So I promised this a while ago but never wrote it up for you. This summer Fallout 4 came out and of course rekindled my obsessive need for more and more in that universe, so much so that when we decided we were going to the local Galaxyfest convention I had to make a cosplay. Now I am not sure if you want to call myne or Monsters the first one I ever did. Hers of course you saw completed pictures of already. Of course I forget to take a lot of pictures of hers as it was being built, or even worn (my cell wont take pics anymore). But the process of building myne got a lot more camera time. Mostly because I was reminded to take pictures more often.
Lets start with the beginning, First of course I had to decide what I
wanted to mimic, and what idea to roll out with. Wastelander? Wanderer?
Vault boy? All seemed a bit small, a bit over done for me (and I don't
sew so making a vault suit was out of the question). So what could I
make? Or more importantly make similar to, but still shine ME through?
The answer was of course the most used piece of armor for Cosplayers.
The NCR Ranger Armor.
But I could not just copy paste it, I had to own it and make it myne. We tried to make just a base foam version of it, and we were going to find other ways to customize it and make it unique. Between the cat, lack of experience and over shooting my ability versus desires, it failed. So I had to start over.
Instead of mimicking the Armor most loved, I had to find a different route. So instead of making a carbon copy, I made a new idea.
Ranger Medic, the illusive 68 Whiskey Victor. For those of you playing the home game that means a Combat Medic that has passed Ranger training. From there the idea fell in line swiftly and the custom armor of a Ranger Medic came to life. We had to start of course with the most iconic piece, The helmet. Again copy paste was an option, I saw every piece I needed to buy to put together and blend into a proper following, but I didn't love that. I needed a Medic to be unique. That means a new helmet. Besides what screams Medic better then the visage of death?
Not following me there? Its alright, I do not mind.
I came on the idea at random, clicking, looking, and shopping. Then
fell in love with the concept swiftly. If a Ranger is the last thing you
never see, then a Ranger Medic needed to be the last person you wanted
to see. (Because lets face it, even special forces get in over there
head.)
The skull mask I Acquired went well with a standard combat helmet, and made almost of a full covering. Sure it needed a head lamp and a radio antenna, but those came together eventually. (At some point I will give it a more iconic lighting unit then it has, but I like the 'aim-able' one.) Panting to blend Object A with Object B was necessary, but I have a great roommate that arts amazingly and roped him in.
A mostly black helmet needed a touch of color and wear, so a "hammered" Spray paint was picked out and the two rapidly looked like one piece. A bit of accent paint (in the form of a racing stripe) was added to help blend the helmet to every other piece, but then the helmet needed more, a light grey was added to the cheeks, mouth, eye sockets, and nose of the skull to really make them pop out.
Next body armor. But wear to begin if foam failed me (or did I fail foam?).
I needed to stay "scavenged" and that took work. Then like a mac truck it hit me, Motorcycle Armor! The shin guards are for off-roading, they cover shin, knee, and a small bit of thigh. They got a paint treatment to make them seem more like metal (and one got a racing strip in line with the helmet. (It bugged me that Rangers only wear chest and head armor)
The chest piece took me FOREVER to find, apparently if I were a child this would be easy, but adult size costs either your arms and legs, or doesn't exist. I did not need brand name, I did not need function, just form. A bit of stumbling let me find a piece of really cheap (read as not going to save my life) chest protection. SCORE! Order up wait for the man in brown shorts and DING!
Or not, it barely covered just
my rib cage....... Creativity time. Since I needed to wear a jacket to
stay similar to the real armor I realized my back didn't need anything
as no one would see it. This means the removable back plate could get
modified, and suddenly become gut armor! A bit of paint here and there,
and they blended into a nice silver look of armor. The medics cross
hides on the helmet, and on the right knee cup.
So far so good.
For the tie in (and to further make need of the expenditure of money) I
added my Pip Boy. But what about my naked right arm? Insert a "No
Parking sign I am still not certain how I got (the only known fact is I
did not buy it). A hack saw, drill for holes, and elastic lace and BAM
arm armor! The fact I beat it in to shape on an anvil without concern
for the scratches helped age the sign better. Add on my leather surcoat
from the Renfest, my archers gloves (because they are missing fingers,
thumbs and are well worn) and I'm looking good! (Give me my moment)
Just to overburden myself I added a scrap-made shoulder holster (with a blue and yellow 1911) my black canvas medics messenger bag, a gun belt with plenty of false ammo, a super sized Nerf pistol, plenty of pouches, a hidden balaclava, and then just to guarantee the heat stroke a brown and black scarf to wrap around my neck (its got little skulls and cross bones for its patterning).
