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[vershnekit]

Helloooo Mandalorians. I've been working on cardboard mockups of my chest piece for months and finally have transferred it to Sintra. It's just a rough draft but I realized I never started a thread to show what I was doing. So here it is...

I was inspired by the HIM chest but wanted it more angular. This was the second iteration but it gives a general idea of how it will look on me.


I don't remember where, but I remember seeing a video where somewhere cut a groove on the inner side of sintra folds to get better angles...Here are images of the back for reference.

It turned out really great except for that right side where I accidently cut through the sintra when making the angled cuts.


But I wanted angles more akin to the cardboard mockup. So I cut out individual pieces like the cardboard and will be using the originally bent piece as a back for mounting. Here it is taped up. The image on the left is before I added all the pieces to the wings


I need to heat up the wings to improve the bends in the arm. Once that is done and I add a couple minor pieces, I should have the rough shape complete :-)

Here is a link to my Helmet WIP http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=201720.msg2223856#msg2223856 and my concept post http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=192583.0

[Arco'thyel Wyshla]

Oooh, I remember your concept thread – I loved your flak vest and was going to use it as inspiration! It’s wild to see you’re doing a custom HIM plate out of sintra, because I’m doing that, too! Still patterning over here, my room is covered in cardboard shavings…

Are you going to add an ab plate? There's something in the CRLs about custom designs requiring an ab plate, though I wanted to do a light infantry variation, so it's a bit confusing -- I was going to ask the app team about it.

Your plate is looking real sharp! I’m pretty impressed with how the angled cuts worked out, even if you’re not going that route. I didn't know about that trick, so thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your progress!

[vershnekit]

Are you going to add an ab plate? There's something in the CRLs about custom designs requiring an ab plate, though I wanted to do a light infantry variation, so it's a bit confusing -- I was going to ask the app team about it.

I am planning to add a diaphragm plate but I hadn't noticed the specific wording "any custom modified plate designs must be worn with the ab plate". I'd definitely recommend reaching out to the App Team on that if you can't get a solid answer. I'll reach out to my Ruus. Thanks for pointing that out!!

[Aster Veris]

Wow it looks great! It will go well with your helmet. Custom post imp builds are super cool

[Cattriss Wren]

Super cool indeed vode!! It's looking awesome

[Straka Zulu]

This looks awesome, so far.  Do you have any recomendations for someone looking to also make this chestplate?  Like measurements, calculations... 

[Arkham]

I am planning to add a diaphragm plate but I hadn't noticed the specific wording "any custom modified plate designs must be worn with the ab plate". I'd definitely recommend reaching out to the App Team on that if you can't get a solid answer. I'll reach out to my Ruus. Thanks for pointing that out!!

The full wording of that is:

Din Djarin version 2 armor (Beskar armor) and any custom modified plate designs must be worn with the ab plate.

Which leads me to believe this is for Din Djarin version 2 armor only.

Additionally:

Ab plate configurations for Din Djarin version 1 armor or the Paz Vizsla Heavy Infantry armor are as follows:
Din Djarin version 1 armor may be worn with the chest plate only or with the ab plate
Paz Visla Heavy Infantry variations are, A) Light Infantry: chest plate only, B) Medium Infantry: chest plate and diaphragm plate, C) Heavy Infantry: chest plate, diaphragm plate and ab plate.

So it would appear that for this style of armor, in a 'Light' configuration, only the chest plate is required.

Confirmation from the App Team would still be needed to solidify this. But this is how I read it.

[Straka Zulu]

Additionally:
So it would appear that for this style of armor, in a 'Light' configuration, only the chest plate is required.

Confirmation from the App Team would still be needed to solidify this. But this is how I read it.

This is correct.  The V1 Din, and the Paz chestplates do not require the ab plate for the Light configurations.

[Arco'thyel Wyshla]

This is correct.  The V1 Din, and the Paz chestplates do not require the ab plate for the Light configurations.

Ohh, this is a big weight (and ab plate) off my chest! Just to be 100% clear, does this mean we are A-OK to make custom plates based off the light infantry variation?

