Snowtrooper: Third step (Part two)

When Yoki talked me in to our Snowtrooper project, she stated that it would be easy, because there is only a few pieces of armor in the costume. Bhah, I say! After some research I confronted Yoki with some drafts and showed her how many there actually were. I have never seen such an impression on Yoki's face, this is actually pretty describing (o.o).

We chose to do the armor parts from PETG plastic using vacuumforming method. The positive, master molds were made of insulation foam and wood putty. You can find the posts dealing with the clothes, equipment preparations and references behind the links.

Third step: Production- Hard components

Our mold making started from sheets of insulation foam. We estimated the approximate measurements based on reference pictures and information. One of our reference sources was site dedicated to Snowtrooper construction, which provided measurements for male size armor. We scaled the measurements down comparing them to our size and portion. When the dimensions of the armor pieces were concluded, the foam was cut to proper sized pieces, stacked and glued with Erikeeper. We cut the rough form after the glue had dried with thin bladed saw or a carpet knife and started sanding. We used different rakes; the final sanding was made with the finest one of course.


For detailing we used craft foam, plaster or foam covered with putty, like the molds themselves. After the piece was completed, we added first layer of putty and sanded it smooth. This step we repeated few times, exposed foam had to be covered, because it would collapse under the hot plastic. We used wood putty because it didn’t smell and could be safely handled. Probably any type of putty will do, but do not use car filler, it will melt the foam. After the surface has been polished with finest grain paper Yoki varnished the molds three times before we went on to vacuumforming. We thought that the varnish would make the removal of the mold from the plastic copy easier. We also used silicon lubricant for that task.


Before vacuumforming we checked how many parts we can make with one sheet of plastic, maximum amount was two. We took notice that the pieces should be somewhat the same height. Big differences on height stretch the plastic unevenly and tears it. We used special, three way bolts as raising pieces. When they were placed under the molds the suction was enabled from every side of the mold. This also helps to avoid the folding on the hot plastic. For us folds formed with strict corners. Sometimes any trick worked, even; they happened never the less. The trick is to try to get them where they show the least.

We had custom made frames and platform for vacuumforming. There are instructions on the internet how to make a vacuumforming studio in home environment. We used regular vacuum cleaner for the suction and a normal stove. Bigger the oven you have the bigger parts you can form. Because the breastplate is rather big, we had to divide it in four different pieces. We did try to make it as a whole, but after five ruined attempts I cried a little and went on and sliced up the mold. If anyone needs unique flowerpots from clear plastic, resembling strangely Snowtrooper breastplate, but with folds and holes, let me know.

Abdomen plate plastication. Please note my pretty hairband.

The vacuumforming is rather quick, but taking the mold out from its plastic pocket and cutting the excess parts out is more time consuming. For cutting we used carpet knife and wore work gloves to avoid bleeding fingers. No joking. Keep your fingers safe, you need them if you'd like to continue making costumes. The other time-eaters were construction the breast plate and building two back packs. The gluing took time with the breast plate and the backpacks were made like the molds, but instead of varnish the surface was finished with glue. We didn't vacuum form them, because then the mold would've been in thousand pieces. I figured that it was easier to do them by crafting.

We painted the pieces with shiny white spray paint. Details were added by painting free hand or with stencils. Please note my ergonomic wposture and Yoki's protective gear aka Smurf hat.

Like the backpacks we made the thermal detonator holders from scratch. The inside is made from insulation foam and covered with craft foam, which is sealed with glue. The ends are insulation foam with putty and three coats of glue. I bended left over aluminum sheets for fastenings and attached them to the holder. Raised details were done from craft foam and sealed with glue before painting.

Velcro on the shoulder parts and breast plate construction.

Different kinds of methods were used to fasten the armors: straps, screws, buckles and Velcro. Assembling the armor will be the subject of my last making of post on Snowtroopers.

Goodbye Organic Food in the USA?

I just took action calling on Secretary Vilsack and President Obama to reject the approval of Monsanto's GMO alfalfa and protect the integrity of organics. You can take action too by signing this letter and telling your friends about this, maybe post a link to it on your Facebook, Twitter, etc also.
It's not just about the US, Monsanto are after a global control over food production. 40,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide due to Monsanto farm debt. The GMO crop does not produce a seed and the chemicals dry the land up. They can't afford new seeds and their land becomes worthless. There are so many reasons why Monsanto should be stopped (you can research online easily if you want to find out more). Let's fix this mess!


Vote with your money - don't buy GMO. Of course the problem is that in the US it's not required to label foods with GMO in them. In the Europe it's different - honest labeling is required. That's why Hershey's, a huge chocolate company, makes a special, GMO-free chocolate for the European markets. For the US products they use GMO because hey, Americans don't care. So let's start caring all of us human beings, this planet is perfect on its own and we do not need to change one single gene about it. Don't you think??


“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson, 1781

Good Witch of Winter






I was running around a snowy forest in Finland and my sister Kaisu took some pics. The text on the red building says 'Pornainen stinks'. Pornainen is a small town near Helsinki, in southern Finland, where I grew up. Somebody doesn't like it there. I miss it :)

Malro


Cosplayer:Malro
Country:Russia
Character:Princess Serenity
Anime/Manga:Sailor Moon
Photos:5
All Credits to:Malro
________________


«Todos los cosplayers son geniales, recuérdalo y respétalos~

KOIZUMI UTHENA 2011~

Malro


Cosplayer:Malro
Country:Russia
Character:Princess Serenity
Anime/Manga:Sailor Moon
Photos:5
All Credits to:Malro
________________


«Todos los cosplayers son geniales, recuérdalo y respétalos~

KOIZUMI UTHENA 2011~

Need Funds to Develop a Cocaine Habit


Aapo Nikkanen makes interesting art as well as good psytrance with the name Pekkanikkarinen. He shares his music for free and you can download both of his albums here and the other one here. I would write more but my laptop dies in 1 minute, so just enjoy the art :)

The New Guy


Cocaine Dreams


Alien Abduction


Undead and Unemployed

Whats that Hatsune Miku atau Hatsune MIx?

