HOME | DD
RoxyRoo — Shoulder Armor Tutorial
Published: 2009-05-05 01:00:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 137576; Favourites: 2291; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
EDIT: This tutorial will be featured in 2 Cosplay magazines! 
4th Issue of the Indonesian cosplay magazine called CozMagz www.cozmagz.webs.com/about.htm… Portuguese cosplay e-zine, Cosplayer issuu.com/cosplayer/docs/cospl… MiscCostume Blog: www.miccostumes.com/blog/how-t… Isn't that awesome??? zomg, I'm so excited!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
**EDIT: a constant question I get is, "How well does this stuff hold up? Won't it crack or break?" I think this is a rather silly question. Of course clay can crack or break. It's not metal.
Has mine broken yet? No. I made sure to take care of it by securing it to my jacket and packing it well when traveling. Treat it as you would any prop: With care.
As said above, this tutorial can be used for other armor and characters too, not just for Lightning. I'm sure other materials can be used as well, like real clay (if you have access to a real furnace) or paper clay, which air-dries. I chose Scupley cuz I knew how well it held detail, which was important for this prop.
I'll be adding fiber glass on the inside (if I can get ahold of it) to strengthen it so it doesn't break.
Materials:
...1/2 box of white sculpey = $6
...Tin foil = free
...Wire = free
...scotch tape = free
Time: 14hrs (so far)
Finished Pauldron
:thumb251246655: :thumb261611292:
------
People who've used my tutorial. 
's armor: catnip23.deviantart.com/art/Li…
's armor: themiddlechild.deviantart.com/…
's armor: fav.me/d2u7rm7
's armor: barista89.deviantart.com/art/L…
's Amano amor: img.photobucket.com/albums/v31…
's armor: fav.me/d3elyo8
's armor: tae-kia.deviantart.com/art/Lin…
's armor: beyondfantasycosplay.deviantar…
Related content
Comments: 420
Would you recommend this tutorial for Beatrix's (final fantasy IX) armor gauntlet things?
[link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
O.o I could be used for it, I guess. I'd try craft foam with this first though. Craft foam is cheaper. If that fails, then do the sculpy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I've never used any kind of ... this stuff before, and I'm just worried about the durability, because the armor is right on the hands and wrists.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Try craft foam. It's what I used for my Rosso armor and it stands up pretty well. If you seal it and back it properly, craft foam makes great plated armor. The reason I used Sculpy for shoulder armor is because I needed the roundness of it. Craft foam can't curve like a ball, but it can curve the way you showed me in that picture.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Great! You don't have any tutorials for that, do you? I'll look something up; it'll be my first experience ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
There's a famous tutorial that you can look up on google. Nearly every cosplay website links to it. XD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wonderful idea!!
A question though,where can you buy Sculpty?
Second question: I've heard this material breaks easily. Could I make it stronger with something like gesso instead of fiberglass?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Depending on where you live, walmart, Micheal's, Joanns... craft stores. o.o But there are other materials that could work too.
I don't think gesso would help. Gesso is very bendable (cuz it's meant for canvas), but adding wiring, or glueing fabric on the inside might help. What armor/character are you doing?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm working on Advent Children Complete Sephiroth.
Usually if I put enough coats of gesso on, it works quite well. Also, I would have a chicken wire base to use for the shape of the armor.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I see.
Sounds good. Goodluck. :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks!
Using this tutorial should work, yes? I say this because I AM a new cosplayer and I'm not afraid of learning new things, I just don't want my armor cracking or breaking horribly at the con
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Here's a tip from a 3 year veteran. Look up as many tutorials as you possibly can. If you can, read them even if the don't matter for a current cosplay; they'll most likely come in handy later.
Also, study your reference pictures a LOT before starting. >.>
All's that is left is time, drive, and luck.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
And stubbornness, can't forget that XD
I've focused on a few tutorials and have done a LOT of trial and error. I also have a back-up method, my Wonderflex, that I can use should one method not work out.
I might make a test piece of armor first before making Seph's. If that comes out good, I know what to do XD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh yes. That's my big one. XD I call it stubbornness that i'm staying up late tonight sewing. lol
I have some tutorials collected in my favorites. I plan on using them all at some point, if I haven't used some already.
Trial and error is best when it comes to tricky things. Like my jacket for Rosso. 3rd time's the charm. Literallly. XD 3rd time I've made this thing and finally it looks good enough for me.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
i use this for rush ykes cosplay ok
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Sweet! Let me know how your cosplay turns out. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
thx
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're very welcome!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wow, that's GORGEOUS! it's really helpful, too.
I'm trying to do a Mimiru cosplay but I'm having trouble with her hip armor [link]
Think I could use this tutorial for it, or would that bee too much sculpey and too heavy? o.O
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I wouldn't use sculpey for something that big. But, I would try Craft foam for the hips and possibly sculpey or paper clay for that center piece. And yes, sculpey would be too expensive and heavy for this, plus, because it's in a place you'd sit on all the time, I would be afraid of it cracking.
Goodluck. :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
WHOA 0w0
thanks so much^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
nice tutorial, you used asimilar technique than my armor
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm not too worried about the even slicing. I'm going to sand it later (whenever I get sand paper. XD)
thanks. :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh yeah sanding is what I meant! my english isn't so good 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ah okay. Well, thankyou. :3
Your english looks fine to me.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Very interesting! I never thought of using clay like that - I may have to try it for a costume I'm supposed to be making for my hubby! Thank you for making this, you've definitely given me some great ideas on how to make what seem to be nearly impossible armor pieces
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome! That's what this is for. :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
8D how awesome! Really nice job!
Thankies for putting this up! It'll really help with my Zack and Cloud cosplays!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
And Sora. Don't you still have fabric pauldrons? XD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
...maaaaaaybe? XD
I'm gonna re-work Sora later on. I'm gonna stop KH cosplays for a while. ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
So what are you up to for AX then if not Sora?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
uhh....let's see
Red XIII
Finny (kuroshitsuji)
Yuna (Gunner)
Setsuna (Gundam 00)
Pearl (Phoenix Wright)
Ferdinand (Absolute Obedience Dating Sims game)
Bobble Head Nurse (Silent Hill)
Riku (KH2) this is a maybe. I only wanted one KH cosplay if any. Also...haven't done riku in years. XD
and you? 8D
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're going to wear ALL of them????? D:
You're nuts.
me: Reno, Fai, Rosso and possibly either my new lolita or Lightning. One for each day. :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yesh. I'm crazy and I need to finish them! XD
and very nice! 8D i must see them all!
and for comic con?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
same. I might switch out one for another, but those are what I can choose from. I'd do Naja, but that one is just too warm. >,<
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
meeeeh! warm cosplays are warm! DX
org coats are a killer man. ><
and are we doing battle as FFVII characters this year?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes... they are.
oh, I can't imagine leather/vinyle coats. That's just insane.
HECK YES. Both as Reno AND Rosso.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I know. *dies* that's why I'm not cosplaying any org members! XD
MUCH WIN! I want to fight as Red XIII against yoooooou! >3< I'll bring my music again and such! 8D
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
lol. The only reason I'm bringing Rosso (with all those layers and leather) is because of the Masquerade. XD I don't think I'll bring her to ComiCon. Though, i'll decide that later.
HECKS YEAH. Now we just need a Rude and other Avalanche members. XD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ah...but the masquerade is totally worth it! 8D
WIN! 8D we shall find them and it shall be AWESOME!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
But will the Rude be blue??? o.o I'm gonna have a blue suit this year...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
<= Prev | | Next =>