Prettyfloralbonnet
Jr Member
Obviously, not a Halo creation but perhaps seeing the creation of foam weapons is helpful. On a side note, I've noticed that more cons are getting stricter on the wording of their weapons policy. Anything that looks realistic, has significant weight, wood or metal pieces are not allowed (though not always so strictly enforced.) Thus, I tend to favor foam weapons.
My source for Mass Effect weapons is usually Troodon80 I resize a picture to whatever actual size I need it in, send it to PosteRazor to fit it onto multiple pages, and use copies of that for my templates.
Going to start off with the completed picture since foam WIP isn't necessarily impressive until you get into the final stages.
Starting with the core of the M8 Avenger Assault Rifle: Two layers of EVA foam from Harbor Freight cut with a hot knife.
It is strengthened with a 1/2" wide piece of flat metal from rear handle to front of gun.
Second layer of the thicker EVA foam to get the gun's correct width. I'm missing some pictures somewhere so I've jumped right to the added layer with LED's already installed.
The trick to foam weapons for me seems to be in the use of layers so smaller 2 and 3 mm foamies are used, sometimes side by side for more illusion of depth. I also use a Dremel bit or woodburning tip for lines and cutouts:
I'm not personally a fan of Mod Podge or EVA glue since it needs to be sanded and reapplied to get a smooth coat. I usually end up coating with aerosol Plastidip:
I'm also not a fan of the cleaner paint jobs. If possible I try to go for at least three colors even if two are nearly the same. The picture is poor quality but aside from flat black and sterling silver I tinted some of the silver with sky blue to darken it a bit for two of the panels.
To finish off my weapons I black-wash (always end up over doing it) and dry brush with some sort of acrylic silver to highlight edges.
I've found that many of the mistakes I notice up close tend not to carry over for your typical convention photo. I lent the three guns I'd made to some friends (first, second, and second to last) and they seem to have turned out well.
My source for Mass Effect weapons is usually Troodon80 I resize a picture to whatever actual size I need it in, send it to PosteRazor to fit it onto multiple pages, and use copies of that for my templates.
Going to start off with the completed picture since foam WIP isn't necessarily impressive until you get into the final stages.
Starting with the core of the M8 Avenger Assault Rifle: Two layers of EVA foam from Harbor Freight cut with a hot knife.
It is strengthened with a 1/2" wide piece of flat metal from rear handle to front of gun.
Second layer of the thicker EVA foam to get the gun's correct width. I'm missing some pictures somewhere so I've jumped right to the added layer with LED's already installed.
The trick to foam weapons for me seems to be in the use of layers so smaller 2 and 3 mm foamies are used, sometimes side by side for more illusion of depth. I also use a Dremel bit or woodburning tip for lines and cutouts:
I'm not personally a fan of Mod Podge or EVA glue since it needs to be sanded and reapplied to get a smooth coat. I usually end up coating with aerosol Plastidip:
I'm also not a fan of the cleaner paint jobs. If possible I try to go for at least three colors even if two are nearly the same. The picture is poor quality but aside from flat black and sterling silver I tinted some of the silver with sky blue to darken it a bit for two of the panels.
To finish off my weapons I black-wash (always end up over doing it) and dry brush with some sort of acrylic silver to highlight edges.
I've found that many of the mistakes I notice up close tend not to carry over for your typical convention photo. I lent the three guns I'd made to some friends (first, second, and second to last) and they seem to have turned out well.
