Second ODST Build - 3D Printed

[Hype]

All the way back in 2017 I had completed my first ODST armor out of EVA foam. Unfortunately, due to the weak hot glue holding it all together, many moves with bad transportation, and subpar storage, the armor eventually fell into a state I was not happy with and I trashed it.

About one month ago I bit the bullet and upgraded my 3D printer from entry-level hobbyist into a low-level professional printer. With the new printer, I felt the urge to build a new ODST suit with increased accuracy and detail. So I searched for some files and began the project again. I concluded that no one set of files had exactly what I wanted so I printed off an amalgamation of files. I made this handy chart to show what parts were designed by who. Not pictured are the butt plate and backpack by Galactic Armory, and the kidney plates by Aguilar Workshop.

Links to each creator:
Galactic Armory
Aguilar Workshop
Moe Sizzlac

There are a few things left to do, but as the armor stands now, here is the first full try-on in a state that I feel comfortable taking to a convention.

Things I need to do.

• Make a better and more accurate collar. The current BDU collar can come out of the helmet and looks funny. I might see if wearing the collar open and relying more on the balaclava looks better.
  
  
• More weathering. There are no paint chipping or scratches currently. At some point, I am going to sand everything down because there are still some layer lines and do a silver undercoat and then the primary color to get better weathering.
  
  
• Different helmet. I currently have Aguilar's helmet printed, it is more accurate than the one I have completed, and just slightly bigger. The one I have now isn't so far off that it looks bad, but it could be larger by 5-8%.
  
  
• Make the boot caps. All the files I had were not quite correctly sized for my boots, and I have not taken the time to adjust them yet
  .
• Make some elastic bands to compress the loose fabric at the joints. This will keep them from bunching up and make the armor look more like it has an undersuit instead of just cloth.
  
  
• Foam for the inside of the thighs.

Here is a few photos of the build process. I didn't take many pictures, but I did get a few to show my friends the progress.

Here is the helmet difference between New and Old. I am still considering printing off Galactic Armory's helmet, as his seems to be pretty standard for visor makers and I do not have the means to vacuum form.

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[elNoX]

Wow, thats really smooth! Good job with that sanding. Espescially with the chest plate. Big seams are always a fight for me.

 

[Hype]

Thanks, I used this video for instructions.

The trick was doing a coat, waiting for it to FULLY dry (no corner cutting), sanding, and then adding another layer but diluting the mixture with more acetone to make it thinner. As the mixture is thinner the grit gets finer. I did a total of 3 coats, 120, 220, and 320 grit.

 

[Parzival]

Is that the Galactic Armory SMG files? All of it looks well done! You've done a good job all around.

 

[Hype]

Yes it is. I did not do any weathering to it because I took the armor to a small local con with ambiguous prop weapon policies, and there was a chance I would have to leave it in the car. I have a box which helps insulate the items inside from the car heat, but there was still a chance the PLA SMG could have been melted. I did not want to put more work into it until after I knew it was safe. Luckily the con had no issue with it and I was able to carry it on me all day.

 

[SgtSaint]

Mate that's really good seaming - honestly amongst the best I've not seen. Most times there's always a hint, or some telltale line or warp and I don't see that anywhere on yours. Really well done.

 

[Hype]

The trick I use it to always print cut side on the plate. I use as Bambu P1S so I never get an elephants foot on the build plate. Then when I combine the pieces I sand down the PLA to a smooth finish, then add the filler in increasingly thinner amounts with each grit change. then I do at least one dedicated primer pass (not paint and primer), sometimes two, and then the final color. If I'm seeing the seam after the first primer, I'll sand with at least a 320 and do another pass.

Just tons of layers really.