Grif Enrolls at Corbulo Academy

Finished the first shin, but I'm house sitting for the weekend, so probably wont do the other till Monday. I don't want to risk traveling with such a big piece until it's been hardened.




I did bring some armor pieces that I felt could handle the trip and started hardening this morning. I however severly underestimated just how much area an ounce of resin would coat.



Oh well, chalk that one down in the UNSC Handbook on Lessons Learned. I'll be better prepared in the future. At least with a 25 min pot life I had time to run upstairs and grab my chest plate and get it done too before it became the resin biscuit that I'm sure is forming on the work bench right now. I hope to get started cutting pieces for my rifle this evening.

MJPvt Grif said:

I did bring some armor pieces that I felt could handle the trip and started hardening this morning. I however severly underestimated just how much area an ounce of resin would coat.

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Yeah. The whole process is a learning curve. It seems like there's an unspoken law that material must be wasted on the first build, but as long as you learn from it, you're on the right track.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Getting my armor finished in time for RTX has been hectic and I haven't had too much time to post. But, I did get it finished and it had an extremely positive reception. I'll be posting the rest of the build process pictures I have, as well as pictures from RTX once I get home and go through them all. Cheers to everyone who helped me!

Glad to hear everyone loved the armor, can't wait to see it!

Nice work bro. Those folds look exceptionally clean cant wait to see end product. Keep striving and i see elite section work.

xxxxM0NSTERxxxx said:

Nice work bro. Those folds look exceptionally clean cant wait to see end product. Keep striving and i see elite section work.

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Thank you! That is high praise indeed. It will take a lot of rework, and a weapon, but I will work towards that goal.

Update time! I don't have as many progress photos as I'd like (the last few weeks were mad), but I'll post the ones I did get around to taking.


My super advanced method for supporting the shins while I resin coated the outside.


Resin and fiberglass on the inside went well. Ended up using two layers of fiberglass each topped with two coats of resin (not including the coat used to lay them). I feel like it might have taken less using polyurethane rather than epoxy, but It was worth it not having to deal with a respirator and the smell. Had to brace one part of the helmet with a craft stick which is now a permanent installment.


Decided to go hybrid and make some pieces out of foam. These are the start of the thighs. The base is floor mat, the extensions are 9mm.


Detail added with 3mm.


After 3 re-sizing and customizing attempts using pepakura I went with foam for the shoulders as well. In hind sight this was a great decision as it allowed for greater flexibility. Primarily 9mm with carved floor mat and 3mm for detail. I found that hitting the foam with a heat gun after sanding it sealed many of the rough spots left form the dremel.


Hand covers made with 6mm and 3mm


The final foam piece is the lower back armor (ass plate). 9mm and 6mm mostly. Tried using the dremel at an angle to create damage from low crawling and repeatedly rolling, sliding, or sitting on the plate. I think it worked well and I wish I had made similar marks on the thighs.

Spent the weekend before RTX at my grandma's house so I could use her workshop for bondo. No way I could have done this at my apartment.


First coat on helmet. Even after filing all the hard edges, a lot of resin and paper showed through after sanding. Found a bunch of low spots too. Just another learning process.


Second coat on upper portion of the helmet. I need practice applying the bondo more smoothly, but it hardens so fast I felt rushed to just get it on without wasting a bunch, even though I was only making golf ball sized batches.


Lower parts covered. It felt like a crime to fill in all the details in the ear pieces, but the Corbulo Academy variation of the scout helmet doesn't have them so... in they were filled.


End of the day. Still a few nicks to be filled in with spotting putty, and a couple spots needing hand sanded, but I was very pleased with the results.

Unfortunately I was much busier Sunday and didn't get any pictures of the work on the other pep pieces.

awesome looking armor mate! good job on it!

Lord of Gilneas said:

awesome looking armor mate! good job on it!

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Thanks a heap!

I had 3 days to paint and mount. Didn't get to bed till 2 AM Monday and Tuesday. Didn't sleep at all Wednesday and ended up driving to Oklahoma City after being awake for 26 hours strait.


Inclement weather lead to the creation of an impromptu indoor spray booth. Maybe not the best idea I've ever had, but I had little choice at this point if I was going to finish on time.


