PaiganBoi
Sr Member
My wife is the same. She enjoys seeing me build and my son wearing his costume but, she won't go near it. She will "leave it to the geeks."
Duke's Skyrim Nightingale Armor
- Thread starter PerniciousDuke
- Start date
- Status
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
It's not like she is going to sit and watch me build this thing. Just that if I work while she's in the house I can bug her for advice. She's been too busy lately anyway. But, she did give me a good tip to use Christmas paper to help pattern the leather or cloth.
Progress:
Something went wrong in my last scaling of the cuirass so I redid it. This time I took advantage of ArmorSmith's non uniform scaling function.
Here's a second printout mock up.
We're definitely getting closer. Now I'll have to scale down the knees, forearms and biceps.
Progress:
Something went wrong in my last scaling of the cuirass so I redid it. This time I took advantage of ArmorSmith's non uniform scaling function.
Here's a second printout mock up.
We're definitely getting closer. Now I'll have to scale down the knees, forearms and biceps.
Sean Anwalt
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S530
Looks great! You going to make each piece a little bigger than the paper? To help sew it together?
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
A lot of it is like scales, so they will be longer on the top in order to be glued to the piece that overlaps them.
But I do have to make the templates a little bigger just like with foam, to account for thickness.
Sean Anwalt
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S530
Gotcha. I'm really excited to see this.
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
Not a lot of progress lately. Work has been murder. Some people say I should give up being a hitman, but it's just so rewarding and profitable. Anyhoo
Time to show off a little bit. Here I've got my setup. Box of leather supplies, box of leather and a marble slab for tooling.
Next up are my stamping tools. You use to get one free a month if you were a card carrying Tandy Leather member, but no more. Now they are $5-$10 apiece.
I've finished patterning all of the leather pieces. It might not look different than the previous mock up, so here is a comparison (right is current)
The biggest goal with the final pattern was to make sure there are no gaps and to pattern where the leather overlaps.
Next is determining how I want to tool the leather. Game graphics are just paint jobs, there are several ways I can go about manifesting that look.
One aspect is the shape of the details. Traditionally you cut the pattern in and hammer around the parts you want to stand out using a background tool. But, in the game it looks more like they just hammered around without cutting. I'll test both to see.
Here are two possibilities:
Now, we won't know what looks better until we see how it takes to dye. You may think there are black skinned cows out there, but that is just their hair. Underneath they are all brown. I could just dye it straight black, but that would be boring right? So flat and hard to see the designs. Now, take a look at the reference. Tell me you don't see a lot of brown in there?
Here's what I think the game was going for, quickly dyed black leather that has been worn and faded so much the original brown is showing through. How do I recreate that?
Two theories so far: One, seal the undyed leather then dye black. The sealant will make it hard for the leather to really soak in the thin black dye. Two, dye a nice chestnut color. Then apply an antique black gel. The gel is thick and will really only stick in crevices and valleys.
I'll post tomorrow the results of the dye tests and I look forward to your opinions.
Time to show off a little bit. Here I've got my setup. Box of leather supplies, box of leather and a marble slab for tooling.
Next up are my stamping tools. You use to get one free a month if you were a card carrying Tandy Leather member, but no more. Now they are $5-$10 apiece.
I've finished patterning all of the leather pieces. It might not look different than the previous mock up, so here is a comparison (right is current)
The biggest goal with the final pattern was to make sure there are no gaps and to pattern where the leather overlaps.
Next is determining how I want to tool the leather. Game graphics are just paint jobs, there are several ways I can go about manifesting that look.
One aspect is the shape of the details. Traditionally you cut the pattern in and hammer around the parts you want to stand out using a background tool. But, in the game it looks more like they just hammered around without cutting. I'll test both to see.
Here are two possibilities:
Now, we won't know what looks better until we see how it takes to dye. You may think there are black skinned cows out there, but that is just their hair. Underneath they are all brown. I could just dye it straight black, but that would be boring right? So flat and hard to see the designs. Now, take a look at the reference. Tell me you don't see a lot of brown in there?
