Zercon: Introduction, and Project (Skirmisher)

[Zercon]

Thank you very much for the kind words! I am eager to work on things but have to ration my time among other tasks as well. So slow and steady is the rule here. Or... more realistically small sprints...

I did come to conclusion that yes, I am going to re-cast the head from the refined grey cast above. I accidentally smacked it and the thin part I mentioned before chipped. If such a slap would cause a chunk to fly off? Then future bumps can be disastrous. With this re cast, it will even everything out nicely.

I started work on the jaw today, same process as the head so I am not going to outline it here. But I am going to drop down a picture for you. As always the pictures amaze me as I don't see how thick that right side is until I see it on my computer.

Shows you how a new perspective changes much eh?

 

[Zercon]

Got some more progress today, and learned a few other things as well.

I am coming to a conclusion that perhaps making one of those paper craft things everyone else is doing for the armor may be in my best interest. I spent an hour today flopping around on my studio floor like a dumbass trying to make a simple thing and simply… failed… hah…

I can only hope that if I do decide to do this? That I can even get a Skirmisher file, and figure out how to even unwrap that sun-of-a-gun into a usable format. It would be my first time attempting such a thing, and from what I glanced at the program? It didn’t look very user friendly. Then again I figured out Maya and such... how different can it be?

However the rest of my time I spent working on the jaw, and eyelids. The jaw is the same process as the top of the head, but the eyelids are new. I tried using epoxy, but it was too grainy and didn’t stick to the plastic well. I tried Super Skulpy, but that refused to stick. So I had to opt for the soft NSP clay, which worked perfectly. After the fact I had to tape security domes over each eye on the outside and inside to protect the fragile lids.

Using that clay I will smooth out the gum line to that slick look, seal up the back, and make a two part mold. I am hoping the jaw will be perfect enough to not require two casts, but I doubt it.

Picture dump-

 

[PigBenis]

Saurons eye :OOO


Amazing damnn f---ing nice job !!!!!!

I love it . its not usual lol so i enjoy following this thread!

 

[thorn696]

Now that is some sweet looking work, Most impressive.

 

[TheRabbit]

Your modeling skills are so incredible, I love seeing these updates.

One question I have though, where are you planning on your head being in all of this?

 

[Zercon]

My head is going to be in the throat, seeing out of a red mesh that is airbrushed a little on the sides. So all this will be mounted on a bike helmet.

Also if anyone reading this can spare a moment, I have an open question here and I would appreciate any clarification.

http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/37680-A-Quick-Skirmisher-Question​

 

[briciius]

GOD this is not cosplay this is ART !!!!

 

[rainbowpandabarf]

Great to see a fellow Skirmisher!!!!!!! Thumbs up on the build!

 

[thorn696]

Just checking in now that the forum is back up.

 

[Zercon]

Well... I did warn this would move slow when I first started this project. Hah... But due to being unemployed now and going freelance? I should have more time to dedicate to this. As such, I started up work once more.

The Mask is on hold until I can get more rubber to cast it, planning to make a two piece mold. In the meantime I hunted around for a Skirmisher file from the game to make a Pepakura. But this was futile and proved to not hold any results, so I have finally decided to make a 3D file myself and try to stumble/limp through making it. Hopefully I can get this down fast, and possibly share it with the community so others can make Skirmisher Pepakura as well.

As of now, I got one piece completed as just a 3D file. I have no idea how to unwrap it properly or anything, but it is a start yeah? Research will bring up answers on where to go next with it.

The model isn't perfect, nor is it scaled yet, but it is ONE PIECE which was excruciating to figure out for me considering hard object modeling tends to be in multiple chunks.

 

[Drewhinkle09]

This is spectacular! I can't wait to see more progress! *clicks subscribe button feverishly*

 

[Zercon]

Oh man, once I finally figured out how to make these models as one piece, I am on a roll!

