Pepakura for Armor and Props

What is Pepakura?

Pepakura is a software program that "allows you to create paper craft models from 3D data."1 Essentially, you take a 3D model from any 3D modeling software, put it into Pepakura, and the software will create a flat image of the model that can then be printed, cut out, and glued together with tabs to create a paper model. Another word for this type of modeling is paper crafting.

Pepakura use is very popular with the 405th.com where users share experiences making Halo armor, where a lot of my information comes from.

Note: In order to successfully use Pepakura for costume making you either need to know how to use 3D modeling software or find downloads of previous files people have made for your specific costume.

What Will You Need?

In order to start paper crafting you will need

• Printed out parts (on card stock)
• X-Acto knife
• Pens
• Rulers or bone folders
• Cutting board2

Since rvb4life over at 405th.com has made a great tutorial, I will just forward you to his post since it is a lengthy process.

Tip: If you plan to do a lot of paper crafting, it may be wise to invest in a craft ROBO that "can be used for cutting heavy cardstock, paper and sticker film as well as pen plotting."3 Using this machine gets you straight to the folding and gluing, and seeing as how there can be a lot of cutting with large or detailed props, this can be a huge time saver.

 

What Do You Do With a Finished Paper Craft? 

Once you have your paper craft all glued up and ready to go, it will need to be strengthened and smoothed. Sigma-LS provides another great tutorial and warns that card stock should be the paper of choice, as mentioned above.4

Sigma-LS also has another tutorial for using a rondo, "a mix of bondo and resin" to add detail to your armor or props.5

After you strengthen and detail your prop or armor then all you have left to do is paint. Metallic paints and spray paints can be very helpful, and in the case of colored armor can be used as a base coat that is painted over and then sanded down to on the edges to create a weathered look. The paint you can be a bit more creative with and have fun.

For Further Information

If the methods above don't fit your liking then the 405th website and cosplay.com have great forums with lots of helpful users that will be happy to answer any other armor or prop construction methods you may be wondering about. But, if you do use these sites, make sure you use the search option before bothering the users with a question that has already been asked and answered.

Resources

1. Products Information. (n.d.). Pepakura. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/productinfo/product_index.html
2. rvb4life. (2007, November 2). Tutorial: Pepakura building for dummies (or noobs). 405th.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/8791-Tutorial-Pepakura-building-for-dummies-%28or-noobs%29 
3. User's Manual. (n.d.). Craft ROBO. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from www.graphteccorp.com/support/manuals/craftrobo/CC100m-UM-152.pdf 
4. Sigma-LS. (2007, March 3). Pepakura Fiberglass and Smoothing Tutorial. 405th.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/1525-Pepakura-Fiberglass-and-Smoothing-Tutorial 
5. Sigma-LS. (2007, March 3). Muddy Secrets Tutorial. 405th.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011, from http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/7215-Muddy-Secrets-Tutorial