ToHellAndBack
New Member
I currently have a poor budget but plan to make my ODST soon
Glad to be here
- Thread starter ToHellAndBack
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OtherODSTBuck
Member
Best of luck! Hope to see progress updates from you 
- Member DIN
- S068
A small budget just makes it more fun of a challenge!
When I first started making costumes there was a lot of cardboard, duct tape and thrift store shopping because university likes to take up all your time and money. Cosplay in general has become a lot more popular recently and budget friendly, high quality materials are more readily available as well so if you plan your builds right you can make some awesome stuff for almost nothing.
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
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- S2424
Doing an ODST on a small budget is very doable. If you use Foam, Harbor Freight has the 4 pack sheets (2ft x 2ft) for under $10 so you might need 2 packs. Heat gun goes for $30. Contact cement is under $10 for a med size can. Paint (cans, brushes, acrylics/latex) .......around $25-30. Hot glue gun and sticks around $20. So, all together not that bad.
- Member DIN
- S063
Just gonna second what Dirtdives said. If you watch their deals though, you can find a pack of harbor freight foam for $6-8/pack, and if you can do a full spartan suit with 3 packs, an ODST should only need 2. I'd also say if you go with contact cement you could skip the hot glue gun/sticks all together and save that $20, just make sure to glue in a well ventilated area (I'm in an apt with no garage or outside area, so I built a fume hood for $20). Paint can be an expensive portion, especially if you seal it with Plastidip or Leak Seal beforehand, but I believe it's also possibly to just heatseal the foam and paint right onto that at the cost of doing more coats. The visor is a tricky part, but you can honestly make a budget one with a 2 litter bottle and some window tinting.
Update: this didn't include the cost of blades. If you bought an xacto knife (any brand, I'm using NicPro cause my name is Nic), you could get the knife and extra blades for about $10 on amazon (highly recommended) and get a blade sharpener for another $10 on amazon (equally recommended, you want shaaaaaarp blades).
Dang, based off this math you should be able to build a suit for about $50-70 assuming you have black/camo/militaryish clothes to put on underneath, which is uber cheap (as in the word, not the travel service, it's lower cased). What are we missing guys?
Update: this didn't include the cost of blades. If you bought an xacto knife (any brand, I'm using NicPro cause my name is Nic), you could get the knife and extra blades for about $10 on amazon (highly recommended) and get a blade sharpener for another $10 on amazon (equally recommended, you want shaaaaaarp blades).
Dang, based off this math you should be able to build a suit for about $50-70 assuming you have black/camo/militaryish clothes to put on underneath, which is uber cheap (as in the word, not the travel service, it's lower cased). What are we missing guys?
- Member DIN
- S068
A visor and strapping but that's about it.
- Member DIN
- S063
I should just writeup a "Ranger's ultimate budget build list", and price out the parts to build a respectable (non-cardboard) suit as cheap as possible. Cost was the biggest complaint I didn't have a response to during HOD. Gosh darnnit, I will make everyone feel included. I'll do that tonight if I can remember to do so.
Maybe I'll even do a build where I only use the tools from that list (after my current builds) as a proof of concept.
Edit: Ok, you convinced me TurboCharizard, that's how I'll make an ODST.
Edit 2: What do you mean you didn't say anything?
Edit 3: I am not talking to myself.
Maybe I'll even do a build where I only use the tools from that list (after my current builds) as a proof of concept.
Edit: Ok, you convinced me TurboCharizard, that's how I'll make an ODST.
Edit 2: What do you mean you didn't say anything?
Edit 3: I am not talking to myself.
he4thbar
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S434
kwik seal, leak seal. rotor tool helps but isn't necessary. sand paper(better to have than not, but not necessary), pens, sharpie, cutting matt (not neeed but sure helps sometimes)
it's all the little stuff you have to buy right off the bat that gets you, but it's not all necessary.
- Member DIN
- S063
I'd argue that none of that is necessary for a budget build, but if you have it, it'll make your build a lot better and easier.
- Member DIN
- S068
Ultimate budget build is beer cases and dollar store duct tape. Paint isn't necessary, just use more duct tape for coloring and strapping.
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
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- S2424
The Spartan Beer build.............????
- Member DIN
- S063
It's because of people like you I added this in when I originally wrote that post
- Member DIN
- S068
Beer cases are cardboard? Wack.It's because of people like you I added this in when I originally wrote that post
I just thought they were magical delivery systems.
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
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- S2424
No....but they carry magical liquid that does make things happen.....good and bad.
PaiganBoi
Sr Member
The magical liquid also gives you magical vision. It makes ugly things look good.
- Member DIN
- S068
I'm going to start listing the magical liquids in my build threads and give a rating. Based on the build you can guess how much I liked the liquids.
- Member DIN
- S063
I believe they're called potions. Post a build, and we'll guess what potion was involved xD
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
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- S2424
Lets.........not ......talk about your alleged magical liquids..........watersports is a different website and NSFW...........
ToHellAndBack
New Member
I
I live in the UK
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
- Member DIN
- S2424
Well now your just making it difficult for me to help.........no equivalent to Harbor Freight out there.......but everything else has a European equivalent.
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