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After posting several articles about characters or cosplay props in Naruto and Bleach, we begin to focus on Devil Kings today. For cosplayers, it’ll be interesting to make props personally. Here, tips on making Devil Kings Date Masamune’s armor are shared with you.
Required materials:
1. Two large pieces of black EVA with skin on, not exceeding 5mm. They are cheap and easy to be used.
2. Black, golden yellow spray paint and black propylene.
3. White latex and hot melt glue.
4. Cap stretcher (it’s not a must-have item and difficult to be found. I got it from my pirate hat purchased on Halloween).
Tools:
Knife (big and small blades are both needed), abrasive paper, brush, awl, kinds of measuring and line tools, calculator and various small items.
Now, let’s begin to make the armor.
1st, make the “eggshell” on the top of the head. It’s a must to make a model first, just by paper. Six triangles with the same shape are spliced together. As the yellow line in the picture shows, the radian of the triangle reflects the final shape of the hat. The part marked by blue line reflects the diameter of the hat. The length and width can be adjusted depending on you.
2nd, cut an EVA board according to the model (it’s better to buy a little more EVA boards and use parts with smooth surface. It’s not recommended to use the side without skin because it will be a time-consuming job to paint the latex, propylene and finally apply gloss oil, even though it really looks stunning.
3rd, splice six pieces. As they are thin, they will easily deform while bearing some force. Thus, press the model while using hot melt glue.
4th, as edge angles seem obvious on the surface, it’s better to use a hat stretcher. Just glue it onto the model.
5th, use middle-sized abrasive paper to burnish edge angles. You will find abrasive paper is unable to burnish those edges. Just exert your strength.
6th, a smooth hat has been finished, looking like this.
7th, make the armor around the neck. Cut three strips with a gradually increasing length, which will be glued outside the hat. Then, dig holes on those strips. Holes on different strips are diverse in order to be easily connected with other two strips.
8th, as the photo implies, splice all strips. Remember to paste a lathy strip on the place marked by yellow line.
9th, make “ears” on the helmet. After the shape is cut, prick seven holes with a little large diameter by awl.
10th, featheredge the back to be bended more conveniently.
11th, use hot melt glue on one side. Well control your force please. Pinch it when the glue is half dried. Then, paste the black propylene and wait till it dries. Stick it onto the helmet then.
12th, evenly paint a layer of white latex inside the armor. This will make EVA become hard and fixed, much easier to be painted. Then, two strips are used on the helmet. One is tied up and down. Another is tied front and back.
13th, make the tasses. Pay close attention to the radian and angles on the tasses.
14th, make the armor around the knees. First, cut a paper model with cambered edges. In this case, radian will form while being glued together.
15th, the shape of armor on knees looks like this.
16th, like this picture shows to you, connect three pieces in order.
17th, cut EVA boards. Pay attention to angles on calves.
18th, cut a concave groove on the EVA board to make angles. Well control your force and the size of the groove.
19th, bend at the groove and bond by hot melt glue. An angle has been completed.
20th, use hot melt glue on junction places. Then, roast it on fire and press it by fingers to fix it. Baked EVA boards can be also functional in fixing the shape.
21st, the final pattern looks like this. To make it seem more similar with the original look in the game, just make edges by hot melt glue all around.
22nd, make the shuko. Above methods can be used on making the paper model and EVA board.
23rd, shuko is a little troublesome to be made because of the columnar shape. Several wedge-shaped incisions are made on the back of wrist to facilitate the bending. Paint white latex and wait till it dries to fix the shape.
24th, make the breastplate. Two pieces of EVA boards are connected together. A small radian forms in the middle. This seems more handsome, XD. Don’t make an orbicular breastplate because it will seem so fat. This one can be worn just with ropes tied on four corners.
25th, varnish the whole armor by black paint. Cut a crooked moon. Varnish it with yellow spray paint and glue it onto the helmet. Black propylene and golden propylene will be used to draw decorative patterns. Armor on the upper arms and thighs are easier to be made. The final shape looks like this.
It’s challenging, yet interesting to make cosplay props by ourselves. More tutorials on making cosplay costumes, wigs and weapons can be found on miccostumes.com.
