Help

[chedder0519]

Hey, asking for a friend here but pretty soon I want to start my first of several halo cosplays, being master chief from halo ce. I know to use EVA foam but idk how to use it or where to buy enough for cheap. My basic chores only pay $10 a week so it might take a while, and I also don’t know what to do for visors, since I want them to be transparent for me, but not for the other side. If anyone knows, please reply

 

[First Strike]

Well Firstly welcome to the hobby! (I'm gonna say this and I mean it respectfully because I don't want to assume your age) I'd recommend getting a job if feasible that will get you not only saving money but being able to aquire more faster. If this isn't feasible than here are some things I recommend in general as I use the foam method myself:
1) don't feel pressured to by name brand
Plenty of amazing cosplays have been made on budget tools. The tool doesn't make the maker...practice and skill does.
2) make a tools list
Look for what you need and price everything out so that you have a tangible goal as opposed to something nebulous
3) look to local hardware and large box stores for materials such as EVA foam. Try to find the best bang for your buck
4) buy local when possible
Yes you can get that amazing tool on Amazon but a tool that could work just as well will be cheaper nearer to you
5) definitely raid the 405th for files to use on foam and reach out to others in your area who also cosplay. Just because we specialize in Halo here there's no telling what knowledge you can get from many other makers/cosplayers
6) DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF
Perfection and comparison is the thief of joy. Take your time to learn the techniques and master them at your pace
7) start small.
Choose one piece of armor and make your character a piece at a time. It's a marathon not a race...don't fall into crunch culture it's not good for you.
8) here are some makers who do amazing tutorials on YouTube I used when I was getting started to learn:

Odin Makes

Hello, I'm Odin Abbott and I have been creating props on a budget for over 25 years. Now I'm here to share some of my ideas with you. If you want to make custom props from your favorite movies, games, and other entertainment, watch some of my videos, it's like a cooking show- for props! New...

youtube.com

Evil Ted Smith

I'm the Evil Ted who makes props and costumes. I’ve worked on Star Trek Into Darkness, Walking Dead, Fifth Element and Guyver, among lots of others. I've made pretty much everything out of every material, but foam is my favorite. I'm here to share my skills and shortcuts, and help you learn how...

youtube.com

Punished Props Academy

Hello! We're Bill & Brittany Doran from Seattle Washington. We build high end replica props and costume from some of your favorite video games, TV shows, movies and more! Follow along with us in our detailed tutorial videos so that you can learn the craft with us! Punished Props Mission...

youtube.com

https://youtube.com/@kamuicosplay?si=fXXtH4O19Ba_HI-h

Adam Savage’s Tested

Adam Savage’s Tested is a content platform and community playground for makers and curious minds. On Tested.com, the highly- engaged Tested YouTube channel, and at conventions and events, dynamic makers share ideas and inspire each other to build their obsessions. Led by Adam Savage, the Tested...

youtube.com

I by no means am the sole or any kind of expert but the folks above were a big influence on my learning curve. All of our creators here have their own story and techniques so you did amazing by reaching out here. I'm so excited to see what you make! If you aren't already join the discord and feel free to reach out to me directly if you have more questions!

 

[N8TEBB]

You're in luck! I've made a guide to get started with making foam cosplays. You can watch this video and follow the steps I took to make my mk VII armour to make your mk V armour. I cover pretty much every step in the process, so it's a good tutorial to watch for getting an idea of the general process you'll want to take. I also show how I make my visors, transparent from the inside but reflective on the outside! See the video here:

And as cost is a factor in your build, see the cost analysis for my suit:

N8TEBB's Mk 7 Build!!!!!

cat ears are removable, I'll take them off for deployment Did you do this with Magnets?

www.405th.com

Note that there are quite a few things you can do to help reduce the cost. I'd recommend going through that list of stuff I got and seeing what you might be able to do without so you can add up what's absolutely necessary and get a rough idea of the overall cost. Note my prices are in CAD, so it's best to see what the prices are like local to you.

Beyond that video tutorial and my cost analysis, I'd recommend checking out some of the tutorials in the tutorial index! The "Foam guide" is a good place to start. See it here:

Foam Guide

Contributors: RandomRanger , Fallen Introduction This is a tutorial targeted at beginners to help understand what EVA foam is, the different types of EVA foam available, how and where to buy EVA foam, and some basic tips/tricks/and tools for working with EVA foam. Index What is EVA foam? What...

www.405th.com

There are many tutorials for visor making, here is the one I made that shows you how I dye and chrome visors to get that one-way window effect:

Dying and Chroming Visors (Cheap) TUTORIAL

It seems that the 405th is in need of a visor dying and chroming tutorial so I shall volunteer be the first to step up to the plate! In this tutorial we will be covering how I dye my visors any particular colour, and how I use spray chrome to block others from seeing my face while allowing me...

www.405th.com

If you're looking for something a little less involved for visors, check out the other tutorials in the index. There are some more straight forward and perhaps even cheaper methods folks use. Find the Tutorial Index here:

Tutorial Index

Tutorial Index This index is a gateway to a wealth of knowledge shared by community members here at the 405th. Each of the tutorials below was created by a community member who wanted to share their own expert tips, strategies, and creative solutions with all of you! This index is updated...

www.405th.com