whereisdanielle's Foam SPI Build

[whereisdanielle]

Hey gang. I've finally started on my SPI build.

I'm building from Satchmo III's files, inspired by Tekka_Croe's take on the classic armour. This is my reference sheet:

I start all my costumes by making paper size testers to get my scale sorted out, and then move to foam from there.

With this suit I have started on the arms. Bellow are my paper size tests.

Ultimately these ended up being too big, so I scaled down.

Once I was happy with the size, I moved to foam.

I changed the scale of the forearms again at this point before I went to foam with them.


Here is where progress currently stands: (It was 35°C / 95°F hence the less than enthused face.)
I wont apologise for my pretty cool bananas PJ shorts tho.

 

[Schankerz]

Ah! T'is about time you began posting this awesome stuff here! Been watching your Insta posts on this build so far and I love ALL OF IT!

And who would ever criticize such neat PJ's? They're very A-PEEL-ing (I regret nothing)

 

[ItSpartan116]

It looking good so far

 

[Dire]

Those skills though, nicely done!

 

[xXDashIVXx]

YES!! I cant wait! Gret progress so far!

 

[arma358]

Those are indeed some pretty cool bananas.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

Woo! Cool suit, great builder? I'm in.

 

[Harri51]

Danielle the armor is turning out fantastic as always!

 

[Satchmo III]

This is super cool...I salute you and am gob-smacked how awesome those arm pieces look in the real. I'm terribly excited to see you build this and love the collaborative feeling I get looking at the art to model to fabrication transition. Do work, and let me know if I can help.

 

[whereisdanielle]

HeroMinerR5, Schankerz, zachturner009, xXDashIVXx, arma358, PerniciousDuke, Harri51,
Thank you all for the positive reception! I'm super excited to make and wear this suit and it makes me so excited that you guys are interested in the progress!

Satchmo III I cant thank you enough for the work you put in modelling this armour, its super great to build and so true to the source.

 

[whereisdanielle]

Finished a first pass plasti-dip spraying of the arms, still some work removing seams to go - notably on the hand plates- but I'll leave it till after I've finished more of the armour.

I've got the chest all scaled and ready to go to foam, will have to make a second paper test as the first one was huge. I think I forgot to actually scale it because I got excited and printed before altering dimensions, as I definitely had it all measured and ready to input but when I printed it, it was just beyond wrong so who knows what happened there. Will figure that out hopefully tomorrow afternoon as I'm supposed to be working only a half day.

 

[Dire]

Yeah about that, what do you use to cover your seams, really clean seam fill

 

[xXDashIVXx]

Yeah about that, what do you use to cover your seams, really clean seam fill

It looks like yo me it is just contact cemented together, and is sanded down a little but, not only removing the seams, but giving it a further organic look

 

[Dire]

It looks like yo me it is just contact cemented together, and is sanded down a little but, not only removing the seams, but giving it a further organic look

That may be it, never thought of that

 

[OTSDerpy]

This is looking good so far. And the organic appearance is astounding! I need to start remembering to send my pieces to make them look just like this.

 

[Harri51]

whereisdanielle you make some of the cleanest armor the 405th offers. I got pumped when you dropped this build on Instagram. Once it is done it will be epic. So many members are now attacking the concept arts and illustrations. It is just awesome.

 

[whereisdanielle]

Yeah about that, what do you use to cover your seams, really clean seam fill

It looks like yo me it is just contact cemented together, and is sanded down a little but, not only removing the seams, but giving it a further organic look

I use hotglue. Trick is a sharp knife for good clean cuts, and to sand it down. I then use kwikseal, paints and plastidip to further the smoothing.

 

[Dire]

I use hotglue. Trick is a sharp knife for good clean cuts, and to sand it down. I then use kwikseal, paints and plastidip to further the smoothing.

That is a lot of work, I think I will just sand down my seams a tad, and use foam filler. Don't get me wrong, yours is crazy clean, but I'm lazy.

 

[NEMES1S]

I use hotglue. Trick is a sharp knife for good clean cuts, and to sand it down. I then use kwikseal, paints and plastidip to further the smoothing.

looking real schmick so far. foam goals to aspire to. when you say you use kwikseal, are you getting it local or internet? i haven't seen that on the shelf at bunnings. i've been messing around with sika 11fc which I've had some good success with general adhesion especially for foam soles on my boots, but the cure time is way too long for pep seams. And i can only get it big caulc tubes so it normally dries out before I can use it all

 

[master_colt_117]

I use hotglue. Trick is a sharp knife for good clean cuts, and to sand it down. I then use kwikseal, paints and plastidip to further the smoothing.

Yes sharp blades and seam sanding is so important I have found out as well. I've gotten to the point that I use exacto knives for all my cutting. They cut like butter and give that clean machined looking edge. Awesome work on this so far, can't wait to see this build completed!