Skyrim Builds (Daedric, Nightingale and Dragon Priest)

[HammyDribbler]

Hi everyone and happy new year. 2016 woop, time to try loads more new stuff.

So, I have decided to build a completely new set of costumes from my family this year to replace Lady Sif, Gir and Dr Doom (As if, Doom isn't going anywhere). I let my family decide and as expected they hung me out to dry!

My wife > Nightingale Armour + Bow
My > Daedric Armour + Sword (He's 8)
Me > A Dragon Priest + Staff

And this has been my life for the last 3 weeks!

I chose to use 2mm craft foam for the Nightingale as I wanted it to be as close to leather as I could without using leather. I used super glue to stick it all together and found out I have an acute allergy to super glue fumes that nearly ended me until I realised what was causing my respirator problems and masked up.



The weapons are forged from a bit of everything. 8mm foam, floor mat EVA, 6mm foam, a small amount of Worbla, some string and soldering iron etc...



The Daedric, I got the lovely Boris to furnish me with his foam files as this was my first foam pep (technically my first 8mm foam pep as the Nightingale was a pep to). I had to modify them A LOT to fit my stick thin child but.... drum roll please.....



And this weekend I spend 15 hours making this!



While my wife sowed this.



So still need to do.

• Daedric shoulders
• Daedric boots
• Daedric skirty thigh bits
• Daedric gauntlets
• Latex everything
• Airbrush everything
• MY WHOLE COSTUME (chances are this will not happen before LSCC in 3 weeks :cry)

Ham Needs Sleep!!!!!

 

[HammyDribbler]

Update time!!!! Been mega busy in my shed. Draw, cut, stick, repeat.....

We now have shoulders (which were an utter nightmare due to the drop in size to fit my skinny 8 year old).



And boots (which were a breeze compared to the shoulders).



This is the back of my shed right now.



Gauntlets are underway then just the skirting to do before detailing (Daedric has lots of metal plating and random surface patterns), latexing, painting and sealing...

2 weeks and 4 days till deadline.

Ham out!

 

[VoidConstruct]

You can do it! Everything is looking great so far!

 

[Ikras]

Looking really good so far and looking forward to seeing further progress.

Have you just expanded the ankle region to allow the foot through or have some kind of fastener in there?
Interested to see your plans with the latex as well. Is that for sealing, etc?

 

[HammyDribbler]

Hi Ikras, the ankles are flared slightly anyway so they sit lower on the boots (cheap boots from Ebay). Having tested the fit / flex etc. I'm planning on keeping them free floating (my son had stick like legs so gravity should cause them to stay down) with maybe an elastic strap that runs under the boot to keep the in place.

The latex serves several purposes really. It seals the foam, fills imperfections and allows the piece to remain fully flexible. It is also strong so forms an extra bond and can be pigmented.

Plan is to use a thinned glue coat, then apply several layers of latex using my compressor and airbrush. Then go in with my art airbrush and do all the detailing with airbrush paints before finally applying a roof primer coat (sounds odd but it works) as the final clear coat.

Last night I nailed the gauntlets even though the wind blew in my shed windows (which I have now boarded up).



I had to make them shorted than they should be but having 1 less layered section but they fit really well and he can bend at the elbow and wrist so all is good

Next up (tonight) is the skirting part which will all be 2mm craft foam. Then the metal detailing (again 2mm craft foam) then the random patterning on various areas (no idea!!!) then any surface texture (might try this beaded stuff that has been mentioned), then latexing, then painting, then working out how to get it all together (likely magnets), then the nightingale set latexing, then painting, then test fitting, then I may get some time to improve Dr Doom.

9 evenings (31/2 hour sessions) and 8 full days (8 hours sessions) before the deadline....

Ham out.

 

[Ikras]

Cheers for the details. That makes sense with the shins. Might borrow some of those ideas for testing at some point.

I was hoping that's what you would say with the latex. I've got some I picked up a little while ago and I've been toying with the idea of using it for the same purpose. Does the glue coat improve the adhesion then or what is it's purpose? Do you just use something like PVA or anything else in particular? Do the airbrush paints adhere fine to the latex or do you need to mix a little latex in? I'm with you on the sounding weird with the primer but if it works it works.

I'll be interested to see these techniques in action. I've not got an airbrush myself but can hopefully pick up some useful tips along the way anyway.

Gauntlets look good too, hope they (and you) didn't pick up any battle damage from the windows. Doesn't sound ideal.
Hope the progress is still going well.

 

[HammyDribbler]

Yeah the glue coat if purely for extra adhesion. Latex basically foams a skin and will peel if not adhered properly. I the green EVO contact cement thinned using thinners. But you can also use spray adhesive (everyone goes on about 3M) for the same result. Having done latex with and without I can say the glue coat is really important.

