Saber Forum

So I started on my halloween costume recently, i'm going to be going for a heavy armoured Jedi look. I decided to build the armor out of close cell EVA foam pads which i bought 6 in a pack for $10.

I started by getting some templates online, i decided to use some Mando armor templates from http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=1 (http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=1). I took them into photoshop and did some alterations to make them a little heavier and less bounty hunter like.

Once the templates were printed I cut them out of cardboard and pieced it together for sizing:
(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/2F0A92D2-313E-4076-88A6-C4A4A0A99574-2436-000002D371872F0F_zps0df57f64.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/548B2E5F-56FA-4F69-A7D4-18CC76207356-2436-000002D37A25093D_zps86f44c46.jpg)

Once i knew it fitted I traced the templates on EVA foam sheets, cut them out with an xacto knife and fitted them together.
(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/08A0169C-B5A4-40A5-9DC0-78420E9DCC90-2436-000002D381E2AC10_zpsbfccf081.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/F37BA8E1-0155-461D-A0B3-C3FB3258A33A-2436-000002D38B251DF2_zps05bd11f7.jpg)

After some work molding with the heat gun I actually attached them together, i originally tried using apoxy to piece them together but the dry time was just too long so i decided to use hot glue instead which works amazing. i managed to get a glue gun and ~40 glue sticks at the dollar store for under $5:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/089B55C6-B1B3-4179-AA57-B1A00A2DDB65-2436-000002D361A4931A_zpse556b44e.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/C9C42EDF-A1B6-4448-992B-933E88F79F88-2436-000002D3691024D8_zps0c0864fd.jpg)

Once i put it together I added a few more pieces and trimmed some detail work which i forgot to take photos of.

As of right now i am working on priming the foam to prepare it for some bondo work, I read that bondo doesn't dry properly when applied directly to the foam.

Keep posted i will be posting updates every couple days.

thats really epic, its actually inspiring me to maybe start making some random armour pieces

Really cool armor, it's definitely shaping up nicely. I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Also, you possess superior cat-drawing skills. Nice work.

Actually my wife drew that :P

UPDATE:

Added neck shroud and detail to the back spine, rounded a few edges and primed it.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/364B054F-4923-441E-BB66-4F63E75279D4-2914-00000302D8152EDA.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/D7758EC9-2AE9-402E-A0D8-8FB46764BD74-2914-00000302522F0C02.jpg)

also added clasps on both sides.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/523BE03B-761F-45C0-8569-046E363E4FEB-2914-000003037165BF4C.jpg)

Looking great!  Definitely making me want to scrap my current costume plan and go for the foam.

EDIT: where did you buy the foam?  I've googled it and the places around me only seem to have 12"x18" sheets.   :(

End of day update:

Finished molding the thigh plates and attached the gun holster to the left leg. Left leg is primed.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/300A59C6-2E38-466B-9F0A-6F996D5FFACE-3032-00000331ADADB690.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/EC142D08-6F35-45F9-8B9C-E1DAEED14A2D-3032-00000331BAF65106.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/31C2503F-A1C8-4861-A326-4F05F2A63591-3032-00000331CD4D2846.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/6A98545B-0BAA-4C35-B586-07F2FF3F3196-3032-00000335CB7DDA06.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/FE9A464A-9A43-4CAD-AD74-1A29D3F3D341-3032-00000335D906BB18.jpg)

I got mine at a local surplus store, Ive also seen them at walmart and home depot. They also sell them as "coloured puzzle mats" for kids play rooms. Those are good if you want a certain colour, if i was able to get white i would have opted for that instead.

WOW! Is all I can say!

UPDATE:

No pics today

Work done today:

!. Pick up bondo

2. Cut and mould the codpiece (hardest piece to mold IMO)

3. Cut the shin plates.

So far what you have going is sick man

Going to get the material for the robe/cloak soon, what material do you all suggest. Aslo im torn between a over the shoulder cloak or a robe

Personally I prefer the full cloak appearance over the cape appearance, particularly in SWTOR. Check out these screenshots from TORHead of Jedi Knight Heavy Armour, they may help you decide on the style you want to go with:

Hope these help you complete that awesome looking costume  ;D

Cloak Style:
(http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/8738.jpg) (http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/11360.jpg) (http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/12870.jpg)

Cape Style:
(http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/15401.jpg) (http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/15402.jpg) (http://tor.zamimg.com/torhead/uploads/images/11618.jpg)

I was thinking the same thing.  Personally, I'd go with a cape style, similar to Malgus in the SWTOR trailers.  Reason being, a cloak will have to hang over your shoulder plates, which could end up looking really odd.

The cape doesnt look bad if its done right

(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100219060847/starwars/images/8/8b/Roan_Fell_Imp_Knights.JPG)

Yeah that does look pretty good.
If possible try to play around with how it might look, perhaps hijack a sheet or blanket or something to mess around with how it may look as a cape or cloak?
Unleash the inner-child and go into blanket-cape mode  8)

I was thinking of a cloak style similar to the center, only with a hood and over the shoulders.



I plan on messing around a bit to see what looks good.



