very nice to meet you all, and from what i read you're all extremly talented...It's a real pleasure to be there...(and i'll just have to hide somewhere).

Beside i'm not very good at presentations..so if you wanna know something just ask?

So..The kid is asking for your opinion on this...some time ago i did that armor from a japonese game design, in foam (plastazote), plastic and latex.
The armor's came out quite organic, which i think was pretty cool and accurate.

The weapon was made of very light cardboard, and plastic balls...but still way too heavy...and yep, it's got to be that big....

So...the questions would be :

-What do you guys think about it, and what materials would you use for it to look more metalic? (i thought of resin/plastic etc...but i need a strech material so i can enter it and move properly inside....(i guess?)

-What would you use to do the weapon for it to be as light and big as possible? (some kind of foam?)

 

[Guri]

Very nice work on that! It's amazing. To think of redoing it - wow. It looks perfect as is.

But I get it, if it's too heavy, you want to make it wearable so you can enjoy yourself in it. I had the same issues when I made the Haldir Helm's Deep armor in paper mache and clay (gapoxio).

For the weapon, I don't know how foam board would hold up, but it would certainly be light.

For the armor pieces on the costume, you could do craft foam.

It's sold as 'foamies' and looks like this at the store:

It is also being sold in large rolls now in many places which is perfect for large projects.

It is super light and heat moldable! I form mine at the same time I reinforce it with fabric on the back by using Heat n bond. It's an iron-on fabric glue that gives it strength.

I have tutorials on my site (see link under Guri's costumes) but to give you an idea of what's possible, below are some craft foam costume pieces.

The chest armor and vambrances are the paper mache and clay (SO HEAVY), but the hip armor and shoulder bells are both craft foam:

This helmet is made with craft foam and paper clay for the horse.

This gives you some idea of how moldable it is:

Good luck! and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[mothmonty]

Guri those are awesome! I love the elf, it is amazing what can be done with foamies

 

[fuelish]

For the halberd I would use EMT(electric metallic tubing) for the shaft. This is light and very stiff. The weight compares to PVC while giving a much stiffer shaft.
For the dimensional parts use florists foam with a light bondo skim to smooth it.
For the flat parts use foam core board.

Looks like a lot of mounting for the pieces at each end. You could reduce that and help drop the weight.

 

[SaberFreak]

That is a wonderfully complicated that I'd love to work on, but not all by myself... :lol

If budget allows, wonderflex would be the best solution for some of the parts...

For contoured areas I use a combination of PVC sheets and auto putty. I think you guys call it Bondo?

I make the base out of PVC sheets I shape with a heatgun, then add/smooth out the details using auto putty. Its a lot harder to work with (needs layers upon layers to get the finishing right, and you need to wear a respirator to sand it) but its lighter then clay, and the finishing can be glass-smooth. And you just prime and paint it like fiberglass.

Guri, always loved your tutorials, learn a lot from them when I was making my Battle Sister costume

 

[Guri]

Thanks guys.

For the dimensional parts use florists foam with a light bondo skim to smooth it.

I never thought of using florist foam! That stuff is really light and moldable.
I'd be afraid that it would break apart or deteriorate, though. Have you actually done this with bondo?


I also forgot to mention that after you use paint, to get the shine look of metal you need to paint it with either decoupage glue (they have shine or matte, use the high shine) or clear varnish.

 

[Clow]

( thanks guri :$ )
I'm not sure i'l redo it right away thow, it took me 4 month and 1200£ which i cant really re-afford now XD )...but, as i did that one, i was planning on doing more (obviously)...can't be cured...

Your website is amazing! i knew craft foam, but i didnt know you could do so much with it !! Thanks a lot !

That is a wonderfully complicated that I'd love to work on, but not all by myself...

Hehehe...but it's very funny with hard rock on the garage!

Wonderflex's amazing, it's what i used for the fingers, but because it's really hot in summer, it kinda started heating again at some point...so..the all armor?isnt it risky?

I dont know anything about thoses other materials...need to research a bit, thanks for giving the names out!
I was thinking of light things as well but quite resistant as i wanted to do a second version of my saikano Costume :








As Frienly Plastic could be of some great use here, I'm wondering if foam would do the greater part...Plastic was sooo heavy..again, i couldnt lift the costume with one arm, always had to help...wasnt the final point i was looking for obviously...

REF I
REF II

I wanted to do something different for London Expo, this year..it's true that redoing thoses woud be perfect as i already know how to put hem together...

But..

I thaugh of that one as well...I'm just not sure i can wear it properly...fitting problem...

Spoiler*

-_-"

 

[Guardian Devil]

Although I can't be of much help I'm afraid, I just wanted to say fantastic work on some very intricate costumes there - I think some of the talent here just jumped up a notch :thumbsup

 

[SaberFreak]

Wonderflex's amazing, it's what i used for the fingers, but because it's really hot in summer, it kinda started heating again at some point...so..the all armor?isnt it risky?

I'm in the tropics and I have no problem with it. It takes quite a bit of heat (like boiling water hot) to soften and bend Wonderflex, so if its not too hot to troop, its not hot enough to affect the Wonderflex.

Anyway I doubt you'd want to troop in a full armor suit outdoors, under the sun anyway, right? :lol

I don't know anything about thoses other materials...need to research a bit, thanks for giving the names out!

PVC is just plastic, like styrene or ABS. Aoto Putty/Bondo is what they use to patch up dents in cars. Its a two-part compound you mix and apply, and it dries to a rock hard substance that you can sand, drill, and paint.

I thaugh of that one as well...I'm just not sure i can wear it properly...fitting problem...

Spoiler*

Woah! That one would be a nightmare to make...and you'll need someone else to constantly do the fitting for you. I've seen something similar made of Wonderflex though...Wonderflex lends itself well to complex costumes like this, because it sticks to itself when heated, so you don't need to apply any glue. It also attaches to fabric rather well while hot.

