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[Akiva Tal'korel]

This. Entirely this. I posted a full wip that had cats in every picture just because they got in the way so much... - Fabric is for lying on. Plastic is for lying on. Metal is for lying on. Trophies are for chewing on. Kit sorted.

Your cat is cute. I suppose I should congratulate you on your progress plate cutting, but you have a cute cat. Cat!

Yep yep yep. That's Familiar. Also everything is a toy. Patterning paper is a toy. Metal straight-edge ruler is a toy. My hand doing anything work-related is a toy. Box cutter? ALSO A TOY. NO. CAT. NO.

He is cute though. He's a monster and he has me whipped, but he is cute.... (also got the plates sanded today. Dad has more sintra apparently so that'll save me some money.)

[Verco Nuhla]

Probably why I don't have a cat, they'd drive me absolutely bonkers lol but good to see there's progress being made despite feline shenanigans

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Probably why I don't have a cat, they'd drive me absolutely bonkers lol but good to see there's progress being made despite feline shenanigans

Haha, yup! I'll probably start forming the plates tomorrow (gonna cover up any imperfections or cuts with bondo -after- they're shaped).

[Akiva Tal'korel]

I've been working, promise! Plates are all formed, and my parents will be coming by with more sintra tomorrow so I can make my shin and back plates. Will form those and bondo out any imperfections like cuts or nicks, etc. Then it'll be time to buy paint! Pics soon.

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Been a little bit, time for an update! I'm feeling the time crunch, but at the same time I think the toughest parts are now behind me (mostly), and I can get to the fun parts like painting, attaching greebs, and making weapons!



Torso armor! Shaped, sanded, bondo'd, the whole shebang. Yes, those are my old Akiva shoulders. Gonna re-use 'em and then have some bicep armor. No chest diamond because I somehow lost it? and had to make a new on. I got one now. It's all gravy.

https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14572169_10207807520929339_109027566045432339_n.jpg?oh=051d2e32d3c1d2405718e023d993b350&oe=586B0D1B

Leg armor! Thigh, knee, and shin specifically. I guess technically this makes this a heavy armor kit? Makes sense, though, considering the character. I'm tempted to make the corners of the knee plates more rounded than they are, not sure yet.



Back armor! The first ever! I did segment it a little bit because.. mobility and I wanted to, haha. The fit feels right to me (the bottom plate ends about at the base of my spine, I'm still able to bend backwards though not as much as normal because of the plate), so I'm gonna roll with it.

I do have all my greeblies ready to go, as well as the armor plates for my taser gauntlet (I have a knuckle plate and a hand plate that I'll probably join together with wires so the 'current' will go to all the 'points'). Gauntlets I had to make some serious adjustments on though, they're presently sitting and curing. The top half was meant to have a very sharp, 90 degree angle on either side, but when I bondo'd it I didn't want to risk breaking the piece and stuff and so it ended up at a less steep angle, which meant I couldn't use my old gauntlet halves. So I made some new ones.. which then also didn't fit. So I made some spacers, slapped some bondo on 'em, and will sand tomorrow. They won't be the prettiest, but they'll do.

Also got my loincloth cut (you don't have to have a kama if you don't have a cod piece, right? I know a loincloth can be in place of a cod, but do you -have- to pair it with a kama for it to be approvable?), as well as my girth belt. Gonna use an old cheap WalMart belt I bought for the ammo belt (loincloth will cover the buckle and holes).

To do still:

1. Prime and paint all pieces (all paint should be here by Friday, YAY).
2. Purchase EL wire for stun batons/shock whip.
3. Purchase PVC pipe and other necessary pieces to make the above.
4. Purchase ammo pouches; make a pouch to fit phone.
5. Purchase black leggings.
6. Attach all armor pieces to vest/put strapping on all pieces.
(Optional for time)7. Purchase zabrak horns and face paint (surprise, this Mando is a Zabrak ).

I'd like to have this done for our local zoo troop on the 22/23 of Oct, but we'll see how time goes. At this rate it'll probably just squeak by in time for Halloween.

EDIT: I think Facebook messed up, because I have -no- idea what that black and white picture was, or where it came from. So there's a link to the leg armor. ? Facebook r u okay?

[Kris Jasra]

Medium actually Heavy tends towards wrap around plating plus even more bits like neck armour.

Chest diamonds do tend to do that. I've spent hours before now hunting down mine when it somehow grows legs and wanders.

Loin cloth does not need to be paired with a kama. However the loin cloth does need to attach underneath the sash/girth.

If the backplate is overlapping the belt/girth/sash then it's too long, if not then roll with it.

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Medium actually Heavy tends towards wrap around plating plus even more bits like neck armour.

Chest diamonds do tend to do that. I've spent hours before now hunting down mine when it somehow grows legs and wanders.

Loin cloth does not need to be paired with a kama. However the loin cloth does need to attach underneath the sash/girth.

If the backplate is overlapping the belt/girth/sash then it's too long, if not then roll with it.

Medium then~ All the same, definitely the most number of plates I've ever had on a kit!

The same thing happened to a small circular piece of mine that was gonna cover a portable phone charger.. so I just used the top to a little paint dish that fit. We'll work with it.

Really? I could've sworn I've seen some folks with kama/loincloths that are looped around the ammo belt (where the belt is threaded through), but if that's not approvable then I'll have to just fill the belt holes. Are visible belt buckles acceptable, provided they're painted black? (Trying to minimize spending where I can because paint was really pricy lol.)

Hmm. I should be good then on the back plate. Guess once I do a test fit to figure out velcro placements I'll know for certain. Thanks!