Here's what I think the game was going for, quickly dyed black leather that has been worn and faded so much the original brown is showing through. How do I recreate that?
Two theories so far: One, seal the undyed leather then dye black. The sealant will make it hard for the leather to really soak in the thin black dye. Two, dye a nice chestnut color. Then apply an antique black gel. The gel is thick and will really only stick in crevices and valleys.
I'll post tomorrow the results of the dye tests and I look forward to your opinions.
xXDashIVXx
Sr Member
I dont care what you said. I think the second one looks better! And dang, you must have been collecting those leather stamps since your were 6! A minimum of 70 months worth! That my friend, is dedication i dont have!
SI3RRA 117
Well-Known Member
- Member DIN
- S240
I think that you could use both types of detailing. To me looking at the your first reference image looks like there’s a bit of the sharp details and a bit of the softer subtle stuff as well. Look forward to seeing the colors!!
Last edited:
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
I inherited many of them from my grandfather. I think I see what you mean and I believe we're looking at just the softer stuff. Most of the sharp details will be created by layering separate pieces of leather. Or am I misunderstanding your idea?
Update:
I'm pretty disappointed with my color tests. They are far too brown for my liking.
Looks like I may have to go with pure black. I'll try a few more tests first.
SI3RRA 117
Well-Known Member
- Member DIN
- S240
I was talking how you shaped your details there on that test piece. But the layering i see working too. As for your colors is there some way to “dry brush” on the leather to highlight details? Or if you were to scuff it maybe?
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
Gotcha. Yes, you can paint leather and I probably will a little to add the scratches, but I have to dye it as well.
Update:
Second color run is better.
Here are four different ones and two close ups of the in game leather.
Any votes?
TurboCharizard
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S068
I vote for sample #2. It's got a good dark tone and the grays showing through in the recesses add a good bit of contrast.
xXDashIVXx
Sr Member
I agree, but I havent worked with leather before, so j dont know any way if coloring it other than using a dye, but maybe you could somehow sand the top coat off? Or just do a faint misting with an airbrush... trying to think what punished props would do...
Lieutenant Jaku
Sr Member
i vote sample #3 (at least i think thats the correct number)
#2/#4 are too flat black and i think #3 matches in game the most
#2/#4 are too flat black and i think #3 matches in game the most
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
Thanks for the input guys!
xXDashIVXx SI3RRA 117 - I'll scuff up those little samples so you guys can see what sanded leather looks like. I will definitely be doing weathering with extra paint and scuffing so we might as well know now what these dying techniques look like weathered.
xXDashIVXx SI3RRA 117 - I'll scuff up those little samples so you guys can see what sanded leather looks like. I will definitely be doing weathering with extra paint and scuffing so we might as well know now what these dying techniques look like weathered.
Dirtdives2424
Division Scheduler and Keeper of Con Lists
- Member DIN
- S2424
I missed the vote so I will just nod my head and grunt ambiguously. “Ghuurr”.
PerniciousDuke
Sr Member
- Member DIN
- S128
Never too late!
It is going to be awhile till I actually dye the leather, but this is a big part of the process so I'd like to have my game plan squared away.
I've put all my tests overtop of the game model (keep in mind we also just want something that looks cool. The action figure is pure black and he looks awesome!) Each pieces I've scuffed on one side with 150 grit and the other side lightly with 60grit.
I've also started an affair... Male Nightingale Armor Skyrim - WIP
SI3RRA 117
Well-Known Member
- Member DIN
- S240
I dig 6, the scuffing really brought the samples to life!! Maybe a little some brown rubbed in areas like the game model? Give that little hint of brown you were looking for? Unless your going for the action figure looks of just black
Badkitty
Active Member
- Member DIN
- S327
I think that 3 and 6 look great!! Keep up the good work, I know how hard leather can be to work with if it gets a little too dry in one spot and not another. What leather dye are you going to use? You need to be careful with some of it from overseas, a friend of mine got his jacket dyed at the leather shop locally and it "ruined" the texture on it. Good luck and keep it up!!!
xXDashIVXx
Sr Member
I like 3, just get it darker in the recessed hammered areas
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