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Poll

What colour(s) should I do my cape and girth belt?

Green cape
1 (12.5%)
Green girth belt
2 (25%)
Cape and girth green
5 (62.5%)

Total Members Voted: 8

 Reaper's WIP

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imm0rtal reaper


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Reaper's WIP
« on: Apr 03, 2014, 11:39 AM »
Hey guys,

I've had a thread up in planning for a while, but as my kit is well out of the planning stage, I thought it best to get a thread started here to put all my proper updates.

My armour is made from an old wheelie bin that I took to with a jigsaw. The plastic is thick and touch, which has made it a little difficult to shape, but helps give the look of solid armour.

I'm currently ploughing away almost every day so updates *should* come thick and fast.

Here are a few shots of my planned colour scheme:





I'm going to keep this progress list updated as I go:

Helmet - Visor cut, vents cut, sanded. TO DO: Paint
Armour Plates - Cut, sanded and shaped (minus back plate). TO DO: Verify shaping, paint.
Gauntlets - Base bought. TO DO: Cut, shape, add greeblies, paint.
Vest - Bought. TO DO: Receive, weather and attach plates
Boots - TO DO: Buy, add armour
Gloves - Bought. TO DO: Weather
Flightsuit - Bought and turned up. TO DO: Possibly tailor (waiting on vest and finished plates)
Cape - NOT STARTED
Girth Belt - NOT STARTED
Weapon - E-11 Blaste. TO DO- Fill screw holes, sand, paint, weather.


Here's a couple of shots of today's progress






I spent most of today sanding the helmet and plates, and then got a coat of primer down on the plates and re-sanded them. I need to round off the edges on a couple of the plates and make sure that they're all formed properly, and then they'll be ready for paint. The helmet is ready for primer now.

So yeah, comments, ideas, criticism, suggestions are all welcome!
                                     

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stinkylinkz


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #1 on: Apr 03, 2014, 01:18 PM »
Girth Belt - NOT STARTED

There is a clothes line tutorial for the girth belt around here that is really good in my opinion. I bet it would do wonders for you! I like the colors so far. Ready to see some updates as it comes closer to completion.

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #2 on: Apr 03, 2014, 01:21 PM »
Girth Belt - NOT STARTED

There is a clothes line tutorial for the girth belt around here that is really good in my opinion. I bet it would do wonders for you! I like the colors so far. Ready to see some updates as it comes closer to completion.

My current plan (though it is open to change, as all plans are) is to use some of the spare duck loth canvas I have from a failed vest attempt for both the girth and the cape, providing there's enough material. I'm thinking of doing both the belt and cape in a grey, but haven't decided yet.

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stinkylinkz


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #3 on: Apr 03, 2014, 01:33 PM »
My current plan (though it is open to change, as all plans are) is to use some of the spare duck loth canvas I have from a failed vest attempt for both the girth and the cape, providing there's enough material. I'm thinking of doing both the belt and cape in a grey, but haven't decided yet.

A good plan. I'm not sure if the canvas will have much 'stretch' to it though. I'd suggest some sort of Velcro attachment so that you have some give when wearing it. Still a great idea though.

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Niabi


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #4 on: Apr 04, 2014, 03:23 PM »
Looks like a good start vod ;) what do the plates look like taped to you ?

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VABS : M.A. #006  24er :  Beskar'gam

Remo Jadd - Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la
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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #5 on: Apr 04, 2014, 03:46 PM »
Looks like a good start vod ;) what do the plates look like taped to you ?

Here are the pictures from my old thread:



Couldn't get them to sit with the tape, so a little photoshop:



The plates have been formed more since then.

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #6 on: Apr 04, 2014, 04:49 PM »
Right, update time!

I finished sanding and rounding the edges of my plates today, so they are ready for painting.

I also worked on my RF. I've opted to use magnets to attach it.

I started by drilling a hole in the stalk and installing a magnet:



Then I drilled into the helmet and popped a magnet in:



I'll be using magnets to attach the earcap also. I started by drilling guide holes in the ear:



Then I used a sanding bit to bore into the helmet (not going all the way through, so the magnet could sit in easier)



I made sure the holes were deep enough so when the earpiece is on, it won't sit away from the ear.

I'll grab some pictures of it all together tomorrow once all the glue has dried.