HATSUNE MIKU

Hatsune Miku (kanji:初音ミク) adalah salah satu produk perangkat lunak untuk menghasilkan suara nyanyian manusia yang dikeluarkan pada 31 Agustus 2007 oleh salah satu anak perusahaan Yamaha Corporation, Crypton Future Media. Nama Hatsune Miku sendiri berasal dari bahasa jepang yang berarti Pertama ( hatsu?), Suara ( ne?) and Masa Depan (Miku (ミク?) yang secara harafiah berarti "Suara Pertama Dari Masa Depan". Suara Miku sendiri diambil dari contoh suara Saki Fujita(藤田 咲, Fujita Saki), seorang pengisi suara dari Jepang.

Hatsune Miku adalah Vocaloid generasi kedua yang dianggap paling populer di seluruh dunia. Pada 30 April 2010, sebuah versi update dari Miku yang disebut Hatsune Miku Append dirilis, berisi 6 macam model suara dari Miku: Soft(lembut), Sweet(kekanakan), Dark(dewasa), Vivid(bersemangat), Solid(tinggi), dan Light(polos). Ini merupakan pertama kalinya Vocaloid memiliki rilis update untuk perangkat lunaknya.

Sejarah

Sebelum Miku dirilis, Vocaloid tidak lebih dari sebuah program yang tidak dikenal. Nico Nico Douga , sebuah situs di Jepang yang sangat mirip dengan YouTube memiliki peranan penting hingga perangkat lunak ini menjadi terkenal. Segera setelah dirilis, pengguna Nico Nico Douga mulai menampilkan video yang berisi lagu hasil dari perangkat lunak tersebut. Menurut Crypton, sebuah video populer yang merupakan parodi, berisi Miku memegang daun bawang dan menyanyikan lagu Ievan Polkka, menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi ini bisa mempunyai banyak kemungkinan penerapan, meskipun pada awalnya Miku hanya dirilis untuk menyanyikan lagu-lagu berbahasa Jepang. Melalui situs NND (Nico Nico Douga), para pengguna Miku mulai bekerja sama, saling bertukar ide, menampilkan karya mereka yang masih setengah jadi, dan akhirnya diperbaiki oleh pengguna lain.

Pada 18 Oktober 2007, sebuah forum internet melaporkan bahwa Miku diduga menjadi korban sensor oleh Google dan Yahoo!, karena gambar Miku tidak tampil dalam hasil pencarian. Namun hal ini segera dibantah oleh Google dan Yahoo, dan mereka menyatakan telah terjadi masalah dengan sistem yang mengakibatkan tidak hanya kata kunci "Hatsune Miku" , tetapi kata kunci lainnya tidak dapat ditampilkan. Kedua perusahaan menunjukan niat mereka untuk segera memperbaiki dan mencari solusi untuk masalah ini. Pada 19 Oktober, gambar dari Hatsune Miku mulai ditampilkan pada halaman perncarian Yahoo

MANGA HATSUNE MIX

wah wah mkin byk aja pengunjung blogku, give your comment dunk,,
langsung aja deh, bagi para fans hatsune miku atau hatsune mix yang pingin banget baca manganya dapat klik disini,, setelah ku cari2 memang seperti inilah manga nya, penuh unsur comedy, selamat membaca,,

MANGA HATSUNE MIX VOL 1 - 16,
CLICK HERE TO READ: Manga Hatsune MIX

Ikutan Giveaway

Hehe mau ikutan giveaway ah...
Makasih dv yang udah maen ke blog aku, jadinya aku dapet info deh sista Retno mau bagi pouch yg imut-imut ituh 
*hugs 

Jadi ceritanya sista Retno ini lagi bermurah hati bagi-bagiin 2 karnyanya untuk 2 orang yang beruntung. Liat deh, pouchnya lucu-lucu ya...


giveaway


Sebenarnya aku udah sering maen sih ke hayano handmade ini, tapi ternyata belum sempat follow gitu, ya udah deh sekalian follow aja *emank syarat giveawaynya juga kaleeeee... Lagian blognya sista yang satu ini sempat bikin aku ngebet pengen belajar buat pernak-pernik yg lucu-lucu gitu, tapi ya gitu, dasarnya emank nggak bakat, eksperimen pada gagal, hahahihi
Semoga aja sista Retno ini bermurah hati untuk milih aku dari salah satu pemenangnya, amiiinn...
*angkat tangan langsung berdoa

Oia buat yg pengen ikutan klik aja gambar di atas, oke oke... semoga kita salah satu yg beruntung itu

*ngarep

 

Malro


Cosplayer:Malro
Country:Russia
Character:Princess Jasmine
Movie:Aladdin
Photos:9
All Credits to:Malro
____________



«Todos los cosplayers son geniales, recuérdalo y respétalos~

KOIZUMI UTHENA 2011~

Malro


Cosplayer:Malro
Country:Russia
Character:Princess Jasmine
Movie:Aladdin
Photos:9
All Credits to:Malro
____________



«Todos los cosplayers son geniales, recuérdalo y respétalos~

KOIZUMI UTHENA 2011~

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