+

[HeyPharaoh]

So hey everyone...

I guess this is my first cosplay-ish? I'm planning on making (well in the process of making a Commander Shepard costume) I don't know if I am actually going to go to a con, if I do go to one it would be dragoncon since its nearby, buuuut regardless I will end up with a cool halloween costume which is all I really care about haha.

I've attached a couple pieces of my progress, but I'm looking for some advice, I want to cover the surface of my armor/etc with something stronger than just plain foam and that can be easily spray painted/hand painted and detailed. I watched the youtube video of the really good Garrus cosplay where he talked about making the soft/hard armor parts out of a mixture of modge podge and flexible joint compound. I have plenty of flexible joint compound but what exactly does the modge podge add to it? Does it help seal the mixture? If not, after sanding and painting whats the best way to seal something like that to keep it from cracking/flaking off/etc etc?

Thanks in advance! I'll try to keep this thread updated with my progress on the costume = )

[Pani]

Hello!

Can you post a link to the garrus vid you mentioned please?

And love the gun, how'd you make it/what's it made from?

[hmwsg x]

The modge podge is most likely a sealer. You can always get Rustoleum or Kryolan clear coat for sealing after sanding and painting, but that stuff is so temperamental and takes a while to dry. You have to spray it on and then leave it alone for about 2 days, maybe more depending on the weather temperatures.

Pani, here are the Garrus videos http://www.youtube.com/user/ammnra

[Pani]

Thanks for the link. That's just incredible.

[HeyPharaoh]

Yes thats the Garrus video, very very very impressive, and well I got some mod podge and im going to try to do a couple coats of it mixed with the joint compound to see how that turns out, ive read in a couple of places to get that "hard armor" look it also is helpful to use a coat of polyurethane, so I guess Krylon, do you think it would be worth it in the end? Or would modpodge/joint compound be good enough?

[hmwsg x]

Originally Posted by HeyPharaoh

Yes thats the Garrus video, very very very impressive, and well I got some mod podge and im going to try to do a couple coats of it mixed with the joint compound to see how that turns out, ive read in a couple of places to get that "hard armor" look it also is helpful to use a coat of polyurethane, so I guess Krylon, do you think it would be worth it in the end? Or would modpodge/joint compound be good enough?

Hmm...I would say do a test piece if you are in doubt. Like I said, I personally have used Krylon clear coat and it is a bit temperamental on cure times with certain weather/ outdoor temperatures. As long as you don't touch it/mess with it for a few days it will seal the paint no problem.
Sorry I can't help much with input on just the modge podge/compound itself D: