#cosplay armor

[squeakadeeks]

just took a stupid amount of back and forth editing but i finally got this lif shot to a place i like _(:3」∠)_

photography by Dr. Cosplay Photography!

[pan-delure]

"Rabbit..! Tank..! Super Best Match!"

Saluki Eclipse Con 2024 was SO FUN!!!

I need to give some major credit to @pippenpaddlopsicopolisthethird for taking the best cosplay photos that I've ever had taken or seen in my life! Their vision for these was just perfect and I'm STUNNED by how they turned out 🤯🤯🤯. Please please go check them out and give them a follow!

[lico-arts]

What if Ephemer had a keyblade armor suit?

This was my first time making a full armor cosplay :) It took a lot of trial and error but i'm super happy with it! I still want to revisit the paintjob someday, when i finally get an airbrush

Concept art:

[ghoulish-arts]

Some WIP of my Maiev Shadowsong cosplay which i got to display at my art schools open house exhibition, it’s the biggest project I’ve ever worked on and seeing it come together little by little makes me so FKN excited to complete it and show it off!

Side note: I know many people might not know Maiev since she is kind of a niche character, but she was really inspiring to me back in the early 2000s where women in fantasy games where usually only allowed to be pretty and way overly sexualized and then Maiev was this fully armored gruff voiced badass, with huge shoulders THE BIGGEST in all of Warcraft 3, so yeah I’m way excited to finish what is essentially my dream cosplay and hopefully introduce some people to this character for the first time

[sarelcon]

EVA Foam Detailing

Since I’m currently working on a new panel for EVA foam detailing, sharing an abbreviated version of this so that I actually have some posts on my account. This is definitely not a complete list of every technique that could work, but these are ones that I have used before and found to be quite useful.

Sanding

This is probably the most well-known technique for detailing. A rotary tool is a must-have for working with EVA foam since it’s such a versatile tool. A basic sanding drum is great for beveling edges or carving in battle-damage and weathering. Grinding stone tips can smooth and even out sanding. Depending on how the tips are angled on the surface, you can create a hammered metal look, soft leather-like crinkles, or circles that look like screws or bolts. Sanding is also the single best way to clean up rough seams. Be sure to wear a respirator and eye protection when sanding since the foam will generate a LOT of dust. You will your workspace will get covered with dust.

Burning

A soldering iron or wood burning iron can be used for detailing. These hot tools can be used to engrave precise or geometric lines or can be used to create a feather texture. These can also be used to make more organic textures like wood grain. Very much like a rotary tool, a wood burning or soldering iron has endless possibilities only limited by creativity. The foam can be easily burned through, especially when it is a thinner sheet (1-3 mm). Burning foam creates very nasty fumes so be sure to work outside with a respirator on.

Heat stamping

This is a more subtle technique but can still be very useful. The most common application is using crumpled tin foil to make a leather texture. Once foam has been heated up evenly (using a heat gun), it can pick up the texture of anything pressed against it.

Google eyes

For a cheap and easy way to get rivets or bolts, try using googly eyes. Once these are painted over, they can blend in perfectly (just don’t shake the armor or prop because they will rattle). Though real rivets can be used (that is my next point), googly eyes are easy to install and are very easy to find in a variety of sizes. These can be glued down with pretty much any type of glue.

Metal hardware

If authenticity is the goal, eyelets and rivets can be installed into EVA foam. The key to these is leather hole punches. You can buy these either as a pack of hole punchers or as a single tool that operates a lot like a paper hole puncher. For real leather or fabric, these are normally hammered into the material to generate a hole. Because EVA foam is so soft, a twisting motion works better for cutting a hole without crushing the surface. Eyelets will require a bit of glue but rivets have two separate ends that snap together nicely without any adhesive. O rings and metal buckles can also help with making realistic-looking armor.

Foam clay

Foam clay is an obsession of mine, but I have to admit that it is a detailing material and only works for specific tasks. Foam clay is great for adding organic textures like bone, monster skin, etc. It can be free sculpted some, but is limited due to being such a soft clay. It sticks to EVA foam without any glue required. It can be sanded or burned once it is completely dry to add more texture. It can be used to fill deep gaps in seams. It can also be pressed into molds.

Pre-cut bevels and scales

With cosplay becoming more common and mainstream, specialty products are readily available. Bevels are pre-cut strips of foam that can be used as trim. They most often come as half-round or triangular though some shops may carry less common shapes like low profile triangles or trapezoids. Scales are another great pre-fabricated material that can be bought from cosplay supply shops. They are sometimes sold as individual scales in packs of 50-100 or as scales attached to a strip.

Primer manipulation

I just recently discovered this technique while making Gyurato’s blood sickles. When using a brush on primer that has a slower drying time, it can be manipulated while still wet. Pressing something like upholstery foam or a sponge into the primer can add additional rough texture. I also used plastic wrap to add creases and wrinkles to the surface of the dried foam clay. Another thing to keep in mind with primers is that the finish (satin, matte, gloss) can change out a paint looks. Picking the right sheen, like gloss when painting a metallic, can help with achieving the right effect.

Hopefully these tips give you some ideas for future projects.

[sonia-cosplay]

Photographer: Irish Gerry Event: Il Volta Cosplayer: me [Instagram | Twitter | Linktree | Carrd]

[ladyevilmetals]

Chainmaille Shirt by Lady Evil Metals

[popcrimesart]

Cute lil turn around of my Azure Starlord cosplay. This was the last time wearing it before retiring it cuz she is falling apart now! 😩

I made everything with EVA foam, but the antlers are made with insulation foam board. The marble effect on the armor was achieved using an acrylic pour method! Also I never wanna make another slinger lol

[drnecolii]

Okok so small question for the cosplaying community ; If you have used metal in cosplays before, what kind of metal(s) would you recommend for beginner cosplayers? I wanna try and make an armor, but I'm not sure what I should use. Thank you for reading!!!

[kayosscosplay]

Is Shadowheart's armour 3D Printed or EVA Foam? Yes!

A key point I would like to emphasize with this is you absolutely can mix and match materials and methods based on costume requirements! You don't need to limit yourself to one technique.

[eman-cosplay]

Here you can see progres of my eva foam armor for my cosplay of Hiccup TRUST THE PROCESS

[squeakadeeks]

Knight Aether ✨complete✨

GODDAMN it took a hell of a hustle (and several very nasty burns) but older/Knighted Aether is finally ready for his reveal 💃 🪩  I think this is one of the most complex armors i've made to date. Everything was crazy involved from having to dye fabric, wefting+adding lights to the wig, patterning the armor, wrapping the armor, planning/rigging the lights and then just getting the dang thing on. I am completely and utterly exhausted from working on this beast but HE'S HERE

 Foam on this project sponsored by cos com cosplay supplies!

[kantasea]

Another picture of my guts cosplay!

Photo by KaoticGuy

[new-life-in-defiance-of-death]

Still a long way to go with the pattern of Adars breastplate *sigh*

I decided to include a seam in the center to make it fit my body a little bit better, i'll fill it in and sand it until it's not visible anymore but the effect will be worth it i think.

Having to work with very little reference material due to the non-existent lighting in this show is not easy... ( ╥ω╥ ) Also still shopping around for ideas on how to make his chainmail... Those tiny elven chain rings are no joke and i do not have the patience to craft a whole knee-length chainmail out of them. (⇀‸↼‶)

[ghoulish-arts]

Trying my hardest to squeeze in time for fun gothic armor projects for my plague doctor fit in between the admission project grind 🥲

[nostalgiccosplay]

Just some close up of thebarm for my monster hunter