Life is like a box of Grenades

Well, School will be over within a week or so.  I have yet to get on my old laptop and use my skype account though.  Maybe in a month or so.  Found a neat TV series on Netflix Called "The Finder".  
 
I've started a new project.  Larger and more complex than the other pepakura models I've created.  32 pages.  I've had the PDF file of it for maybe... 8 months or so by now.  It's somewhat hard to visualize currently, since I just started it a couple weeks ago.  I just hope it isn't too big.  I would like to add sound effects and lighting, but I've never done such a thing before.  The former, especially, would be more difficult.  I looked around radioshack, and apparently they have blue and orange LEDs, So doing the latter is within the realm of possibility If I ever figure out how to do it and feel inspired.  Well, I've probably tipped you off to what it is by now.  The skyrim sword is just laying on a sheet of plywood,  doing nothing right now.  Puzzled how to reinforce it still.  I'm thinking of using a plastic mini M&M snack thing's plastic cylinder box thing to fit inside the handle, but I'm still speculating how I can get it to work.  
 
I watched "Shadows" yesterday, and Re-watched "Lab Ratt".  Pretty awesome.  I also found out that several history channel documentaries are on a certain video website.  
 
EDIT:  I can't believe I forgot to mention, yesterday's Planetary Annihilation Livestream was awesome.  I can't wait to see more combat

I felt compelled to post something here, even if I'll regret it later.
 
Beware: Rambling.
 
So, I've been considering how I should explain my absence from the forums from January to March, but it's quite difficult for me to think about the Horrific experiences I had then, and chances are nobody noticed me gone, or really cares anyway, so whatever.
 
So, I'll just state some things that have happened recently.
 
IRL-Unrelated:  Participated in a research study on OCD/Autism/Imnotreallysurewhich this week at, I think, the University of North Carolina (Earning $110, although I have yet to cash the check).  I may be wrong about the exact area, for I really wasn't paying attention to the location.  My brother gave me his 2nd Generation, 8 Gb iPod Touch (after he gets a 32 Gb fourth Gen one).  Bought that Lego Star Wars set with the small artillery installation and commando droids.  Considering buying Super Crate Box iOS after realizing it's compatible with my iPod.  Caught up on all the Planetary Annihilation News.  Considering Pre-ordering Planetary Annihilation, but not sure If I should get the $40 Pre-order, or the $60 one (Which has Beta Access).  Not really sure if It will run on my Grandfather's MacBook, or if I'll own the Laptop by the time the game is released (Due to a back surgery and other unforeseen calamities, He isn't sure if or when he will be able to get a newer laptop and give the old one to me).  I bought Three Tiger Lazer Tag Guns for around $30 on Ebay a few weeks ago.  Two of them were green Team Ops guns, and the other was a Blue Phoenix LTX (With shotgun attachment thingie).  This adds to my arsenal of two other Phoenix LTX guns I got last year.  Now I wish I had 18 more AA Batteries so they would work.
 
RPing:  I've still been trying to read the many months of BZPRPG I've missed, but have had limited time to do some.  I'm still only at the end of January on some topics.  Until I finish reading to the current point, I won't be RPing.  Having the ability to read it on my iPod Touch might speed my efforts, though.
 
Pepakura:  I've been working on the Steel Sword model (From Skyrim) the past few weeks, and am thinking of how to reinforce it.  But I'm feeling really depressed about my novice-like attempts at all these creations, and it might just sit uncompleted, gathering dust in the basement for who knows how long.  If readers want, I might post pictures, but I'm not going to waste time on that if nobody really cares anyway.  It's embarrassing to me when I talk about this hobby with other people, and because my Grandfather can't lift anything larger than 5 lbs. for the next year and a half (Due to his back surgery), cutting plywood or a stick for the handle is out of the question.  I'm thinking of building another Pakari.  Oh, and I built an X-Wing pilot helmet a month or so ago, but I'm not sure how I should reinforce it, for the way I did my Medieval Helmet project seems too cheesy now.
 
Um, yeah.  Forgive the rambling.

Well, not too much has happened this weekend, but I did take a lot of pictures.
 
The slight amount of Paper Mache I put on the Avohkii last week is dry, and has added some structural support.
 
