Greetings mortals and otherwise

[Dark Star]

Hey guys, Im new here, Im also going to put a quick thing into the introduce yourself sticky, but after reading stickies for hours, actually having a project, and using the search bar, I THINK Im doing the right thing here
To introduce myself, my name will remain Dark Star (Please forgive me I don't want to give my real name out on the internet), Im 16 years old and I live in the North East of the USA. I also have a confession to make, being the sheltered former homeschooler I am my parents wont let me buy an x-box ;_; the extent of my Halo experience is beating Halo 3's legendary campaign, and custom match on halo 3 and reach. I love Halo though I swear! My other confession is I have trouble committing to forums ;_; Im hoping I beat my track record here.
Now, as for my project, Im going to do my best to make a Mark VI Helmet in time for Halloween. As a sidenote, Im going to try using the hot glue method mentioned in the stickies instead of fiberglass. Im also going to try to put lights in the helmet if things go well.
Question for the members: does anyone here go to tekkoschocon?

 

[AI Blue Fox]

two weeks to make a helmet isn't impossible, but improbable. it takes about a full day to two days to make a good one. then you need to resin in layers (takes and hour to fully dry a layer) then bondo (tak much sanding the detailing) then painting, and finally a visor and padding. all I can say is welcome and good luck.

p.s. as someone new to halo, i would suggestgetting familiar with the story line starting with halo: combat evolved and ending with the expanded universe. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Dark Star]

Is there a general consensus on where to get a plot summary? As much as I'd love to play through all the games and experience the plot, I don't think that's an option for me :/

all I can say is welcome and good luck.

Thanks, sounds like Im going to need it. Ideally I can get something done in time to get props for Halloween, and afterwards Ill be interested enough to expand on it

 

[AI Blue Fox]

I could sum it all up for you through a well detailed pm. pm me about it and i can do it tomorrow. Trust me, I am one to be very specific and detailed when dealing with story line. Can't wait to see progress!

 

[Dark Star]

Will do! Since Ill be staying at my aunts for half a week I SHOULD have some free time, between that, and the powers of a desperate cosplayer, I should be able to construct the basic form of the helmet before I go back home. My only worry is lack of materials as I have no drivers license, so if I need something well Im at my aunts or her printer doesn't have the muscle for cardstock, Im in trouble.

 

[Nintendude]

Well first welcome to the 405th, secondly while AI Blue Fox is half right, building a HD Master Chief Helmet would take longer than 2 days, it actually depends on how fast you work on it. For a regular Mark V Helmet from Halo 1 I built one and had it fiberglassed, bondoed, sanded and painted in 1 day so anything is possible.

 

[Dark Star]

I am encouraged, thank you Im doing a mark VI so like I said earlier, having done MUCH desperater for cosplay, I hope I can do this in time.

 

[Dark Star]

very sorry to double post, but my computer cant edit posts, it sits there loading the page for half an hour and does nothing (literally). So Im bumping this post for now. I have all the materials Im gonna need to make my helmet. 110 lb cardstock, hot glue, fiberglass resin, a visor, primer, and paint. (BTW can I get away with not using bondo or am I gonna need a repeat trip to home depot?) I also have two LEDs, a push button switch, and a battery pack Im gonna put in. Ive been reading tutorials for hours since yesterday and I think I have a good idea of what Im supposed to do. SO! Anything I should know?

 

[ventrue]

Anything I should know?

You can click "go advanced" to edit your posts.

Other than that.... make sure you don't burn your LEDs with that battery pack. And if it's supposed to look good, body filler is a must. Your list is also missing the actual fibreglass

 

[Dark Star]

I thought you could just paint the resin on and that would do it o_o and what do you mean burn the LEDs? Ive got 4 AAAs for two 3.2 V LEDs.

PS thanks for the editing tip, it worked!

PPS do I still need aqua sealant if Im using resin?

 

[ventrue]

I thought you could just paint the resin on and that would do it o_o and what do you mean burn the LEDs? Ive got 4 AAAs for two 3.2 V LEDs.

Yeah, well, you didn't say what kind of batteries you were using ;-)
I remember burning a few LEDs on a 9V-battery as a kid and I was terribly disappointed afterwards. You shouldn't repeat that mistake. (Yes, you can actually burn the two LEDs with those four AAAs if you do it right.. or wrong, rather.)

You brush some resin onto the outside to give the models some initial strength and make them survive the rest of the process, which usually involves fibreglass or rondo.

 

[Dark Star]

bondo or rondo? I havent heard of rondo yet >_>... I think I wanna try nintendude's slushcasting method though, Ill use hot glue too if Im nervous.

now, status update! I just strapped down and cut all my pieces out at once for three hours

Question for the vets, whats the hardest part of making your helmet?

 

[Sky Dragon]

Hey Dark Star, good luck on your helmet! I'm currently working on my mark vi HD helmet, and I'm hoping on making a complete set eventually. About tekko, I will be attending! Hope to see you there in spring - I'll make sure to keep an eye out on this thread for any updates

 

[Dark Star]

Lets do it man! Im probably not gonna finish the armor but I look forward to seeing you there, and best of luck with your helmet. Whats your color scheme gonna be?

 

[Sky Dragon]

If i can find a good shadowy blue color I think I'll go in that direction, with orange as the secondary color. I need to go to ace hardware sometime soon to pick up more supplies, AKA everything fiberglass/bondo.
Hopefully I'll have a full set of armor by this spring, but it might not be the final product - my set date is Halloween 2011

 

[Dark Star]

Fair enough, Im sporting black and red. Its probably overdone but I love it

 

[soul products]

the hardest part of completing a helmet for me was setting the visor CLEANLY. there are lots of methods but most if done wrong make a mess. just do your research and you'll do absolutely fine