Am I Ready To Make Molded Armor?

[roman]

Hi

I wanted to start my molded armor soon, but I wanted to make sure I have all the materials I need before I start this.

I already have reference pictures from the Gallery, and I plan on doing the hand peices first because theyre small and easy to do. I know how much money this costs. Also, can I just use Sean's body mold idea for when im sculpting the clay? like have my foam arm or something suspened in the air with a poll or something and I can just sculpt the clay there?

Heres the list of materials I plan on using.

Clay: Chavent Non-Sulpherated Soft
[attachment=4848:chavent_clay.jpg]

Sculpting Tools:
[attachment=4847:W015282.jpg]

MotherMold: Plasti Paste
[attachment=4849lasti_paste.jpg]

RubberMold: Rebound 25
[attachment=4850:rebound_25.jpg]

Thickening Agent: Thi-vex 2
[attachment=4851:thi_vex_2.jpg]

Plastic: Smooth Cast 300
[attachment=4852:smooth_cast_300.jpg]

I just wanted to know If I had all the materials, and If anyone has advice Please give it to me

Thanks!

 

[ImaGonnaGetYou]

I don't know too much on clay molding, so I won't judge whether you're all set.

HOWEVER, take your time. Do NOT rush, unless you have a few hours to live, in which case you hurry. If you want your project to be completely worth it, take care of it, take every precaution, and take your time.

 

[LastSpartan]

You also need an armor

Except safety equipment, you have everything.

EDIT : A release agent for the plasti-paste. Not sure which tho.

 

[Walter Spase]

I would suggest you try sculpting your pieces before you dive into molding anything. It would be good to know how well your sculpts come out. I would hate for you to spend all that money, if you decide your sculpts are not as good as you like.

-Walter (Spase)

 

[Sigma LS]

Just to add to what Walter said, Molding supplies don't last forever. Silicones go bad if their not used during their fairly short shelf-life.

It's best to make sure you have a model that you feel is worth molding before you jump into buying the stuff you need to make the mold.

 

[FinnishSpartan]

Like wally and sigma said, i would like to make sure that you know that the silicone rubber plastic plasti paste etc, just for 1 helmet will cost more then 700usd..

Just wanted to make sure you know this.

-Finish

 

[marioknight92]

yea i would just buy the clay and tools and get some books on how to sclpt and go form there you can not do this over night it takes some time to get it just right you will be sorry if you bought the sil and stuff now it dose not last for ever. so do you self a fav buy like 2 lbs of clay and sculpt that hand pice and go from there do not try to do the helmet now that would be bad.

wize words

"learn to crawl before you walk"

- my dad


-Joshua

 

[roman]

Ohh yeah I forgot to add I do have resperators and some saftey glasses. Im also getting disposable vinyl gloves and wooden stirring sticks

Also, I was thinking on doing what all of you guys said, just get a few pounds of clay and see if i can actually sculpt, then order some more

 

[TheSpartanMjolnir]

Instead of using Thi vex you could put thn metal plates in the middle of the armor and mold one side. ooks like you are ready makes me mad that i haven't got to this part and that you know this so well. lol. do you know how to mold or did you watch adams molding video and got the idea how to mold.

 

[roman]

I totally know how to mold after reading tutorials and watching videos.

Just so everyone knows, im only 13 years old. so I was thinking like what if someone on the internet took advantage of my age and took my pictures and videos that ill be posting when im making the armor and when its finished, so they could take all the credit for my armor, just like some kid did to Belakors helmets on the bungie forums.

I just wanted everyone to know that just incase, so people on the forums can back me up when I say its my armor

Also, I dont know the age requirements for the forums so I dont know if im to young, I actually made an account a while back, D!zzzy, and I made the legendary helmet totally wearable with visor and foam but I sold it on ebay because I wasnt interested in making armor anymore but now im totally committed to it

ALSO, I know what paints Ill be using when I make the molds, and TheSpartanMjolnir, I actually read about that but I only have one thing I dont understand still, when you make the parting line do you put the thickened rubber in the back going down and then have the thin plates *ex:clay with tin foil over it* go down but from side to side? then put the mother mold on and let that all dry and then once the mold is done, put my plastic in and let that dry, then dont you take off the mother mold, cut the parting line and then just take the mold out and keep doing it just like that?

 

[Zaso117]

There have been many successful molds make from pepakura bases as well. That may prove to be feasible to your cause. You could always use the fiberglassed helmet as a start to add detail on top of as well.

 

[Yodajammies]

I would highly recommend starting with pep and if it turns out well - mold it.

The guys on this board who do sculpted armor pieces are insanely talented and make it look way easier than it is.

 

[LastSpartan]

I agree. Keep the clay for parts like the handplates or the ammo pouches (sp?)

 

[rowan]

"learn to crawl before you walk"

"sometimes you have to run before you can walk" - Tony stark (Iron Man)
Sorry i was just watching that bit when i read this....

