Sangheili811
Member
First and foremost, I have studied and searched, and I understand the problems associated with playing airsoft in armor. I believe I have addressed these concerns, but look though this list to see for yourself:
-Airsoft bbs will destroy armor- I performed a test on a rondo-glassed pep piece, and yes, they can survive. see the thread here: http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22194&st=0&p=353637&#entry353637
-Fiberglass armor is hot and doesn't breath, causing heat exhaustion- My plans are to have very few actual pep pieces, just the helmet, shoulders, chestplate, and maybe knees. The rest will be a combination of sports armor and tactical gear.
-Fiberglass is heavy- Once again, I won't be wearing much actual fiberglass, and I'm used to wearing a lot of weight when I airsoft (CIRAS, two leg rigs, elbow and knee pads, boots, M14, etc).
-Fiberglass can break and stab you-Again, the only piece of armor that will hang across my body is the chestplate, and beneath that I'll be wearing motorcycle armor.
-You'll look like a doofus wearing ODST armor to the field-I dissagree. I have seen Half-Life rebel loadouts and Stargate loadouts, so sci-fi loadouts are not unheard of. Even so, I wouldn't wear this to big OPs, just the weekend games where everyone just wants to have some fun.
-If anyone else has any more ways you can get hurt war-gaming in this stuff, let me know.
Now, onto my plans for the suit:
Helmet: I am using the original Halo 3 WETA helm. I chose this for a number of reasons. Partly because it's the classic ODST helm, existing before all the bandwagon ODSTs appeared for the release of H3:ODST (no offense meant to anyone). Also because I don't see the H3:ODSTs as completely canon. In The Cole Protocol, the ODST suit is said to be pressurized, allowing the user to survive in outer space. This would not be possible with the fingerless gloves seen in H3:ODST. Also, ODSTs don't carry sidearms, as referenced in The Cole Protocol.
I will be adding 10mm green LEDs to the helm (not canon, I know), and two CPU fans to try and keep the lens from fogging and give me ventilation. If that's not enough to keep me cool, I'l be sure to have a black patrol cap and shooting glasses handy at the field. I'm also adding an inexpensive headset to the helm to provide COMS.
Chestplate: The chestplate is finished and is immensely sturdy. It will be mounted to an h-harness, which looks something like this (except black):
Beneath that, I'll be wearing Motorcycle body armor (already ordered): .
to which I'll attach my pep shoulders. If the forearm guards don't look up to snuff, I'll swap them for a set of these: http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/riot-sleeves.htm
Torso Armor: The center equipment pouch will be a utility pouch secured to the motorcycle armor. The left and right equipment plates will be pieces of sheet plastic secured to the h-harness straps.
Hip plates: More sheet plastic.
Thigh Armor: I'll use these: http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/combat-g...ea-gear-molle-platform-drop-leg-panel-bk.html
Lower leg armor: I plan on using baseball catcher's shin guards with the WETA knees attached. I might also rig some small pouches to these, as well.
Gloves: These: http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/combat-gears/gloves-belts/ea-gear-pvc-sport-full-finger-gloves.html
Gun: I'm trying to decide between a WELL MP7 or a JP FAMAS. For the sake of simplicity, I won't be modding either of these to look more like their Halo counterparts, but if any airsofters have thoughts on these two weapons let them be heard. Just don't tell me to buy a TM. I flatly can't afford it.
I believe that covers the armor I'll be using, now on some pics of what I've done so far.
Helmet has been resined inside and out. Rondo is coming next.
Shoulders are almost done, they just need some detail paint work, and I've got some questions about the placard on the left shoulder. I put velcro on the lower shoulder pieces to wear patches the way they currently do in the military.
The chestplate is done. The name on top, Elephant, is my airsoft callsign (and no, I'm not fat). If Dutch can paint a Jolly Rodger on his chestplate, then Elephant can paint an evil smiley-face on his!
I haven't started the knees yet (I am running out of fiberglass).
That's about it for my plans, but I have a few questions. First, the placard on the left shoulder. I know it has your blood type on it, but what do all the other numbers mean? Also, the visor. I tested an HJC visor, and it won't stop bbs. However, if a vac-formed lexan visor is anything like the rc car bodies I have, thenI have a feeling it will. If you are currently vac-forming visors or know someone who is, please let me know. I am ready to pay for a well made ODST visor, but I can't use the classifieds for another 15 posts.