I actually play a 50 jedi guardian in swtor, it was my inspiration to start the build:P

Thanks for the feedback, updates to come!

Ha ha nice!

My Sentinel is a lowbie, my Sorcerer is a 50, love the look of Sorcerer PvP armour  ;D

Keep us updated, I'm sure that costume is gonna look awesome  8)

Beautiful piece of work.you got there......cant wait to see the finished product

Sorry about the lack of updates, i'm in the process of moving. there is much more to come!

Herrs a crude concept sketch i just came up with for my final vision. Ignore the face, i messed it up so i just blacked it out

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121002_223912.jpg)

Todays update, never did much worked out a design for the belt and made the templates for part 2 of the shin guards. Im on vacation next week so lots of progress then.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121005_000416.jpg)

Thats looking really good!  :o

Update for tonight, i managed to shape and piece together the first shin plate/boot cover, still needs refining but its getting there. I cut the pieces for the belt pouches. Here are pics

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121005_204549.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121005_214906.jpg)

Im on holidays now so i should get alot done.

Holy crap!  I thought you were just doing some chest armor and a holster.  That looks great!  Point to you for the vision to make a full set.

Little Update:

its been quite productive. i shaped and undercoated the belt pouches

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121006_154904.jpg)

i shaped the other leg plate and the upper arm plates, i plan on piecing them together later today.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121006_154909.jpg)

learned how fast bondo dries(fast) and applied it to the holster, sanded and primed it. (i'm still new to bondo so this isnt my best work)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121006_154959.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121006_162500.jpg)

a little shot of my crude work station at my new house:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121006_162515.jpg)

This is going to look epic when finished!

I give LS to Althaxx for hard work and EPICness!

Alright so, a little change of plans, My wife found a very good female robe that we are going to alter into a sith costume, where i figured it would look weird with a Jedi walking around with a sith i decided to do a sith costume instead, i will do a few alterations to my armor, paint it black instead of white and have a black cloak instead of a brown one.

I also decide to add a mask to my costume so today i whipped up an acolyte mask template in illustrator, printed it on card stock and got to work:

the result so far:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/SithAcolyteMask_Template.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121008_152919.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121008_181710.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121008_201217.jpg)

Awesome job! Cant wait till its finished. How hard is it to shape the foam to the piece you are working on?

That totally makes me think of a 300/Star Wars mix!  Makes me want to yell "THIS IS KORRIBAN!"   (or something like that. lol)

Simple bends are simple, just gotta heat it with the heat gun and hold it the way you want it for a few seconds, having a fan defanatly helps. For more comlplex  parts (namly the codpiece) it takes a little more patients. 

On another note has anyone here had a go at painting duct tape? How did it go?

When i started the cardboard layer i was thinking the same thing. I liked it so i kept going.

how did you make the shin armour attach to the boot armour?

I did all my attachments with hot glue, the boot part is just a boot cover, i may still remove it.

TODAYS UPDATES:

i went full tilt on the mask, the base color is done, i added side panels to conceal the rest of my face, and refined the duct tape a bit.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121009_173218.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121009_173707.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121009_184855.jpg)

Thanks for the help, im in the process of building something very similar to this

today i got an early start, i started a belt inspired by the sith inquisitor.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121011_105155.jpg)

the tubing was extremly hard to bend so i ended up removing one set but i still like the look, once its painted it will look amazing i think.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121011_111452.jpg)

As a fan of the Inquisitor class I'm loving that  :D

Looking nice! Thats a very creative idea my friend ;D

I finally did up a final vision for my costume, i cant decide on cape or cloak still though. let me know what you think.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/costume_Vision-1.png)

Cape definitely. The cloak with that armour kind of reminds me of a beetle  :P

I agree.  The cape would look a lot better, given the shoulder design.  A cloak would hang funny on the pointed shoulder guards. 

That said, it's your costume, so do whatever you feel is the best!

I believe the cape would look a little more stylish

I'm gonna agree with the cape idea on this one.

Maybe over one shoulder or perhaps both with badge pins?

(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/AtomicRay/costume_Vision-1-1.png?t=1350313880)

Thanks for all the feedback on the cape, i have a few ideas worked out.

I started shooting update pics with my DSLR because the pieces are too dark for good phone photos.

NOW THIS IS WHERE STUFF STARTS TO GET SERIOUS.

Big updates:

I tapered the shoulders in a bit to fit my cloak design a bit.( i'm not finished yet so no pics.)

I added some red detail to the mouthpiece of the mask:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0128.jpg)

 next up i joined the thigh plates/blaster holster to the belt to prevent the plates from falling down when i wear them. i also added the cod pece to the belt.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121016_183224.jpg)

i know i've been pretty boring about it lately, a lot of planning went into some of my later ideas but here is where i will begin to peak your interest again, i painted the upper leg section of the costume, you can really see it coming together now, i can't stop looking at how well it turned out.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0120.jpg)

as of right now i have ran out of black krylon so when i get more i will proceed with the painting of the chest plate which i am really looking forward to doing.

Looks great!!  I just started my build and yours is really motivating to me.  Mine isn't nearly as intricate as yours though.  Very good job so far!  Looking forward to seeing the finished project!

