Martin Hodges
26-10-2009, 03:20
hi all,
long time lurker here
Not sure if this technically falls into Diablo Fan-Art, but certainly Diablo related. I'm a metalworker and armourer, and I've made numerous Greek inspired Muscle Breastplates (examples of my other pieces at flickr here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67947682@N00/) ). I've always liked the Amazon's armour and I have been wanting to make a female version of the muscle breastplates, so though this piece isn't meant to be direct representation of Diablo II's amazon, it is certainly related to and inspired by D2's amazon.
When the project began, the intent was to make the piece as a wearable breastplate with the neckholes and arm holes cut similarly to my other breastplates. however, after I began the project, I really liked the challenge of sculpting the collar bones and neck, so in the end what began as a breastplate turned into pure sculpture.
The piece is life size and modeled after the proportions of a couple of well known models (a penny if you can guess which ones :P ). The material is 22 gauge mild carbon steel. That's pretty thin compared to the steel I typically use for armour. The piece was cold formed using roughly a dozen different hammers over and anvil and several other forms. The steel was annealed (softened with the appropriate temperature torch) periodically to prevent the steel from work-hardening and cracking.
Overall, I am content with my work on this piece. There are several places that I know aren't properly formed. The joint at the collarbone and shoulder muscle is kinda off, and It was difficult achieving the proper balance in the ribcage area...Too smooth and it made the torso look too muscular and masculine...too boney and the piece started to look emaciated and unhealthy. The breasts while large are (I feel, others may disagree) still within the realm of possibility (they were based on proportions of a real model afterall). One area that I'm definitely going to improve when I make the next one will be the transition from the top chest area to the neck. Right now, the chest is still very vertical and changes almost 90 degrees when it goes past the collarbone, and I think if the upper chest had sloped back more this area would be more realistic. Also, the torso ended up being very long, and though this is based off the proportions of the model I was using, the piece just looks too tall...it looks to me like there's too much space between the breasts and the collar bone...
About 20-22 hours were spent on the forming, and though I still have a few adjustments and tweaking to do...smoothing out some bumpy areas, I consider the piece mostly finished. But i'll take what i've learned from this one and try to make the next one that much better.
Hope you guys like it. Comments and criticism are welcome (though lets keep the comments mature).
M
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=235&pictureid=940
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=235&pictureid=941
long time lurker here
Not sure if this technically falls into Diablo Fan-Art, but certainly Diablo related. I'm a metalworker and armourer, and I've made numerous Greek inspired Muscle Breastplates (examples of my other pieces at flickr here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67947682@N00/) ). I've always liked the Amazon's armour and I have been wanting to make a female version of the muscle breastplates, so though this piece isn't meant to be direct representation of Diablo II's amazon, it is certainly related to and inspired by D2's amazon.
When the project began, the intent was to make the piece as a wearable breastplate with the neckholes and arm holes cut similarly to my other breastplates. however, after I began the project, I really liked the challenge of sculpting the collar bones and neck, so in the end what began as a breastplate turned into pure sculpture.
The piece is life size and modeled after the proportions of a couple of well known models (a penny if you can guess which ones :P ). The material is 22 gauge mild carbon steel. That's pretty thin compared to the steel I typically use for armour. The piece was cold formed using roughly a dozen different hammers over and anvil and several other forms. The steel was annealed (softened with the appropriate temperature torch) periodically to prevent the steel from work-hardening and cracking.
Overall, I am content with my work on this piece. There are several places that I know aren't properly formed. The joint at the collarbone and shoulder muscle is kinda off, and It was difficult achieving the proper balance in the ribcage area...Too smooth and it made the torso look too muscular and masculine...too boney and the piece started to look emaciated and unhealthy. The breasts while large are (I feel, others may disagree) still within the realm of possibility (they were based on proportions of a real model afterall). One area that I'm definitely going to improve when I make the next one will be the transition from the top chest area to the neck. Right now, the chest is still very vertical and changes almost 90 degrees when it goes past the collarbone, and I think if the upper chest had sloped back more this area would be more realistic. Also, the torso ended up being very long, and though this is based off the proportions of the model I was using, the piece just looks too tall...it looks to me like there's too much space between the breasts and the collar bone...
About 20-22 hours were spent on the forming, and though I still have a few adjustments and tweaking to do...smoothing out some bumpy areas, I consider the piece mostly finished. But i'll take what i've learned from this one and try to make the next one that much better.
Hope you guys like it. Comments and criticism are welcome (though lets keep the comments mature).
M
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=235&pictureid=940
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=235&pictureid=941