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VariaK — Making of Claymores (short version)

Published: 2012-03-13 01:38:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 13045; Favourites: 210; Downloads: 111
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Description For those who are curious how we made our Claymore cosplays, well here it is.(short description..sculpting, sanding, bondo, sanding, shaping, sanding, painting, sanding, buffing...waxing )

Done in my brother's and mine's shop by and (me).

These were worn to WCS 2012 US prelims.

I will not be doing a write up on this cosplay, we take credit for construction but not the idea, some of it is universal knowledge, but sword construction method was developed by Volpin. In any case he documented and wrote up a detail for these cosplays so in depth information please see Volpin, we took inspiration from him. If you have questions about anything...shoot, my inbox isn't flooded daily with creepy messages so its more likely that I will answer sooner


AND YES!!!!!!!!! My butt was in the shop for day in and out (when I wasn't working) for over two months in order to complete these; furthermore, I made two steel bone corsets and the clothes. I was so tired by the time the con came, it went by toooooooo fast. It was extremely painful to wear these for 13 hrs straight the day of the prelims, I still have bruising around my abdomen and hip bones. (i'm a slow healer) But it was so worth it, I learned so much and I am ready for my next few armor cosplays, only gonna get better from here.

We are fixing these armors and will be wearing them again in a few weeks, so final cosplay pics to follow.

Here is a preview


And Preview of one of my upcoming project there are a few swords in the works right now (lets just say this one will be a very special sword that is giving a bit of trouble)
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Comments: 75

VariaK In reply to ??? [2014-01-16 03:53:40 +0000 UTC]

Cotton spandex and cotton sateen

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WolfsMoon1 [2013-06-07 20:23:06 +0000 UTC]

It cost much money to do it like this way, or? :/

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Phoenix001 [2013-04-15 15:17:18 +0000 UTC]

WOW! O_O Lucky to have real tools to create this stuff!

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hitman777 [2012-09-16 19:26:15 +0000 UTC]

The quality is amazing! Will you also try the post time jump Ghosts suits?

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Murky-Shadows [2012-07-19 15:38:25 +0000 UTC]

Wow *o*
I want to cosplay a Claymore next march.. but im only 16 and have no fancy tools... This looks really hard too xD
Brilliant job though!! You guys have amazing skill to do this!

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BreakHasCake [2012-06-08 22:46:06 +0000 UTC]

is there a way to do this without all the cool tools, cause i need to make 4-5 sets of this cause doing a group cosplay and frankly not everyone has a shop or can afford to buy all the tools. any help would be much appreciated

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VariaK In reply to BreakHasCake [2012-06-08 23:18:29 +0000 UTC]

Well not with out the vacuum former...and at least a rotary tool and you are not going to get that finish without an air compressor, its automotive paint. It takes you 10x as long with out the right tools.

It would take my brother and I two weeks to make another Claymore armor and sword, and we know what we are doing now and have all the tools, just to kinda put it in perspective.

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BreakHasCake In reply to VariaK [2012-06-09 19:43:21 +0000 UTC]

the air compressor shouldnt be hard to get, is there any specific rotary tools i need to get? also, can u buy vacuum formers? if not i can try and build one but id rather have one made by a proffesional.one last thing, do u mind giving me the link to find volpins plans on the claymore armor and sword, having a hard time finding it. tyvm for all the help you have given me.

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KPhillips702 [2012-05-21 21:33:58 +0000 UTC]

Amazing work on the sword and armor.

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SamuraiOfWater [2012-05-01 03:47:38 +0000 UTC]

Do you have a video link?

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VariaK In reply to SamuraiOfWater [2012-05-03 02:34:13 +0000 UTC]

Of the process...no we didn't make any D:

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SamuraiOfWater In reply to VariaK [2012-05-03 06:10:52 +0000 UTC]

Dam! I want to use the same material for a sound wave cosplay design.

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LordDraco3 [2012-04-26 06:53:47 +0000 UTC]

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNNGGGH!!!

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KurgenLagann [2012-03-25 16:41:24 +0000 UTC]

Good lord, I can't imagine. You guys' armor came out so well. This is really amazing getting to see the progress!

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VariaK In reply to KurgenLagann [2012-03-26 14:30:50 +0000 UTC]

Oh thank . It was a lot of work and to be honest being in the shop is not my favorite pastime, I much rather be in my sewing studio but I do love armor and props

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dust-bunny [2012-03-19 18:44:51 +0000 UTC]

Love this! Your armor was awesome, i love the in process shots.

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VariaK In reply to dust-bunny [2012-03-23 17:03:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you it was great meeting you

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dust-bunny In reply to VariaK [2012-04-04 12:28:02 +0000 UTC]

You too, hopefully I will see you and your partner around!

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koi-ishly [2012-03-15 23:53:34 +0000 UTC]

That is amazing. I wish I had this shop in my garage, but sadly my cars need the garage...

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VariaK In reply to koi-ishly [2012-03-16 17:04:23 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much but I find your wig styling way more amazing I have absolutely no talent for that. This isn't in my house's garage I am a lucky girl...shop is in one of my other properties.

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koi-ishly In reply to VariaK [2012-03-16 19:34:55 +0000 UTC]

Sorry my post was misleading, I read that you did your work in your shop. I just wish I had that in my garage. That'd make life so much easier for prop making. I really wish I had a vacuum former.

