Another H2A ODST Cosplay – First Build

[Raptor241489]

different odst armor but the rookie keeps candy in his hip pouches lol

 

[ReclaimerODST]

This past Saturday I went to my first con with some surprise additions to the build. After TitleWaveDesigns released his H3 scout, I knew I had to make it. While working on it, I thought, “If Dare has a recon helmet as an ODST, why can’t I have a spartan helmet too?” Add in scout being co-developed with recon in-universe, and I had the makings of an awesome headcanon character.
Turned out BlazingForge had the exact same idea for his ODST, and was also going to this convention, so I put all my energy into getting my scout/ODST hybrid finished in time for us to match.
I commissioned Mr. Forge to make some matching scout shoulders to use, and then personally added some Jun-style spare rounds, as well as a Reach attachment to the helmet to add some flair.

With all that preamble, here’s a huge dump of progress pics from that side-project:




The three stages of my painting:
Solid colors Blackwash Scratches


Vent/stripe detail:


Shoulders, each painting step pictured:




I also designed a simple attachment for the back of the shoulder in a similar angular style with grooved and cut-outs for my straps. Here are those straps mounted:



And a beauty shot featuring the completed helmet! No fancy resin visor for this one, but I’m going to make a vacuum form and try my hand at that eventually.

If you thought this post couldn’t possibly get longer, you’re wrong! I also finished the very last bags of the ODST project, the two big hip-mounted bastards. All in all, actually one of the simplest designs and most straightforward to do.
By this point, I’ve sewn almost 20 of these bags and have gotten pretty competent at it, and I’m extremely happy with the finish on these.
I didn’t get pictures of every step, or even a decent picture of the finished product since I was in serious con-crunch mode, but I got most of it.




In between working on the bags, I made a little ghillie scarf out of some blind camo netting, putting four gradually shrinking layers and trimming to look natural. Not any progress pictures, but a side and front view from when I finished it:



And finally, a full-body shot from the day of the convention, getting a good look at my handiwork:




Alrighty. After I-forget-how-many months, that draws this thread to a decent close. I still have a handful of small details and QoL improvements I’d like to make, but for the most part I’m 100% finished with my first build.
I got a lot of great advice and encouragement from people in this thread and over on Instagram, and I truly couldn’t have done everything without it. I’m extremely happy with my results, and look forward to continuing to grow my cosplay repertoire.
Any questions or comments are of course welcome! And thanks again for those that followed along :’)

 

[Raptor241489]

I might have to borrow your ideas for those awesome pouches (if I ever do a H2A ODST again) That scout helmet looks great! But I have to ask did you ever do a full suit up for a vanilla ODST?

 

[ReclaimerODST]

I might have to borrow your ideas for those awesome pouches (if I ever do a H2A ODST again) That scout helmet looks great! But I have to ask did you ever do a full suit up for a vanilla ODST?

Feel free to ask me anything if you do give it a shot!
I actually have not donned the regular ODST yet (at least not with all the finished bags and undersuit). I was going to the second day of the con, but ended up leaving early, and I’m now too exhausted to get it all together.
When I do finally put it together for some photos I’ll definitely drop them in this thread. The scout kitbash sort of pushed the original design to the backseat so I could match with Forge in time lol.

 

[BlazingForge]

While I'm at it ill post a couple more photos from our photoshoot!

 

[YTunz]

Damn guys! You both look great! Those helmets came out amazing!!!