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Well with the summer job finally over, and a little padding in my bank account I’ve decided to start work on a longtime dream of mine—the illustrious space marine costume.

While I had originally intended this costume to be done by November for a convention my friends and I are attending, looking at the sheer amount of work involved I can tell that won’t be possible. So, this thread is designed to detail my progress on my Astartes costume, which should be complete by June of 2010. This factors in school time, work, and the occasional bouts of free time referred to as student breaks.

C&C is appreciated as always, and I would like to stress the importance of this. Your comments, critiques, criticisms, etc. will help motivate me, change things on the costume and hopefully make it the best it possibly can be. Also, feel free to post or PM website links or image links to things you may find relevant to this undertaking- you never know what might wind it’s way into the finished product!

To say the least this project is dear to my heart, and as such I would like to give back to you all as well! When certain stages of completion are met (example: I complete both leg greaves, or I finish the chest piece), I will reward a poster (chosen at random) with a gift. I will announce the goal for that particular period, as well as what the gift will be.


This is the eyepiece I have chosen as the basis for my augmetic replacement on the costume. It is half of a pair of goggles, which the strap broke on. I will likely replace the black lens with a red one once I debut this at a convention.


old headphones which will be converted into audio filters, connected to a styrofoam plate on the back of my head. These will help hide the straps from the rebreather.


definently one of the more interesting parts of this project. Once I receive the rebreather I am going to cover part of it with a latex half skull mask, so it will align where the triangular notch in the mask is-- it will look like I have a skeletal lower half of the face. Instead of buying air canisters, i am going to bore out the vents on the sides and put shower plates on the holes, so I can breathe freely.


this is a very crude mock up of what im talking about, sans the rebreather and custom plating/tubing. It also shows that I am in dire need of a haircut, so off to the stylist I go!

The first session’s goal is to complete assembly on the rebreather/eyepiece/audio filters on the head. I hope to have this completed by September 30 , 2009. The gift will be a kitbashed/custom “counts as” Shrike model, incorporating bits from several kits-- this model will be awarded once this goal is met, and will be painted in the chapter colors of the winners choosing!

here is "captain billy" (a few friends say he looks like the late billy mays). He's primed black, so whoever wins him just tells me what to paint him as and he'll be ready to go!
I look forward to your responses, and I hope you will all enjoy my "blog"!

Well, this is different. I'll be keeping an eye on this - promises to be interesting!

Well, this is different. I'll be keeping an eye on this - promises to be interesting!

I'll do my best to keep it interesting then

Ooo this is exciting. What material are you using for the plating? I hope it's not papier-mâché

Very ambitious, I hope this costume turns out well. Also interesting twist with the prizes thing. So far the eye piece looks great but not much else to comment.

Looks and sounds like fun.

sA

Thanks for all the replies so far guys!

Ooo this is exciting. What material are you using for the plating? I hope it's not papier-mâché

Plywood frame then either cover it in polyurethane foam and "glue" it with liquid foam OR make a wire mesh layer over the plywood and coat it in fibreglass. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so Im not sure which will be easier yet.

Very ambitious, I hope this costume turns out well. Also interesting twist with the prizes thing. So far the eye piece looks great but not much else to comment.

Yeah, it is a little ambitious on my part, but it's something I've wanted to do for a while and I figure now is the time. There will be more to see shortly, like the design I have sketched out for the cloak as well as concept designs. Then of course there is the work on the rebreather mask once it arrives. There will be no shortage of updates on this project, that's for sure- I'm sure more will catch your eye soon.

Looks and sounds like fun.

Glad to hear it.

If you all have any advice as the project goes along, or want to email links to helpful sites/inspiring pics, I have created an email specifically for this project:

Reclusiam_studios@gmx.com

Cheers,
-- Chappy.

(more pics to come soon)

This is not your average P&M Blog I'll Give you that, I think it's the only costume that I've seen on here.

I'll be watching quite adamantly for updates and will give you my less than professional opinions free of charge. The rebreather is gonna look sweet!

Will you be shaving your head to pull off the "Bald and Screaming Sarge" look?

I love the idea and you got some really ace looking parts so far. The shoulderpads are going to give you fits! You might get lucky with some small sized designer trashcans, but I suspect they will be too brittle ..

The_Chaplain wrote:Plywood frame then either cover it in polyurethane foam and "glue" it with liquid foam OR make a wire mesh layer over the plywood and coat it in fibreglass. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so Im not sure which will be easier yet.

Thank the Dark Jebus! You, sir, have my full attention now.

Ah, great stuff!

I hope I didn't overlook this, but what chapter is it gonna be?

Very intresting idea. It looks good so far.
I will be watching.

I'll keep watching this. Best of lucks to you, sir .

Veeeeery Interesting. Will be keeping an eye on this one.
No pun intended.

Are you going to shave your head for this?

Well today is turning out to be a quiet work day for me (unfortunately it is primarily occupied with packing for my upcoming move back to university). I am taking some breaks to do concept sketches for your alls' benefit-- even going so far as to sketch multiple options for you all to vote on before I build the parts

Thank the Dark Jebus! You, sir, have my full attention now.

glad to hear it!

I hope I didn't overlook this, but what chapter is it gonna be?

A fair question: the costume is intended to be as one of my DIY army marines, the Confessors. In essence, they are the Imperial Fists' successor equivalent of the Mortifactors.

Will you be shaving your head to pull off the "Bald and Screaming Sarge" look?

Are you going to shave your head for this?

