Claudius's Foam, Fabric, and Acrylic

[Claudius Sol]

You guys're crazy!

If I have time, I'll make a mesh pattern, but on a stretchy fabric...? Perhaps it wouldn't look good. The fabric already has a bit of texture to it, but I could certainly see using a thinned black to shade in muscle definition.

I have some hex stencils, but unfortunately can't find them anywhere.

As to my body shape... Well, that's my personal decision to try to remain in shape, not at all related to the cosplay! (and Yashia, I think you have a fantastic body shape for whatever you'd like! Rock on!)

[Maxvon_d]

All coming along nicely, claudius_sol. I've often wondered about those hex patterned stretch fabrics that would be perfect under sci fi armour. I saw some fitness attire that had sections of it recently. Wonder if it's possible to get a whole top or leggings made of it

[Claudius Sol]

No idea... I think I know what you're talking about. That sort of rubber webbing pattern? Ideally, I'd want a diamond weave pattern for the synthetic muscles, though.

Thank you for the compliment, as well! Much appreciated!

Anyway, here's a bit of an update. I had a little guessing game on the forum and Yashia got the answer in one go.

I started building... Plenty of plastic was used.

I wonder... by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Then everything started coming together.

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Yes, the blades are removable for now. I'm undecided on how I want to adjust it or just permanently have the blade in there. I'm also kinda unsure where I want to mount the sheath. There's a loop handing from the top, in case I want to affix it to the belt, but I could just as easily velcro it to the bottom of the back plate... Decisions, decisions...

What are y'all's thoughts?

[Yashia]

Wow, that sword looks awesome!
Very well done! What did you use to cover that handle?

I think attaching it to your back was cool, very gaming or anime like, but then again the Velcro could look ugly on that beautiful handle.... Hm....

[Errhile]

I guess the velcro will be on the scabbard only. Plus, unless Claudius Sol wants an option for reversible access (i.e. he'll be content with right-hand draw... or left-hand draw, if he's a southpaw ) it will be on one side of the scabbard only (inner) so it won't be visible once in place.

Quality velcro can hold pretty a mass in place.

[Claudius Sol]

Thanks for the comments, guys!

@Yashia,
Thank you! I used simple Craft foam over the scratch plastic inner skeleton. The back of the grip is still bare plastic and will be painted a dark metallic to give it a more "realistic" aesthetic. The wood accents will be this same color. I'm also kinda partial to the lower back attachment. As Errhile mentions, the velcro will not be seen, once affixed.

@Errhile,
I'm actually ambidextrous, left- and right-handed, simultaneously. Though, my handedness is selective for specific activities. For example: I eat left-handed, shoot archery left-handed, but write right-handed. If I tried doing the opposite for any of those things, I'd end up failing horribly. I have industrial strength Velcro, so it should hold up.

[el_presidente]

I actually think it would be better to have it attached to the belt like the model. I fear it would also distract from the armor in the back that is very iconic for the oniwaban and I think yours looks very cool.

that sword is gonna look ace

[H1ghlander]

HISTORY TIME:

Traditionally, the belt (obi) was wrapped around the waist 3 or 4 times, and the katana placed between the 4th (outer-most) and 3rd layers, or 3rd and 2nd. The wakizashi was then placed the next layer in, so a layer of belt separated the two. It was also angled upwards, so it could be drawn with the left hand if required, but to also keep it from obstructing the handle of the katana.



If Claudius wanted to do away with velcro, there is a way to tie a sageo (the cord) to keep the health from slipping from the belt.

[Errhile]

Excellent explaination. However, I'm afraid we're not talking about daisho here, but about a derivative of ninja-to.
Which is - at least in this case - shorter and completely straight.

[Claudius Sol]

I am indeed working with more of a Ninja-to.

Not to say I don't value the recap. I practiced Kendo and Iaito for roughly 8 years back during highschool and uni. As such, I'm fairly intimately knowledgable of the standard practices for Japanese sword customs.

Of course, el_presidente brings up a good point about it detracting or otherwise modifying the somewhat "iconic" back armor of the oniwaban. Though, I've already made plenty of changes to the studio design... What's one more change?

[WookieeGunner]

One thing to make sure you check if you back sheath it is whether or not you can sit down.

[Claudius Sol]

One thing to make sure you check if you back sheath it is whether or not you can sit down.

Hahaha, yes! That's one of the first things I checked, no problems as the sword would sit firmed in the small of my back, not my butt!

[Claudius Sol]

Update! The gloves came in yesterday! Here are some photos from a "dry fit" with the rest of the right arm. I also have the left hand glove, but these gloves don't interact with touchscreens. You can also see some of the small finishing touches I've made to the wakazashi handle and bracer.

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr


I'm really happy with how the gloves turned out. As a bonus, the gloves are very thin and breathable, keeping heat to a minimum!

[Maxvon_d]

Yeah, those gloves are cool. That's the sort of material I was talking about above. Are they bike gloves or something?

[Claudius Sol]

Yeah, those gloves are cool. That's the sort of material I was talking about above. Are they bike gloves or something?

Thanks! The material doesn't seem THAT stretchy, but is certainly flexible. It's some rubber composite.

They're actually Golf gloves made for wet weather! Super cheap, too!

