Pepakura Stormtrooper suits - files and pitfalls

[Blaxmyth]

Super impressive! I am loving the way you have kept on with this project. You should be feeling pretty satisfied!

 

[d503364]

Thanks so much for the compliment!
It has been a fun project. I may try using foam for my next trooper costume.

 

[d503364]

So all armor pieces are done! I haven't put the full armor on yet but here is a pic of the legs as well as the thermal detonator I am finishing up.

I got the pep files from Blaxymth and he is several inches taller than me so I did quite a bit of adjusting on the lengths and widths, especially on the thighs and calves. I had to cut them in half then add elastic to widen them so they would fit me. It ain't real pretty but gets the job done.

I cut up simple white craft foam sheets into strips and glued them to the edges to give a nice finish, prevent any sharper points catch my bodysuit and most importantly prevent the armor biting and pinching me.

 

[Blaxmyth]

So all armor pieces are done! I haven't put the full armor on yet but here is a pic of the legs as well as the thermal detonator I am finishing up.

I got the pep files from Blaxymth and he is several inches taller than me so I did quite a bit of adjusting on the lengths and widths, especially on the thighs and calves. I had to cut them in half then add elastic to widen them so they would fit me. It ain't real pretty but gets the job done.

I cut up simple white craft foam sheets into strips and glued them to the edges to give a nice finish, prevent any sharper points catch my bodysuit and most importantly prevent the armor biting and pinching me.

Great idea about the craft foam 'anti-bite' strips! You're on the final lap now - well done!

 

[d503364]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Parts of it are duct-taped, wired, and held together by whatever I could find, but it is together.
I have to say, I cannot see anything out of that helmet. I don't know if this is normal but my field of vision is limited to only what is just beyond my feet.

UPDATE:

Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!
Hot glue is a terrible source for holding pieces together!!!!! Put the armor on this morning and straps were coming loose all over the place.
Then, the plastic shoulder straps broke into 2 pieces. Guess they couldn't hold up to the stress.

 

[d503364]

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts straps were coming loose with my armor so I couldn't attach them together (like the chest to the ab plate uses elastic with Velcro on the ends to hold them together).

I used hot glue to hold them onto the inside but the problem is that the hot glue keeps coming unglued.

Any other suggestions for keeping these straps from coming loose?

 

[Frogfreak]

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts straps were coming loose with my armor so I couldn't attach them together (like the chest to the ab plate uses elastic with Velcro on the ends to hold them together).

I used hot glue to hold them onto the inside but the problem is that the hot glue keeps coming unglued.

Any other suggestions for keeping these straps from coming loose?

Superglue?

 

[d503364]

Superglue?

I will give that a try.

 

[Frogfreak]

I use loctite gel superglue and it works really really well! And it takes only within about a minute to dry!

 

[Blaxmyth]

I ended up using some really good glue - E3000 from memory? - plus I used pop rivets with washers for any high-stress points. You can easily fill in the small hole of the pop rivet to camouflage it. Honestly, people will see the suit in its entirety and not notice the tiny details.

And the lack of vision in the helmet sounds entirely normal, sorry to say!

 

[d503364]

I ended up using some really good glue - E3000 from memory? - plus I used pop rivets with washers for any high-stress points. You can easily fill in the small hole of the pop rivet to camouflage it. Honestly, people will see the suit in its entirety and not notice the tiny details.

And the lack of vision in the helmet sounds entirely normal, sorry to say!

Thanks Blaxmyth.
I will check into the e3000 glue. I have heard about others using pop rivets; that is something I will look into using.
For now, I am taking a break from the armor.

I have plans though to build a rogue one shoretrooper using foam instead of the cardstock.