Mando Mercs Costume Club
Mandalorian Armor => Armor Concepts => Topic started by: mykejr on Apr 27, 2018, 03:25 AM
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Hello Mandalorians,
I decided to start a topic for my upcoming costume. It will be a slow build since I have limited time to work on this but I’m in no rush to be honest. So far I’m running ideas and can’t even make up my mind about which armor type to choose from but I’ve worked before with eva, not much just some braces, and I have a friend who will print the helmet once I’ve chose the design. So far I’m looking up solutions for motoric parts and leds I plan to add to the costume. Also I’ll print a few templates on paper to see which I like most. Also getting some ideas from Mynock’s den since his work for me is beyond perfect. I’ll give updates when I have something just wanted to make this project “official”
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Just to clarify: Eva is not an approved material. If your comment regarding Eva was about applying those same skills to sintra, awesome :). A lot.of it does cross over. Excited to see your concepts!
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It seems my reply disappeared. So in this case I’ll use the knowledge. In two month after my exams I’ll start gathering some PVC and other material, start the helmet drawings in Solidworks, get some motors connectors etc. for the range finder and even take a sample of my head so I can plan stuff visually as well. This will be fun.
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I need some help. I was looking at the different materials available locally for the armor but what I cannot find is the recommended thickness. Are there any guidelines for this that I haven’t found yet? Found kydex but it seems thin (0,8mm) and fount pvc 3 cm that seems too thick to me. Also what about PE material? An approximation of the needed amount of material would be welcome :D Thank you.
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not sure what about PE -- the sintra that most people work with is either 3mm or 6mm pretty much based on personal preverence. 3cm is WAY too thick.
As for how much material -- how much armor are you making?
Legacy or modern style plates?
Thigh plates?
Shin plates?
Boot plates?
hand plates?
3d printing, or making gauntlets out of sintra?
Back plate or cape?
Bicep plates?
Traditional shoulders, or pauldron style?
kidney plates?
Your body will also play a factor in how much material you need. Are you build more like Anthony Daniels, or more like Jabba?
I made my whole legacy kit from about a 4x4 foot section, but it doens't have thighs, biceps, kidneys, boot plates. Modern kits typically take a little less material, and if you go light armor, with cape you can get by with even less.
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not sure what about PE -- the sintra that most people work with is either 3mm or 6mm pretty much based on personal preverence. 3cm is WAY too thick.
As for how much material -- how much armor are you making?
Legacy or modern style plates?
Thigh plates?
Shin plates?
Boot plates?
hand plates?
3d printing, or making gauntlets out of sintra?
Back plate or cape?
Bicep plates?
Traditional shoulders, or pauldron style?
kidney plates?
Your body will also play a factor in how much material you need. Are you build more like Anthony Daniels, or more like Jabba?
I made my whole legacy kit from about a 4x4 foot section, but it doens't have thighs, biceps, kidneys, boot plates. Modern kits typically take a little less material, and if you go light armor, with cape you can get by with even less.
The thing is I planned to make a stalker helmet and combine it with some of the armor seen in the galeries.
If it goes as planned I’ll go that route. If not I believe I’ll go modern
As for armor I would like to make a back plate for sure and maybe later on an attachable jetpack as well, but that is a huge maybe. It depends on how I can manage to do stuff on my own. I have someone who can 3d print stuff for me but first I’ll try to make myself everything. Just needed an approximation. I think I’ll get some 4 mm thick PE. I can get that for a very good price. Thank you! This list was very helpful. I’ll be calculating and ordering, and see how it will end up. I think I’ll use a lot in the end… :D I’ll make it out of paper first so I can see how it will look and make some templates as well. That will help measure the needed material.
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Seconded on 3cm being way too think and .8mm being far too thin. I am not sure what even PE is, some sort of plastic or another I imagine? 4mm should be a good thickness. If it is a more rigid plastic like pvc, it should be easily shaped with a heat gun or similar method.
When you finish your templates, be sure to post up pictures of them taped to yourself before transferring them to the PE. That way we can guide you in regards to size before you cut them out of the PE and potentially waste material.
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Seconded on 3cm being way too think and .8mm being far too thin. I am not sure what even PE is, some sort of plastic or another I imagine? 4mm should be a good thickness. If it is a more rigid plastic like pvc, it should be easily shaped with a heat gun or similar method.
When you finish your templates, be sure to post up pictures of them taped to yourself before transferring them to the PE. That way we can guide you in regards to size before you cut them out of the PE and potentially waste material.
