activation email

[Bade Duun]

Always happy to help/inspire a fellow merc with the randomness of the the knowledge in my head.   

Looks great!  Looking forward to seeing it all together.

Thanks, and I appreciate your feedback. It has been very useful in helping me get there


Was intially going to forego the flak vest since I was confident I could secure everything to the flight suit. However, with the addition of the new pauldrons, I needed something sturdier to attach the tether system to.




A modern flak vest felt too era specific, so I opted for a plate carrier conversion instead. I've also never tried the system and was interested in the challenge; I also thought I had a idea to help make it more form fitting.

First, I'd like to note how much salvageable material you can get from deconstructing one of these vests; velcro, canvas and straps, all the same color as the vest itself. Everything you see below was salvaged from the front and back pocket of the vest. There is more to salvage if you also deconstruct the ab straps.







With that in mind, I had an idea to make straps from the remnant material that would match the vest. The vest will be tucked under my sash slightly, and I worried that using leather straps and buckles would create weird bumps when fully kitted. The thin profile of the straps insures that they'll sit very evenly under the belts and sash. I took some 1.5" D-rings to make the straps secure with tension, which allows me to adjust to fit. Also decided to keep the shoulder straps as is since they're already very secure and will be hidden by my mantle and cloak. Will also need those thick straps when it is time to secure the tether for the pauldron.






After getting the length of the straps in place, I evened them out and installed button snaps to secure the loose fabric from dangling.






Here is how it looks with the other soft parts. The various hues being slowly added are enjoyable to watch evolve.

[Gatorlorian]

I'm absolutely loving your progress on all the things. Also, I'll totally take credit for kicking you into the chestplate rabbit hole. It turned out great. The dagger.... That's just shmexy as heck. 😍
The new vest... While it does look good, it (personal opinion) looks a bit on the modern side when layered (in my head) with the rest of your kit. Perhaps some leather accents to break up the plate carrier look of it? It could just be me.
Personally I liked the leather chest harness you had initially and would like to see you utilize that.
I'm also gonna request that you bring this kit to Dragon. I know a certain Reptilian Early Crusader that wants to do a shoot with you in this kit.
🐊

[Fenn Beviin]

Well this is looking fantastic.

Put it all on already and show us how it looks all together!!! 

[Bade Duun]

I'm absolutely loving your progress on all the things. Also, I'll totally take credit for kicking you into the chestplate rabbit hole. It turned out great. The dagger.... That's just shmexy as heck. 😍
The new vest... While it does look good, it (personal opinion) looks a bit on the modern side when layered (in my head) with the rest of your kit. Perhaps some leather accents to break up the plate carrier look of it? It could just be me.
Personally I liked the leather chest harness you had initially and would like to see you utilize that.
I'm also gonna request that you bring this kit to Dragon. I know a certain Reptilian Early Crusader that wants to do a shoot with you in this kit.
🐊

Insightful observation, as always. Where were you when I first started this??

Well this is looking fantastic.

Put it all on already and show us how it looks all together!!! 

Many thanks Vod. Indeed, it is time a test fit fasho   


After having time to stew on the project and the advice from my esteemed Alor'ad, I've decided to revisit the flak vest yet again. That and because I enjoy making vests, over and over . At least I've got a future vest/backup/clan mate hand-me-down.

So, here we are again. Where I stand so far with my attempts:

-The leather cuirass works well on it's own, but is a bit cumbersome to add any additional armor to. Also isn't as form fitting as I would like when moving around.
-The carrier plate conversion is a great fit and would work very well for its intended purpose, but would have to modify further to avoid it looking too modern.




I recently discovered that Burc'ya is a part of my clan, whose kit I've been a fan of for years. Yea, I fanboyed a bit when chatting...no regerts
A legit cool vod, proud to be a clan mate.  Most importantly, through talking with her, I got a little more insight on how to make something that would be a flak vest in nature but would also feel/look rugged and tough.







Using a similar method I used for my Force Hunter flight suit, I found a $4 heavy cotton button up that was just the right size. I destitched the sleeves, buttons, pockets and collar to give me a rough 'vest'. Wasn't worried about the imprints from the pockets, those will gradually fade the more I use the vest, and whatever doesn't go away will definitely vanish under the weathering/armor.

I took some remnant canvas and sewed a strip of cloth together, then turned it inside out and gave it an understitch while binding it to the shirt. This strip not only covers the button holes but also give me some extra fabric to wrap the shirt around me when wearing it. Not to mention it gives it a bit of that aesthetic that many garments in SW posses.  I think this is the vest to bring it all together, much more confident moving forward with the rest of the torso armor.




Once stitched, I dyed it with the same deep brown I used for my heavy kama, which I planned on the canvas reacting differently than the shirt itself, resulting in a two tone vest. The colors compliment each other well.




Finally feel like enough is composed for a worthy soft part test fit. Still need to sew in the closure on the vest, but worth the effort to see what it all looks like paired together. Very pleased with the palette choice and the layered aesthetic.