Today i managed to pick up some more black krylon paint so i was able to give the chest plate a go. i like it but it feels like something is missing in comparison to my belt. i'd gladly take some suggestions. i also painted the upper arm plates, they are not attached to the costume yet.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0137.jpg)

as you can see i rounded and tapered the shoulders a bit from the orignal design, this is to have better allowance for a robe/cape/cloak

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0136.jpg)

I am loving how the back looks with the paint blending though:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0144.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0146.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0147.jpg)

I also started a repaint on my blaster. not close to finished yet but its a start, i need some painters tape to tape off details.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0142.jpg)

That is epic! Something tells me that simple Jedi robes don't cut it in costume competitions these days! I hope you take this one, if it's a competition. Otherwise, I think you'll drop many a jaw with that work! 10/10!

As of right now i am not planning on any competitions with it, just going all out for halloween this year. Although if a contest arises i'll enter.

Very cool!!  I love how the chestplate turned out.  Might try weathering it a bit with some silver or gray paint and a rag.  see this video for a brief look at how they do it (latter part of the vid).      The back looks amazing too.   I really like how you did the spine part.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb6CXGortrQ#ws[/url)

I've seen that video before!

Another update for today, i started gloves:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0153.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0155.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0150.jpg)

i will paint them tomorrow.

as well with the actual costume i'll be wearing a black long sleeve base layer.

i also know the hand spikes are different sizes, the shorter ones are for my saber hand, longer ones for an off hand dirty punch:P

Great!  Guess you already know about the weathering thing then.



Those looks great!  I have a pair of gloves I was going to use, but have been debating on adding armor to them or not.  I'm impressed by the detail you're going into. 

Awesome build so far. As for your chest piece break up the black some. Even its something simple like a dark aluminum color. That's why it doesn't stand out like the lower half.

I cannot describe how awesome this is  :o
To my eyes, the chest piece could do with some silver highlights just to add definition

Looking at it now yeah the front of the chest can defantly use some more silver, too much black right now. Thanks for the feedback.

Update:

I painted the gloves!

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0161.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0162.jpg)


also here is a bad shot of the top and leg plates on me with the mask, its a terrible angle(took it with a wireless remote) and i am not wearing the proper clothes under the armor, should be all black under the armor:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0158.jpg)

i found a spiky belt in my dresser so i also added it, going to put another black belt with it.

gloss clear coat and some wet sanding will be your friend to bring out a more plasteel look. I would apple 2 more coats of your color and then clear coat it.

I defanatly plan on adding more paint on the gloves, the full body pic does not give the pieces justice at all. What clear coat would you sugest?

That suit is really coming together......nice job

The Dark Side emanates off of that outfit  8)

Here is a pic with the saber in the costume so far. its getting there, i think i'll be doing the cape tonight.i also need to get a top without the white stripes, i just grabbed my helly hanson warm baselayer quickly for that  shot. i also need to black out the eyes and i have a head shroud somewhere to black out my neck and back of my head.

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0268.jpg)

It actually looks really interesting with the white stripes on the shirt. And I believe I see a studded belt?

Its actually a step up spiked belt.

if you wanted to black out the eyes while still maintaining vision, you could try using screen mesh for windows. It would allow you full vision out, but you wont be able to see directly in until someone is standing right in front of you.

Thats actually a great idea, i was going to use a pair of tights stretched out. But that sounds like a much better idea.


Sorry about the lack of updates by the way ive been hard at work on my cloak.

You could also go to the gas station and get a cheap pair of wrap-around sunglasses with dark lenses.  Pull the lenses out of the frame and put them into the helm.

A great idea - I used some cheapo 7-11 sunglasses to make a mirrored eye-patch for a space-pirate costume (which was awesome because you could see through it).  :D

THIS POST IS PIC HEAVY

For Now i'm going to call the costume build a great success, i think it is done, i added more color accents, finished the cape, blacked out the eyes using a pair of black tights and made boots out of old rubber boots and foam. without further a due:

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_143511.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_150538.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_162659.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_145450.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_150531.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121020_162912.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/20121024_181508.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0282.jpg)

(http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Althaxx11/_DSC0283.jpg)

ENJOY!

Very cool man. The red accents on the chest piece really helped bring it together. Point for you.

What he said.  That's badass!  Nother point for you.

Once more the Sith shall rule the galaxy!

Point for you  8)

very well done, the red at the end really added the sith touch to the costume. if you want to go a step further you may consider adding so electroluminescent EL wire to your this to give it a powerarmor look

I plan on doing some more work on this costume this summer more than likley some bondo work with the armor and adding some led accents. I'm looking forward to wearing this to our local convention this year.

this is some really good craftsmanship.. if i could i would give you 5 points for this.. very good.. as a side note.. for the cape.. you might want to look into buying an old blanket from a thrift store.. depending on how heavy a clothe you are ok with.. my parents work in the hospital field.. and one of them brought home a thick blanket.. it needs to be dyed.. but i plan to use it in the near future for a cloak/cape in a jedi costume that you have so inspired me to make....