So I dropped the project and decided that all I was going to
make was the helmet. However, I eventually came back to the project, this time
armed with a little more knowledge and some different materials.
Confession: I had to make the armour twice because I messed
up the paint job on the first one. Some of the pictures are from the first,
some are from the second. It shouldn’t really matter ‘cause they both turned
out basically the same shape.
I used a yoga mat for this project.
Okay, so I started out by cutting my pieces out of the mat.
I used a pattern I made for a pattern drafting course, but I think you could
use a t-shirt insteadl. Just make sure that it
A. Doesn’t have too much stretch (if the shirt is stretchy it will not turn out right, foam doesn't stretch)
B. You add an inch around the t-shirt. Better cut too large than too small
A. Doesn’t have too much stretch (if the shirt is stretchy it will not turn out right, foam doesn't stretch)
B. You add an inch around the t-shirt. Better cut too large than too small
The
two pieces on the right are the front. The piece on the left is half the back.
If you look at the pictures you’ll notice it's split with a triangular dorsal-fin
thing in between the pieces.
Once
the pieces were cut out I got out my iron. To give the matt the texture of
leather I used crumpled up tin foil and some parchment paper. Doing this also helps
to heat seal the foam.
The
next thing is to seal with glue (I used some sort of plain white glue… I can’t
read Turkish) and once it’s dry, paint. I used some sort of black acrylic paint (again, can’t read Turkish) Ideally you’re supposed to seal it after with clear glue or something. But ain’t
nobody got time for that!
Then
I sewed it together using yarn and a GIANT needle. I used little scissors to
make holes in the foam for my needle to pass through. Though you can’t really
see it, I criss-crossed the yarn to make little X’s.
It
was during this process that I made the armour fit me better. It was really
easy because I had a dress form. I also added some darts at the bottom and
around the arm holes, because, unlike Hiccup I am not shaped like a noodle.
ON
TO THE DETAILS!
I used a belt buckle for the straps.
Up close of the shoulder strap. Googley eyes for rivets.
I traced something circular and then drew the dragon design free hand while looking at a picture. I ironed them, painted them, and then glued them together with hot glue.
Though
Hiccup’s armour has a bit of a stand up collar, I decided to not put one on.
Artistic Licence and all ;)
I
think that’s everything… I’ll be back eventually with something on the bracers
and shoulder pads!