The Picture is a bit dark
 
 
I put the final coat of the clay-like stuff on the forehead of the Helmet on friday, this time sculpting it more with my hands instead of a trowel.  I think it turned out fine, even though it isn't entirely dry now.  I sanded a bit of the parts that were previously finished, as well.  It doesn't seem overly large anymore, and fits almost perfectly.  For some pictures I decided to wield an old PVC pipe that was left over from the construction of this house.  I also noticed an old circular metal sled, that might work as a shield...
 
All the armor pieces currently made
PVC Polearm
Helmet on
Sled Thingie
Helmet
 
Also, I took a few more pictures with the pipe as Vakama's staff(Yeah... it's shorter than I thought it would be :/ )/Kohlii Stick.
 
I've continuing to Dissect Pringles cans into strips of cardboard.  I have made this semi-spherical frame.  I could made the other side and attach it, making a sphere, then coat it with Paper Mache.  Kohlii Ball, perhaps?
 
Scraps
Object
 
Well, that's all for this weekend.  I'm not sure If I'll finish anything next weekend, for I'll be on Vacation most of next week.
 
 

Unfortunately this glorious weekend must come to a close, but I did get some progress done during the past 2 1/2 days.
I put two coats of paper mache on the helmet, one on the eye-nosepiece,and another on an ear area.  I didn't do  the forehead, in fear the weight would cause it to cave in.  Next weekend I'll put on the last coat and then sand it.  As usual, some pictures are blurry.
 
Picture of the nose.
 
I've been dissecting pringles cans recently and making little cardboard strips.  I've been glueing these together out of boredom.
 
Pile
Stuff
 
And I put the clayish stuff in some hard-to-reach places on the Avohkii, after hot glueing the sides a bit for stability.
 
Drying.

Well, Unfortunately last weekend I didn't have time to post my progress.  I'll just tell what I did for this weekend and last.  Unfortunately, some pictures are dark.  My grandfather restocked the Clay-ish paper-mache this week.
 
Noble Huna:  Well, I girded my loins and improvised.  It was fairly easier than I expected, and turned out okay after hot-gluing the beard to the mask.  Today we primed it.
 
(Pictures)
 
On me
Holding it
 
Companion cube:  I'm declaring it Finished!  I made a little stencil and have painted all the hearts of the box.  I might paint the dark part with a bit darker grey sometime, but for now it's done.
 
(Pictures)
 
Enchilada!
 
Shoulder plates:  I sanded and painted the left shoulder plate.  The "Hammered Copper" color is great and the paper-mache really looks like you can see all the hammer-strokes from the blacksmith, making it look awesome.  I did all the paper-mache for the right plate, and have sanded it to my satisfaction.  We primed it tonight and will paint it tomorrow.  
 
(Pictures)
 
Holding it
On my shoulder
 
Kakama:  I used some left over paper-mache to fill in the harder to reach cracks on this, which is especially good for the holes that used to be near the mouthpiece.
 
(Pictures)
 
Mouthpiece
Top
Overall
 
Helmet:  My grandfather finished the inside paper-mache this week and re-primed it.  I've been doing the outside paper-mache this weekend, and have about 2/5 done.  
 
(Pictures)
 
Front
Back
 
 
Well, that's all for now!

Well, after a horrible thanksgiving, I've made some progress.  I experimented with the paper mache detail thing I've been pondering the past few weeks.  It's looking good so far.  Yesterday I put on the coat of the clayish paper mache stuff, and put in a dozen or so lacerations, dents, and notches in it, to look like battle damage and whatnot.  It dried faster than I thought, and I sanded it to satisfaction today.  I took some pictures about halfway through the process.  This is the picture of the side after I sanded it somewhat, and here is the picture of the other side which at the time of the picture taking, wasn't sanded.  Here's a picture of it on my shoulder.  After lunch we went to the local Home Depot and bought the spray paint.  The kind we will use is a "Hammered copper", and looks like it will work out good. I also added a few more support strips on the helmet, so it will retain the intended shape as my grandfather paper maches it's inside during the next few weeks.  We are waiting until tomorrow morning to paint the shoulder plate, just to give it more time to fully dry.  Tonight I'll paper mache the inside of the other shoulder plate.  I'll post a blog entry tomorrow with pictures of the painted shoulder armor, if all goes to plan.

Well, that's all for now.

So, This weekend I've unfortunately only had today to work, due to yesterday and friday afternoon, my Grandparents went to a conference or something.  But, I've got a bit done.