The hair is something I am approaching with caution for now. I am a full time university student, so I want something that is wearable on campus, but utilitarian enough for this costume. I won't be debuting this thing til summer of next year mind you, so that should give me plenty of time to try out short hairstyles before taking that bald plunge.
Ultimately, if I think it would be best for the costume I'll do it-- I'm sure the fiance would manage without my luxurious locks for a few months LMAO
Yesterday I had my hair cut from about 5-6 inches in length to about 1 and 3/4 inches. I basically told them to give me a caesar cut like so:

(mine doesnt look nearly that good though, i might have it redone shortly)
In terms of progress, like I said concept sketches will be incoming (gotta snag her camera and take shots) and this evening I will be depositing another paycheck- so I'll see if I can snag some corkboard/styrofoam and maybe some cable from art supply stores this weekend for the head.

Cheers gang, and thanks for the awesome feedback so far

As long as you're still screaming in every picture, we can accept the lack of baldness

As long as you're still screaming in every picture, we can accept the lack of baldness

You'll have to see the scream emoted through my one eye then, after I put the rebreather on-- but I will do my best. Are badass poses also acceptable?

Okay, 2 quick questions before I take some boxes outside

a) does anyone here know about voice emulating software?

b) is anyone interested in this blog occassionally being updated with video blog entries? The fiance told me she got a camcorder!

The_Chaplain wrote:

As long as you're still screaming in every picture, we can accept the lack of baldness

You'll have to see the scream emoted through my one eye then, after I put the rebreather on-- but I will do my best. Are badass poses also acceptable?

As long as it involves pointing with your weapon/pistol/hand with one foot raised, Capt. Morgan's style.

You could always take some screaming shots without the rebreather

For poses, you can also be pointing menacingly, or holding your fist/heretic-be-good stick up and forward

a)For voice emulation, what about those things you can get to distort your voice over the phone?

b)Yes

Okay guys, it's about time I did *some* kind of update for this thread! I apologize that today's update is kind of hokey, but the last few days have been hectic. I promise the next update will be a substantial one!

Unfortunately, all the camera equipment is on its way down to university with the mrs, so until the next update (weekend of the 29th) I am spreading out "todays" installment into 3 parts, with 3 rounds of voting. The winners can then be announced on the 29th, hopefully in the first video installment!

The point of the voting is to see what the community wants to see me build the most, and then when it comes time to build/stitch/etc. I'll already have the design in mind.

You don't have to vote, but if you choose to - please say Tabard 2 or, I really like the so and so shoulderpad (this will help me calculate the votes) If you have a capital idea for something that isnt pictured (like a shoulderpad idea) describe it, and I will do a sketch that can be voted upon. Right then, let's get the pictures up!

Shoulder Pads (top 2 votes will be chosen as the left and right pauldrons, respectively)


Small shield, and a half skull in an "iron halo" type deal.

Winged skeleton clutching either a laurel or a halo. company marking/campaign badge will be painted on the inside.

Brazier of fire.

chains with skulls

And for those who said I need to scream more:

Winged skeleton.

Also, your angry face is indeed angry!

Iron Halo skull thing.

And your screaming face reminds me of the Bee Gees for some reason.

Amazing! And I look forward to know how you'll made the shoulder pads (and I like the one with the skeleton with laurels the most)

I like Brazier of Fire.. do you think you can get it to really flame?? That would be most cool.. and hazardous too!

Also, your angry face is indeed angry!

thanks! haha

Amazing! And I look forward to know how you'll made the shoulder pads

To make the suit lighter, PU foam with details in plastics, plasticard and sheet metals and then painted. I will be adding a strap connected to the side interior of the chestpiece which wont impede my movement at all, and allow for free rotation of the shoulder-- without the damn thing falling off.

I like Brazier of Fire.. do you think you can get it to really flame?? That would be most cool.. and hazardous too!

Nah I definently couldnt do that because it'd get me kicked out of the convention hall, and wind up burning me. Wood, foam or sculpted material is the only way to do the fire.


Thanks for the votes so far guys! You all beat out the bolter and chainsword in terms of feedback hands down

I'm anxious to see the developement. Personally I always wanted to make a Power Armour, yet since I was with other projects I couldn0t figure out an efficient way to make them (I have options in my head).

I'm anxious to see the developement. Personally I always wanted to make a Power Armour, yet since I was with other projects I couldn0t figure out an efficient way to make them (I have options in my head).

I've wanted to make a suit of power armor for years, well that and get a tattoo LOL. There are issues with both, in that you have to decide on what you want, and realize that you cant really go back on it once youve committed to it.
I must warn you, and anyone that wants to make a suit is...its expensive! one thing that I sorely underestimated was the cost. I figured that the suit would cost about 200 or 250 dollars, tops. But, after realizing the head with skull rebreather alone has eaten a 5th of that budget, I see the error in that thinking, and the actual will be closer to 400! Still, if it's worth doing- it's worth doing right!

Quick question: post the rest of the pics for the voting today (3 greave options and 2 tabards) and grind my nose to the whetstone and get work done without updates for over a week or save them for another day?

Chains with skulls looks cool.

And I'd wait with the rest of the voting. Let this be voted first.

Your angry face puts the traditional Bald and Screaming Marine face to shame! Hmm... It's missing something though... Ah! The beard needs to be thicker and have some good hang to it!

I agree that you should wait and let the votes come in on the Pauldrons first. I'm thinking the skull in the Iron Halo or the skulls on chains.