PROJECT: Gundam Head Strike (costume) - 405th Infantry Division

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Wiltonican

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PROJECT: Gundam Head Strike (costume)

#1

04-19-2012, 03:16 AM

Got a project that's nearing completion. My Halloween costume. It's a Strike Freedom helmet! But, I'm going to try to make the anime/comic/game convention this weekend. First time ever at a cosplay. Bringing my daughter whose going to be in the Zaku II costume (in another thread)

I had introduced myself before with this build but never did get into details. So, I'll try it here.

This was my initial photoshop mockup.

Modelled in Maya.

Pep

Cleaned up a bit in Pep

An old pep costume from a couple Halloweens ago:

Fast forward a bit...
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Wiltonican

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#2

04-19-2012, 03:17 AM

Meanwhile, I'll just post random progress pics of the build. Slowly bringing you guys up to speed:

Here, the helmet shell is all paper... or to be more exact, 120lbs card stock. I reinforced the paper with laminating resin. To give it rigidity and strength.

Bunch of electronics I'm putting into it. Couple fans for air circulation, switches for lights, etc.

The V-fins are made of 0.08" gauge plastic sheet. I'll be using a lot of it here and there.

Here, I layered some cloth into some resin. Binding it all together to form a composite material. Super strong at this point!! I could use fibreglass or carbon fiber, but that route is too expensive. But, it's the same process. Hanging to dry.

At my workbench. Forming the V-fins.

Oh yea.. the face.. it retracts! I imagine the tiny eye holes wouldn't be sufficient enough for vision. So, a requirement to pivot it out of the way on occasion.
A video of it in action:

Last edited by Wiltonican; 04-19-2012, 03:24 AM.
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Wiltonican

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#3

04-19-2012, 03:18 AM

Fan placement:

Solid now. All the fabric/resin all layered up. Super stiff.

Inside view of the hinge mechanism. Simple pivot.

Diagram of airflow:

Last edited by Wiltonican; 04-19-2012, 03:24 AM.
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Wiltonican

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#4

04-19-2012, 03:19 AM

Devil's in the details:
One of the demands on this project for me was to NOT take any shortcuts. It's a learning experience in what my abilities are. Always pushing the boundaries. It's a personal journey. It's a philosophy of mine.

I could simply draw or paint the details in.. but.. that would be easy. hehe Besides, making them rather than drawing them give the helmet a whole new level of dimension. Much more satisfying to the viewer.

Last edited by Wiltonican; 04-19-2012, 03:24 AM.
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Wiltonican

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#5

04-19-2012, 03:20 AM

Bought a couple of LED flashlights from the dollarstore. Cut them out and detailed them:

Painted the inside matte black:

Cutting out the nostrils. These are actually functional nostrils as there will be a mini fan pulling fresh air through them!

Thruster detail:

Last edited by Wiltonican; 04-19-2012, 03:24 AM.
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Wiltonican

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#6

04-19-2012, 03:21 AM

Mohawk dressing:

Daughter test fitting the helmet:

Last edited by Wiltonican; 04-19-2012, 03:25 AM.
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p bro

Infantryman
- Join Date: Apr 2009
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#7

04-19-2012, 03:54 AM

You had fans in there?! Crazy good skills bro.
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ZoidianKings

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#8

04-19-2012, 08:55 AM

Wow this is really looking amazing. You are really taking the time to put a lot of detail into it which coming along nicely. Cant wait to see the finished project!
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Wiltonican

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#9

04-19-2012, 02:34 PM

Machine Guns:
(I hate electronics. Nowhere near as good as some of you guys here. So, please don't laugh at me! haha)
Soldered a couple of wires into the LED fashlight's circuitboard. Testing it out:
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Wiltonican

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#10

04-19-2012, 02:36 PM

Priming:

Rear Fan (in mohawk):
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Wiltonican

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#11

04-19-2012, 02:36 PM

Camera Lens (mohawk lens):
With this part, I had to fabricate something unique. Something that will allow light through from behind. Yet have some mech detail. Only way I can think of is make it from scratch. From resin. First, I'll need to sculpt the mold (made of plasticine):

box it up...

mixed up some (2-part) resin, pour into the mold. Let dry overnight.

test fit:

painted a clear blue:
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Valcara

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#12

04-19-2012, 03:29 PM

this looks amazing!!! Will you be working on making a full gundam suit? this reminds me of a full suit i saw at a convention a few years back, the guy stood about 7 feet tall in his armor, i belive he was from wing.
your daughter is adorible by the way>,<
keep up the awsome work!
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Wiltonican

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#13

04-19-2012, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by Valcara View Post

this looks amazing!!! Will you be working on making a full gundam suit? this reminds me of a full suit i saw at a convention a few years back, the guy stood about 7 feet tall in his armor, i belive he was from wing.
your daughter is adorible by the way>,<
keep up the awsome work!

Haha.. thanks. No. I don't think this build will go beyond the chest. Maybe I'll do the shoulders and arms. Maybe.

I had sketched it all up. And to make it look good on my body was just not working out. Even if I went with the chibi (super deformed) style. To me, if it's not going to work, I won't bother. All or nothing.
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Memebr

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#14

04-19-2012, 07:30 PM

Bro, you have serious skills! i'm impressed! i cant wait to see it finished!
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Wiltonican

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#15

04-19-2012, 07:46 PM

Switches:
The controls for all the lights and fans. All accessible from the behind the goatee!

PROBLEM!
The V-fins are WAY too heavy. There's lot of solid resin in the cavity. With all that weight in front of me, it makes turning side to side very difficult. I hollowed it out a bit. But, I'm afraid it wasn't enough. And I've run out of time. I'll have to deal with it. I may have to revisit this later... after the convention this weekend.

All Primed up:

Initial Designs for the decals:
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