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[Dro Shai]

Your kit looks super dope, I really admire people who know their way around steel/metal. That's a lot of skill, I have to ask does it feel really heavy when you're wearing it? I really love your helmet color choice. That and the lines of all the armor are so clean and look really professional. To me though, a novice crafter haha. So take that as you will. But it looks really fantastic so far!!

[Second Son]

Thanks for the kind words, vod. I had some basic metal knowledge before, and I'm learning a lot of new things as I go.

It's pretty light, lighter than you would think. The metal bits weigh just under 6 pounds all together. The gauntlets are the heaviest individual pieces at about a pound each. I think the cast resin helmet I'm starting up will weigh more than the plates do. The helmet I've been wearing for pictures is from a family H'ween group costume - I never got the thing to MMCC level (ugh, print lines) but it gives me the right proportions for judging the rest of the kit. I could probably strip it down and get the lines ultra smooth but I love the paint job and I'm unwilling to mess it up. I have been dropping bits of red elsewhere in the kit so I might keep the red dome in the final scheme. I definitely plan to re-use the smae energy from the mark over my right eye - to me it looks like someone either decided to grab my head and skip it off a building, or a space wizard smacked me with their fancy glowstick. Either way it tells a story.

I went with aluminum rather than steel, for weight considerations. The tradeoff is that the aluminum will work-harden and crack if you fiddle too much with it.  I will say that the metal makes painting and weathering much simpler - after base layering/masking/chipping of colors, there's no accidentally scuffing through to bare Sintra and you can really go nuts with things like gravel dragging, razor nicks, hammer strikes etc.  It's pretty fun to beat the plates up.

[Dro Shai]

Thanks for the kind words, vod. I had some basic metal knowledge before, and I'm learning a lot of new things as I go.

It's pretty light, lighter than you would think. The metal bits weigh just under 6 pounds all together. The gauntlets are the heaviest individual pieces at about a pound each. I think the cast resin helmet I'm starting up will weigh more than the plates do. The helmet I've been wearing for pictures is from a family H'ween group costume - I never got the thing to MMCC level (ugh, print lines) but it gives me the right proportions for judging the rest of the kit. I could probably strip it down and get the lines ultra smooth but I love the paint job and I'm unwilling to mess it up. I have been dropping bits of red elsewhere in the kit so I might keep the red dome in the final scheme. I definitely plan to re-use the smae energy from the mark over my right eye - to me it looks like someone either decided to grab my head and skip it off a building, or a space wizard smacked me with their fancy glowstick. Either way it tells a story.

I went with aluminum rather than steel, for weight considerations. The tradeoff is that the aluminum will work-harden and crack if you fiddle too much with it.  I will say that the metal makes painting and weathering much simpler - after base layering/masking/chipping of colors, there's no accidentally scuffing through to bare Sintra and you can really go nuts with things like gravel dragging, razor nicks, hammer strikes etc.  It's pretty fun to beat the plates up.

I honestly wouldn't have expected that to not weigh a bunch! I have to say since you mentioned it, I did really like that scratch/mark on your Mando's helm across the visor area. It looks super dope! I def appreciate the thought of story elements woven into costume builds, adds so much more character and believability of the costume. That and I feel like it's so much more badass too. I dig the space wizard concept, though I'm a sucker for in depth character creation so props to you!

I can imagine it's a lot better with weathering yeah, so much more realistic too!! I have to say my experience with sintra has been good and bad, but thats coming form someone who pretty much only use EVA foam for a good while before switching.. Again dope build excited to see more progress! I hope it goes smoothly

[Kurshi BeJahaal]

Man, it's looking really good. The biggest thing that catches my eye right now is the knee/shin area. It looks like your shins end a little high and are crowding and potentially going to touch your knee plates. The issue with the Boba thigh pouches is that is sometimes puts the knees a little lower than normal... also, strapping around them can be a pain.

Maybe just a tweak to make sure the shoulders are even, the left looks like it is rotated back a little bit.

But I'm loving the progress here. You're doing great on this build!

[Second Son]

I've been focused on getting a helmet ready so I've only done a little bit on the armor. 

Man, it's looking really good. The biggest thing that catches my eye right now is the knee/shin area. It looks like your shins end a little high and are crowding and potentially going to touch your knee plates. The issue with the Boba thigh pouches is that is sometimes puts the knees a little lower than normal... also, strapping around them can be a pain.

Maybe just a tweak to make sure the shoulders are even, the left looks like it is rotated back a little bit.

But I'm loving the progress here. You're doing great on this build!

Thanks for the notes vod - When I pull my pants up to the right height the knee-shin gap looks much better. I'm looking at planning on doing some snaps or velcro to keep the two-part flight suit in place but still openable for biological reasons. I've done some more tailoring because my local leadership mentioned the legs looked a little baggy still.

About the shoulders - I've put new eyelets in (red) to correct the placement issue. Incremental progress is better than none.


I think that my eyelets have improved in quality, if not speed.
 

[Kurshi BeJahaal]

Agreed! Small steps are still steps in the right direction.

It's good to know that the issue was a simple kitting up fix.

[Second Son]

I think the Helmet is under control, and I finished up modifying my gloves for Mando-ing, and I started weathering my flak vest and neck seal -  so of course I kitted up for some progress photos.  Range finder and another ear cap accessory (I got two RF so I can do the flexibility thing) are future upgrades in the current plan.
I need to slap the knees around a bit more, they looked fine when I put everything on. Maybe the photo angle and moving around makes them look like they overlap my shin guards. Maybe some straps inside my pant legs to pull them tighter, they do flop a little.  I did tailor the legs in a bit to take care of the bagginess.
Compare to last round of kit-up photos (with my OG bucket), and my OM concept at the end.  I think I'm getting there.

