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[Aster Veris]

Looking good! Good luck with the LEDs 

[Celtkhan]

If you put the LED directly under the panel, it’s going to have a “hot spot” where the LED is. You can mitigate it by adding some diffusing layers underneath, sanding the underside of the panel, and/or using LED strips/panels to give a more even light. If you go that way, you’ll probably need to ink in your etch lines, as bottom-up lighting is not going to catch the etches the way you’re probably expecting. If you light the panel from one or more edges, it will probably give you the effect you’re looking for.

[Vercopaanir]

If you put the LED directly under the panel, it’s going to have a “hot spot” where the LED is. You can mitigate it by adding some diffusing layers underneath, sanding the underside of the panel, and/or using LED strips/panels to give a more even light. If you go that way, you’ll probably need to ink in your etch lines, as bottom-up lighting is not going to catch the etches the way you’re probably expecting. If you light the panel from one or more edges, it will probably give you the effect you’re looking for.

That is actually what I ended up doing.  I pulled the light to the side.  Lined it with aluminum tape and then backed the screen with window tint.  It's not quite what I was thinking but it's good enough for me.  I may still ink in my etch lines to make them stand out more.




Update

Some paint on a bucket!

Wore out my assistant.











Also got a bit of work done on a gauntlet but it's still drying so no pictures yet.

I feel like my paint is a bit to busy right now.   Possible changes I'm considering are, painting over the undersea bedazzle (the sections on the dome that are all the colors) into a solid grey panel.  The original plan was to tie in my tasset plates but it's such a busy pattern...  Also loose the light blue lines and make it a solid brown dome.  Opinions?

[Second Son]

1. I dig the 'sonar' vibe that the little gauntlet screen has.

2. Yes, there's a lot of pattern going on, but it looks cohesive. Be glorious and dangerous like the mantis shrimp (IN SPACE).

[Celtkhan]

Set your bucket aside for a few days, then look at it with fresh eyes. My initial impression is the same as yours; it’s too busy. I don’t think wiping out all that work is the right answer, though. The problem is that you’ve gt too many different values and hues: white, blue, brown and red. Some are warm, some cold, some pastel, some muted. I think you can bring them a bit closer together with some black and/or brown washes to mute the brighter colors and warm up the cold tones.

[Cattriss Wren]

Love the helmet!! The blue color you choose is beautiful. Your assistance is adorable!!

[Aster Veris]

Love the helmet! I also agree, it's pretty busy (but great!). Chose one main pattern. I really love the "undersea bedazzle"  so maybe keep that, and turn the other areas into just a single color. I think having multiple patterns like the spots on the back or lines on the top makes it a bit much.

[Vercopaanir]

1. I dig the 'sonar' vibe that the little gauntlet screen has.

2. Yes, there's a lot of pattern going on, but it looks cohesive. Be glorious and dangerous like the mantis shrimp (IN SPACE).

Thanks!  Space shrimp incoming!

Set your bucket aside for a few days, then look at it with fresh eyes. My initial impression is the same as yours; it’s too busy. I don’t think wiping out all that work is the right answer, though. The problem is that you’ve gt too many different values and hues: white, blue, brown and red. Some are warm, some cold, some pastel, some muted. I think you can bring them a bit closer together with some black and/or brown washes to mute the brighter colors and warm up the cold tones.

Unfortunately for the aquatics stuff, black and brown washes are actually discouraged under the premise that you're in the water so it will wash off all the dirt and grime.  I can however weather with white/cream (for sea salt) and I can sneak in some greens (seaweed) and perhaps I can smuggle in a tan (sand if you will).  I agree that I have a bit much going on color wheel wise. 

Love the helmet!! The blue color you choose is beautiful. Your assistance is adorable!!

Thank you!  He's helped build all my kits.   

Love the helmet! I also agree, it's pretty busy (but great!). Chose one main pattern. I really love the "undersea bedazzle"  so maybe keep that, and turn the other areas into just a single color. I think having multiple patterns like the spots on the back or lines on the top makes it a bit much.

I like the bedazzle too!  But the spots pull in the chest and back armor.  I thinking I might just paint over the lines on top.  Not fully decided yet.

Photos from the con I finally did a full kit out (well mostly, the one shoulder strap is just not sitting right.)

[Aster Veris]

Nice! Quick question, have you settled on that gold visor? I still think the dark blue could be a cool look, but the gold is also iconic.

[Vercopaanir]

Nice! Quick question, have you settled on that gold visor? I still think the dark blue could be a cool look, but the gold is also iconic.

I think I am going to be sticking with the gold for now.  The helmet is already so busy that adding another color was even more over the top.  The gold kinda ties it all together while still giving me the mirrored visor look that I favor.


Update:  I realized that my paint chipping on my gauntlet didn't really match the amount of chipping I had else where on my kit so I had to add a few retroactively.









I also added another layer to the bottom of the shoulders to make them a little bigger and add a bit of weight to help keep them in place.







I also added a sigil!  Many thanks to cknight68 the Mermando for permitting me to use his sigil!

[Cattriss Wren]

Awesome pictures!

[Fenn Beviin]

I was going to say, I thought that sigil looked familiar! haha

Loving the progress!

[Aster Veris]

Looking really nice!

[Vercopaanir]

Been a bit since I updated here.  Life has been really busy so I haven't really been able to do much building right now.  Just a few small things have gotten done.  I added new side panels to my vest! 



And I am working on an Aquatics inspired parasol to carry with this kit for the hot outdoor troops!  (Not an approved accessory btw but it make a big difference when trying to avoid heatstroke.)



Also did I mention I met Emily Swallow the armorer!  So exciting!  I was in the proses of switching kits when she stopped by out both so I threw some stuff on and ran out to see her.  I realized later I hadn't put my shoulders back on.   

[Vercopaanir]

I am several posts behind now for this kit.  For starters I finally fixed the slight gaping I was getting between the bottom of the chest, ab and vest connection.  The way I affixed the ab plate it was pulling the bottom of the chest plates away and leaving a very small gap between the plates and the vest.  Now it's fixed!!  I added a small triangle of Sintra, heat formed it to fit the gap and painted it up to match.





I also added another bit to the shoulders.  Not as in love with this addition but it does make them look bigger and thus helps with the very slight bobble head look I have going on.

 

 

Then begins the weathering.  Because this is an aquatic kit I can't do my usual dirt washes so salt and sand are really all I have to work with.  I might be able to try and squeak in some greens because seaweed but I'll add that later if needed.  Don't want to put on something I can't take back later if it's not okay.

So I started by mixing some pigment powder in water and pretty much pour/painting it on everywhere.
Vest



Then, after it dried, I beat it against the post on the porch to knock of what would most likely be knocked of by just walking around.




Then I sealed it into the fabric with a sealant.

I then did the same thing with all the soft parts.  I did a bit more structured staining on the flightsuit.  Looked up bunch of salt staining on clothes and looked at the pictures as I painted the pigment powered on.

Pants

Before the beating. 



After





Top

First round



After





Sash
Before beating


After



Leather goods:  These just seemed to look greyer and greyer the more I added to them

Tassets

Before


After



Fauld

After



Half chaps

Before


After


Cuffs
Before-only the bottom one in the picture had be done yet


After



At this point I stopped and just had to do some pictures.  After the pictures I was looking at it and realized I had missed a few important items







So then I did the rest of the softs I hadn't already done

Gloves- I took comparison photos to try and make it more obvious




Both weathered



Straps for the shins





Boxes






Now I need to take some more pictures.  Then I think I might be ready for pre-app.