FifthFreedom ODST Build (Heavy with photos)

[FifthFreedom]

Good even everyone. I've been lurking this business for a while, and I decided to just go for it. I've got some build experience from over at The Dented Helmet, but that was a while ago, but let's jump into this. This will be a full suit, ODST style, some of the personality and gear of the kit is inspired by USSCOM DEVGRU, but that will come out later with the armor. So, my bucket is about 90% Pepped, just some bells and whistles to finish up, and the fiberglass resin situation will start tomorrow, enough talk, ladies and gents, enjoy these photos.

Mandatory setup shot.

Some of the incredibly humbling Pep process.

Fixing loose shizz

And a one..

And a two..

And yeah there it is.


That's all for tonight, going to finish up the bottom and the ears. Goodnight folks.

 

[Drakee]

Looking good is that hughs odst file ?

 

[FifthFreedom]

Looking good is that hughs odst file ?

Yes it is!

Little update, work has been crazy this week but I did get the first coat of resin on, I'll post pictures tomorrow once that entire process has been completed.

 

[Chernobyl]

Not bad at all, but I'd recommend trying again with a different gluing approach. Your seams don't seem to be all that smooth and the edges don't appear to be very flush. Here's an attempt I made a few years ago, for reference - I used an all-purpose adhesive rather than hot glue, since it's a lot thinner.

 

[FifthFreedom]

Not bad at all, but I'd recommend trying again with a different gluing approach. Your seams don't seem to be all that smooth and the edges don't appear to be very flush. Here's an attempt I made a few years ago, for reference - I used an all-purpose adhesive rather than hot glue, since it's a lot thinner.

I completely agree, the glue gun wasn't a very good one either, it didn't get the glue near hot enough. I'll check out your stuff on the next build. Hopefully, with some bondo and sanding we can save it.

 

[Chernobyl]

I completely agree, the glue gun wasn't a very good one either, it didn't get the glue near hot enough. I'll check out your stuff on the next build. Hopefully, with some bondo and sanding we can save it.

Again, brutal honesty: a redo is going to save you more time and effort in the long run than you'll expend on trying to fix up a bad/distorted pep. It's very attractive to look to bondo to fix your mistakes, and sometimes it's possible for minor issues, but your base form as it is has some major warping and distortion - that's not something that can really be fixed without a lot of dedicated effort, and in the end, would you rather spend thirty hours layering up and blasting away at bondo, or perhaps three or four getting your Pepakura form right? Plus, I'd recommend steering away from hot glue entirely - when you're sanding down your bondo, it's common to 'break through' the bondo and resin layers and hit the card beneath. If you hit a spot of hot glue, you're going to have major problems when you come to apply your next layer, since resin and bondo won't adhere to hot glue.

I realise that criticising your methods at this early stage probably isn't what you want to hear, but honestly... better you learn from my (many, many) mistakes, and get it right off the bat. Out of curiosity, however, what grading of cardstock are you using?

 

[FifthFreedom]

Again, brutal honesty: a redo is going to save you more time and effort in the long run than you'll expend on trying to fix up a bad/distorted pep. It's very attractive to look to bondo to fix your mistakes, and sometimes it's possible for minor issues, but your base form as it is has some major warping and distortion - that's not something that can really be fixed without a lot of dedicated effort, and in the end, would you rather spend thirty hours layering up and blasting away at bondo, or perhaps three or four getting your Pepakura form right? Plus, I'd recommend steering away from hot glue entirely - when you're sanding down your bondo, it's common to 'break through' the bondo and resin layers and hit the card beneath. If you hit a spot of hot glue, you're going to have major problems when you come to apply your next layer, since resin and bondo won't adhere to hot glue.

I realise that criticising your methods at this early stage probably isn't what you want to hear, but honestly... better you learn from my (many, many) mistakes, and get it right off the bat. Out of curiosity, however, what grading of cardstock are you using?

No need to apologize! I appreciate learning this stuff now, I completely agree with everything you're saying and I'm going to apply it. I think instead of a complete "redo" I'm going to start another one while finishing this one, I'd like to see how close I can get with this first one, and what lesson there are still to learn with it, instead of totally scrapping it and starting over, the first one is the hardest, right? You caught me with the cardstock, hahaha its regular 67 lbs, the 110 is on the list for the next one too. I do have some experience with the bondo and sanding from my days over at The Dented Helmet, so I have somewhat of an idea of what I'm getting into. Anyway, I'd love to know your recommendation for the all purpose glue, I was thinking Gorilla, but whatever the pro says is what I'll go with.

 

[Chernobyl]

I personally use UHU All Purpose Adhesive, and have done for about five years now. Any solvent-based adhesive is fantastic, but I prefer UHU since it squeezes out of the tube in a nice, thin bead, gives you a decent amount of time to get your tabs settled, and cures fast and firm once it's done. You may need to look online if you're shopping from the US, but I would really recommend shipping some if you can't get it locally. Basically: it's a dedicated craft glue, get some.

Also, get some thicker card, you dummy!

 

[ewatt99]

Nice Razer Blade. What model is it?