Ok, Ok, so a Carter build isn't all THAT different especially since lately there have been ALOT of Carter builds, but the way I plan on going about the build IS different.
First a little background from the last year...
Early last year, I started a WIP thread for a custom Reach armor & had posted quite a few pics, but I lost interest in the build & my last post was in October 2014, so to avoid getting gigged for necro posting, I'm starting this new thread. I also have changed the direction I'm going with my build & there in lies the other reason for this new thread.
About a month ago, my local Halo group posted a request from our local Microsoft stores to have us onhand for their midnight launch of Halo 5 & the old flame flared bright again. I started my research once again & I came across a picture of a Carter build in progress & I instantly fell in love with the shield Carter wears on his right shoulder. I was originally just going to add the shield to my custom reach armor, but then I decided to watch the game play throughs so I could get the story that I was missing because I've never played the games (I'm not a fan of the xbox or FPS games) & I was instantly awe struck by Reach (I decided it would be the only game that I would break my anti-xbox rule for). After getting thru the play through videos & seeing Noble Team in action, I decided to pursue a Carter build & began research into that.
2 weeks ago Ermac held a raffle for one of his newly cast Commander helmets & VERY much to my surprise I ended up winning the raffle!! Below are pics of the helmet I got from Ermac yesterday:
It is a REALLY nice helmet, super detailed & good quality & I absolutely love it!
As for weapons, I have begun work on a Reach AR based on a Nerf Rayven to keep with the bullpup design so prevalent in UNSC rifles (yes it WILL stay functional
)
I have also been working on this little number for quite a while, I have just a few more details to finish this one up. I am pretty proud of it, aside from having the components to convert it into 3 varients of the Magnum (the M6g, M6h, M6c/SOCOM) it has a functional slide, 2 removable magazines (standard & extended SOCOM) both with bullets & will eventually have lights & lasers
Here are my chest/back templates:
Ok, now that the Preliminaries are out of the way, here's where things get "different" with my build...
Most Halo costumers use EVA foam for the construction of their builds & I have seen some AMAZING builds, however foam builds, no matter how well constructed have a couple major flaws. First, they are not as strong as other builds, requiring major replacement parts eventually & 2, no matter what a person does to seal them, they will inevitably end up with little telltale creases that become an eyesore & eventually will require replacement parts, meaning that a foam build is a VERY high maintenance costume.
After a failed attempt (admittedly my own fault) at building a set of Halo Marine armor, I have decided to use Sintra as a major material in my build. Sintra is a PVC foamboard plastic that is sold in large sheets. It is easily cut & molded to various shapes & applications.
My original plan was to use ONLY Sintra in varying thicknesses (3mm & 6mm), but after some thought, I decided to make a hybrid kit. I will be using EVA foam as the base layer for comfort & to get the thickness that Halo armor has, but then I will be putting an outter shell of 3mm sintra over the EVA foam to give it detail as well as the strength & longevity I want. I have tried a couple methods for attaching the plastic layer to the Foam layer & have good success with hot glue (yes even in the Arizona summer). Due to my experince with Mando & 501st builds, I feel pretty confident that my plan will work very well & I look forward to sharing progress with you VERY soon.
Thanx for taking the time to read thru this & I look forward to hearing your thoughts & critiques as I undertake this speed build (October 26th is right around the corner)
First a little background from the last year...
Early last year, I started a WIP thread for a custom Reach armor & had posted quite a few pics, but I lost interest in the build & my last post was in October 2014, so to avoid getting gigged for necro posting, I'm starting this new thread. I also have changed the direction I'm going with my build & there in lies the other reason for this new thread.
About a month ago, my local Halo group posted a request from our local Microsoft stores to have us onhand for their midnight launch of Halo 5 & the old flame flared bright again. I started my research once again & I came across a picture of a Carter build in progress & I instantly fell in love with the shield Carter wears on his right shoulder. I was originally just going to add the shield to my custom reach armor, but then I decided to watch the game play throughs so I could get the story that I was missing because I've never played the games (I'm not a fan of the xbox or FPS games) & I was instantly awe struck by Reach (I decided it would be the only game that I would break my anti-xbox rule for). After getting thru the play through videos & seeing Noble Team in action, I decided to pursue a Carter build & began research into that.
2 weeks ago Ermac held a raffle for one of his newly cast Commander helmets & VERY much to my surprise I ended up winning the raffle!! Below are pics of the helmet I got from Ermac yesterday:
It is a REALLY nice helmet, super detailed & good quality & I absolutely love it!
As for weapons, I have begun work on a Reach AR based on a Nerf Rayven to keep with the bullpup design so prevalent in UNSC rifles (yes it WILL stay functional
)
I have also been working on this little number for quite a while, I have just a few more details to finish this one up. I am pretty proud of it, aside from having the components to convert it into 3 varients of the Magnum (the M6g, M6h, M6c/SOCOM) it has a functional slide, 2 removable magazines (standard & extended SOCOM) both with bullets & will eventually have lights & lasers
Here are my chest/back templates:
Ok, now that the Preliminaries are out of the way, here's where things get "different" with my build...
Most Halo costumers use EVA foam for the construction of their builds & I have seen some AMAZING builds, however foam builds, no matter how well constructed have a couple major flaws. First, they are not as strong as other builds, requiring major replacement parts eventually & 2, no matter what a person does to seal them, they will inevitably end up with little telltale creases that become an eyesore & eventually will require replacement parts, meaning that a foam build is a VERY high maintenance costume.
After a failed attempt (admittedly my own fault) at building a set of Halo Marine armor, I have decided to use Sintra as a major material in my build. Sintra is a PVC foamboard plastic that is sold in large sheets. It is easily cut & molded to various shapes & applications.
My original plan was to use ONLY Sintra in varying thicknesses (3mm & 6mm), but after some thought, I decided to make a hybrid kit. I will be using EVA foam as the base layer for comfort & to get the thickness that Halo armor has, but then I will be putting an outter shell of 3mm sintra over the EVA foam to give it detail as well as the strength & longevity I want. I have tried a couple methods for attaching the plastic layer to the Foam layer & have good success with hot glue (yes even in the Arizona summer). Due to my experince with Mando & 501st builds, I feel pretty confident that my plan will work very well & I look forward to sharing progress with you VERY soon.
Thanx for taking the time to read thru this & I look forward to hearing your thoughts & critiques as I undertake this speed build (October 26th is right around the corner)
