Skyrim Cosplay - Iron Armor in progress

Armor (chest) - Iron Armor 
For my Dovahkiin cosplay
Other parts here: 

• Helmet
• Gauntlets
• Battle Axe

Photo: The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda

I have seen others make this armor out of wonderflex and thermoplastics. Due to limits concerning time, budget and availability I went for a known approach - paper mache. See post about Big Sister helmet for more info about paper mache.

My mold this time was my tailor bust which I covered in plastic.

Example tailor bust

Wrapping my Bust in plastic and putting on layer upon layer of paper mache

The dried up piece with trimmed edges. To stiffen the paper mold you could paint on a layer of epoxy and glass fiber on the back. A simpler, but not as effective method is to cover the inside with duct tape, as I did. 

Front and back ready for details and filler. First coat the molds with filler and sand. Then glue on cardboard details. Than cover everything with filler again. 

Back piece primed and sanded. 

Along the lower edges I have attached a new layer of cardboard, covering it in filler to smooth out the edges. 

Weathering, schmearing out black paint. Elevated areas (details) are just layers of cardboard glued to the original cast and covered with filler.

The front and back pieces are attached together using skai strips and velcro. The shoulder guard is made from paper mache over a balloon with cardboard details, too bad I don't have pictures of this process.

Skyrim loot. 

Photo: Kake Yamamura/Kakeboksen

Next up - Iron Gauntlets