Reach Jun Build (Foam/fibreglass + custom undersuit)

[JTF4]

I dont really need extra height, but that could be fun to add a few inches.
i have a pepped paper model and a very basic foam prototype
Have you (or anyone) done trooping in non-hinged shoes? Does it feel comfortable to walk?

Im doing I’m first build, but I’ve spent the past probably 3 days straight working on my shoes and getting everything right. However since you’re doing a Jun build the shoes are quite different than my MK6 shoes.

If you point me in the direction of the files you’re using I’ll load them into my cad software tomorrow and see how everything will look.

Upon first look, I think that they would have to be hinged in some way because they look solid all the way through with no gaps in the reference photos.

Edit:

That is if you want maximum walking comfort.

On second thought if you want to gain a few inches, then you could make solid platforms and just build a non hinged shoe around it. You would loose comfort, but could gain a few inches.

Personally I decided to go the comfort route.

 

[Electraknite]

JTF4 ya id prefer the comfort route. Theres a pep file and foam boot file in the armoury that I’ve been using but I’m not opposed to building from scratch too. They’re both unhinged files so either way if I use them I’ll have to cut out material. do u have a build thread, I’d love to see how you did your shoes. It would probably help me figure mine out.

 

[JTF4]

Electraknite I do have a build thread, but I’m still working on the write up for that. I have some pictures if you want them though.

 

[JTF4]

Ok. So I've looked at some reference pictures and I think that I have the start of a good way to make the shoe work.

Sorry for the horrible legibility of the text. I don't recommend using adobe draw on the iPad for this lol.

 

[Electraknite]

Ok. So I've looked at some reference pictures and I think that I have the start of a good way to make the shoe work.

ya I was coming up with an idea very similar I think it will work best if I scratch build it. Red and orange out of foam and the pink will probably be fibreglass
i also plan to permanently glue the shoe to my boot. So the elastic strap might not be necessary actually

 

[JTF4]

I like it! If you're planning on permanently attaching everything to the boot, then you should be able to do away with the elastic.

If you think that 3d printing would be helpful for any of those parts I would be happy to run it off my printer and mail it to you.

 

[Electraknite]

JTF4 thats very generous of you I’m going to try first with foam and fibreglass first and hopefully I can cobble something together. XD


I suppose I’m procrastinating building the arms and boots but at least I’ve been painting.
the front hasn’t been weathered yet and i still need to do a dirty wash after I varnish this paint job. What do you guys think?

all the peices ive built have been painted mostly the same green, Im using liquitex acrylic paints and I’ve had to mix the colour every time but I actually like the slight variation, makes it look kinda camo or dirty in some places. The weathered metal is just dark silver that I highlight with a lighter dark silver. Stencils made from masking tape.

im pretty happy with it so far. Too bad the sniper veil is going to hide my beautiful stencil work but oohhhhhh well thas life kids

 

[JTF4]

I think it looks absolutely amazing.

 

[Sean Anwalt]

That's looking really really good! Keep up the progress, man.

The arms aren't that bad, in reality. So long as they're scale right, they're kinda fun.

 

[Electraknite]

More painting yayyy. probably the most interesting thing about it is the way I transfered the decals.
soooo for anyone else who wants to know..
I printed the pic out on regular printer paper with a laser-jet printer, that’s important, then stick it face down in wet paint and let it dry. After that wet the paper and carefully rub all the paper off. It leaves the printed pic behind. super handy. Just make sure ya print the logos mirrored.


this is my printed sheet for anyone who wants them, few different sizes and just a couple extras in case of accidents heh.. or for testing.

 

[Rock Lobbster]

Just found this thread but omg it looks so good I'm super excited to see this completed!

 

[Electraknite]

well all the armours I have made are painted and weathered. Guess I have no excuse to not make the rest. its looking to be all fibreglass armour..
Not sure if im just getting tired but Ive got no patience for foam. I have only ever managed to make very basic stuff with it. I tried again to make the shoes last night and got super frustrated so I’m gonna try and freehand some fibreglass armour as a base and then add foam details to it.. haha we shall see if that’ll work out.

the biceps and bracers are in the fibreglassing stage. Once that’s done I’ll probably be adding foam modifications to make them more comfy, just like everything else. My old biceps were super warped so I re-pepped them and started over.