Luckily the automotive primer was quick set and I was able to paint the same day and mask and detail the next.


Satin clear coat and finished!


Had these plastidiped earlier and painting went quickly. Used the heat lamp in my bathroom to accelerate the drying process. You can see my pants in the background. Used baseball pants and fabric paint. I little bleeding on the first leg, but as long as no one's staring at my crotch it isn't noticeable.


As my armor is for a senior cadet not in Hastati or Zumma squad I didn't want to use blue or red for the detail. It came down to a choice between yellow or violet. I really like how the violet looks with the green. I think I made the right decision.


I'm extremely please with how the chest turned out, even though I never had the time to finish the ridges on the lower portion. I might go back now and add those.


I love these forums. Had it not been for the painting tutorials I probably never would have found the toothpaste method and spent hours cutting masking tape to do all the wear marks. Also used this method for the scrapes on the violet paint on the helmet shoulders and back armor. To whoever discovered it, THANK YOU!


After the green coat and toothpaste was removed. I was astounded by they looked finished.

A friend of mine who was my handler at RTX has most of the pictures of the final product. I'll post some I soon as she has gone through them and sends them to me. Untill then, thanks again to eveyone on the 405th forums who has posted tutorials and help threads, and everyone who helped and encouraged me along the way, especially you Demogorgon for the modeling work! Cereal Kill3r, where ever you are and whatever you are doing, I can't thank you enough for your excellent tutorial videos.

Got some of the pics from RTX 2014. I'll have some more soon.


One of the members of the 501st I was trolling with let me borrow his MA5C. I really need to pick up this kit.


Making field repairs on the first day at the 405th booth. So glad this was here!


Brad for Impact Props


Ran into Gavin back in the Twitch lounge.


Ghost riding the warthog with members of the 501st.






Why not? RTX was amazing.

I should have more pictures coming soon. Still want to finish some of the soft pieces I never got done (ie groin and neck protector, uniform jacket etc...). I think I'm going to start on a MK VI build next, so keep an eye out for that. Still need to make a weapon. I'd really like an MA5C, but they're big and can be difficult to transport. Hopefully I'll have the ready for PAX South but definitely by RTX 2015.

Looks amazing!! You did an amazing job and it's the first of it's kind.

I love when Gavin joins Michael for Rage Quit videos haha.

Demogorgon said:

Looks amazing!! You did an amazing job and it's the first of it's kind.

I love when Gavin joins Michael for Rage Quit videos haha.

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Sorry, haven't been on forever and didn't see this. Thanks a lot. I'm fixing a few parts that I rushed now that I have some time to breathe. Should be even better by PAX South. I'll hopefully have a weapon by then as well.

question is that pizza place still open? lol I might give them a call.

Wow great job, you're definitely the first one I've seen do this armor.

Finished looks great man definitely one of my go to for when I need that burst of inspiration!

foxleader said:

question is that pizza place still open? lol I might give them a call.

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Yes! lol. (Halo armor not included with pizza order)

mouaj said:

Wow great job, you're definitely the first one I've seen do this armor.

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Thanks. I wanted to something simple, but original for my first build.

itsthatguy said:

Finished looks great man definitely one of my go to for when I need that burst of inspiration!

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Thanks!

okay I called them and they didn't know what I was talking about. I called asking if I could get seven three topping pizza's with some extra sauce they asked where I wanted it I said Douglasville (business trip.). and give them a hotel location in said town and said I'd be waiting. and guess what they made it cost me hundred bucks just for gas pizza was free. and I told them I might call them again if they needed more out of town business.

Love how all those pictures turned out, you must have had a good photographer lol. Tbh though this cosplay made RTX so much better, it was a huge hit! So glad you got it finished in time!!

Finally got a proper photo shoot done in my armor. Photos Courtesy of TSIM Photography in Kansas City, MO.

I had a strap break near the end of the shoot, so my photographer had to discipline me...


Just got started on my MK VI, but if I don't get it done on time I'll be wearing this at RTX again this year.

Photo-shoot pictures came out veeery nice, I need to do something like this once I've finished my build! P.S the chest logo looks awesome