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Description
Second version of the NCR body armor from New Vegas. Changed the pattern to better reflect the game and fit better. Has adjustable straps on the back to get a custom fit.
The plates are made from 1/2" EVA foam (Anti-fatigue floor mats from hardware stores, they come in a four pack and have puzzle piece edges to attach them to each other. The back has a thin layer of rubber in a diamond plate pattern) The backing between the plates is 5mm thick craft foam, which is the same material.
Hand-painted with craft-grade acrylics, though in the future I'm going to see how it goes foregoing the grey paint, as it is essentially the same color as the foam. All the forum posts on working with foam warn against using acrylics on EVA because it will crack. I don't know why so many people are saying that, but in my experience it is totally flexible. This was important as it needs to bend to be worn. For rigid projects I use spray paint if the colors are available. That's what I tried with the first piece and, while it won't affect the armor, it formed hairline cracks where it is bend. Either way, it's finished with a thin layer of matte acrylic clear coat from a rattle can.
EVA is also available as "craft foam" and comes in 12"x18" sheets in thicknesses up to 5mm for around a buck. It accepts super glue wonderfully, which is what this project was assembled with. Hot glue is also very good with it. For the thickness of this armor I cut my pieces out on a band saw, but hobby knives or xactos work great, too. Just plan to go through a lot of blades and try to cut through the entire piece in one pass or your edge will be rough. To form it, I just get it hot and flexible with a cheap heat gun then bend it to the shape I want as it cools. You can also heat it up in an oven, but I've had mixed results with this due to edges burning and getting too hot overall to work with. Heating it also eliminates some of the texture of the foam, making it smoother and slightly less porous, which helps when it comes to painting.
Taking orders on Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/179628528…
The plates are made from 1/2" EVA foam (Anti-fatigue floor mats from hardware stores, they come in a four pack and have puzzle piece edges to attach them to each other. The back has a thin layer of rubber in a diamond plate pattern) The backing between the plates is 5mm thick craft foam, which is the same material.
Hand-painted with craft-grade acrylics, though in the future I'm going to see how it goes foregoing the grey paint, as it is essentially the same color as the foam. All the forum posts on working with foam warn against using acrylics on EVA because it will crack. I don't know why so many people are saying that, but in my experience it is totally flexible. This was important as it needs to bend to be worn. For rigid projects I use spray paint if the colors are available. That's what I tried with the first piece and, while it won't affect the armor, it formed hairline cracks where it is bend. Either way, it's finished with a thin layer of matte acrylic clear coat from a rattle can.
EVA is also available as "craft foam" and comes in 12"x18" sheets in thicknesses up to 5mm for around a buck. It accepts super glue wonderfully, which is what this project was assembled with. Hot glue is also very good with it. For the thickness of this armor I cut my pieces out on a band saw, but hobby knives or xactos work great, too. Just plan to go through a lot of blades and try to cut through the entire piece in one pass or your edge will be rough. To form it, I just get it hot and flexible with a cheap heat gun then bend it to the shape I want as it cools. You can also heat it up in an oven, but I've had mixed results with this due to edges burning and getting too hot overall to work with. Heating it also eliminates some of the texture of the foam, making it smoother and slightly less porous, which helps when it comes to painting.
Taking orders on Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/179628528…
Image size
1125x1500px 1.32 MB
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Comments17
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So you used 5mm foam to join the plates togather?