Bazza's Iron-Man suit build

[Airconvent]

Cool Barry!

[Barry]

Got the left arm assembled and started work on the gauntlets.

[Barry]

The wee hours of the night when everyone else goes to bed is my time. My time to relax and be nerdy. I got the left hand fully assembled tonight and this morning. The good camera is out in the observatory and it's too darned cold to go out and get it, so a phone-camera shot it is.....

[Barry]

Time for some creative photography.

I set-up the work so far in my studio and prepared the lighting, height, distance etc. I then donned what I could and played with the result in Photoshop to bring in some colour that I'm not yet ready to paint on.

It's good to just get a little bit of an idea of where I am headed with the suit. It's also good to see it all together so I can check proportions etc.

1. Setting up studio lighting.


2. All the bits taped together in position.


3. Fun with Photoshop!

[Barry]

Got busy building the cod-piece.

Front


Back

[Barry]

Something I should have done in the very beginning -

MAKE A TAPE DUMMY!

Fitting, modifying and adjusting the suit needs to be done accurately and doing it on my own body is darned near impossible.

With a tape dummy to my exact proportions, I can build and modify the whole suit on it and have it all fit together exactly, being sure that it will fit me when done.

I watched some U-tube tutorials by a guy called STEALTH on how to make this.

First a supporting frame has to be made out of PVC pipe. Then it's just a matter of putting on some thin clothes that you don't mind cutting up, tape up the sleeves, ankles and waist then get an assistant to wrap you up like a mummy in PVC Duct tape.

I couldn't believe how good it made my back feel... I might have to tape up my back every day before a start swinging the chainsaw at work!

Once covered from ankle to neck, then it's a matter of the assistant cutting the silver suit off - just enough to wriggle out of it, which can be slow and tedious, but taking your time is key.

Next insert the skeleton support and start to tape up the cuts, leaving the torso open until last. Stuff the whole suit with newspaper, rags, sheets, foam or whatever you have and pack it right out. The tape won't stretch beyond how it was while you were wearing it, so your form is retained.

I've run out of tape (used three rolls of 30 metres) so I'll have to pick up another roll tomorrow and stuff the suit as soon as possible.

This is going down as one of the top few weirdest things I've done.....

[Barry]

Tape dummy complete with some of the armour mounted on it.

[Airconvent]

Wonderful progress Barry! You updated your avatar too..

[Barry]

Wonderful progress Barry! You updated your avatar too..

Thanks mate. It seemed like a good idea....

[Barry]

Here's one hip-pod I finished pepping tonight.