Elite Honour Guard

[Manta]

It's been a while, but I'm finally starting a new project that I've wanted to do for years. I've wanted to make an elite for years but the face and dimensions were so confuzzling and I always gave up halfway. I think I've got the hang of it now, especially with the help of Yelsanick0117 for the armour files and references. The face was still the most difficult piece and I spent 3 days working on it. I tried to make the mandibles move, but it didn't work so I just glued the mouth shut lol. Maybe in the future I'll revisit that.

 

[Zevbutt]

Holy crap the head looks amazing! I'm so excited to see how this turns out

 

[Manta]

Holy crap the head looks amazing! I'm so excited to see how this turns out

Thanks! I'll make sure to finish the build this time

 

[Yelsanick0117]

It's been a while, but I'm finally starting a new project that I've wanted to do for years. I've wanted to make an elite for years but the face and dimensions were so confuzzling and I always gave up halfway. I think I've got the hang of it now, especially with the help of Yelsanick0117 for the armour files and references. The face was still the most difficult piece and I spent 3 days working on it. I tried to make the mandibles move, but it didn't work so I just glued the mouth shut lol. Maybe in the future I'll revisit that.

This is fantastic! Can't wait to see more progress!

 

[Manta]

I had my crested gecko sit next to me as reference when modelling the facial features. Might have put a little too many crestie spikes on the elite's head lool. Was originally going to give it the gecko's goofy expression too, but the eye looked out of place and tiny without eyelids.

 

[Manta]

Half finished feets

 

[SpicyMcTuna]

It's been a while, but I'm finally starting a new project that I've wanted to do for years. I've wanted to make an elite for years but the face and dimensions were so confuzzling and I always gave up halfway. I think I've got the hang of it now, especially with the help of Yelsanick0117 for the armour files and references. The face was still the most difficult piece and I spent 3 days working on it. I tried to make the mandibles move, but it didn't work so I just glued the mouth shut lol. Maybe in the future I'll revisit that.

Omg! Another elite cosplayer?!?! And another crested gecko owner??! This is amazing. That face sculpt looks fantastic!

 

[Manta]

Omg! Another elite cosplayer?!?! And another crested gecko owner??! This is amazing. That face sculpt looks fantastic!

Woo geckos! Hopefully I'll get to see you or another elite cosplayer at a convention someday. Always wanted to see a group photo of covenant characters

 

[Manta]

This thing just sits in my room all scary

 

[Manta]

Does anyone know how to glue crocs to eva foam? Will hot glue be enough?

 

[Zoogami Snowfox]

Hot glue would attach them however will must likely get worn out quick / if in direct sun too long warm up. I recommend to use something like a strong glue resin. It’s what I’ve been using on my elite build for solid bonding.

Also loving the build so far!

 

[Manta]

Hot glue would attach them however will must likely get worn out quick / if in direct sun too long warm up. I recommend to use something like a strong glue resin. It’s what I’ve been using on my elite build for solid bonding.

Also loving the build so far!

Thanks! I'll try the resin. Your elite build is looking awesome too btw. Can't wait to see the finished look!

 

[Manta]

I wasn't satisfied with the elite's face, so I gave buddy some plastic surgery and it's looking a lot more elitey now lol

 

[Parzival]

This is so cool!!!

I've been considering an Elite build for at least a year now. This is going to be so awesome.

I'm glad to see an Honor Guard build, I've considered a councilor myself. The idea to have the mandibles move is an interesting one, I'd like to try to make that happen one day too. I was thinking with either string with small connection points on each routing to the center that could be "pulled" somehow.

I'll definitely be following along on this build. Good luck!

 

[Manta]

This is so cool!!!

I've been considering an Elite build for at least a year now. This is going to be so awesome.

I'm glad to see an Honor Guard build, I've considered a councilor myself. The idea to have the mandibles move is an interesting one, I'd like to try to make that happen one day too. I was thinking with either string with small connection points on each routing to the center that could be "pulled" somehow.

I'll definitely be following along on this build. Good luck!

Thanks! Definitely go for it! It took me nearly 10 years to convince myself to build the elite again, but it's so worth it. Councilor would look so awesome and intimidating.

For the mandibles, the way I got it to work without electronics was to have string running along the outside of each mandible, then connected to my chin with elastic so it moves when I talk. However, unless you have a really big mouth, there's not enough movement to make the mandibles open and close, just kind of wobble around xD Maybe if you can run the string all the way to your hands, it will work a lot better.

 

[Parzival]

Thanks! Definitely go for it! It took me nearly 10 years to convince myself to build the elite again, but it's so worth it. Councilor would look so awesome and intimidating.

For the mandibles, the way I got it to work without electronics was to have string running along the outside of each mandible, then connected to my chin with elastic so it moves when I talk. However, unless you have a really big mouth, there's not enough movement to make the mandibles open and close, just kind of wobble around xD Maybe if you can run the string all the way to your hands, it will work a lot better.

I'll give 'er a go at some point, focusing on getting a house at the moment.

Great idea! Perhaps a mini pully system somewhere (chin, throat?) to act as gear reduction to get a lot of movement at the end from a little movement at the beginning? I think that could yield some good results.

One other bit I meant to say as an idea, I would love to take something like those bionic hand kits and make a 4 fingered elite hand or something to that effect anyway, might not need to but just a thought in passing at the stores.

 

[Manta]

I'll give 'er a go at some point, focusing on getting a house at the moment.

Great idea! Perhaps a mini pully system somewhere (chin, throat?) to act as gear reduction to get a lot of movement at the end from a little movement at the beginning? I think that could yield some good results.

One other bit I meant to say as an idea, I would love to take something like those bionic hand kits and make a 4 fingered elite hand or something to that effect anyway, might not need to but just a thought in passing at the stores.

Good idea. I've considered making extended hands since my arms alone would make the elite look like a t-rex. Hopefully I'll be able to hold weapons with the extended arms

 

[Zoogami Snowfox]

One idea I've seen for movable mandibles is from an old elite build on youtube. They used a cable which run down to their hand, so when they moved their hands outward, the mouth opened all at once.
I'm hoping to use something similar or a simple button press electronic setup, but haven't completely worked it out yet.

Covenant Elite

As for the hands, I'm hoping to replicate the moving finger string concept thingy 'Alwaystimstime' & 'Beyond the Bark' have used.

Alwaystimstime 3D Printed Hands
Beyond the Bark Metal Hands

Hope these ideas help a bit, looking forward to more updates!

 

[Manta]

Thats a good idea. I might buy some cheap toy pick up claws I saw at the dollar store and swap the claw for custom hands.

 

[Manta]

Done the base layer. Now I just need to make the honor guard pieces