Mando Mercs Costume Club
Mandalorian Armor => Armor Construction => Topic started by: trashcanmando on Nov 23, 2019, 05:06 AM
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Been inactive for a little while now, but The Mandalorian is dragging me back with a vengeance! Progress is going to be a bit slower than my first time around, but I'm finally ready to come back, and oh how I've missed the MMCC.
(https://i.imgur.com/I3E0V54.jpg)
So far all I have is a pair of 3D Rav Bralor gauntlets and most of my fabrics, but I have a lot of big ideas for this kit. I feel like there's less of a rush with this one since I have a troopable kit. The main things I want out of this kit are:
-Zabrak (may just forget about this if it becomes too difficult or expensive, but it would be super cool)
-Layered plating (gonna have to break and use sintra, which I miraculously avoided in my entire first kit)
-LED visor and vibroblade
-Thigh pouches. I just really have a thing for those thigh pouch things.
-Pauldron/cloak combo, if I'm gonna do LEDS, it can't be any harder than that
-Magnet plate attachments
I'm rethinking the flight suit color and will probably not end up going with the dark navy. Perhaps an olive green would be better for the other earth tones on this kit. I do really want a diamond quilted pattern for the flak vest, but I haven't ever seen anything like that solid enough to hold plates, so I might need to double it up on top of some duck cloth.
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The snowball is slowly rolling! Plate templates are finished and to be cut out this Saturday. Flak vest materials have been acquired, belt, gloves, and zabrak makeup items purchased on amazon.
The templates for the Shrike build are a bit sharper than my first build and will be trauma plated. Double shoulder bells are in the works.
(https://i.imgur.com/fyIsSDU.jpg)
Since I'm mostly waiting for items to arrive, I've been working on some trophies for this kit. The plan is to have a clan logo trophy, and one for each OM. Clan trophy finished today:
(https://i.imgur.com/NNd7C7d.jpg)
And patterns for all the OM trophies with their screen names in mandoa are ready to go:
(https://i.imgur.com/kiVC6ro.png)
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:o *clicky* to follow. Very cool.
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Thanks :D
Spent a lot of time on my flak vest today! It was going great until my sewing machine needle broke...
This flak vest closure system is heavily inspired by whitecrow1's flak vest, with zippers sewn in to where princess seams are usually located, and then strapping and parachute buckles to finish holding everything together. Unfortunately I didn't have enough of the zippers that separate and had to use zippers meant for jeans, so the front and back won't actually be able to separate when finished, but it's still enough wiggle room to get in and out. This same pattern will be used to replace the flak vest on my first kit as well, but only one side will open on that one (but will fully separate).
It's not quite all put together because my sewing needle busted in the middle of finishing the right side, and I still need to make shoulder bells and a neck seal, but it's most of the way there. The neck seal is going to be removable by zipper so it will be easier to wash out all the makeup I will inevitably get on it if the zabrak thing goes well.
The individual parts, which were made into a pattern so I can easily replicate it:
(https://i.imgur.com/6Lx9KLS.jpg)
Front view, no plates:
(https://i.imgur.com/7FrzEGN.jpg)
What the side looks like closed (the straps will be shortened after I have my flight suit and know exactly how the flak vest will fit over):
(https://i.imgur.com/GyJYFrS.jpg)
Full view of the finished side:
(https://i.imgur.com/3UBPRTL.jpg)
With front plate templates:
(https://i.imgur.com/j6EU3RI.jpg)
With back plate templates:
(https://i.imgur.com/xp557CX.jpg)
The one thing I'm concerned about is the lack of any extra room on the front when the plates are on. There's a slight seam allowance that I could maybe buy half an inch with, and the collar plate could be a bit shorter, moving everything up, if it turns out to be a real problem. If that doesn't work, I'll just have to add more material to the bottom.
It's all also a bit snugger than I intended, but that's easily solved by just ripping out the zippers and moving them an inch or so out.
The shoulder tabs don't quite match up either, but the neck was a tight squeeze in the first place, and I expect they will be easy to fix when it's time for the neck seal.
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Got the plates cut out from sintra at today's (yesterday's?) armor party! Double checked that the templates were correct first:
(https://i.imgur.com/2CWakv2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4343EHV.jpg)
Somehow this is my first time working with sintra, but next is cleaning up edges and heat forming! Plates will probably get sidelined for a bit until I can make it to another armor party. In the meantime, there's a few finishing touches for the flak vest, and I can start testing zabrak makeup.
EDIT: Here are the plate blanks!
(https://i.imgur.com/l6P675Y.jpg)
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Whelp. Life threw me for a total loop, but personal business has settled down and college is almost over, so I finally finished my flak vest!
(https://i.imgur.com/wxb8pOf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oL9HpxI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SCR9Ts8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xuVpjiH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9ITD3xw.jpg)
Tutorial for this vest style in my signature!
I also have the gloves, belt, and the boots are shipping. I'm talking to KalProps about a helmet, and have ordered coveralls for my other kit- if they fit right, I'll order the same size in a moss green for this one.
(https://i.imgur.com/mzH3wyC.jpg)
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Missed this when you started it, so I'm glad you brought it back to life! I dig the concept, like a lot, lol. My original Slade build had zabrak horns on the bucket and I've always really wanted to incorporate it into a full build. Like, helmet off, horns on head build :D.
Looks like a great start on the armor; the traced out lines are to be trauma plates? Or just paint designs?
I really like that vest design, thanks for making a tutorial for it! Flak vests are the bane of my existence in armor builds D:. Your style and tutorial look like they're easy to follow, so I'll probably take a shot at making one in that style for my upcoming new kit.
Looking forward to seeing this kit come together!
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Thank you so much! ;D The lines on the plates that looked traced are in fact cut out trauma plates, there's just no depth in the picture, lol. I'm hoping to get the plates cleaned up in the next week, but I probably won't be able to get them shaped until armor parties start again.... sigh.
Lots of people really loved the closure style for my vest, so I figured a tutorial would be in order! I hope it's helpful!
Since you've thought about zabrak builds- any ideas on how to pad the helmet to accomadate horns? They'll really only be along my hairline, and I plan to keep them relatively small so I don't have problems getting the helmet on and off, but I have enough padding problems without sticking prosthetics to my face lol
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Cool; that makes yours yet another design bringing me around to trauma plates, lol. I went on a multi-year hiatus when there were maybe two people in the entire club with them, and came back to them on every third kit D:. I honestly hated them at first, because a lot of them just looked like bolt-on parts. I've seen more and more well executed designs, now, though, and I think I can get behind them as a thing.
I'll definitely let you know how I make out using your vest tutorial!
Re: horns...basically...D: lol. I've given it quite a bit of thought quite a bit on it and never quite come to a solution. One thing I considered, and I might give a shot with using a helmet that got busted when I moved, was actually having like an armored headband with horns poking through it, and actually having a cutout on the helmet that the headband and horns fit into. No idea how that would work getting it on and off, though :/. Maybe try one of those builds where there's a faceplate on the helmet that comes off?
Otherwise, I'd say some padding on the top of the head in the helmet, and then maybe some just above the eyebrows? It would still require a little finagling to get the helmet on and off but would probably take less effort than a multi-part helmet.
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Lol! It's going to be a while till I get to plates, but I'll keep that in mind. I love trauma plating, makes everything look so much more solid to me.
I'm hoping to experiment with makeup and make the horns as soon as I have about three free days off from work so there's no panic if it doesn't all come off right away, lol, then I can maybe try some things with my existing bucket. Are we talking about a twi'lek-style headband? That might be a really good idea, I'll have to mess around with that.
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Yeah, that's basically what I was thinking, but with armor over the forehead part, around the horns. I figure if I do it right, I wouldn't even have to worry about actually gluing the horns on, I could have them as permanently part of the headband.
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Hmm, I'm thinking more of just a fabric hairband style, holes for the horns cut and then reinforced so they look nice, and then slot the horns through and secure it with possible craft foam. We'll see if I can get it to look good or not.
Small bit of progress today- I ripped the earth logos off my gloves and did a bit of mechanical weathering! There used to be a machine embroidered logo on the strap. The fire damage is from accidentally going through the strap seam ripping (with an exacto knife cause my seam ripper couldnt get in) and then I figured hey... can't unravel if it's charred.
(https://i.imgur.com/PvWXwMU.jpg)
Planning on doing a bit more mechanical weathering with these, get them all dirty, and they'll be all done.
(https://i.imgur.com/t9uYdqv.jpg)
Botts came! I absolutely love the look! I'm a little bit torn though- they could be a size smaller. I stuck the insole from my other boots in there and my foot fit perfectly, though. I don't know, I'm afraid if I return them and get a size smaller boot, that they'll be too small with an insole. I guess I'll wear them around a bit with insoles in and then decide.
The flight suit for my Akaleh kit came, and it's just right! Minor alterations to make, but I went ahead and ordered the coveralls for this kit too! The clan has a virtual armor party Sunday, hoping to bang out the Akaleh flight suit at least during that, and the Beviin one should follow shortly after.
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Real quick makeup test today- Just seing what I could expect from the paint, getting a better idea of face markings, seeing how well it came off. Keep in mind that I have literally never done my makeup for anything outside of Halloween! And that was all crappy dollar store paint, so I'm really loving this fancy Mehron stuff. It goes on light, doesn't feel weird on my face, I get really good coverage with it, and it came off fairly easily with just water and face scrub. Doing this for real, I would do more layers of the red, I'm also going to need to buy an eyeshadow as the cream paint isn't for use around eyes.
(https://i.imgur.com/cSC71fA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NM5rQ0J.jpg)
EDIT: Finished the horns today too!
