Kasterborus
Jr Member
- I could clean it
- I am going to use maybe 5-10 layers of Fiberglass and then resin it, I'm gonna make it tough, not flimsy
- I see no reason that I cannot wash it
-Kaster
Odst Paintball Suit
- Thread starter Kasterborus
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-Kaster
I really don't understand why so many people on this forum are so anti-paintball. Most people go paintballing in jeans, a shirt, and a mask. Put a helmet over that, and as long as you've got proper cooling and the thing's not going to explode into a thousand razor sharp shards when hit, you're golden. Too hot? You can take your gorram full helmet off and be FINE with just your REGULATION PAINTBALL MASK on. I'd LOVE to paintball in ODST gear, maybe I wouldn't have so many weird bruises the next day. Battle damage is battle damage, and it's the user's choice if they want to get their gear messed up or not. I'm hearing a lot of dissing and hate for minor or non-issues, instead of constructive suggestions on how to make this possible.
Putting a good amount of acrylic clear coat over your finished armor and paint should allow you to clean paint rounds off fairly easily without messing up your actual armor paintjob. Might be a bit shinier than usual, but them's the breaks. As an alternative to fiberglass, you could try some durability tests with Mudglassing instead of just straight fiberglass. Honestly, I have NO idea how it'll hold up comparatively, but it's worth a shot... or five... point blank, if you know what I mean. Hold your visor in with bolts, if you can. More sturdy than any type of adhesive, and it'll allow it more "flex" and "give" when it gets hit, might help to deter it from breaking. Also, motorcycle visors are designed to NOT kill you if they break. Seeing as they're fitted on SAFETY HELMETS.
Putting a good amount of acrylic clear coat over your finished armor and paint should allow you to clean paint rounds off fairly easily without messing up your actual armor paintjob. Might be a bit shinier than usual, but them's the breaks. As an alternative to fiberglass, you could try some durability tests with Mudglassing instead of just straight fiberglass. Honestly, I have NO idea how it'll hold up comparatively, but it's worth a shot... or five... point blank, if you know what I mean. Hold your visor in with bolts, if you can. More sturdy than any type of adhesive, and it'll allow it more "flex" and "give" when it gets hit, might help to deter it from breaking. Also, motorcycle visors are designed to NOT kill you if they break. Seeing as they're fitted on SAFETY HELMETS.
Well, I do believe that most paintballing regulations in most places have rules strictly against point-blank shooting. Granted, it does happen but it is frowned upon. And one should always plan for the worst. But regardless, I agree with Flyerfly. People go out paintballing with nothing but some old clothes and a facemask. Sometimes not even that. I've seen people play with nothing more than some workshop safety goggles or sunglasses.
I can understand everyone wanting to warn of the possible risk involved as well as the cons to wearing such a setup in mock combat, but I'm more than certain then OP has thought this through. And as I've come to understand through past experience - if someone wants to do something, they're going to do it regardless of what anyone says. All you can do is warn them so you can say you did their part, and possibly arm them with good knowledge.
I am not calling anyone out. But if this is his little dream then I say - who are we to stop him? Who knows - he might come up with some kind of great production breakthrough that could really benefit the community. Field experimentation (and/or war) has always proven to be a fantastic way to create new technologies and methods based off of necessity.
Personally, I wouldn't do it (the whole paintball thing) for reasons mentioned before. And I'm normally quite the pessimist. But here's to hoping it all works out. Regardless, I look forward to the results.
I can understand everyone wanting to warn of the possible risk involved as well as the cons to wearing such a setup in mock combat, but I'm more than certain then OP has thought this through. And as I've come to understand through past experience - if someone wants to do something, they're going to do it regardless of what anyone says. All you can do is warn them so you can say you did their part, and possibly arm them with good knowledge.
I am not calling anyone out. But if this is his little dream then I say - who are we to stop him? Who knows - he might come up with some kind of great production breakthrough that could really benefit the community. Field experimentation (and/or war) has always proven to be a fantastic way to create new technologies and methods based off of necessity.
Personally, I wouldn't do it (the whole paintball thing) for reasons mentioned before. And I'm normally quite the pessimist. But here's to hoping it all works out. Regardless, I look forward to the results.
A paintball mask wont fit in a standard sized odst helmet. I just checked. That honestly sounds uncomfartable if it did work
5-10 layers of fiber glass is over doing it. Adds more weight and lessens your mobility even more. You dont live in a very cool region of the world, you'll end up ditching it.
