Mando Mercs Costume Club

Mandalorian Armor => Soft Parts => Topic started by: CrazyDec on Aug 18, 2015, 07:12 PM

Title: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Aug 18, 2015, 07:12 PM
Hey Guys,

Began starting a bit of my flight suit/ boiler suit by removing the pockets etc. Due to the nature of it, I might just go for an entirely different suit because I'm not sure if this one will be worth the trouble. For a start it is really wide for some reason, even with the pull toggles on the waist. I was thinking of having some velcro and being able to overlap the excess material to be a bit more form fitted. The legs might not be that long although it fits, so basically the "crotch" area is a bit too low. Arms, would be the same deal with velcro to overlap the excess material and being more form fitted.

I also bought some WW2 US military style repro gaiters which I plan on dyeing blue to match my colour scheme, the overlap the zip on my chelsea style boot, the zip is on the inside and is the same colour as the boot, or close to it.

Also there is a zip on the lower leg of the suit that comes up above the gaiters, which is really problematic, again more velcro but is this all too much effort?

Should I just go for one that is a tighter fit to start with? I'm not the most sewing machine savvy guy but I can maybe pull it off.

ADVICE NEEDED!!!! D:

ALL IMAGES ACCIDENTLY DELETED, OLD FLIGHT SUIT PROGRESS
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Kris Jasra on Aug 19, 2015, 01:30 AM
The baggyness at the waist is fine, mine is like that, it has the same sort of look when I have the waist cinch undone. Adding extra velcro or elastic there to keep it cinched is not a bad plan.

The arms and legs will need a bit of tightening, but nothing too major. Also, as you said, the zip on the leg will need to come off but that can be worked into the leg tightening.

You will need a stitch unpicker, some safety pins and a sewing machine (bribery or friend/family works well for this if necessary)
Turn the suit inside out and pin the arms and legs tighter. Walk around, sit down, make sure you can pick something up that you've just dropped. If anything pulls, loosen the pins. You want to find the point where it is tight but not so tight that the stitching will make a nice ripping sound when you're at an event.

I've never found a flightsuit that fits me before, most are less fitting than yours. It seems to be a sad fact of life that flightsuits fall under the old heading of one size fits none (despite what the tickets at the top say ;))
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Aug 19, 2015, 04:35 PM
Well I think these are a no go as the arms aren't normal, they have a slightly longer attachment to the main chest area, when I do a jumping jack kind of motion, the whole lower portion gets pulled pretty uncomfortably. Tightening the areas, I fear would make this worse and I think it is a lot of effort.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Bewilderedwolfman on Aug 19, 2015, 05:19 PM
If you have time and access to a sewing machine you should make your own. Get a coverall pattern from Joann fabric.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Kris Jasra on Aug 20, 2015, 04:44 AM
Well I think these are a no go as the arms aren't normal, they have a slightly longer attachment to the main chest area, when I do a jumping jack kind of motion, the whole lower portion gets pulled pretty uncomfortably. Tightening the areas, I fear would make this worse and I think it is a lot of effort.

If you tighten the armpit, it should actually reduce the amount that it pulls on the main chest area. The bigger and baggier the chest/sleeve attachment the more it will have to pull from the chest.
I still think you should at the least get a load of safety pins and try pinning it and moving around. You won't have lost anything in the trying, and it may save you some cash. I've seen worse fitting suits and tailored them to be a nice snug fit. (trust me, getting a flightsuit to fit a 5'2" 38kilo mando is a pain ;))
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Mig Gilamar on Aug 20, 2015, 05:19 PM
I'm digging the gaiters! I've been looking at some online. Where did you get yours?
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Aug 22, 2015, 03:58 PM
I'm digging the gaiters! I've been looking at some online. Where did you get yours?

I got mine from the ebay, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-ARMY-M1938-CANVAS-LEGGING-GAITERS-SPATS-4R-WW2-REPRO-/120838183507

They are a bit fidly to put on at first.

