Chest ArmorStatus:
completeEnd results:
6/01/2023
Update: 7/17/2021
We started from this, a lovely pattern brought to you by ArmororProps on
Etsy.
Next it was cut out of 3mm sintra and glued together with pvc cement (primed pvc primer first). I taped the pieces together in this to make sure all of my seams matched up.
Glued the pieces together and sanded down the seams, using both Bondo spot putty
and body filler to get rid of the gaps.
Fiberglassed resined the back because 3mm sintra is weaker than my knees.
Oh, would you look at that. The aforementioned Bondo body filler that's hiding seams better than I used to hide snacks in my bed as a small foundling!
Primed and pretty using my favorite filler/primer ever from
Duplicolorif you use anything else you are deader to me than my last bounty
Sanded with wet or dry 400 grit sandpaper as gentle as Din is with Grogu.
Update: 7/28/2021
Laid down some more filler/primer and wetsanded with 600, 800, and 1000 grit wetordry sandpaper.
Then I finally got to put down a base layer of Montana Metallic Silver. Will revisit it in 12 hours when the paint cures and will wetsand it.
Update: 6/01/2023
Used same weathering technique I used with my bucket to block in battle damage:
Liquid latex. Gross stuff, but beautiful results. I also had to sand and polish the texture off the paint.
(Wetsand with 600-2.5k grit sandpaper)
Masked off my design carefully, also laid down some more liquid latex for another layer of weathering.
Took the masking off before it cured, then let it fully cure over the course of two days before doing the wet sanding thing again.
(Pro tip: use a cloth to further buff and polish finish after wet sanding.) This is what it looks like without any blackwash or other methods of weathering, just the color blocked weathering.
Did a blackwash with matte black acrylic paint. Will weather the armor further when all is said and done and the armor is mounted. Weathering more at the end helps with consistency, this has been my finding as a costume creator over the years.
PauldronsStatus:
IncompleteEnd results:
N/A
Update: 7/18/2021
To ensure that I'd be happy with the way my pauldrons look in sintra, I made an eva foam mockup. I decided against adding any trauma plating underneath because I really like how it looks just clean and simple as is.
This is what the pieces look like all cut out. No bevel was needed.
In order to make the sintra fit together really nicely, I taped it together as I shaped it. I found that painters tape versus masking tape works the best for this method of shaping. I found that only slightly heating the sintra helps to smooth out shapes without leaving any indentations. If you do happen to leave any indentations, simply reheating the sintra will allow it to bounce back to some degree.
Both of the pauldrons all shaped and glued together! As usual, I used pvc cement and pvc primer. Seams are filled and smoothed using Bondo body filler.
Update: 6/01/2023
I did end up using Bondo body filler to get the more difficult seams covered and smooth. Also, I'm sorry past Flo...
I definitely used Rustoleum filler/primer instead of Duplicolor... Good news. It worked. Just make sure you buy the high build, automotive grade stuff. I have a saying with creating armor:
"If a product is good enough for my car, then it's good enough for costume making."It took a few passes of filler/primer and 400-600 grit sandpaper, but eventually, I got all of the dimples and cracks smooth.
Base coat of silver was put down. I did two coats. I also didn't bother wetsanding it, the shoulder pieces are so small and there's so little showing that it would've been a waste of effort.
Did the masking thing. Better look at how I put down my liquid latex too!
Another tip: Put down two coats of it, it makes it easier to peel off when unmasking.
This is a good example of why I'm really happy I did mockup armor. I redesigned a lot of armor pieces, like the shoulders.
(Wetsanded the Montana paint. Hate the texture, so I always wetsand it.)
A good example of my blackwashing process, and also why it's important to weather your armor! It adds a lot of dimension, especially when you give the blackwash areas to pool in. I also take a paper towel, make sure it isn't too wet with blackwash but also not bone dry, and I stipple it on.
(Tip! It will hurt, but take low grit sandpaper and an exacto knife, and put some well placed scratches and slashes on your armor! When blackwashed, it adds a LOT.)