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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)Related content
Comments: 75
What exactly is it? I really can't help wo a little more info
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Big O. i have the plans all made and the stilt mechanisim worked out i have a cooling method and most of the internals but the weight(and duribility) of the outer shell has kept me back for years pink foam is too flimsy and bondo is way too heavy for something that big
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Ahhhh that is a big project. I would make molds and vacuum form with styrene, that is very durable and light weight. If I could I would make all my armor that way, eventually when I make a god cloth or saint armor that is how I will do it. Definitely not bondo for your actual armor, maybe foam with fiberglass shell would work but I personally don't like working w fiberglass especially sanding.
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its a huge project. It's been in planning stages (with me trying to rationalize a probably 4 figure expense)for almost 4 years. Yea fiberglass isn't even an option i have no supply and NO experience, and this is not a project to be blazing new trails. I've worked with styrene and I've worked with sintra. maybe some more baby steps and make some vacuform stuff.
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One day, I keep telling myself I'll cosplay something that isn't painful to wear, so I feel your pain! XD
But, just wondering, what material did you use to form the armour over your moulds? Is that Wonderflex or something similar?
Great photos
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Thank you so much!!!!! 
The white plastic used for the pauldrons and backpack is styrene, the skirt is expanded pvc foam. I am actually not a fan of wonderflex, you have to layer it so much and compared to styrene, acrylic, and pvc sheets its pretty pricey.
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Really?? I was going to ask if that's Styrene, but I have a giant roll of it and could not shape the damn stuff with a heat gun to save my life! (So now it's sitting in shame in my cellar) and I was choked. Hell, I even stuck it in the oven and wrapped it tightly around moulds, and it still popped back into shape! Apparently, it's more stubborn than I am. This makes me want to give it another go....hmmmm.....
I'm starting to think the "love" of cosplay has turned into the "obsession" and that's the only reason I still sand things for hours on end only to wear them for half a day
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Giant roll!!??? Drool....so cruel showing off
Definitely give styrene another go and I recommend vacuum forming w it, making molds can be a pain but you can make so many after that, and if one breaks at a con...who cares you have the master mold 
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Ah! I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to show off, I was more or less lamenting the waste of materials I don't know how to properly use. But thanks for telling me it's a vacuum form you use, I'd never heard of it before so I looked it up and think I might have to invest in something like that! Not for this year though, too many hours already going into the beginnings of the cosplay.
Unfortunately I'm limited to what I can get my hands on, and haven't been able to get any of the thinner pvc sheets without ridiculous shipping fees (two sheets of Wonderflex were nearly $200, so I'm not fond of ordering if I can't get it locally).
But yes, I will try to give styrene more attention! Thanks again 
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So happy you think so!!! Thank you so much!!!!
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wow you was on a roll with the making of your cosplay
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iam started watching claymore this week because of you and foayasha's cosplay
are you wear these this cosplay at akon in june
and is this series good
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Yup its awesome, I enjoyed the manga more than the anime. Yes we will be wearing them for a little while at Akon
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truely beautiful work, you guys did an amazing job and should be extermly proud of ourselves!! this is so clean and perfectly worked on i can see alot of love and attention went into all the work!
i hope you go again for WCS next year XD i hope to see you in Japan hahahahaa XD
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Awww thank you!!!!!!!
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yep we are trying out this year for next year hahahaha XD already getting the gear and im already freaking out hahahaha
omg i totally agree!! its taken us years to get the perfect combo of skit and costume right :S the skit is such a huge part of it all
awww thats really nice of you!! you guys did an epic job this year and you should be uber proud of your work!
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Oh gosh best of luck to you!!! 
All I can say is practice practice practice, until you can do it in your sleep.
Thank you so much, I just wished I was a little less tired through it all and that we would've practiced a lot more but it was amazing.I'll keep a look out for you guys!!! Again good luck!!!
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i agree!! we got second in Australia last yr so this year were really going to try even harder to make these characters come to life!! im so excited and the mess has already begun hahahaha!!!
dont worry im already there!! i have clay beside my bed XD
i think you guys were amazing and i only wish i could do that level of work! its so nice and clean!!!!
thanks heaps!! its going to be a leap of faith but im really looking forward to trying out again and seeing how much i can do for myself and my country XD
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I know we can practically fix our makeup from the reflection XD
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Awww! Cosplay should never been painful to wear if at all possible, but sometimes it's not possible. I hope it was worth it!
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I know lol but well we didn't fully test them out early enough and by the time we did we couldn't fix them,it was either complete as is or withdraw, but this next time around they should be a little better to wear
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