I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here but I'm a HUGE fan of a villain character called "The Dark Knight" (pictured below) from an old BBC kids show "Incredible Games"
I've wanted to have a cosplay of this since I was a kid, and this year I should FINALLY be able to do this!
I commissioned someone to make the cloak and another to 3D model the helmet, which has been 3D printed and just needs putting together. 1/3
I recently got to try on the cloak for a final fitting and it was a dream come true! It still needs final adjustments.
When I woke up this morning brain went "Oh remember when you tried on your Dark Knight cloak recently? Here's some belated endorphins!"
"Remember how it felt to have it around your neck and shoulders, how it felt to swish your arms around? Have some more endorphins! You're getting that cloak in a couple of months! " 2/3
It's about time I got to glueing the 3D printed helmet together. That's tomorrow's job.
After gluing I need to work on gluing and finishing/painting, then I can work on the cage and finally the visor. 3/3
Gluing pieces together using glue and once it's cured I'll go over the joins with some epoxy before starting on finishing!
Hokay!!! Half glued! Superglue should have finished curing tomorrow and then I can fill in the joints with epoxy.
OKAY two halves have finished gluing. I've put some epoxy on the joints for strength and tomorrow I'm gonna cover it in wood filler and sand it back to be smooth!
Decided to replace the epoxy bonds with fibreglass resin instead!
@Pipponprops suggested this as a stronger method of joining 3D prints. Thanks for the advice! :)
Honestly I can't explain how excited I am to be working on this, and also glad that I've been able to get my brain in gear to work on it!
Should be able to work on filling and sanding tomorrow!!
Fist time using wood filler and actually found it easier using my fingers to spread it all on.
@renbymon Oh hell yes
@renbymon I'm so super, super excited for you! You're totally gonna rock this! 💜
@renbymon As im on my...3rd helmet now? some advice. Fibreglass the inside along the seams. Worst thing that can happen is you fill, sand and paint it, *then* the seam pops.
@Pipponprops I've done some expoy along the inside of the seams today but I'll take your advice and get some fibreglass along them too. :)
@Pipponprops Any product in particular that you'd reccommend?
@renbymon i use this stuff: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-repair/fillers-and-preparation/davids-fastglass-glass-fibre-kit---small-711309.html easy to mix and use. Just...dont do it in your livingroom. Those fibres can and will get everywhere no matter how careful you are.
@Pipponprops ooh thanks! will pick some up tomorrow and get to redoing the seams tomorrow evening. :)
@Pipponprops I've got a few other 3D print projects to work on that will be printed in multiple parts so knowing that I should use fibreglass helps a lot, thank you. :)
@renbymon Sadly i have little faith in epoxy, i used that on the first iteration of the ODST helmet, its strong but very brittle if that makes sense. Fibreglass is basically bulletproof.
@renbymon To be clear! The fibreglass is to back up whatever bond you originally used. Its way too slow setting to use to hold parts together initially IMO, so using the likes of superglue / epoxy initially is a-ok. But after your parts are together with epoxy or superglue, backing the joins ON THE INSIDE with fibreglass absolubtly ensures that bond is not shifting at all. Fibreglass is pound for pound stronger than steel, so it really is not shifting.
@renbymon Another option growing in popularity is the hot stapler. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stapler-Plastic-Welding-Machine-Outside/dp/B08W1Z49PZ
@Pipponprops Okay that's cheap enough that I might get one of those and give it a try on some scrap
@Pipponprops yeah still got the parts stuck together with superglue first. :)
I think most of the people who know me are probably aware of this but I've been in love with this character since I was a teenager and always wanted to have my own cosplay. This is almost three-decade long dream, and it's all coming together THIS YEAR!!