Foam Baby's first Spartan

[TurboCharizard]

We need to get you and CplYapFlip together as the Yellow and Blue Brigade.

 

[James]

From what I hear, she'll be wearing my helmet soon too haha

 

[SpartanProps]

:0 Weathering already! So eager

 

[James]

Well, what else am I gonna do? No more painting to be done and I don't even have a helmet to work on!

 

[James]

Well, it's been quite a while since I did an update here. Mostly because I haven't done anything. Took a bit of an unplanned break from.....well everything. But! Here are a few updates.

I started some weathering and detailing on my chest piece. I'm not totally happy with it but I'm sure it'll get better the more I work on it.....

Picked up a scarf that will need to be dyed but looks pretty good.
And I was bored and had too much fun with the photo editor....

Built both thighs in one sitting, with buckles on the insides. Still need to cover them with craft, dip, and paint, but still look decent.

Lets see.....what else did I do....

Printed out a tacpad to attach to my forearm. I haven't decided what I want to do or how yet. But I'm leaning towards lights and basic graphic and maybe making it removable through the magic of my magnetic personality.

I printed, sanded and primed another forearm piece. No layer shifts this time. Just needs paint.

And last but best....My helmet is finally done. It has since been cleaned up, sand, bondo....needs more attention put paint soon then attachments when my printers stop rebelling.
I'm still not sure if I want the side attachment on it, so I might make both that and the top armor removable as well. I like customization flexibility haha

That's it for now. I'll do more when I get some painting done.

 

[TurboCharizard]

Picked up a scarf that will need to be dyed but looks pretty good.
And I was bored and had too much fun with the photo editor....
View attachment 281082
View attachment 281083

Where did you come by that scarf good sir? That looks pretty close to one I need for an upcoming project.

 

[James]

Where did you come by that scarf good sir? That looks pretty close to one I need for an upcoming project.

There were 2. Both from Amazon... I think the one pictured was this one: Here

The other was basically the same but a lighter color. Something like this: Here

I think it might have even been those exact ones.

 

[James]

I did more things last night. A bunch of sanding on my helmet (bondo'd it days ago). It's gonna need more obviously....lots of wet sanding to be done too.
Also painted a few things that had been waiting. Second forearm, both biceps and the rest of my boot pieces.

I only did yellow last night, any blue parts will be either tonight or this weekend. It was VERY cold last night....
Though I did give the dogs a run for their money in the "who can make the most yellow snow" category:

Then I found out I lightly dusted myself...

So now I have yellow boots at work.....Good thing I planned on make these my Spartan boots anyway....

Taping and blue soon!

 

[James]

I did some work this weekend! Yay I'm not completely lazy!

Went out and bought a cheap airbrush and color-matched the spray paint I was using. I'm pretty happy with the results.

First, I finished wet sanding my helmet (as well as bondo'd and sanded an ODST helmet for someone else:

After playing with the airbrush/paint ratios, I started with my unfinished forearm and biceps.

Moved on to the helmet. First couple coats of blue:

I also finished the boot pieces last week, here they are carefully placed on top of each other lol

And here is what I have so far minus the chest and the unfinished thighs.
The right bicep is there, just this ******* refused to unbend his elbow for me to put it on so....screw him.
Also, the ODST shoulders are done, I just need to attach them.

 

[SpartanProps]

Looking good!! Cant wait to do more building together c:

 

[James]

So it seems I've been neglecting my build thread....so here are some updates...

First off....SOMEONE seemingly lost one of my ODST shoulders. So when faced with the need to reprint it, I decided to go a different route (also kind of expecting the old one to show up again when SOMEONE actually looked through their stuff).
So I decided I wanted to be cool like WandererTJ so I stole his shoulder file. (It's amazing btw, thanks for making it available to us).

I then broke it taking it off my printer....

Not to worry though! I'm getting pretty good at fixing my screw-ups....some putty and bondo later and you can't even tell!

Around here is when the old ODST shoulder was found by SOMEONE.

Bit of paint, some details. Still needs more but looking pretty good

I did more painting of my helmet, started experimenting with what I wanted to do on top

I was then reminded how much I liked the look of automotive paint and that I wanted to do that to some armor one day so....

I blew it up.....
And repainted.

