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[Havelock]

Hey folks.  So I've been playing around with Mando Maker and photoshop to get some concept ideas.  Please keep in mind that the following images are very rough, very basic.  The main color looks orange, but it's the closest I could come at the moment to the bronze I'm intending.  The whitish area is actually supposed to be a very light silver-grey

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going with a legacy style torso or not, but whether I go legacy or modern, I'm definitely shooting for Heavy Armor, with an eventual goal of meeting the Brigade requirements for a Force Hunter.

Constructive criticism is very welcome and appreciated, along with any tips or suggestions.  I promise to take any comments into account.  Thanks, everybody.

Oya

Basic bucket idea so far:



Full suit rough:



Torso closeup rough:



And finally the Mando Maker view:

[Ralin Voth]

Looks like you've got a solid plan there. Don't forget, Legacy is a subset of Modern Era armor so you can mix and match if you want from the other Modern Era styles.

[Havelock]

Thank you.  And I guess I should have said classic or canon, instead of modern, but the correction is appreciated.

I'm having trouble finding a helmet, though.  Most of the ones I'm finding online that don't have a several-week waiting list aren't quite big enough.  Most of the buckets I'm seeing have a bottom diameter of 9 inches, and my shoulders are 23 inches.  I'm having difficulty finding an 11" bucket.  Any recommendations?

[Malakier Vhett]

Thank you.  And I guess I should have said classic or canon, instead of modern, but the correction is appreciated.

I'm having trouble finding a helmet, though.  Most of the ones I'm finding online that don't have a several-week waiting list aren't quite big enough.  Most of the buckets I'm seeing have a bottom diameter of 9 inches, and my shoulders are 23 inches.  I'm having difficulty finding an 11" bucket.  Any recommendations?

your time frame may be a bit unrealistic vod. TomVader's helmets are quite large (about the size you're looking for) but you won't get one particularly fast. Otherwise, NME makes most of their helmets in a Large.

[Havelock]

I wasn't aware of TomVader.  I'll check him out.  Thank you.

[Kris Jasra]

Ooooh, copper, I love metallic kits
And several weeks is a pretty good time frame for a helmet, I know some vendors waiting lists are marked in months. Afraid I can't point you at anybody, as my helmet knowledge is geared towards the smaller sized ones.

[Havelock]

So I've been doing a lot of research here on the forum and other sites on the internet and run into a few questions that I haven't seen the answers for.  I've also hit some frustrations, especially when going window shopping for various things.  Paint is primarily my source of frustration. 

I really love the look of bronze, but nobody except Krylon does a bronze, and the one bronze they have is "hammered bronze," and looks silver.  Grrrr.  So, it looks like I'll have to go with copper, instead.  Not exactly what I wanted, but close enough, I guess.

The first question I have at the moment is about E6000.  It seems to be the glue to use in your armor build.  So I did some looking online, and now I'm wondering, what type of E6000 glue I should be looking to get.  Craft?  Industrial?  Is there a difference?

The other question I have right now is about duck cloth, which seems to be a popular material from which to make your flak vest.  How hard is it to sew by hand?  Because my wife's sewing machine is an antique singer, and we don't have the money to get it fixed right now.

And one final question.  I'm wondering what a good accent color would be for my kit?  I'm not so sure about the grey accents I have planned for the armor itself.  Any suggestions for other colors?

[Havelock]

*Bouncing off the walls with glee*

Just got back from Walmart where I picked up  Dremel 7300 and an attachment kit with a little bit of everything.  I picked up a really nice Xacto Knife, and some E6000 Industrial Strength ('cause why not?)  Sadly, they had no Duck Cloth, but it's all good.

I have no flight suit, because my crappy wally world doesn't carry coveralls, just farmer style overalls.  I have no flak vest, no sintra, no bucket, no weapon, no appropriate belts or pouches - 'cause all my pouches are for medieval/fantasy LARPs and totally won't work for a Mando kit - and no paint, because, again, my osikla Walmart has the worst selection ever!  So basically, I still can't do any work whatsoever toward building my armor.

And at the moment, I just don't care.  Because I have officially, as far as I'm concerned, taken my first steps toward building my kit.

As the legendary Solo once said, "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!"

[Natan Vizsla]

I have no experience on sewing so I don't know the toughness, but my seamstress (mother) was able to sew it easily on her new machine.