If you tighten the armpit, it should actually reduce the amount that it pulls on the main chest area. The bigger and baggier the chest/sleeve attachment the more it will have to pull from the chest.
I still think you should at the least get a load of safety pins and try pinning it and moving around. You won't have lost anything in the trying, and it may save you some cash. I've seen worse fitting suits and tailored them to be a nice snug fit. (trust me, getting a flightsuit to fit a 5'2" 38kilo mando is a pain ;))

I will try and fit it but I managed to get a green flight suit that is way more fitting, the arms and legs need to be tightened a wee bit but it is a better overall fit than the Tan one, just need to bleach and dye it maybe :S
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Sep 19, 2015, 09:43 AM
Soft parts update, I bought a new flight suit that fitted pretty well, the arms needed a new seam to tighten them up. Ideally I wanted a tan or brown suit but I might just try and get dirt and paints and just rub them in slightly. I can't bleach it or dye it that well as its a majority polyester blend.

(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j351/CrAzYCH13F/DSCN4061_zpsefkmk0yr.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/CrAzYCH13F/media/DSCN4061_zpsefkmk0yr.jpg.html)
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j351/CrAzYCH13F/DSCN4062_zpsdi3l4732.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/CrAzYCH13F/media/DSCN4062_zpsdi3l4732.jpg.html)
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Bewilderedwolfman on Sep 20, 2015, 12:02 AM
Looks like it fits much better than the first one. I like the contrast between the boot covers and flight suit too.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Jun 14, 2017, 05:53 PM
Brought back from the dead! Long story short, life issues got in the way and had to stop costume making. I'm back now and I have been getting underway. All the images at the top of the post have been accidently deleted, these were just relevant to an old flight suit that would have taken too much work to tailor fit.

So far, The flight suit has been tailored. I had a flak vest made by a lovely costume designer who lives semi local to me. I have then attached velcro to the suit and also the armour plates. I do know I have to cover the zip on the rear of the best. I will work on this once I have my back plate completed and also velcro sorted for that too.

I have also worked on my girthbelt, I'm kind inbetween with how I feel on this. Other soft parts include a little ammo belt that I bought a while ago for another thing but I am trying to repurpose here. Let me know your thoughts.

(http://i.imgur.com/i8KRQAp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/MvkPGML.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/cIyHLLh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZlCpaVY.jpg)

Girth belt has been made from pleather and an old duffle bag which had these cool holes which were for straps or webbing to pass through. I have some elastic at the back to help the belt keep tight around me and they have been bolted down onto some plastic pieces to act as a washer/ spacer.

(http://i.imgur.com/Yvabr0A.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/N3d7rFY.jpg)


Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Hik'aari on Jun 15, 2017, 03:14 PM
Vest looks to be a good fit. With updates to the CRLs since you have been away though the zip up the back will need to be fully covered over for approval. The backplate should do a lot of the work but it will be the back of the neck seal part itself that will still be on show.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Jun 15, 2017, 03:34 PM
Vest looks to be a good fit. With updates to the CRLs since you have been away though the zip up the back will need to be fully covered over for approval. The backplate should do a lot of the work but it will be the back of the neck seal part itself that will still be on show.

I did check the CRL a few days ago and I did spot this, I will create some velcro and fabric flaps to cover this, have you got any other alternatives to this method?
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Hik'aari on Jun 15, 2017, 03:38 PM
Not off of the top of my head, how covering is your back plate? (Or has that not be done yet). That should cover 80-90% of the zip anyway so the flap may just be required for the top. Depends if the backplate design exposes the bottom too.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Kris Jasra on Jun 16, 2017, 08:29 AM
For the top section where the zipper sits - have you considered neck armour?

It's my solution to covering my neck seal join. I just grabbed a scrap offcut of flexible leather and rivetted rectangles of armour to it. Fixes with a snap at the back. Also the leather strip is quite wide to hide flesh/neckseal fastening, but the plates themselves are small enough to not interfere with movement, which combined with the small gaps between plates means I forget it's on because it's snug without getting in the way.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Jun 17, 2017, 01:40 PM
Not off of the top of my head, how covering is your back plate? (Or has that not be done yet). That should cover 80-90% of the zip anyway so the flap may just be required for the top. Depends if the backplate design exposes the bottom too.

