#armor tips

[azimedes]

COSPLAY FRIENDS: I just found this app called Dress Measurements that’s super helpful. It lets you create a profile with specialized body measurements you can keep on hand. Reblog to save a life.

[technoranma]

Do you have a preferred method for making armor?

I haven’t done very many cosplays that require armor. And when I have I’ve done the armor in very different ways X’D

My first versions of armor were made using fabric materials. I simply used PLASTIC CANVAS pieces sewn together with yarn to form the individual plates and glued on a layer of quilting batting. 4-way stretch fabric (spandex) was stretch over the individual pieces and glued on, then the whole thing was assembled via a mixture of sewing and glue (to be opened on the side with an invisible zipper. The illusion of definition was created with an airbrush to airbrush dark grey and browns onto the “armor”. 

Upgrading to thermoplastic (1st generation wonderflex), my sis helped me with these pauldrons. She molded the wonderflex into shape and because I was working more swiftly/confidently with fabric at the time, I used a layer of quilting batting to smooth out the wonderflex, and layers a 4-way stretch lamé fabric on top to get that lovely shine. (There was a stitching seam at the very top of the curve of the armor that wasn’t really visible). 

THEN I tried Worbla. Worbla came to Canada (thanks CosplaySupplies.com !) and so I tried using it and paint to create armor. I ended up taking a fabric bodice pattern that I knew fit me and cut out pieces of worbla to match then heat bonded that together to get the fitted shape. I spent a very VERY long time priming and sanding that particular breastplate. I did gradient painting by hand in acrylic, used Testor’s gold paint and finished it with 3 coats of gloss spray.

More worbla armor, made in a similar manner as my previous armor worbla breastplate. The oblong shapes and the ‘heavy’ nature of Lina Inverse’s armor was achieved well with those materials. Again it took me a long time to prime and sand them to get the smoothness I desired in all the weird nooks and crannies. 

And of course, my Ryuko Kamui!Senketsu armor was made using craft foam with modpodge primer and enamel black paint. (Which you see how I did it in various posts on my Ryuko Matoi masterpost HERE).

All in all I don’t really LIKE making armor… lol. I much prefer to sew. But there is something immensely satisfying in using worbla despite how long it takes.

Somebody asked me about painting for props/weapons a while ago: SEE HERE

More of my cosplay photos and tips on My FaceBook Page!

[thejabberwocki]

useful discovery: if you need to emboss/engrave craft foam armour, do it with a yarn needle held at an angle like a pencil

[screenwritingdyke]

heeeeeeeeeeey if you know of any tutorials or tips on making armor for cosplay it'd be cool if you sent a link/tips/anything to me in a fanmail message.  i'm googling a lot today but just posting this in case anyone has a personal favorites that have helped them a lot