activation email

[Aster Veris]

Great to finally see the plates on you! Awesome work and I'm really excited to see the trauma plates in the post imperial style. And I can't quite tell what you mean with the half chaps, they looks good to me.
And maybe it's just me, but the backplate looks kinda small? Not sure if that would be considered 2/3rds of your back.

[Cattriss Wren]

Looks great

[Vercopaanir]

Great to finally see the plates on you! Awesome work and I'm really excited to see the trauma plates in the post imperial style. And I can't quite tell what you mean with the half chaps, they looks good to me.
And maybe it's just me, but the backplate looks kinda small? Not sure if that would be considered 2/3rds of your back.

For the half chaps, I'm talking about the little grey flap that is hanging free by the ankle.  I either need to cut it off or add a snap to it to keep it in place.

And you're completely right about the back plate.  I totally flubbed my measurements for that.  It's an inch short of the 2/3rds mark (in relation to the length of the back of the vest since it's not supposed to be longer than the vest or wider then the chest armor) and even then I think I'll need it a bit bigger then that to get it to look right.  I'm thinking I'll try to lengthen it with a trauma plate first rather than start over or... 

Which leads me to another question, can I articulate back plates for Post-Imp?  Because that would be preferred and totally fit the aquatic aesthetic of having scales and such.  Plus it makes moving around so much easier.  I could also just add another plate a bit lower and get the spacing right.  CRLs are non-conclusive for this issue. Time to pester my contacts. 

Looks great

Thanks!

[Aster Veris]

For the half chaps, I'm talking about the little grey flap that is hanging free by the ankle.  I either need to cut it off or add a snap to it to keep it in place.

And you're completely right about the back plate.  I totally flubbed my measurements for that.  It's an inch short of the 2/3rds mark (in relation to the length of the back of the vest since it's not supposed to be longer than the vest or wider then the chest armor) and even then I think I'll need it a bit bigger then that to get it to look right.  I'm thinking I'll try to lengthen it with a trauma plate first rather than start over or... 

Which leads me to another question, can I articulate back plates for Post-Imp?  Because that would be preferred and totally fit the aquatic aesthetic of having scales and such.  Plus it makes moving around so much easier.  I could also just add another plate a bit lower and get the spacing right.  CRLs are non-conclusive for this issue. Time to pester my contacts. 

Gotcha with the half chaps, just do whatever you think looks better!

For the back plate I'm not quite sure what you mean by "articulate", but yeah I would look at references and ask mando friends because the post-imp CRLs are pretty short. I think matching the aesthetic vibe of the era is more important than looking for CRLs that aren't there.

[Ru'Stor Rawr]

commenting to follow

[Vercopaanir]

Small update

I made a sash yesterday. (The belt is just a place holder till I find the brown one I was planning on using.)

 

Today I added the top stitching to the sash.





I shot an idea over to a Ruus' friend and they said it should be fine so I made a quick pattern to add some layers to my backplate.  I needs a minimum of one more inch but I didn't think it looked right even then so I cut out a few more.

 


And I added the leather covers to one side of my vest.  Nearly all the elastic is covered except the connection points and that blends nicely into the flight suit.  It is only noticeable it if you knew to look for it.  Please ignore some of the creative stitching, my machine was having fits today.  It was a little bit claustrophobic with the straps not having as much give but I think I can stand it. 

[Vercopaanir]

I did some stuff. 

I did a bit of work on the additional panels for the backplate. 



Then I patterned, cut, sanded and heat formed the pieces for my tasset plates.





Then I primed all the new pieces.




I am also fiddling around with a possible kama. I used the odd duck panels from the seat covers to construct it.  My siblings agree that it doesn't look quite right as it is now.  So should I cut it into a V (dolphin tail-esk) or cut the center panel flat across just to even out the middle bit?

[Cattriss Wren]

I love the back armor and the shoulder armor! the details on the flak vest are amazing!! I always learn so much from watching you make your armor

[Aster Veris]

For the kama, I think that if you do cut it, you should do the V design. Also the plates look awesome. You're just cranking this kit out, I really admire your dedication and stamina!

[Vercopaanir]

Happy New Year!

I put some silver on my plates!

For the kama, I think that if you do cut it, you should do the V design.

I did go for the V-cut as that was the consensus from my clan as well.  Also thanks 
 


And I started scaling an apron thing from my left over leather bits that are to small for anything else.



I plan on giving it a grey trim and I'll keep adding to it as I build and have more leather bits left over.

Paint designs!

I sat down and colored probably eight different patterns but I am leaning toward this one.



The grey side would be reflected across as I think that the grey looks better and ties in my softs better.

The backplate paint design might change too as I was sent some awesome inspiration photos from a recruit/foundling of our clan. 

I love the back armor and the shoulder armor! the details on the flak vest are amazing!! I always learn so much from watching you make your armor

Thanks!  How's your build going?

[Cattriss Wren]

Thanks!  How's your build going?

Pretty good, thanks for asking! The holidays have given me much more time to work on my kit. I will probably be posting an update in a few days.