(https://i.imgur.com/ZYucy7x.jpg)
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I'll definitely be keeping an eye out to see if that headband idea works with the horns :). Test run on the paint looks pretty good, I've always hated painting my face, lol, but I've done it a time or six. Definitely some decent eyeshadow needed, and you'll want a sealer for the paint; I've never met anyone that didn't sweat under the bucket, and adding face paint in definitely ups the sweat factor, at least in my experience.
And your horns look great! :D
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Thank you!! I have a lot of time off this week, so I'm hoping to do more with the makeup and horns. Defiitely will get a sealer. And it's looking like I'm going to have to order eyeshadow online, can't find bright red in Walmart.
Worked on cleaning up plates today! All I've got is a dremel and some sandpaper... I'm debating asking a friend if I can come use his belt sander to get a cleaner, straighter edge.
(https://i.imgur.com/9XW7BAE.jpg?1)
Next thing is to see how far I can get on plate shaping all by my lonesome... I just want to get to the painting stage!
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I LOVE your art style and can't wait to see the finished product
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Your cut lines look very clean, very well done :)
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Thanks guys! ;D
Today I'm trying to clean up the edges even more, I'm worried that the dremel marks will show up worse after the plates are painted. I'm also working on the girth belt today and cursing myself for not extending the cod plate about an inch so more of it was hidden under the belt.... Ah well.
I also shaped the plates that don't need to go directly onto my body and ripped pockets off the flight suit. Here's my progress so far:
(https://i.imgur.com/8HGCZ9T.jpg)
Sorry about the glowing plates! It's all or nothing lighting in here lol
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Looks super cool! And wow, great tutorial for the flak vest--yours looks amazing! I might have to try your method as I'm about to start on mine.
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Nice work on the horns. Weathering looks damn good too.
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Thank you both! Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have about the flak vest.
Just a couple small updates tonight. I meant to alter the flight suit this evening but instead I watched Mercsconline! Loved the twi'lek makeup tutorial. I also have a strong desire for rubber knees now...
So a couple days ago I realized you can totally put craft foam through a sewing machine. I was trying to make a pauldron, and that didn't quite work out, BUT I realized it would be a great way to make a girth belt! I didn't expect the first try to really work out, but I have a pleasant surprise:
(https://i.imgur.com/CP7o5gZ.jpg)
Totally did work! I'm super pleased with how this turned out. I'm making a second one for my first kit. The girth belt for that one was too small and also terrible quality to begin with. All I did was cut craft foam to the shape I wanted, tape it all together for rigidity, (if you do this, try to keep the tape out of the areas you will sew in, at best your thread will break and at worst you'll majorly screw up your machine) and sew duck cloth over it! If anyone decides to try and sew with craft foam- make sure to set your sewing machine to the widest stitch you have, or you will just perforate the foam and cut it to pieces. After I had the whole piece covered in duck cloth, I just added sew-on velcro in a wide patch. This girth belt can adjust by a margin of probably at least six inches.
I still have to weather this belt, which I will do in a batch when my second girth belt and my flight suit are finished. I'm also trying to find an empty spray bottle for some diluted bleach weathering. Never thought an empty spray bottle would be a dificult item to source.
(https://i.imgur.com/aMP1tJe.jpg)
This is the other thing I did today (mostly while watching the online con)- updated clan trophy and MMCC logo trophy. My pattern for these is posted on page 1 as well as the patterns for a trophy for every Vhett Manda OM- whether or not I can fit all 11 trophies on my kit is a different matter! I didn't like the way I finished the edges on the old clan trophy, I like this way much better. The old trophy will be finding a new home with another Vhett Manda OM.
After this I'm getting into a busy week at work, so we'll see how much I can get done this week. I would love to finish the flight suit, but we'll see. Hope you all have a great weekend.
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Looks awesome :). Awesome weathering, and I like the way the foam bulks up the girth belt; should add some nice rigidity there. That's something we had a lot of trouble with when making my wife's, and even my leather girth on my last kit had a tendency of bunching.
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Just a few small updates after coming off a busy work week. First off, boots are nearly finished being de-logo'ed!
(https://i.imgur.com/UFCfOaJ.jpg)
There's a few touchup spots yet and then I need to reweather them, because I wasn't thinking and weathered once before logo concealment. But after that boots will be completely finished.
(https://i.imgur.com/oQ7RVyP.jpg)
Finished some clan trophies because it's something I can do at work. Alor'ad and Ver'alor down, Ruus'alore next! After the officers are done I'll have five more to do. So seven total. My fingers hurt already lol
(https://i.imgur.com/rvTLnpa.jpg)
And finally, I made some mando bottles! Made the design myself, printed it on clear sticker paper, and slapped it on some bottles from Hobby Lobby. The ink didn't turn out as vibrantly as I was expecting, but I still like it a lot. I want to fill a couple with some spacy looking fluids- glowing blue like from the Mandalorian would be great if it's possible- and keeping a few food safe. Maybe I'll figure out a way to attach one to a belt so I can carry around a safely swarzy water bottle lol
I'm moving into a slower work week, so I'm hoping to FINALLY get the flight suits finished. If I tell myself this will be the week often enough, eventually I'll be right! I also had some magnets come, which is some nice motivation to keep working on plates.
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First, I want to say your work is awesome! Love the zipper on the inside of the vest and the art on the planning page.
Now, I have questions.
So a couple days ago I realized you can totally put craft foam through a sewing machine. I was trying to make a pauldron, and that didn't quite work out, BUT I realized it would be a great way to make a girth belt! I didn't expect the first try to really work out, but I have a pleasant surprise:
(https://i.imgur.com/CP7o5gZ.jpg)
When you say "craft foam" what do you mean? Close-cell? Open-cell? and how thick? It doesn't look like the blue one is very thick but since it's covered I can't really tell if it's open or close.
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Thank you! ;D Hmm, I'm not entirely sure what the right terminology is for the foam. If the package had labels I threw them away and I've had it for years. It's the sort of foam you'd use for children's crafts. Pretty sure I just got it at Walmart. The blue one certainly looks better when the fabric isn't being stretched willy nilly by pins but the one made with duck cloth does look more solid. Here's a picture and maybe you'll know more about it than me.
(https://i.imgur.com/Arecimo.jpg)
Just noticed I posted the boots picture twice! Previous post has been updated with the right pictures.
I finally finished the flight suit for my other kit. Had to remind myself what the heck I was doing but now I have a better idea for this one, and hopefully won't make a grievous error when bringing in the legs. It's fine now I fixed it, with much frustration and seam splitting. Also decided to try my hand at leatherworking for the bags since I can't find what I want anywhere, and my policy is 'give it a try before you buy' for everything except blasters and buckets.
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Thanks for the pic of the exact foam. (Thought I replied earlier, this week has been nuts.) It looks like a kind of close cell foam. Which just means the foam is pretty dense. Open Cell foam is like what you find in couch cushions.
So, I have lots of questions now, because your work is awesome and I've gotten some time to think seriously. I love the flak vest design with the zippers in the inside.
1.) Why did you chose to have the back zip to the front panel?
2.) Do you know of a reason not to have the pane from the back meet in the front and zip under the front panel?
3.) Those sheets of foam don't look long enough to wrap around a waist, how did you get the length for a girth belt?
4.) Did you do the quilting on your vest?
5.) How ON EARTH did you get the embossed logo off those boots? (Those boots ROCK, BTW.)
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No problem! I keep meaning to update again, but, yeah, everything's nuts. Thank you very much, I'll answer as best I can!
1- The flak vest is inspired by whitecrow1's flak vest, which is a more complicated deisgn where the straps from the back wrap all the way around to center front and then zip together, and then the actual material of the front of the vest velcros down onto that. It's hard to verbally explain, I think I posted a link to his WIP page, and on the second page of that there's a video of how it works. This is a simplified version but the same principle. It allows the vest to fully separate on both sides, so you don't have to worry about any arm holes while getting it on. Just slip it over your head and then zip and clip both sides.
2- I think what you're talking about here is basically what whitecrow did. I just wanted a simplified version, but having the panes longer and then zipping to each other would definitely work.
3- I used painter's tape to tape two strips of foam together. It adds enough rigidity that it acts like one solid piece. If you do this, just try to keep the tape out of areas you will be sewing in. You can go through painter's tape without destroying your sewing machine (or mine was fine at least), but you have to go slow and your thread will probably break and it's annoying. Just stop the tape about an inch from the edge.
4- I bought it like that! Joann Fabrics carries several different colors of quilted fabric.
5- I used a vinyl repair liquid! It took about a thousand coats, and could honestly still use a few more, uhg. I can't decide if I want to be picky or if 'you have to know it was there and be looking for it' level of concealment on the logo is okay. It was like 20 bucks on amazon, which sounds really expensive for logo removal, but I have a ton left over.
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Okay so things have been crazy, and the next thing I need to do is alter my flight suit and shape my plates... Dreading altering the flight suit and waiting for armor parties to be a thing again to shape the plates. BUT! I made a deal with Dragon Sunkiller. Made him a flak vest yesterday, and he's making me metal plates for an eventual third kit out of a car hood. Also, I'm borrowing my cousin's 3D printer and printed Dragon off some gauntlets and will be printing myself a scaled version of the same pair.
(https://i.imgur.com/ywSubRL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JZ7Vwrv.jpg)
This flak vest was done in just a bit over 8 hours, all the way from drafting to sewing the neck seal on! Well, ok, 98% done because my roommate had gone to bed at that point and I couldn't use the sewing machine to finish the velcro on the collar lol. It's not for me but... totally counts to post in my build forum because I'm trading it for metal plates, right? Lol
Pics of gauntlets to come in probably about a week, as that's about how long they take if I have the printer running constantly lol.
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Right, so, I ran into printing problems and never did finish those gauntlets, but my cousin will print them off for me.... eventually. But we did lose the files, so I sure hope I can figure out the scale I used again... I'm also finally off night shift so hopefully things will get rolling again.