The backplate probably covers 2/3 of the vest, so I could just do the lower and upper or go for the whole thing.

For the top section where the zipper sits - have you considered neck armour?

It's my solution to covering my neck seal join. I just grabbed a scrap offcut of flexible leather and rivetted rectangles of armour to it. Fixes with a snap at the back. Also the leather strip is quite wide to hide flesh/neckseal fastening, but the plates themselves are small enough to not interfere with movement, which combined with the small gaps between plates means I forget it's on because it's snug without getting in the way.

I would rather not having something solid behind my neck, I would like to stretch now and again but having neck armour does sound kind of cool. I know you said it doesn't interfere with movement but I think some fabric will do just fine in my case.

On another note, I tried bleaching my flight suit and I got a slightly paler colour which I am liking, thoughts?

(http://i.imgur.com/GnZjszB.jpg)
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Hik'aari on Jun 17, 2017, 03:37 PM
The colour of the flight suit is personal preference, depends what sort of colours you are thinking for the armor.

As for the neck armor, you can split it up into multiple smaller plates. This is my one:

(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Elihdorr/Cosplay/Mando-Hiikaari/Armor/IMG_1471_zpsnyxxsp5j.jpg)

(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Elihdorr/Cosplay/Mando-Hiikaari/Armor/IMG_1473_zpswvvvynjp.jpg)

So for yours you could rearrange to have the back most plate go over the zip once it has been done up.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Jun 17, 2017, 04:11 PM
The colour of the flight suit is personal preference, depends what sort of colours you are thinking for the armor.

As for the neck armor, you can split it up into multiple smaller plates. This is my one:

(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Elihdorr/Cosplay/Mando-Hiikaari/Armor/IMG_1471_zpsnyxxsp5j.jpg)

(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Elihdorr/Cosplay/Mando-Hiikaari/Armor/IMG_1473_zpswvvvynjp.jpg)

So for yours you could rearrange to have the back most plate go over the zip once it has been done up.

I was going to do the same colour scheme as I have done for my helmet, a beige, brown and blue colour scheme with red details. Having a lighter colour for the flight suit would allow me to do some nice weathering to it. I might try and photoshop my stuff and I post it later.

I see what you mean about the armour, I thought it was on the very back where you have your velcro join.
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Hik'aari on Jun 17, 2017, 05:00 PM
I see what you mean about the armour, I thought it was on the very back where you have your velcro join.

For me I had already done the velcro flap, so did my armor around the other parts.
The example in yours would be to fit a plate over the zip to hide it, but being velcro means you can easily remove it for getting to the zip
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Kris Jasra on Jun 17, 2017, 05:33 PM
Sorry I had no pictures to hand, but yeah, my neck armour is separate plates as well, as I said, gap between them means it's not solid at all. I can put my chin on my chest without them digging in and they do add to a kit - especially at conventions where there's always that one Jedi that will suggest he could just pull a Windu on you...
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: CrazyDec on Jun 17, 2017, 05:36 PM
Sorry I had no pictures to hand, but yeah, my neck armour is separate plates as well, as I said, gap between them means it's not solid at all. I can put my chin on my chest without them digging in and they do add to a kit - especially at conventions where there's always that one Jedi that will suggest he could just pull a Windu on you...

They do stand out and look pretty decent but the ribbing on the neck seal for me might get lost and that would be a little bit of a shame. Are you saying that your neck plates are lightsaber proof? Frick plates haha.

Anyway here is the comparison as best as I can get it for non bleached and bleached.

(http://i.imgur.com/NK0HxOb.jpg)
Title: Re: CrazyDec's Soft Parts WIP
Post by: Hik'aari on Jun 18, 2017, 03:45 AM
That suit has lightened up really well, based on your current helmet damage the lighter flightsuit should lend itself into being a better candidate for showing up dirt and grime during weathering