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ZetaForge's Samurai Armor Build Options
ZetaForge
#121 Posted : 26 May 2018 02:23:46

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Planting the mustache.

This replica includes individual hairs for the menpo (face mask) which must be bundled together then affixed through holes.

I debated a bit about including the facial hair for the menpo or bypassing this step and filling in the holes. I prefer the aesthetic of menpo without facial hair but, I wanted to get a feel for this process and most references I've seen of Masamune's menpo show at least a mustache. I decided to go for it.

Following some recommendations from previous builders, I used 25 hair strands per bundle, about half the number of hairs indicated in the instructions.

Around the midpoint of each bundle, I tied them together with black thread and applied a drop of white glue to the thread and the strands of hair.

I was conservative with the white glue. Too much glue would make the bundle and knot too big to fit through the holes in the menpo.

Bending each bundle in half at the knot, I looped a piece of dental floss around the bend and threaded it into the corresponding hole in the menpo. Using the floss, I pulled the bundle into place.

Even at 25 strands, the fit was tight. Several bundles were extremely tight. For these, I wrapped the floss around a wood skewer using it as a handle to pull the bundle through. A few bundles broke apart in the process.

Once all the bundles were in place, I ran a bead of hot glue inside the menpo along the base of the hair.

After all the hair plugs were in place, I laced the yodare kake (throat guard) to the bottom of the menpo.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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delboy271155
#122 Posted : 26 May 2018 06:43:57
Rank: Administration

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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Love looking at your updates - keep em coming.

Cool Cool Cool Cool Cool

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)
COME BACK GUY FAWKES "YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU"






Markwarren
#123 Posted : 26 May 2018 07:11:50

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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That is some very clever work, great skills. Love

Mark
arpurchase
#124 Posted : 26 May 2018 09:27:38

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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Joined: 27/09/2011
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BigGrin Looking goodCool
Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .

tigerace
#125 Posted : 26 May 2018 11:50:52

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Amazing work as alwaysLove great updateThumpUp ThumpUp regards PhilCool
COMING SOON =1/72 Italeri diorama`s Battle for the Reichstag and Stalingrad battle at the tractor factory 1/16 Trumpeter King Tiger with loads of extras ON THE GO= refurbishment of 1/25 Tamiya tiger 1 , amt Star trek kits and space 1999 models

So Much to Build,But What a Hobby!


ZetaForge
#126 Posted : 29 May 2018 18:57:56

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Thank you for the words of encouragement everyone.

Almost done with this build.
ian smith
#127 Posted : 29 May 2018 21:01:43

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Cool Looks fantastic.BigGrin
Current builds.Hachettes build the bismark,HMS Victory, HMS Hood.
Finished Builds Corel HMS Victory cross section.
ZetaForge
#128 Posted : 30 May 2018 02:52:16

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Location: Honolulu
Thanks. ThumpUp

Had a lot of fun with this build so far. Learned a lot about Samurai armor aesthetics and construction.

I've got a few modifications and add-ons coming up. Stay tuned.
ZetaForge
#129 Posted : 09 June 2018 03:48:16

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Location: Honolulu
Metal leafing the maedate (front crest).

The Maedate is the only major hard piece of the armor that was made of plastic. It's a little disappointing considering the amount and quality of metal parts used in this model.

Being plastic, it had the typical plastic metal fleck gold coloring. I decided to metal leaf the maedate to give it more of a metal appearance.

The process I used requires the application of size, an adhesive base for the thin metal foil. I wanted to be able to do both the front and the back of the maedate at the same time. So I built a stand to hold the maedate upright during the process.

I used metal leaf comprised of a copper and zinc alloy. Before applying the size, I sanded the maedate with 1000 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface. Turns out, the gold tone is actually paint. The plastic itself is yellow.

To give the maedate a bit of texture, I used smaller pieces of leafing to create fine joints and creases in the leafing.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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20180530_142924crop_600c.jpg
arpurchase
#130 Posted : 09 June 2018 08:10:59

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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Joined: 27/09/2011
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BigGrin Looking goodCool
Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .

Markwarren
#131 Posted : 09 June 2018 09:05:23

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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ZetaForge
#132 Posted : 09 June 2018 21:53:30

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Location: Honolulu
arpurchase, Markwarren - thanks.

The texture ended up a bit heavier than I had intended. Might redo the maedate later.

