Roadkiller
Well-Known Member
Mk V/VI - ...
Part of my job is planning. We plan for everything, no matter how unlikely. However, eventually you have to stop planning and execute with what you have. Whatever happens at that point, right or wrong, is simply summed up as “it is what it is”. Some view that as a fatalistic viewpoint, but I believe it is a statement of accepting reality.
In early August I decided to attend an upcoming local Science Fiction convention in costume. The Master Chief was the only thing that came to mind and of course, that leads directly to the 405th. In late August I thought I might be able to get things ready for the launch of Halo: Reach, but I couldn't pull it off.
When I started, I had no experience with any of the skills required. Therefore in order to learn, I decided to use low-def models. Once I have everything together and am satisfied that I can execute a greater challenge, I plan on using the winter to put together a high-def suit.
I am 1.83 m (6 ft) in my sock feet and weigh in at 99 kg (218 lb). My personal ideal weight is 91 kg (200 lb) but again, like the suit - 'it is what it is'.
1. Undersuit:
Top and bottom are UnderArmour knock-offs available at Walmart for $13 (all prices in Canadian $$) each, total of $26. Both men's size XL. The harness is an old backpack cut up. I got it from my son so it was free
However, I've seen them at the local surplus store for $8. Socks from my sock drawer, they cost what, a dollar?
2. Cuisse (thighs):
Robogenisis Mk VI scaled at “72”. There is a buckle expoxied to the underside of the upper lip and strapped to the harness, holding the entire thing up. There is a strap around the upper leg, it's held with 'hook and loop' so there won't be plastic pieces rubbing when I walk.
3. Greaves:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “73”. The knee pads were picked up at a handyman surplus store known as “Princess Auto”, $5. The boots I had, but similar ones can be had at a local surplus store for $30. They are comfortable, and if you are planning on wearing the suit for protracted periods, I wouldn't skimp here.
4. Biceps:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “74”. I had a hard time building these, and I'm not totally satisfied. They will almost certainly be among the first pieces I replace. Buckles are expoxied into the top of each and they are strapped to each other across my shoulders. I am going to put a loop or other support for the strap at the top of the harness to keep it from sliding down.
5. Chest:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “74”. I seperated it in the wrong spot, so it doesn't fit together the way I want. Soon, I will epoxy the top back together, put some fibreglass on the inside, fix up the paint, and cut it apart again about 3 – 5 cm (1 – 2 in) lower. The rubber tubing ($4) is currently there to keep the front and back pieces from grinding on each other.
6. Codpiece:
Robogenesis Mk VI Pelvis scaled at “73”. The pieces are fastened to a wide nylon belt picked up from a military surplus store for $8. Currently just held on with 'hook and loop', but I'm going to epoxy some old shower curtain hooks to the inside to act as belt loops. The belt will hold an assortment of kit: real pouches to carry stuff (like my wallet), blue coloured tennis balls fastened on with 'hook and loop' for plasma grenades, etc.
7. Forearms:
Robogenesis Mk VI forearms scaled at “71”. The gloves are cheap motorcycle gloves, $14. They extend a good distance into the forearm. The easiest way to put the forearm on is to slide the gloves down inside until the hand part is exposed, then put the whole thing on as if it were one elbow length glove.
8. Helmet:
MOZ Mk V helmet scaled at 28.435. In late August I thought I might be able to have the suit ready for the launch of Reach. I had already tried a Mk VI helmet and failed due to a misjudgement on scale, although I now have an interesting lamp shade. I needed something I could make quickly and the MOZ piece fit the bill perfectly. At just 23 pieces, it's great for NOOB's. The visor is an HJS shield picked up at a local motorcycle shop for $50 (!). The lining is the guts of an old helmet bought for $20. The edging is the rubber hose I also used on the chest. Its' use in the helmet is what I actually why I bought it. The foam accents are from a kids craft project bought at Michael's for $4.
Other supplies required for the build:
Enough polypropylene strapping, buckles and “hook and loop” fastener (Velcro) from a marine supply store to do this suit and another. The shipping cost almost as much as the stuff! Oh, the joys of living about as far east in North America as you can get. Anyhow, a total of $30.