Last month I did a photoshoot of my kit with my cousin Facebok page here (https://www.facebook.com/charlesbuckleyphotography/) and although this kit is only about a third of the way done, I tried out the full makeup and I am THRILLED with the results. The horns are going to make the helmet really interesting but with some creative padding I think it will be okay. Here's the unedited makeup, before photoshop touched it. There were a few touchup spots after this photo but it's like 95% finished.
(https://i.imgur.com/nnuElFG.jpg)
I know the girth belt is sitting awfully low in this one but once plates and everything are finished I think it will be alright.
(https://i.imgur.com/1lvoLKs.jpg)
It took... quite a bit of doing, but he SOMEHOW managed to get a couple of me looking sort of scary! I have determined that I am simply incapable of looking menacing without my face covered.
(https://i.imgur.com/ezY80RW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f0t5Zk8.jpg)
So far I am SO happy with this kit, the makeup and flak vest are looking so good. Forgive the baggy flight suit, I never did get around to altering it. More pictures are to come after I see him for Christmas. Have a Merry Mando Christmas, everybody!
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Update but no pics (sorry)- got all the plates shaped and the trauma plates glued onto the primary plates! I was hoping to get all the magnets glued on over New Years vacation, but I did the math and I need more magnets anyways... Also want to buy a smaller size of magnets. Currently thinking I am going to glue magnets to the plates and then sew metal discs into pouches in the flak vest. Also throwing around some ideas to greeble up the backside of the plates like Din has going on, but everything I've thought of seems like it would add too much bulk. At least I'm going to prime and paint the back of the plate silver.
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Finished finetuning the plate shaping on this set today! I will tape them all to my flak vest and post again before painting, but I'm pretty sure it's there.
(https://i.imgur.com/5yBGIt4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/scIolbJ.jpg)
Before finetuning the backplate:
(https://i.imgur.com/Agr8QR0.jpg)
After rolling the edge as per Shammah's advice:
(https://i.imgur.com/GusAaVB.jpg)
I have also aquired the gauntlets and some bondo to go with them! Printed by a clan member who's forum name I have currently forgotten entirely.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wa48VWt.jpg)
This makes two sets of gauntlets I have to finish now, as well as a grenade and a knife. The weather is warming up so I am excited to have a chance to work outside again!
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Okay, here are the front plates taped to the vest. I don't think I can manage to get shots of the back plates, lol.
(https://i.imgur.com/LJ3v8w2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Hbpt4w0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ugzixGa.jpg)
I know theyre all hanging a little funny but I think that's just that they're taped on and not actually mounted. I did my best to curve the edges of the collar plate to eliminate float. I think this set is ready to paint! Ironically, my other set that doesn't have trauma plates is still giving me grief, lol.
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So I'm behaving myself and mounting before painting just in case something needs to be reshaped or trimmed a bit. This set is going to be mounted with magnets, and it's taking a lot more magnets than I thought, lol. I have a second set in progress and that one may need to attach with classic snaps and velcro simply because buying 192 magnets ain't cheap.
At first I wanted to put magnets on the plate and then mount a metal disc in the vest, cutting my magnet usage in half. Unfortunately, this isn't feasible because a simple metal disc doesn't slot exactly to fit the magnet, it will just sit anywhere on the magnet. I tried fridge magnets too, hoping that a weaker, cheaper magnet would work, but they both will slot to multiple different positions and aren't strong enough to hold through my flak vest material. Metal discs would be fine if I also used velcro to make sure the plates sat in the exact same spot every time, but for this kit I really want to pay attention to the details and make it truly immersive, including when I pull a plate off, so I want the attachment method to be as invisible as possible (and will be painting the back of the plates either silver or black instead of leaving them Sintra White.) :like:
I don't have any idea how people usually mount magnets in vests, but here's what I'm doing.
(https://i.imgur.com/wIqRE3h.jpg)
Epoxy magnets to plates, of course. I got naked magnets instead of ones that came epoxy coated, so I covered mine in a layer of epoxy as well as just gluing them right to the plate. So far they seem to be holding very well. This picture was taken just before I was finished, I've since added the last two magnets to the back plate, and two to the keyplate. Overkill? Maybe. :8): And yes, a magnet did slide on the collar plate when I wasn't paying attention, but you can't see it from the front. It bothers me, but not enough to risk mutilating my collar plate to remove and reglue it. I've only done the body plates simply because I didn't buy enough magnets.
(https://i.imgur.com/v9QGSrj.jpg)
Next step, I cut rectangles of cotton fabric, big enough to fold in half and still have a good bit of overlap on all sides of the magnet.
(https://i.imgur.com/308k8A9.jpg)
I took the rectangle, folded it in half, and stitched around the edges, leaving the top edge open to put the magnet in.
(https://i.imgur.com/izM3q2g.jpg)
Slide in the magnet and top stitch the top edge closed.
(https://i.imgur.com/o3MeSez.jpg)
Hand stitch around the magnet. I tried to do this with machine, but I couldn't keep the magnet in the right spot and get the needle close enough. It wasn't too much trouble to hand sew it though, and I found it's useful to place two extra magnets on the outside so it's easy to see where the inner magnet is.
(https://i.imgur.com/7luheAb.jpg)
Done this way, I can easily move my plates around with the pouched magnet sliding underneath like one of those magnet zinger toys, safety pin it in place, and then sew down the surrounding pouch. At least, in theory. I only have 14 magnets left over to mount with, so I won't even get all the way through the body plates until my extra magnets arrive.
If it works as well as I think it might, I may have to spring for the extra eight dozen magnets and do my other set of plates like this as well. The lengths I may go to to avoid snap placement.... :P
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this build is so great to follow. I love the progress. Where did you get your belt?
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Thank you kindly! The girth belt is made of duck cloth and craft foam, but the belt-belt I got off of Amazon. I probably searched for something along the lines of utility/tactical belt? Hope that helps, I can go through my Amazon history and find the exact item if you like.
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I love your build.
A lot to learn I have. WOW.
I will have eyes on your work. :like:
This is the way.
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Thank you Max, thank you both for your encouragement!
I have three of the plates mounted now- ran out of magnets, oops. Gotta wait for more to come before I can finish, but here's what I have so far.
(https://i.imgur.com/opyc2oa.jpg)
Forgive the expression, I was trying very hard to get a good angle, lol. Please be as picky about the spacing and all as possible, it's very easy for me to move the plates at this stage!
(https://i.imgur.com/Mv1zP5C.jpg)
And a silly one. ;D Loving how the magnets are keeping my flak vest clear! I am considering adding just one or two snaps per plate though, just because of how easy the plates are to pull off.
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Thank you Max, thank you both for your encouragement!
I have three of the plates mounted now- ran out of magnets, oops. Gotta wait for more to come before I can finish, but here's what I have so far.
(https://i.imgur.com/opyc2oa.jpg)
Forgive the expression, I was trying very hard to get a good angle, lol. Please be as picky about the spacing and all as possible, it's very easy for me to move the plates at this stage!
(https://i.imgur.com/Mv1zP5C.jpg)
And a silly one. ;D Loving how the magnets are keeping my flak vest clear! I am considering adding just one or two snaps per plate though, just because of how easy the plates are to pull off.
I think it is looking so good.
Just ask, did you try a test to glue one magnet to the soft material with E6000?
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I think it is looking so good.
Just ask, did you try a test to glue one magnet to the soft material with E6000?
Thank you! ;D No, no E6000 was involved. It's fine stuff, but because it takes 24 hours to dry fully, I would have to clamp every single magnet to the sintra while it dried. So I used epoxy because the 5 minute set time was much more ideal, as the magnets will move themselves while still drying, requiring babysitting to keep them in the right position, and I don't have roughly fifty clamps. What can I say, I'm impatient, I like super glue and staple guns. :P But if you meant attaching them to the flak vest, I would never glue anything to a fabric part anyways. Learned my lesson with sticky velcro.
No pics this time, but I did get more magnets in the mail, as well as some thigh pouches. I will probably be buying a third thigh bag to cannibalize for material to cover the zippers on the other two. I also got a couple pieces for my third kit... Some people upgrade one kit continously, me, I just can't pick a color scheme so I make three different ones. ???
I've been brainstorming the helmet for this kit. Because of the horns, it will probably have to come apart in two pieces, similar to how most twi'lek mandos do their helmets. I also want to pack it with electronics, which will be interesting, because I've never done anything with any electronics before. Ideally I want to put in it:
-Remote controlled up/down rangefinder, I have seen this done and it's epic
-Lit t-visor, I'm thinking a green light
-'Panoramic' vision as mentioned in repcomm- basically I want to put a camera in the back of the helmet and feed it to a small screen installed in the cheek just below the left t-visor. I really, really want some sort of actual, practical HUD function.
-I also think a recording gopro in the rangefinder would be really neat.
The first two I have seen done and know are possible. The second two I just think would be really, really cool. Plus possibly some other things people have found helpful, like a voice amp, hearing assist, fans, that sort of thing. My third kit that I am planning, I want to be as immersive and detailed and realistic as possible, so the electronics in this kit will be a test run for that one. I was hoping to go do some beskar shopping this weekend, but had achange of plans... Hoping to finish mounting plates and possibly start painting on Sunday, though.
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Whoops, could have sworn I'd updated more recently than I have.
Plates are all painted! Here's some progress pics, it was a bit of a process. Here's what I did.
-Black base coat, front and back
-Silver, two coats, front of plates only
-Toothpaste masking, mottled browns and greens
-Toothpaste masking, this time for the trauma plates in a tan color
-Didn't like how much paint came off with the masking, so I did both layers again with hairspray and salt weathering. Really gave it a lovely texture.
-Black wash, of course, but fairly light. I want this kit to look used but still relatively clean.