All paint adheres really well to latex you just need to make sure it remains flexible if you want it to flex (one of the main benefits of using latex). Oddly latex has a bit of a tacky feel when dry and will stick to itself if you are not careful hence you need to either put on a clear coat or dust it with baby powder or similar at the end.

So last night I decided it was time to do a full test fit. Everything is pinned rather than attached (will likely be a mix of velcro and magnets) but I reckon it is coming on.



Remember he is 8! Does it make him look huge

Since then I have added a neck (as you could see a lot of naked neck) and the skirting (as you could see a lot of leggings).



Tonight we start latexing!!!!!!!!

Ham out folks

 

[Ikras]

Great info, cheers. I'm guessing you let the glue dry first and the latex application gets it sticky/tacky again? Might need to try some tests or look into the spray adhesive then. Hadn't occurred to me that the latex wouldn't really stick. I guess it might attach better with something more porous like upholstery foam though?

The flexing is exactly why I'm looking into this. I get the feeling that it's a more resilient finish. Do you find acrylic paints have enough flex or are there any brands you would recommend? Out of interest as well, what roof primer do you use? Had a quick look there and the kind of things I was looking at didn't seem like they'd be clear.

Looks great all put together like that. Proportions look really good as well considering the alterations you've needed to make. Looking forward to seeing it in the next stage and hope the latexing all goes well.

 

[HammyDribbler]

*Health Warning* Both of these are mega toxic! Wear gloves and a respirator at all times!

Here is the thinner I am using: http://www.wickes.co.uk/Isoflex-Clean-Up-Fluid-500ml/p/138968

Here is the clear coat I am using: http://www.wickes.co.uk/Isoflex-Special-Primer-750ml/p/137240

It isn't black btw its clear.

Malc.

 

[HammyDribbler]

Also worth adding Plastidip do a clear coat that should work. I have a tub of it and may test it this weekend. The only issue with Plastidip though is it is crazy expensive!

 

[Ikras]

I'll need to take a look into those products. Cheers. Do you need to use the thinner with the roof primer as well?

How's the latexing going?

 

[HammyDribbler]

4 days of glue coating, latexing and detailing later (literally taken 2 days off work and spent about 8 hours a day in my shed)...



Daedric Quiver with detachable arrow that ca be used with the bow.



Horns and shoulders covered in a weird glass bead gel. Not overly keen on the finish (it has dried clear but looks like frog spawn) so may over paint with latex.



A crap tonne of detailing on the legs, shoulders and torso. All done using puffy paint which will be latexed over to mute it.

The Nightingale armour is nearly all latexed, just needs dusting (to keep a matt finish while losing stickyness) and then sealing the details to give them a gloss finish.

Daedric needs some thin coats of latex over the detailing then I will do a dust coat of gun metal grey before applying silver to the metal plates and high points. Then some red. Then a full gloss sealing.

Then it is strapping (Chicago screws, elastic (mounted on webbing), velcro, buckles etc.).

9 days to go (5 evenings, 4 full days).....

Ham out!

 

[HammyDribbler]

So, I put a layer of latex on the horns to soften the roughness a bit and OMG!!!!

 

[Gee2]

Love this stuff, good work!

 

[kialna]

Ah I remember seeing this in the stream yeah. Looks great so far!

 

[HammyDribbler]

So, last night I got all metallic I also have a few red and sealant tests running (to prevent any reactions later) which means all being well I should be done with Daedric by Monday and on to strapping the Nightingale



Ham out folks!

 

[Jonrattlehead]

This is fantastic! Well done, well done indeed

 

[HammyDribbler]

Morning all, so I finished all the detailing on the Daedric (silver chains using puffy paint, red under various edges etc.) and that is all now overcoated with Alpha Roof Primer (I know, makes no sense at all!) and currently drying in my shed.

Nobody likes to watch overcoat dry so... I finished the Nightingale



So this is all built from 2mm craft foam roughly based on a Pep file. All stuck together with superglue. Then covered in a thinned contact adhesive (EVO 508) then 3 layers of liquid latex (inside and out).

Nightingale is supposed to be matt black while pigmented latex comes out really glossy and the overcoat I use is also really glossy so instead of overcoating I dusted everything with baby powder. This made it look suprisingly awesome as it looks like leather and even though I spent ages wiping the baby powder off I left it in the corners giving the whole suit a very cool layer of detailing.

Of course I have no idea what will happen if it rains but I have found some matt finish car interior protector that I will use should it be needed.

Hopefully finish the Daedric today and spend a bit of time making Dr Doom v3.

Ham out brothers and sisters!

 

[Ikras]

It's all coming together really well. Looking great.

 

[HammyDribbler]

And my work is done

May I present.... Diddy Daedric!



I'm going to bed! 6 hour drive tomorrow then its London Super Comicon

Ham out!