2 packs of Bondo Plastic Spreaders - $6.
2 tubes of Glazing Putty (one small, one large) - $15
4 packs of 8 foot square fibreglass cloth - $40
3.7 lt can of fibreglass resin - $50
4 cans of body filler (Bondo) - $40
1 pack of 110 lb card stock - $10
1 tube of elmers craft glue - $5
Refill ink for the ink-jet printer I was using - $40
2 cans of good quality spray primer - $12
2 cans of hammered aluminum spray paint - $16
2 cans of satin oregano spray paint - $16
1 can of flat black rust paint - $5
A lot of sandpaper – call it $20
A lot of paint brushes from the dollar store – call it $15
1 tube of epoxy glue - $7
1 memory foam mattress topper - $20 (on sale at Walmart)
1 can of spray adhesive - $10 (for glueing the foam padding)
The grand total of perishable supplies (this is stuff everyone will have to buy and use) – call it $500
I also had to purchase the following equipment to perform the work, you may have some of this stuff or may not want it:
Respirator - $30 (DON'T SKIP OR SKIMP ON THIS!)
2 packs of latex gloves - $20
1 roll of shop towels - $3
1 rotary tool (dremel ) - $15 (it was on sale).
1 mouse type sander - $50 (it wasn't on sale).
Hobby knife kit - $10
Assorted files in a kit - $12
Total invested to date – call it $650. This is really a RAG (Rough Assed Guess) as I no doubt forgot something in my accounting.
FUN HAD – PRICELESS!
To complete this suit I am going to make Robogenesis' HD hand plates and 3 piece boots (just the spats portion of the boots). I'll also be installing lights in the helmet, cutting air vents and I may give installing a fan a try. I'm currently on the look-out for something to make a suitable neck covering.
I'll be building a high-def Mk VI helmet to go with the next project.
I'm also about 60% done converting a Nerf Recon C6 into an Assault Rifle homage (pics soon).
Part of my job is planning. We plan for everything, no matter how unlikely. However, eventually you have to stop planning and execute with what you have. Whatever happens at that point, right or wrong, is simply summed up as “it is what it is”. Some view that as a fatalistic viewpoint, but I believe it is a statement of accepting reality.
In early August I decided to attend an upcoming local Science Fiction convention in costume. The Master Chief was the only thing that came to mind and of course, that leads directly to the 405th. In late August I thought I might be able to get things ready for the launch of Halo: Reach, but I couldn't pull it off.
When I started, I had no experience with any of the skills required. Therefore in order to learn, I decided to use low-def models. Once I have everything together and am satisfied that I can execute a greater challenge, I plan on using the winter to put together a high-def suit.
I am 1.83 m (6 ft) in my sock feet and weigh in at 99 kg (218 lb). My personal ideal weight is 91 kg (200 lb) but again, like the suit - 'it is what it is'.
1. Undersuit:
Top and bottom are UnderArmour knock-offs available at Walmart for $13 (all prices in Canadian $$) each, total of $26. Both men's size XL. The harness is an old backpack cut up. I got it from my son so it was free
However, I've seen them at the local surplus store for $8. Socks from my sock drawer, they cost what, a dollar? 
2. Cuisse (thighs):
Robogenisis Mk VI scaled at “72”. There is a buckle expoxied to the underside of the upper lip and strapped to the harness, holding the entire thing up. There is a strap around the upper leg, it's held with 'hook and loop' so there won't be plastic pieces rubbing when I walk.
3. Greaves:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “73”. The knee pads were picked up at a handyman surplus store known as “Princess Auto”, $5. The boots I had, but similar ones can be had at a local surplus store for $30. They are comfortable, and if you are planning on wearing the suit for protracted periods, I wouldn't skimp here.
4. Biceps:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “74”. I had a hard time building these, and I'm not totally satisfied. They will almost certainly be among the first pieces I replace. Buckles are expoxied into the top of each and they are strapped to each other across my shoulders. I am going to put a loop or other support for the strap at the top of the harness to keep it from sliding down.
