1st Build Bella’s SB ODST build.

[QueenBHartigan]

Hey all! I’m Bella (she/her)

So I started something similar to this on my introduction post, and I wanted to make an official build thread for my ODST.

The basis: I managed to acquire a Sean Bradley ODST kit, which I have spent the best part of 3 months on. My current helmet is an Xcoser make, which will do for now; and I carry a repainted NERF MA-40.

Currently, the armour is complete, but I’m waiting on some soft kit pieces before suiting up for professional photos, plus some minor details, such as decals; which are being done by Mr Conley of Ebonywarriorstudios.

photos of the armour attached here

 

[QueenBHartigan]

MA-40 Repaint.
I felt this should be it’s own little section.

As most of you will know, Nerf teamed up with Xbox and 343 to start a line of Halo blasters. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a blaster. And initially, I liked the look of it. But part of me wanted to turn that into an MA-37.


So while it’s still been surprisingly good weather still here in the UK, I got to work. I used:
Plastikote primer grey
Plastikote grey (with a touch of black)
Plastikote flat black
Painter’s touch silver
Plastikote Matt sealer.

BONUS: To my amazement, the battery compartment and internals were intact after the paint job was completed! So I now have a semi automatic MA-37!

 

[Pjork]

Lookin good!

 

[QueenBHartigan]

Hey all! I’m Bella (she/her)

So I started something similar to this on my introduction post, and I wanted to make an official build thread for my ODST.

The basis: I managed to acquire a Sean Bradley ODST kit, which I have spent the best part of 3 months on. My current helmet is an Xcoser make, which will do for now; and I carry a repainted NERF MA-40.

Currently, the armour is complete, but I’m waiting on some soft kit pieces before suiting up for professional photos, plus some minor details, such as decals; which are being done by Mr Conley of Ebonywarriorstudios.

photos of the armour attached here

Another quick update:
The combat fleece arrived! Now to wait on my flak vest!

 

[QueenBHartigan]

The flak vest arrived! And it does nicely sort the giraffe neck issue I seemed to have! The flak vest is a modified Biker Scout flak vest that has extra padding in the biceps and on the shoulders

 

[QueenBHartigan]

Next, was the shoulders, These have been attached to a set of knee pads, which help raise the shoulders up.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

And I’m making some last touches to the kit overall. Such as removing the Velcro which ultimately ended up doing nothing, if I’m honest, I get a bumblebee camaro vibe from this

 

[LegacyAlloy227]

This armor looks amazing! What kind of knee pads did you use for the shoulders? I might do the same with my armor.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

This armor looks amazing! What kind of knee pads did you use for the shoulders? I might do the same with my armor.

The brand is Viper tactical. You can get them on Military 1st.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

And I’m making some last touches to the kit overall. Such as removing the Velcro which ultimately ended up doing nothing, if I’m honest, I get a bumblebee camaro vibe from this View attachment 298442

I took 2 test fit shots tonight! So it turns out the shoulders are a two person job to get on, and it needs some minor adjustments here and there, but we’re almost ready to drop.

 

[LegacyAlloy227]

Interesting. I'll look into some type of knee pad and see about modifying it.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

Hello again!
After some time away, I’ll be revisiting this kit soon, as it’s in need of fibreglass in certain places, specifically around the legs, ab plate and shoulders.
For now, here are a few shots I took today.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

Hello again! So this is going to be a longer post, as it covers several areas.

This first one is that the fibreglassing went incredibly well, it doesn’t look pretty, but it’s interior and you’ll never see it on the outside.

Secondly, I finally secured my shoulders, and I can freely move. They’re attached to two knee pads, which I strap around my bicep. They feel much stronger.

The last points are on my Assault Rifle, but it’ll be posting another reply in this thread on that.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

MA-40 Repaint.
I felt this should be it’s own little section.

As most of you will know, Nerf teamed up with Xbox and 343 to start a line of Halo blasters. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a blaster. And initially, I liked the look of it. But part of me wanted to turn that into an MA-37.


So while it’s still been surprisingly good weather still here in the UK, I got to work. I used:
Plastikote primer grey
Plastikote grey (with a touch of black)
Plastikote flat black
Painter’s touch silver
Plastikote Matt sealer.

BONUS: To my amazement, the battery compartment and internals were intact after the paint job was completed! So I now have a semi automatic MA-37!

I’ve recently discovered the simplicity of using electrical circuits in cosplay and props. I ran a tester light on my Star Wars Resistance Pilot Chestbox (photo will be in a reply) which ended up working out super well. So I’ve been in big brain mode for the last few days, lighting up my MA-37 Assault Rifle.
I’m lighting up the ammo counter and torch.

For the ammo counter, I bought x1 23A battery house and battery, x2 blue LEDs, and a button switch (which I’m currently waiting on). The circuit is simple. I wire the battery to the button, to the first LED, to the second, and then back to the battery. I’ll be attaching a few photos of my thought process via some annotated diagrams to this reply. I ran the test today, and it worked! I have a soldering iron arriving tomorrow, along with a spool of solder metal; which will help finalise the circuit.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

I’ve recently discovered the simplicity of using electrical circuits in cosplay and props. I ran a tester light on my Star Wars Resistance Pilot Chestbox (photo will be in a reply) which ended up working out super well. So I’ve been in big brain mode for the last few days, lighting up my MA-37 Assault Rifle.
I’m lighting up the ammo counter and torch.

For the ammo counter, I bought x1 23A battery house and battery, x2 blue LEDs, and a button switch (which I’m currently waiting on). The circuit is simple. I wire the battery to the button, to the first LED, to the second, and then back to the battery. I’ll be attaching a few photos of my thought process via some annotated diagrams to this reply. I ran the test today, and it worked! I have a soldering iron arriving tomorrow, along with a spool of solder metal; which will help finalise the circuit.

And now for the more ambitious of the two DIY electrical endeavours.

The Torch. So the NERF MA-40 comes with a pre molded torch, which I’ve been stewing over some ideas on.

My idea currently is to remove the torch, hollow it out, drill a small hole in one side to allow easier wire passage to the switch, install an eagle eye LED in the hollowed torch, and utilising the dead space at the bottom of the gun, install another 23A battery house and battery, and then wire the whole thing up. The circuit would go battery, switch, light, back to battery.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

This is it.
“Troopers, we are green, and very very mean”

I’m proud to say my armour is now complete. There will be some minor cosmetic updates, such as the blood type decal in the coming days. But we’re ready for a combat drop.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

Hey all! Another post from me again! Only this time, this is the result of my electronics experiments with the MA-40 Assault Rifle.

It works. I’ll start another thread specifically on the method I used while making these mods.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

It’s me again with the first of the cosmetic updates!
The Med Ref decal! Printed by VinylVod on Etsy. It’s worth noting this was a commission print!

 

[QueenBHartigan]

It’s me again with the first of the cosmetic updates!
The Med Ref decal! Printed by VinylVod on Etsy. It’s worth noting this was a commission print! View attachment 304518

The second of the cosmetic updates is a little more of a prevalent one, and that’s the chest buckles. Now attached behind the chest plate. This doesn’t affect the straps at all.

While on the subject of the chest. I’ve also gone ahead and made the name tag section black, as per screen accuracy. However this does mean I need to reweather it, once decaling is complete.

 

[QueenBHartigan]

I’m expecting decals to be arriving from next week. As per screen accuracy. I’m adding


“MK117” in white on the right black portion of the chest plate
A UNSC logo in black on the right side of the chest plate wing.
UNSC in white at the bottom of the chest plate
“BELLA” in white on the name section

here’s a rough edit of what that will look like.