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 Build Log / WIP: ongoing, never really Finished...

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Fenn Beviin


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #15 on: Aug 09, 2021, 01:19 PM »
That's awesome!

What about your original helmet do you think isn't OM level status? Judging from that picture it looks great to me - definitely approvable (unless there are some very noticeable seam lines up close).

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Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #16 on: Aug 09, 2021, 01:25 PM »
 At the time all I had access to was one of the printers at work, with only 200mm or so build volume so there were many joints to deal with.
From across the room or at twilight for trick or treating its pretty good but up close and personal and with the right light you can see seams and print lines..

It's ok, I am looking forward to doing another helmet, this time in blues.  :D

Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #17 on: Aug 11, 2021, 04:21 PM »
I painted some plates. 

First, front body. I committed to the self-clinching studs and eyelets, documented in my Soft Parts WIP


self-etching primer, and some sanding and scuffing to expose the metal.

first liquid mask

Base color ( I messed up! I put down midnight blue for my first dry coat but when I checked, my cod and butt plates just used flat black...so the second coat in this layer was flat black. it works) and beginning second masking.

Top color - Rustoleum's Ink Blue

Peeling my masking layers, and getting artful with a scotchbrite, x-acto, steel wool, awl, etc. to tone down the sheen, blend the edges of the layers, and make sure that all the masking is pulled off.

on the vest

Iron heart is not mounted - I've made a nice new shiny one to put in,
 But I also made one that matches the paint and weathering scheme, which I subsequently beat mercilessly to put on a cord to carry with me.
-STORY MODE- the damage in the center chest was focused on the iron heart, which was damaged beyond use but kept me alive. Rather than melting it down and remaking it, I kept it as a reminder to be cautious and made an entirely new one. -END STORY MODE-
I'll need to get down and dirty with dark washes and carbon scoring there to tell the story and contrast the shiny "new" piece.




Oh and I did thebackplate too:



I'm not weathering the back with as much violence - mostly looking to have the look of wear at the edges and scuffs from the cockpit seat, or leaning on bulkheads looking cool,  and adding some wear around the raised panel edges and jetpack slots (eventully looking to make that upgrade). Good sensors and a friendly sniper keep you from getting shot in the back. 


on the vest for checking.


With that, I think the base painting and weathering is on all my current armor pieces.

I still need to get knee plates padded and mounted, instep and shin plates padded and finish strapping.  And finish up soft kit, including a belt or sash to hold my cod and butt plates.

Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #18 on: Aug 16, 2021, 04:36 PM »
Mini update:

I started up the knee plate mounting, so I decided to test it out with the rest of what I've got wear-able so far.


I'll need to add some padding and internal elastics to help hold them in place better. I might create some 'quilted' knee pads to sew to the flight suit.
I also made some pads for the shin plates with an extended spat to hide boot laces and for mounting boot plates.



I got First Spawn to takes some snaps of the current status. How does the spacing look for all the things? I put on the old bucket for proportion check on the shoulder bells.



I think I've got things in the right place relative to each other so far. My next push (beyond finishing the knee mounting) is getting some waist items under control and getting boot plates affixed.

Aster Veris


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #19 on: Aug 16, 2021, 08:02 PM »
That looks awesome, vod! Your skill with metal is so cool. For spacing, I'd say the iron heart is a little off center. Those things are so annoying to get perfect.

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OM #2630 | BM #394 | they/them | mav oya'la clan |IG: @ plant.alorian | Aster WIP

Cattriss Wren


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #20 on: Aug 16, 2021, 08:27 PM »
I agree with aster, it's looking amazing!! Your skills with metal is outstanding!! :like:

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Fenn Beviin


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #21 on: Aug 17, 2021, 03:18 PM »
This is looking fantastic.

I really love what you did with the shin/knee combo.

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Mythos Fenn Arms (A Sales Thread): https://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=174182.msg2066382#new

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Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #22 on: Aug 20, 2021, 04:15 PM »
Thanks Vode, your encouragement really helps keep my energy up. I'll see about the spacing on my iron heart - just because the eyelets can be moved doesn't make it fast to do. Easier than cutting in grommets at least.

Micro-update:

I was looking at the right side chest plate and decided it needed a thing.
So I made a Thing.  I took a personal symbol of mine and stylized it a bit for Swarzy use as a sigil reminiscent of His Fett-ness.


I won't bore you with a dozen process pics showing the masking. Not sure why some photos randomly rotate 90 and others don't...
I need to stop distracting myself from the main project and get the remaining lower body plates sorted out.
I bit the bullet and ordered a cast resin helmet to make sure I have something good to work with - I have no confidence in scratch building a bucket from metal with my current equipment and skill level. So I guess I'll be starting up that WIP within the next few weeks.

Aster Veris


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #23 on: Aug 21, 2021, 08:48 PM »
Love the logo, everything about this build is awesome!

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OM #2630 | BM #394 | they/them | mav oya'la clan |IG: @ plant.alorian | Aster WIP

Kurshi BeJahaal


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #24 on: Aug 22, 2021, 05:34 PM »
I've been really busy with things elsewhere on the forums but when I came back to look at updates, I see all this awesomeness!

That paint job is on point man! Just a killer job all around.

I was thinking the collar plate started just a little bit too low, but it's harder to tell in the most recent pictures. Ideally, you want it starting right at the base of your neck, but no lt so tight that it feels like it'll choke you. But this is such a slick looking build so far.

I think I agree with evening.echiveria that the diamond was a bit off center, but you'll work that out. Everything else is looking great!

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Fenn Beviin


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #25 on: Aug 23, 2021, 07:56 AM »
Personal sigil looks great! A nice subtle nod to the man that started it all.