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #7 on: Apr 05, 2014, 10:11 AM »
Time for another update!

Today has been very productive; I got my plates primed:



And then basecoated:



I just managed to finished before the rains began, which was lucky. I'm going to wait until later this evening and start working on the toothpaste masking for weathering. I'll get some pictures when the process begins.

I've also dug out my duck cloth canvas to turn it into a girth and cape. I'm waiting on my vest to arrive so I know how wide the belt needs to be before I do any more with it though.

I'm hoping to have painting of 80% of the plates finished by tomorrow/monday. The rest of this coming week will be spent turning a pair of toilet brush holders into serviceable gauntlets. Gauntlet Version 1.0 won't have any tech, but some extra plates attached to make them look interesting. I will also buy what's left to pick up this week (including dye, boots and other misc bits). Wales Comicon is on in Wrexham in 22 days. I'm not going to "rush" to get the kit done by then, but I am going to work against that deadline.

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #8 on: Apr 05, 2014, 11:53 AM »

updates *should* come thick and fast.

I wasn't lying :P

I've started the layered weathering test on one of the knees. I masked sections using toothpaste and then painted around them using a green. I will then mask over parts of that green before spraying the plate red.








EDIT:


Finished the first test piece. There's a few different weathering methods here. Including:

Toothpaste masking
Sanding with various grits
Sponging silver
Blackwash



I'm going to break my feelings down in to likes and dislikes:


LIKES:

- The vibrancy of the red. I'm really pleased with this shade of red.
- The effect of the sanding and sponging.
- The effect of the the toothpaste masking
- The line highlighting around the masked areas.

DISLIKES:

- The amount of toothpaste masking. It's WAY too much for a piece this size.
- The line highlighting of the red. It's a touch too bright. I think if I mix some red into the orange it should be fine.
- Where I'd brushed silver inside the masked area. It's made it streaky. I should have just left it.


Overall, I'm really pleased. I think the combination of masking, sanding and sponging makes a surface that is otherwise very bland, interesting to look at. I know that I've gone overboard on the masked areas, and will dial that back significantly on the rest if the armour, with only a few areas on each plate.

Here's a really quick and rough photoshop with less masked areas:



I think we can all agree that it looks much better.

I'd still love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on the weathering though. Every comment helps!

« Last Edit: Apr 05, 2014, 05:09 PM by imm0rtal reaper » Logged

Ronin Tavic


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #9 on: Apr 05, 2014, 07:47 PM »
i dont think it a matter of too much damage, its just too uniform. all the blotches look about the same size and style. good weathering is very rarely uniform. even claw scratch marks aren't the same length and size always, do to the angle of the scratch and the recipient.. I think adding more lines and smaller blotches would help significantly.

like my greave here: knees got scratches from kneeling or getting knocked down, couple of blaster ricochets, and the edges worn from "years of wear and tear." the concept art is crazy awesome though.. lets see if we cant get your kit looking even better..  ;)

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Niabi


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #10 on: Apr 06, 2014, 05:33 AM »
its looking a bit splotchy  :rolleyes: the photoshop dose look better ;)

Ronin gives some great advise ;)

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VABS : M.A. #006  24er :  Beskar'gam

Remo Jadd - Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la
Quote from: Ruusaan Ordo
I felt a great disturbance in the Force... As if millions of voices cried out and they were all Niabi

imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #11 on: Apr 06, 2014, 12:53 PM »
Thanks Ronin, that was really helpful!

I've started masking off the second knee and already I'm thinking it looks worlds better!



A much more subdued effect.

What do you guys think?

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Ronin Tavic


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #12 on: Apr 07, 2014, 12:22 AM »
that looks more natural. much better than the first.... but its too clean!!! more dirt more scratches more.... srry got carried away.. You might have noticed i like to weather stuff... carry on  :laugh: :laugh:

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Pre-App pics and upgrade thread: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=63828.15
"I only take 2 things seriously: the lives of my vode, and the deaths of my enemies"
Ni redalu o'r vhetin be'kyram.
"I dance in death's valley"
"we're not mercenary's, more like adventure capitalists"

imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #13 on: Apr 07, 2014, 12:35 PM »
that looks more natural. much better than the first.... but its too clean!!! more dirt more scratches more.... srry got carried away.. You might have noticed i like to weather stuff... carry on  :laugh: :laugh:

Don't worry, once the red is applied, I'll be hitting it with different sandpapers, files, sponging and black-washing.