Viper MK II:  I Finished Glueing the Wing and attached it, so it's complete!

(Pictures)

Front
Back

Helmet:  So my grandfather managed to have the time this week to Do some Paper mache.  He's done the bottom half, and it feels a bunch stronger now.  Hopefully he can get the rest done this week.  The irregularities caused by the paper mache process actually add to the battle-tested look by making bumps and dents in it, which is awesome.  While I was here I Did all the paper Mache on one shoulder plate, so when I get back next weekend I'll use it to experiment with the clay-like paper mache's detail method.  

(Pictures)

Shoulder plate
Inside of helmet
Another look inside


I didn't have time to add more paint to the Companion cube, but I'll do that next weekend.  For now, I'll just be putting all my efforts into completing the armor I have built until I get more Cardstock in January.  I'll have more time next weekend because I'll get a few days off this week of school for a holiday or something.

Okay, So here is the progress I've achieved this weekend:

For the Greek helmet:  I glued a small strip of paper between the two sides of the cheek plates to keep them in the correct positions while my grandfather will paper mache the helmet (hopefully) this week.  We've also hot glued two pieces of the same foam/cardboard hybrid I used to support the companion cube (Credit goes to him for that brilliant Idea) to the cheek plates.  I'm touching up a bit of the lining on the bottom by re-glueing a few tabs that weren't entirely glued properly.  I also printed out the two pieces of the back head twice again, which I assembled yesterday as makeshift shoulder plates.  My grandfather said that sometime after it's fully paper mached we can buy some metallic bronze paint to paint the armor.  Also, it seems less big now than I originally thought, so I'm glad about it's current size.  I'm hoping sometime I can figure out how some other people are able to to Incredible detail like some people have put on this thing I found in a google search. (I wish I knew how people did that!)

(Pictures)

Helmet in comparison to shoulder plates.  
Tie between cheeks.
Foam/cardboard slices.
Primed shoulder plates.


For the Companion Cube:  Recently I've just been adding more layers of light grey paint to the corners and sides of the Companion Cube, So there hasn't been much progress for that overall.

For the Pakari:  Last weekend Due to a commercial paper mache that is sorta like clay (And takes 50 times longer to dry) we have paper mached the pakari to my satisfaction.  We have Primed over the paper mache and now I just need to paint it to finish the job.  That's the problem.  I'm not sure what color I should paint it, So I want to hear your opinion, for that might influence my overall decision.  I'm split between painting it Light blue like Takua or Black like Onua (Although I'm leaning towards Takua).  So it would be nice if you would comment your opinions on which color you like best.

(Picture)

Re-Primed backside.

For the Kualsi:  We are adding the same /foam/cardboard thingie on the long pieces of the kualsi for stabiltity, and Repriming it.  

(Picture)

Cardboard/Foam Slices placing.


Also, on a more unrelated note, I have beat my current save file in Hammerfight (Without any uses of the gold Bulla ) after a few weekends of toiling away for the glory and honor of doing so.  I might retrace my steps and do the other story combinations for fun sometime.

Unfortunately due to budget constraints, I don't have enough cardstock to make anything else until I'm resupplied in january, so until then I'll focus on painting, paper macheing, and whatnot on the projects I already have finished.  When I do get resupplied in January, My order of projects from then on will be: Portal gun, Steel sword, Ancient Nord torso armor, and then the Nightingale blade.  By then I'll probably have found something else to do after that .

Also, In late January My grandfather has decided that he will buy either a new Macbook Pro or a Mac Air, so he will let me use his old mac in my room then .  

Please comment your opinions and other thoughts.

So, I printed this out yesterday, but didn't start cutting it or anything until around noon today.  It was surprisingly easy to build and I glued it together in just a few sessions.  Later at some point I might paint it yellowish.  Again, thanks to CrunchBiteNuva for getting my a Format of this file that my printer can use.

Holding it
Holding it to light
Size comparison with remote

Also, I did this, just for kicks:

Amon is Spartan!

Also, I'm now attempting to paint the light grey on the Companion Cube.  Right now I'm letting it dry to see if I need to add more white to the paint mix.

So, yesterday I printed and completed my helmet thingie.  It was surprisingly easy and simple.  Although, it's an inch or so too big on all the axis.  First time is not the Charm, apparently

(Pictures:)

How it would be nice for it to fit
How it actually fits
It

:3