Try Home Depot or Lowes for a larger spray paint selection and remember to stick to a single brand. An accent for copper or bronze that I would suggest would be blue, a complimentary opposite of the copper/bronze orange-y color. If you run with 3 colors then purple and green as the accents, those would also work as a single accent.

Flightsuits are easy to come by at your local Army/Navy surplus if you want a true flightsuit, Walmart might carry Dickies work pants and long sleeve shirts for a 2 piece.

Post pictures of your pouches because they might be viable as Mando.

Finally I think you meant the 'criminal Solo'.

[Havelock]

Sadly, my Army Surplus store only has one flight suit which won't work.  The Dickies two piece is an idea I hadn't considered, but I definitely will.  And I'm definitely planning on sticking to one brand of paint.  I'll definitely play around with the blue, although my wife will certainly vote for purple.

Finally I think you meant the 'criminal Solo'.

  Doesn't mean he isn't legendary, too.  heh

Thanks, Natan

[Natan Vizsla]

Scrubs also work as a two piece. True enough 'the legendary criminal Solo'

[Havelock]

Natan, I took your advice about blue as an accent color and played around with it.  I've also been thinking about using a grey flight-suit instead of black.  I'm a huge fan of black clothes, but the more I looked at it and thought about my kit, and then actually used Mandomaker to check the colors, I think I'm happier with grey.  I think a grey flight suit gives it a more balanced and less monotonous look.









As always, comments and suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.

[Natan Vizsla]

Blue is the opposite of orange and bronze/copper are close to orange so it should work well, just don't go obnoxious like the UF Gators (gotta stay true to my Noles). I have all black soft parts and it gets lost all together. I will probably switch over to a grey flightsuit sooner or later.

[Havelock]

I see what you mean about the coloration of the gators.  I'll try to avoid that.  heh

[Natan Vizsla]

That's why I added the purple and green compliments to bronze/copper.

[Havelock]

So I saw someone ask about steel-toed boots and was told they aren't allowed.  I'm wondering why they aren't allowed.  Not a complaint, just curious.

[Kris Jasra]

Where was that? As far as I was aware they are allowed - and are judged the same way any other footware is. leather, canvas (a la Boba) - generally yes, rubber, hiking type, giant high heels etc - generally no.

It is what is on the outside that matters, not the inside.

[Havelock]

I have read so many armor planning threads and so many armor WIPs that I don't recall where I saw that.  I'll see if I can dig it up.

Found it.  Here's the thread: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=88311.msg1303425#msg1303425

No steel-toed boots are acceptable. - Ulrik Kanteer

[Natan Vizsla]

I think Ulrik meant "no, steel toed boots are acceptable."

[Havelock]

Ah.  Ok. Cool.

"Let's eat grandpa!
Let's eat, grandpa!"

Punctuation.  It saves lives.   

[Natan Vizsla]

Yes it does.

[Havelock]

List of things needed for building my kit.

• Soft parts:
     Flight Suit - Grey for preference, black if no other option
     Investigate work shirt/work pants combo
     Flak Vest - Get duck cloth to have wife make vest, or order one online
     Neck gaiter - if I get wife or Nanna to make vest - padded neck might be too much for wife to mess with at first
     Boots
     Girth belt or sash?
     Pouches
     Belts
     Gloves
     Kama
• Homemade Me Mannequin:
     A one size too small t-shirt.  Turtleneck might be a better way to go.
     Duct tape - crap ton
     Spray foam for stuffing the mannequin?
• Tools:
     Dremel
     Xacto Knife
     Jig saw
     Clamps
     Heat gun
     Hand sander
        different grades of sand paper
• Various Items:
     Face mask
     E6000
     Industrial strength velcro
     Utility knife
     Plastic Welding Kit
     Painter's tape/Masking tape
     Spray paint (Don't forget the primer)
     Acrylic or hobby paint for black washing
     Squirt bottle? for above
     Sharpies
     Card stock or construction paper for templates
     Rub 'n Buff for experimentation
     Latex gloves
     Gloves for working with heated sintra
     Sintra
• Weathering:
     Liquid latex
     Masking fluid
     Toothpaste
     Vaseline

Can anyone think of any basic items I've missed for making my first kit?

[Kris Jasra]

Chocolate and caffeine.  8)

[Havelock]

12 pack of Dr. Pepper in the mini-fridge?  Check
Stockpile of Reese's various products?  Working on it. 

 

[Kris Jasra]

I'd say you're about all set then.

The chocolate and caffeine can also be used to bribe friends round to help shape plates (especially backplates...)