-Sealing clear coat
(https://i.imgur.com/AGTQBUy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QflFtsh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fnJNjtk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cLFFXil.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebagXPq.jpg)
With comparison to my first set of plates! I'm just so, so happy with how much I've improved since. I'm also upgrading my old kit, but I still need to shape the new plates for it.
(https://i.imgur.com/zxT0Y4n.jpg)
And a nice shot of all the magnets on the inside of the vest! They work really really nicely. I won't be sewing them permanently into place until I have the spacing approved though, because seam ripping these things out would destroy the quilting. Right now they're just safety pinned in so I can easily move them if need be.
With the advent of Book of Boba, I'm considering a new approach to the shoulder bells. I've been having trouble figuring out how to mount double shoulder plates, but seeing his shoulder plates gave me an idea. I might be able to mount the under plate directly to the flight suit like he has, and the top plate to the vest, removing the shoulder bell portion of the vest. I don't know if that's approvable, or if it will even look right, but it's something I'm considering.
Bonus- I spent most of today making a mouse droid! His name is M1-CK34 (Mickey). He's just cardboard slapped onto a cheap remote control car but I'm so, so happy with him! Just a fun little project to let the creative juices flow.
(https://i.imgur.com/M9qqba4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QFHWvJ2.jpg)
I also started working on my flight suit today. It's going to be a sewn from scratch two piece flight suit with some fun thigh detailing and double sleeves. Nothing worth showing yet, although I cannibalized a pair of my jeans for it, lol.
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Forgive the double post, I remembered more!
(https://i.imgur.com/PL7dl23.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nOlKdPn.jpg)
Believe it or not, I've somehow always gotten out of cleaning 3D prints before now... Can't say I'm a fan but they're looking a lot better. Still got a long ways to go, and I'm doing two sets at once, both this and my old kit...
On a fully different note, I went to a troop at a comic book shop hosting Dominic Pace this summer! Changed out of my old kit for this pic, and because frankly this armor set is a lot more comfortable lol.
(https://i.imgur.com/qbEDWtl.jpg)
He signed one of my plates! Really, really cool guy. Very nice and approachable, the whole troop was a delight.
(https://i.imgur.com/ICfkhbR.jpg)
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Finally, finally, after I can put it off no longer... it's print sanding time.
(https://i.imgur.com/snTv1s5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KYglQDC.jpg)
Bit of a panic when I realized that these gauntlets are printed at 90%, which means 10% less hole in the hinge. My plan to use a bike spoke or the thinnest knitting needle I had wasn't going to work without drilling or heating. Fortunately, a clan member let me know a paperclip works just fine! And here I was already thinking about having to explain to a bike shop employee why I want an extra thin bike spoke.
Now it just needs to warm up so I can hit em with a filler primer layer... it was in the negatives today.
Once I have them finished and painted, I think I'm going to back the holes with some roughed up container plastic and some LEDs in the cavity.
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Looking good! Love the paint job.
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Wow this kit is looking awesome!! :like: keep it up
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Working on my gauntlets today and I realized... I've never actually put the whole thing on since I finished mounting the body plates.
I'm so, so much closer that I thought! It really snuck up on me! :laugh:
(https://i.imgur.com/D668Pws.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Tl8Ctft.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/d7RgKVF.jpg)
This felt so, so amazing, especially since I've been snatching work sessions every couple of months and didn't really have time to look at the big picture of this build. It's comfortable, it feels amazing, these are the moments I do this for- when you get a chance to stand back and look at the sum total of your work and say 'Wow... I made myself a piece of Star Wars'
So here's what I still need to do. Most of it is pretty small stuff, finishing touches.
Helmet: Don't have it yet, have no idea where I'm gonna get it. This is the main thing I need to do.
Flak vest: I need to redo the shoulder bells to hang at a different angle. The shoulder plates don't want to hang a perfect 90 degrees from my shoulder, so the bells need to follow my arm better. I'm considering replacing the shoulder bell portion of the vest with a short sleeve of the same material. Also, the bottom front hem is crooked. I think I'm going to add enough fabric, back and front, to tuck it into the belt to fix that. The magnet pouches also need to be sewn to the actual vest, but I'm waiting until the plates are absolutely perfect.
Plates: I need to attach all the peripheral plates. In the pictures, the cod plate is just stuck under the belts and the knees are taped on. I also know the back plates need a little work, but I really need help with that, this is as good as I can get it alone. I want a double check on the chest plates as well.
Gauntlets: Very nearly done sanding. I dropped one today and it cracked along the seam... I'm going to try to reinforce them from the back, possibly with fiberglass, and maybe give them a coat of some casting resin, because I will be absolutely devastated if one cracks after I have it painted. Painting, of course, and then I'm going to mount some LEDs to the cavity. I did lose the tabs that keep the gauntlets closed, oops.
Arm wraps: Going to be adding wraps to pad out the gauntlets and keep them from shifting.
Flight suit: For once my quarantine weight works in my favor! The flight suit filled out a bit, and all I have to do now is take the arms and legs in a tiny bit, and then add wrist and foot loops. Also needs more weathering, and I'm going to rip the logo of the breast pocket, because I want this costume to be completely believable, even if I'm just walking around with the flight suit.
Thigh bags: Sew the straps together so they don't move around while I'm wearing them, cover zippers, weather.
Girth belt: I need an entirely new one. The weight that made my flight suit fit perfectly made me completely outgrow the old one.
Utility belt: Needs weathering and whatever holsters for whatever weapons.
Kama: I really don't like how the lower half looks from the back. There's too much strapping with the thigh bags and the knees, and too much open space with nothing going on. I was going to wait till kit three to add a kama, but I think this kit would really look a lot better with one. I'm torn on color, because my accent color so far is black, but I think a solid black kama would be more black than I want. I'm thinking green with black trim. I need to check on the CRLs and see if I still need a girth belt, I don't quite remember how having a kama changes waist item requirements.
Boots: Done!
Gloves: Done!
Weapons: I had a lot of big ideas on the concept for this one. I do have a light up vibroblade half done. As I understand it, light up blades are approvable as long as the blade isn't clear, so I'll be painting the flats of the blade silver.
I also wanted a sword and spear as a matching set, a rifle, and some sort of pistol. We'll see how much of that I end up making. My last kit was approved with nothing but a wooden knife, so this'll be a whole new thing for me. I'm really partial to the Amban rifle, so I might do something similar to that.
For an armor party: Help with plates, specifically the back plates. Probably going to need help with the helmet as well, this thing is gonna be complicated.
Questions for ruus'alore or anyone who knows:
Does a kama change waist requirements at all? Between the thigh bags, girth belt and holster belt, and now a kama, I'm looking at four waist items. Can any of these be combined?
I'm thinking of changing the shoulder bell to a short sleeve style instead, inspired by Boba's new vest. It would have to wrap around my bicep and snap or velcro behind my arm because the vest is constructed to come apart at both sides instead of seam up the back as Boba's new vest does. Anything I should be aware of with that?
And of course, anything I can do better with the body plates or anything I could possibly do to help the back plates by myself?
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Shaping up even better than your original kit, which I have no idea how! That segmented backplate just adds some extra something to it!
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Helmets are a lot easier than they appear at first glance. They can be time-consuming, but as long as you make your measurements exact and don’t rush, you will get a good result at the end. The Bearded Mando has a build log in the helmets forum as well as a channel on youtube. I logged my build progress in a thread in the helmet forum as well, and I have absolutely zero costuming experience before tackling it. So even a complete newbie can do it.
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Helmets are a lot easier than they appear at first glance. They can be time-consuming, but as long as you make your measurements exact and don’t rush, you will get a good result at the end. The Bearded Mando has a build log in the helmets forum as well as a channel on youtube. I logged my build progress in a thread in the helmet forum as well, and I have absolutely zero costuming experience before tackling it. So even a complete newbie can do it.
I'm no pro, but I've already got one kit completed. The problem with this one is it's a zabrak, so I have a row of horns, and won't be able to just put the helmet on normally. I'm thinking of a two part design where the faceplate attaches by magnets and comes off. I don't know if I should scratch build, cut apart a cast helmet, or what exactly. I should probably go dive through twi'lek builds, I know a few of them have two part helmets.
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The question would be how prominent your horns will be. Something like Maul’s horns might fit, barely, inside a typical helmet, but would be impractical for repeated donning/removal. I’m not sure a removable faceplate would be sufficient; you might need to split it in half. That seems to be the way the Twi’leks do it, with a backplate for under the lekku and a front piece that includes the visor, mandibles, cheeks, dome, and possibly the earcaps.
Crazy idea: have you looked at the helmets from the old Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV show? They split in half at about the ears, hinged at the top, and had small clasps near the neck. You could mask the seam with the earcaps and some sort of blast plate or forehead crest.
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These are really good ideas and got me thinking, thank you! (And thank you to everybody following and supporting this build! I really appreciate all the kind words!)
I looked into the morphin' power rangers, it gave me a few ideas. I glued the horns on, and just tried some things out. It turns out I can, just barely, get my current helmet on with the horns if I take out a bunch of padding, so a normal sized helmet that allows the face plate to remove should work great! So I drew up some ideas.
Here's the horns for reference, so everybody can see the placement and the size:
(https://i.imgur.com/nw5vPTN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nPlK4AH.jpg)
As a side note, the only thing I'll be doing to my hair is dying it black. Zabraks can have hair, purple or black, and I know a bald cap would never look good. A majority of the pictures of zabraks on the wookiepedia page actually do have hair!
On to the helmet. Right now I'm thinking traditional mandible style, no rangefinder, because I don't want the weight of it throwing this thing off. It's going to be complicated enough without asymmetrical weight.
