TUTORIAL - "SUIT UP!" How to Connect Foam Armor Costume Parts

[TheGoggleGeek]

I am having the hardest time finding the buckles and nylon roll for cheap online? which ebay stores did you get yours from?

[LiquitTrek1]

Youre my Hero !!!

[squeg123]

how thick is the foam your using? please answer oh and i subbed this helped alot :D

[lilgnome1984]

Have you ever made a helmet out of foam and does it look aas good and if so can you message me a pic of it or an example thank you sooooo much .

[ilovefastzombies]

SO GLAD I FOUND YOU. Making Daedric Skyrim armor & your videos will make it all possible! THANK YOU!! :)

[jayoR2E3]

nice velcro idea. well i've seen it before but not for an iron man costume. now i know what to do with the huge pack of velcros i found at the thrift store.

[TheIslandLOST]

How much foam did you buy for this project?

[TheKingOfManga]

Thank you a lot for your videos :D I.. I cant talk in English, sorry xD but I really like your tutorials, I always wanted to do something like that!

[SpiningChocolate]

can you put fiber glass on the foam so it can be painted? and making it "hard"

[TheHeroTutorials]

@SpiningChocolate why don't you make it out of paper if you want a "hard" costume?

[MeaslyKatt]

Thanks Man! This Tutorial is super useful!

[TheHeroTutorials]

@MeaslyKatt no problem :)

[WuLongTi]

very nicely done sir. I like the use of the Chicago screw. I was thinking about your idea to use the resin to strengthen the foam prior to punching a hole for the screw and do you think you might get the same effect by using a fat washer on both sides? maybe 1" outer diameter and fitted inner diameter. You cold then take a circle of thinner foam and cover the screw to hide the hinge... just an idea, I really love this method and I can't wait to try it out ^__^

[LoserMcBeaver]

Could i request a foam building of the Ironman helmet? I'm having problems trying to visualize it.

Thanks alot. Gonna do it for my dad's b;day! :)

[raitafai]

very nice i like thank u !!!

[SpiningChocolate]

i wonder if you could do a paper-mache on it then pain it, in that case. it would be "stronger" still flexible if its okay, and paint would stay better i guess? :O

[TheHeroTutorials]

@SpiningChocolate paper-mache on foam is not a good idea.

[danburleton]

How do you paint and seal the foam then ?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@danburleton video is up now

[Artisanprophet]

hot glue to fasten the buckle is good i sometimes sew after gluing

[SasuKrow]

Oh thanks man , your tutorials are just perfect for someone whose just starting to build costumes like this one ;)

[TheHeroTutorials]

@SasuKrow That was the intention of making them. Glad they're helping :)

[CoolCostume]

I like your tutorial and it is very informative. I've used fiberglass for 2 years now and decided to switch to foam after seeing my kids feeling the pain wearing their costumes. And I totally dig how you put the armor together, especially the use of Chicago screw.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@CoolCostume other costumers have used that Chicago screw method. I just brought it to you guys over here for use with Foam costumes.

[VFXninja35]

hey can't you also hot glue rubber washers on the arm or leg hinges so that the foam doesn't rip or break off??? (for the Chicago screws)

[TheHeroTutorials]

@VFXninja35 it might work. Give it a shot.

[landus94]

Could you possibly tell me what kind of foam do you use to make models and suits? Or maybe you can recommend a forum so I can read about it by myslef?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@landus94 I have tutorials. Did you not check my other videos?

[dracoawesomeness]

After watching all your vids on this I definitely want to go try this on some Halo armor. :D

[TheHeroTutorials]

@dracoawesomeness Good luck :)

[machprime]

Thanks x10000 for the amazing tutorials. I've been working on Iron Man armors using a pep and resin method and I've always found them uncomfortable and easy to break ... I am definitely trying this foam method on my Halloween 2012 costume. But most importantly, thanks for addressing how to connect the parts bc I know from personal experience, if you can't get them to look good together it really hurts the effect. I eagerly await your next tutorial on painting!

