Hello there!
I just wanted to say - when I started this blog, I did have intentions of adding posts every few weeks/months. And then, of course, life got in the way. Well, along the way, I am a couple years farther from being a graduate, I now professionally push children's books, and I got married (yay!). My love for costumes and cocktails has continued unabated though, and I hope to post pictures and accounts of those soon.
Yours always,
Kerry the Nefarious
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Shepard N7 Armor: Beginnings
I decided yesterday to start a project: creating female Commander Shepard's N7 armor from Mass Effect. I have been researching other people who have done the same type of armor, and several blogs I've found have been incredibly useful, so I thought I would start one to catalog my projects.
(The female N7 armor, taken from here)
I have been thinking a while about attempting to create a full set of N7 armor, but it was really only in my head until I got the tip to use EVA foam for it. Looking online, several people have made sets, and they look amazing. EVA foam, though I've never used it before, is supposed to be an easily-handled and lightweight material for working with (and wearing).I went to the local Home Depot and got some EVA foam mats to work with - they do not have the finish I want, but since I've never used them before, I figure I can get a feel for them.
The first thing I did was to sit down and try and start planning out the pieces I would need. I think the breastplate is going to be the hardest, as it is curved for, well, breasts. One of the most excellent blogs I've seen decided to do the female breastplate as one molded piece, and I think I will try the same technique. However, to get into the hang of creating patterns, I decided to start with smaller (and simpler) parts.
These are the first sketches I've made for shape of parts; I've decided to start with the arm gear, as most of the shapes seem straightforward. I've read you want to make your patterns larger than they need to be, as the foam curves and you lose area.
The first patterns cut out for the shoulder area; they will be glued together and curved (hopefully) to make the entire part. (I've seen this part of the armor done without curving and only straight pieces, like this, which doesn't look bad- but I really prefer the more professional look of curved shoulders. It's a good idea to be able to fall back on if I can't properly curve the pieces I want.) Most of the work right now is just planning, and deciding which techniques I want to try where.
Well, this is where my armor adventure begins. I've giving myself the deadline of Halloween (there are no good conventions near here in the next few months) to get this done, so I have 91 days, which I think is a reasonable time to finish this.
Wish me luck!
I have been thinking a while about attempting to create a full set of N7 armor, but it was really only in my head until I got the tip to use EVA foam for it. Looking online, several people have made sets, and they look amazing. EVA foam, though I've never used it before, is supposed to be an easily-handled and lightweight material for working with (and wearing).I went to the local Home Depot and got some EVA foam mats to work with - they do not have the finish I want, but since I've never used them before, I figure I can get a feel for them.
The first thing I did was to sit down and try and start planning out the pieces I would need. I think the breastplate is going to be the hardest, as it is curved for, well, breasts. One of the most excellent blogs I've seen decided to do the female breastplate as one molded piece, and I think I will try the same technique. However, to get into the hang of creating patterns, I decided to start with smaller (and simpler) parts.
These are the first sketches I've made for shape of parts; I've decided to start with the arm gear, as most of the shapes seem straightforward. I've read you want to make your patterns larger than they need to be, as the foam curves and you lose area.
The first patterns cut out for the shoulder area; they will be glued together and curved (hopefully) to make the entire part. (I've seen this part of the armor done without curving and only straight pieces, like this, which doesn't look bad- but I really prefer the more professional look of curved shoulders. It's a good idea to be able to fall back on if I can't properly curve the pieces I want.) Most of the work right now is just planning, and deciding which techniques I want to try where.
Well, this is where my armor adventure begins. I've giving myself the deadline of Halloween (there are no good conventions near here in the next few months) to get this done, so I have 91 days, which I think is a reasonable time to finish this.
Wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)