"SECRET-SECRET, I'VE GOT A SECRET..." (Pics intensive)

[DarthVader1]

QUICK UPDATE: (SUIT TEASER PICS)

Progress being slow, but better to take it slow and precise than fast and sloppy. Here's just a TEASER pic of the suit itself, almost finished stage. Pants are basically done, and I still have to make the neck and attach the sleeves to the jacket, plus the crease details along the front and back.

 

[DarthVader1]

- MORE UPDATES -

HELMET/MASK......90% DONE !!!!!!

Sorry, I've being really busy rushing with this project, that I've decided to complete ALL the hard parts first, to then finish the soft parts, which they're almost done.

Started cutting to shape the piece that goes in front of the neck (will be barely visible once dressed up)...

Added velcro on the opposite side to add to the back of the neck...

Painted, cut, sanded, and added the negative velcro, that will be in touch with BOTH the back-top section and the front neck piece.

Way the neck and back pieces would look like, before the whole mask.

I've had to add small pieces of sign plastic in order to attach the "ears", due that I failed to add those in the original sculpt design when doing either the front mask (preferred), and the top-back part assembly.

After figuring out what's the best way to attach the "ears", I've found that the best way is just to add a "layer" of material (whatever it could be), as long it could "grab and hold" any kind of material.

Here's a pic of the "ears" aleady attached with "GORILLA GLUE", to then make holes to be able to hear with the helmet on.

Well, mask ready to be painted and detailed...

Installation of the "EAR FILTER".

Mouth mesh installed....

Now notice that in the original video, some sort of reflective material (plastic, mirrowed) was placed in the eye sections.....but since we're in the south, I've decided that THE ONLY item outside the oriignal used on screen, is to replace the "mirrowed lens" with small aluminum mesh material, which won't let you see inside but a lot to see from the INSIDE....plus, the mouth mesh is close to the accurate one used in their videos and CD cover...

Next to come....gloves (next half mold coming) and boots (one mold...just for both....too easy).

 

[IronMando]

Wow... just... just wow...

*Goes to youtube to watch video*

 

[DarthVader1]

Wow... just... just wow...

*Goes to youtube to watch video*

Like I've mentioned in the first few postings, first or second one has ALL the links of ALL the videos related. No need to go to YouTube.

 

[AsYouWish]

great work so far! Excited to see the finished product, as well as further progress updates

 

[DarthVader1]

great work so far! Excited to see the finished product, as well as further progress updates

Thanks buddy, and......"AS YOU WISH" (literally)

There's more work to be done this weekend.But my posting is not just about the helmet....but about the progress of THOSE parts that haven't been finished yet,.....namely GLOVES and BOOTS.

The gloves is an "almost finished deal" ,since I'm planning to go back to the drawing table and REDO the mold for the LEFT HAND GLOVE, but due to the time constraint I will be doing something completely risky for the first time.

I'm still in my "brain-drawing-board" designing the way it will be (as a last-minute solution for the event, not final). Right hand glove came out PERFECT, in terms of casting process, and fit (specially). I have to trim and paint first.I will be posting progress report and pics hopefully tomorrow.

 

[DarthVader1]

-UPDATE-

Less than a week left before Dragon*Con, and I'm STILL working my butt off. I've being working this weekend in the hardest part of the whole process....another sculpture and mold creation. This time I'm referring to the BOOTS, which I've never had to start.

First, I've started with some items to use as a skeleton for the boot, and I used some wood (cut to size), a drinking bottle (minus the foam layer; I took it out after the first two pics were taken), PLENTY of LEGOS, and clay. Reason of the "skeleton" is just to save on clay, plus to have a strong support for the clay.

I've nailed and hammered in place the horizontal and small wood pieces, so they don't come out or loose while sculpting or grabbing the piece. ( PLEASE NOTE, THERE'S BARELY ANY REFERENCE PICS OR INFO ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, SO I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN....PLUS SOME EXTRA DETAILING).

