Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School Art Reference: Undersuit Layers

Hey everyone! 

I have something new to show everyone! 

Seeing as we’ve just added an entirely new ‘layer’ onto Emma’s armor — though admittedly self-authorized and unsanctioned by the powers-that-be within the IAS ;D — I believe it’s time to show you guys some of the other reference commissions I’ve gotten for Emma and her suit! 

Or more specifically, what lies beneath the suit itself! Because as many of you may already know from my previous post regarding the armor, what you see on the surface is actually the ‘fourth’ layer in the multi-layered lasagna that is the power armor! And just like any other complex piece of machinery, there’s a lot more that goes on beneath the hood, especially when considering the unique mission profile Emma’s expected to undertake!

So despite not being as striking, imposing, or iconic as the external structural ‘frame’ which many have come to know Emma by, these internal layers still perform just as important of a role in not only keeping Emma alive, but also in enhancing her capabilities for the purposes of this mission! 

Starting off with the first reference on the left, we have what can arguably be called the most important layer of the suit — the undersuit! 

The first layer has a similar look and feel to a neoprene wetsuit and is responsible for a variety of functions, including but not limited to: active and passive health monitoring and life support systems, thermal regulation and control systems, and of course the all-important haptic feedback systems! The latter of which allows the wearer to ‘feel’ the world through the suit, mimicking touch to a high degree of accuracy and fidelity which allows for feats of fine motor operation through to the suit’s hands! 

This layer likewise contains the ability for the suit to provide the wearer with emergency life-saving intravenous medication, with the added ability to also perform basic in-field lab tests that may require a blood sample!

Elements of the suit’s thermal regulation systems, as well as the various haptic feedback systems are visualized on the design in the form of four distinct ‘nodes’ around the shoulder and pelvic regions! With the ducts and wiring of the aforementioned systems visualized through the bright blue lines on the suit! 

Continuing on into the second layer of the suit on the right, we have a good chunk of the suit’s impact (from kinetic weapons) and thermal (from direct energy weapons) protection systems, all courtesy of the gel-like layer comprising the lining between the fabric! The second layer itself superficially resembles a flight jumpsuit, and is creatively referred to as the ‘oversuit’, as it's worn directly atop of the undersuit! As a result of this direct layering, elements of the undersuit can be seen directly connecting with the oversuit, in the form of the four ports around the shoulder and pelvic region. These four ports connect directly to the exoskeleton-like third layer (not pictured here), before connecting to the structural fourth layer — relaying all sorts of haptic and motor data between the first, third, and fourth layers! 

Good old fashioned manual rigging, straps, and harnesses can be seen on the second layer as well, adding a layer of redundancy in interfacing with the exoskeleton, and allowing for manual quick-escape release mechanisms in the event that the magnetic latches fail. 

That’s about it for my rambles haha, I do hope you guys like the art as much as I do, as I believe the artist has once again knocked this one out of the park! :D 

Artist Reference for this commission: re11arts on instagram

Design Reference for the flag: u/0strich_Master on Reddit