[Kris Jasra]

Buckles are fine on show providing they're not a gaudy plastic colour Black or metallics will be fine. The holes may also be good as they are - post a pic.

I have 3 belts - my cod/loin is on the same belt as my thigh strapping and that goes on first, then my girth belt and ammo belt go over the top so all the straps and such are hidden.

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Buckles are fine on show providing they're not a gaudy plastic colour Black or metallics will be fine. The holes may also be good as they are - post a pic.

I have 3 belts - my cod/loin is on the same belt as my thigh strapping and that goes on first, then my girth belt and ammo belt go over the top so all the straps and such are hidden.

It's a metallic silver, so cool! Here's a picture of the holes.



I hadn't considered a separate belt for thigh strapping, but that seems like it'd be helpful to have, in addition to having strapping that wraps around the thigh. Where is easier to find that stuff, a sewing store or a place like Home Depot?

[Kris Jasra]

My first ever strapping for my thighs and shins was made by cutting up old belts from a charity shop (goodwill store?). Since then I've got my leather from a fabric and craft store we have in the UK, so probably anything similar to that may be worth looking into. I think there's a shop called Tandy Leather over in the US.

Belts like that are fine, when I used one like that I simply had a couple of my pouches towards the front - they covered the excess holes on one side and kept the excess strap from dangling on the other side.

[Straka Zulu]

Tandy Leather can be a bit expensive, though.  Check on Amazon, or search for local leatherworking shops. Just make sure to keep the Safe Search ON! 

[Akiva Tal'korel]

MOAR PICS, MOAR PICS \o/



WIP of my taser plate. This goes on the back of my right hand. For the taser points, I cut plastic beads roughly in half (more like 1/3 vs. 2/3rds), sanded them so paint would stick later, and glued 'em on. The button on the curved portion is meant to be the on button. (Most of my greeblies I've obtained from old phones or MP3s. SO MANY GOOD BUTTONS.)



My right gauntlet + taser plate. WIP. DON'T FREAK OUT. I know the gauntlet is wonky and looks really loose. It is. I'll be adding padding later. These are meant to be bulkier gauntlets. I still need to add the small transformer on the back of the gaunt, as well as a power pack on the side. I may yet add more greebs to it as well down the line. We'll see.



Just the gauntlet. Again, no padding or greebs yet.. but soon. Soooooon...

Just the taser plate. I'm thinking I'll attach it two separate ways: one with wires to the gauntlet (current's gotta get there somehow!) over the back of my wrist, and then attaching it to my hand by way of having one strap go around the underside where my fingers and palm meet, and then around behind my thumb so it doesn't slide around.

FACEBOOK WHAT IS GOING ON. Or maybe it's tinypic. Every so often it makes one of my pictures into something that I definitely didn't take.. it's a little weird. Anyway, it was a close-up of the taser plate.



And then there's this. Still a WIP, but it's my pride and joy already. My comms/datapad gauntlet, AKA my left one. I made a phone case out of some sintra for my old phone, slapped some greebs on it, and then used industrial velcro to attach it to the gauntlet itself. I have a holoprojector towards the wrist that I made from a camera lens from-- you guessed it-- another old phone, sitting on an MP3 player from days of yore. Gonna add more buttons and such to that too, worry not. And then on the side a still-WIP case for the portable charger. I need to attach it and make it longer to cover the rest of the charger (and probably the USB cable too, yes?).

HOORAY. PROGRESS. This weekend I'm hoping to buy new vest fabric and make the remaining soft parts (gonna buy that batik I liked.. life's too short. Get the cool fabric), as well as some primer, finish attaching greebs, and if all goes well, order my ammo pouches and EL wire. And some more PVC. We'll see when my paycheck gets here, lel.

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Sorry for the radio silence lately! I have to commute back to my hometown four days a week to help with some construction the family business, which doesn't leave me as much time for work as I used to have! That being said, I did get some progress made!



I remade my vest. Completely. It took three tries (that is, I cut my pattern, tried it once, modified the pattern, tried again, then modified it a third time before just making note of extra adjustments) but I got it! Point is amazing, but I failed to listed to his ever-wise step of making a mug of tea. That's probably why I got it so mussed up before rofl. But this vest fits so amazingly. It's snug but still comfortable, sturdy (I used a quilt solid for the lining instead of just batting), crisp, and best of all, I have a pretty flat silhouette. I'll see if I need to modify my chest pieces later.

My EL wire is gonna be here tonight, so I'll probably edit this post once it arrives.



EDIT: It's heeeeere! I love Amazon Prime. o uo I got three of these bad boys, all in blue as that seems to be the color for stun/shock in SW. Gonna make a Home Depot/Joann/WalMart trip on Sunday for the following:

1. Primer and clear coat.
2. PVC pieces to make the batons/shock whip.
3. Padding for helmet (speaking of that-- it's an NME, not sure if I want to use the viewfinder, but would just superglueing the ears on be a viable option?).
4. Strapping for thigh plates and kama (because I have enough fabric now to make both, yay!).

Also may go ahead and purchase my prosthetic pieces this weekend too since I finished up a commission today so can now transfer that ~$85 to the bank. IT'S SO CLOSE TO DONE. SO CLOSE.

[Aden Banto]

Perks to you for being a cat person! 

Any who.....For your gaunts are they material all around or are they being held together with elastics?? I couldn't tell from your pic...

[Akiva Tal'korel]

Perks to you for being a cat person! 

Any who.....For your gaunts are they material all around or are they being held together with elastics?? I couldn't tell from your pic...

They're sintra all the way around, but there's a spacer in between the top and bottom halves I had to add because they didn't quite fit together the way I wanted. So I put in the sintra spacer and bondo'd over everything.