activation email

[Malek Dair]

I haven't really been lurking, but have had a huge interest in creating armour and joining up with the Mando Mercs for at least a year .....so here I am.

Thanks to MandoMaker 3.0, I have this whipped up as a concept:



Overall I am leaning towards Medium-Heavy armour type. I am an endomorph body type and think it will work best for me in the end. The concept above doesn't fully detail as clear as I had hoped but it's a WIP right? I think I may have an additional belly plate like I have seen other do. I like the look of it and don't want there to be the impression of "not enough" coverage. I'm a bigger guy but not huge, and want to have armour that suits me...no pun intended.

For extra detailing I have loads of greeblies. I work in aviation and have access to scrap parts everyday. I have a descent collection of instruments, black boxes, o2 masks and emergency equipment to pool from. On a side note, if anyone is interested, I may have some of these parts for trade/sale.

The main plating will be a mid-light green when finished, with a shadowed pattern of snake skin or diamonds in the paint. The biceps, thighs and shins will all be mid-dark grey. All armour will be weathered and battle worn. For the flight suit, I am leaning towards the scrubs method. I can sew, and am confident I can get long sleeves to work. The vest, I may invest in duck cloth.

Wish List/Game Plan:
Helmet: Going to attempt the "bucket from a bucket" method
Armor: I have sourced a 4'x8' sheet 6mm sintra, just need to pick it up at the sign shop
Vest: Duck cloth
Flight suit: Scrubs
Boots: TBD (would love some moto cross boots)
Weapon: Carbine and Hold out blaster - In progress

I am still not 100% sure if I will end up with a basic mando or an Urban Assault/Recon build.

I look forward to suggestions/recommendations about my concept, materials or methods of fabrication!

More to come soon!

[Havelock]

Based on recommendations I've seen veteran Official Members make, I'll pass along their words of advice:

Focus on getting an approved kit.  Concentrate on making Official Member, then look to the Brigades.  That being said, it seems like you're doing a good job planning ahead for what you want and where and how you're going to get what you need to build your kit.  I'll be watching your thread with interest.

And welcome, vod.

[Malek Dair]

Ok, update time. I have made a bust form of my torso, via the duct tape and old t-shirt method a few people had suggested. Turned out pretty good IMHO.

All my tools are purchased, and materials with the exception of my Sintra. Have that waiting for me at the sign shop, and will be in my hands Thursday after work!. It is 3mm PVC signboard, not the corrugated stuff to confirm. This material is accepted for making kit?

I have the templates from WOF for my armor plates and helmet. Just a matter of getting them spaced correctly. Should have this done by the end of the week.

Still forging ahead with the scratch built bucket from a bucket idea. Can anyone confirm if you need 2 buckets to cut material from or am I seeing things incorrectly from other forum posts? Doesn't look like enough material if you only have the 1x 5 gal bucket.

My carbine is taking a bit of time, but don't want it rushed. Looking ok now that all of the Nerf detailing has been removed and screw holes have been smoothed out with bondo.

Soft parts are next on my list once the bucket, plates and weapon are completed.

Pictures to follow soon!

[Havelock]

Nice!  And 3mm sintra is an acceptable material.  If you can get some 6mm too, that will be really good for the chest, ab, and back plates.  But 3mm works, too, so no worries.

[Malek Dair]

Great news! Thanks for that.

[Havelock]

Completely my pleasure.

[Welkin]

My whole kit is made with 3mm sintra (well... not the helmet, softparts, and gun....but everything else!)

[Carnorjax]

I really like your concept, and completely agree with Havelock, that you should work toward a normal Mando before making directly for any brigades. I have seen numerous people make awesome kits, then have to tear apart because it would get them in the brigades, but fails CRL's for normal approval.

"Brigade membership is voluntary for Official Members, and you do not have to be part of a Brigade to be an Official Member.  However, Brigade membership is ONLY open to Official Members."

That said you dont want to make a kit that would never work for the brigade you are working for. I see a few things that might cause an issue though.

For Urban Assault

"It is heavily recommended the primary armor color be a tone blending in to urban/industrial environments (black, grays, dull white, brick red, etc.). Weathering and other damage is also highly recommended and must be consistent with operating in an urban environment (ie, no claw marks, no ‘sun faded clothing’, etc)."

And the glowing green might have an issue with recon which would be seen easily in most environments.

[Welkin]

And the glowing green might have an issue with recon which would be seen easily in most environments.

Unless he's invading some of those radioactive areas in games...or Sprinfield (The Simpsons).

But yeah, I built my kit towards the brigade, and it did cause some delays in my build. Although I tend to think that if there's anything major (like the helmet in my case) then it's okay to have that in your initial build. I'm approved now, but my kit isn't Brigade ready yet. Always focus on getting the killstripes first before going for anything else.

[Malek Dair]

All great advice! Ori'vor'e. All things considered I have toned down the green to a forest green, and have changed the vest to a neutral mid-grey. Not totally sold on the white, but it may yet happen. After doing a few more drawings and using colour theory I think the grey/green/purple will be enough contrast.