Plastic is not that heavy to wear; the SoB costume I just completed has a hard plastic torso armor & shoulder guard, plastic vambrace, partially plastic backpack, and fibreglass leg armor. The costumer trooped around for 3 hours before she needed a break.

 

[Clow]

I'm in the tropics and I have no problem with it. It takes quite a bit of heat (like boiling water hot) to soften and bend Wonderflex, so if its not too hot to troop, its not hot enough to affect the Wonderflex.

Anyway I doubt you'd want to troop in a full armor suit outdoors, under the sun anyway, right? :lol

Not under the sun, fair enough, maybe my wonderflex was a bit thin or something...

PVC is just plastic, like styrene or ABS. Aoto Putty/Bondo is what they use to patch up dents in cars. Its a two-part compound you mix and apply, and it dries to a rock hard substance that you can sand, drill, and paint.

I knew PVC but you're sving me hours of reasearch, thanks : ), i'll try a bit of everything i guess...

Woah! That one would be a nightmare to make...and you'll need someone else to constantly do the fitting for you.

A nightmare, yeah maybe...actually by fitting i meant "not fit enough" XD
I was planning on getting another body mold out of me and sculpt the armor directly...the all glued on a latex/lycra suit (like i did for haseo ), so it would be perfectly accurate , and i can put little gadgets inside like lighting or sound...(yes i'm a kid after all XD)


Guardian Devil : Thanks :$

Guri : I was thinking of reinforcing the foam with fabric and PVC glue behind? Or is it irrevelant as the paint i'll put on it will do that eventually ?

Nice metallic effect thow

the SoB costume I just completed

Oh!! my curiosity's asking to see it! could you post a pictur

 

[Guri]

Guri : I was thinking of reinforcing the foam with fabric and PVC glue behind? Or is it irrevelant as the paint i'll put on it will do that eventually ?

Nice metallic effect thow

The paint doesn't add any reinforcement. I haven't used any foam for costume pieces without reinforcing it because I always wanted some more stiffness. Even when I made masks, it held it's shape better with the fabric. When I made the Sauron helmet I reinforced with foam board in places to make it extra stiff.

But, you know, the best thing to do is to try out both methods and see which one works best for what you need. You never know, it might be better for your costume not to have the fabric on the back!

 

[fuelish]

Thanks guys.



I never thought of using florist foam! That stuff is really light and moldable.
I'd be afraid that it would break apart or deteriorate, though. Have you actually done this with bondo?

I have used Bondo on cars and it is pretty tough stuff(It is a plastic resin). I know guys that have used florists foam to shape flares(for cars) and it can handle Bondo and fiberglass resin with out melting. They are using it as the male pattern for and then making a mold. But the stuff is plenty tough. It should be plenty strong for Clows purposes.


Now the gi-normous hand cannon in the last three photos could be tough to make really light. Look at saberfreaks, battle sister, thread. The pistol is made with foam core and an "armature" to make it strong but keep the weight near the grip.

The key is keeping as much mass as possible near the grip. So you want to get it lighter towards the barrel end and you want to counter balance, weighting behind the grip keep it centered.
Foam board does not come in tubes so you are left with PVC and cardboard, which can still be pretty heavy. So I think vacuformed plastic is the answer. You could run an armature of foam board the length of the barrel(a profile of the shape) for strength and then use the thinnest plastic(that will take the shape) to form the barrel in halves. Then counter balance, putting the least amount of weight as far to the rear as possible to keep the balance even.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Gotta say... that's some very intricate and impressive outfits. Always impressive to see what people can create and this is definitely creative.

 

[SaberFreak]

Oh!! my curiosity's asking to see it! could you post a pictur

Here ya go

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=76127

 

[fuelish]

That is it, the post I was refering to. Fantastic costume. Look how light the pistol seems. He did a great job.

 

[Garthok]

Do you have any more pics of the weapon you have with the second costume, that looks wicked! nice work!

 

[Clow]

WOW.

*Falls off her chair*

THIS is such a WICKED costume. :love



Garthok : Appart from that one no...(but thanks : )




Yes, i guess i'll have to try a bit of everything, and it might take a while...(money money money, it's a rich man's world...)

Anyway, thanks a lot for all the references you guy are providing, and the help you're giving me

(This is a short one but pastas are boiling)

 

[SaberFreak]

The tube at the bottom (is her hand almost completely inside that tube?) looks like one of those extendable plastic tube used by architects and art student to carry large drawings in.

If that's what it is then that alone will reduce a LOT of weight on the gun, yet still act as a very strong base for the other parts to rest on.

Also looks to me they used the cap from the rube for the front of the other tube on top, since they left the lower tube open in front and installed a light in it...

I constantly look for found items to make props with. Nothing we make (unless we have a machine shop or access to some kind of manufacturing equipment) can make things as nice or as cheap as what's been mass-produced, no matter how talented we are, so buy whatever you can so you have less things to make...

 

[Clow]

The tube at the bottom (is her hand almost completely inside that tube?)

Yes, MY hand was completly inside it, i put a handle inside so i could lift it up with one arm

looks like one of those extendable plastic tube used by architects and art student to carry large drawings in.

Yes indeed it was my base.

If that's what it is then that alone will reduce a LOT of weight on the gun, yet still act as a very strong base for the other parts to rest on.

It does! but still way too heavy to lift for a poor little girl like me -_-"
The light wasn't the heaviest part of it...(obviously XD) but i had to activate it by hand on the front..which wasnt really easy..need to find a solution to put "on and off" where my hand is inside the tube...

I do agree with you thw, if i can re-use an already made object to do something else...that's perfect : )
It's almost a challenge:lol