Front

Right

Back

Left

Bucket Off (sorta)

I'm saving the thigh holsters and DE-10s that go with them (gift from my cousin!) for a future kit (probably post-imp). I'm making some scratch built Westars for now, we'll see how that goes and if it turns out ok, I'll slap together some belt holsters and move belt pouches around. I added a third Boba-style cloth pouch, I'm planning to put the medic symbol on it, weather it, and put an actual first aid kit in it to handle mishaps during trooping times.
Also that hose is out of control, I need to do something about it.

[Fenn Beviin]

Looking really good dude!

The hose is definitely out of control  I honestly you could fix that though but just rolling the double sleeves on your flight suit up just once. Right now, the two of them seem to be fighting each other with how long the sleeves are and how long the protrusion is off of your gauntlet with the hose. As is, the attachment point is farther up your arm than where your sleeve ends. Boba's double sleeve ends before his elbow and yours appears to go past yours. Doing that may help the hose issue (also maybe shortening the hose as well). That being said, hoses on kits are always a little pesky - I have issues with mine coming out of my sleeve relatively frequently ha

If you are concerned about the bunching around your knees, I hear adding stir-ups to the bottom of your pant legs will help keep everything pulled down.
Soft parts will definitely also end up needing more weathering to match your plates but your kit is turning out fantastic. Keep it up!

[Second Son]

It's been a minute - but I have an update.

New kit-up pics, now with improved* lighting, better gunbelt, and 100% more capes.

 


Cape mount close-up - I think it's pretty good for a 2-hour speedpaint.


I've got my own fix list, tell me what you see, vode!  I think I can be ready for Clan pre-app by mid-December, and start my OM application process January 2022.


*well, brighter lighting, anyway. need to tweak my kludge diffusers to reduce hotspots.

[Second Son]

Not much of an update, but last night I tested out the kit at the St Louis Science Center's Star Wars Night. (side bar, if you are visiting St. Louis, go the the Science Center and go to the Zoo - general admission is FREE, you only have to pay for special exhibits) I made sure to be clear that I am not an official member and did my best to promote the Mercs.
I only had minor issues, discovered that I need to do some tweaks to a few spots. Nothing fell apart, nothing fell all the way off, and nobody ran up and punched me in the cod plate so overall pretty succesful test run. One nut came off a chest plate, and one came off my back plate, but both stayed on because of the other connection points. One knee popped loose at the very end because a nut had loosened and fell off, but didn't fall off because the other two points stayed connected. I may just add a fourth connection point to each knee, double nut each and every screw on every plate and use some automotive thread-lock glue that I can pop with a little wrench when it's time to wash the soft goods. My neck seal worked itself out from under my vest at one point, so I think some velcro or straight-up stitching it into the vest is in order. That'll be one less thing to remember to put on. My sash-y girth and gun belt kept sliding downward, I may have to add a few holes to the belt so I can cinch it down better. Something to keep things sliding around on the belt might also be good.
Breathing in a face mask and a bucket led to a bit of what I've dubbed 'swamp-helmet' so I am going to need to install my fans. Which will likely speed up the need for an external audio pickup, so yay, projects!

I was so busy hanging out with the real OMs, wow-ing over some dope 501st and Rebel Legion kits, and walking around Mando-ing (kids were delightful, adults were basically just larger kids and also delightful) that I only got one picture for myself, with my fellow aspiring Mando ValinKrai.
You can see that I'm grinning like a five-year-old because R2-D2.

I'm clearly in the middle of things, bits and pieces a little out of app-photo alignment but I think I still look like a Mando in general, so great success. I added a range finder because it is part of the iconic look.

 I have done demos for kids in another costume-involved hobby, but this was my first experience doing a costumed thing like this (not exactly calling it a troop because I'm not official) and it was a massive happy-chemical rush in my brain so I can say with certainty that I am beginning to Get It.

[Cattriss Wren]

Wow sounds like you had a blast!! Congrats on your armor staying with you and not falling off. That's definitely a challenge.Your kit looks great vode. Hanging out with your clan must have been super fun! 

[Fenn Beviin]

The first time wearing the armor in public always quite the rush for sure!

Sounds like you had a blast and helped other have a blast as well which is the most important part. Looks like you have quite the things of things to get completed next! haha Also - yes, trying to not fog up the visor and diminish your already narrowed visual field is quite the hassle 

[CaderBug13]

Congrats vode! sound like you had a blast! 

[Aster Veris]

Awesome! Glad you had a good time

[Second Son]

I re-worked a few minor, mostly internal things and did some kit-up photos.


Incremental Progress. I may need to do a bit more with my knees still.
I think I may just send this series in for pre-app and see what comments come back.


Added weathering to my cape, but it's hard to see it very clearly in full photos.
It's actually hard to physically beat this fabric up, its resistant to wear and durable by nature. Which is great - it'll last basically forever - but frustrating as a costumer because it probably could stand for some more wear for the Aesthetic. I resorted to topical weathering with fabric paint to try and make it look more used.

So far I've:

• rolled it up and beaten it against things.
• laid it out flat on concrete and hit it with a hammer
• lit parts on fire, but since it's at least 90% wool it didn't burn a lot (awesome to watch, actually)
• literally slashed it with a sharp sharp knife
• stabbed it with sharp things
• wire brushed the hem
• extended the hammer holes at the bottom with a knife
• added 'dirt, scorching and space dust' (mix of Jacquard's Dye-na-Flow, Neopaque, & Textile paints; colors: raw umber, brown, ochre, tanned leather)

Cat hair just sort of magically appeared. I guess it's free weathering.