Thanks for reading my long and drawn out plans! With any luck, this build won't die the way so many noob builds do.
-Airsoft bbs will destroy armor- I performed a test on a rondo-glassed pep piece, and yes, they can survive. see the thread here: http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22194&st=0&p=353637&#entry353637
-Fiberglass armor is hot and doesn't breath, causing heat exhaustion- My plans are to have very few actual pep pieces, just the helmet, shoulders, chestplate, and maybe knees. The rest will be a combination of sports armor and tactical gear.
-Fiberglass is heavy- Once again, I won't be wearing much actual fiberglass, and I'm used to wearing a lot of weight when I airsoft (CIRAS, two leg rigs, elbow and knee pads, boots, M14, etc).
-Fiberglass can break and stab you-Again, the only piece of armor that will hang across my body is the chestplate, and beneath that I'll be wearing motorcycle armor.
-You'll look like a doofus wearing ODST armor to the field-I dissagree. I have seen Half-Life rebel loadouts and Stargate loadouts, so sci-fi loadouts are not unheard of. Even so, I wouldn't wear this to big OPs, just the weekend games where everyone just wants to have some fun.
-If anyone else has any more ways you can get hurt war-gaming in this stuff, let me know.
Now, onto my plans for the suit:
Helmet: I am using the original Halo 3 WETA helm. I chose this for a number of reasons. Partly because it's the classic ODST helm, existing before all the bandwagon ODSTs appeared for the release of H3:ODST (no offense meant to anyone). Also because I don't see the H3:ODSTs as completely canon. In The Cole Protocol, the ODST suit is said to be pressurized, allowing the user to survive in outer space. This would not be possible with the fingerless gloves seen in H3:ODST. Also, ODSTs don't carry sidearms, as referenced in The Cole Protocol.
I will be adding 10mm green LEDs to the helm (not canon, I know), and two CPU fans to try and keep the lens from fogging and give me ventilation. If that's not enough to keep me cool, I'l be sure to have a black patrol cap and shooting glasses handy at the field. I'm also adding an inexpensive headset to the helm to provide COMS.
Chestplate: The chestplate is finished and is immensely sturdy. It will be mounted to an h-harness, which looks something like this (except black):
Beneath that, I'll be wearing Motorcycle body armor (already ordered): .
to which I'll attach my pep shoulders. If the forearm guards don't look up to snuff, I'll swap them for a set of these: http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/riot-sleeves.htm
Torso Armor: The center equipment pouch will be a utility pouch secured to the motorcycle armor. The left and right equipment plates will be pieces of sheet plastic secured to the h-harness straps.
Hip plates: More sheet plastic.
Thigh Armor: I'll use these: http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/combat-g...ea-gear-molle-platform-drop-leg-panel-bk.html
Lower leg armor: I plan on using baseball catcher's shin guards with the WETA knees attached. I might also rig some small pouches to these, as well.
Gloves: These: http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/combat-gears/gloves-belts/ea-gear-pvc-sport-full-finger-gloves.html
Gun: I'm trying to decide between a WELL MP7 or a JP FAMAS. For the sake of simplicity, I won't be modding either of these to look more like their Halo counterparts, but if any airsofters have thoughts on these two weapons let them be heard. Just don't tell me to buy a TM. I flatly can't afford it.
I believe that covers the armor I'll be using, now on some pics of what I've done so far.
Helmet has been resined inside and out. Rondo is coming next.
Shoulders are almost done, they just need some detail paint work, and I've got some questions about the placard on the left shoulder. I put velcro on the lower shoulder pieces to wear patches the way they currently do in the military.
The chestplate is done. The name on top, Elephant, is my airsoft callsign (and no, I'm not fat). If Dutch can paint a Jolly Rodger on his chestplate, then Elephant can paint an evil smiley-face on his!
I haven't started the knees yet (I am running out of fiberglass).
That's about it for my plans, but I have a few questions. First, the placard on the left shoulder. I know it has your blood type on it, but what do all the other numbers mean? Also, the visor. I tested an HJC visor, and it won't stop bbs. However, if a vac-formed lexan visor is anything like the rc car bodies I have, thenI have a feeling it will. If you are currently vac-forming visors or know someone who is, please let me know. I am ready to pay for a well made ODST visor, but I can't use the classifieds for another 15 posts.
Thanks for reading my long and drawn out plans! With any luck, this build won't die the way so many noob builds do.