(https://i.imgur.com/2LR8EXW.jpg)
I marked out approximately where the horns sit. The plan is to have the bulk of the helmet padded very closely to my head, probably with something like upholstery foam. The goal is to have it padded well enough that it doesn't move at all (with cut outs of the foam for my ears of course). The faceplate should also have pretty precise padding to keep the horns protected.
(https://i.imgur.com/5oOf3JX.jpg)
Here's another view of where I'm thinking the faceplate should split from the rest of the helmet. I toyed around with a split that just goes straight across the dome, but I decided I want the dome to extend farther down my head for security, and I just think it looks better to have the faceplate split at a 45 angle instead of 90.
(https://i.imgur.com/FgFTDgD.jpg)
Then I marked out what I'm thinking on my current helmet. Blue is main helmet, red is faceplate, purple is overlap, and the green is magnets. I thought about trying to recess the magnets into the edge of the cut instead of overlapping, but I tend to be a very active trooper, and the half inch or so gives me just that much more room for the horns. I'm also considering a couple pull down toggle latches (no idea what the name is but that's what google gave me) because I'm not sure I want to trust this entirely to magnets.
As far as practically making the helmet goes, I'm considering a resin cast to use as the bulk of the helmet, cutting out the area I need, and scratch building the faceplate out of primarily 6mm sintra.
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Did a whole lot of gauntlet work! Here's the process:
(https://i.imgur.com/snTv1s5.jpg)
Fill, sand, filler prime, sand, repeat... But finally on to the fun part.
(https://i.imgur.com/bq58YUY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SpnV88d.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xrQtVrP.jpg)
The whole thing was very seat of my pants, but that's just how I operate :laugh: I had to repaint the gauntlets when the color came out different from my other plates, dropped one and had to repair it, used too much hairspray to stick the salt on and had to scrape off a bunch of salt with a knife, discovered the holes were too small for a bike spoke and ended up using a paperclip instead... But it turned out!
(https://i.imgur.com/JjDYqg8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9pRIev2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IK7Zi6j.jpg)
At our latest armor party, my ruus gave me some used up 3D print heads for darts and fiberglassed the joints in the back for me! Had to strip four of the heads so they'd fit in the smallest holes, but I'm totally in love with them.
(https://i.imgur.com/TtuDSjs.jpg)
These are going to have red lights as soon as I figure out how to do that :laugh: If anyone has references or guides on how to wire LED lights, I would love to see.
All that's left on gauntlets is to finish the closing clip, and add lights and foam padding inside!
I also started the kama! The only thing I don't at least have started on this kit now is the helmet, everything else is in some stage of progress!
(https://i.imgur.com/jc9cfXm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9YDq7tx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dfvMyuB.jpg)
This is four layers of material- outer canvas, two filling layers of duck cloth, and an inner liner. I think I'm going to rip off the sand edge tape and replace it with ribbon, I don't like how it bunched and think I can get it much neater as soon as I find the right color ribbon. Maybe needs an extra snap and weathering, but it's very nearly done! Probably the fastest sewing project I've ever cranked out, what you see here took me about 5 hours :laugh:
(https://i.imgur.com/2wfiVHY.jpg)
I love the lining, even though it doesn't show in straight standing pictures <3
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Looking good :like:
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Update time! There's a costume contest on Saturday I want to enter with this kit so I'm crunching hard to get it cohesively wearable. I've redone the trim on the kama, picked the shoulder bells off the flak vest, and done a lot of clean up on the thigh bags. I'll post all of that up later, right now I just want to post up the attachment system for my knees. I'm really proud of it!
So the way I did my knees last time was with a snap in the center of the plate and the center of my kneecap, and a strap of elastic running from one end of the plate around the back of my knee and velcroing to the other side of the plate. The knee plates have always been the most annoying part of that kit, constantly falling down, snaps unsnapping, velcro coming loose. Last troop I had to staple the elastic to the plate. So it was definitely time to completely reassess attachment.
Problems identified with the snap and elastic on the plate:
-Plate is only attached to the flight suit at one point. If that point fails, the whole plate falls down.
-Visible elastic, while allowed, is something I wanted to do away with if I could, but is necessary to hold the plate flush to the knee.
-Ideally the plate should be attached at the sides, but still need help staying straight on the knee. I wanted to be able to easily pivot it upwards, more on my thigh, to be able to kneel. So it can't just snap to the center of my knee cap.
Solution I came up with:
-Place the plate itself just about an inch higher than you would think. When kneeling, if the flight suit is tailored well enough, this pulls the material of the legs up and puts the knee plate on the thigh. But when standing, gravity pulls the plate right at the knee. I can also adjust my knee plates if they're sitting uncomfortably by raising my arms instead of awkwardly picking at my knee! One piece flight suits do have their advantages ;)
-Magnet on either side of the plate, matching magnet inside the flight suit. This would also work with snaps.
-Elastic that runs behind the knee on the inside of the flight suit, attached to the same point as the flight suit's magnet, effectively making one circle complete circle around the knee with the plate, but not visible.
-Short loop of cord epoxied to the top center half of the plate. Clip of some kind sewn to the flight suit. This holds the plate up, but gives enough flex that the plate isn't just locked straight to the flight suit.
This gives the plate three points of attachment, all of which can flex. If the magnets are pulled off in kneeling or jumping, the loop and clip holds the plate and allows me to quickly position it back to the magnets.
Loop and clip:
(https://i.imgur.com/UTtk265.jpg)
Internal magnets and elastic:
(https://i.imgur.com/JTtg1ZD.jpg)
Knee plate positioning (ignore the one on the left sagging a bit, I've since adjusted it but not had the opportunity to get pics taken)
(https://i.imgur.com/xkLz6Fr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Xp6NpVo.jpg)
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If you want to be able to kneel properly, you want the knee plates to align with your shins, not your thighs, so that you’re kneeling on the full face of the knee plates, not on the bottom edges of them.
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Is that what everybody's doing? The idea of putting most of my weight on a plate scares me ??? Are there any advantages to placing it so you can kneel on it vs making it so it raises out of the way like I've done?
(https://i.imgur.com/YEPcb7w.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Gqll9tL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gPEOr1j.jpg)
Straight standing, slight bend, and full crouch. I'd much rather do this than be potentially damaging a plate every time I kneel, and I tend to be really active in kit.
I also did a loop and clip for my cod plate so it won't get knocked off! :laugh: I don't want to have to worry about losing plates, I think I'm going to do this to the shoulder plates too. The magnets hold everything else well and have been extensively jump-tested ;D (Me hopping around wearing my kit) :laugh:
(modified to avoid double post)
Side angles of at what point the knee detaches from the magnet and is held solely by the clip:
(https://i.imgur.com/E14wCx7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VJempL2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1ArDA4d.jpg)
Kind of hard to do this and get good shots at the same time :P But the plate doesn't rely entirely on the clip until the magnets get slid off at about 45 degrees (I expect the angle to be even smaller once I have everything properly sewn in instead of having safety pins in the way) You can see that fully kneeling, my thigh get compressed enough that the plate doesn't fit.
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The point of the knee plate, as with knee pads, is to protect the knee from having things dig into your knee, particularly when kneeling. Knee pads provide extra cushion from the ground, knee plates add armor protection on top of that. When kneeling, you want to rest your knee on the face of the knee plate, not directly on hard or rough ground, rocks, etc. that could dig into your knee. It’s not there to protect above the knee. It’s there to protect the knee where it rests on the ground. Having the plate move with the thigh defeats the purpose of it. It needs to stay aligned with the lower leg.
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That would be true if I was building this kit to fight in. :) Although my goal is to build it as immersive as I can, this is a costume that I'll be interacting with small kids at troops in, and that's a lot of kneeling. I'm way more worried about breaking a plate than hurting my knee. Moving the plate to lie flush with my shin while kneeling would make it look way too low while standing.
I appreciate the input, but I believe the way I have this set up achieves the goal well! Combat practicality is nice but I know the limits of the materials.
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That’s why knee plates need to be durable. Even if the plate isn’t real armor, it still needs to look functional, and that includes it’s placement. It also still provides a certain amount of protection from debris on the ground you’ll be kneeling on. My first kit (made from cardboard) moved with my thigh. I found it nearly impossible to kneel. It was very uncomfortable and the bottom edge of the knee plate got in the way. By having the knee plate in the proper position, moving with the shin, thus resting on the face of the knee plate when kneeling, it is far more comfortable and easier to kneel. It’s a matter of functionality and comfort.
If you look at my knee plates in the pictures below, they’re attached to a set of industrial knee pads.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZCwd16a.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pLRllrv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/otVBIOM.jpg)
The straps wrap around just below the knee, allowing the knee plates to move with my shin. I can kneel very comfortably on these knees. I wouldn’t be able to kneel at all in them if they moved with the thigh. It’s not comfortable and the bottom edge would get in the way.
So, if you’re planning on doing a lot of kneeling, then it is even more important to have the knee plates move with the shin, not the thigh.
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As Trashcanmando's Ruus and one of the many sets of eyes that will approve this kit we will make sure all plates are properly placed, up to club standards, and meet CRL's. If not we will throw Trashcanmando in to the nearest sarlac pit where she will have to fight her way out and then go through the entire story line of BoBF or be slowly digested over the course of a thousand years. I have no doubt that Trashcanando's kit will be completed to the highest quality as was her first kit, and will fit her needs as such.
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As Trashcanmando's Ruus and one of the many sets of eyes that will approve this kit we will make sure all plates are properly placed, up to club standards, and meet CRL's. If not we will throw Trashcanmando in to the nearest sarlac pit where she will have to fight her way out and then go through the entire story line of BoBF or be slowly digested over the course of a thousand years. I have no doubt that Trashcanando's kit will be completed to the highest quality as was her first kit, and will fit her needs as such.
