Mood Box: Final!

While waiting for the final project to cure, I worked on my mood box. Yeah, this is the current (and final) version of it! The mood box was made slightly larger than the final, so as to allow the final to fit inside it. It was made from acrylic plates (known locally as perspex) that formed a hexagonal box.

Six LEDs were wired onto the bottom of the box. These were activated by a press-on switch in the center of the box. When the box was placed on a horizontal surface, the switch activated the LEDs. The LEDs were connected to a custom battery pack that housed two 9V batteries. The pack supplied 18V of electricity in total to power the LEDs.

This is the final appearance of the box. The walls were "frosted" by using spray paint. I used Royal Ivory for the effect. The box's base and cover were not frosted. The cover was attached to the box by means of a metal piano hinge riveted to the cover and one of the walls. In this picture below, the light did not diffuse to the top of the box due to the final project resting inside it. The final project was supported by six support walls that also helped to strengthen the box's structure.

At last, my mood box is completed. It underwent many changes in concepts and design. The final concept conveys a sense of "nature".

Final Project: Updates!

I'm back with some updates for my Final Project. Previously, the pyramids were made from resin triangles which were attached to form the structure. The problem was there were gaps in between the plates. I tried to fill them with resin, but that resulted in a textured surface. So I decided to make solid resin cast pyramids instead. Below are the masters for the solid pyramids. They are made from a mounting board base coated in automotive putty and glazing putty. The one on the left is the raw master, with the sanded one at right.

These are the completed pyramid masters. The dents left by the automotive putty were filled in using glazing putty. The master was then sanded using 240 grit sandpaper. This was then wet sanded using 1000 grit sandpaper to achieve the surface seen below.

The masters were then attached to a mounting board base and retaining walls were set up to prevent the silicone rubber molding material from flowing out. This also produced a strong and stable free-standing mold that could be used more effectively.

This is the mold, awaiting curing. The silicone rubber was mixed in small batches (about 2 tablespoon fulls per batch) and poured onto the master until they are totally covered. I used about 500g of silicone rubber for this.

Once the rubber had cured, the mold was pulled out from the master and this is how it looks like. I placed small beads that represented risk (dice), perseverance (tortoise) and achievement (star) in each of the three-sided pyramids. The pic below shows the LED being propped for casting. To achieve a "floating" effect with the beads, my other half told me to pour in a bit of resin, let it cure and drop the bead in it. This was then topped up with more resin that completely covered the LED. The four-sided pyramids only contained LEDs, so there was no need for the two-stage casting. A small piece of PVC sheet was also placed at one of the corners to act as a hinge.

After the 9 pyramids have been casted, it was time to put them together. The four-sided pyramids were each attached to two 3-sided pyramids... err... tetrahedrons. The two terminal pyramids have one hinge each to be attached to the central pyramid. The design mimics the craft board mock-up that I made earlier.

This is how the final shape of the structure looks like. This is the raw stage, and it still needs to be trimmed and then the LED terminals need to be connected. My other half helped me with the wiring. =)

This is the structure after it has been trimmed. It is now similar to the initial mock-up in form and function. The trimming was done using a dremel tool with a rotary cutter. The edges were then smoothed out using a polishing bit. You can also see the Mandalorian dagger that my other half has been working on in the background!

I used a total of 1 kg of silicone rubber, plus another kg of resin on this project. Not to mention dozens of LEDs! Now, all that's left is to connect the terminals and watch it glow!

Final Project

My mood box had evolved over the space of the time I took to write this post... about 5 weeks? It's no longer the tower based on Minas Morgul, but it still retains the hexagon concept. It's now being redesigned and reshaped to house my final project! Here are some pics of the final project. It's supposed to summarise what I've learned for this semester. Structure, design concepts, history...

