Finished my first Mark V full body suit!

[agroom]

Took me about 8 months off and on. The forums here were a big help, but surprisingly I did most of it before I even knew this place existed. It was mostly finished for Halloween last year, but I've done a few touch-ups since, though they aren't displayed in my album.

Really just looking to show off my first project and get some feedback on it. I've got a pretty detailed album of the entire process.

The gun I actually made before the suit, technically it's the very first piece I ever did. Unfortunately before going out I tried to fill it with some foam and blew it out I think I'm just going to make my next one from wood anyway. Thinking of making a Mark VI in high-def or some other specialty suit next or even something in the Star Wars line.

Not sure the etiquette on how to post pictures here, but I just made a google album.

https://picasaweb.google.com/groom.aaron/HaloCostume?feat=directlink

 

[Road Kill]

Dang!!!! awesome suit man, it looks great =D
btw another way you could post pics is right click the image you want to post, then go to the reply box, right click again and press paste and it should be there
hope this helped and fantastic work on the suit =D

 

[BUBBENSTEIN]

That is awesome you just gotta put the detail on the wrist and thighs

 

[agroom]

That is awesome you just gotta put the detail on the wrist and thighs

Yeah, I had planned to do that, but ultimately I wanted to make my next suit using the hi-def version. I figured I'd just wait and put the detail in those pieces.

 

[Darkrider9]

Looks good! I love MkVs!

 

[JUSTINIAN 117]

Pretty good. Always love to see an original Mark V.

 

[Satchmo III]

Great armor (you're ready to take on the Covenant). The under-suit looks pretty legit too.

Do you find any issues with the fan placement (other than angling)? Even with the guards I'd be concerned a lip or tongue would get nipped in there if the helmet's chin was pushed toward you. Some of those fans' blades are pert sharp and fast if at full speed.

 

[agroom]

Great armor (you're ready to take on the Covenant). The under-suit looks pretty legit too.

Do you find any issues with the fan placement (other than angling)? Even with the guards I'd be concerned a lip or tongue would get nipped in there if the helmet's chin was pushed toward you. Some of those fans' blades are pert sharp and fast if at full speed.

Not at all. This was just a small 12v fan I got from Radio Shack (don't get me going on Radio Shack! lol) hooked to a 9v battery. For starters it's only able to run 3/4 speed due to the supply, but when hooked up at home I tested using my fingers then tongue to brush against and eventually stop. Sure, with the tongue it's not like licking a lollipop, but I could repeatedly do it with no real issues.

Another concern though is airflow and a good supply of fresh air. My setup worked okay, but it pulls air from behind it, and therefore under the front of the mask, and pushes it at my face. Ideally I'd have liked some vent holes directly behind it to bring in air better. If you seen how I filled in the front grill though, it made this almost impossible for my setup. It might also be good to reverse the fan so it draws moisture out? Maybe I'll modify it with a reversing switch. Otherwise, in order to make this better with what I have, I would find a 12v supply to push the fan as best as possible.

Oh...one last note. The fan isn't real loud, but with the helmet already on, it 'can' cause issues, especially in a loud room of if you're already hard of hearing like myself. I'd HIGHLY suggest finding a magnet or fluid bearing fan online. Spend $15-20 for a nice QUIET fan, you'll be glad you did. LED effects might be kinda fun too.

I do plan on doing some LED effects to the backpack and arm pieces as well sometime. I didn't play much with the electronics at the time because I had zero knowledge of it. I'm currently taking classes though, so I feel a bit more confident about modding up my entire suit now

 

[alix965]

Sure, with the tongue it's not like licking a lollipop, but I could repeatedly do it with no real issues.

Wait WHAT?? forget it then...I'm NOT doing it. lolz
Kudos on the suit. I love the MkV.

 

[vshore100]

Excellent work man. Definitely a nice set of MK.V armor you have there. I look forward to your next project!

 

[Satchmo III]

Another concern though is airflow and a good supply of fresh air. My setup worked okay, but it pulls air from behind it, and therefore under the front of the mask, and pushes it at my face. Ideally I'd have liked some vent holes directly behind it to bring in air better. If you seen how I filled in the front grill though, it made this almost impossible for my setup. It might also be good to reverse the fan so it draws moisture out? Maybe I'll modify it with a reversing switch. Otherwise, in order to make this better with what I have, I would find a 12v supply to push the fan as best as possible.

Although I'm not to the fan stage with my project I've been thinking ahead and was wondering if airflow could be an issue. Adding some kind of grill seems pretty logical to get new air in...then, maybe a second fan somewhere in the bill above the visor to pull air out?

Thanks for the added input on your build. Good luck with any details you decide to add (I think the LEDs are a great idea). Seeing this type of armor always makes me want to play Combat Evolved.

 

[agroom]

Although I'm not to the fan stage with my project I've been thinking ahead and was wondering if airflow could be an issue. Adding some kind of grill seems pretty logical to get new air in...then, maybe a second fan somewhere in the bill above the visor to pull air out?.

This was also a thought of mine, but keep in mind you'd have to have a place to either pull in fresh air or vent warm air. There's really not much for places on the bill where you could put a grill/vent, at least not on my piece. It also didn't allow room to add one either with enough room to give it adequate circulation behind the fan to pull air. There could be places to mount smaller 10-15mm fans that could be easily concealed though.

 

[agroom]

Visor

One question I have for anyone who's successfully managed this problem. I'm wasn't able to find a way to completely seal the visor to the helmet. How I did it was to cut the visor to fit in the helmet as best I could, then used the velcro with sticky backs and put half on visor and half in the helmet and they attached around the ears. This works okay, and the space between the visor and helmet is pretty negligible, but it still bothers me. I used some 1/2" window padding and stuck it around in places that weren't a tight seal and that helped some, but didn't quite solve the problem.

I also wanted to have a system where I could remove the visor when needed, which this does satisfy.

 

[JUSTINIAN 117]

For mine I covered the visor with painters tape and put it in place on the helmet. Then I filled the void with bondo, and let it dry. Then I pulled the visor out and sanded the bondo smooth. Then I panted the helmet and let it dry overnight. Then I took the peeled visor and glued it to the bondo.

 

[matth101]

YEAH!! Mark 5 FTMFW!!!!! nice work dude!

 

[Russett]

For mine I covered the visor with painters tape and put it in place on the helmet. Then I filled the void with bondo, and let it dry. Then I pulled the visor out and sanded the bondo smooth. Then I panted the helmet and let it dry overnight. Then I took the peeled visor and glued it to the bondo.

wow! thas a really good idea!.. i just straight up pushed mine in, tacked it with hot glue, then put bondo in to seal it.
...its amazing how it holds too!, i dropped and smahed my helmet 2 or 3 times, and the visor never popped out! i was like "thats not possible" the second time it fell.
i think im going to use your method next time though..sorry for rambling :S
This mark 5 is awesome! not too many out there, we need moar!