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[MrMetalArm]

Hokay, 'ere we go!

I managed to get a flight suit from a friend of mine at a recent armor party (once again, thank you Prudii):

(Me smiling like a doofus)

I'll admit, I didn't initially want a one-piece because of my sensitive stomach, but trying to get a two-piecer to work for me was nightmare inducing, especially when trying to get the colors to match. That, and I got this for free, so, that's always a bonus. Yes, I know, I need arm sleeves, and I am way ahead of you on that one, as I've gotten a pair of black Nike arm sleeves (which are already getting pretty frayed 'cause I keep wearing them to work).

I also got my armor vest ready to have plates attached:


The vest was sewn by Fitz Kal'ad (seriously, dude, I still owe you big time) and since I'm no semester, I had help with the Velcro too (sorry that I don't remember your name, but thank you ).

I also have a pair of boots I want to use as well, mainly because I don't have any other use for them:

(and it's at this time, many of you have just seen this bit, since I am a moron and clicked "Post" instead of preview)
Now, before you say ANYTHING, yes, I know the boots can't have laces, which is why I'm planning on doing leg wraps to hide the laces.

Well, that's good on my soft-bits for now, onto the armor plates in the next post.

[MrMetalArm]

Now onto the parts that shall be protecting my squishy-bits.

My chest plates:

Bit of an older pic, but the plates have remained largely unchanged. I'll have some pics of them on my vest up sometime tomorrow.

And here's the leg pieces:




These pics are mainly to check spacing on the leg plates (or, at least, the best I can giving these are holding on with nothing more than duct tape), and the kneepad is just a template for now made by eyeballing a Death Watch kneepad. I've also been told that the templates are not exactly accurate and that I might need to take some sintra off the bottom of the thigh plates. From my perspective, I'm thinking I might need to take off an inch, what do you think?

Well, that's all I have for now, I'm going to bed soon. More to come!

[Kris Jasra]

Yeah, I'd take an inch off, give more room between the plates so they don't rub against each other when you move.

[MrMetalArm]

well, just got my bucket the other day, and I've already done some work on it:

Not really sure how to attach the ear caps though. I'm thinking some kind of glue or something, but I got a good feeling that won't work. Bondo, maybe?

[Fenn Beviin]

I used E6000 adhesive to attach my ear caps. You can find it all over. Wal-Mart, Meijer, Jo-Ann fabrics, etc.

[MrMetalArm]

Man, I haven't posted in this for a while. Time to fix that. *Cracks fingers*

Made myself a neck seal out of an old turtleneck from savers:

it's essentially nothing more that the neck and shoulders. The arm sleeves are some of those athletic arm sleeves you can pick up at any sporting goods store. Unfortunately, they do not stay up too well and keep sliding down my arms, so I think I might ultimately end up sewing them to the suit.

I also fixed my thighs by shaving off about an inch from the bottom and made myself some kneepads as well:

There wasn't really a template for the knees besides the overly complex Boba ones that are in the templates section, so I made these by eyeballing a Death Watch kneepad and working from there. I fear it might be a little too big, but, that's why I post this stuff here in the first place.

And, finally, the blade for my khopesh (attempt 2):

It's rough, I still have some more sanding to do the make the blade more streamlined, plus give it an "edge", but it's good so far.

I'm also working on some gauntlets using Kuu's tutorial on making gauntlets out of pvc pipe, but I'm still kind of tinkering with that. More pics later.

[Kris Jasra]

Thighs still seem a little large. I seem to be saying that a lot today They also look like they need a fair bit more shaping as they're floating a good inch from your leg at the top. Knees look fine sized as they are. And I'd highly recommend sewing the sleeves in place. Once you're all kitted up getting them pulled back up will be far more problematic.

[Bowfanny]

Other than what Kris said I'll say so far so good Vod,
The vest may need to be hemmed up a bit because right now from the photos of it that you have its hanging quite low like a nightshirt. Also on chest plate placement you want your collar plate to be touching your neck in an almost uncomfortable way and then the chest plates and ab spaced out below that. Other than that I think you're off to a great start.

[MrMetalArm]

If I move the collar plate up, do you think I might need to make the chest and ab plates a little longer, or are they good the way they are? If you need pics, I am headed to an armor party on Saturday, so I can get some more pics there.

[Bowfanny]

They shouldn't need stretched as long as when they're moved up they end within an inch or so of your belly button.  You'll have two belts between the ab plate and your groin area whether you have a loin or cod it'll be the same.