Regarding the brigades, also a good points ori'vod. I think will take the help offered and stick to getting an approved kit before earning more stripes as it were.

Have everything for my plates, bucket, and carbine, and have been chipping away here and there to get my builds moving along. Will be posting my bucket thread shortly, and my armour thread most likely in a few more days.

Oya!

[Malek Dair]

More done on the armour planning. Got a few rolls of duct tape and with the help of my fiancee made a torso form so I can mock up the plating for my kit.







Can anyone help confirm if the spacing on these plates is too far apart? Tried to make them 1/2" spacing, similar to other threads I have seen.

[crutchthecrusher]

Spacing looks great but the plates look to big to me at least take a hafe inch off both sides I really like the dummy and were is the belly button the bottom plate should but right above the button. You are doing a good job keep up the good work and yes it takes 2 buckets but it is very doable

[Malek Dair]

Great! Thanks vod. The belly plate is just about at the belly button, and will make sure I adjust the plates as suggested.

More to come.

[crutchthecrusher]

Hey vod what did you stuff the duct tape man with I need to do one for my next build 

[Malek Dair]

I layered a roll and a half of tape over an old t-shirt that fit a bit small. Cut it down the middle of the back to get out. Then stuffed him with newspaper to a firm consistency.

Hope this helps vod.

[Malek Dair]

Been busy with my bucket, so my plates have been on the back burner. Here is a bit of an update.

Had a chance to try a few basic paint tests. Used the vaseline masking technique, think it came out well. Also experimented with a silver under coat (top two samples), and painting on the chips after the grey under coat (bottom sample). I think i dig the silver under the grey to be honest.



With that sorted, onward to cutting some sintra!



Took the heat gun out and got basic shaping done. Still have some fine tuning to do, but it's mostly done.



Can anyone let me know if the spacing is ok? I tried to get the collar plate as close to "choking" as I could with it still being comfortable when fitted up on my body.



Pictures not the best quality, will try to get some better ones done tomorrow with the help of my lady.

Please feel free to chime in if there are any changes you can see I need to make before moving on to paint and weathering.

More to come. Oya Vod'e!

[Mercy]

The low angle in the picture makes it tough to comment on the spacing. Straight on at chest level would be best I think.

Final shaping is tough on a dummy. They never match the body perfectly. But from the dummy picture, my first impression is that the fit between the chest and ab plate needs trimmed to match each other.

[Havelock]

The low angle in the picture makes it tough to comment on the spacing. Straight on at chest level would be best I think.

Final shaping is tough on a dummy. They never match the body perfectly. But from the dummy picture, my first impression is that the fit between the chest and ab plate needs trimmed to match each other.

Agreed.

You'll want a second opinion on this, but your collar plate - while placed pretty much perfectly as best I can tell - looks to be too wide.  It looks like it might impair your mobility and poke you from time to time. 

[Malek Dair]

Here are better pics of the plates on me. Still waiting to get my vest finished, but think they should fit ok even with the extra layer on. More concerned about sizing and spacing before I get my paint started on these. Trimmed the ab plate to create more room between the top of it and the inside of the chest pieces. Also, took 1/4" off the sides of my collar. Felt much better for mobility. Thanks for the eagle eyes Havelock!





Should I get more trimmed out of the center of the chest pieces to make a touch more room for the diamond? Looks a bit cramped to me....however I'm still new to all this so am not 100% sure.

[Havelock]

This is definitely looking better.  And yeah, you'll need to trim the chest plates a bit.  The outside edges of the chest plates should match the bottoms of the collar.  And the diamond is definitely squished up.     Placement of everything is looking pretty good.  Just need to get the sizing and spacing firmed up.  You're very close, vod.  Good work.

[Malek Dair]

This is definitely looking better.  And yeah, you'll need to trim the chest plates a bit.  The outside edges of the chest plates should match the bottoms of the collar.  And the diamond is definitely squished up.     Placement of everything is looking pretty good.  Just need to get the sizing and spacing firmed up.  You're very close, vod.  Good work.

Havelock as always, you have keen eyes! Thank you. Now that I look closer at the pics, I see what you mean. Shouldn't be too difficult to get everything lined up.

Also, on a somewhat related note. I have switched up my colour scheme a bit to hopefully help getting into brigades down the road for Urban assault. Took the same colour palette, darkened the green, and tried to make the over all look more subdued and less poppy...if that makes any sense. Take a look and let me know what you all think:





Lots of chips and dings will be added, as well as weathering dirt and washes.

[Havelock]

I like it.

[Malek Dair]

Quick update to see if this will work now. Took into consideration all the feedback thus far. Fingers crossed the spacing and sizing is about right? Thoughts anyone?

[Mercy]

Much better.
Now, just raise the whole thing up until the collar almost touches your throat.

I'd say you're ready to cut some sintra, mount it up, and start on the final shaping.

[Malek Dair]

Much better.
Now, just raise the whole thing up until the collar almost touches your throat.

I'd say you're ready to cut some sintra, mount it up, and start on the final shaping.

Those are Sinatra plates. Shaped to get a basic feel and ready to be mounted.

So it's safe to say I can do my final detailing on these and get some paint going eh?