XtremeTACTICS
New Member
Hey everyone,
Unlike typical UNSC Army troopers, UNSCMC Marines and UNSCDF ODST’s, this costume will capture the special operatives side of the UNSC military. A completely hand picked Militia of the best troopers of the UNSC Army, Marine Corps and Defense Force. A Militia so highly trained and so good at what they do, they put the name “Helljumpers” to shame. I’m referring to the UNSC’s Special Operative Armed Conflict Response Team. Or, for short, UNSC-S.O. ACR Team.
Now, onto the progress pictures of my UNSC ACR Trooper.
(NOTE: All concept art has “UNSC SOCOM Trooper” as the draft title. This was my initial first draft name, and has only recently evolved into the UNSC ACR Trooper.)
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CONCEPTS
The initial concepts of the armour were heavily based on Weta’s take on the Halo 3 marine. After the release of some images of Halo:Reach’s UNSC Army trooper, I decided to integrate some of the design of the UNSC Army trooper into the marine armour. This eventually revolutionized into what is below.
UNSC ACR Trooper Shoulder Plate
UNSC ACR Trooper Chest/Back Plate(s)
UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet
UNSC ACR Trooper Stomach Plate
(Concepts are subject to change as the costumes progress continues)
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SCULPTING
All of the concepts above and MANY more were mashed together to create what is here. Trying to achieve a proper balance of straight, uniform design and curved, round shapes in the armour is key in the production of the costume. If something doesn’t look correct, I go back to the concepts and edit them so the armour looks less like a mash up of random armour parts, and more like a smooth co-operation of similar, but different armour parts.
UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet
(Currently in progress)
UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate
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MOLDING
Early on I decided to use Smooth-On’s Rebound-25 and Plasti-Paste II as my molding material. Though the materials may be expensive, they are worth every penny and then some.
Materials
UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate Mold
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CASTING
After experimenting with both Smooth-on products and other casting materials, I came to the conclusion that casting with a gelcoat and fiberglass/resin would be the way to go. Its roughly the same cost as the Smooth-on products, but accepts paint and bondo far better. Fiberglass and resin is also far easier to come by then smooth-on products in my neck of the woods.
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SOFT ARMOUR COMPONENTS
After deciding that the costume would require multiple flexible armour parts to increase maneuverability and flexibility, I decided to create the parts from EVA foam and OD green fabric.
The current neck guard is only a test component at the moment. The design is subject to change, however, my methods have been tested on it, and I believe I have a decent looking product from my efforts.
I took a sharpie to the neck guard and wrote “SOCOM” on the back. (The official neck guard will have “UNSC-ACR” apposed to “SOCOM”). I thought this would help identify the unit a little better apart from other troops. I drew it on by hand because this is UNSC standard issue gear, but modified by the soldiers to meet their needs. I also decided to apply water to the surface of the fabric to smudge the “S” and part of the “O” to create a more down-to-earth look. I also think the smudging makes the neck guard look more human, aswell as more of a rush job compared to a long, artistic process.
I also took some 180 grit sand paper to the fabric to create a “fading” effect aswell as a warn effect as if the trooper had been crawling around and running through rugged, wooded areas.
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Tell me what you think!
This is just a teaser of what’s to come. Things may not look Spec. Ops now, but they will.
Stay frosty.
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
Unlike typical UNSC Army troopers, UNSCMC Marines and UNSCDF ODST’s, this costume will capture the special operatives side of the UNSC military. A completely hand picked Militia of the best troopers of the UNSC Army, Marine Corps and Defense Force. A Militia so highly trained and so good at what they do, they put the name “Helljumpers” to shame. I’m referring to the UNSC’s Special Operative Armed Conflict Response Team. Or, for short, UNSC-S.O. ACR Team.
Now, onto the progress pictures of my UNSC ACR Trooper.
(NOTE: All concept art has “UNSC SOCOM Trooper” as the draft title. This was my initial first draft name, and has only recently evolved into the UNSC ACR Trooper.)
--------------------------------------------------
CONCEPTS
The initial concepts of the armour were heavily based on Weta’s take on the Halo 3 marine. After the release of some images of Halo:Reach’s UNSC Army trooper, I decided to integrate some of the design of the UNSC Army trooper into the marine armour. This eventually revolutionized into what is below.
UNSC ACR Trooper Shoulder Plate
UNSC ACR Trooper Chest/Back Plate(s)
UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet
UNSC ACR Trooper Stomach Plate
(Concepts are subject to change as the costumes progress continues)
--------------------------------------------------
SCULPTING
All of the concepts above and MANY more were mashed together to create what is here. Trying to achieve a proper balance of straight, uniform design and curved, round shapes in the armour is key in the production of the costume. If something doesn’t look correct, I go back to the concepts and edit them so the armour looks less like a mash up of random armour parts, and more like a smooth co-operation of similar, but different armour parts.
UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet
(Currently in progress)
UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate
--------------------------------------------------
MOLDING
Early on I decided to use Smooth-On’s Rebound-25 and Plasti-Paste II as my molding material. Though the materials may be expensive, they are worth every penny and then some.
Materials
UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate Mold
--------------------------------------------------
CASTING
After experimenting with both Smooth-on products and other casting materials, I came to the conclusion that casting with a gelcoat and fiberglass/resin would be the way to go. Its roughly the same cost as the Smooth-on products, but accepts paint and bondo far better. Fiberglass and resin is also far easier to come by then smooth-on products in my neck of the woods.
--------------------------------------------------
SOFT ARMOUR COMPONENTS
After deciding that the costume would require multiple flexible armour parts to increase maneuverability and flexibility, I decided to create the parts from EVA foam and OD green fabric.
The current neck guard is only a test component at the moment. The design is subject to change, however, my methods have been tested on it, and I believe I have a decent looking product from my efforts.
I took a sharpie to the neck guard and wrote “SOCOM” on the back. (The official neck guard will have “UNSC-ACR” apposed to “SOCOM”). I thought this would help identify the unit a little better apart from other troops. I drew it on by hand because this is UNSC standard issue gear, but modified by the soldiers to meet their needs. I also decided to apply water to the surface of the fabric to smudge the “S” and part of the “O” to create a more down-to-earth look. I also think the smudging makes the neck guard look more human, aswell as more of a rush job compared to a long, artistic process.
I also took some 180 grit sand paper to the fabric to create a “fading” effect aswell as a warn effect as if the trooper had been crawling around and running through rugged, wooded areas.
--------------------------------------------------
Tell me what you think!
This is just a teaser of what’s to come. Things may not look Spec. Ops now, but they will.
Stay frosty.
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
