Jason 078
Well-Known Member
My name is Jason, Spartan tag: 078, and this is my build log.
From the first time I saw the X-Box Magazine cover with the trio of Spartans advertising Halo Wars, I fell in love with the armor. Unlike the more refined version of the Reach, CE, 2, and 3 armors, the Mk IV from Halo Wars just looks like a tank wrapped around a person. Even the Halo Legends and Forward Unto Dawn armor just seems too refined to be actual combat armor prior to the advent of the Mk V suits. So, it was this armor I decided to build.
The only problem was that nobody modeled it. There were a couple of files on the pepakura wiki page, but they were not quite the quality I was looking for and/or dead links. So, I had to wait. I asked around, but got little response regarding someone actually making the armor. Then, all the pep wizards were geared to the Forward Unto Dawn/Legends Mk IV.
Now, though, thanks to Rundown and his wonderful commissioned pepakura making, my dream is becoming a reality. Soon, I will have the first (I think) full Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV(H).
What’s the (H) stand for? Well, to separate it from the Mk IV armors seen in Legends and FUD, the (H) stands for Heavy. I figure that, since both are Mk IV, this is a good way to distinguish them from one-another while still keeping within the canon.
So, with armor, I need weapons. I mean, an unarmed Spartan is deadly, but even we prefer our things that go bang in the night. So, I am designing a knife, a pistol, grenades, and a rifle (well, the grenades and rifle will be designed with some assistance). The knife is a Close Quarters Combat Weapon System (Combat Knife) to be worn on the upper left of my chest armor. The pistol is a M6C Personal Defense Weapon System (M6 Magnum sidearm) to be worn by magnetic lock on my right thigh armor. The grenades are M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenades (Frag Grenades) to be worn in a pair on my left thigh armor. Finally, the rifle will be a MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System (MA5B Assault Rifle) with a magnetic lock on my back. All fitting within the time period of pre-Reach.
My color scheme is going to be green with white striping/detail work (rather than the red from Omega Team in Halo Wars). I’m following my character (see the link in my signature), and he is the leader of Spartan Team White. I’ll include the various other details you see on the model above on my armor (Legendary symbol on the biceps, warning labels, etc.). There will be some differences, though.
I will have a stylized white chess knight on my shoulder, the 405th symbol on the helmet, my number (078) on my left pectoral, and some slight paint details. Each of the characters seem to have a personal symbol on their pauldrons (Alice-130 has a Spartan Eagle on hers, Douglas-042 has a Jolly Roger on his, and Jerome-092 has an Ancient Spartan Helmet). I like the “unit affiliation” crest on the helmet and plan to include the 405th decal on mine. The Spartan Number on the pectoral also seems like a good idea to me, since all Spartans look the same and only they (and Halsey) can tell them apart in armor. Finally, I plan to add some white detail paint similar to that seen on the Halo Legends: The Package armor just to set myself aside from the rest of Omega Team seen on Arcadia (which my character was part of).
I am planning to make the armor out of pepakura. I am planning to use Cereal Kill3r’s videos as a base for my work, but will put a layer of fiberglass on the inside after finishing the detail to add strength to the armor. Some of the details will be made using 1mm sintra cut into layers and attached to the armor (after resining but before detailing). The lights will be a simple LED system, with the helmet light also tied into a fan system. The visor on the helmet will be made with a pair of gold motorcycle visors, with the top one cut down and the edges beveled and smoothed to give it the look of the character model.
Painting it will be done using my professional method. It’s in my blog here, but I’ll detail it better when the time comes. All I will say is that it involved layers and lots of sanding. I’ll use automotive paints and an automotive finish (better look and colors). It will all be finished and then weathered.
The under suit will be made with a leather-look cloth that has the hexagon pattern painted onto it and then sewn in a quilting-fashion over thin pieces of EVA foam. The gloves will be leather gloves with the painted pattern on it and the finger armor (EVA foam) attached to it. The boots will be a pair of army combat boots (the black leather kind) with the outer boot armor made of EVA foam and including an EVA foam sole (to give it the lifted look).
The knife will be made from both sliced sintra and a 3D printed grip and sheath. The reason for the sliced blade is to put a magnet into it for holding it in the sheath (a similar magnet will be included in the sheath). It won’t be sharp and the point will be rounded a little, too.
The pistol, grenades, and assault rifle will all be made using a 3D printer. The pistol will be a test for an upcoming project I am doing and will be completely realistic looking. It will have a working spring-loaded slide, a working slide-lock, working safety (stops the trigger from being pulled), the ejection button will eject the magazine, the trigger will be spring-loaded for a realistic pull, and the magazine will include a faux bullet on the top (when the slide is pulled to the rear, you can see a round in the mag ready to be chambered). I’m also planning to put a sound card/speaker in it to play the Halo pistol fire sound.
The grenades and assault rifle will be made in a similar way. Hey, I was an armorer in the military for 9 years, this is the first time I am actually able to use what I know in the real world. Updates to come.
).
