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[Vez Nau'ur]

Hi guys,

I apologize in advance if these questions have been answered before!

So I’ve been going through the forums but not all my answers are answered. So I’m working on planning my first armor (Modern era armor), and here is what I have understood up to now.

1. Research (Materials, soft parts, etc)
2. Sketch/design colour scheme (Online tool for colour scheme can help)
3. Gather materials (Flight suit, sintra, vest, etc)
4. Print out Jango armor template  and cut it out
5. Stick armor template on shirt, take picture and get feedback from community
6. Once template is approved, cut out pieces and mold them to fit your body. ( How to do this, molds?)
7. Attach molded parts to vest (Velcro?)
8. Repeat step 5,6 and 7 for gauntlets, pants and boots.
9. Paint
10. Weathering
11. Finish with Bucket (seems to be the most complex part)
12. Build weaponry
13. ?
14. Verify that modern era approval guidelines and make adjustments if necessary
15. Apply for Mando Merc approval!

Feel free to either tell me to continue searching the forums or link me parts of the forums!

Where I am very confused, is in step 6. How do I figure out what is the correct shape of the pieces? I saw someone on youtube use a plexiglass mold where he would heat up the sintra and just press the mold on it until the sintra cooled down. How do I go about making these molds, or is it just a fancy/advanced method for giving the shape to the sintra?

I also decided to go with sintra since it seems a lot of you recommended it to others, but what about the thickness? I got the impression that 3mm is fine and dandy.

Besides my confusion on point 6, am I on the right path? Sorry if this sounds redundant, as an engineer, I tend to really make sure my planning is good before starting anything

Thanks!

[Vardamir]

a lot of people make a mold of their torso using duct tape then stuff it with rags, then they use the duct tape body to shape the plates, there is a tutorial on here somewhere instructing you how to do this but i cant find it at the mo, good luck with your build vod, it looks like you have done loadsa research, thats the best start you coulda made, and you can always ask questions

[Vez Nau'ur]

These are some great answers! Thanks a lot guys! Once I'm done with my planning and Gantt chart, I'll make a WIP thread and start updating it.

Much appreciated!

[Echo Darklighter]

Another popular material is metal, though it is significantly harder to work with. You'd have to ask someone who has made a metal kit how to form it, though from my understanding there is a lot of banging on it with a hammer.

This.  Lots of this.  Not to mention throwing it in a table vise and leaning on it.  It's hardy work, but worth it for appearance and strength.

[Vez Nau'ur]

This.  Lots of this.  Not to mention throwing it in a table vise and leaning on it.  It's hardy work, but worth it for appearance and strength.

I'll keep that in mind, but probably not for my first build. Once I'm more comfortable with the process I'll look into it, any specific material you would recommend for metal? I'm guessing aluminium or steel (For future reference for me).

[Niabi]

That looks like a great Plan vod looks to me like everything is there

Niabi top tip

I would combine 9 and 10

so when painting do your weathering

[Vez Nau'ur]

I was thinking the same actually! Building up my Gantt chart and design document so I'll clarify those steps in that.

I actually have an additional question, regarding the bucket. What would be a good method for making one for a first build? I don't see myself doing a fiberglass cast due to the lack of skillset and space (I live in a small apartment on the third floor).

Thanks in advance

[Niabi]

Well if you wont to scratch build then card is a good base but you have to fibreglass it to be used on your kit.

a scratch build can end up being the same price as a pre made one (I recommend a Saz bucket)

[Vez Nau'ur]

Great to know! I think for my first build I'll go the simple way and ask Saz (I do want to show off the my beskar by next years Comic Con) , but for future builds I'll try to develop the skillset required

[Niabi]

Its not as hard as it looks BUT it can go wrong very badly very quickly  (i speak from experience)   

[Echo Darklighter]

I'll keep that in mind, but probably not for my first build. Once I'm more comfortable with the process I'll look into it, any specific material you would recommend for metal? I'm guessing aluminium or steel (For future reference for me).

My first kit was made from sintra, and it looked great.  My current project, however, is out of steel (16 ga for torso, back, and shoulders, 22 ga knees, 24 ga shins), and I find it relatively easy to work, mainly because it's more or less what I do for a living.  It can, as previously stated, go really wrong, really fast, so practice a bit first.

[Tact Kor]

Oya vod, any update of your kit? We are all waiting 

Let me know if you need anything.

[Vez Nau'ur]

Saturday I'll post an update, it's when I'll be working on it! School has kept me busy lately

[Vez Nau'ur]

Hey guys!

So I know I was supposed to work on this on Saturday but I was overwhelmed with school work and I just got a brand new guitar.... it was mostly the guitars fault.

Anyways! Worked a bit on my bucket, but I didn't take any pictures of that. I will once I attach the ear pieces and prime it.

However I did put a coat of primer on my pieces that are cut. Tact told me I would spot any mistakes on the armour once I prime it and I think I see what he means, but I'm still new so I might have missed some subtleties. The mistakes that are really evident is on the back plate, on both shoulders and in the middle of the neck section, i.e. the places where I had to glue together after bending the armour. So I'll go ahead and continue with some sanding.

So here's the photobucket album, I took quite a lot of pictures which mostly are for documentation on my end but if anyone spots anything I'm all ears!

Photobucket: http://s835.photobucket.com/user/calvinference/library/Primer%201st%20drop

Oh and if you spot what looks like a finger smudge, I'm fully aware of those

[Niabi]

Lots of Vode (me included) wont click non Mercs Links This will help   http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=560.0