But what should I carry as a main long arm?
This post now being super sized will be continued latter with the work to make my gun, for now enjoy pictures of the armor in its various stages of completion.......
But I could not just copy paste it, I had to own it and make it myne. We tried to make just a base foam version of it, and we were going to find other ways to customize it and make it unique. Between the cat, lack of experience and over shooting my ability versus desires, it failed. So I had to start over.
Instead of mimicking the Armor most loved, I had to find a different route. So instead of making a carbon copy, I made a new idea.
Ranger Medic, the illusive 68 Whiskey Victor. For those of you playing the home game that means a Combat Medic that has passed Ranger training. From there the idea fell in line swiftly and the custom armor of a Ranger Medic came to life. We had to start of course with the most iconic piece, The helmet. Again copy paste was an option, I saw every piece I needed to buy to put together and blend into a proper following, but I didn't love that. I needed a Medic to be unique. That means a new helmet. Besides what screams Medic better then the visage of death?
Not following me there? Its alright, I do not mind.
I came on the idea at random, clicking, looking, and shopping. Then
fell in love with the concept swiftly. If a Ranger is the last thing you
never see, then a Ranger Medic needed to be the last person you wanted
to see. (Because lets face it, even special forces get in over there
head.)The skull mask I Acquired went well with a standard combat helmet, and made almost of a full covering. Sure it needed a head lamp and a radio antenna, but those came together eventually. (At some point I will give it a more iconic lighting unit then it has, but I like the 'aim-able' one.) Panting to blend Object A with Object B was necessary, but I have a great roommate that arts amazingly and roped him in.
A mostly black helmet needed a touch of color and wear, so a "hammered" Spray paint was picked out and the two rapidly looked like one piece. A bit of accent paint (in the form of a racing stripe) was added to help blend the helmet to every other piece, but then the helmet needed more, a light grey was added to the cheeks, mouth, eye sockets, and nose of the skull to really make them pop out.
Next body armor. But wear to begin if foam failed me (or did I fail foam?).
I needed to stay "scavenged" and that took work. Then like a mac truck it hit me, Motorcycle Armor! The shin guards are for off-roading, they cover shin, knee, and a small bit of thigh. They got a paint treatment to make them seem more like metal (and one got a racing strip in line with the helmet. (It bugged me that Rangers only wear chest and head armor)
The chest piece took me FOREVER to find, apparently if I were a child this would be easy, but adult size costs either your arms and legs, or doesn't exist. I did not need brand name, I did not need function, just form. A bit of stumbling let me find a piece of really cheap (read as not going to save my life) chest protection. SCORE! Order up wait for the man in brown shorts and DING!
Or not, it barely covered just
my rib cage....... Creativity time. Since I needed to wear a jacket to
stay similar to the real armor I realized my back didn't need anything
as no one would see it. This means the removable back plate could get
modified, and suddenly become gut armor! A bit of paint here and there,
and they blended into a nice silver look of armor. The medics cross
hides on the helmet, and on the right knee cup.
So far so good.
For the tie in (and to further make need of the expenditure of money) I
added my Pip Boy. But what about my naked right arm? Insert a "No
Parking sign I am still not certain how I got (the only known fact is I
did not buy it). A hack saw, drill for holes, and elastic lace and BAM
arm armor! The fact I beat it in to shape on an anvil without concern
for the scratches helped age the sign better. Add on my leather surcoat
from the Renfest, my archers gloves (because they are missing fingers,
thumbs and are well worn) and I'm looking good! (Give me my moment)
Just to overburden myself I added a scrap-made shoulder holster (with a blue and yellow 1911) my black canvas medics messenger bag, a gun belt with plenty of false ammo, a super sized Nerf pistol, plenty of pouches, a hidden balaclava, and then just to guarantee the heat stroke a brown and black scarf to wrap around my neck (its got little skulls and cross bones for its patterning).
But what should I carry as a main long arm?
This post now being super sized will be continued latter with the work to make my gun, for now enjoy pictures of the armor in its various stages of completion.......
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