5. Chest:
Robogenesis Mk VI scaled at “74”. I seperated it in the wrong spot, so it doesn't fit together the way I want. Soon, I will epoxy the top back together, put some fibreglass on the inside, fix up the paint, and cut it apart again about 3 – 5 cm (1 – 2 in) lower. The rubber tubing ($4) is currently there to keep the front and back pieces from grinding on each other.
6. Codpiece:
Robogenesis Mk VI Pelvis scaled at “73”. The pieces are fastened to a wide nylon belt picked up from a military surplus store for $8. Currently just held on with 'hook and loop', but I'm going to epoxy some old shower curtain hooks to the inside to act as belt loops. The belt will hold an assortment of kit: real pouches to carry stuff (like my wallet), blue coloured tennis balls fastened on with 'hook and loop' for plasma grenades, etc.
7. Forearms:
Robogenesis Mk VI forearms scaled at “71”. The gloves are cheap motorcycle gloves, $14. They extend a good distance into the forearm. The easiest way to put the forearm on is to slide the gloves down inside until the hand part is exposed, then put the whole thing on as if it were one elbow length glove.
8. Helmet:
MOZ Mk V helmet scaled at 28.435. In late August I thought I might be able to have the suit ready for the launch of Reach. I had already tried a Mk VI helmet and failed due to a misjudgement on scale, although I now have an interesting lamp shade. I needed something I could make quickly and the MOZ piece fit the bill perfectly. At just 23 pieces, it's great for NOOB's. The visor is an HJS shield picked up at a local motorcycle shop for $50 (!). The lining is the guts of an old helmet bought for $20. The edging is the rubber hose I also used on the chest. Its' use in the helmet is what I actually why I bought it. The foam accents are from a kids craft project bought at Michael's for $4.
Other supplies required for the build:
Enough polypropylene strapping, buckles and “hook and loop” fastener (Velcro) from a marine supply store to do this suit and another. The shipping cost almost as much as the stuff! Oh, the joys of living about as far east in North America as you can get. Anyhow, a total of $30.
2 packs of Bondo Plastic Spreaders - $6.
2 tubes of Glazing Putty (one small, one large) - $15
4 packs of 8 foot square fibreglass cloth - $40
3.7 lt can of fibreglass resin - $50
4 cans of body filler (Bondo) - $40
1 pack of 110 lb card stock - $10
1 tube of elmers craft glue - $5
Refill ink for the ink-jet printer I was using - $40
2 cans of good quality spray primer - $12
2 cans of hammered aluminum spray paint - $16
2 cans of satin oregano spray paint - $16
1 can of flat black rust paint - $5
A lot of sandpaper – call it $20
A lot of paint brushes from the dollar store – call it $15
1 tube of epoxy glue - $7
1 memory foam mattress topper - $20 (on sale at Walmart)
1 can of spray adhesive - $10 (for glueing the foam padding)
The grand total of perishable supplies (this is stuff everyone will have to buy and use) – call it $500
I also had to purchase the following equipment to perform the work, you may have some of this stuff or may not want it:
Respirator - $30 (DON'T SKIP OR SKIMP ON THIS!)
2 packs of latex gloves - $20
1 roll of shop towels - $3
1 rotary tool (dremel ) - $15 (it was on sale).
1 mouse type sander - $50 (it wasn't on sale).
Hobby knife kit - $10
Assorted files in a kit - $12
Total invested to date – call it $650. This is really a RAG (Rough Assed Guess) as I no doubt forgot something in my accounting.
FUN HAD – PRICELESS!
To complete this suit I am going to make Robogenesis' HD hand plates and 3 piece boots (just the spats portion of the boots). I'll also be installing lights in the helmet, cutting air vents and I may give installing a fan a try. I'm currently on the look-out for something to make a suitable neck covering.
I'll be building a high-def Mk VI helmet to go with the next project.
I'm also about 60% done converting a Nerf Recon C6 into an Assault Rifle homage (pics soon).
