Prop/armor help?

[Rushifa]

For next year, I'm looking into a few costumes which will require me to branch out a bit with my skill range.  Basically, I'm going to need to learn how to make light armor, and possibly various props out of similar material.  I don't have any costumes decided on yet, but basically I want to start investigating this.  Anyone know of some good links or advice?

[EveofAbyss]

Right off the bat I can think of this place: http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.html. She has dozens of tutorials for different costumes, and provides great instructions on working with cheap materials and making quality looking armor and props. *thumbs up to that place*

[Rushifa]

Right off the bat I can think of this place: http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.html. She has dozens of tutorials for different costumes, and provides great instructions on working with cheap materials and making quality looking armor and props. *thumbs up to that place*

thanks; her stuff looks really awesome, and all her tutorials seem very helpful!

[lychee-twist]

My friend took her Zelda armor tutorial and modified it by using just craft foam and poster board. It came out really nice. Here's not the best pic, but an idea: http://daishutian.deviantart.com/art/CON-Midna-Link-and-Zelda-63970799

I used cardboard to make Alphonse Elric's Armor. Here's a pic of it if that helps: http://lychee-twist.deviantart.com/art/Head-Theft-52782315 If you use cardboard, I used a ravioli-cutter I bought at goodwill to score lines about an inch apart the back of the cardboard to get it to bend evenly and not crease the front (like you can see it did in the calves).

If you do use cardboard or some sort of paper material, make sure to prime AND seal the material before you paint it. Home Depot sells a Bullseye brand spray paint that's a Primer/sealer. If you don't seal it at least, the paint will just soak into the paper and leave moreso a (in my case) silver shine to the brown cardboard than actually being metallic silver.

[pinkrandomattack]

one thing to add to the amythist angel tutorial thing, some of the stuff on her site is actually a little dated For her. shes got an lj feed that I highly recommend under the name proplady. shes also got a book out that you can get from lulu.com .  i haven gotten this yet myself, as the color paper version is alittle spendy but you can get it on cd for like 16 bucks.

[Rushifa]

My friend took her Zelda armor tutorial and modified it by using just craft foam and poster board. It came out really nice. Here's not the best pic, but an idea: http://daishutian.deviantart.com/art/CON-Midna-Link-and-Zelda-63970799

I used cardboard to make Alphonse Elric's Armor. Here's a pic of it if that helps: http://lychee-twist.deviantart.com/art/Head-Theft-52782315 If you use cardboard, I used a ravioli-cutter I bought at goodwill to score lines about an inch apart the back of the cardboard to get it to bend evenly and not crease the front (like you can see it did in the calves).

If you do use cardboard or some sort of paper material, make sure to prime AND seal the material before you paint it. Home Depot sells a Bullseye brand spray paint that's a Primer/sealer. If you don't seal it at least, the paint will just soak into the paper and leave moreso a (in my case) silver shine to the brown cardboard than actually being metallic silver.

I saw your friends costume, and I think your own, and was very impressed!  Armor has always seemed impossible for me, so the idea that its really not as scary as it looks is very heartening!  I'll definately put your advice to good use, thanks!

one thing to add to the amythist angel tutorial thing, some of the stuff on her site is actually a little dated For her. shes got an lj feed that I highly recommend under the name proplady. shes also got a book out that you can get from lulu.com .  i haven gotten this yet myself, as the color paper version is alittle spendy but you can get it on cd for like 16 bucks.

Thanks, I've already started checking out her lj, but it was nice to see her developemt as well.  I'd definately be interested in her book, too.