? for cosplayers: "Steel" armor advice and color coordination

[Mikaze]

Just wondering before GenCon gets too close:

1. Which technique would you recommend for making nice looking steel half-plate armor? The hobby foam method was what I was initially looking at and I've used it for other stuff, but I'm wondering if there's a more convincing (and still lightweight!)* alternative.

2. For artists and other folks that actually have an eye for color coordination: If you have a character design with silvery armor, light gray skin, black hair, and a cloth cap whose color is still in the air, what color would you recommend for that last piece? It was initially described as light brown with darker brown lining, but I'm wondering if there's a better match. Considered a switch to light gray with blue lining, but worried that it might make it all seem too colorless.

*Being relatively lightweight is actually really important considering the stilts

[Imbicatus]

As a non-active scadian fighter, I would just use my actual breastplate and pauldrons, but that doesn't really match the lightweight requirement :)

I've seen good stuff done with lacquered paper mache. It's not super durable, but it should last through a con.

[Adjule]

Can't help you with the first. All the videos I have seen on youtube when it comes to making armor for cosplay has went with the foam method.

As for #2. With silver, light gray and black, I am a bit partial to white and a very light blue. Possibly a white cloth hat with the light blue lining? a little thing I quickly tossed into photoshop showing the coloring A crude view of all the colors together (light gray background for the skin, super light gray "silver" in the middle for the armor, black for the hair, with white for the hat and super light blue for the lining). When it comes to monochromatic coloration, my go-to color to make it not so monochrome is the light blue. I personally think it enhances it without being too jarring.

Of course, that's my view on the color, and may not be to your liking. I actually first thought of purple (dark and light), but it would seem a bit out of place when just concentrated to the hat.

[Laithoron]

From what I've heard, foam gets pretty hot and it is also rather fragile. I myself used leather for my Skyrim Nightingale armor. It's not too heavy, and since the back is merely a couple of straps crossing from shoulder to opposite hip (something that's hidden by the cape), it's fairly well ventilated (important during August in Atlanta). While my example is clearly supposed to look like leather, I've seen more than a few folks at ren faires who have treated their leather so that it's appearance is virtually indistinguishable from metal — well, up until someone is invading your personal space anyway. ;)

Have you tried checking Alley Cat Scratch and DeviantArt for tutorials? From my understanding polystyrene is what a lot of the Halo, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Iron Man cosplays are made from. Come to think of it, you could probably take some color cues from characters in Dragon Age, and other fantasy genre games...

[Mikaze]

Sorry for the late response, still playing catch-up with everything.

And thanks. I have a much better idea on what I'm going to need to do now. :)

Adjule wrote:

Possibly a white cloth hat with the light blue lining? a little thing I quickly tossed into photoshop showing the coloring

I believe this is what I'm going to roll with, especially after realizing what character I was thinking back to for the armor design.(wound up unintentionally revisiting my gaming roots too)

@Laithoron, definitely checking those sources out. I've seen those Mass Effect and Dragon Age costumes and they are damn impressive both in pics and in person.

Thanks again everyone!