And so it begins...

[keezfocer]

I came to the 405th early this morning (like 2:00am) while looking for a place to buy a high quality quit of Halo Armor. However, in the small amount of time that I have been here to far, I have had a change of heart. The 405th has made me realize that I have to be willing to help myself rather than to rely on somebody else to produce something for me. Thus, I have decided to make a suit for myself.

This first project of mine I have called Project: Hamburgers. Epic name right? My goal is to simply make a standard (but high quality) Master Chief suit. However, it will be a long road ahead, as I have never before attempted anything like this. However, there is hope. Firstly, my father is a carpenter, so his tools will be of great use to me. I also have a spacious basement which will be a great working space. I also have plenty of free-time and plenty of cash to work on a project like this.

I am prepared and I am ready to begin.

 

[keezfocer]

I have done a bit of research since I registered as a member. I have watched a few instructional videos and read a lot of material from the forums. To begin my work, I have downloaded Pepakura and printed off my first piece of what will be my suit: a hand plate.

It is a small piece, so it will be both manageable and a safe item to start with.

I have also begun a notebook so I can keep track of what I have done and what I have yet to do. In addition, my entries in this blog will also help me stay on track. I feel so professional! =)

 

[keezfocer]

I have completed my first piece! The (1st) pepakura hand plate has been successfully completed! Progress feels good. Im going to choose and print out my next piece and work on it tomorrow.
If I keep going at this pace through the summer, then project: Hamburgers will be done before my fall 2011 semester at college starts up, and ready for a fun halloween.

 

[keezfocer]

Whoops!

I made my first mistake. I foolishly had made my handpiece out of normal paper, so I will have to make it over again with cardstock. However, at least it was good practice and I figured out that I was doing it all wrong only one piece into the project.

I am going to head into town and buy some cardstock and more glue. Since I am starting a lot earlier today on my project, I intend to do at least a part and a half today, so long as I dont encounter any difficulties.

 

[keezfocer]

Today went amazing! I set out to assemble 1 and a half pepakura models today and ended up completing 3. I completed my second handplate along with both of the shoulder plates.

While the blueprints for the right forearm printed out, I celebrated with a cheeseburger.

=d yummy!

 

[keezfocer]

The more I assembled my armor, the more I noticed that it was a little big on me. The Handplate for example is only supposed to cover up most of the back of my hand. Mine covers up not only the entire back of my hand, but also most of my fingers too!

I need to just start all over again... otherwise I will look like a dwarf in my armor. I dont want to make two other handplates... they take like 4 hours each! At least the shoulder pads aren't so hard.

... at least I figured it out early on.

Blast!

 

[Jonus]

It's good to hear about your change of heart and your progress so far, despite set backs. It's all a learning process. I started my first build recently, and as a trial I made a hand plate out of regular paper too. I know a lot of members here use paper for their actual build, but I prefer card stock.

One thing to keep in mind about scaling: not all files are scaled the same, so it's a good idea to pay attention to their default size and your own measurements.

Happy building!

 

[keezfocer]

Progress was slow today because I was away from home most of the day with friends, so I only did half of the right forearm.
I also took another look at my "oversized" pieces and found that they weren't so bad. After looking at a picture of chief's hands, I put on the gloves I plan to use in my costume and put the plate on top of it. It looked fine.
The shoulderplates looked big as well, but I am a small guy. When I put on my under armor and upper arm pieces, they will be great. It seems that it was all in my head! What a relief!

 

[J326]

u planning to rondo the inside or fiber glass the inside of ur pieces? and some tips i picked up when i did my first build. when you finish a large piece. like the chest, strengthen the inside with struts or something to prevent warping. or if you have a duct tape mannequin put it on that when u resin the outside. resin larger pieces in sections not all at once cuz if you rush it. chances ur model warps is high.

 

[keezfocer]

I have run low on time in the last couple of days. I have a job at TJMaxx which has "enlisted me for duty" for the majority of the weekend. This is ironic; the same people who are paying me the money to fund this project are now preventing me from working on it. Oh well, I will be free from work for a while soon.

also, thanks for the tip J326!

 

[keezfocer]

I finished my right forearm yesterday after work. I am working on my left forearm today. It should be finished in the next couple days because I am still delayed by a Memorial day celebration and work tomorrow. It is exciting to think that I will have completed 6 pepakura pieces in the first week of my membership in the 405th.

 

[Jonus]

Do you plan on posting any progress pics? When I first started browsing the site I never understood why people would post finished pep pieces, but after doing my own I realize how much work they can actually be, and the accomplishment you feel after doing it.

 

[keezfocer]

I have run out of some materials and must get some more. I will likely complete my left forearm piece after work today. Tomorrow, I will try to complete both of the upper arm pieces. They look really simple and are relatively small builds.

On a side note, I havent played video games much at all for the last six days. I used to play them nearly every day. Something has changed when I began working on Project: Hamburgers. Now the great majority of my freetime is spent doing this. Its like this sort of project is addictive =p

 

[keezfocer]

Progress pictures posted! The time shown in the pictures is messed up though, for these are not pictures from 2007 Xp

Thanks for the help posting them Jonus!

 

[Jonus]

No Problem, everything looks good so far.

 

[keezfocer]

It is near 2:00 in the morning. I just finished my left forearm. Yet exactly week ago I was sifting through ebay looking for an armor suit to buy. HAH! I cant stand the Rubies crap that ebay has. I certainly have come a ways since then.

Anyway, I aim to finish both of the upper arm pieces tomorrow since they are simple and I have the entire day off.

 

[keezfocer]

I have finished both of the upper arm pieces as planned. This morning however my friend invited me to stay with him at his river house for a couple days. I dont know how much time I will be able to devote to this project there, as we dont really plan out our activities there. However, I have printed out the helmet blueprints to make sure that I can always occupy myself there when we aren't doing anything else.

8 out of 17 pepakura pieces done, and another on the way! Yet this is the biggest piece I have done yet, so it may be a challenge.

 

[Jonus]

It's slow going for me because I started with the two biggest pieces: helmet and chest. I'm thinking I might pause on the chest to do the upper arms so I feel like I'm accomplishing something. It sucks working for two hours a night on one piece and not finishing it.

 

[keezfocer]

After the trip, I finally managed to finish up the helmet. I will work on the thighs next. Unfortunately work is going to delay me today and tomorrow.

 

[keezfocer]

After work on Saturday and Sunday, I cracked down on my slowing progress on Monday. As a result I completed both of my thigh pieces.

Today, I have to go to work again. However, I am going to leave early to do some shopping. I want to buy a visor for my helmet in town along with some tight black under clothing and a ski mask. Maybe I'll get some new gloves too, but I doubt it. This may turn out to be the most expensive day of this project, but I was prepared for it. There's not much else I spend my money on anyway.