[Vercopaanir]

Pretty good, thanks for asking! The holidays have given me much more time to work on my kit. I will probably be posting an update in a few days.

Looking forward to it!

Update:



   



I also started painted, two colors on, three more to go. 

[Vercopaanir]

Weather was so nice when I got home that I just had to get a couple layers of paint onto the armor.  Not happy with the back plates so those will get a lovely sanding and and some new paint.





   




Then I made and added straps onto one of the shin plates.







I also cut out the grey leather under-the-gauntlet cuff.  Once I get those fitted I can heat form my gauntlets.

[Fenn Beviin]

Nice!

This is turning out great 

[Cattriss Wren]

Wonderful job!  they look so nice!

[Vercopaanir]

Nice!

This is turning out great 

Thanks!

Wonderful job!  they look so nice!

  Thank you!


Update:

I finished making the leather cuff for under my gauntlets.







I made the straps and mounted them to the second shin plate



Then I added some of the extra trauma plates to the shins





I got the final layers of paint on the tasset plates and then I strapped them together.  I really love the way they hang and the confusing nature of how the paint all splashes and collides together.  My vod'ika told me it looks like modern art.









My assistant modeling them

[Jennari]

Awwwww. Kitty! 

[Cattriss Wren]

So cute!!!

[Aster Veris]

Tasset plates look sooooo cool! Nice job vod

[Vercopaanir]

Thank you all!

I got home and the humidity and weather were both co-operating for painting.  I went for take two on the backplate.  I love the way it turned out.





I still need to strap it together but I absolutely love it.  It's making me rethink some of my other paint.  Might have a few tweaks to make.

[Second Son]

You are so prolific it's amazing (and a little bit annoying, in a good way!), and your work is on point as usual.

Love the undersea dazzle camouflage on the tassets and the pattern on your backplate is...spot-on. 

That fade at the edges of the central pattern is just beautiful.

[Vercopaanir]

You are so prolific it's amazing (and a little bit annoying, in a good way!), and your work is on point as usual.

Love the undersea dazzle camouflage on the tassets and the pattern on your backplate is...spot-on. 

That fade at the edges of the central pattern is just beautiful.

   I think our senses of humor are very similar.  Thank you.    I hope to inspire but not discourage.  Plus this is currently my only artistic outlet.  (Usually I have others but with the plague and everything...)  Besides your metal kit will be awesome when it's done.  I have spoken. 

Chest plate and shoulders re-imagined.  I am much happier with the results.

 

 

After laying it all out to get the feel for how it looked overall, I felt like something was missing.  So I grabbed my acrylics and mixed colors until I got the match to my tiny can of spray paint and added touches to the tasset plates and shins.

 

Then I just had to try it all on.  Obviously it's taped in place so nothing is quite right, especially my back plate which ended up to low because the top of the vest folded over.



 



Still need gauntlets and a helmet for this build.  I plan to scratch build my helmet out of the hard hat I've had for the past year just sitting around.  And the gauntlets are already cut, just need to be heat formed and hinged.  I plan on leaving them pretty simple for now, but that is subject to change as all things are.

[Second Son]

   I think our senses of humor are very similar.  Thank you.    I hope to inspire but not discourage.  Plus this is currently my only artistic outlet.  (Usually I have others but with the plague and everything...)  Besides your metal kit will be awesome when it's done.  I have spoken. 

Mos def inspiring, not discouraging. Your art motivates me to keep working and up my game.  And seeing as you have spoken, I better get to work.  Still chasing that OM. 

The spot highlights - such a simple add but it hits it right to unify parts and add the depth to the pattern.
I think this kit is going to be one you see years later on peoples inspo boards when they decide the want to go for the life aquatic.

[Aster Veris]

Awesome paint job vod! As I suspected, the new paint design really just ties the whole kit together and makes your armor look like it's all inspired by the same creature!

[Vercopaanir]

Awesome paint job vod! As I suspected, the new paint design really just ties the whole kit together and makes your armor look like it's all inspired by the same creature!

Thanks!  Appreciated bouncing ideas off you.   

Update:  What have I been doing, oh just some stuff.

I attached the backplate to the vest with butterfly pins and magnets.  I switch out the butterfly backs with locking backs to ensure it stays in place.









I attached the tasset plates to the leather backing and put the belt loops on.  I connected them with snaps so that if I need to remove them while in full kit I can just unsnap them.







I added the top attachment for the shoulders.  I'll need to add a second anchor point to help keep them in place as they move far to easily as is.







I added snaps to attach the Kama to the sash, as when I apply for aquatic specialist in brigades a kama is not allowed but I am much more comfortable in one so for now it stays.







I heat formed my gauntlets but my gorrila glue had dried out,  it is over a year old so I guess it time to buy a new bottle so I can attach the hinges to the gauntlets.









I still need to finalize what kinda extra's I'm going to put on them but having base gauntlets is a step in the right direction.

And I got the magnets on for the front plate.  This one is held on entirely by magnets.