 

[Zaff]

As long as the models can be opened in Pepakura Designer, you shouldn't have any trouble finding people able (and willing) to unfold them for you. Heck, I wouldn't mind taking a crack at it myself if you can't find anyone else to help. With such smoothly crafted models, unfolding should be pretty easy. The biggest thing is figuring out what the scale you need would be so that unfolders know what size to make the pep model.

 

[Zercon]

If you were wanting to give it a try? I would be more than happy to hand over an OBJ or try to get whatever structure of file you need. I am just fearful of the scaling thing, but I think I did it right. But do know this model isn't as simple as it may appear at first glance.

It is kind'a a cluster >.>;

Edit: Also SHAZAM Thigh plate

 

[Zaff]

Compared to some of the models I've worked with, it certainly seems more straight-forward. After Monkeyfuj's Boltshot and VIzardErebus' HD Railgun, most files I've worked with seem rather simple. The overall size/scale can be adjusted during the unfolding process, so that's not a problem. Basically I just need a single measurement (preferable metric since that's what the program uses) for either the height, width, or depth of the desired end product. As for file type, .obj and .pdo are both workable. I imagine other file types could be used, but I know for certain that those two are compatible with the Pep Designer program.

 

[Sara]

I've never seen this thread before, your work is just STUNNING! I can't wait to see this finished some day.
With work this promising I hope you'll find no shortage of people willing to pitch in with the unfolding. I'd help but I've never done it before so I'd be more of a hindrance than anything. Again, this is so beautiful, great work!

 

[spartansonny]

Zercon my fellow 405th AZ member I have only started unfolding but i do an okay job,if you want some help unfolding I can help out with that. Send me a PM at what scale you would like and I will take a crack at it. like Zaff said these are smooth models and the unfolding should be relatively easy. To be honest I would be very proud to help on thisd project now that I have found it

 

[Zercon]

Ahh thank you everyone for the nice words. As always it helps fuel me along so I can keep sharing new stuff!

Spartansonny: If you would like to give it a shot? I'd be more than happy to offer something over. I will happily attach anyone's name to the files when completed. After I get my costume mostly done? I plan to release the models then so others can make them too if interested.

I am still in the process of tweaking some of them however. While the chest can remain a set scale, the rest of the pieces need to be slightly custom and I am still finagling them to make sure they can fit around the stilts and my hips. The only one I can possibly see ready to go is the hip plate, or the shoulder/arm piece.

Which one do you want? And how would you want me to send it over? I don't think I can attach files through this forums PM's.


Also a bit of an update-

I have been doing research in Rotocasting Machines. To purchase one straight up is laughably expensive and they all are for industrial stuff much bigger than I would ever need. However, there are a lot of tutorials online on how to make one out of wood and bike chains.

However I am scared this will be too rickety to rotate the entire 15 inch long ((Not including mold shell)) helmet without it wobbling over. As such, I am trying to bribe and get my dad to make one for my upcoming birthday since he owns a Metal Fabrication.

This means a nicer helmet cast, AND nicer replicas which I may turn into taxidermy heads like someone killed a Skirmisher and put it up on a wall. Man Cave decoration anyone?

As well as doing research on such tools, I finished two more pieces, the shoulder/arm, and the shin.

I am not confident in the scaling on the shin enough to have it unfolded yet, the leg pieces being the most difficult due to the stilts.

 

[spartansonny]

i would be proud to help a fellow member. my email is hustlin1ninja@gmail.com. i get work done as quick as possible because i don't sleep allot, kids and family life and all. my alone time for myself is when everyone falls asleep lol. send me something small to take a dry run see how you like it.

 

[rcracer1997]

This means a nicer helmet cast, AND nicer replicas which I may turn into taxidermy heads like someone killed a Skirmisher and put it up on a wall. Man Cave decoration anyone?

If you start making Mounted Skimisher heads i will personally buy a couple of those. That would be ******* awsome![