Haven't used a leafing pen before. Maybe an option...in the future.
Gandale
#133 Posted : 09 June 2018 23:51:44

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
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Looking good, very nice work....Cool Cool

Regards

Alan
ZetaForge
#134 Posted : 10 June 2018 21:43:39

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Location: Honolulu
Thanks! BigGrin
ZetaForge
#135 Posted : 15 June 2018 03:52:04

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Location: Honolulu
Attaching the kusazuri (waist armor).

Deciding to make the kusazuri detachable is my biggest modification to the build so far. Instead of lacing the kusazuri directly to the do (torso armor), I developed a toggle and fastener arrangement to allow the kusazuri sets (11 in all) to be attached and removed.

Primarily, I wanted to make putting the armor on the stand easier. Being able to separate the kusazuri from the do also allows it to be packed individually keeping it from damage when in the storage box.

I had a few ideas of how to create a toggle for the kusazuri. After some testing, I opted for a simple approach to creating the toggles from sections of toothpicks, rounded on each end and painted black. There is one glued to the blue odoshi at the top of each kusazuri set.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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ZetaForge
#136 Posted : 15 June 2018 04:04:13

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Next, I needed to develop a closure. After some trial and error, I settled on dual-core electrical wire insulation. The trick was to find the correct gauge to approximate the hole size of the original closures that came with the armor.

Selecting the wire was interesting. I did a bit of research to learn about wire gauges, then went to the local big box hardware store. I told the guy there that I needed some dual-core wire. He started with the usual questions about how much current the wire would need to handle, etc.

I then explained that I needed to attach part of a scale replica Samurai armor and that the wire wasn't important, I really needed the insulation. That was followed by a moment of silence. I eventually got the wire I was looking for. On with the build.

No problems removing the wire from the insulation. I needed 44 fastener pieces all cut to the same size from the now hollow dual-core electrical wire insulation.

My first thought was to cut it freehand with an Exacto. But I imagined doing it would take a good amount to time to square and measure each cut. Not to mention, I would have to bring the blade straight down on every cut.

To standardize the process, I modified a pill cutter to allow a predetermined length of insulation (about a 1/8”) into the cutter. I adjusted the internal structure of the pill cutter to serve as a jig to keep the wire insulation square and the pill cutter's guillotine-like design would keep the blade straight while cutting.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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ZetaForge
#137 Posted : 15 June 2018 04:08:24

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Location: Honolulu
Constructing the center set of fasteners was pretty straightforward: two wire cores, two holes needed. The outer closures were different as they needed to accommodate three odoshi. Instead of using a three core wire insulation, I cut 11 extra sets of two-hole fasteners and separated them into two single holes. I then tied the single hole to a double hole closure.

In retrospect, it would have been easier to start with a triple core wire and remove one hole from 11 of them for the center odoshi.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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20171216_093024crop_600c.jpg
ZetaForge
#138 Posted : 15 June 2018 04:15:29

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
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Joined: 10/05/2017
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Points: 240
Location: Honolulu
At each end of the kusazuri plate, only the blue odoshi is actually holding the kusazuri on to the do. The yellow odoshi is there to complete the look. The closure holds it in place giving the appearance that it connects to the yellow odoshi that runs the length of each kusazuri.

Since the instructions for lacing the kusazuri to the do span several packs and stages, I decided to first label each of the holes with a b for blue and y for yellow. Having done that, I could focus on the lacing.
ZetaForge attached the following image(s):
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arpurchase
#139 Posted : 15 June 2018 07:23:04

Rank: Super-Elite

Publisher Medal: Featured Build of the MonthActive Service Medal: 500 post active service MedalPurple Medal: Super active service medal for 1000 postsTurquoise Medal: Turquoise Medal for model making know-how contributionOutstanding Build: An award for an outstanding buildBuild-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of HonourRed Medal: Red Medal
Groups: Registered

Joined: 27/09/2011
Posts: 15,196
Points: 45,687
Location: Dudley
BigGrin Looking goodCool
Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .

ZetaForge
#140 Posted : 15 June 2018 18:37:16

Rank: Semi-Pro Level 2
Build-Diary Medal: Build-Diary Medal of Honour
Groups: Registered

Joined: 10/05/2017
Posts: 78
Points: 240
Location: Honolulu
Thanks!
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