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[Catika]

  Hi I'm Cat and I'm doing all the kit upgrades I've been meaning to do for two years so I can re-apply!!

My first WIP is super old and full of broken photo links, so I figured I would start fresh. I'm also going to be documenting my progress on Instagram (@jatneisbest).

Here is where I'm starting with my first approved (now retired) kit, Ren Mavlaar (approved July 2015).



Bucket off~


Here are my plans! This new kit will be based off of my Mandalorian character Jatne.

1) New flak vest. The black vest was made by me. I don't like the black. The vest itself is shoddy construction. The zipper is broken. But I know how to do zippers now lol
2) Repaint. New kit, new character, new colors. I'll be doing a dark red, with greyblue accents (design tbd, but I'm kind of partial to the chevron pattern).
3) Flightsuit. I like the color I have, I don't have solid plans to replace it, but it's not very stretchy and it's honestly a bit uncomfortable to wear. Who would have thought my flightsuit would end up being the most uncomfortable thing on my kit? 
4) Pouches. The army surplus green pouches just aren't cutting it for me. I will either purchase or attempt to make leather/pleather pouches. New belt too. Probably will add a girth belt and nix the loincloth thing which was a late addition to hide my codpiece (I don't like the way I cut mine).
5) Gauntlets. Ren Mavlaar was built to be a medic. My new kit and new character will be a Sniper. So I will need to either make new gauntlets or take these apart and redo them.
6) Weapons. I have twin blasters ready for modification that I got at Walmart ages ago. I will also need a big ol' Din Djarin style taller-than-me sniper rifle.

Smaller details: new strapping/attachment for thigh plates, new knees (probably), new codpiece, holsters, and if I'm really feeling adventurous, a cape.

Question for you all. Keep a scarf (in a new color)? I always got compliments on it!

Thanks for reading, I'll be back soon with updates!

-Cat

[Joren Kal]

Welcome back!

To your question on the scarf....if you're going for the sniper brigade I think you need some kind of ghilli suit or something...you may need to wait and see how that works or doesn't work with the scarf.  OTherwise, if you like it, keep it! 

-Joren (Brian)

[Fenn Beviin]

Welcome back!

To your question on the scarf....if you're going for the sniper brigade I think you need some kind of ghilli suit or something...you may need to wait and see how that works or doesn't work with the scarf.  OTherwise, if you like it, keep it! 

-Joren (Brian)

Better yet, what about a ghili scarf?? Also I like the color scheme you had planned out. Just my 2 cents but I would say adding in the Mando chest paint type patterns such as the ( ), < >, and [ ] from open seasons would be a cool subtle nod to more Mando referenced things. I'm biased about adding in all those subtle Easter eggs though 

[Roninzx14]

Really liking the sniper concept color. Do the CRL's stipulate an extra long rifle or is that a personal choice? Happy building vod!

[The Unknown Mando]

Interested to see this transformation

[RC-3141]

Death Watch sniper rifle from Clone Wars, depending on when your are thinking about having your kit be from it is definitely possible that to have acquired one of these (If I remember correctly commando droids used something similar but I don't know if it's the same). Lots of canon sniper rifles though.


I also second the ghillie suit or camouflage idea, but that might just be because I like camo.

[Catika]

Joren, Fenn thanks for the warm welcome back vode! Can't wait to troop with you both! I'm realizing I can't find (or I don't have access to?) the BRLs for Snipers, but I will keep the ghillie suit in mind. I took another look at the Brigade options and I'm wondering if one of the other options might be better for the character I have in mind.  But I am definitely going to go for an unreasonably sized rifle. Also Fenn I am thinking about doing something more 'in universe' for my accent symbols... I'll look at some Mando art and see what I find too. (It's been FOREVER since I read 'Open Seasons' omg)

Really liking the sniper concept color. Do the CRL's stipulate an extra long rifle or is that a personal choice? Happy building vod!