I decided to stick to using resin as the main material for my project. I did this because of a few reasons. We were told to explore new materials for this project. Our lecturer even forbade us to use mounting board and UHU glue! Since I was already using resin cast on the mood box, I decided to try applying the same technique on the final project. The resin that I am using is also translucent, which will help me a lot because I intend to put some LEDs inside the pyramids. My other half said that the project reminded him of Tony Stark's RT, the arc reactor that powered the Iron Man suit!

Mockup for the final project.

Resin plates being joined.

The final form.

Trimming the edges using a dremel tool.

Ready for installation of LEDs

The final project is still based on the hexagon. It's been broken down into triangles and reassembled into pyramids. Structurally, pyramids are very stable, and historically, pyramids have been very significant. I have designed it so that it's shape can be changed. The design is now "organic". The nine pyramids that make up the structure are connected to each other via wire loops on the edges. The center pyramid holds the other eight, becoming a central "hub".

I am now working on another version of the project, this time involving solid resin pyramids with embedded LEDs. I have reverted to the original design of the mock up due to stability problems with the newer design. In this configuration, the pyramids are attached at the walls instead of the points. More pics and updates soon!

Updates on the mood box

Just some recent pics... The molds have been done, now I'm making the fiberglass resin plates. The resin comes in liquid form, which you need to mix with a catalyst. The ratio I use is about 1 teaspoon of catalyst for every cup of resin. The mixture cures up in about 30 minutes and you can pull it out of the mold. Be very careful because the resin becomes very hot during curing.

I had fun doing this because it's kinda like baking! Anyway, the pic below shows me preparing the resin-catalyst mixture.

Next, the resin is poured into the mold, and is left there to cure. You can see some of my other half's projects in the background... :P

This is how the first version of the "Minas Morgul" looks like. I'm currently working on a new version for the final presentation.

Temple mountain

The temple mountains of Cambodia are unique structures that symbolize the faith of the Cambodian people. It also illustrated the power and wealth of the Cambodian kings. Most of these structures now lie in ruins, with a few of them still functioning as holy sites for Buddhists. Efforts are being taken by international bodies to restore most of these temples, so that they can be studied and admired by generations to come.

Mood Box

For my design class, I was tasked with the construction of a mood box. A mood box expresses your moods in a visual, 3-dimensional form. I have chosen to construct my mood box out of fiberglass resin. I am using the resin to build the box because of it's translucent nature, which I intend to apply into the design of the box.

The design was inspired by what my other half wrote about me, and by Minas Morgul, one of the towers in the Lord of the Rings. Here are some pics of the work in progress... ;)

Minas Morgul, one of the inspirations for the mood box

Preparing the base using polystyrene and fiber bond

Pouring silicone rubber onto a master to create a mold

A completed mold and the master, made from mounting board

The cast resin plates will be assembled to form the mood box sculpture, and I intend to install some lighting using LEDs and a battery pack. More pics coming soon!

Firebug in full

Here is the Firebug armour in full. As with all costumes, this one will continually evolve and become better. More details and weathering will be added on later, as we costumers strive to make our costumes as realistic and believable as possible.

Costuming has become part of me, and with the help of my other half, I am beginning to explore this new world. By exploring costuming, I also explore myself. I learn more about myself and where I am leading to when I design my costumes and help him work on his.

I also learn a great deal about the materials that he uses to make these costumes, and also about the techniques that are applied. So far, I am able to make my own helmet and armour out of board and fiberglass. I hope to be able to learn about fiberglass casting the next time I see him. It sounds interesting! :)

I also learned a lot about sci-fi and fantasy film and special effects techniques from him as we constantly explore new ways of making better costumes. I hope to be able to debut the Firebug armour during the Tunas Saintis event at MRSM Balik Pulau in October.

Firebug!

We have been upgrading my first armour for the past month. My other half had developed a few concepts for the new upgrades and even made a new back story for my character, Ni'Sya Gra'tua. Through the Mandalorian Mercs forum, we managed to get feedback and recommendations from our friends overseas. They consist of seasoned costumers and new members, even industry professionals, but they have been very helpful.

