Sarlume's first Spartan Build W/Custom Undersuit (pic heavy)

Okay, so I went to RTX for the first time this year with my boys, and we saw about eight pretty awesome spartans. I had been toying with the idea of making a suit for a while, but never knew where to start. Worbla?...

In any case, we had the chance to talk to a couple of the spartans there, and they directed me here after pointing me toward EVA foam and plasti-dip. I lurked for a bit, then started my armor. Slowly. Finally made an account, and I figured I ought to go ahead and put my progress into a thread so everyone could watch me stumble through the trial and error part of learning a new medium. Support can be crucial too, and this awesome community has it in spades. May I just say that you all rock? So, if you have anything at all to add, I am all ears. ^^

I was going to start by pepping the recon chest just to get my feet wet. Yeah, I know...but I figured hey, might as well start on the part I'm most excited about. Yes, I learned a lot. Heh...^^; So, the pepakura didn't get very far before I jumped right into the foam build using modified pep templates. I'm spastic like that.





One of the first things I began to notice was that the piece was faaaaaaar too big. Still, I wanted to plug on so that I wouldn't have two failed beginnings. I had gotten this far, maybe I could alter it later....either way, it was a learning experience.




And here is the piece actually being worn; not as huge as I'd feared when I had it on the mannequin, though still quite huge. The boot I'm wearing is really just a tester. Sorry about the bad quality; selfies in my workroom...



By this point, I was just happy to have a wearable chest piece started even if it was too big and largely unfinished. I moved on to the helmet at this point, because I suppose I'm a glutton for punishment, intending to return to the chest piece to fix it up some before moving on again. I will update again shortly to bring you up to date. Then I have orders to fill, after which I will continue the suit again. As I'm working at home, I may be updating pretty often depending on my workload. (Halloween is approaching SO fast!) My intention is to have a full suit by then, but we shall see. It will probably be all Halo 4 parts, and my color scheme will eventually be white with red accents.

See you guys later!

Okay, sorry for the double post...Errands are now taken care of, so here is the rest of what I have so far. I'll go ahead with what was completed chronologically as opposed to by the piece. So, the helmet came next. I want - eventually - to make an EVA helmet from Halo 4. That's for a later date, however, so I went with a Mark VI classic. I accidentally started out making the Mark VI from Halo 3, then slapped my forehead and modified it to this one.



So, here's what I had so far:


I now have the visor and intend to go back to it just like the chest for details, fixes, and whatnot later. I went to thighs next, starting again with pep templates that I tried modifying for foam. I decided on the XG-89 thigh, and it took a while to get to this point:

So I switched gears and started drawing my own template:



I was pretty happy with how much cleaner it was. ^^ Couldn't take looking at the chest the way it was any more, so I went ahead and went back to it using the scratch method...


I shortened the top (where the shoulders are), changed the middle, took the LilTyrant method of foamies to cover those lovely seams, and shortened the wings in the back. Much happier with the chest now. Though it is still pretty big.

Okay, moving on to the bodysuit. Since I'm a seamstress, I had hoped this would be the part I'm most friendly with, but meh... To get the texture, I tested out a few different ideas before settling on this.

Using one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine, with a lot of practice and ruined vinyl, I was able to come up with a vaguely similar texture to the bodysuit in Halo 4. I used the method of taping the pattern pieces on the mannequin (keeping in mind that my mannequin is a bit smaller than me) and then textured each piece as I went. Time. Consuming...but cheaper than hexagonal lycra from the internets..



This is where the bodysuit currently sits on my mannequin...

And here is the armor as it is now, without the bodysuit (as it has no closure yet)


Hoping to get more work done PDQ, but work calls. I will let you guys see how the next bits turn out once I get to em!

<3

Nice work on that under suit I still need to make mine

Awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing more updates. I've decided to go with foam myself since I don't have much time for pepakura right now.

I find peping to be quite relaxing its a nice wind down after work and when I get up

Thanks, you two!

@Ragnar - Oh, I can definitely see that. Color me impatient, I guess. ^^; I usually wind down with pencils or wire work, myself.

