N7 Armor build: Starting off

We began with file folders and quickly turned to using foam, chipboard, and PVC pipe, metal and who knows what else. The foam we are using is known as EVA foam interlocking floor mats) alomg with very thin (2mm and 3mm) black foam known as "silly winks" or "funky foam"  from Hobby Lobby. We started by looking online for source pictures. We we fortunate to run across Evil FX/ Bioweapons.com blog "Mass Effect N7 Armor Build" which follow his journey constructing both the male and female versions of the Mass Effect 2 armor. http://bioweapons.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/mass-effect-n7-armor-build/ Thank you Evil FX, you do amazing work!

My very first piece, ha ha

Templates and source pictures

I spray painted my shoes with a Mass Effect stripe

First drafts began with file folders. 

It all began with a file folder...

It all began with a file folder, well more specifically, it began with a video game. As recent newlyweds, my husband (an architect/graphic artist and gamer known by the pseudonym Naughty Zoot) convinced me to play a little video game called Mass Effect 2. I spent my winter break from graduate school battling the Collectors and other space baddies. It was - in a word - awesome. It was the first game I had ever completed and I loved it!
(I knew she would get hooked!- Zoot)


In the meantime, a friend of ours helped us acquired tickets to the 2012 San Diego International Comic Con. It will be the first time either of us have attended Comic Con and I am fairly new to all things nerdy. One night while playing Mass Effect 2, I told my husband we should make the Female Shepard "Femshep" armor. I told him it would be easy, in fact, we could make it out of file folders (a large surplus of which were being thrown out at work). I thought I could make a paper mache sort of thing, I guess.


Anyway, I started with a plastic chest protector I use to used for Fencing. It was just about a perfect place to start. My husband watched as I made some arm plates out of file folders, sort of as a joke. The very next night we found ourselves at Home Depot and I pulled him into the PVC/ABS pipe section. I held up a pipe and said it would be perfect for my Mass Effect Armor. (I thought I did that...Z) Next thing we knew we had a cart full of pipe, gadgets, glue and a sheet of aluminum. The rest is history. One thing led to another and things became more detailed and our efforts more focused. We never really intended to start a project like this, but we are both glad that we did. Its been quite an adventure. In late February we decided that I should register for the Comic Con Masquerade, perhaps the biggest costume contest ever!


I am excited but also terrified! Thank you for visiting our blog and for your support.


Very Respectfully,
"Electric"


-To those who take the time to read our blog, my thanks. We are both very excited to work on this project and hope to hear from other fans of the series. Leave a comment. Thanks.
Naughty Zoot