Spartan Nix

I still use hot glue for my work. Some people are using contact cement and the black rubber glue. My issue with those things is that once its on, there's no going back on that piece. Hot glue can be softened and fixed.

I have plans to put a couple fans in this one. As far as methods, the 501st and 405th use the same thing. I'm trying to find a way to make the fans last longer but for now, the old ways are best.

So here's what I've been able to learn over the past year. Part of what you can do to cut costs as a cosplayer is buy damaged pieces. Sometimes these can be helmets, pads, swords that are brand new but came out of the mold bad. My helmet is a good example of this. Here it is, as I got it. Well, almost. It came with a visor but I had already started working before I thought to take pictures. See the big ugly dent in the top? Yeah that's bad news for a lot of people. Good news is, you can fix it. First, clean and prep the area, then do this with it. And no, that ISN'T bondo. It's actually drywall plaster. Many layers of it. Many, many layers of it. Why plaster and not bondo? Well, for where I live at there's high humidity. Bondo doesn't like that environment and refuses to dry normally. It'll hold for a while, a very long while, but then you'll start to see it flake. It also is smelly and heavy. And can be pricey too. So I've layered up, and it looks bad. Time to sand. A small area like this I like to do it by hand. Personal preference and that's pretty much it. After sanding, it looks like this> Nice and smooth. But wait, I'm missing detail lines! Oh noes, whatever shall I do? I put them in and I cut deep since I had some sanding left to do. This also helps keep the lines clean as you won't have as many cracks in the top layer. But then, after looking, I decided it wasn't level and filled the lines back in for a redo. This was the end result: A little bit more sanding (I can never leave well enough alone) and I went to paint. This is with the lights and after I added a little dirt. So that's a completed helmet for under $100.

Oh, hey Rick. Small internet world after all XD

I'm going to put up a few pictures here, and more progress pictures as I get them uploaded to my computer. I have built a Halo Reach spartan (multiplayer armor) but I'm going to be working on and elite and possibly a Halo 4 Spartan as well. This suit is built from foam mats, but in my own way. I wasn't happy with the stencils available, so I worked from pepakura and in game models. It's not the highest of definitions but it is a good blend. The helmet it a resin cast that I fixed up. Everything else was built with foam mats (2/3 inch thick) That's all I'll post for now. If you have questions on a specific part I'm more than happy to show how I made it.

ODST looking good! I managed to grab some of the pics from the album you shared. If you ever need to troubleshoot or bounce some ideas off someone I'm happy to try and help.

Yaaaay crazy people! I love crazy people so much I have at least five living inside me head! In good news, I'm going to start building an elite costume sometime soon. I can't be the only one who at least somewhat likes them.

1. Give me back the precision adjustments that I had in Reach. The magnets are cool, don't get me wrong, but it's a pain in the rear to manually adjust every angle. 2. Give forge some life and texture on the pieces. I love the active displays that came in! Why can't the wall pieces have circuitry or there be displays as a decorative piece? 3. Let kinect give a different aspect to the gameplay like you did with Halo CE anniversary. Why not allow for basic firefight commands? I.E. "Take cover" "Call for ordinance" "Get in the vehicle"

Hello everyone! Not much different about me from you. I play games, I eat food and I've even been known to sleep on occasion. I also make things and stuff. Like costumes. But that's not important. ... I'm also insane. Fair warning. XD

And a month later.... Hello there. I'm the spartan in your pictures. XD Yes, nerf longshot. Materials used are Foam, cardboard, and a flashlight in addition to the pvc barrel. Material on the costume is foam, and a smoothcast helmet.