[Straka Zulu]

Fully custom designs would probably have to go through Q&A.

[Fenn Beviin]

Your custom/personalized version of the chest plate looks great - personally, I would still make an ab plate, even if you don't have to, just to keep more of a traditional approach to your overall kit. A small one won't affect your mobility at all.

Plus - having a lot of the stomach exposed with no armor on it is just weird to me 

[Arkham]

Your custom/personalized version of the chest plate looks great - personally, I would still make an ab plate, even if you don't have to, just to keep more of a traditional approach to your overall kit. A small one won't affect your mobility at all.

Plus - having a lot of the stomach exposed with no armor on it is just weird to me 

Depends on how your waist items are going to be. If you have a tall sash or girth belt, then you may not have much 'stomach' exposed at all.

Also keep in mind, the PI is NOT the traditional approach (modern is) so that may not have any bearing on your decision.

Additionally, if you have a bit more stomach that you would like (like I do) it will be hidden more with this type of armor. Adding an ab plate MIGHT accentuate it. This is one of the reasons Legacy armor works better for certain body types that tradition modern plates do. I could be the same with PI, depending on your plate configuration.

[vershnekit]

Thank you Vod for the positive feedback! I started the process of JB-welding the pieces together but won't have anything to show for couple weeks due to my finals coming up.

This looks awesome, so far.  Do you have any recomendations for someone looking to also make this chestplate?  Like measurements, calculations...

I'm sorry, I didn't use any specific measurements except to ensure both sides were even (i.e, the inner peak near the neck is 3" from the center on either side) but I could get them for you if you want to PM me.

I started with a rectangular piece of cardboard roughly armpit-to-armpit wide and neck-to-belly long. Then I made small adjustments and cuts based on pictures of Paz until I liked it. For all of the angles I would make markings at varying degrees and trim them off one-at-a-time until I arrived at the one the worked best. The main plate is widest roughly at my nipple-line. Once I had the main piece I taped the wings to it on the back side and played with the angles of the side pieces until it fit what I was going for.

As far as height, the lower edge of the chest piece follows my rib cage. My goal was to have the entire rigid structure not affect me bending forward. The slope of the main plate is defined by the slant of my chest. It sticks out just far enough that I can add an ab plate to slide underneath.

I also made sure I had enough arm mobility to reach across my chest without pushing the chest piece to the side (since I am planning to have crossdraw pistol) by trimming the upper edge width and adjusting that angle with repeated reach tests.

Your custom/personalized version of the chest plate looks great - personally, I would still make an ab plate, even if you don't have to, just to keep more of a traditional approach to your overall kit. A small one won't affect your mobility at all.

Plus - having a lot of the stomach exposed with no armor on it is just weird to me 

I probably will add a small ab/diaphragm plate, but I haven't checked how much room I have between the bottom of the chestplate and my sash.

[Adenn Jorad]

Hey, I found your WIP! Looking good vod!

[vershnekit]

Wow, it's definitely been a while but I haven't quit the marathon. Couple updates...

Finally got a preview photo at the last armor party.


I wanted a Paz inspired chest diamond but didn't see any stl files that matched what I want. So I designed my own from screenshots of Paz's chest. Here is the printed result and a template I made for it. FYI, the little holes on the template were to help with drainage during the printing process, not printing errors.


If you notice, the back of the chest diamond has a lip, this is so I can mount and glue it to my chest plate from behind. The height is specifically designed to be flush with the plate. I created the template to mark out where the diamond would go since the lip prevented me from directly outlining onto the plate. Here is how that went. Keep in mind, I have since fixed the height issue on the last image since the height was a little off.


In other armor parts, I now have all the pieces for my gauntlets except for a little surprise addition I need to work on.


The knees have been started. They are flat on the front, instead of rounded like boba's, to mimic the angularity of the chest plate.


Lastly, this bad boy will soon by one of my pauldrons.


The backplate has been fitted with the help of my Ruus and I am working on the final layout. More pictures to come...hopefully not in 3-6 months lol