Halo Reach Trooper - PAX 2013

[Mangos]

I decided that I might as well post this build up considering I've been working on it for over a month. So PAX 2013 is coming up at the end of this month, and for my costume, or at least one of them, i wanted to make Halo Reach Trooper armour. I enjoyed the simplicity and I thought I would have a blast making it.

So onto the build..

I chose foam as my medium, because I'm familiar with it, and it would be the fastest/cheapest way to complete this costume.

To begin, I drew up the basic shape for the chest and started cutting..

The shape was good, but I still needed to relief detail around the ribs, and I needed to cut the details/angles into it, so after about half an hour of work, I ended up with this

The waistbands came next and before I knew it, I had pretty much the entire chest done! (Sorry for the upside-down picture)

With all of that out of the way, it was onto the back.

Then the entire construction was done, besides connecting/splitting, straps and all of that other small stuff.

I connected it, split it at the proper spot, buckled it and went onto the straps. I had a bunch of old webbing straps from broken backpacks, crappy airsoft gear and similar stuff to use for costumes, so I found two straps at the prefect length and mounted them to the chest piece. I proceeded to paint them black, because it would be easier to mask off the straps and paint the rest, then the other way around.

Once the straps were mounted and painted, I dug through my collection of buckles, sliders and other misc. connectors, I was only able to find hardware for the front and not the back, so I fabricated two basic "anchors" for the back. I painted the sliders a silvery color and eventually painted the "anchors" on the back a brown color.

I added battle damage and beveled some of the edges for comfort with my dremel and then sealing and painting the foam came next. I mixed acrylic paint with white school glue so i could keep track of my coverage and I gave the whole thing two coats (first one is light blue, second is pink).

I have the whole chest, shoulders and thighs fabricated and painted, but I don't have any pictures of those right now, but they will be in my next update either later today or tomorrow.

By the way, who is going to PAX this year? It would be great to meet up and talk and get a few pictures together.

 

[FlusherCape26]

nice armor piece keep up the good work

 

[Caboose vs Grif]

Nice job! The battle damage looks really good!

 

[Mangos]

Thanks guys. A little compliment from an infantryman goes a long way.

 

[Mangos]

Update #1

So I finally have pictures of everything that is completed. I also decided to re-boot an MA37 build that I had sitting in my closet. It isn't the best, but it'll do for the expo. Anyway, onto the work!

Here is everything I have. The two shoulders, the two thighs, chest, under soft-armour thingy, chest, and ammo pouches. I am also using a set of ACUs for the uniform.

So I was digging through my old airsoft stuff and I found two perfect pouches for the tactical soft case and the ammo pouch for the chest. I cut out three foam flaps, added velcroo and glued them to the pouch, and wah-lah, I have the ammo pouches! As for the tactical case, Ill be dying that black and going from there.

And now to the MA37. I gave it a dark grey base coat, and I'm in the process of giving it a weathered/faded, battle-scared paint job. I am mixing a slightly darker and slightly lighter shade of the base coat, and blending it over the gun to create a faded paint job, then a few black, brown and tan washes will go over it to complete the look.

That's all for now. The next update will be soon.

 

[DaSlacker]

Looking really good, is your gun foam or cardboard?

Btw, if you're on facebook check out 405th pacific regiment group. Hope to see you there.

 

[Mangos]

The gun is a cardboard base, with layers of foam over it. Are you attending PAX this year, DaSlacker?

 

[DaSlacker]

Nice, that's a really good foam/cardboard hybrid.

Yep, I'll be roaming the halls all 4 days in my mkVI church suit and hopefully my destiny suit if I get it done.

 

[Mangos]

Sweet. I'll be there every day except Saturday. Maybe we can talk more on meeting up? Oh, and thanks for the compliment on the rifle. Anyway, update time..

Update #2 - Rifle update

I finished the faded paint job, worn yellow stripe and dry brushing before I started on the washes, so this is what I ended up with.

Then I did a tan wash, followed by a brown wash, followed by a black wash to give the rifle a very battle-worn appearance.

After that, I decided to paint some black around the vents on the flash hider to create some "carbon build-up" and make this MA37 look really beat to hell. My goal is to make it seem like it was used in the first firefights on Reach to the very last.

What do you guys think?

 

[Mangos]

I'm not sure if this counts as a "necro post" if it is my own, but I am finally getting around to finishing the helmet for this, as well as making repairs after the expo. I will be posting updates later tonight and hopefully I will have some decent progress b the end of the week.

 

[Carpathia]

So long as you have an update, it's not considered necro-posting if it's your own thread; just thread revival.

That being said, I'd like offer some feedback. First off, it's all looking pretty good so far (I look forward to seeing the helmet). I was a little confused when I saw the pink chest plate, but then happy to see that you painted it brown, like it is in the game.

For the ACU, I don't know how accurate you were trying to get, but in my own research into making a trooper, I noticed that their uniform is more of a solid ranger green color (the marines from Halo 3 wear something closer to ACU, actually it closer resembles ABU). It's up to you, but ranger green BDUs would make it look a bit more game accurate (ranger green bdu, black or coyote brown drop leg pouch, black knee pads and gloves, tan boots, etc.). I know all that equals more money to sink into it, and you've already got this stuff on hand; it's your build, I'm just offering my $0.02; food for thought for the future.

Looking good so far. Keep it up!

 

[Mangos]

I really appreciate the input. i do plan on painting/dying the drop leg pouch as well as changing the uniform, but for not, it is just one step at at time.

 

[blackout11c]

First off, it's all looking pretty good so far (I look forward to seeing the helmet). I was a little confused when I saw the pink chest plate, but then happy to see that you painted it brown, like it is in the game.

I agree. This does look quite good.

For the ACU, I don't know how accurate you were trying to get, but in my own research into making a trooper, I noticed that their uniform is more of a solid ranger green color (the marines from Halo 3 wear something closer to ACU, actually it closer resembles ABU).

I personally think that something like this is more game accurate -

Still, I can't wait to see the helmet!