TUTORIAL: Armor using Crayola Model Magic by Xero-Cosplay

The pauldrons cost about $25 to make. A 2lb bucket of Model Magic will run between $16-$20, 3 different kinds of craft paint (about $1.25 each), and sandpaper ($1.50 at the dollar store).

Model Magic will not stick to anything on it's own. Once it's dry, I've had success attaching it to other objects using a generous amount of hot glue or superglue. But note, if the piece is bumped hard enough, the clay that has the glue attached to it will break away from the rest of the piece.

If you are adding details to a bracer, I would add a thin layer of thermo-plastic (or similar) to the inside for stability. It will keep the piece from bending and cracking, and that will also keep it from breaking away from the bracer.

Thank you! A lot of people think it can't be sanded, but it just take super fine paper and some patience. It's worth the effort!

That's awesome, I'm so glad to hear it helped! I'd love to see photos when you're done!

The collar was pretty thick due to all of the details so it was able to flex slightly when I put it on. Not very much, but just enough to get it around my neck. If you make it thick, and are extremely careful with it, it may be possible to make a chest piece out of it.

I just linked this above, but this cosplay's armor set might also be relevant to your interests - forums.henshinjustice.com/show…

So sorry for the incredibly late reply; I fell off the internet for a while. I would not recommend Model Magic for an entire armor set, although I've seen it done. Some people coat the piece with resin to give it strength since even thick pieces can be subject to cracking. This could be an option if you'd like to go that route. Otherwise, be very careful with how it's worn and stored.

Super glad the tutorial was helpful to you!

Just found the cosplay I was thinking of- this girl made Priss from Bubblegum Crisis completely out of Model Magic:
forums.henshinjustice.com/show…

That is an excellent question. I've never tried re-wetting model magic after it's fully dry, but considering how fragile it is, I'm not surprised it would fall apart. I know Akuriko (akuriko.deviantart.com/) created her armor for Zelda out of model magic and then covered it with resin. While I haven't tried it myself, it could be a great way to reinforce it and seal it from moisture.

Thanks for the feedback! And you're very welcome!

I use white school glue ("Elmer's glue"), just the cheap stuff they sell at most stores for kid's crafts. I brush it on the Model Magic straight from the bottle. If it's too thick or sticky, I'll pour some of the glue into a cup and thin it with water. I usually use 2 parts glue to 1 part water if this happens. The model magic will dry the same, it just might need an extra coat since the first coat was thinner.

Thanks for the feedback!

For the larger pieces, I took the understructure out because it was thick enough to hold it's form. I also found that if I didn't take it out, the cardboard would absorb the moisture and cause the MM underneath to stay wet longer. With the outside drying faster than the inside, large cracks would appear all over the piece. Although if some cracks occur, it's possible to fill them in with more MM once the rest of the piece is thoroughly dry.

I made this tutorial because Model Magic is so hard to work with. If you need any advice, just let me know- I'm always happy to help!

You're very welcome! Model Magic is tough to work with so I thought this would make it less intimidating to people. Just like any building material, it has it's limitations and advantages. If you have any questions, just let me know!

Thanks for the feedback! I completely agree with you- every costume is different so having an array of methods is great when trying to find one that works.