I wouldn't start out with sculpting until you have had some experience, just order one block of clay and try something small like the hand piece, if the sculpt comes out ok, then try something a little bigger or more complex etc...

 

[TheSpartanMjolnir]

I totally know how to mold after reading tutorials and watching videos.

Just so everyone knows, im only 13 years old. so I was thinking like what if someone on the internet took advantage of my age and took my pictures and videos that ill be posting when im making the armor and when its finished, so they could take all the credit for my armor, just like some kid did to Belakors helmets on the bungie forums.

I just wanted everyone to know that just incase, so people on the forums can back me up when I say its my armor

Also, I dont know the age requirements for the forums so I dont know if im to young, I actually made an account a while back, D!zzzy, and I made the legendary helmet totally wearable with visor and foam but I sold it on ebay because I wasnt interested in making armor anymore but now im totally committed to it

ALSO, I know what paints Ill be using when I make the molds, and TheSpartanMjolnir, I actually read about that but I only have one thing I dont understand still, when you make the parting line do you put the thickened rubber in the back going down and then have the thin plates *ex:clay with tin foil over it* go down but from side to side? then put the mother mold on and let that all dry and then once the mold is done, put my plastic in and let that dry, then dont you take off the mother mold, cut the parting line and then just take the mold out and keep doing it just like that?

I know what you mean . I taught my little cousin who's 11 how to make armor ( i couldn't hold the secret and longer) so now he knows how to make armor.

I don't understand what you mean from that question. you put thin meal plates on the clay model not the mold. you could have a thick rubber parting line but then you won't need the thin plates. please elaborate on what you mean.

 

[AoBfrost]

If you suck at sculpting and give up at it, try a HD model of pepakura, such as a FS helmet. These are highly detailed pep files which are correct in shape and size. Detail can easily be carved and added in bondo and such after resining. Then you can mold these. Spase made his first helmet this way and he became famous for it.

 

[roman]

I know what you mean . I taught my little cousin who's 11 how to make armor ( i couldn't hold the secret and longer) so now he knows how to make armor.

I don't understand what you mean from that question. you put thin meal plates on the clay model not the mold. you could have a thick rubber parting line but then you won't need the thin plates. please elaborate on what you mean.

Where does the parting line go and where do the thin metal plates go? Ill be using sonite wax if that helps.

Do the thin metal plates go across from side to side of the hemlet or from front to back?

The only reason I dont do pep is because it doesnt seem satisfying for me.

Making molded armor is plastic and more durable Im pretty sure and just for the fact that its plastic it feels more professional.. I dunno but I just dont think cutting all that paper and glueing all of it together and then fiberglassing and all that jazz just doesnt seem satisfying for me. Im not saying that molding is easier at all, im just saying that in the end, the molded armor probobly feels better, Besides, if you drop pep armor itd probobly crack, but molded armor is plastic so itd be like dropping a remote or a plastic toy, it doesnt break.. if its painted the paint will just scratch off a little but atleast it doesnt crack or get messed up :/

 

[Belakor]

The only reason I dont do pep is because it doesnt seem satisfying for me.

Making molded armor is plastic and more durable Im pretty sure and just for the fact that its plastic it feels more professional.. I dunno but I just dont think cutting all that paper and glueing all of it together and then fiberglassing and all that jazz just doesnt seem satisfying for me. Im not saying that molding is easier at all, im just saying that in the end, the molded armor probobly feels better, Besides, if you drop pep armor itd probobly crack, but molded armor is plastic so itd be like dropping a remote or a plastic toy, it doesnt break.. if its painted the paint will just scratch off a little but atleast it doesnt crack or get messed up :/

To clarify, "molded" isn't really the right term for describing a type of armor, what you're really talking about is a kind of cast armor... be it plastic, resin, fiberglass, kevlar, whatever... anything can be turned into moulded armor, you could build a pep suit and mould it or sculpt it out of clay (or cheese) and they could potentially look exactly the same provided you're willing to put the time and effort in.
Pep can be pretty strong too, I've smashed parts against concrete and have seen no real damage done.

Terminology aside, if you want to sculpt instead of using pep then more power to you I like both but use pep more because I don't have any decent clay right now You can also use both to make the clay sculpting a little easier

Also, watch the double posting.

 

[contec]

Remember to check for symmetry on the armor/Helmet. It is also good to Stop and do something else for a day or 2 when you feel that your clay armor is ready, That way you come back with fresh eyes and might see things that you need to improve/change. (i use it when i do drawings)
And do test molds with something small first. Not good to mold the huge chest armor and find out that you did something wrong.

/Conny

 

[roman]

Yeah I made my desicion to buy about 2 or 4 pounds of clay and my sculpting tools today BUT Im not sure if I should get soft or medium or hard, how much softer is soft from hard?? and what are he dimenshions of these clay blocks?