Here are some progress pics of my new armour, dubbed "Firebug".

Attaching straps to the plates

Sanding my mk.II helmet, to prepare for repainting

My other half working on my aluminum handplates

Me in the partially completed armour, during fitting.

Notes on the Temple Mountain

The Temple Mountain is a significant feature in ancient Cambodian architecture. The most famous of these temples is the grand Angkor Wat. This temple is the epitome of ancient Cambodian architecture, and represents the classical Angkorian style. Nonetheless, the first temple mountain appeared around 881 AD, and was known as the Bahkheng (Bakong) Temple.

The Temple Mountain is actually an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods of the Hindu pantheon. The style was heavily influenced by Indian temple architecture. The enclosures represented the mountain chains surrounding Mount Meru. A moat represented the ocean.

The temple itself was a multi-level pyramid. The home of the gods was represented by an elevated sanctuary at the centre of the temple. Other notable temple mountains include Baphuon, Pre Rup and Ta Keo.

My 1st Year as a Merc

September 4th marked the first anniversary of my being a Mandalorian Merc. One year ago, I became a member of this international Star Wars costuming club with my other half, costume artist M.Hanif.

Who are the Mandalorian Mercs? We are Star Wars fans who make and proudly wear our Mandalorian armour during events and conventions in celebration of Star Wars. The club is based in North Carolina, USA, and currently consists of almost 250 official members worldwide. Malaysia has 2 official members presently, and several more are in the process of completing their armours.

Me (in white and blue) and my significant other during the casual photoshoot of Resurrection III.

Earlier this year, M.Hanif held his third solo costumes exhibition at the Tuanku Fauziah Museum & Gallery in USM, Penang. This exhibition was called Resurrection III: Rise of the Mandalorians. I was privileged to have been given the chance to contribute an article in his exhibition catalogue, and also to have taken part in a casual phooshoot which was held towards the end of the exhibition. I also helped him to handle a helmet-making workshop!

What made me hooked up on costuming? I have found out that costuming boosts my self-esteem. When you're in armour, you become someone else. Someone who could do things that you would not normally do... I had lots of fun in costume, and I get to meet new and interesting friends. It is now a hobby of mine, which is fast becoming a small business. We make and sell custom armour and props to fellow costumers, mainly from overseas. At least I get to make some pocket money while having fun!

To know more about the Mandalorian Mercs, please visit their website or the Jebat Clan blog.

Brief History of Ancient Cambodia

Ancient Cambodia is most recognised for its religious architecture. The emphasis is necessarily on this feature because only the temples and religious structures were constructed of stone. These structured have withstood the test of time and remain with us today. Other structures were constructed using perishable materials, and as such did not survive to the present day.

The most famous period in Ancient Cambodian history has to be the Angkor period. This period is said to have started during the latter half of the 8th century AD to the first half of the 15th century AD. The Angkor period began when the Khmer King Jayavarman II declared independence from Java and made himself Chakravartin ("Universal Monarch"). The Angkor period ended when the Thai invaders from Ayutthaya sacked Angkor and caused the Khmer elite to flee to Phnom Penh.

Scholars have developed a periodization of Angkorian architectural styles, each named for a particular temple regarded as significant for that particular style. These are:

