The Expanse Belter Vac Suit

PropsToHistory · Feb 13, 2020

I have begun a new cosplay. This time a belter from the Amazon series The Expanse. Now I'm not trying to make a specific character , just a generic belter. My own character basically. So far I have most of the parts on hand, still waiting on a few pieces and then I'll start building.
My plan is to make it as screen accurate as possible by using all the same parts as production used in the 1st and 2nd season.
Some things like the suit itself have to be custom, because they were. My suit is made from Dance Neoprene, just like the originals and and is fairly breathable.

PropsToHistory · Feb 13, 2020

Sgainbrachta · Feb 22, 2020

Nice! Great patterning, too.

The fabric you call "dance neoprene"- is that the 1.5mm neoprene, or something else entirely? I've been trying to find the stuff that can coozies are made of, so it'll be somewhat easier to sew. I looked for "dance neoprene" and everything was links for wrap shoes or regular scuba neoprene.

Any help you can give me on that little bit would be awesome! I'm helping with some folks doing an event called "Neotropolis" (.com for info~) and they want to do a belter vac suit. Biggest block is the suit itself, as they had a proper helmet already.

Might be of a little interest, just for the "more info" file- the belters in the "Cibola Burn" episode were all wearing the "Guardian Cyclone" harness. I finally figured it out when I got a good look at the big guy's bottom when he was holding his dead friend, right after shooting the duster. The one you have there was another in my list of possibilities~

Again- looking good!

Cyclone Construction Harness

www.guardianfall.com

PropsToHistory · Feb 27, 2020

So the technical name for the material is Scuba Knit. 1.5mil thick. It's a polyester/spandex blend. The pattern comes from a set of disassembled RedKap coveralls. The tubing is 1/8 in medical tubing sewn into the suit. 1 inch nylon webbing was used to make the MOLLE webbing.

Sgainbrachta · Feb 27, 2020

Macorrie said:
So the technical name for the material is Scuba Knit. 1.5mil thick. It's a polyester/spandex blend. The pattern comes from a set of disassembled RedKap coveralls. The tubing is 1/8 in medical tubing sewn into the suit. 1 inch nylon webbing was used to make the MOLLE webbing.

Sweet! I kinda figured it was the thin stuff- I'm still looking to find the can coozy material to play with it, too. It's a MUCH lighter type of foam, more like the stuff you'd use as a mattress in a RV, but with fabric on both sides. I've done piping before, , and figured that was pretty much what those were. I wonder what they used in the show- as it tapers on the ends closest to the neck... I've only got 6 weeks, and also have to build up a space for our display and stuff for 2 other people, so I won't have this done anytime soon- but I will be doing one, for sure. Check out Neotropolis.com. If you go to the "factions" page (linked at the top of the page~) you'll see my fat butt "sellin'" stuff. For that, I made an exoframe-ish set of arms, and am making the full frame, too. I will be doing the belter stuff as "light kit" for the day, as this event is pretty close to 24 hours long.

Again- I love the work you did here!

PropsToHistory · Mar 16, 2020

So, I finished up the Helmet. Using a TK-1 High Altitude Helmet just as was used in production. Some 3d Printed parts and hand made decals.

Sgainbrachta · Mar 16, 2020

WOW! That's freaking GORGEOUS!

Did you do water slide decals or adhesive type? They look incredible!

PropsToHistory · Mar 16, 2020

Sgainbrachta said:
WOW! That's freaking GORGEOUS!

Did you do water slide decals or adhesive type? They look incredible!

water slide. I used clear decal paper with some give a more faded appearance. Then ran sand paper over them

PropsToHistory · Mar 17, 2020

sstnickg · Mar 17, 2020

Stunning!

PropsToHistory · Mar 27, 2020

Now on to the Harness. Starting with a Guardian Edge harness. I replaced all the buckles with Cobra buckles, attached the cobra attachements for the back pack. The 2 Black Diamond lights and painted it all with black acrylic

PropsToHistory · Mar 27, 2020

Now onto the back pack

Psicorp7 · Mar 27, 2020

That looks superb! Well done! Now put that on and go to the grocery store!!!

PropsToHistory · Mar 27, 2020

Psicorp7 said:
That looks superb! Well done! Now put that on and go to the grocery store!!!

When its done i have every intention of doing so. My wife has agreed to photograph it/get arrested with me.

PropsToHistory · Mar 30, 2020

Back pack surgery. The backpacks for the belters were made from Ogio Mach 5 motorcycle backpacks. Lots if cutti g with this one. I have an Adafruit touchscreen and arduino on the way for the 02 readout on the back

justinrowan · Mar 30, 2020

Macorrie said:
When its done i have every intention of doing so. My wife has agreed to photograph it/get arrested with me.

Please do this! In this timeline, you'd probably get an honorable mention on the nightly news and the cops would take pics with you.

PropsToHistory · Mar 30, 2020

justinrowan said:
Please do this! In this timeline, you'd probably get an honorable mention on the nightly news and the cops would take pics with you.

Im close to done with it. (2 weeks maybe) Then i promise to