Im not saying the armor cant stop a paintball, agileness and mobiility should be your concern... hell, i personally think that Paintball test on that recon helmet was really un-professionally done. I know for a fact 2-3 layers of fiberglass can easily stop a paintball, i tried it on my fiberglassed marine helmet.
if you plan on using harder material, thats just makes it harder to work with and more money on equipment. You could build it and make a cast of it, it'd be really expensive though
a bucket of silicone from smoot-on is 180 dollars, and a gallon of smooth-cast usally runs for 80 dollars+ And your going to need more than one order of it so all the parts can be reinforced unless you want the armor to shatter
-yes, with enough layers of fiberglass, you can make it impact resistant
-Expect to put a lot of work in it
-Its not going to be comfertable to play in... Its hard enough just to walk around at cons with prop armor
5-10 layers of fiber glass is over doing it. Adds more weight and lessens your mobility even more. You dont live in a very cool region of the world, you'll end up ditching it.
Im not saying the armor cant stop a paintball, agileness and mobiility should be your concern... hell, i personally think that Paintball test on that recon helmet was really un-professionally done. I know for a fact 2-3 layers of fiberglass can easily stop a paintball, i tried it on my fiberglassed marine helmet.
if you plan on using harder material, thats just makes it harder to work with and more money on equipment. You could build it and make a cast of it, it'd be really expensive though
a bucket of silicone from smoot-on is 180 dollars, and a gallon of smooth-cast usally runs for 80 dollars+ And your going to need more than one order of it so all the parts can be reinforced unless you want the armor to shatter
-yes, with enough layers of fiberglass, you can make it impact resistant
-Expect to put a lot of work in it
-Its not going to be comfertable to play in... Its hard enough just to walk around at cons with prop armor
Kasterborus
Jr Member
Yes, I mean, I can always repair the damage with some bondo and re-spray, or hell, leave it as battle scars.
Yeah, a few people have told me (Mates on MSN) to just buy a paintball visor and not an entire helmet, because once I have the helmet in, I'm gonna have to change the visor every 2-3 games depending on how much I get hit, the visors are only impact rated for 40-50 strikes, so after a while (If the helmet holds up past that many strikes) I'm gonna have to swap a new visor into it.
Also, Mudglassing sounds like a good Idea, I'll have a look into it. Thanks
I have been leaving no stone unturned in my quest for a relatively cheap way to make a paintball ODST suit. And by cheap I'm looking at cheaper than the stuff coming from Nightmare Armour Studios, so I may end up spending over $1,000 making it, I'm hoping to be able to flick people instructions on how to do a finished product for under $600AUD (Yes, I'm in Australia, so that's dirt cheap US wise once you do the conversion), and if I really get into it, and I find an easy AND cheap way to do i I may even start selling them. But THAT is a long way down teh track.
Yeah, I was looking at that, it would be difficult without some warping and changing of stuff.
True, but I am also looking at maybe a fan or an old PC liquid cooling system to go into the helmet, and maybe also into the chest plate and such to keep me cool. The weight isn't much of a factor, in the real world I'm running as a paid bush firefighter and then in my off-time I work as a volunteer bush firefighter, jobs that require me to carry some fairly heavy loads and work under some pretty adverse conditions. My eventual plan is to join the Australian Army either in the 2nd Commando Regiment or the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. I'm not what (No offense to anyone here) people normally think of as a tpical Halo geek.
-Kaster
ImaGonnaGetYou
Well-Known Member
Flyerfye said:
THANK YOU. I thought I was alone on this.
People, stop bashing on something you haven't personally tested. Unless you've gone out in a well-reinforced suit in a paintball match, or fiberglass some cardstock 3-5 times and unloaded some paintballs into it, you don't have a right to talk. Assumptions won't get anything done here.
ON TOPIC, you won't need that much fiberglass (10 layers is way too much), but you will want to modify the armor to allow for more room for movement, and reinforce it more than enough to handle a paintball. You might want to consider using a faceshield from paintball/airsoft as a visor for the helmet, if that won't decrease the thing's protective capabilities. You'll also want some fans in the helmet to keep a bit of the heat out, and quite a few other things that I simply don't feel like getting into in a single post. This isn't any small undertaking, and it will put a dent in your wallet. Be prepared.
But 405th, really. Don't just go out on a limb and say something like you've tested it yourself (unless you have tested it, with proof). Sure, taking a plastic cast right out of the mold and lighting it up with paintball rounds is going to destroy it. Add 1-2 layers of fiberglass to pep, and it'll get anywhere from dented to ripped to shreds. If you pay attention to the details, however, and play smart, it is indeed possible to make a costume that works somewhat effectively as a paintball suit.
Granted, it won't be the most manueverable thing to wear for the occasion, and it might need some cleaning/redetailing every now and again, but it's not some impossible death-defying feat. Stop overreacting without a need to do so.
Also, for the people who are saying it will be a hinderance in paintball matches, regular costumes are a hindrance in normal motion as well. Same goal for both, though: to wear cool armor.
EDIT: lol@-rep
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Kasterborus
Jr Member
One thing I was thinking of, for the helm, yes, I will need to find some other way to make it tough. But for the body pieces, will there be some way I can use filler to fill them out so that people are not shooting a hollow fibreglass/other piece of costume? Such as the knee pads and elbowpads and such, I see no reason not to have them rock solid.
