cancelled (Posted 3rd September 2010)

could not finish this in time for Ame, despite my best efforts. I practically worked on it until an hour before my competition slot, in my bedroom, but I just couldnt. It was pretty tough, especially after going through all the hassle of bringing it across the borders, but I try not to let it get me down. I was pretty upset then, mostly due to exhaustion I bet, but it's in the past and I'm OK with it now. At least I did my best.

I'll start working on this again next year sometime I think. I need to leave it for a while, then come back to it, so I don't rush it just to get it done. :)

sword nearly done (Posted 10th August 2010)

it needs some highlighting, and then a very shallow layer of varnish just to protect it, but otherwise it's done.

The flower detail is only visible during Hilde's ending, for a brief second, but once I noticed it I just couldn't forget and ignore it. o.o

potential tendinitis :/ (Posted 9th August 2010)

been a bit stiff and tired in my right hand for a while now. Been out of bed for an hour now and it's feeling worse than usual; it's very stiff and my middle finger sort of "clicks" when I extend it. The knuckles are a bit sore and opening and closing a fist feels a bit more difficult. I've seen it before a couple times, and I know how it's treated, but I still have a vague hope it will pass before it gets worse - provided I treat my hand better. I hope I don't need a bandage before Ame, but it's possible I do. I hope not being able to hold my sword (and possibly not fitting into my second gauntlet) wont affect the judgement of my costume in a bad way. :(
Will have to tell Tab if it gets any worse too, I'm guessing Hilde with a bandage is not quite as attractive for photos. o.o'

paint (Posted 9th August 2010)

this is what the paint looks like before weathering and highlights. A primer and a good avrnish makes a big difference, and weathering even more so. I don't know if I want to take pictures of the final result though, it's kinda nice to leave some surpises. X3

some stuff being primed (Posted 8th August 2010)

today I primed and painted a lot of stuff. I cant wait to show you the shoes, they look awesome! :D I want to weather them and add the red strap first though.

cuirass and belt and stuff (Posted 8th August 2010)

still havent painted these things, so I havent adhered anything together permanently yet. The cuirass looks a bit lumpy still, so more sanding and filling cracks! woooo
The flowery detail thing is gonna be pretty much hidden under the red braid and some other deco, which is a shame, but hopefully some die-hard fans will notice I didnt ignore it and be happy XD

wolf head sculpt (Posted 5th August 2010)

I decided Ill just take some photos with my mobile phone, since I seriously cant find the cable for my camera. Wolfie looks a bit bad today, because he's been through yet another hour of sanding, but he'll be back to his old self when I clean him and paint him. Also, weird angle. Oh well, just a progress picture.

random (Posted 5th August 2010)

I dunno how to use the photo editor on a mac, sorry. D'8 I hate apple.
This stuff is just drying off before the weathering begins.

shoes, hip "wings", part of a gauntlet (Posted 5th August 2010)

the shoes still need their sculpt and little star thingy on the heel (dunno what its called). One of the hip things is weathered, the other is not, trying to make the weathering as discreet as possible. The gauntlet consists of finger bits, knuckle protectors and a flat bit for the top of the hand, but the top-of-hand bit is not finished yet. Knuckles need to be sanded more. D8

cuirass base (Posted 5th August 2010)

absolute base of the cuirass. I just taped on the deco buckle (which is also not done yet) so you get sort of an idea of what it will look like. So happy I have a tv in my room; I can work with the in-game 3D model all the time! :D The cuirass will be finished today, it's pretty easy stuff.

getting a little closer to halfway (Posted 1st August 2010)

the only things I've yet to start working on:
- banner
- lower leg protectors
- knee protectors

Everything else is 50%-100% finished, minus paint. I'm looking forward to painting everything, that's the fun part. The reason why I haven't uploaded any more progress pictures is because I can't find the stupid little cable for my camera. Once I find it, I'll post a couple entries with new pictures. Sooo looking forward to working with textile details now, tired of all the sculpting, carving and sanding. A pattern for a tailcoat like Hilde's was hard to come by, so I drafted one myself. I made a mock-up, and it looks good, so now I just have to pick a textile. I'm torn between a matte type of velvet, thin wool, and a good quality cotton/silk mix - like the one they use for smokings and such.

so Im repainting everything + losing the wig! (Posted 30th July 2010)

The armour isnt shiny enough, so Im repainting. This time Ill try some new paints from different brands, as well as varnish and wax. Ive also sanded everything over once more. Q_Q