Of that I have no doubt. :8): My only concern is her comfort and the functionality of the plates, not simply the CRLs.
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Of that I have no doubt. :8): My only concern is her comfort and the functionality of the plates, not simply the CRLs.
Then it doesn't matter if she can kneel on the plates or not. The functionality of the knee plate is ARMOR, not as a functional knee pad. While this can be the case, it is not required.
If you look at Boba or Jango the knee armor tends to shift upward toward the thigh when kneeling, Boba's especially. This would mean, when they knelt, they would do so on their actual knee, and not the knee armor.
As long as it looks good, is properly spaced, and is comfortable to wear then it should be good. These are costumes, not actual battle armor.
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Thank you Tim, thank you Arkham! ;D
It was very uncomfortable and the bottom edge of the knee plate got in the way. By having the knee plate in the proper position, moving with the shin, thus resting on the face of the knee plate when kneeling, it is far more comfortable and easier to kneel. It’s a matter of functionality and comfort.
(....)
I can kneel very comfortably on these knees. I wouldn’t be able to kneel at all in them if they moved with the thigh. It’s not comfortable and the bottom edge would get in the way.
I get you're trying to make sure my kit is practical, but I engineered this design specifically for my own comfort. I'm glad you found what works for you, but there's always another way to scale a fish.
(https://i.imgur.com/MYOWSU7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ct4YsJF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eVokVYA.jpg)
I assure you, it's extremely comfortable and functional!
(Not the rifle I'm using for this kit at all, just a prop for the poses.)
Still crunching hard for the contest tomorrow. Tonight and tomorrow morning I aim to get some padding in the gauntlets, which are guilty of rotating horribly right now! And get the girth belt finished. They won't care at the contest, but I sure will. Some weathering would be nice but I doubt I have the time.
(https://i.imgur.com/bMouvoQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UDFbyex.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NKp6jIk.jpg)
Tim reminded me- current weapons for this kit!
-Scratch built verpine, I have the materials and just need a day or two to go at it
-The flashlight vibroblade I showed earlier, it just needs a few finishing touches
-Twin WESTAR-35's, from this gorgeous file. (https://www.etsy.com/listing/949777697/star-wars-westar-35-mandalorian-blaster?click_key=4a323c4f0879029ad5d02557337443b021c4b36c%3A949777697&click_sum=76e861d1&ref=user_profile&sts=1)
-Five total kal daggers, planning to attach them to a bandolier holding the verpine.
Thanks for getting the WESTARS and the daggers printed for me, Tim! ;D
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I'm totally loving this kit!!! I'm also learn a lot from it as well. Amazing work!!
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amazing work on this kit!!! I love this build thread.
:boba:
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My knees also work like yours, trashcanmando, they go up to the thighs when I bend my legs which is super nice so I don't damage my plates when I move! Plus I can actually move around in my kit :laugh: I have a much simper method of just using velcro but I second that placement, I really like how mine work!
Your kit is looking great, love love the paint job!
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amazing work on this kit!!! I love this build thread.
:boba:
I'm totally loving this kit!!! I'm also learn a lot from it as well. Amazing work!!
Thank you so much, both!! Please let me know if there's anything anybody ever wants to see more detail on, I'm happy to take more pics or explain anything I did!
My knees also work like yours, trashcanmando, they go up to the thighs when I bend my legs which is super nice so I don't damage my plates when I move! Plus I can actually move around in my kit :laugh: I have a much simper method of just using velcro but I second that placement, I really like how mine work!
Your kit is looking great, love love the paint job!
;D That's awesome, ease of kneeling ftw! I would honestly rather hurt my knee than my paint job :laugh:
I started work on a verpine, I'm pretty satisfied with what I have so far! Hoping to get the stock/wood frame cut out tonight, but we'll see. Full process shots to come at least after it's cut out of the 2x4 :laugh:
(https://i.imgur.com/eV2PpNA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EQXSEnB.jpg)
Also, the costume contest went alright! It was a very small event but I had fun anyways. My roommate was very kind and did a mini photoshoot for me afterwards!
(https://i.imgur.com/0V2BDA0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/s7fmdNW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NEyiB0j.jpg)
Notes from wearing this for most of a day:
-Going to shelve the zabrak thing until after this kit is OM. It's really making the helmet a lot more complicated, and it's already hard enough to get M5 size helmets. I just want this approved so I can troop in it instead of my very old budget build, which is getting upgraded, but at a much slower pace.
-More loop and clips to the back plates. I tend to lose them when getting out of a car seat or taking a jacket on and off.
-Something keep the utility belt in place on the girth belt, it tends to float. Maybe snaps, maybe just a little velcro.
-The gauntlets were insanely hard to put on alone. I'm considering modifying them to close with magnets, or maybe just epoxying one end of the clip in place will do the trick... It literally took me 20 minutes of losing my mind and an embarrassing amount of hot glue to get them on. But the padding works well, they slid around a lot less!
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Looking good!
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Looking great! The padding probably fixed your gaunt rotation, but if it didn't, I added a strip of adhesive velcro to the inside of my gauntlets and stitched a piece of onewrap to my flight suit sleeves to tighten them and hold the gauntlet in place. That fixed my rotation with zero padding. More difficult to take off than put on atm, but works pretty well in a pinch.
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Looking great! The padding probably fixed your gaunt rotation, but if it didn't, I added a strip of adhesive velcro to the inside of my gauntlets and stitched a piece of onewrap to my flight suit sleeves to tighten them and hold the gauntlet in place. That fixed my rotation with zero padding. More difficult to take off than put on atm, but works pretty well in a pinch.
That's really smart! I'll definitely add a little velcro to keep them from rotating.
For my first woodworking project, I'm pretty happy with how the verpine is going :laugh:
What I did was print out three different verpine designs I liked and traced them onto a 2x4, then I freehanded a composite of the sketches into what I considered to be the Platonic Verpine :laugh: Then cut it out roughly with a jigsaw, bought the cheapest sight Walmart had, and grabbed some PVC.
(https://i.imgur.com/3JQWKGS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ATvKXiU.jpg)
I cut off the magazine and the triangular bit I take to be the power cell. The triangular bit is right where my left hand should go, so I think I'll just be omitting in entirely despite it being a staple in verpine design. The magazine I removed because I'm going to scratch build one from sintra and embed some magnets into it and the body of the verpine, just a nice little touch, having a removable magazine.
A lot of dremeling, chiseling, power sanding, and even exacto-ing later, I have this:
(https://i.imgur.com/MfTXz9u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xI1t25s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aYxy9ts.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/419w16F.jpg)
Black is where I still mean to make cuts, green is where I need to do some sanding, and pink is wood fill. I did get some wood filler down tonight, so all I really have left is the cutting and sanding, in a lot of hard to reach places.
After that's done, I'm going to assemble and paint all the hardware, like the pipe for the barrel, the scope, and greeblies. I'm going to add some rail-esque greeblies on the side of the main barrel and on the wood portion of the lower barrel, as the verpine is a magnetic rail gun! Going to add a metal trigger and some other small greebs. Then stain the wood green, because Kal's verps are green so I may as well :laugh: Then attach all the hardware and I should be done.
Sure sounds easy now, doesn't it?
Wild to think that this kit is nearly in the fine tuning and detail work stage. The only pieces I have left to acquire or start are some 3D printed weapons, the bandolier, and the helmet. The rest is all finishing work.
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“Platonic Verpine” is fantastic, thank you for that! :like:
This thing is a beast, it looks awesome. I love wood builds and have a few underway, but I was curious about dealing with the grain and texture? I’ve been schmearing with wood filler and sanding down, but that’s messy and lengthy. Is there a better way or does it not really matter? What’s your plan (may have missed it somewhere sorry)?
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“Platonic Verpine” is fantastic, thank you for that! :like:
This thing is a beast, it looks awesome. I love wood builds and have a few underway, but I was curious about dealing with the grain and texture? I’ve been schmearing with wood filler and sanding down, but that’s messy and lengthy. Is there a better way or does it not really matter? What’s your plan (may have missed it somewhere sorry)?
Thank you very much! ;D
I cannot recommend a power sander enough! I have a 1/4 sheet electric sander, a detail electric sander with a sort of iron-shaped head would probably work best. Beautiful smooth finish in a matter of seconds.
In places where the power sander won't reach, I'm using a set of files and a rasp, or just an extra aggressive file, and sanding sponges. That seems to be doing the job in most areas.
Hope that's helpful, I've really never worked much with wood! I have made a knife, but that was just cutting it out with a jigsaw and shaping the edges with a belt sander, and it honestly wasn't very good.
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Hope that's helpful,
Thanks! I’ll give it a try and see how I like it. And see how yours turns out too, probably happen first the rate I work at. :laugh:
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(https://i.imgur.com/oHxWxvE.jpg?1)
Getting there! Good grief, this was more intensive than I expected. But I'm loving it! Very happy with the paint job. I've got a bipod coming in the mail for it, and the bulk of the rifle is finished. Mostly detail work at this point- greebs, attaching the bipod and scope, finish painting the details, give it a nice clear matte coat. Finish the magazines, which will clip in with magnets!
Also been browsing the sniper brigade, and I think I'm going to go with a survival kit as an accessory, going to try and make some uj cake and gihaal jerky out of clay ;D Excited to see how that goes.
To do list update:
Helmet: Made a deal with Tim/Atin to get it printed! Going to go with the Rook from alteregoarmory.
(https://i.imgur.com/Qo5dBuw.jpg)
It's gorgeous, I think this is as close to what I wanted as I'm gonna get without a custom helmet build! Which I might still do, but right now I'm sacrificing a few things to get this approved and troopable. The more I work on it, the less satisfied I am with my old work.
Flak vest: Still need to mount the shoulder bells and add material to the front and back bottom hem.