[TheHeroTutorials]

@machprime np. Good luck :)

[danburleton]

was that pepakuraed ?

[18diegovega]

Thanks

[18diegovega]

And how you paint it

[TheHeroTutorials]

@18diegovega still working on the tutorial. Remember that it's foam costume for fun and the paint won't be perfect forever. 

[TheHeroTutorials]

@18diegovega video is up now

[18diegovega]

Whats better foam or fiber glass

[TheHeroTutorials]

@18diegovega Foam's easier to build and easier and more fun to wear. Plastic suits are really high detailed though. Great for display. Somewhat hard to wear.

[Kenryuu]

im following along these tutos so far, and im around this far as well, but i dont know what to do next, i couldnt go with regular papers because i cant do most stuff to solidify/plasticfy the paper, the foam works a lot better form be, i dont want to sound like im impacient but when's then next step video going to be released? i need my armor done by mid january 2012, and i have no clue what to do after this, right now the only parts left are the legs, the rest is already done up to this step

[wolfman8448]

how long does it take you to make i suit and how much

[TheHeroTutorials]

@wolfman8448 it took me 3 weeks. few hours after work during the week. I don't sell foam costumes. Sorry.

[wolfman8448]

@TheHeroTutorials Alright thanks anyways great tutorials by the way

[Crixe]

On those buckles seems like you'd want to use something like E-6000 rather then hot glue don't you think? Hot glue won't last as long from my experience when you move around a lot. E-6000 takes a lot longer to set but it's rubberized glue. I love this method thou of foam armor and such not sure if I'll use it yet myself I just really admire the craft.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@Crixe I break danced in the suit and the hot glued buckles held up fine.

[Crixe]

@TheHeroTutorials must be the texture of the bands and the foam to glue then most other materials I don't trust with hot glue. unless it's like 0 stress.

[dietsnapple89]

If I want to make the Chest armor from paper rather than foam, when should I cut the armor on the sides? Should I separate the armor before I resin and fiberglass or after? I am wondering because the armor looks like it is really hard and inflexible after resining and fiberglassing, but this is my first time making a set of armor so I don't really know how it is. I don't want to make the armor and then have it snap because I cut it and pulled it apart for later attachment of the buckles.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@dietsnapple89 you would usually cut it apart after you're done the sanding stage.

That way it lines up perfectly

Always resin parts together, then cut them apart when you're talking in regards to a torso section.

in rare cases, I've seen people that don't but they're just that damn good that they don't need to.

[HalFRO371]

have you done the tutorial for the fourth part of how to make foam armor yet because im researching this and you have the best videos but i cant find the part four

[bUn1t70]

How do you make eyes glow for the ironman suit but still be able to look through them clearly?

[vkalishnikov]

dude can you make a nano suit

[Simmons2677]

Hey man. Love the tuts. My armor is comin along great becuz of it. Right now im just using pepakura with cardboard paper. Can you use this same method to connect it even though im not using foam?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@Simmons2677 yeah sure, You might want to use More stronger glue than hot glue for plastic parts.

Go get some Automotive adhesive.

They have it at home depot or any kind of hardware store. so it never comes loose. just incase because, I dunno if hot glue will hold for many wears. Unless you get those Yellow Sticks. I think those are industrial.

[Simmons2677]

Thanks again. Ill give it a try when I get to that step. So far just have the Helm, chest and one shoulder done. Talk about time consuming.

[Gr8rThenU]

You should make the nano suit :D

[Mstruvmgc]

Very nice bro. Great idea with the screws

[fmhqbattousai]

Man...I can't wait to see this suit in its final painted, glowing glory.

GREAT work!

[bodytemple]

@ConSmith1807

yeah i have the boots made already thanks to the local lumber yard n $150 lol

i also picked up about $200 in supplies tools foam n what not to build armor but sadly im shit at arts and craft which sucks cause no one on youtube offeres thier services to make the suits which i wouldnt mind paying for...but more than that i been sitting on a horror action webisode for about two / three years which calls for four suit of armors ...anyway...i have a video of the boots ill post it

[astromech]

Great tutorials dude! I hope painting that foam will be the next tutorial. i'm at that stage and i dunno what paint to use. I just have krylon spray paint left over from my last project and was wondering if i could used that.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@byjamesderuvo been working fine for me. Maybe you shouldn't make your costume so skin tight.

