Okay so about a year ago I got totally stumped trying to build the cod piece since then I have learn some tricks and have been able to make a couple for two local vode. Last weekend we had an armor party and I never got the chance to help show a new recruit, Vezril how to build one. So I thought I would photo each step and share it here.
Personnal disclaimer; this is not
the way to build a Cod Piece, this is not the
best way, this is
my way and I still have a lot to learn. But if this can help anyone else out there who is at the same place I was one year ago, great
.
To build this I used 3mm Sintra, 6mm Sintra, Expoxy glue, Epoxy putty, a heat gun, a utility knife, a ruler, a pencil, and Bondo.
First I started with the standard WOF Boba Fett templates, I only use the main piece and the upper "block";
I traced the main piece onto some 3mm Sintra;
Then I extended the lower area in this photo it looks like a collar for a dress shirt (in hind sight I shoud have made these more bowed out) then trace the upper "block" on, this will help line up parts later;
Now your sheet of Sintra looks like this;
Now I changed the angle of the top waist belt parts by moving the outer points up 3/4" then retrace new strait lines for the waist belt, it should look like this;
Then I cut the main piece out and I cut out the upper "block" from a piece of 6mm Sintra (I use a utility knife to get clean edges), you should now have these two pieces;
Now trace two new lines starting 1/4" out from the upper "block" lines that meet the corner of the cod peice, looks like this;
Now cut two "darts" one on each side of the cod ( I could have cut these wider I had to trim later), like this;
Heat your Sintra and bend the inner line on your cod back to create a 90 degree bend;
Repeat the other side and you should now have this;
After you have allowed the parts to cool, reheat and bend the waist belt parts back 90 degrees (this is why we moved the belt angle up 3/4" earlier otherwise your belt will be angled down)
Once you do both sides you should have somthing that looks like this;
Here is where I had to retrim the "darts" I cut earlier, this will allow room for the next step.
Next I cut two new "darts" kind of at the corners of the upper "block" rounded section, looks like this;
Now I heat the bottom up and bend it back until the cut outs all close up, I use the upper "block" on the inside to help keep the form;
So after all that I've got something that is starting to look like a cod peice;
Now I use Epoxy putty to fill in the gaps where the "dart" cut outs are;
Then I epoxy the upper "block" into place and let it all dry for a few hours;
Bondo all the gaps around the upper "block";
Then once it's all dry, I sand, 100, then 220, then 320, including sanding around the bottom return, I had to cut off quite a bit of excess and wish I would have added a more bowed "collar extension" so I would have had more to work with, oh well next time. So after cutting and sanding I get this;
Then a quick coat of primer shows all the imperfections and I got this;
Anyhow, thanks for looking. Vezril, I hope you like your cod piece