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[Jennari]

 Very nice.

[Second Son]

Ok so:  I think i've hit my Pre-App review notes, so I today  took some photos. I did a little "Dressing a Bounty Hunter" bit, and then did some pre-app shots.
I fixed up my cape so it can be on both shoulders, or one. It seems that when I get dressed with it on both and then let it down, the back plate goes on straight and stays that way.
Now for pictures.

Layer One. Flightsuit, two-piece style. I added some stirrups, will make them more permanent when I have time.





Layer Two. Armored boots, cod&butt plate, girth belt, & kama (or as ad'ika t'ad calls it - butt cape) .






Layer Three. Guns n Gauntlets (my Mandalorian themed hair metal cover band)






Layer Four. front and back armor, helmet, the best cape in the Galaxy.





It can be worn both ways



Detail Shots.

Carrying some space wizard glow stick rocks and some Iron Hearts. I painted three with random colors, but it turned out I actually themed them appropriately for some people important to me without thinking about it. Fourth is the one I'd wear if I didn't like the brass one so much (and hadn't beat the kriff out of it)
Future Second Son will add some more trophy-like items for some ultra double-secret planned upgrades.
Bumped up the weathering on my holsters from none whatsoever to some brownwashes and scuffing.


Spacing - I had some issues but I think we are good now, everything seems consistently and symmetrically set, Iron heart adjusted to be better centered.
Collar plate corners just a hair inside the chest plate corners. Fit of plates is comfortable, no real interference with my arm motion.


I'll be putting my proper photos in for Pre-App for official review. In the meantime, I welcome constructive feedback from everyone.

[Vercopaanir]

Very nice!  Looks like you got everything.

My only observation is that the chain for the trophies/mementos looks a bit more shiny then everything else around it. 

Really good job! 

[polishvendetta]

That is a really nice looking kit!

[Cattriss Wren]

Amazing work!!! Good luck with your application!! I hope you get in

[Jacen_Katarr]

Gorgeous. Very nice work

[Aster Veris]

Looking nice, I'd say some soft parts may need more weathering. Your cape, kama, and vest look super good but I think your flightsuit, girth belt, and maybe belt pouches too need some more weathering to be consistent.

[Second Son]

Thank you all for the positive vibes, folks. It keeps my energy up. I'm getting excited about being close to submitting my official application.

Looking nice, I'd say some soft parts may need more weathering. Your cape, kama, and vest look super good but I think your flightsuit, girth belt, and maybe belt pouches too need some more weathering to be consistent.

Very nice!  Looks like you got everything.

My only observation is that the chain for the trophies/mementos looks a bit more shiny then everything else around it. 

Really good job! 

 I'd been most focused on getting my boots, vest, kama and cape more dirty and beaten, figuring that the outermost layers like that are going to get the most wear, mud, and damage. Clearly that effort has paid off! 
I see your point about the rest of the soft kit, Aster. I spent some time working  washes into the seams, top-stiching, and quilting channels on my flight suit and girth belt, but it's hard to see in the photographs so it may simply be too under-done & subtle to really POP like it should to match my armor.
I can always add more Space Grime in some broader areas but I've been trying to avoid 'leopard spots' of mud and such.  I've been working it layer by layer, trying to work up to the line and not hop overboard all at once, which I kinda did with my plates- it's less easy to take it off once it's on...

  I'll hold back till my pre-app#2 notes return, but I expect similar feedback. It was one of the major points to address in my first round's notes, and soft goods weathering is what I've had the most trouble getting right (so far).

I am hesitant to add excess grime to the trophy chain, it seems like the sort of thing that'll get a bit of polish and care to maximize the 'bling' factor. A quick brown-wash will get in the recesses without making the high points too dull. I'll hit it if the pre-app#2 review notes make a big deal of it.

Solid feedback, thanks vode.

[Aster Veris]

I totally understand what you mean, but if your plates are heavily damaged then your soft parts have to be as well. Weathering consistency is super important!
I can see a little bit of grime in the photos, you definitely did a nice job with some small weathering but I believe it's got to be more to meet the level of your plates and other more heavily weathered soft parts. To avoid "leopard spots" I personally go over all of my flightsuit with dry brush paint. You'll get some heavier spots and some lighter spots, and it will be random. Also do more weathering on the seams, bottoms of arms/legs, around plates, etc. You did a wonderful job on your flack vest, just repeat that!