You should check out TheWeldingGeek if you haven't already, if you plan on attempting a scratch built metal bucket. He is a vod in Taakure clan and is generally more than happy to answer questions. His forum name is MajaSchwa - I don't think he's on the forums much though but he is MaytheSchwartzbeWithyouCosplay on Instagram. Tell him I sent you if you message him ha

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"Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value."

Instagram: mythos_fenn_shysa

Mythos Fenn Arms (A Sales Thread): https://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=174182.msg2066382#new

Fenn Shysa WIP: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=80765.0

Blaster Addiction - So many Blasters: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=110659.msg1820500

Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #26 on: Aug 23, 2021, 09:56 AM »
Personal sigil looks great! A nice subtle nod to the man that started it all.

You should check out TheWeldingGeek if you haven't already, if you plan on attempting a scratch built metal bucket. He is a vod in Taakure clan and is generally more than happy to answer questions. His forum name is MajaSchwa - I don't think he's on the forums much though but he is MaytheSchwartzbeWithyouCosplay on Instagram. Tell him I sent you if you message him ha

Funny you should mention The Welding Geek - I got inspired to do a metal build by watching his videos. I blatantly stole the idea for plate mounting with self-clinching studs  from him. Oftentimes my approach to a problem is "what is the primitive/low rent version of Matt's solution to this?" or "can this be done with just a hammer, bench vise and piece of pipe?" I think that a full metal helmet build is the eventual goal but may have to be done in a future kit (I am already semi-planning one and haven't even finished my first. Is that nuts?) when I have improved my skills and added a few key tools to my collection.

Love the logo, everything about this build is awesome!
  Thanks Vod! I'm enjoying this whole process. I will be studying your weathering to get the soft kit looking good.

I've been really busy with things elsewhere on the forums but when I came back to look at updates, I see all this awesomeness!

That paint job is on point man! Just a killer job all around.

I was thinking the collar plate started just a little bit too low, but it's harder to tell in the most recent pictures. Ideally, you want it starting right at the base of your neck, but no lt so tight that it feels like it'll choke you. But this is such a slick looking build so far.

I think I agree with evening.echiveria that the diamond was a bit off center, but you'll work that out. Everything else is looking great!
  Thanks Vod. Honestly, the metal plates just absolutely love to be weathered, I think they make it easier to get a good result when I don't have to worry about going all the way through to a non-metallic base material with my beatings and scratches. The collar top height feels right when I'm wearing it, but I may still adjust the left side downward since the gap is ever so slightly uneven across the width.
 

Thanks, vode, for the encouragement and the constructive feed back. I will definitely be tweaking the iron heart since Aster pointed it out and now I can't seem to see much else. I think the solution is to rotate the top edge to my right, keeping the bottom mounting eyelet in the same place.   

General CRL compliance question, does the back plate appear to cover enough for Modern? I have some additional plates that I can add to cover my kidneys better. I was saving them for potential future upgrades, but I can paint them up and mount them now if that would be better for initial application. 

Aster Veris


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #27 on: Aug 23, 2021, 07:45 PM »
Thanks Vod! I'm enjoying this whole process. I will be studying your weathering to get the soft kit looking good.

Thanks, vode, for the encouragement and the constructive feed back. I will definitely be tweaking the iron heart since Aster pointed it out and now I can't seem to see much else. I think the solution is to rotate the top edge to my right, keeping the bottom mounting eyelet in the same place.   

General CRL compliance question, does the back plate appear to cover enough for Modern? I have some additional plates that I can add to cover my kidneys better. I was saving them for potential future upgrades, but I can paint them up and mount them now if that would be better for initial application.

1. Awe thanks! My words of wisdom for weathering is use paint (I use acrylics) so that you can wash your soft parts and have them be nice and clean, but still keep the dirty look. Also use real life references to model your weathering after and try to copy that instead of just doing a black wash. For my armor I used my water bottle as reference to the paint chipping and dents, for my shoes I went hiking after a rainstorm and used the dirty shoes as reference... etc.

2. The heart is SOOOOO annoying to get right. My advice is to put on your vest/armor and get someone else to place it. If you're trying to correct the spacing without the armor curved to fit your body, it's always going to be a bit off.

3. I'm no expert or ruus'alor, but modern CRLs say the backplate needs to be covering 2/3rd of your back. So I think you're okay.

Keep up the awesome work!!!!

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OM #2630 | BM #394 | they/them | mav oya'la clan |IG: @ plant.alorian | Aster WIP

Kurshi BeJahaal


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  • I don't roll on Shabbos. ב"ה
  • Awards Donated during Quarter 4 of 2023. Celebration Anaheim 2022 6 or more Education Points in a single year. Order of the Ori'Ramikad Special Operations Brigade Member
Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #28 on: Aug 23, 2021, 11:04 PM »
3. I'm no expert or ruus'alor, but modern CRLs say the backplate needs to be covering 2/3rd of your back. So I think you're okay.

Maybe not an "expert" (yet) but I agree with you Aster.  :)

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Second Son


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Re: Build Log / WIP: Body Armor
« Reply #29 on: Sep 10, 2021, 07:39 PM »
Not a lot of update going on - I've started on a new helmet to wear with the Official Kit and I've played around with weathering soft parts. Notably, I've gotten further with soft parts to support my butt and cod plates.
I had Spawn1 snap some photos to see the things coming together.  The lighting in my hallway was not as good as I thought it would be, so I brightened the pics to see details better.





Still got a ways to go but I can feel it coming together.
I can see that I need to be very careful when dressing for app pics, if nothing else....
And I gotta do some gloves.
All feedback and constructive criticism is welcome.

 


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