How to make armor like in the kamen rider series (especially IXA) Helo??

Question

"Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me out. I am a big fan of this series called “Kamen Rider” (Rider Kiva). I luv their armors. I want to make my own for a movie me and my brother are making but I don’t know much about making armor like that. I have read online about using either craft foam, paper mache, cardboard, liquid plastic, sintra. or wonderflex. I was wondering what you guys would use to make something like this (see links below to get and idea of what im talking about. Some are videos and some are pictures). Another question I have is how would you do some of the effects seen in the videos (if you can do them)? Thanx."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYR9hNc-xuw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXPFLU1BQAQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZWmd6LMgys

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c371/TByGoodman/ap_20080226081705564.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/chronoxiong/Sentai/KamenRiderDen-O7.jpg

Answer 1

First, I'd start with a leather suit, tight fitting, and leather boots. Ideally, I would use liquid plastic, but the shaping to match the armor exactly might be hard. Paper mache might be easier for just entertainment purposes, along with a LOT of paint, which would be necessary for paper mache. For the IXA Burst Mode effect, I'd think hiding some hinge under the eye plate would be the best. Make sure you mold the helmet enough so it's breathable. Although the tricky part would be making the eye hole, so leave at least a slit and work on making a thin layer of plastic later.

If you mean the effect how IXA and Den-O get their armor on after the henshin sequence, I don't see that happening. Instead of trying to replicate the sound effect, why don't you try finding the actual belts that Toei makes in Japan and buy one? I'm sure people would be willing to ship.