Xtreme TACTICS 101
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
Because of the forum move, and the new direction I am taking with my original "Weta Marine Armour WIP" I have decided to create a new topic for my progress.
Now, you may be wondering "What new direction?". What I mean by new direction is I am creating a “mash up” of various marine and army trooper armour parts, along with a lot of my own design to create a more down to earth UNSC trooper.
However, unlike typical UNSC Army troopers and Marines, this costume will capture the special operatives side of the military. A completely hand picked Militia of the best troopers of the UNSCMC and UNSCDF. A Militia so highly trained and so good at what they do, they put the name “Helljumpers” to shame. I’m referring to the UNSC’s Special Operative Classified Operations Militia. Or, for short, UNSC-SOCOM.
Now, onto the progress pictures of my UNSC-SOCOM Trooper.
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CONCEPTS
The initial concepts of the armour were heavily based on Weta’s take on the Halo 3 marine. After the release of some images of Halo:Reach’s UNSC Trooper, I decided to integrate some of the design of the UNSC trooper into the marine armour. This eventually revolutionized into what is below.
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SCULPTING
All of the concepts above and MANY more were mashed together to create what is here. Trying to achieve a proper balance of straight, uniform design and curved, round shapes in the armour is key in the production of the costume. If something doesn’t look correct, I go back to the concepts and edit them so the armour looks less like a mash up of random armour parts, and more like a smooth co-operation of similar, but different armour parts.
I have nearly finished the shoulder piece (aside from some small details and touchups). Its design is very similar to the Halo: Reach UNSC Army Troopers, but had been altered to compliment the rest of my costume.
I must admit, oh, so smooth!
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MOLDING
I chose to mold the armour parts with Smooth-On’s Rebound 25 and Plasti-paste as a shell. I also have my thickening agent. A few thousand dollars and 2 weeks for shipping later, this just came in the mail.
(Products here and ready to use!)
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CASTING
After experimenting with both Smooth-on products and other casting materials, I came to the conclusion that casting with a gelcoat and fiberglass/resin would be the way to go. Its roughly the same cost as the Smooth-on products, but accepts paint and bondo far better. Fiberglass and resin is also far easier to come by then smooth-on products in my neck of the woods.
(Products here and ready to use!)
--------------------------------------------------
EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING AND WEATHERING
I took an old tank model and began to do various washes and dry brushing to achieve a grimy, faded and heavily worn out look. I want to make my armour look as if it has been through hell, while keeping a Spec. Ops. look. I also wanted to achieve a camouflage pattern similar to the British DPM pattern but in Olive Drab and Yellow-green colors. Having all of the layers of the costume mix together perfectly is my top priority, so I wanted to insure the armour coloration complimented the BDU’s coloration and camouflage scheme, as well as keep with the Special Operatives look.
The colors have been achieved and perfected, but the pattern is still at the concept stage.
--------------------------------------------------
Tell me what you think!
This is just a teaser of what’s to come. Things may not look Spec. Ops now, but they will. I will be updating VERY soon with some nice, juicy updates of a finished armour part, and two shoulders fresh out of the mold.
Until then, stay frosty.
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
Because of the forum move, and the new direction I am taking with my original "Weta Marine Armour WIP" I have decided to create a new topic for my progress.
Now, you may be wondering "What new direction?". What I mean by new direction is I am creating a “mash up” of various marine and army trooper armour parts, along with a lot of my own design to create a more down to earth UNSC trooper.
However, unlike typical UNSC Army troopers and Marines, this costume will capture the special operatives side of the military. A completely hand picked Militia of the best troopers of the UNSCMC and UNSCDF. A Militia so highly trained and so good at what they do, they put the name “Helljumpers” to shame. I’m referring to the UNSC’s Special Operative Classified Operations Militia. Or, for short, UNSC-SOCOM.
Now, onto the progress pictures of my UNSC-SOCOM Trooper.
--------------------------------------------------
CONCEPTS
The initial concepts of the armour were heavily based on Weta’s take on the Halo 3 marine. After the release of some images of Halo:Reach’s UNSC Trooper, I decided to integrate some of the design of the UNSC trooper into the marine armour. This eventually revolutionized into what is below.
--------------------------------------------------
SCULPTING
All of the concepts above and MANY more were mashed together to create what is here. Trying to achieve a proper balance of straight, uniform design and curved, round shapes in the armour is key in the production of the costume. If something doesn’t look correct, I go back to the concepts and edit them so the armour looks less like a mash up of random armour parts, and more like a smooth co-operation of similar, but different armour parts.
I have nearly finished the shoulder piece (aside from some small details and touchups). Its design is very similar to the Halo: Reach UNSC Army Troopers, but had been altered to compliment the rest of my costume.
I must admit, oh, so smooth!
--------------------------------------------------
MOLDING
I chose to mold the armour parts with Smooth-On’s Rebound 25 and Plasti-paste as a shell. I also have my thickening agent. A few thousand dollars and 2 weeks for shipping later, this just came in the mail.
(Products here and ready to use!)
--------------------------------------------------
CASTING
After experimenting with both Smooth-on products and other casting materials, I came to the conclusion that casting with a gelcoat and fiberglass/resin would be the way to go. Its roughly the same cost as the Smooth-on products, but accepts paint and bondo far better. Fiberglass and resin is also far easier to come by then smooth-on products in my neck of the woods.
(Products here and ready to use!)
--------------------------------------------------
EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING AND WEATHERING
I took an old tank model and began to do various washes and dry brushing to achieve a grimy, faded and heavily worn out look. I want to make my armour look as if it has been through hell, while keeping a Spec. Ops. look. I also wanted to achieve a camouflage pattern similar to the British DPM pattern but in Olive Drab and Yellow-green colors. Having all of the layers of the costume mix together perfectly is my top priority, so I wanted to insure the armour coloration complimented the BDU’s coloration and camouflage scheme, as well as keep with the Special Operatives look.
The colors have been achieved and perfected, but the pattern is still at the concept stage.
--------------------------------------------------
Tell me what you think!
This is just a teaser of what’s to come. Things may not look Spec. Ops now, but they will. I will be updating VERY soon with some nice, juicy updates of a finished armour part, and two shoulders fresh out of the mold.
Until then, stay frosty.
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