[Fenn Beviin]

I totally understand what you mean, but if your plates are heavily damaged then your soft parts have to be as well. Weathering consistency is super important!
I can see a little bit of grime in the photos, you definitely did a nice job with some small weathering but I believe it's got to be more to meet the level of your plates and other more heavily weathered soft parts. To avoid "leopard spots" I personally go over all of my flightsuit with dry brush paint. You'll get some heavier spots and some lighter spots, and it will be random. Also do more weathering on the seams, bottoms of arms/legs, around plates, etc. You did a wonderful job on your flack vest, just repeat that!

The kit in it's entirety is looking great man!

I agree with the above. The flight suit isn't as weathered as your flak vest as it is now. Your chest plates and flak vest are more weathered than the sleeves of the flight suit. Add a little more around the seems and above the gauntlets and that should cover it.

As for the lower body stuff, your shin plates are more heavily weathered than your chest armor. The lower body weathering will need to bumped up to match that as well. The bright tan on the back of your calves is a pretty stark contrast to the very weathered shin armor.

For the trophies - you may just need to grey/black/brown mist some paint overtop of the chains to tone the shine down there and you might be fine there.

Really love how this looks all together man and that cape/cloak is great.

[Aster Veris]

As for the lower body stuff, your shin plates are more heavily weathered than your chest armor. The lower body weathering will need to bumped up to match that as well. The bright tan on the back of your calves is a pretty stark contrast to the very weathered shin armor.

For the trophies - you may just need to grey/black/brown mist some paint overtop of the chains to tone the shine down there and you might be fine there.

Agree but I think that's due to kneeling/falling/etc, lower plates would logically have different weathering than chest plates. Chest plates are to protect your organs from shots, stabs, and any other threats, while lower body armor is constantly being banged around due to being a mobile bounty hunter. Personally I think the plate damage is good as is, but 100% agree that the plate weathering and soft parts weathering don't add up. If your shin plates are so damaged, that damage should show on the flightsuit too.

[Second Son]

I'm loving the feedback, sorry I'm slow replying - and I’d ask for your thoughts on the latest push to accomplish the goal of MOAR WEATHERING, in the context of the kit concept, which has evolved considerably since day 1.
I envision this Mando as spending less time tracking planetside and more time "politely convincing" folks to turn over cargo, since Mandalore will put it to better use. So the operating environment will have sweat, space dust, kneeling and rolling on metal decks, being scraped along walls, headbutted and thrown against bulkheads by angry Wookiees, blaster fire, getting stabbed (with repairs over the stained area of the flightsuit) and very occaisionally slapped with a Space Wizard's glow stick - I tried to catch that flavor with more rip / burn / scorch / blaster hole type damage on my kama and cape, with a bit of muddy brown at the bottom edges and hanging around on the boots. My armor plates, I think, convey repeated heavy beatings and getting shot at. A lot.

Seeing as I’m likely to receive similar feedback from pre-app round 2 (which I'm still waiting on - they must be swamped right now), here’s what I’ve done in the interim. My photographer was a bit distracted so I need to retake these all anyway. looking back with a critical eye: the usual notes I have for myself, i.e. dress more carefully, stand up tall, keep my feet pointed at the camera etc.


Front


Right


Left


Back

DETAIL SHOTS


Legs, front & rear




Upper body, sleeves and gauntlets - I added a little patched 'cut' on my right arm like I did to my left thigh.



Pouches, for collecting things during "Enhanced Requisitions"



(arguably)The Best Cape in the Galaxy^tm


I'm really just proud of how this buckle turned out.

Constructive feedback is always welcome.

[Karl Dha'Werda]

Wow!  Commenting so I can come back with a bigger screen and look at this build for suggestions.  Love the metal work.

[Fenn Beviin]

Personally, I think you may be ready to app in! 

I'm sharing your thread in a Ruus chat to get more eyes on this.

[Second Son]

Wow!  Commenting so I can come back with a bigger screen and look at this build for suggestions.  Love the metal work.

Vod, thank you! That is very encouraging.

Personally, I think you may be ready to app in! 

I'm sharing your thread in a Ruus chat to get more eyes on this.

These two sentences are a source of great joy for me. I think I know what I'm doing with my Saturday afternoon.