Hey everyone! After a very long hiatus, I have returned and have jumped on the band wagon and decided to try my hand at the foam armor. Now it seems that you can only get so detailed with the foam. Cutting has been the hardest part for me. I don't have a heat knife and using an exacto knife and having to apply a lot of pressure to make it cut through is starting to take it's toll on my fingers. I have only used ONE sheet of foam so far to create what I got so far AND I still have room on it to cut out a few more smaller pieces! I have a total of 6 foam sheets to use and if I'm lucky, that MIGHT be all I need to make a full suit.

Anyway, I think I am off to a good start.

I think it looks okay. Since foam seems to be a new method around here, there isn't a whole lot of "stickies" to read on how to go about doing it. I've read the few things I could find, especially the videos by Ben Streeper.

What I've got so far:


Now for some close-ups!

The top left shoulder side:


The front area:


Upper right shoulder area:


And what it will sort of look like once the pieces are connected:



I THINK that if I dedicate myself to this project, I MIGHT have it done in time for a convention in May. Since I don't have to use all the resin and crap, that reduces the time needed to finish. haha Also, now with Forged Reclaimer back in action and sharing his awesome models with us, I am hoping to have some VERY nice models to use.

My MAJOR issue is Kat's helmet. Yes, there are some that have made a decent helmet, but those were created before the game was released. No Kat helmet has been made since the release and the existing helmets are still not accurate. Having a helmet finished in time might be the hard part since it doesn't seem too easy to make it out of foam. XD That may have to be done using the 'ol resin, fiberglass and rondo method. haha

On a side note, it's a bit funny that the foam is blue and so is Kat. lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

In case anybody wants to know, here is my supply list:
• EVA foam (8-10 sheets should be enough for a full suit)
• Hot glue (LOTS of it. I got mine at the dollar store)
• Craft foam (this thinner foam is GREAT for detail parts that are too hard with the thicker stuff)
• Cardstock (needed to print the templates) durrrr lol
• Pen (to trace the templates onto the foam, obviously) XD
• ACRYLIC paint
• Various sized paint brushes. A wider one for the big areas and a smaller one for the smaller areas.
• 1-2 spray cans of clear coat*

*I have noticed that if you rub hard enough, the acrylic paint can rub off, but you gotta rub pretty hard in order for that to happen. Plus acrylic paint is a WATER BASE PAINT so if you are out in the rain in your armor, your gonna have issues! XD

NO need for plasti-dip! Plasti-dip makes a good base before you paint, but that is if you go with spray paint. I've done stress tests on a scrap piece of foam with the acrylic paint and it did not peel/flake/crack off when I bent it in every way possible. It holds up pretty good. Of course, the armor will not be moving in some of the ways I was bending it, but just had to test and make sure the paint worked.