A fresh start?

So I'm trying really hard to get back into my armor that I started making back in January... but I get so disheartened about it when I think about how much work there is to be done, especially considering the huge mistake I made with my helmet in trying to fix the dome, and ruining the whole thing.
I actually went so far as to pull out the old helmet pieces this afternoon, and all my prop-making tools, and tried to fix it. I suppose it could be done, but there were just too many little things that I wasn't happy with about that helmet in the first place, and I don't want to just settle for something that I know I'll never really be happy about.
I still come to these forums every day and check out all the cool and new stuff that's being dreamed up and built, and I'd love to get back into it all again.... I just need to find the motivation inside myself to do it.

I need a new helmet. That's for certain. I thought about buying a kit and putting it together, or buying a cast, and painting it, but I just can't get past the idea of creating one from scratch with my own hands. There's just something about wearing your OWN helmet, as I'm sure more than a few of you can identify with. I was so impressed with the cardboard buildup that I'm tempted to go that route, but I think I want something a bit more sturdy and permanent. I need to find something a little thicker than the 1/16" garage sale signs that I used last time.

I was happy with the way my armor was turning out until I got too over-zealous with the weathering. I've about decided that I'm going to scrap what I've got, and just start fresh. I saw this great tutorial on how to shape sintra armor and use rub'n'buff: I also watched a good one on weathering. The armor was cardboard, but he had some great basic ideas on weathering in general:
I'm hoping to make the armor using the heated sintra method, and then weather it using the "paint wash" method.

In any case, I know that it can be boring to read a thread that's all about "this is what I want to do, and this is how I'm gonna do this, and I hope this works" without it ever actually going anywhere. I still plan on sticking with my original desert scheme, and hopefully I can start showing you guys progress pictures. Progress pictures are what we all hope to see in these threads, right? Describing your work is one thing, but everyone likes to see pictures. I have to get my hands on some sintra material first, so I've got some shopping to do before you'll see some pictures up.

Edit: I think I found a source for some sintra sheets. What do you guys think of this stuff?
http://store.foamboardsource.com/sintra-pvc-foam-sint906.html

Hey man, its good to have you back.

Dont be disheartened about how much stuff you have to do. Remember it is a custom, and custom means that you can do with it whatever you just so please.

If you dont have gauntlets, then its alright. If you see how many scratchmade costumes have been made with simple tools and mediums you will go nuts!

Honestly, handcrafting your own helmet will give you more joy, because that will keep you busy, and it will


That video you posted is a really nice way to make good armor. Maybe after you shape the armor, back it up with fiberglass and your good.

I gave up with fiberglass because it was just slowly deteriorating my health. Not that I am in a hospital bed, but even with a respirator, that resin and fiberglass would have had me there by age 60.

I might actually have a go at it with sintra.