I finished the weathering with some muddy paint washes and splattering. Jun has probably had to sit around in the rain lots so I think it’s appropriate. man I love weathering.
before weathering:

after weathering:

They still need to varnished but I’ve run out of satin finish. I’m thinking of using the liquitex varnish. Has anyone used that or is there a good slightly flexible varnish that you like? The only armour that is fully foam are the thighs and most of the belt but I don’t really want them to crack yknow?

I also bought a scout helmet file from Etsy though I’m not sure I’ll be able to print it anytime soon. I might have a local friend I could mooch off of but if that doesn’t work I’ll be using the helmet I made way back in the day. It’s a crusty nasty looking thing atm but with some tlc I bet I could get it looking good. At least until I can get a nice print.

Anyways I might actually have this mostly done before the con in sept. Excluding the lights and some of the pouches probably but it’s a huge progress for me Considering I was gonna give up on it entirely last year. And the undersuit.. ahhahaaaa… I need to remake it again. ok Byyye

 

[FalseShepherd]

It looks amazing! Would love to see a suit up! As a fellow pep and fiberglass builder, this build is inspiring!

 

[Electraknite]

It looks amazing! Would love to see a suit up! As a fellow pep and fiberglass builder, this build is inspiring!

Ill have to work on the attachments then, so far its still just armour pieces

 

[Zoogami Snowfox]

Wow WOW, WOOOW!

 

[Sean Anwalt]

*watched*

 

[Electraknite]

so the bicepts are almost ready for paint but I’ve got to sand them once more and make sure they’re properly strengthened enough.
They‘re still a little delicate and while I was sanding I busted through a corner so Ive got to add another layer of fibreglass.. normally I would’ve slushed around some rondo to fill all the corners in but I’m trying to keep the weight down so I haven’t used much rondo.
They’ve got to snap to the undersuit sleeves. I was hoping that would be all the support they need but I think I’ll probably have to add a strap from the torso to support their weight. Or modify the undersuit So the shoulders dont stretch. Gotta remember that when I comes back to the undersuit.



I also did a tiny test print of the helmet. The file is beautiful but the walls are pretty thick. Doesn’t leave much room for fans or batteries but I’m hoping on the big print I can just have the wall be pretty thick and the infill pretty thin and then I can just use my dremel and bore out the areas I need. I really should learn to use blender.

 

[Electraknite]

Alrighty I’ve basically finished building the biceps. ive sanded and primed the outsides and cut the inner arm bit out and replaced it with foam. I’ll probably still cover that with foam but it’ll be hard to see the seam there anyway. I mostly want to talk about a issue I’d like to fix.
you see Jun has manly Spartan shoulders and I have baby gamer girl shoulders that don’t fill out the armor. And since I don’t want to get jacked for a cosplay I was thinking of padding the biceps with upholstery foam so they don’t wobble around. and if I’m gonna do that I could bring the foam past the armour up to my shoulders where it would connect to the shoulders of the undersuit like the drawing in my previous post. I could hide the foam/undersuit transition as the patch looking detail on the shoulders. the shoulders could end up feeling bulky and cumbersome but I think it would look quite a bit better.
i realize I could add some padding to the undersuit but I think this way would be easier.



what do you guys think? Has anyone done anything like this before?

 

[indigoD0g]

heres my video, I hope you like it

Thank you x40000 for that video. I'll be sewing one quite soon and this helped me figure out materials and patterns!

 

[TurboCharizard]

Alrighty I’ve basically finished building the biceps. ive sanded and primed the outsides and cut the inner arm bit out and replaced it with foam. I’ll probably still cover that with foam but it’ll be hard to see the seam there anyway. I mostly want to talk about a issue I’d like to fix.
you see Jun has manly Spartan shoulders and I have baby gamer girl shoulders that don’t fill out the armor. And since I don’t want to get jacked for a cosplay I was thinking of padding the biceps with upholstery foam so they don’t wobble around. and if I’m gonna do that I could bring the foam past the armour up to my shoulders where it would connect to the shoulders of the undersuit like the drawing in my previous post. I could hide the foam/undersuit transition as the patch looking detail on the shoulders. the shoulders could end up feeling bulky and cumbersome but I think it would look quite a bit better.
i realize I could add some padding to the undersuit but I think this way would be easier.

View attachment 307965View attachment 307962View attachment 307963View attachment 307961View attachment 307964

what do you guys think? Has anyone done anything like this before?

Maybe a bit of a pad sewn in just to keep the bicep secured but overall I think it looks fine as is with the lines for the vest, bicep armour and where the soft parts of the undersuit will lay.