Thank you for the advice. That is exactly why I’ll cut them out of paper or carton box or something and see how it fit and looks. PE is very similar to PVC. The company I work for get water tanks from this material and it can be formed via heat, weld etc.. Worst case scenario I’ll use them for molding so in the end I’ll have my armor the way it should be. This will take very long time but I am in no rush and would like to make it as perfect as I can. I'll have a lot of exams in the next two months so I'll be silent a little, but when I’m fed up with learning or just want to turn off a little I’ll be working on the templates :)
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Sounds good vod; honestly the best attitude you can have. Rushing does not get you spectacular armor, definitely worth taking your time and getting it right rather than having to go back and fix mistakes made in haste.
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Just an FYI, PE is polyethylene and is what your plastic soda/ pop bottles are made of. I can't imagine it being good for armor, as it has a mold memory and may not take well to being shaped.
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Just an FYI, PE is polyethylene and is what your plastic soda/ pop bottles are made of. I can't imagine it being good for armor, as it has a mold memory and may not take well to being shaped.
This doesn't seem the same as soda bottles. We have some water tanks made from this and they are strong as hell. I asked and the company and they told me they have 2 versions a black and a beige color and they are acid resistant and can withstand being run over by a tank without issues :) Just in case I asked and they deal with PP, PVC and ABS as well so it seems after all these will become molding tools mostly and tests (I get some free samples) and I'll purchase some PVC and ABS so those will definitely meet the requirements. I’ll update with pictures here once my exams are over…
Thanks for the help guys.
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I printed some templates so I can see how they fit. Here is the result. At first they seem a bit big.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/43325872621_66e2efc3bf_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/291yqtP)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/291ypVK](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/43325870761_d424ddd8ec_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/291yqtP) (https://flic.kr/p/291ypVK)
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So the Galaxies one seems to be about the right size, although the pectorals are supposed to be connected at the top.
Your legacy plates are off, but it's not necessarily the sizing. The two pectorals are supposed to be joined, both need to be rotated by ninety degrees, and you have the left pectoral where the right pectoral is supposed to be, and vice versa. There's also not supposed to be a gap between the collar, pectoral, and ab plates. By design, they're supposed to either abut or overlap. In addition, your collar plate on that set is rather low. the inner part of the collar plate should rest right about where the neck of your t-shirt is. I'd say fix those issues, and then take another photo to see how they look.
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So the Galaxies one seems to be about the right size, although the pectorals are supposed to be connected at the top.
Your legacy plates are off, but it's not necessarily the sizing. The two pectorals are supposed to be joined, both need to be rotated by ninety degrees, and you have the left pectoral where the right pectoral is supposed to be, and vice versa. There's also not supposed to be a gap between the collar, pectoral, and ab plates. By design, they're supposed to either abut or overlap. In addition, your collar plate on that set is rather low. the inner part of the collar plate should rest right about where the neck of your t-shirt is. I'd say fix those issues, and then take another photo to see how they look.
Thank you. Very useful information. I'll do more research just had to try them on because I'm excited about this project :) I'll make a perfect template before doing the final version so all the help is appreciated. I think the legacy armor is the one I prefer more so I think I’ll go that route and maybe do the other for my wife :8):
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If you're going to use Legacy plates on your front, you'll need to have the entire front be Legacy style. Which means all the plates must overlap or abut. They're aren't any spaces in Legacy style. From the CRLs:
Legacy chest armor must not have any gaps between collar, chest armor, chest diamond, and ab armor.
Unfortunately, that means you can't use Galaxy style collar and chest pieces with a Legacy style Ab. Addtionally, while the ab/cod looks pretty cool, I think you'll find that moving in that - at least bending forward - will be incredibly difficult.
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I am going to print the CRLs so I can follow them strictly. The templates were downloaded from here. I do not wish to mix the types. My aim was to quick test them and see which one I like more, because I couldn’t make up my mind but legacy it is :) I like to make my life as hard as possible. Without difficult challenges life would be boring ;) /I still love the stalker pretty much as well…/ As for the movement and leaning forward I was thinking to make the armor layers not glued or fixed together but use some kind of flexible material inside and some Velcro on the top and bottom layer and make them overlap. Hopefully this will allow the plates to slide and move a little. I usually squat in my Jedi robes as well so it will not be unfamiliar experience lol. I have some Stormtrooper friends, so heard some nice stories how hard it is to move and see fully dressed up. My favorite part was when 190 cm high Stormtrooper was asked something by a little girl at his feet and he couldn’t look down at her because of the armor. I’ll make some more pics in the next few weeks. I’ll take some boxes home to have material for further tests and mods. I appreciate the advice. It helps a lot. Ps. I also talk a lot. Sorry about that :P
If you're going to use Legacy plates on your front, you'll need to have the entire front be Legacy style. Which means all the plates must overlap or abut. They're aren't any spaces in Legacy style. From the CRLs:
Unfortunately, that means you can't use Galaxy style collar and chest pieces with a Legacy style Ab. Addtionally, while the ab/cod looks pretty cool, I think you'll find that moving in that - at least bending forward - will be incredibly difficult.