The extra long rifle is most definitely a personal choice! I'm not that tall so it shouldn't be that hard to make a rifle look huge next to me 

Interested to see this transformation

Am I allowed to say 'me too'? LOL

RC-3141, I'm liking the idea that the rifle could be a commando droid trophy or something... in my head this character was involved in the Clone Wars so that would be cool!

I'm getting sick. :< So tonight all I did was try out the new Mando Builder.



The greyblue pieces would probably not be entirely greyblue, but red with the accent color. I've been fervently searching for new scrub options--they make tapered/jogger style pants now which would be soooo helpful, but not in dark khaki. So I am toying with the idea of doing olive, which might be a little weird (Christmas-y?) with the red. Or it might look cool. idk (Edit: I gave olive a whirl in Mando Builder and I kinda like it?)

Currently I'm ripping up a blazer I got at Goodwill to use as a pattern for my vest.



Which will go onto scrap fabric to be fitted and then patterned onto my duck cloth!

[Fenn Beviin]

Personally I like the red on tan flightsuit. The kit vibe gives off somewhat of a Rav Bralor vibe but also doing your own thing with it. Also you could also do more of an urban sniper vibe with those colors and just use muted/dull colors like other assorted hues of grey and tan along with the red accent colors and stuff

[Kol Varek]

Welcome back!!!

[RC-3141]

The red and green could be interesting in terms of camouflage, perhaps intended for a planet like Felucia


Edit: I forgot to ask, what is this Open Seasons?

[Ordeyn]

So good to have you back.

[The Unknown Mando]

Open seasons is a 4 issue comic based around jango fett....great read and illustrations....highly recommend

[Skel'aDor]

Cat, aint it great that can change up your color scheme fairly easily? Go bold!, You kinda remind me of a Cuy"val Dar named Rav Bralor , I believe. She also had a preference  for dual blasters, and as hard as a coffin nail. Me ,I like shemagh , very kool look, a tad warm on hot days, just keep it a little loose to get alittle ventilation up
in ur helmet. Now , I'm kinda new and just posted my WIP too, so these other folks have way more cred.  Anyway keep ur mind open, keep improving...This is the way!
Skel'aDor

[Catika]

Personally I like the red on tan flightsuit. The kit vibe gives off somewhat of a Rav Bralor vibe but also doing your own thing with it. Also you could also do more of an urban sniper vibe with those colors and just use muted/dull colors like other assorted hues of grey and tan along with the red accent colors and stuff

These are good things to consider! I think my preference would be to not reference a canon(ish) character and kind of do my own thing. But since my vest material is grey, doing a dark grey flightsuit might work? I'm still thinking on this. I have time lol

Welcome back!!!

So good to have you back.

THANK YOU BOTH!! Always good to see familiar faces after so long 

RC-3141, that's a good thought about the red plates/green flightsuit being a good camo for a place like Felucia! And I highly recommend the Open Seasons comic, like Unknown Mando said!!

Thank you for the feedback, Skel'aDor! My shemagh can get a little hot, but I'm pretty used to it. I'll probably pick that up last, once all of my colors are figured out. The only thing is, I kind of want a cape, and I'm wondering if a scarf + cape will be too bulky... We shall see  Good luck with your build!!

I have a few updates! I finished sewing my flak vest mockup and it needs some major adjustments. But since the weather was good this weekend, I decided to take the plunge and paint.



One last shot of the old colors before I ripped the plates off my vest. My attachments are such a MESS but I'm hoping I can clean it up a bit on my next vest.



Silver base layer. Used masking fluid on the edges and put the color on. Racing against the sunset and dropping temperatures today. 



Red paint for my flashy Mando Jatne!

I practiced on this knee piece first because I was very unhappy with my weathering on the first kit. Wanted to go more minimalist on this stage, and then I'll use carbon and acrylic washes for weathering.



Hoping to make progress on my vest next. I didn't touch my gauntlets yet, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with them colors-wise. I have a two week trip to Italy at the end of February and I might get busy with preparation, so my updates might be sparse for a bit. Until next time: happy building!

[Kol Varek]

Nice paint chipping! Good to see you still at it and getting things knocked out slowly but surely!