Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Varian Update - Knee and Shoulder Harness



Varian's shoulder armor pieces are relatively light for their size, but still bulky and heavier than many such costume pieces. I struggled with the idea about how best to secure them so they are wearable, but not to confining. And I didn't want them to just fall off either. So I designed a shoulder harness using scrap leather. The shoulder pads will connect to the harness and the armor breastplate will be worn over the harness. The fur should hide this all from sight.



I finished scuplting the second lion knee armor piece. I tried something different by filling the gaps with the paper-mache paste I used for the inside of the shoulder pieces. Hopefully it won't take to long to dry.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Varian Update - Armor & Knee



I finished the sculpt of one of the two knee guards out of pink foam. The knee uses the same basic shape as the belt, but is slightly larger. Next I'll be filling the gaps with putty and priming it. Then duplicating the same effort for the other knee.



I also finished rigging up the straps to hold the breastplate on. All the straps connect to a belt around the waist.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Varian Update - Shoulders 4



With the foam inside the Shoulders carved out, I started work early Saturday morning on finishing the foam surface. I covered the foam with tape.



Then I used mod podge to cover the tape in small squares of newspaper. The plan is to then cover the newspaper with paper-mache. I had hoped to complete the step by Sunday, but the paper was still damp so that is on hold until Monday evening.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Varian Update - Armor, Belt & Shoulders



The size and weight of the shoulder pieces make it a challenge to create a way to wear them. I decided to add a pair of D-rings to the breastplate to help stabilize the shoulder pads.



I filled the fiberglass shoulder pieces with expanding foam, the carved out a hollow for my shoulders. Next I'll use some papermache to finish off the foam and allow me to paint it. I am going to put softer foam in there to act as both cushioning and to allow more movement.



Work continues on the belt, on Wednesday I cut two long strips of leather about four inches wide. I'll be finishing the edges and dyeing the leather a darker brown for Anduin Llane's belt.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Varian Update - Shoulders and Breastplate



Spent a lot of time last night working on the shoulder pieces. I am attempting to use expanding foam inside the fiberglass pieces, carving out the space I need so they will rest on my shoulders. It is proving to be a bit more of a challenge than I initially thought. In the above photo, I added more foam after carving out a little to much while trying to figure out the proper fit.



I also applied the first (of many) coat of black gesso primer to the breastplate. The plan is to complete about ten coats, then sand it smooth.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Varian Update - Belt 4



I had to redo the belt buckle. I had drawn out a pattern, but between creating the pattern and building the buckle, I reversed the "depth" of the piece. The center is supposed to be raised above the sides, but somehow I got it in my head that the edges were above the middle. It was only after I made the post yesterday and looked a picture of the Varian Wrynn model that I realized my mistake.



Fortunatly, the fix was pretty easy; took the heat gun to the higher side pieces and removed them. I cut a diamond of craft foam to raise the center and glued that to the buckle. Then I took scrap of Wonderflex and molded that over the top of the buckle.

Fixed!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Varian Update - Belt 3



I have more progress on the belt to show off today. I created the rest of the buckle using craft foam and wonderflex. I am still not sure if I will include LEDs or not, but the holes are in place for the wires and there is a hollow space in the back for the battery pack and switch. I want to make sure the LED/battery circuit combination I have in mind will last long enough. My sword prop can use a 9v battery, but I cannot fit that large of a battery into smaller locations on the costume itself.



This part will be painted yellow/gold and the lion head glued in place once all the painting is complete.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Varian Update - Belt 2



More progress on the belt buckle. I am satisfied with the way it is coming together. I made a similar design for the knees. At this point it is clear that I could add LEDs for the eyes, but since the character model does not have a glow effect there, I am not sure if it is nessessary.

I took a photo after I applied a coat of gesso, but the black color hid all the details.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Varian Update - Armor 2



I have finished with the basic construction of the breastplate. Now I need to use scraps of Wonderflex and Friendly Plastic to smoothly join all the layers together. I had to use different color craft foam under the Wonderflex, which makes it look a bit odd. That should vanish upon painting.

Dig the fake abs! They're part of the design of his armor, not my idea. :)



I also started work on the shin armor. I am using two layers of craft foam under the Wonderflex to help build details.



The next step is to fuse the foam between two pieces of plastic, using the heat gun.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Varian Update - Belt



Varian wears a large belt with a huge lion head buckle. After considering several different methods, I've decided to sculpt the buckle out of pink foam. I designed a pattern (that I'll reuse for the knee pads) and I'm cutting that from foam. I'll shape it with sand paper, then paint it with gesso before attaching it to the boot armor.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Varian Update - Armor



Progress has been made on Varian's armor. I'm constructing it out multiple layers of Wonderflex and Craft Foam.





The upper part of the breastplate is nearly done, I need to add the collar and trim.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Gateway 2011



Went to Gateway 2011, the Strategicon labor day convention. I was joined by two friends of mine and we participated in the day's three games together.

Game One was a GURPS Steampunk, the game was run a bit to loosely for my tastes and didn't really feel like Steampunk.

Game Two was Castle Faulkenstien, Steampunk before Steampunk was really its own genre.

Game Three was Feng Shui, which draws its inspiration from Hong Kong action movies.

I also bought a new set of dice. (Pictured Above)