[TheVshore100]

Any great tutorial in the series man. You're really doing a great thing for the armor building community. Keep it up.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@TheVshore100 Thanks my friend. I have some more stuff to put up. Just Halloween got in the way of my Tutorial momentum.

[yosaulox]

hi man .. your work is awesome!! do you made it from peparuka desings? do you have the PDO files, in real scale 1:1??

[VariablePenguin]

Have you ever had issues with parts coming apart due to heat?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@VariablePenguin not really, this is high temp hot glue. It would take a lot of heat for it to come undone.

[bodytemple]

Dude ur amazing!!!!!!

Can you do the boots!!!

PLEASE...im trying to build a monster suit with the same technique but the boots im using is of digitigrade werewolf stilts...PLEASE DO THE BOOTS

[TheHeroTutorials]

@bodytemple the wha? :/ please explain.

[moko1955]

Nice job I like your tutorials

[ConSmith1807]

@bodytemple Stealth is going to be putting up my video of the boots once he's got his pair put together. Check out my channel for my boot style that may be useful for you in designing wolf legs. Also, if you do manage to put that together I would love to see something like that!

[Mr70457]

Dude, i knew this tutorial would come... awesome...

[batterymaker]

I've never been a fan of hotmelt glue. Too easy to flow. I'd use something more permanent, like Goop Contact adhesive. The longer it cures, the stronger it gets. I make all my batteries with the that stuff. Strong as hell--so strong, sometimes, that when I make a mistake, the only way to fix it is to break the bond with a hammer!

[izzydia]

I've looked everywhere and I cant seem to find the foam your mentioning or any like it. I live in Ireland and we don't have it. Any recomondations on ways to get that like websites that would ship to Ireland or anything. Thanks.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@izzydia just google Plastazone foam sheets. I think that's what it's called in europe.

[ConSmith1807]

That's some excellent tips! I was trying to figure out the best ways to use this kind of stuff, so this really helps. I'm abandoning having the project done for Halloween and going with my backup to ensure quality in the design after a couple mess-ups, so I will certainly be experimenting with that stuff

[drcoloso2099]

Ooohhh men!!! You never let me down!!! Great Job very Nice tips!! By the way all your Last vídeos You put the templates for the foam armor rigth? Everytime i see You with the foam armor i convince myself that the foam armor its way better that the fiberplastic one

[TheHeroTutorials]

@drcoloso2099 it's fun to build, easier to wear. I'd only do the helmet the paper way. You'll get better details that way and everyone will look at that first.

[beezer387]

Cool man pretty ingenious use of the buckles

[ChanmailleMan]

I love me some sticky-back velcro!

[dsavetark]

that is awesome..looks neat

[theJmanThree]

why hot glue iv seen shoe goo do some crazy stuff and it lasts longer?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@theJmanThree Hot glue is good enough for this. I haven't had any problems. Shoe gloo would be good to use the buckle method for plastic armor. So yes, you're right :)

[hellome12345678999]

Would the screws still work with thicker foam?

[TheHeroTutorials]

@hellome12345678999 They sell different lengths. I saw a 3-4 inch ones.

[hellome12345678999]

@TheHeroTutorials Thank you very much for the information.

[TheHeroTutorials]

@hellome12345678999 np man, home depot has you covered I'm sure.

[TheDenProductions]

Thanks, very Helpful

[OnoreDecade]

NICE! I never thought about using buckles like that!

You better show off that White tiger power ranger armor!

[TheHeroTutorials]

@OnoreDecade a lot of people use this method. I saw this a long time ago on a Master Chief Costume about 3 years ago. I used it on my old MC suit as well. It works very well, so I and many others have just stuck to that.

[OnoreDecade]

@TheHeroTutorials Ive used buckles before but not like That. I mostly used it to hold up thigh parts