I love this new color so much....
Here's the rest of the repaint so far

Finally attached the shoulder to the bicep. Had to repaint the front detail on the biceps too, kinda made a mess but it'll be fine...

I've also printed spine pieces edited from game assets, and am printing a new gauntlet/tacpad ready for electronics.

I think that's it for now....Visor will be soon. Buck is printed, sanded, sanded, sanded, and sanded, then XTC.....ready for vacuuforming I think.

Undersuit is a thing that will be happening soon too and of course legs and belt...I'm hoping for at least some LEDs before Calgary Expo. Starting to feel the crunch yet???!!!

 

[WandererTJ]

Yayyyyy! Glad to see my shoulder getting some use.

 

[RedSparrow]

This looks great! I am definitely leaning towards 3D printing my next armor. I love foam smithing but always wanted to try my hand at finishing printed armor.

 

[xXDashIVXx]

This looks amazing and the colors are very pretty. I do like when the helmet looked like a galaxy, but the yellow is definatly good aswell

 

[James]

This looks amazing and the colors are very pretty. I do like when the helmet looked like a galaxy, but the yellow is definatly good aswell

Thanks! The yellow armor piece was always the plan but I am flip-flopping on if I should have it on or not...Might do magnets to make it removable lol.

 

[James]

Here is a pretty specific circumstance question, but maybe someone else knows...
Has anyone ever used automotive paint overtop of plastidip/foam on one of their costume builds? Basically, I have some foam armor pieces I'm working on, they were heat-treated, plastidipped, then painted. I then went over them with an automotive clear metallic finish. In certain spots the paint seemed to bubble, I'm guessing there was exposed plastidip in those areas but I've never seen this before. Here's a photo, this is after I gave it a good rub down to try and minimize the bubbling, it was pretty significant before this.

 

[xXDashIVXx]

Here is a pretty specific circumstance question, but maybe someone else knows...
Has anyone ever used automotive paint overtop of plastidip/foam on one of their costume builds? Basically, I have some foam armor pieces I'm working on, they were heat-treated, plastidipped, then painted. I then went over them with an automotive clear metallic finish. In certain spots the paint seemed to bubble, I'm guessing there was exposed plastidip in those areas but I've never seen this before. Here's a photo, this is after I gave it a good rub down to try and minimize the bubbling, it was pretty significant before this.

View attachment 284843

Some paints have chemicals in them that react poorly with other paints, especially if the first coat isnt completely dry(may take days to weeks) or if the paint is made by different companies

 

[James]

Some paints have chemicals in them that react poorly with other paints, especially if the first coat isnt completely dry(may take days to weeks) or if the paint is made by different companies

Yeah I'm thinking is just doesn't like the plastidip and there was some exposed. I painted the yellow almost 2 or 3 months ago but the effect was instant when I put the clear sparkle on. But only is certain spots. I'll just have to be careful when I repaint my foam chest...

 

[RedSparrow]

Here is a pretty specific circumstance question, but maybe someone else knows...
Has anyone ever used automotive paint overtop of plastidip/foam on one of their costume builds? Basically, I have some foam armor pieces I'm working on, they were heat-treated, plastidipped, then painted. I then went over them with an automotive clear metallic finish. In certain spots the paint seemed to bubble, I'm guessing there was exposed plastidip in those areas but I've never seen this before. Here's a photo, this is after I gave it a good rub down to try and minimize the bubbling, it was pretty significant before this.

View attachment 284843

It definitely looks like a chemical reaction. I read you let your paint layers dry a long time. That’s good. Be sure to use an air blower or soft bristle brush to clear the surfaces of dust/debris. Try dusting on two light layers, making sure to get 100% coverage. Then try full layers.

If it happens again you may need to use another clear coat/sealer.

 

[kyle clement]

Here is a pretty specific circumstance question, but maybe someone else knows...
Has anyone ever used automotive paint overtop of plastidip/foam on one of their costume builds? Basically, I have some foam armor pieces I'm working on, they were heat-treated, plastidipped, then painted. I then went over them with an automotive clear metallic finish. In certain spots the paint seemed to bubble, I'm guessing there was exposed plastidip in those areas but I've never seen this before. Here's a photo, this is after I gave it a good rub down to try and minimize the bubbling, it was pretty significant before this.

View attachment 284843

Which automotive clear did you use? If it was laquer based they will sometimes have that effect over urethane or enamel base coats