Really tried to keep it tucked, but the lack of closures just wouldn't let it happen

Here is one with a quick chest armor placement test. Pretty sure I can sew velcro on the vest without having to put any on top of the closure strap itself, but I'll know how to proceed very soon.


Tummy ache, too much Spotcka


Ner vode, feedback welcomed and appreciated.

[Gatorlorian]

Am I allowed to look at it again?
I feel like you may chuck a hydrospanner at my head if I do. 
🐊

[Bade Duun]

Am I allowed to look at it again?
I feel like you may chuck a hydrospanner at my head if I do. 
🐊

I do not know you. Can I help you, sir?

[Fenn Beviin]

Dude, yes. This is some awesome progress (closure on the vest will definitely help down the road like you mentioned lol)

I also really enjoy how the 2-toned parts of the vest turned out. Keep chugging a long.

What are your plans for era appropriate weapons?

[Bade Duun]

Dude, yes. This is some awesome progress (closure on the vest will definitely help down the road like you mentioned lol)

I also really enjoy how the 2-toned parts of the vest turned out. Keep chugging a long.

What are your plans for era appropriate weapons?

Thanks! Yea, it's definitely more form fitting now. Will update the WIP once I get the velcro sewn on for the chest armor.
And weapons? Well, I'm glad you asked, vod...


Sup all! More updates, cause updates are fun:

Beviin (spear/lance)

I had originally planned to have a sword with each Duun kit, but I've been seeing a lot of tribal-esque spears in many genres recently and I really think it fits the aesthetic much better than sword would. So beviin it is!








Decided to make the spear a little taller than myself to give it some presence and heft. I found a nice bone knife file that I was able to reconfigure the scaling into a spearhead. It even has an awesome serrated side on it. This was printed in PETG for added strength since I am sure it'll be bumping everything due to the length.

The spearhead was then mounted into a 1.5" PVC coupler so that I can remove it for travel or if a troop doesn't allow weapons.
Instant 'spear to beating stick', much more kid friendly.

The PVC was assembled into the spear in sections to allow disassembly for easier travel, then the joints were sanded down so that they appeared to be a single piece.






With the collection of random pieces of leather, canvas, burlap, waxed thread and beads in my workshop, I begin to dress the PVC to make it more uniform and tribal. I went in with no plan or direction, just a few basic references of real tribal spears along with a few of some kits I've seen with dope spears. I really enjoyed this process of adorning the spear, bringing it to life.







After covering the full length of the spear with wrappings, I painted the spearhead similar to the rest of my armor before wrapping that with leather too. That I am fairly confident that it can take a beating, the wrapping will give it some added strength.







Here is the final product to show the scaling, minus some more heavier weathering that I like to save until I have all of the kit together.

The kitty comes with the kit as well.
Don't let the cute face fool you; he's a warrior, meowing is part of his religion.







Next weapon up: the Primordial Blaster. Finally got a holster for it thanks to the skills of a fellow clan mate, will post updates on this as it gets rounded out.


Feedback appreciated as always.

[Bade Duun]

So, I've decided to change out my pauldrons for something a bit smaller.





I do like the style, but I think I am going to use them for a future upgrade, if/when I decide to go for Brigades with this kit. But at the moment, I do not like how they sit under the mantle/cloak, and it is easier to sub these out than the soft parts.

So let's make some new ones!




Got a template cut out and test fitted. I wanted to make them similar but not the same, so I opted to make my 'spear arm' side the more armored side. It'll have bigger spikes than the other side and will be layered bone.






The spikes are another modded STL. While conceptualizing this idea, I thought it would be a cool approach to treat this set of armor like it came from a different creature altogether, and adding different spikes could accomplish that.






I traced the pattern of 8mm sintra, cut out and sanded the edges down before shaping them.





After shaping, I added velcro dots on the underside at various points to insure that they'll hit the small area of velcro I am sewing onto the sleeve. With my last kit, I covered my shoulder with velcro to accomplish this. But with this one, the shoulder straps are going to help with keeping the armor in place (and it just looks much cooler).

The straps are well-made pleather, which I have recently discovered an appreciation for. Though not even close to the durability of real leather, the synthetic material adheres very well with most glues. At the right thickness, it is almost as hard to break as leather....almost.





I used a heat gun to shape the sintra and to add texture to the material. Love this part.
Then I placed the spikes in an aesthetically pleasing (but very random) pattern that appears symmetrical in nature, but also has slight variations of placement






I cut into the material with a soldering iron to create the various cracks and breaks, then sealed it all with a layer of filler primer, mostly for the spikes.
Using various washes of burnt umber and raw sienna, I layered/sealed/layered/sealed them to give the bone a weathered effect.

Taking a little inspiration from Burc'ya, I decided to paint the spikes a separate color from the bone, treating the discoloration almost like a rhino horn (they grow as a separate part of the skull, like finger nails). So far, I dig 'em.







And here they are together. Thinking of calling this part doneso, though I still may adorn these with something to take it a little further.

We shall see.

[BigEd27]

Great Work!!!!

[Fenn Beviin]

Looking great dude!

Really liked your first pauldrons but the new ones look good too. What did your first ones look like on?