UNSC Armed Conflict Response (ACR) Team Trooper-WIP

[Xtreme TACTICS 101]

Hey everyone,

I believe a quick explanation is in order for a seemingly “new” project. This is a “continuation” of my original “UNSC SOCOM Trooper”, but under a new name and with a compressed view of all of my progress to date. I aim for this thread to be a little more compact, and more explanatory of my construction methods as I progress through this costume. Moderators/Administrators, I apologies if this breaks any rules. To my own knowledge, this is not against any rules. However, please feel free to lock the old thread if you see fit.

(link provided below)

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/...OM-Trooper-WIP

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Unlike typical UNSC Army troopers, UNSCMC Marines and UNSCDF ODST’s, this costume will capture the special operatives side of the UNSC military. A completely hand picked Militia of the best troopers of the UNSC Army, Marine Corps and Defense Force. 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 Armed Conflict Response Team. Or, for short, UNSC-S.O. ACR Team.

Now, onto the progress pictures of my UNSC ACR Trooper.

(NOTE: All concept art has “UNSC SOCOM Trooper” as the draft title. This was my initial first draft name, and has only recently evolved into the UNSC ACR 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 Army trooper, I decided to integrate some of the design of the UNSC Army trooper into the marine armour. This eventually revolutionized into what is below.

UNSC ACR Trooper Shoulder Plate



UNSC ACR Trooper Chest/Back Plate(s)



UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet



UNSC ACR Trooper Stomach Plate



(Concepts are subject to change as the costumes progress continues)

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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.

UNSC ACR Trooper Helmet
(Currently in progress)







UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate



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MOLDING

Early on I decided to use Smooth-On’s Rebound-25 and Plasti-Paste II as my molding material. Though the materials may be expensive, they are worth every penny and then some.

Materials



UNSC ACR Trooper Upper Shoulder Plate Mold



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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.





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SOFT ARMOUR COMPONENTS

After deciding that the costume would require multiple flexible armour parts to increase maneuverability and flexibility, I decided to create the parts from EVA foam and OD green fabric.

The current neck guard is only a test component at the moment. The design is subject to change, however, my methods have been tested on it, and I believe I have a decent looking product from my efforts.



I took a sharpie to the neck guard and wrote “SOCOM” on the back. (The official neck guard will have “UNSC-ACR” apposed to “SOCOM”). I thought this would help identify the unit a little better apart from other troops. I drew it on by hand because this is UNSC standard issue gear, but modified by the soldiers to meet their needs. I also decided to apply water to the surface of the fabric to smudge the “S” and part of the “O” to create a more down-to-earth look. I also think the smudging makes the neck guard look more human, aswell as more of a rush job compared to a long, artistic process.



I also took some 180 grit sand paper to the fabric to create a “fading” effect aswell as a warn effect as if the trooper had been crawling around and running through rugged, wooded areas.



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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 few finished armour parts.

Until then, stay frosty.

Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101

[Tyvern]

Nice build tacts!

[S1l3nt V1p3r]

*whistle*

She's a beaut!

[!.spaz.!]

need moar updates ! this build is one i am really looking forward to finishing :P

[Xtreme TACTICS 101]

First off, thanks to everybody for the comments!

Now onto a quick update.

I managed to get back to work on the helmet. I have been adjusting symmetry, filling low spots, and adjusting strait edges to insure they are truly strait. I have also been sculpting out other basic details before I begin the smoothing process and fine detailing process later down the road.







As you can see, the helmet is nearing completion. Aside from a little more work dealing with symmetry, smoothing and adding smaller details, the true bulk of the helmets work is nearly complete.

I’ve also began to brainstorm ideas for graffiti on my armour.



A quick explanation of everything there and it’s meaning…

“Pot Leaf?- What Ya Talkin’ Aboot?”: This is a small play on my Canadian heritage and a small patch on the Canadian Armed Forces uniforms. There is a small Canadian flag patch on the left shoulder of the BDU’s that comes in a traditional red/white colouration, or an olive drab/tan colouration format. My small flag patch is the OD/tan colouration. From a distance, the small maple leaf looks like a pot leaf. The extra “O” in “Aboot” is not a typo. We, in fact due to our seemingly non-existent accents pronounce it “Aboot” apposed to “About”.

Hopefully I will be placing that artistic addition on my left shoulder plate.

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“Flies Spread Disease, Keep Yours Closed!”: If you have seen Band of Brothers, this a quote from one of the soldiers during easy company’s tour in Normandy.

I’ll be placing this remark on my groin plate.

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“Watch Your Own 6!”: This is kind of a play on the common “Watch my 6” comment amongst soldiers. Obviously I took the comment in a literal sense.

This will obviously be on my butt plate.

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“Lost count”: Kind of the soldiers kill count. After a while, the soldier lost track of his count during an engagement and just gave up.

I’m unsure of where I will place this.

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“Cruelty had a human heart,
Every man does play his part,
Terror of the men we kill,
The human heart is hungry still”: A small reference to the band Iron Maiden as it is my favorite band. The quote is from their song entitled “Passchandaele”. I feel the quote best describes some soldiers in battle when/if they lose all sympathy for life in whatever god forsaken hell hole they may be fighting in. It also expresses a sad but true fact about human nature.

I will be placing this on my helmet.

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That’s it for this update. Hopefully the helmet will be molded by the 1 year anniversary of it’s beginning on December 27, 2009. It has been a long year, and hopefully I will finish it this year.

Stay frosty,

Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101

[xlasernoobsx]

This is looking pretty nice man.

[Xtreme TACTICS 101]

Hey everybody,

I’m just popping in to show I’m still working on this project with a small teaser update of the helmet’s new design. I sensed the original design stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the gear and it simply did not possess that “special operative” feel.



If you are familiar with current military gear, you may notice that I’ve based the new helmet design off of one of the US military’s MICH 2001 helmet variants that is modified for a headset. My helmet will feature a NVG (Night Vision Goggle) mount, various velcro attachment systems for a nametape and patches, as well as a custom headset.

I’ll leave the teaser update with that concept for now. I have a little more sculpting to do before the helmets sculpt is ready to be unveiled.

Until then, stay frosty.

Jake,
Xtreme TACTICS 101

[Brandon McClain]

Hey, glad to see you are back at it. Concepts are looking good. Where do you get your gel coat?

[Liamthedevastator]

CAAAAAANNAAAAADAAAAAA!

Sweet concept, I love it. That dial at the back looks like one of those helmet adjustment things...am I right?

[xBeaver Feaver]

Some very cool concepts. Im looking forward to seeing this come together.

Im not sure about the "Aboot". Everybody I know says about... Are you from southern ontario?