The BorosBoss's Custom Foam Build-- Reach Mk. V Operator/Bulk

[The BorosBoss]

Hi everybody! I just finished my first build, Emile(thread accessible here: http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=44851 ), and have an idea of what to do better this time around. I'm going to be making my custom Reach spartan, Spartan T-609.
I don't have Vanity, so here are some details and pictures to make up for it:
Helmet: Operator/CNM(Want to do a black or shaded visor but we'll see what happens)

Chest: Collar/Grenadier(Very, VERY lightly considering Collar/Breacher. Very lightly.)

>>HP/HALO Waistpiece

Right Shoulder: Sniper

Left Shoulder: Commando

Wrists-- Left: Buckler(Possibly Bracer)/Right: UA/Breacher

Thigh(Left): UA/Chobham

Knees: Hard to decide between Gungnir and Grenadier. We'll address this later

Knives: I'm going to have the kukri from my previous build as well as a standard UNSC combat knife. Or maybe 2 kukris. We'll see.

Color Scheme: Steel/Rust(Coral). That's metallic black and burnt orange.

Hope this goes well. Thoughts, anyone?
-TBB

 

[The BorosBoss]

I think I'll probably be starting on the smaller parts first; that is, the ankle guards(neglected last time), knee pads(also neglected), hand plates(wow, I left a lot of things out ), and making the forearms complete(skipped some parts on the Emile build). I also plan to put lights on:
-the back
-the helmet
-the thighs
-anyplace else I may have forgotten
Out of those, I think the ankle guards are going to come first. These likely won't be full-foot armor, but around the back and joint. I do plan to caution-tape them.
Here's a bit what I mean; This shows the front, which I don't intend to do, and I also intend to make them detachable so I can wear my boots for hiking.

I'm also currently drawing up blueprints for the kneepads(Grenadier as well as Gungnir). Stay tuned folks, and happy building!
-TBB

 

[The BorosBoss]

So! I have settled on the Grenadier kneepads. I plan on attaching them to some skating or construction kneepads. A base with some substance to it. They're a little wide but here they are:
Pieces & parts(beveling not shown)


The kneepads on my knees(Don't have a base yet but hopefully will soon)

Mom: I wish you wouldn't wear those jeans with holes in them..
Me(inwardly): Problem solved XD

Probably going to do the combat knife next. There's a pic of the blade in my older thread(link in post #1 of this one.) I plan to have the kukri mounted on my chest collar and the standard knife either inside or outside the right shoulder. Or maybe in the spot of the left forearm accessory, but that's less likely.
I day until Thanksgiving break! Happy building!
-TBB

 

[Dirtdives2424]

Attachments are invalid.

 

[The BorosBoss]

Let me check them and then tell me if they're still not working. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[The BorosBoss]

Let me check them and then tell me if they're still not working. Thanks for letting me know. Happy thanksgiving, BTW..
EDIT: Sorry for the double post. Computer is now lagging as well as not posting pictures, and didn't see that this had already posted.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

That's a great start. I like your plan too. Good luck and happy building! sub'd

 

[Cosmonaut]

I don't know if you'd be interested in this, since your'e doing it freehand, but there's foam/pep file database for reach armor.

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=33480 - Foam

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=24086 - Pep

 

[The BorosBoss]

I don't know if you'd be interested in this, since your'e doing it freehand, but there's foam/pep file database for reach armor.

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=33480 - Foam

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=24086 - Pep

Interesting. I may use these as reference pictures. Thank you. I may end up using a pep unfold of the reach operator helmet as reference, but I don't know if I'll do that with the rest of this.