Plates: Aside from mounting shoulder plates, I need to add loop and hooks to the plates more prone to fall off when doing things like getting out of a car or taking a jacket on and off. It's really just the shoulder bells and bottom two back plates. Top back plate will stay the way it is because I haven't had much issue with it and it helps to be able to take it off when kitting up and down.
Gauntlets: A little bit of paint touch up, a little bit of velcro, and some LEDs.
Flight suit: Done!
Thigh bags: Finish the straps, give the leather bit some shape, weather.
Girth belt: Weather. Velcro to keep utility belt from floating.
Utility belt: Needs weathering and whatever holsters for whatever weapons.
Kama: Weather. Place an extra snap and alter the velcro.
Boots: Done!
Gloves: Done!
Weapons: Finish vibroblade, finish verpine. I'm casting a set of 5 kal knives (free thingiverse file), and getting two WESTAR-35s printed. I have more I want to make but that'll do it for approval. Gonna also make a bandolier to hold the rifle and the kal'e.
Sniper brigade: Won't be worrying about any of this too much until I have this kit approved, but I'm still thinking ahead. As far as I can tell what I have for the main armor is already good- light armor, muted colors. The rifle will have a scope as required, plus a bipod and extra magazines. The WESTARs will fulfill the sidearm requirement.
Accessories: For the main I'm torn between a com device or macrobinocs. A rangefinder also meets this, which the Rook has, but since it's sort of a placeholder, I'm going to double up. For secondary accessories, my vibroblade already fills the requirement, but I'm going to double up with a survival kit/ration pack!
Hopefully soon I will be released from the deathgrip of verpine building and go back to finishing up the main armor. :laugh:
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I am loving the progress on this kit. Amazing job!!!
:boba: :jango:
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Oooooh that helmet is gonna be great!
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Haven't had a ton of time lately but I finished the girth belt and kama!
(https://i.imgur.com/fLlG4QJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wpkazL6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8RIIB2A.jpg)
Weathering with acrylic paint and a woodburner!
List update cause I love my lists-
Helmet: Being printed by Atin!
Flak vest: Mount the shoulder bells and add material to the front and back bottom hem.
Plates: Add loop and hooks for extra security.
Gauntlets: Paint touch up, a little bit of velcro, and some LEDs.
Flight suit: Done!
Thigh bags: Finish the straps, give the leather bit some shape, weather.
Girth belt: Done!
Utility belt: Holsters for the WESTARs and flashlight vibro.
Kama: Done!
Boots: Done!
Gloves: Done!
Weapons: Make bandolier for verpine and kal knives. Verpine just has detail work and the magazines left. Kal knives need just a little bubble filling and painting.
Twin WESTARs being printed. Need holsters for them and the flashlight vibro, which just needs a couple greebs.
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In love with that weathering! Awesome
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Thank you ;D
Trying to get the flak vest done now. I added some ribbing to the shoulders inspired by Boba, and I'm wanting to add a short sleeve as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/uESjR8h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1nLH1ND.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bXOmvuq.jpg)
I do like how it looks a lot, but it might get complicated with mounting the plates. Honestly, I'm considering forgoing the plates if I can't figure out how to mount them nicely, because I'm really, really happy with the look! The idea was that I wanted to break up the bicep area, and this is the same material I used to line my kama, so I also get to repeat that element.
First two pictures are the initial test. The sleeves were slightly too narrow, making the flight suit sleeve bunch up, and causing some awkward bunching under the arm as well. I added a strip to under the sleeve, which fixed the bunching problems nicely, and I think if I use these, I'll sew them to the flight suit instead of the vest, for ease of putting the thing on and taking it off, and because this is a side opening vest, I can't sew the bottom of the sleeve to the vest itself.
But! I'm not quite sure how this falls with CRLs. It's meant to look like part of the flak vest, but is actually going to be a double sleeved flight suit, and I know the rules about double sleeved flight suits just changed.
Also, do you guys think it might look too busy? I'm all about that textured fabric but I know there's such a thing as overdoing it.
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According to the CRLs, the longer sleeves can be a contrasting color, but the short sleeves must match the main body of the flight suit.
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Like I alluded to, there have been some updates to CRLs that my Ruus let me know about and this is no longer the case.
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Like I alluded to, there have been some updates to CRLs that my Ruus let me know about and this is no longer the case.
I’m just going by what I’m reading on the site; and, if that’s true, it hasn’t been updated on the CRLs web page yet.
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Well, fingers crossed how I have it goes through. Guess there was some confusion about how soon the update would be public. If the sleeves don't end up being approvable, it isn't a huge deal for me to remove them.
(https://i.imgur.com/xxocgYY.jpeg)
I think I'm done with the flak vest! All plates are finally attached, complete with loops and hooks on all plates except the chest and the top back plate. Lengthened the front and back of the vest so it can tuck into my girth belt and to fix the crooked front seam.
If anyone has tutorials for wiring LEDs, I'm probably going to be finishing the gauntlets next. They just need a little touch up and the lights.
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Looking good! I gotta say, I love the True Mandalorians symbol on your flight suit. There's something special about hidden details that make you look like you're still in kit while partially suited up.
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Thank you! ;D It's one of my favorite details too!
Bit of a facepalm this time. But also some progress!
I finished the kal knives and made a bandolier! There's a con this weekend and I really wanted to be able to show off the knives.
(https://i.imgur.com/016XN42.jpg)
Facepalm incoming... I sewed in the double sleeves about 3 inches too far down, and yes... the bicep plate is actually attached! So I'm ripping off the double sleeves before con and then I'll move them higher and the bicep plate more forward.
But the bandolier turned out great, I think! I'll be dying it a dark brown as well. There's two magnets on the back I hope to use to attach weapons (as well as some sort of clasp? still figuring that out) and pleasant news: my ancient beast of a sewing machine goes through sued leather no problem! I also have enough leather now for the flak vest for my third kit... ???
Oya ;D
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Bandolier and knives look awesome... rip to your sleeves :-X
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Good grief, this update is overdue.
Had an armor party, went to Rod Con, went to a very small July 4th event, and went to Des Moines Con!
Helmet first:
(https://i.imgur.com/kjjryPf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2zBEH8c.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k9nebrZ.jpg)
Fill, sand, primer, fill, you know the drill... Wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but I still don't love finishing prints. Too bad, cause I have a whole pile waiting lol
(https://i.imgur.com/ENt9FP1.jpg)
First layer of silver, yes I did do a little more filling and sanding and priming and then did a second layer of silver. Just forget to get pictures of that.
(https://i.imgur.com/bbtMjHz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qZUIWVZ.jpg)
Toothpaste masking and first layer of greens and brown!
(https://i.imgur.com/se59Le8.jpg)
Salt it like you're trying to salt cure a ham.
(https://i.imgur.com/Aq7akvQ.jpg)
Color comparison. The difference is actually due to blackwash, I did pretty much have the color mix right even though the backplate looks extremely brown. Went on to a second layer of green and brown with salt and hairspray.
(https://i.imgur.com/0YlqqUl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kg0va7x.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gb55gSQ.jpg)
Those detail shots though.. ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/LB1wtej.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/e8eCdrl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HakTBxp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZGX8tV2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tR2On0T.jpg)
Accent color (with yet more salt)
(https://i.imgur.com/PY8QhGk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3PXKkhF.jpg)
Pre and post blackwash! It turned out just a bit darker than I really meant, but the color looks right in pictures, and its not off enough to make me repaint it. Just was a little more heavy-handed with the blackwash than I should have been.
The pads and visor in the helmet are currently just hot glued in. I will be fiberglassing the inside, installing a green reflective visor with light if I can find a good active vendor, and better pads. But she was wearable for May 4th and DSMC!
(https://i.imgur.com/Ww9ZDhr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6IruPfF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XpJvL6t.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kzgK07P.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qnP8zzo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8jdiVHP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T6cd765.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AxeFBiO.jpg)
Man, DSMC was incredible. This is actually the biggest group of kitted up mandos I've ever gotten to troop with, and it was so awesome! As you can see, I did fix the sleeve issue, lol.
Query is in with the app team about my short sleeves and to confirm my plate spacing is good to go. Going to be trying to knock a few more things off my list before June 4th, when I'm going to Joliet Illinois to meet the mandos there! Super excited! If I'm really lucky, maybe just maybe I can be at pre-app by then... But probably not.
New list:
Helmet: Finish clear coat and interior. Technically wearable, could app as is.
Flak vest: Sew in magnets after I have confirmation my spacing is good.
Plates: Done!
Gauntlets: Add LEDs. Technically ready for app.
Flight suit: Done!
Thigh bags: Finish the straps, give the leather bit some shape, weather.
Girth belt: Done!
Utility belt: Holsters for the WESTARs and flashlight vibro. See if I can mount the verpine.
Kama: Done!
Boots: Finish stripping off the reflective edging, decided I didn't want that.
Gloves: Done!
Weapons: Finish up verpine- need to reinstall barrel and add greebs and make it some magazines. Need to clean my two WESTAR prints. Finish up flashlight vibro. Kal daggers with bandolier finished.
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I saw your profile picture changed when you commented on my build. Your 2nd kit is coming along great!
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Wow it all looks awesome! Love the helmet and weathering.
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(https://i.imgur.com/4FM5yin.jpg)
Happy Holidays, everybody!
So uh... slides back in here like I totally didn't go AWOL for 6 months again
Got to go to Joliet in June! Biggest gathering of costumers I've ever been at and wow was that mind blowing! I had the best time.
(https://i.imgur.com/tz4y8Ck.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TXNv4UG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GW0VNCa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RxPyTBl.jpg)
Took a round of app pics at Joliet, ended up changing stuff before doing anything with them, went to C2E2!
