I'm new to pepakura and armor making and I have a question for you guys.
I am currently working on Iron-Man and Predator helmets, and would like to move on to Gears of War, Halo and Star Wars helmets. All of the info here is for wearable, functional pepakura armor... things like durability and how well it fits seems to be a large part of the construction process.
I, however, have interest in display only. I'll never wear any of it, and it'll go on a shelf and never move.
I am thinking about skipping the fiberglass step completely, as it appears to be expensive, messy and dangerous (dust and so on). I'm thinking of applying several thin layers of bondo to the outside until it's pretty thick and rigid, then sanding it all smooth and painting.
Does that seem reasonable? I'm afraid the bondo on the cardstock will warp everything or be too brittle and snap while I'm working on it. After I've finished painting and so on they'll go on a shelf behind glass and never move.
Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Maybe some more practical alternatives?
Also, I am working on papercraft items like the Pulse Rifle from Aliens and the Dethphone from Metalocalypse. These papercraft items have the designs and colors printed on the outside. Is there a way to fill these things up to make them solid or more rigid? I've searched several times and an expanding foam has been suggested, but is that stuff wet? Would it ruin the cardstock, since there is no bondo or fiberglass involved? And would it expand and burst the paper models?
Thanks for any advice.
I am currently working on Iron-Man and Predator helmets, and would like to move on to Gears of War, Halo and Star Wars helmets. All of the info here is for wearable, functional pepakura armor... things like durability and how well it fits seems to be a large part of the construction process.
I, however, have interest in display only. I'll never wear any of it, and it'll go on a shelf and never move.
I am thinking about skipping the fiberglass step completely, as it appears to be expensive, messy and dangerous (dust and so on). I'm thinking of applying several thin layers of bondo to the outside until it's pretty thick and rigid, then sanding it all smooth and painting.
Does that seem reasonable? I'm afraid the bondo on the cardstock will warp everything or be too brittle and snap while I'm working on it. After I've finished painting and so on they'll go on a shelf behind glass and never move.
Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Maybe some more practical alternatives?
Also, I am working on papercraft items like the Pulse Rifle from Aliens and the Dethphone from Metalocalypse. These papercraft items have the designs and colors printed on the outside. Is there a way to fill these things up to make them solid or more rigid? I've searched several times and an expanding foam has been suggested, but is that stuff wet? Would it ruin the cardstock, since there is no bondo or fiberglass involved? And would it expand and burst the paper models?
Thanks for any advice.