 

[The BorosBoss]

All right, costuming update: I will probably be foam-pepping the helmet, so this build won't be entirely freehand. But it will probably look better than what I would have done. I'll be using the satchmo III helmet; link to it in the file archive is here: http://www.405th.com/file-archive.php?do=download&downloadid=329
PerniciousDuke will be sending me the unfold because I can't run pep myself. He's good with pep, his pip-boy thread is here: http://www.405th.com/showthread.php?t=46194 if anyone wants to look at some of his work. I will probably be editing as I go and removing some of the smaller pieces if I deem them superfluous. I may add them back once the base is complete.
Happy building, and welcome back to reality from break!
-TBB

 

[The BorosBoss]

Hey guys.. Something came in the mail today! No, it was not deez nuts. It was the operator satchmo III/jtm1997 operator helmet unfold mailed to me by PerniciousDuke! This is the only part of my build I'm not freehanding simply because as my time as a cosplayer(during and before my time at this forum), I have failed every helmet I tried to freehand. It's in the interest of not looking like *yoink.* I'm going to start converting it to foam as I go and making that helmet! Once the base is done, in go the PC fans and LEDs. Keep you posted!
Happy building,
-TBB

 

[Reclaimara]

Great! I hope to see you posting progress photos soon

 

[The BorosBoss]

Don't have WIP photos of the helmet yet, but I did have some sweet ideas yesterday. Here are a few:

If you can't see it there or by enlarging it, what I'm planning to do is: for the wiring to the side LEDs and internal ventilation fans, wire them to 2 9v batteries hidden in the CNM module, which is just the right size. It's perfect. I also intend to put LED's behing the goggle glass up front. I'm going to get a few plastic or plexiglas panes, hit them with some Nite-Shades, and then wire them to a 9v's behind the goggles themselves. The 2 smaller ones will be dim green, while the 1 big one will be dim red. Let me know what you guys think!
Happy building!
-TBB

 

[PerniciousDuke]

Well, I'm glad you decided to go with using the goggles! I think they look rad. I don't know much about wiring, but I do think I have an eye for aesthetics and my only concern is the colors. I can guess why you're going with the green/red/green... green for night vision and red for infrared/thermal? While the thought to detail is awesome, I'm concerned about the Christmas associations. red/green has always been a tricky one because of that. I think it could be done with the right shades, maybe a dark red and light greens. Otherwise I would like to draw your attention to the character from Splinter Cell who proved that three green lights looks badass in the dark. Just an idea and they don't have to be all green, but they could all be the same color. I'm also picturing Oryx's three light blue flashlight eyes as an example. Your overall suit's colors should be weighed in too I would think. No matter what you do it's going to be pretty awesome if you wire lights into those goggles! Nice work.

Also, do you have an image of the CNM module you are going to be recreating? I'm not familiar with that piece.

 

[The BorosBoss]

I see what you're saying, Duke. As you can see, the pic has(I think?) red and green but it's true those aren't the best colors. It would be fairly simple to do the goggles in other colors. Say, slight orange tint on the center and slight blue tint for the small ones. The CNM module is a small comms device on the side of the head with a camera attached to it. I may end up clipping a light to this. Just a straight up light. The one with the 9v's will probably be a separate UA/HUL module on the other side of the head. This configuration isn't available in game... but this is cosplay and we can do what we want.
Here are some pictures:
CNM:(same image as displayed at the top of the thread) I was considering a bike light(Cygolite) but it's too large for the clip I have. I want it semipermanent because, well, I bike a lot. I may simply clip a smaller light closer to the crown of the helmet such as the light on the Military Police(and sometimes ODST) helmets.
UA/HUL: This will be the battery pack.
I'll try to get some WIP pics up soon but I'm a bit swamped at the moment. Happy building!
-TBB

 

[PerniciousDuke]

I see. My bad on not noticing it in your first post. It was almost cropped out of the picture. Good luck with your progress! I'll keep an eye on it. I should be starting up my next project here shortly. Almost finished on some non-costuming related work that has been taking up all my free time (well that and Fallout 4) Peace!

 

[The BorosBoss]

Hi guys! I have just a few WIP pics for you. Not a lot, but I have cut out some of the larger helmet pieces! I haven't had a lot of time due to rehearsals and performances of the Madrigal Delights, dinner shows where the school choirs sing put on costumes and sing madrigal and renaissance Christmas music..

But I have gotten some template-cutting done!

More later! Happy building!
-TBB