-Kaster
-Kaster
ImaGonnaGetYou
Well-Known Member
Kasterborus said:
There aren't too many ways to make a piece "rock solid" besides fiberglass, bondo, etc. (that doesn't tack on too much weight). I can do a bit of searching this weekend and see if I find anything, but overall you'll probably want to stick to the tried-and-true strengthening methods.
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Kasterborus
Jr Member
Well, considering the use, (And I'm not too worried about smashing it, it'll just be nice if I don't smash it) what would be the best method that YOU wold recommend?
-Kaster
-Kaster
There is a video of a helm 3 layers fiberglassed and bondo,being shot at,3 bullets put a hole in it.Though if you did put the helm on top of the mask,it would be fine,but if you go home with a damaged body part and people ask you where you got the idea,DONT SAY 405th,they could be fined(or some crap like that as i heard) for putting such dangerous ideas in your head.WHICH THEY DID NOT,if you do lose a body part,break bones etc...take it into your responsibility and DONT SAY 405th ENCOURAGED YOU.
Though if it did work,it would be pretty cool,people would be like "OH NOES ODST IS GONNA PWN US",lol.
See positive and negative(well safety precautions) energy keeps my posts ying yang balanced,as it has both.
Though if it did work,it would be pretty cool,people would be like "OH NOES ODST IS GONNA PWN US",lol.
See positive and negative(well safety precautions) energy keeps my posts ying yang balanced,as it has both.
Kasterborus
Jr Member
Well, I don't know how they would fine an entity which doesn't actually have any structure, and is based in another country entirely. And I don't think I'm gonna lose body parts, it's just paintball lol.
-Kaster
-Kaster
Kasterborus
Jr Member
Yes, but that would be more to me being an idiot and jumping over something I shouldn't or otherwise acting like a complete dumbass. Things which I'm not gonna do. And I won't sue the 405th because I've been an idiot, I do have some common sense. And I will test my stuff down at the paintball range before I use it in combat, again, I'm not stupid gung-ho rush into this stuff. The possibility for injuries is there, and I'm not gonna take unnecessary risk.
-Kaster
-Kaster
commandoman
New Member
Kasterboru, I have some ideas that might assist in your endeavor. Hear me out, I do not condone the idea of destroying your first suit of armor. I suggest you first make a mold.
Anyway, here are my suggestions:
1) Research the force impact ratios of the type of resin you are using. A paintball (approx .5 ounces going 215 fps) looses 1/3 of its total force to air resistance every 50 feet. So, if your resin can withstand the force of a 120 fps object of equal size and weight from approx 20 feet, you should be fine. I don't know what distances you play from or your fps, but this should be a good base to begin with.
2) Evaluate you playing area. If you have plenty of cover, you will not have to worry about running and causing friction wear on your paint and bondo.
3) Check all avaliable hardening resins in your area. There are different enforcing resins then just fiberglass, you can get a plastic base resin and basically make a "tempered glass" armor. Just look at the directions for each type you are thinking of using as a reference to suggestion 1.
Well, there are a few suggestions/ideas that will hopefully aide you in this. As in all model making, if you want something solid and functioning, it will take more time and research to design and produce.
I hope these can be of help
Anyway, here are my suggestions:
1) Research the force impact ratios of the type of resin you are using. A paintball (approx .5 ounces going 215 fps) looses 1/3 of its total force to air resistance every 50 feet. So, if your resin can withstand the force of a 120 fps object of equal size and weight from approx 20 feet, you should be fine. I don't know what distances you play from or your fps, but this should be a good base to begin with.
2) Evaluate you playing area. If you have plenty of cover, you will not have to worry about running and causing friction wear on your paint and bondo.
3) Check all avaliable hardening resins in your area. There are different enforcing resins then just fiberglass, you can get a plastic base resin and basically make a "tempered glass" armor. Just look at the directions for each type you are thinking of using as a reference to suggestion 1.
Well, there are a few suggestions/ideas that will hopefully aide you in this. As in all model making, if you want something solid and functioning, it will take more time and research to design and produce.
I hope these can be of help
ImaGonnaGetYou
Well-Known Member
mjolnir follower said:
Won't work. Besides comfort, the benefits don't equal the price tag on it.
Personally, I would go with a few layers of fiberglass on the outside, and a few on the inside. For starters, I'd take a plain piece of cardstock, fiberglass about 3 layers on each side, then hang it and take some point-blank shots at it. If it holds up well, you've got a winner. If not, time for more reinforcement or different experimental approaches.
If you've got MSN or AIM, I can help you draw up an outline for what would make testing most effective in the least amount of time. It would truly suck to build a pep piece only to lose it to a failed test.
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commandoman
New Member
I just had another thought cross my mind... if you can get your hands on kevlar, then make a mold... make a kevlar cast and place your visor in... then fineto!
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