shainagrace's (so far really terrible) first EVA foam build: Gipsy Danger

[shainagrace]

Hello!

So, I've been a big fan of this kind of armor work for a while, primarily inspired by captaincaliflour's freaking amazing Gipsy Danger and Cherno Alpha builds, as well as the gundam, transformers, and space marine work I've seen online, and decided I wanted to learn how to do this kind of thing for myself. So after countless hours researching the EVA foam method of building on here and on the RPF, I embarked on my journey to create Gipsy Danger.

I got a lot of my pep files on this forum, some from the RPF, but used a mix of both. I photoshopped them onto myself to get correct dimensions and such, and then used a 3d modelling software to change the dimensions of the actual 3d models before unfolding them in pepakura. I then printed all of this out on a big engineering plotter at staples, and more or less have all of the stencils I'll be using for the foam work.

I decided to start on Gipsy's Cod piece first. I've never worked with EVA foam and my work is absolutely pitiful right now. I'm at a loss because I want this project to turn out well of course, and I really can't pinpoint where I'm going wrong with everything. My seams are really messy looking and not good. Brace yourselves for the mess:

another section of the cod peice:

I have to snip off a few things because I accidentally kept the tabs in the stencils. I also see that giant mess of hot glue that I need to fix, so I'll be melting and smoothing that out soon.
I know of the method where you cut each piece at a 45 degree angle to make seams nicer but I cannot grasp it. I tried just kind of hot gluing things and using a hot knife to sort of melt seams together, but that caused some gross crispy, and sometimes deformed foam so I won't be doing that anymore.

I really really really don't want my project to be a mess, but I really am at a loss. I'll update as I go, maybe things will get a little better, but any tips anyone has would really help me out heh

Thanks everybody

 

[EVAkura]

First off, glad to see you here and taking on a project! Welcome to the 405th.

I see a couple of things that I may be able to give some advice on that will help. I understand that the 45 degree angle thing is a pain, but it will really clean up a lot in the long run. I never cut my 45s from the main sheet of foam. When I cut a piece from the sheet, it is always at a 90. Then I take a box cutting razor (the rectangle single blade ones... I usually buy them in a box of 100 for around $10). I don't use the box cutter handle though, just the blade itself. The reason being is that it allows my hand to be in contact with the blade, the EVA I am cutting, and my cutting surface all simultaneously. This gives me excellent control of the angle I am cutting. So, with a fresh box cutter blade, I follow the top edge and tilt the blade to 45 degrees (it can be a bit more).

Also, I am not too certain about mixing thicknesses of foam for your main construction (foundation pieces). It is not a no-no necessarily, but it adds a degree of difficulty for sure.

In addition, I think you may be trying to glue to much at a time. I generally will only glue no more than 3" at a time. I have to keep reminding myself this because I always think I can do more, and it usually ends badly . It is really easy to continue gluing after you have joined the seam and let the glue cool on a project. That is one of the forgiving wonders of EVA, it is very "bendy".

To help keep the glue from pouring out of the seam on the outside, make a bead 3" long at most, then take your tip to smooth out that bead. Then, when joining the two pieces, start at the outside (finished) edge. This way, if there is going to be any glue that squirts out, it will be on the inside and unseen.

If I can be of any other help, feel free to ask and I will see what I can do (maybe even make an instructional video about it!)


Also, if you want some further pointers related to EVA foam, check out my YouTube channel in my signature

 

[glasscutter]

Nobody starts out perfect! I have tired and failed at many different experiments. Important part is you have fun.

 

[shainagrace]

thanks glasscutter, that does make me feel quite better in all honesty

Evakura thank you thank you THANK YOU for the wonderful advice! I watched some of your videos on youtube as well, they were very helpful. I definitely was gluing too much at a time, and really underestimated the importance of the 45 degree angle. I also think working with only one thickness would really benefit me at this stage. I was trying to go off some reference images of another member's foam work for the thickness stuff, but as a first time builder it is proving kind of difficult.

I'm hoping to work more this weekend on some pieces, so I'll be back with some photos soon!
Thank you again guys

 

[Flynney]

As glasscutter said you won't be perfect right from the start, it is rewarding when you start pumping out pieces though!

To add on to what EVAkura mentioned about the 45 angles, I find it helps me to mark down on the foam which edges need angles and which dont before I cut them out this is mainly so I dont have to constantly reference the pepakura image on my computer, but also means you dont start cutting edges which dont need the angle (which I have done many times) .

Good luck with the build!

 

[shainagrace]

ok so wow I had no idea my desk was this messy but I finished up another fourth of the cod peice using some of the advice given here, and I think it's looking much better than the first. I'm still struggling with the 45 degree angle cut on some parts, like parts that were curved and such.
Do you know if going over the seams that are still messy with more hot glue, to create a kind of even layer, would be good for some parts? Is that something anybody's done before?

Thanks everybody

 

[Demogorgon]

It's looking really good so far. I use Silicone Caulking to fill in seams and it works great. You can try running some hot glue over the seam and use the side of the metal tip on the hot glue gun to smooth it out.