(https://i.imgur.com/g7sUVLZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/utSITEZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Zm8OBJj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8QmX7JZ.jpg)
It was epic. So excited to be going again this year in March!
Took my new round of app pics there (thank you Atin :D )
(https://i.imgur.com/QwrFu0n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jbu4gks.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v7t820p.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2jE8ifG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fCIKPsh.jpg)
Haven't submitted yet because I still don't have any weapons :-X Yeah, I know, I know... the verpine barrel broke off and I haven't figured out exactly how I want to fix it yet... Weapons building is just one aspect I have to really force myself to get excited about, it doesn't come easily for me.
After wearing it to a couple cons I do have a fix list:
Should have reinforced the knees in the first place. Seems really obvious now. But of course the hooks are ripping right out of the fabric, so I need to go in and add some padding.
The second set of bicep plates just... do not want to stay seated correctly! Going to add some kind of pin or snap to the shoulder plates.
Otherwise this kit troops really well! The one thing I would do differently is a two piece flight suit. Why did I do coveralls again?? ???
The green reflective visor and the light bar are in:
(https://i.imgur.com/vN5eTt4.jpg)
And all the magnets have been sewn in! It sucked to do but I'm so happy with it.
(https://i.imgur.com/mVt4UlO.jpg)
Other big news- I get to go to Galaxy's Edge in March! Obviously I need a Batuu outfit. While not part of my official kit, I do consider the wardrobe I'm creating for the trip part of this character, I'm using the same colors and general theme.
(https://i.imgur.com/TfZuKt8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/95lvpJW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hGOBgvM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iEVGQrW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KtKkCSv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1MV0yZ6.jpg)
Hoping to actually submit for approval soon, just gotta make myself push through on weapons.
Oya Mandalore!
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First off that holiday sweater is epic!! Love it! Second, your kit is looking awesome!! Great job! Have a great time at batuu!! If this is your first time going there your going to love! The Disney play app has a free datapad that's super fun. You can do missions and open supplie crates. If you have a magic band+ you can join the bounty hunters guild. Your vest for Galaxy's edge if amazing!!
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Oooh, awesome, thank you! I'll definitely check out the datapad and magic band. Unfortunately it's only for one day, but I never thought I'd get to go at all, so I'm still thrilled!
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Knees are fixed!
(https://i.imgur.com/czWG84J.jpg)
The original hook and the rip. Not nearly strong enough to support a plate coming off and moving.
(https://i.imgur.com/EGNFaRZ.jpg)
Cut a piece of my stiffest two sided interfacing and of the quilted fabric I used for my flak vest.
(https://i.imgur.com/yBumEvk.jpg)
Sewed it together, ironed it on the inside of the leg, and stitched it to the pants.
(https://i.imgur.com/SrAQqNX.jpg)
The attachment system I had before- hook on the flight suit and loop on the plate. Not only did this not distribute the weight well on the fabric at all, getting the hook into the loop on the knee plate was ridiculously difficult.
(https://i.imgur.com/nBUTx7g.jpg)
New method! Paracord length in the actual pants, sewn into the interfacing to make it much stronger and distribute the weight more, and the hook now stays in the plate.
(https://i.imgur.com/s1Q8R51.jpg)
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Wow, I love your galaxy's edge vest! That's so awesome, I've been thinking of making one for my mando as well.
Knees look good, glad you fixed them! They can be so annoying.
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Wow, I love your galaxy's edge vest! That's so awesome, I've been thinking of making one for my mando as well.
Knees look good, glad you fixed them! They can be so annoying.
Thanks! You definitely should make a vest, they're awesome. ;D
Finally. Finally. Through some miracle. I have gotten most of the way through some blasters.
These are b-grade resin casts from Fi-8015! They're really nice, I had a set of 3D printed westars, but 3d printed weapons just feel too light to me (and I also looooathee sanding). Beautiful casts even with the b-grade issues. He printed me off a nozzle for the one that was missing it too!
(https://i.imgur.com/2P54qrD.jpg)
Here they are right out of the box, I didn't really take details shots of the stuff I had to fix, but you can see that the one on the left had obvious missing bits. The one on the right just had a few bubbles to fill in.
(https://i.imgur.com/LZb7IB2.jpg)
Post some of the major sanding, filing down the flash lines and preparing the bubbles to be filled. Instead of worrying about filling in the missing part of the grip, I just filed it down to a nice round edge.
(https://i.imgur.com/JFvAWKx.jpg)
Nozzles (where the worst of the bubbles were) all filled and fixed! Used a bit of uv resin to patch them up and sanded back down. Just used super glue to stick on all the extra bits.
(https://i.imgur.com/dzBLpSH.jpg)
Went ahead and cut off the mismatched part of the grip on the other one too, to match. I like the smaller grip better! At this point they were fully assembled and ready to paint.
(https://i.imgur.com/r7KP40Q.jpg)
Black primer and the first pass of silver finished! It was in the 60s today, miraculously, but this was all I could get done before it was too dark. Hopefully the weather holds just a little bit longer so I can do a second coat of silver.
I think I'm going to go for dry brushing different metallic shades over the silver, and add leather to the grips. I really love these so far!
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Done!
(https://i.imgur.com/dK2Ptm6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iEgdWno.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VWKvnqu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zkCzAE1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QicTplW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/19MqSc0.jpg)
Acrylic paint was not the optimal choice :laugh: But I'm very pleased for this somehow being the first time I've actually finished a blaster!
Now I can finally apply! Took me long enough, lol. Stay tuned for kit number 3, because I've lost any sanity I had. :P
App pics again:
(https://i.imgur.com/QwrFu0n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jbu4gks.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2jE8ifG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v7t820p.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fCIKPsh.jpg)
Here's hoping the kama being an just that little bit off center isn't enough to knock me back. The only thing I've changed since taking these pics is upgrading the knee attachment.
I know the app team is still on vacation, but fingers crossed!
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Fix list is in! ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/abYOIvZ.png)
Overall not bad! The biggest thing to change is adding pouches or holsters, which is my bad for not realizing they are in fact required. I was going to make holsters for the westars anyways, so no problem.
I am somewhat confused about the 'logo on the back of the boots' item. My boots currently look like this:
(https://i.imgur.com/sAcP0d8.jpg)
I'll admit that you can definitely tell where I covered the logo, but I thought it was covered quite well. I suppose I can cut a piece of black leather and glue it over. If I'm going to do that, may as well also do it on the front where I covered another logo in the same way.
Did a bit more shaping on the cod plate since it seemed like the easiest item to knock out!
Before:
(https://i.imgur.com/gkW0NWY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rwyDRKB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NAAJalt.jpg)
After:
(https://i.imgur.com/TKMMCUZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qab7q6M.jpg)
The paint job is unharmed!
(Didn't bend it any more the other way)
Also ordered some new gloves. There's just no way I can get the cuff of my current gloves under the edge of the gauntlets.
Visor will be easy as well, it's hot glue mounted so I can just pop it out and adjust it.
Edit: Visor fixed!
Before:
(https://i.imgur.com/d9b1uZX.jpg)
Step 1: Rip out visor.
Step 2: Reinstall visor, carefully making sure the edge is aligned with the bottom of the helmet.
Step 3: Go to take the after picture and realize somehow the visor has shifted back to exactly where it was before.
Step 4: Die inside a little.
Step 5: Rip out visor again.
Step 6: Reinstall and make sure the hot glue holding the edge of the visor has hardened before installing the upper part.
After!
(https://i.imgur.com/eaLLTi1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jEQojok.jpg)
'Oh man I can barely see what I'm doing in here- HANG ON IT'S GOT A LIGHT!'
(https://i.imgur.com/QkT9lJc.jpg)
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Making fantastic progress on your fix list! Keep up the great work!
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Thanks vod ;D
Just finished getting everything knocked out today!
Holsters:
(https://i.imgur.com/snKbB4b.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bKyA1VJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hXkKQqn.jpg)
(Belt buckle was missing because I was painting it, lol.)
Weathered:
(https://i.imgur.com/KhRAWbo.jpg)
Gloves arrived!
(https://i.imgur.com/MkSZ5qQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8pbkisL.jpg)
I always find it so difficult to weather black well but not too much...
Belt buckle got a metallic coat and a blackwash:
(https://i.imgur.com/IT4qYnM.jpg)
The parachute buckles on my flak vest and thigh bags are remaining black, but I did scuff them up and blackwash them when I did the weathering for those items.
Boot logos are covered and I did some washes of red and gray to weather them in:
(https://i.imgur.com/J2OiSus.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MYmLMES.jpg)
And the flak vest got a bit more weathering, along with the upper sleeves of the flight suit.
(https://i.imgur.com/r6ujSwv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7s2zlzx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4AaTy6H.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5DWjLxH.jpg)
Fought through a cold to get this done but there's a couple upcoming troops I would really like to be in kit for! My roommate has promised we can take app pics tomorrow ;D
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This kit is now APPROVED!!
Here are my final app pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/HWcRh4B.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0Y8OQ5i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2Lbh8h0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ziTQIyQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zjGdzt0.jpg)
Sorry they're in the bathroom, it was dark and rainy and that was the best lighting I could get :laugh:
Just got my letter about an hour ago, went and got boba (fett) tea to celebrate!
Photoshoot images incoming, as well as... the link to my third kit WIP... :rolleyes: :P Look, at least I made myself get this one approved before starting a WIP for the third! ;D
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Congrats on approval Vod!
Would you mind if Ed team harvested some of your build photos to assist in creating some alternate training materials?
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Oh wow, thank you! Wouldn't mind at all, I'd be honored!
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Attempting to make the flak vest for my partners Boba Fett cosplay for October 2024. Can you help me find your tutorial I keep seeing mentioned. I'm not your average 31 year old that knows much about forums, but I sure am trying my best. Any help would be appreciated!