I'd really like to know more about what techniques you use. I'm always interested in how people build their armor.

Thanks for compliment on the wig making I think is way cooler though, but I'm an armor lover. I can't get enough of it.

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VariaK In reply to koi-ishly [2012-03-19 16:23:48 +0000 UTC]

Lol oh sorry, I know its so much easier to work on things when you have the area . And thank you so much for the watch its an honor...I'd watch u back but I already watch you

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koi-ishly In reply to VariaK [2012-03-19 19:29:40 +0000 UTC]

No problem I wish I watched you sooner!

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VariaK In reply to koi-ishly [2012-03-23 17:03:39 +0000 UTC]

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Rayanaminge [2012-03-15 05:19:12 +0000 UTC]

Where is this workshop?!?!

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VariaK In reply to Rayanaminge [2012-03-15 05:35:57 +0000 UTC]

In Houston, in a garage

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DizDear [2012-03-15 02:21:23 +0000 UTC]

this is amazing! I would love a more in depth description for this <3

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VariaK In reply to DizDear [2012-03-15 05:34:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!!!! I will be writing up a materials and general process explanation soon

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DizDear In reply to VariaK [2012-03-15 17:23:01 +0000 UTC]

you're welcome
and awesome, thanks <3

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TsukiLion [2012-03-15 01:29:15 +0000 UTC]

awsome! job was totally worthy

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VariaK In reply to TsukiLion [2012-03-15 05:33:45 +0000 UTC]

You make some awesome things yourself so it's an honor to hear that from you

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KoryXIII [2012-03-14 21:05:00 +0000 UTC]

Wow o.o
I love this! xD

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VariaK In reply to KoryXIII [2012-03-15 05:30:06 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!!!!! Glad u found it interesting

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Nodokalover101 [2012-03-14 15:46:49 +0000 UTC]

wow o-o

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VariaK In reply to Nodokalover101 [2012-03-14 16:13:47 +0000 UTC]

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Nodokalover101 In reply to VariaK [2012-03-14 16:20:06 +0000 UTC]

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PaXingCai [2012-03-14 12:13:42 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic!

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VariaK In reply to PaXingCai [2012-03-14 15:46:08 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!

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HAPPYHAHA [2012-03-13 21:11:27 +0000 UTC]

WOWOWOW! I'm currently doing a claymore cosplay too! Though, I am using messy fiberglass ._. Wish I had those tools *^*

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VariaK In reply to HAPPYHAHA [2012-03-14 05:41:36 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow that is pretty amazing and a lot of work, I stay away from fiberglass so itchy!!! I accidentally touched my mouth after working with some, it itched for a couple days ....but awesome can't wait to see how it turns out, best of luck and when you get to that point of despair just focus on the finish

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Shiroiaisu [2012-03-13 20:14:50 +0000 UTC]

Can't even find the words that explains how awesome this is xD So amazing c:

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VariaK In reply to Shiroiaisu [2012-03-14 05:38:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!!!!!

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Isa-Lacrymosa [2012-03-13 18:36:25 +0000 UTC]

So pro O: Make a full tutorial, por favor!

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VariaK In reply to Isa-Lacrymosa [2012-03-14 05:37:44 +0000 UTC]

So sweet thank you, and oh no not at all, my shop gets so messy, we have all sorts of makeshift work areas too . Unfortunately I got the idea from Volpin so please see his blog [link] he explains a lot and a tutorial further that is improbably, there are a few ways to go about making things, u just gotta do what works best for you. Of course if you have specific question, I am happy to answer and I know he tries his best to answer all questions too.

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Isa-Lacrymosa In reply to VariaK [2012-03-14 07:12:21 +0000 UTC]

Alright. I'll go to you for armor help when needed XD

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CaptRedJack [2012-03-13 18:21:04 +0000 UTC]

damn i need a shop..or at least a vac form table. the styrene sheeting you are using, it looks very similer to sintra (which is PVC) where did you acquire it? my sintra source kinda dried up an i wil need replacement material at some point

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VariaK In reply to CaptRedJack [2012-03-14 05:33:01 +0000 UTC]

I am a very lucky girl . Sintra is just brand name for expanded pvc foam. The white one is hips, the black is expanded pvc. I buy from professional plastics, they have a location in Houston but they ship everywhere.

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CaptRedJack In reply to VariaK [2012-03-14 13:35:15 +0000 UTC]

interesting, since you have obviously done more heat work than i have(and 3D molding as oposed to my 2D does the polystyrene have a lower "working" temperature than Sintra i have a dream project but it requires pieces in excess of any oven i could hope to aquire and i may need to resort to 4+ people with 4+ heat guns to soften the plastic (which is less than ideal i'll admit)

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VariaK In reply to CaptRedJack [2012-03-14 15:25:12 +0000 UTC]

I don't have one of those cool infrared thermometers so I can't say and my heating element doesn't have one either, basically is from experience when I know a material is ready. I find a heat gun just doesn't get uniform heat, and that really doesn't work for me. Also I don't use a residential oven, they are too small and well I'm out in a shop. It really is worth investing and making a proper heating element and former. I try to set up everything so I am able to do a process alone, you have more control that way and less likely to have human error.

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CaptRedJack In reply to VariaK [2012-03-14 16:28:20 +0000 UTC]

like i said a FAR from ideal situation but the piece i need is gunna be netween 3-4 x2 feet sooo not sure what to use

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