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My suggestion for Legacy, based on my own experimentation, is to use binding posts and a nylon harness. With velcro, you run the risk of the plates shifting wrong and popping each other off. If you'd like, I can dig out some photos to show you how I'm doing mine.
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Since you've decided to go with legacy, it'd be a good idea to head over to the Legacy sub forum under Alternative Eras, and read through some of the WIPS :) There's also a guide or two for assembly, some of which include that sliding you're talking about."
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Since you've decided to go with legacy, it'd be a good idea to head over to the Legacy sub forum under Alternative Eras, and read through some of the WIPS :) There's also a guide or two for assembly, some of which include that sliding you're talking about."
I'll definitely go and check. Honestly I’m reading through a lot of posts but am still in learning phase, so good thing that you point me to the wright direction.
My suggestion for Legacy, based on my own experimentation, is to use binding posts and a nylon harness. With velcro, you run the risk of the plates shifting wrong and popping each other off. If you'd like, I can dig out some photos to show you how I'm doing mine.
That would be nice. I’d appreciate it.
Thank you all.
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My father passed away not long ago, so I'll be changing some stuff because of this, and I'll paint it red honouring his memory. I was silent for this reason so long.
Started some pepakura helmets to take of my mind from thinking too much about it. Those will keep me focus hopefully. I'll share some updates on those as they come along. Here is a link but not sure it will work, so I'll check from pc when I get home.
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My condolences, vod. If we can help, let us know.
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Thank you. I heard time will help. It will keep me focused at the task at hand speaking of which. I am getting ready for resin coating at the weekend. I'll be making more bases, see which is my favorite. Got a gun as well but I might be taking the back part off and make it a pistol and paint it. Actually it is in mint condition. I'll think about this as well.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4890/43981911860_877b3f26dc_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2a1wN6b) (https://flic.kr/p/2a1wN6b)
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You have my condolences on your father as well, it's always tough losing someone.
Having handled those blasters in person, definitely lose the stock and make a customized pistol of it. They're just too small in scale to look like a proper rifle on anyone larger than a child. My old clan leader is tiny and they even look toy-sized on her :P. Should be about the right size for a sort of EE3 pistol though! Good luck resining the helmets! I haven't done pep helmets personally so I unfortunately have no wisdom to share on them, just encouragement :D.
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My condolences ner vod, we are here to help you through the tough times. :maul:
I haven't done a legacy kit, but a layered back plate. The way I mounted it, could also work for your legacy plates. Here it is:
(https://i.imgur.com/0Z5Qkrd.jpg)
I sadly don't have any pictures of the backside with the mounting pieces, so I marked with two colours how I mounted them.
I have two nylon straps (marked in blue) which run down the plates and are glued to every single plate. Then I glued some velcro (marked in green) to every plate, the other part of the velcro is sewn to the vest. With this method the pieces can follow my bodymotions for example when I bend forward easily, so mobility isn't a problem, but they still stay in place and don't move around my body at all.
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Ok so back in business it seems. I looked at a lot of pictures now and since the weather here is back to normal, and by normal i mean the putty dries outside, I made a very slow progress with the helmets. I'm doing two kits at the same time. One for my wife and of course one for me. As this is my first attempt I bought a very small amount of putty and since it was mixed with fiberglass I had a harder time applying it. Next time I'll get a big standard version and loads of sandpaper. I bought a small servo and an LCD display so I might add those to one of the helmets. Now back to applying some more layers.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7927/46583844005_dd6da14f01_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dYsnSe) (https://flic.kr/p/2dYsnSe)
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Welcome back Vod
Great to see your progress, this indeed is a time when patience will pay off. sanding, sanding and some more sanding now will pay dividends late on.
There is nothing worse that thinking you have finished sanding, to prime and then see a raised section you missed. :o
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And here starts the game of sanding-bondo/putty - sanding..Etc.
While it might look like an endless useless job at some point, you'll be more then happy with the end-result.
But of what I've saw on the helmetpart, it's probably gonna be great! :)
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Thanks for the support, much appreciated.
I have a few hours on the weekends, so I'll make progress. Purchased a bigger pot of putty and this one seems a winner. It is creamy so I can apply it nicely.
I ordered a big block of PVC so that should arrive next week. I’ll be drawing some armor concepts because I changed my mind a few times so far. I’ll see if I can come up with “the ultimate” design. I think I’ll use the same pattern and color shame for the two kits.