Showing how the pieces fit all together before applying the clay-and-LEGO "skin"

Now, this outline is showing the way the boot SHOULD LOOK LIKE once it's finished. The top part (cover of the water bottle) is meant to be the input/output of the latex rubber where the liquid is meant to be poured and extracted from,

Best way to hold things when they fall while sculpting.....PAINTER'S TAPE. I've use it just to hold the LEGOS in place while assembling the whole boot sculpture,

Now, your best friend while making molds, (or frames)...LEGOS! I've grabbed LEGOS and assembled TWO WALLS side-by-side, so they could measure the same and I could use at both sides of the wood frame, to save on clay,

Now is a good time to apply more PAINTER'S TAPE, to prevent the "walls" of LEGOS to spread or fall,

I've added more LEGOS to the "neck" of the boot area, plus in other areas, specially the front, to make it as round as possible,

The basic "skin" is already applied and shaped in its most basic; still need more clay to cover those hollow areas and do some more work to make it more round in shape,

This is the way I've ended the day, and I'm taking the liberty to make this one. If you take a close look (basically, a personal touch of design).....the front of the boot it lightly resembles Mr. ROBOTO'S "face";. Notice the "smiley face" in the front of the boot. I've thought about doing it while sculpting the piece, and I came with the idea....which sounds good in a way; not to look too WEIRD for the costume, but rather to go along with the similar "architechture" of the mask design,

What do you think so far?

BTW, gloves are about 90% done, since I had to make a quick alteration to the last LEFT HAND GLOVE mold.....I will be posting results as I finish with the test. I will let you know the way to solve THAT last-minute problem to make it work........stay tuned.

 

[DarthVader1]

(NOTE: I've completed the right hand to perfection and started the sculpting of the boots after the last posting)
Well, after all this work and effort I've done with this project, LOTS OF REASONS out of my control are making me think that this particular project was NEVER TO BE FINISHED. That doesn't mean it won't be finished, but rather FINISHED NOT THE WAY I WANTED IT. :angry

During this past couple of weeks, I've being hard at work with all this, plus my new job. But either people, or weather, or circumstances that happen around me almost on a daily basis (basically all this week since the weekend) DO NOT ALLOW ME to continue with what I need to finish. As a result, I will list what went wrong and what was SUPPOSED to happen:

* Gloves - Right hand came out PERFECT, but when making the LEFT one, it came out too small in the mold.
What was supposed to happen: Resculpt another hand, this time bigger and do another mold.
End Result: Make half-a-casting of the RIGHT hand, namely for the fingers and front/back of the hand, use a black rubber glove, and add those details glued in place on the black glove, then paint.

* Boots - Only able to complete half of the two-halves mold, due to rain and other circumstances.
What was supposed to happen: Complete the mold, cast two boots, leave each one dry up for about 24 hours, then paint.
End Result: Decided to ditch the design for another time, and find an alternate method...BLACK RUBBER NBC OVERBOOTS. Not accurate, but they were supposed to look very similar, though.

I won't be able to post progress pics from this point forward until after Dragon*Con due to the circumstances, and I still have to finish detailing the suit and rig the LED lightning system into the helmet.

I will post my last progress or final pic once I finish with the boot mold and show it the way it was meant to be.

See you at DRAGON*CON

 

[Spideyfett]

Wow Robert, some good work there buddy.

 

[DarthVader1]

Thanks Spidey! I really appreciate your kind words.

Well, this is the end result of my costume at Dragon*Con. Please, disregard the mess in the neck area, Martha didn't know how to properly attach it, and I completed the suit at the last minute. Boots mold was not finished, neither the resculpt of the left glove for a bigger size....but I managed to improvise using parts of the old smaller latex glove. The lengh of the suit itself was miscalculated by about 6 to 7 inches...besides, I could clearly see my "love handles". (note to self: GET ON A DIET!) :facepalm

Lights never got the chance to make them turn on, and the whole process probably was cursed from the very beginning, meant to never be finished....here's what I ended up wearing for Dragon*Con...disregard the mess in the neck area...Martha didn't know how to reattach the velcro properly, since I cannot see below my nose once I'm dressed, specially if you have latex gloves on.

Not making any promises, but I WILL TRY to properly complete this project, to include WORKING LIGHTS since there are some people interested in my work, and willing to buy a mask from me. (YAY!) Updates to post really soon.

 

[jamesblog007]

you put McGuyver to shame with your improvisation