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #14 on: Apr 07, 2014, 07:05 PM »
Second stage weathering is done on my other knee test:





Next will be some sponging of silver on the edges followed by a blackwash.

What do you think?

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Ronin Tavic


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #15 on: Apr 07, 2014, 08:51 PM »
much better :) thats looking pretty great vod. rather than brush silver, you could take some 150 or higher grit sand paper to the edges, thats how i like to do it :)

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Pre-App pics and upgrade thread: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=63828.15
"I only take 2 things seriously: the lives of my vode, and the deaths of my enemies"
Ni redalu o'r vhetin be'kyram.
"I dance in death's valley"
"we're not mercenary's, more like adventure capitalists"

stinkylinkz


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #16 on: Apr 08, 2014, 06:36 AM »
Sanding back the edges should work and will probably look better since it won't be on top of the paint, but below it. It does look good. Keep it up!

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #17 on: Apr 08, 2014, 12:00 PM »
I've already taken several grades of sandpaper to it. The sponging is to give the effect of much more recent damage (because it is a brighter silver)




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Thaxos


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #18 on: Apr 08, 2014, 06:24 PM »
Weathering is looking a lot more realistic. Nicely done!

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imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #19 on: Apr 13, 2014, 12:55 PM »
Update time!

I didn't get a whole lot done this week due to weather and work. I've weathered one of the shoulders and chest pieces though:





I'm waiting on some white paint to do the rest so I can do the accents. I'm thinking of doing a white band (similar to the concept work) but only down the left side of the armour to give it some asymmetry.

I've also been thinking about my girth belt and cape, which up until now have been planned as being Grey, but I'm wondering whether people think they would look better in another colour? Olive green perhaps?

« Last Edit: Apr 13, 2014, 01:02 PM by imm0rtal reaper » Logged

Ronin Tavic


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #20 on: Apr 13, 2014, 11:06 PM »
i think doing either the belt or cape in olive wouldnt look bad. but not both. those plates look sharp vod. well done :)

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Pre-App pics and upgrade thread: http://mandalorianmercs.org/forum/index.php?topic=63828.15
"I only take 2 things seriously: the lives of my vode, and the deaths of my enemies"
Ni redalu o'r vhetin be'kyram.
"I dance in death's valley"
"we're not mercenary's, more like adventure capitalists"

imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #21 on: Apr 14, 2014, 07:29 AM »
I *think* I agree with you, that one or the other. But I can't decide which. I've stuck a poll so feel free to help me decide, people.

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Niabi


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #22 on: Apr 14, 2014, 03:38 PM »
Great looking weathering vod ;)

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VABS : M.A. #006  24er :  Beskar'gam

Remo Jadd - Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la
Quote from: Ruusaan Ordo
I felt a great disturbance in the Force... As if millions of voices cried out and they were all Niabi

imm0rtal reaper


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #23 on: Apr 16, 2014, 10:07 AM »
Update time!

Started real work on my gaunts today. I started by cutting out a section of the toilet brush holders to make bending my arms easier. Then i began the hunt for greeblies to attach. I found an old phone that had this really nice slider on it:





The buttons aren't embossed so will be covered by paint. The doohicky to the right is part of the speaker for the phone, but it's basic shape made me thing of the emitter of a holo device. I will be taking the magnet from it becuase it has a nice design to it and housing it in a new box that will be attached to the keypad.

After that, I started working on templates for some extra plates for the gaunts to make them a little more interesting:





I plan on adding smaller versions of the chest diamond into the gaps between the plates too.

Let me know what you think.

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FreemanBanana


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Re: Reaper's WIP
« Reply #24 on: Apr 16, 2014, 10:47 AM »

I plan on adding smaller versions of the chest diamond into the gaps between the plates too.

Let me know what you think.

Love the idea. I think the little bits that add depth are the best part. The more do-hicky-thing-a-mabobs you got, the better. I'm taking the same approach to my gauntlets. Hopefully the layering pans out well and gives it a good look. Also adds depth to the weathering since you get grime stuck in the recessed area.

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