Yeah I noticed the improvement in cleanliness as you progressed onto the thigh pieces as well, it does seem like you are more adept to building the pieces from scratch. It looks really good - and that under suit is awesome, I really like the texturing.

Looks like your off to a good start. Loving that texture your using for the undersuit.
Looking forward to your progress. Keep it up

Motion26 said:

Yeah I noticed the improvement in cleanliness as you progressed onto the thigh pieces as well, it does seem like you are more adept to building the pieces from scratch. It looks really good - and that under suit is awesome, I really like the texturing.

Click to expand...

I'm definitely interested to see where it goes building from scratch from here on out. ^^

AussieInk said:

Looks like your off to a good start. Loving that texture your using for the undersuit.
Looking forward to your progress. Keep it up

Click to expand...

Thank you much!


Allllrighty...


As a corset maker, I went into this build wondering if my crazy mind would try and incorporate a corset somehow. Don't give me that look. Well, I was trying to figure out the best way to make the neck seal. Sooooo not wanting vinyl on my neck all night/day. I decided to use spandex (cheapie Halloween spandex-like fabric, anyway) and fleece. The fleece gives it that padding that makes it bubble when I stitch the texture in.

Anyway, figured I'd work with a neck-corset kinda pattern and just miniaturize one of my own corset-making methods...with cheapie Halloween spandex-like fabric.

Did I mention that the texture I am adding to each individual piece is extremely time-eating? Meh, I'll say it again for good measure. Spent a good three-ish hours just adding texture to make this darn thing:


Started out with a rough mock up using pink felt


Then copied the pattern that worked, altering as needed


The details always take more time than anything... I added some corset boning (not much...) to this thing to keep it from wrinkling too much with movement, and to keep it on my chin where it should be.


Had a hard time deciding where to go from there because I still need to make everything. Went to the back of the undersuit to prepare it for some kind of closure. Didn't get far because I knew I would need a plan of attack for a spine first, since it would be covering the way in and out of the suit. Made a spine.



I made it in sections from the EVA foam wrapped in the same vinyl as the suit. Not sure how to put it on either, but leaning toward snaps on one side, permanent application to the other.

I'm not sure how I feel about it...not as clean as I'd hoped. Used high melt hot glue instead of stitching it like I wanted, so that may be part of why I'm not fond of it...What do you guys think?

Also, when I was getting a picture of the spine I realized I hadn't put up a picture of the back after "alterations".

Though it still needs quite a bit, I'll probably move down the legs once the undersuit is done.

Next time, I hope to have the undersuit wearable with some sleeves!

Before scrolling down, I looked at the first picture for about a minute wondering how the piece fit on you, and why you looked so... plastic.

Anyways, this is looking really cool! I love how you put your own flair on things and don't necessarily follow all the rules. Keep it up!

-Java

JavaLodge said:

Before scrolling down, I looked at the first picture for about a minute wondering how the piece fit on you, and why you looked so... plastic.

-Java

Click to expand...

Haha! Yeah, that's George...when I first got him I realized I had no guys costumes in my collection yet, so he got a butt-flap. Hence the name. ^^

And thank you! I try to stick to the rules, but that doesn't always happen.

This is awesome. Your chest piece makes mine look weak.

This is looking so cool! I think the time its taking for the texture on the suit is worth it. It's really looking awesome!

Wow, I'm glad I spotted this one. That chest piece is awesome, and I love your idea for the neck. Since you added some boning, can you turn your neck much? Definitely looking forward to seeing more from this. Soon fem-spartans'll be dominating this site. ^^

your armor and undersuit is amazing so far! i love it! keep up the good work

That neck-cover is beautifully made. You should make more, I'm sure a lot of people on here would like one!

-Ryan

That’s some sweet under armor you got going there! Very convincing design and pattern.:cool

Your armor is really well done so far. Huge points to you for all the custom sewing and fabrication.

Your suit looks very good. I like the pattern on the under suit that you made.

I am so jealous of that undersuit, it looks AWESOME. Nice work with the foam too, it is quite a learning curve.

Can't wait to see more!