• Preah Ko style (877-886 AD), known for their small brick towers and for the great beauty of their lintels.
• Bahkheng style (889-923 AD), named after the first temple mountain constructed in the Angkor proper north of Siem Reap. It is so-called "temple mountain" because of its distinctive shape, which symbolizes Mount Meru, the abode of the Gods.
• Koh Ker style (921-944 AD)
• Pre Rup style (944-968 AD), named after the state temple mountain of Pre Rup, includes the East Mebon and Phimeanakas temples.
• Banteay Srei style (967-1000 AD), known for its small scale and extreme refinement of its decorative carvings, which feature scenes from Indian mythology.
• Khleang style (968-1010 AD)
• Baphuon style (1050-1080 AD), named after the massive temple mountain of King Udayadityaverman II, had unique relief carvings with a naive dynamic quality that contrasts the rigidity of the figures typical of some of the other periods.
• Classical or Angkor Wat style (1080-1175 AD) defines the classical style of Angkorian architecture. This temple is perhaps the greatest of the Angkorian temples. Other examples include Banteay Samre and Thommanon in Angkor, and Phimai in modern Thailand.
• Baroque or Bayon style (1181-1243 AD), named after the state temple of King Jayavarman VII. These elaborately decorated temples exhibit a hurriedness of construction that contrasts with the perfection of Ankor Wat.
• Post Bayon style (1243-1431 AD), exemplifies the decline of Angkorian architecture.

Prambanan Temple

I was reading NatGeo one day and there was an article about the Prambanan Temple. It is the largest Hindu temple in Central Jawa and is one of the largest in South East Asia, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Out of interest, I did some more research and found out some interesting facts about this temple complex.

It was built around 850CE during the Mataram or Sanjaya dynasties. However, it was abandoned not long after completion. Restoration work on the temple complex began in 1918, and the main building was completed in 1953. It was damaged in the 2006 earthquake in Jawa.

The temple complex has hundreds of temples, and is comprised of 3 main zones. There was an outer, walled compound (now destroyed), a middle zone that contained 224 temples and an inner zone that contained eight large temples and eight smaller shrines.

The outermost zone could have been sacred gardens or could have contained training facilities for new priests. The original buildings and structures were built from organic material, and have now perished. The central zone, also known as the Pervara temples contained hundreds of identical shrines arranged in four concentric rows. These are complimentary temples built to "guard" the central, most sacred zone. Each row towards the center is slightly elevated that the previous one.

The central complex contained eight temples and eight smaller shrines. Three of the eight temples were dedicated to the trimurti: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper and Shiva the Destroyer. The temple of Shiva contains several chambers that are also dedicated to several other gods. The temples to Brahma and Vishnu each have a single temple with a statue of the related god within them. Other then the three main temples, there are three more temples dedicated to the Vahana or vehicles of these gods. The ensemble is completed by two candi apit, four candi kelir and four candi patok.

The great temple complex is surrounded by a dozen other smaller temples. During its height of glory, the Prambanan temple complex must have been a spectacular sight to behold. Sadly, it now lies in a state of relative abandonment.

My World

The infrared viewer in my helmet registers two Trandoshans huddling behind the wall just around the corner. Ge'tal and I have been hunting these two chakaar for some time now. We were engaged by a client on Tatooine to free his kidnapped daughter. From our intel, the Trandies were the ones responsible. We need to get them in order to squeeze info on the kidnapped girl from them. I relayed their position to Ge'tal, who was on higher ground, training his Verpine sniper rifle on the two hostile targets.

"Ni'ika, can you confirm target location?" asked Ge'tal over the internal comm.

"Roger. Two Trandoshans, one in prone position and another on his knees. 2 o'clock low," I replied.

A few moments later, I heard muffled screams and a thud. I looked through my infrared and the two Trandies were slumped on the ground. I cocked my repeating blaster and moved in to check on the damage...
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That was a short episode in the life of Ni'Sya Gra'tua, a Mandalorian tracker in the expanded universe of Star Wars. My alter ego. I have always been interested in Star Wars, and I was introduced into the world of costuming when I was thrust into it by costume artist M.Hanif. Together, we became the first Malaysians to join the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club in September 2008. Costuming is a new and interesting hobby for me. I get to meet new friends, people who share the same interests as I do. I also get to make my own armoured costumes, a skill I never thought I would acquire. Costuming also boosted my self-esteem and gave me better self-confidence.

But that is just a part of my life. On the outside, I am just a normal girl who is into music, movies, shopping and food. I am currently a student of architecture at a local university. I'm a normal kid with normal issues... until I put on my armour, that is...