ByYourCommand.net

Hello and welcome to the first installment of a year long series on how to build a Cylon. This posting will be updated once a month on my build up of a Cylon from the ground level entry point of a vacuum formed Cylon armor. I will each month provide information on how to go about helping you, and others build your wearable Cylon armor suit. I'll start with the basics on how to trim the formed plastic pieces and maybe all the way to a chromed Cylon (funds allowed for that) This guild is to help those that want to tackle the task of owning a Cylon, but aren't sure what to do. This will detail how to trim, and build your Cylon helmet, back pack, chest piece, arm gauntlet, and all other armor pieces that are part of your Cylon suit. I'll also site sources that will be able to help you acquire some of the items you will need. This tutor will also show you how to build an under suit. The single hardest item to build in a screen accurate Cylon. Yes this build will be a screen accurate Cylon. I will be using my screen used original Cylon as my reference to build the Cylon. I won't be using (unless needed) the original Cylon in a photo reference on this build. I am using a styrene formed plastic for my year long project. I have selected this material over the fiber glass version, because the original Cylons were made in formed in plastic, and not fiber glass. This build is a bit different than the fiber glass version, but over all accurate enough to follow along.
I will welcome questions and comments along the way as the build take place, but once completed this will be posted in a closed forum.
First is a lay out of a complete Cylon formed in raw format. Next month I'll start out with the trimming of a section or two of the plastic pieces.

Where did you order the plastic armor from?

Spadinator wrote:Where did you order the plastic armor from?

I'll go over the sources when I make the 1st posting. I also cover the bases of what type of kits are out there.

Copy that....

The 12 steps pictorial on building a Cylon suit.

The 12 steps over a period of 12 months (1 year) will guide
you on how to build your own Cylon suit. I'll explain step by step
via instructions and photos how to trim the armor. Brand name
items off the shelf were used in the original suit, and I will list the sources of these items at a later date.
Each month a new step will be introduced.

The first 5 - 7 (months) steps will be focused on the trim,
and the building of the armor. The latter steps will focus on the
extra items, like battery belt, boots, gloves, under suit,
electronic eye, and the skirt. I'll start out slow at first
to give beginners time to get up to speed, and also this will give those who want a suit time to purchase one. Please do not hesitate to ask questions along the way. I'd rather go too slow than too fast.
This pictorial will stay posted, but closed to further questions
once the suit is finished.

First you will need the Cylon armor.
Once in a while you can find
a kit here and there on eBay, or you can contact Jim over at
WeGottaFindEarth (starbuck@gate.net). He has a full Cylon suit
you can buy. Jim also supplied the suit I am using for this build.
A fiberglass suit is also available, but I have tried to contact the seller 3 times and have not yet received a reply. So I won't recommend that source as a place to purchase a Cylon suit.

While this is a simple project for some builders, for others
(most of you following this tutorial) this is very much needed
information. This also gives some insight for others who didn't
have all the answers they needed in order to accurately finish their suit.


January's first step is the cutting, trimming, and sanding of the
battery belt boxes. The Cylon actors wore a battery belt to
supply power to the eye scanner. This unique looking belt
was the perfect touch to the Cylon suit. The belt was made by a Hollywood based camera man battery company long gone in the history books The G & M Power battery belt can be found on eBay once in a while. This is one of the more difficult 1:1 screen accurate items to find, so I started with this first to give some of yo a chance to find that belt over the course of this tutor.
Later, I'll also supply as supplementals, a few alternatives for the belt.

The G & M Power battery belt has 7 battery compartments, thus the
7 battery belt box covers.


The control compartment is not covered.
Review the 7 battery box covers. Note, not every original box is cut
the same, but I prefer the slight curved look in the middle box
high lighted in red. There is no right or wrong, since there are 3
different cuts. Using a black marker

(

I have a Super Sharpie, or
Marks-a-lot or just about anything else works just as good),
outline the basic pattern of the box with the marker. Do this 7 times
for all 7 boxes.

The next step is to score the marked area with a box cutter, or
some type of cutting blade. Be careful not to cut yourself.


You won't
need a lot of pressure, since this is a scoring only. Once you have
scored the marked areas you can take a pair of pliers, or a crescent
wrench or what ever works to break away the unneeded area. If you
accidentally cut off a section that was needed, save it. It can be repaired later.
Now I scored the areas marked in red. Then using the pliers I bent
back the opposite corners.


A single clean break section was removed.

Detailing out the area can be done with sand paper, a roto tool
or also a file can be used if more sanding is needed. If you are going
to chrome this be sure you don't leave any scratches of any type. You should try
to have the surface as smooth as possible. Using a fine grit piece of sand paper
for all finish work is best.



Watch each month as I post new steps on building your Cylon armor.

Thanks and good luck.
Also check out YouTube for a short video on these steps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB3YSHgO6b8

The February photos of the progress build didn't come out. I'll be posting a few cross reference photos on Friday the 29th 2008.
Dale

Any more progress? Anxiously awaiting!!!!

Spadinator wrote:Any more progress? Anxiously awaiting!!!!

Hi Spadinator
Sorry about the delay, the camera didn't register most the photos when I made the last step, so I had to go back and try to wing in on the finished items. Now the photo gallery won't except photos, but a highly trained team of monkeys is on the case. Time to run to the store to get more bananas. Updates to follow soon.
Dale

Finally after a bid delay I have updated the builders forum. I did a video this time, because of a problem I had with the camera. Sorry I lost the photos (bad sim card) that I took while originally doing the step by step work.
Check out the blog, or YouTube.
http://byyourcommand.net/blog/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3O0KrFVySw

Hey Dale, thanks so much for providing this awesome resource. Well done!

Your welcome, and sorry about the delay. Technical difficulties please stand.

+1 on the thanks to Dale!

I gotta say, I have no armor and am thinking of trying to build my own so this is 80% interesting to me... then you showed the chromed part and I'm HOOKED

Thanks Dale!

Dave

I also want to know where you ordered the Cylon plastic parts.

can you PM me on the info??

Contact CORA, he can help you out. Sorry to say the project is on hold also.

Sad to hear that.

I