ArcherShadow
New Member
Hey guys, thought I'd share my current project with you.
I used to be a hardcore Star Wars Galaxies player, but stopped when Sony changed the game with the NGE. I've recently found a project trying to emulate the original game engine, so that's got my interest up. For those of you who didn't play (probably everyone, heh), most people wore armour called composite, which looks like this:
I'm in the process of getting the 3D files to see if it can be pepped, but in the meantime I've started work on the boots. Here's another image of them:
First step was a pair of what we call "welly boots" in the UK, I think you just call them rubber boots in the USA. I was hoping for plain black so I wouldn't have to colour them, but these were the only ones I could get that were a good fit:
Then I cut them up a bit, because they were too loose:
And stuck them back together with duct tape (there's some hot glue in there too, but it wasn't adhering well to the boots).
At this point the boots were just a little looser than skin tight, enough to comfortably walk in them and tuck in trousers.
For the "spats", I wrapped some regular printer paper around the arch of the boots and cut it to about the right shape. I then traced the outline on craft foam, cut it out, and hot glued it in place. I knew the boots had to be black underneath (that flowery pattern wasn't going to cut it, heh) and I was worried that paint would crack, so I wrapped them in black duct tape. On the plus side, the boots in the game have a slight texture . . . on the negative side it's clearly duct tape But I figured, why not give it a go.
At this stage they started looking recognisable. I tested out walking in them and walking doesn't seem to make the foam move, so it should be okay when hardened.
Next stage was to cut out the sections for the shinpads:
These are also made of foam (though in retrospect I don't know why I used it), backed with corrugated cardboard. I've since tweaked them a little to make them more game-accurate, but just going off screenshots and my drawings it was tricky to get right.
For the pads at the back, I stuck on a piece of printer paper, drew roughly what I thought the pads should look like, and cut it out. (Cutting out a mirror image copy for the other boot.) I then cut out corrugated cardboard and foam using the paper as a template. I curved the cardboard and temporarily stuck it onto the boots with Scotch tape, and then hot-glued on the foam (the foam curves easily and two layers glued together help keep it in shape).
You can't really see it well in that pic, but the curves are holding pretty well.
Here's everything stuck in place with tape in a temporary mock-up. You can see the drawings I worked from in the corner:
And here's a look at the temporary back:
The ankle of my boot is too narrow as compared to the game, which is making the shinpads look too wide - I've reduced them in size a little which helps, and I think it will also help to have them at the right angle (they don't go straight up, when finished they'll lean forward a little).
I also got pretty paranoid about the fiberglass resin destroying the craft foam, so I've added a layer of cardstock to the shin and calf pieces (this is also helping the calf pieces hold curved shape). I'm a little worried about the spats area, because it will be tricky to stick on a protective layer of cardstock. Does anyone know if the resin will damage it? If not, I'll just test some out.
The next stage will be to fiberglass the shinpads, calf pads, and spats. Depending on the final texture that gives me, I might just stick the pads on, paint it, and call it a day.
I'm not sure if I should glue the calf and shin pads on, or possibly use velcro. The boots are also a very tight fit so I'm thinking of putting a zip down the side (inside edge, so it won't be too obvious).
For my first scratch built, non-pep project I'm pleased with how this is turning out, though I think I'd do some things different if I try again. Thanks for reading and any comments, crits, or advice are much appreciated
I used to be a hardcore Star Wars Galaxies player, but stopped when Sony changed the game with the NGE. I've recently found a project trying to emulate the original game engine, so that's got my interest up. For those of you who didn't play (probably everyone, heh), most people wore armour called composite, which looks like this:
I'm in the process of getting the 3D files to see if it can be pepped, but in the meantime I've started work on the boots. Here's another image of them:
First step was a pair of what we call "welly boots" in the UK, I think you just call them rubber boots in the USA. I was hoping for plain black so I wouldn't have to colour them, but these were the only ones I could get that were a good fit:
Then I cut them up a bit, because they were too loose:
And stuck them back together with duct tape (there's some hot glue in there too, but it wasn't adhering well to the boots).
At this point the boots were just a little looser than skin tight, enough to comfortably walk in them and tuck in trousers.
For the "spats", I wrapped some regular printer paper around the arch of the boots and cut it to about the right shape. I then traced the outline on craft foam, cut it out, and hot glued it in place. I knew the boots had to be black underneath (that flowery pattern wasn't going to cut it, heh) and I was worried that paint would crack, so I wrapped them in black duct tape. On the plus side, the boots in the game have a slight texture . . . on the negative side it's clearly duct tape But I figured, why not give it a go.
At this stage they started looking recognisable. I tested out walking in them and walking doesn't seem to make the foam move, so it should be okay when hardened.
Next stage was to cut out the sections for the shinpads:
These are also made of foam (though in retrospect I don't know why I used it), backed with corrugated cardboard. I've since tweaked them a little to make them more game-accurate, but just going off screenshots and my drawings it was tricky to get right.
For the pads at the back, I stuck on a piece of printer paper, drew roughly what I thought the pads should look like, and cut it out. (Cutting out a mirror image copy for the other boot.) I then cut out corrugated cardboard and foam using the paper as a template. I curved the cardboard and temporarily stuck it onto the boots with Scotch tape, and then hot-glued on the foam (the foam curves easily and two layers glued together help keep it in shape).
You can't really see it well in that pic, but the curves are holding pretty well.
Here's everything stuck in place with tape in a temporary mock-up. You can see the drawings I worked from in the corner:
And here's a look at the temporary back:
The ankle of my boot is too narrow as compared to the game, which is making the shinpads look too wide - I've reduced them in size a little which helps, and I think it will also help to have them at the right angle (they don't go straight up, when finished they'll lean forward a little).
I also got pretty paranoid about the fiberglass resin destroying the craft foam, so I've added a layer of cardstock to the shin and calf pieces (this is also helping the calf pieces hold curved shape). I'm a little worried about the spats area, because it will be tricky to stick on a protective layer of cardstock. Does anyone know if the resin will damage it? If not, I'll just test some out.
The next stage will be to fiberglass the shinpads, calf pads, and spats. Depending on the final texture that gives me, I might just stick the pads on, paint it, and call it a day.
I'm not sure if I should glue the calf and shin pads on, or possibly use velcro. The boots are also a very tight fit so I'm thinking of putting a zip down the side (inside edge, so it won't be too obvious).
For my first scratch built, non-pep project I'm pleased with how this is turning out, though I think I'd do some things different if I try again. Thanks for reading and any comments, crits, or advice are much appreciated