Im almost done with "master wolf" (working title for her massive shoulder guard wolf thing), which has taken me 4 DAYS to sculpt. So tired of it now, I almost dont appreciate seeing the final product. Anywho, stuff is moving forward, and Im remaking the helmet completely. This will be my third time making the helmet, but I just cant seem to get it as perfect as it needs to be. Primary reason why Im remaking it though is that Im NOT wearing a wig underneath the helmet - and that takes my head down a couple sizes. Its just too hot, I cant stand it! So Im temporarily dyeing my hair instead, which is fine really, I love being a redhead! :D Ahh, to be able to wear the helmet without 3cm of hot wig insulation... the joy.

rargh I am not patient enough for this!!1 (Posted 19th July 2010)

this costume is so time consuming! D8
ARAGARAHARRSRSRSRAGGARSGSHHRARGH

also, it's been raining for 3 days so I haven't been able to do any sanding or carving at all, which is frustrating. Not that I miss sanding and carving, rargh, I'm really really tired of it by now. My shoulder hurts and I'm developing a large, very visible bulge of muscle on my right arm. Not that I should complain, it's just that.. well... having one arm looking a lot more muscular than the other looks a bit.. suspicious... 8(

derp derp, back to work I guess. Not much to show as I haven't painted the new bits yet.

shinies (Posted 8th July 2010)

finally getting the shine right on my finished armour bits! It reflects objects that are very close as if seen through water, and generally reflects colour and light like Hilde's armour does in the game. I'm thinking about waxing it to up the shine even more, will experiment with that later. The stuff in the picture are just some odd bits I'm working on; the sword, a thigh guard, the arm guards and the spear head. Progress is sooo slow, but the time I spend seems to be rewarded so it's all good. Can't wait to get my fingers working with some fabric, all this armour is driving me insane.

forgot camera -.-' (Posted 2nd July 2010)

forgot my camera at a friend's, I'll be picking it up tomorrow I hope. Anyways, made a fair bit of progress today; I drew the pattern and cut the pieces for the thigh protectors, but only had time to piece together one. I almost finished painting the vambrace and armbrace, now I need to start experimenting with varnishes/waxes and find one I like. Also made a pattern for the banner on the spear. Will be buying a lot of fabrics and more materials tomorrow and continue working. Burns and broken nails so far: 5. I'm not a very elegant worker.

a little more (Posted 16th June 2010)

I continued up the arm, the new piece goes above the elbow. I added some more sculpting to the lower arm piece after this photo was taken, as I thought the back-side of it looked a bit barren compared to the front. Again, the paint is just there so I can see the little scratches and bumps better for sanding, it'll look a lot different once I'm done I imagine.

one vambrace down!...sort of (Posted 14th June 2010)

wow, this is taking a lot of time O.o'... I spent all day making a single vambrace, and it really isn't all that spectacular. Most of the time went into carving out that stupid little flower, and the other deco. I put on a shabby single layer of paint to see where I need to sand, and to test the colour and shine of my paint. I was sort of disappointed, I was hoping for more shinyness, but I was planning on using a couple different paints to achieve a more 3D colour anywho. Then I need to find a good laquer/varnish/wax, but that's all far into the future, I'll do some sanding tomorrow and continue up the first arm before I copy and do the second.

The armbrace is made with the good old method of craft foam and polystyrene sheeting, the flower and 3D deco was sculpted, polished, dried and carved (and I'll keep polishing and carving/sanding for a while more) from sculpting clay ~ the kind that dries in room temperature? I think it's called sculpting clay. It does have a chain detail around the wrist which isnt visible here, but no matter.

The picture really doesnt do the flower justice, but I guess it'll come out better in proper lighting and after I've weathered and embossed it. But yes, first; the dull stuff.

starting out (Posted 11th June 2010)

I think Ive filled a small notebook with doodles of how Im going to do this thing. Its time to get started. All of my ordered items have arrived, including the wig, which I recently cut to be more face-framing. Im keeping the length down the back though, in case I want to make the 2P version of Hilde, or just need a long dark red wig with bangs for something else. ^^ It means I'll have to have a ponytail sticking out of the back of the helmet, but maybe Ill braid it or make it decorative in a way that suits the costume better.

I started making the helmet, the first prototype ended up being too heavy so sadly I had to trash it. It would be OK if I wasnt going to an overseas con, but travelling by plane greatly limits the size and weight you can put into your costumes. I spent another day with my sketchbook and figured out a better way to make the helmet which requires only the most light-weight materials, and less of them too. Starting to work on it on Monday, hopefully.