Also I think I need to head over Armor construction as well.
Here are the helmets as they are. Sanding is my best friend :)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46928131174_a91ff73379_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2euSWrU)
(https://flic.kr/p/2euSWrU)
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I have a question. I've been showing some pictures to my wife, of course she liked Bo Katan Kryze "look" so it got me thinking. The owl mask fits but I do not wish to make a face character. I think it will be a similar or inspired design. She also liked the color scheme so... And here is my concern. My helmet is not a Death Watch design, also I was not planning my kit to resemble Death Watch but still would like to make the two kits similar. Is it still acceptable if it has Death Watch elements/color but also some other stuff different, like helmet, back plate, or it is no problem to use that color and call it simply "modern" Mando?
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You can have stylistic elements and colors similar to existing canon characters on a custom build, but keep the App team apprised of your progress on it. If you come too close to looking like the character you're using for influence it can be denied as being a poorly done version of the original, rather than a custom inspired by it.
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If no one has replied use the "modify" button to update your post.
WIP threads and other similar threads that have new content being added are exempt from this rule, provided the posts have useful new posts being added.
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The posts have been combined.
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Sorry about that. Deleted it. I'll be careful.
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Sorry about that. Deleted it. I'll be careful.
Don't Worry it usually happens :like:
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ok so I think I lost my mind... I need to speed up stuff so I might go with a simple one and play later with a new concept.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48573925796_4d1909db26_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1j4Rf) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1j4Rf)
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While it's an interesting concept, I believe there's going to be a couple issues with CRL-compliance as presented. First, the edges of your collar plate should roughly line up with the edges of your chest plate(s) The way you have the concept shown, your collar plate overhangs the chest plates by a good two to three inches on each side.
The second issue is as a rule of thumb, your ab plate should be about half as tall as it is wide. It's also not allowed to go fully under the chosen waist items. If I'm understanding your concept correctly, you have your ab and cod connected, yes? That will most likely be an issue moving through the pre-app and app phase.
My honest suggestion is for a first kit, go simple with your concept and use the execution as a learning experience for future kits. There's no rule that says you can only have one kit, or that you have to wear every single one of your approved kits at some point within the calendar year. Also, I just realized that I never got back to you on how my legacy plates were harnessed, and for that I apologize. I can still dig those photos out if you need them.
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While it's an interesting concept, I believe there's going to be a couple issues with CRL-compliance as presented. First, the edges of your collar plate should roughly line up with the edges of your chest plate(s) The way you have the concept shown, your collar plate overhangs the chest plates by a good two to three inches on each side.
The second issue is as a rule of thumb, your ab plate should be about half as tall as it is wide. It's also not allowed to go fully under the chosen waist items. If I'm understanding your concept correctly, you have your ab and cod connected, yes? That will most likely be an issue moving through the pre-app and app phase.
My honest suggestion is for a first kit, go simple with your concept and use the execution as a learning experience for future kits. There's no rule that says you can only have one kit, or that you have to wear every single one of your approved kits at some point within the calendar year. Also, I just realized that I never got back to you on how my legacy plates were harnessed, and for that I apologize. I can still dig those photos out if you need them.
Thank you for the opinion. I made something different. I had a little time so I wanted to test cutting some PVC to see how it goes and I came up with some other stuff. I put the legacy aside for the first project, so that will be a different project later, so no worries. I'll upload some pics in a sec
This came out for the first few cuts. The plates seem a bit large when I put them on. I'll have to think about this a little more. All opinions are appreciated.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48576405222_8e8945997f_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1wLTY)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2h1uQKQ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48576027982_1972a6916c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1wLTY)
and got some guns to work on as well:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2h1vZkT](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48576251981_ddc3102bde_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1uQKQ)
This way I can go with the V ab plate or something similar
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2h1yrcu](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48576729182_b843740f4b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1vZkT) (https://flic.kr/p/2h1yrcu)
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As part of my moderation duties I must request that you please avoid Double Posting in the forums. This is against forum rules as documented HERE (http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=84.0).
Double Posts - Please refrain from posting immediately after yourself, also known as 'double posting'.
If no one has replied use the "modify" button to update your post.
WIP threads and other similar threads that have new content being added are exempt from this rule, provided the posts have useful new posts being added.
In such exemptions, replies to multiple questions when attempting to catch up should still be combined into single posts.
Moderators will exercise their best judgement, if you feel an error was made please contact the Moderator Lead and Tech Officer via PM.
The posts have been combined.
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Moderation duties aside, it's a solid concept and I look forward to seeing where you go with this.