[Yashia]

That fits so well! :-o
Those rubber parts are executed so excellent! Congratulations!

[Claudius Sol]

That fits so well! :-o
Those rubber parts are executed so excellent! Congratulations!

Thanks so much! It's certainly coming together a lot better than I had expected!

[Neatpete]

the gloves are a nice addition and the sword is pretty ace.

[Mob of Blondes]

Out of curiosity, I started looking and argh, the usable (if not huge arms) 3 inch one only avaliable as 50 feet roll. Crap.

[Claudius Sol]

Thanks for the compliment Neatpete! You can see it in person at GenCon, if you'll be there.

Mob, that's neat, but unfortunately not in the right color, so I'd have to paint it or something. If I could find one in the right color and less dense...

[Mob of Blondes]

It was just a test. It seems there are some wide hoses, but not common, which means rolls/on demand.

You will have to look in fabric local supliers, I guess.

[WookieeGunner]

http://www.cushionworks.net/weltcord.html

And black spray paint?

[Claudius Sol]

http://www.cushionworks.net/weltcord.html

And black spray paint?

Not quite what my idea was. It would end up being much too bulky, in any case. They also look like they don't allow for a lot of breathability. Not exactly something I'd want to wear for a long, hot convention floor.

[WookieeGunner]

But you must suffer for your art!

[Claudius Sol]

Short little update, but a pretty big step.

I've started work, in earnest, of the final pieces: the legs. I should hopefully have them all formed and built tonight.

Wednesday, I'll prime, maybe a little bit of painting late at night. Thursday, I'm busy with my local Infinity group. Friday will see a lot more painting, hopefully finishing up a lot of that. Saturday should finish painting and get to varnishing. Sunday should finish up the varnishing and I should be hanging out with my Infinity group. Monday will be for last minute fixes and packing. Tuesday is going to be spent driving up to Dallas.

Next Wednesday will be my flight and start of GenCon.

This is absolutely thrilling.



But progress!

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Belt fasteners have been mostly cut out, you can see the accent loop is already glued.

You'll see the shin guards (there are two there, but I think I stacked them on top of each other) and angle guards there before heat treatment and forming. I'll need to "complete" the shin guard plates, and that'll be it. I think I'm just going to wear painted Converse as my "ninja shoes" because making shoes is hard. Making comfortable and practical shoes is harder.

I also nabbed a some garden-thing to use as a new workstation. It seems handy thus far with helping me keep all my hobby stuff in a general area. (at least the stuff I use when actively hobbying)

[BrandonKF]

Update! The gloves came in yesterday! Here are some photos from a "dry fit" with the rest of the right arm. I also have the left hand glove, but these gloves don't interact with touchscreens. You can also see some of the small finishing touches I've made to the wakazashi handle and bracer.

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr
Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr


I'm really happy with how the gloves turned out. As a bonus, the gloves are very thin and breathable, keeping heat to a minimum!

I hate you.

I wish I could just create a Knight outfit just so I could show up and face off against you.

Instead I get stuck here working and admiring. Great job!

[Claudius Sol]

Brandon, thank you so much! You're always welcome to start now. Plenty of time until next GenCon!

Seriously though, this project was not a simple "I think I'll do that." moment. It took a lot of time, courage, money, and dedication to start it. It took even more to get to where I'm at now.

If you'd like help getting started, have questions about the process, or just have more comments to make on my own attempts here, feel free to do so!

I don't think a knight costume would be rather difficult... Hot, perhaps, but not overly difficult. If you'll be at GenCon, I'd be happy to discuss the process. In fact, I've already got an idea for next year's GenCon. I'll be starting that project a lot earlier than March, though, as I've had no time for any other hobby activities. Maybe September or October, I'll start that process in earnest. You're more than welcome to follow alongside with your own project!

[Yashia]

[...] Seriously though, this project was not a simple "I think I'll do that." moment. It took a lot of time, courage, money, and dedication to start it. It took even more to get to where I'm at now.[...]

People tend to think it's much easier than it is, especially when someone executes so perfectly well as you're doing. But indeed planing and fitting take so much more time and nerves than most people would guess >_<

[Claudius Sol]

[...] Seriously though, this project was not a simple "I think I'll do that." moment. It took a lot of time, courage, money, and dedication to start it. It took even more to get to where I'm at now.[...]

People tend to think it's much easier than it is, especially when someone executes so perfectly well as you're doing. But indeed planing and fitting take so much more time and nerves than most people would guess >_<

Hahaha, "perfectly well" is not exactly how I'd describe my progress or work thus far. The biggest stage is planning, for sure. Measuring, estimating contours, selecting materials, adjusting, remeasuring, adjusting, ad infinitum. I think one of the most importnat skills is to know when to stop planning and simply start cutting.

[Claudius Sol]

More work. These took a surprisingly large amount of time.

I present: Shin guards! (and more WIP belt loops)

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Untitled by Bryant Vichainarong, on Flickr

Both the Shin Guards and Belts just need proper fastening mechanisms and they'll be good to go. I'm behind, as I expected. Hopefully some priming actually gets done today. I'll at least prime some parts so I can get to painting them while I wait for construction parts to dry.

Anyway, that's all for today.