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 Post subject: Mini Colonial Marine Armor
PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:47 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Hey peeps!

At the end of February, a buddy inspired me to try and finish off my daughter's armor. I built a lid and foam pulse rifle years ago. Friend's daughter is now rocking' the mini-xeno suit I built a few years back.

Anyhoo, here's the build process I went through. Similar materials as usual, EVA foam, webbing from Amazon/old hiking pack, and found items.
When I started, I thought I'd try a 2 week speed build but life wasn't having it. So I only used foam I had in the garage. There's seams where there shouldn't be ideally, but the camo paint job hides it pretty well.

Started with sketches, then templates made with cardstock. From there I cut foam and test fit. If adjustments or redos are necessary then I just go back and remake pieces. That's pretty much my strategy. These were just hand drawn from reference pics, but again there are inaccuracies. Just tried t keep the spirit of the look.


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I remembered the depressions present on the rear plate but didn't realize there were also shapes on the shoulders also. They don't show up on reference pics very well and by the time I was painting I realized it. No biggie. With the kids' suits I try and get the gist of the costume and try to get a majority of the details right. But simplifying it also makes it a reasonable experience.

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Last edited by Red_2 on Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:12 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Contact cement (Dap), crazy glue, and hot glue are my main fastening methods. I also used leather snaps a bunch in place of the rivets. They are super easy, just snap together and can be removed with little effort. Worked great on this build.

The initial shoulder patterns I had to redo. Too round in shape and not enough coverage. Failing is ALWAYS a part of the process. You can see the updated version in the last pics.

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The initial pauldrons? They were too short so I had to shim them. Again, not a preferred approach, but I was in speed mode at this point.

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All the indents/depressions I just cut out of the foam and reglued back in halfway. The ones on the flanks I just cut 3 out of 4 sides and then glued back in to create the ramp effect.

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Last edited by Red_2 on Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:09 am, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:21 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
I got 1" and 1.5" green webbing for the straps and belt.

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The grenades were 3D printed resin. And rubber safety caps I found on McMaster-Carr. I had someone reprint me some more accurate ones and they should be here any day. Small detail but they were cheap enough to upgrade.

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Last edited by Red_2 on Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:25 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:32 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Plastic wrap and duct tape method for shaping shins. I made them too small at first so had to redo.

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Yes, the knee pads are a bit off. Mainly the middle indent being a raised line. But I can live with it. (Please forgive me. - David Gray)

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:42 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
First layers of paint going down.

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(Yes, that's the 1:1 foam xeno head I never got around to finishing. A few friends advised me to stop and get to sculpting with clay. For some reason I've never tossed that foam head.)

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Last edited by Red_2 on Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:53 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Simple shoulder lamp design. I wasn't going to add this at first, but it really is noticeable without it. It's a little floppy but hey, it lights up. (I used a brake line bent to look like the wire to the lamp to give it some support.)

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Last edited by Red_2 on Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:56 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Hangers.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2023 9:08 pm 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Done. Kids BDU's and Rothco Jr jungle boots bought off of Amazon, and some patches off of eBay and Etsy. I'll add a few more rivets in spots to fill out the smaller details. Maybe make a simple tracker out of foam. She's stoked for the next 'con to walk through.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 3:23 am 

Location: USA
Service Number: A02/TQ0.0.52138E2
Country: United States
:like: :D :delta:


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 7:51 am 
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
Awesome job!

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:13 am 
Marine Raider
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Location: Bosnia
Service Number: A05/TQ2.0.92155E1
Country: United States
That’s amazing!


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 10:35 am 
Victim
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Location: BIRMINGHAM/LICHFIELD UK
Service Number: A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
Country: United Kingdom
Brilliant work, she looks great

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you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer


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 Post subject: Re: Mini Colonial Marine Armor
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 5:00 pm 
reload
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Location: Hamburg
Service Number: A03/TQ3.0.12136E1
Country: Germany
Thanks for sharing. Amazing work! God luck for your first Con!

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A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
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 Post subject: Re: Mini Colonial Marine Armor
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 6:00 pm 

Location: Chicago
That is all awesome stuff.
The ab pad looks really sharp, and the balance on the Armor Camo is great.

How 'bout the helmet?
Is it foam, or maybe a toy M1 ?


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PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 2:50 pm 
THAT guy
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Location: Virginia
Service Number: A03/TQ2.0.02146E1
Country: United States
Man you went all out! Extra mile for all the details. Very impressive


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 Post subject: Re: Mini Colonial Marine Armor
PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2023 12:28 am 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Thanks, everyone!

TS826 wrote:
That is all awesome stuff.
The ab pad looks really sharp, and the balance on the Armor Camo is great.

How 'bout the helmet?
Is it foam, or maybe a toy M1 ?


The helmet is actually an M1 plastic liner. I made the blast shield our of air dry clay. The cam is a resin cast with real lens. The ear piece is foam made from scratch and a replacement headphone pad. Mic is found items. Chapstick, brake line, and a nerf dart. The lobster plates are bowls with EVA foam padding and detail.

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PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2023 8:54 pm 

Location: Dallas
Country: United States
I recognize this workbench


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 Post subject: Re:
PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2023 1:34 am 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
EvanDallas wrote:
I recognize this workbench


Strangely, I'm also familiar with an Evan in Dallas.

Hmmmm ....

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PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2023 1:36 am 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
Last pic to share! Courtesy of a friendly FB board member:

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PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2023 2:13 am 
Prop Churner Outer
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Location: Bath, Maine
Service Number: A03/TQ1.0.12143G1
Country: United States
Have you shared this wirh Ricco Ross?

Great work!

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 Post subject: Re:
PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2023 1:59 am 

Location: ATX
Country: United States
retrogarde wrote:
Have you shared this wirh Ricco Ross?

Great work!


I haven't but a good buddy sent him a shot of her when I finished the helmet and rifle several years back.

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