activation email

[Kavryn Falco]

--EDIT--

As of 11/9/15, my images have started to disappear. I've attempted to replace them, I may have missed some/some may have disappeared after I went through. Sorry 'bout that

--END EDIT--

Hey folks, my name's Kavryn.  Gonna be starting a Modern mando.  I'm gonna buy the helmet, make the plates myself, and at least make a stab at making the flak vest myself.  Here's where I'm at:

-Have concept Mandomaker, color
-Have Sintra
-Have black duckcloth for vest/kama
-Have boots
-Have trophy rope
-Have cut templates, test-fitted chest templates

-Don't have bucket (Have my heart set on NME Assassin, but alas, it exceeds my budget at the moment)
-Don't have flightsuit (Will be charcoal grey)
-Don't have girth belt or pouches
-Don't have gloves
-Haven't actually cut any plates yet


Concepts:

This is my color concept for now.  Colors may change, because I can't make up my mind at all, although I think the plate arrangement will stay the same.

-Chest armor templates designed by Viradechtis.  They're perfect, exactly what I wanted.  Thanks a ton for sharing them!
-Note the shnees (which will be fully enclosed if I can swing it) and the doubled shoulder armor.  It will also have my ouroboros sigil (aka my avatar) on the left shoulder, on the opposite side from the doubled plates.
-I do plan on having a kama; I just forgot to add it on in MM.  It would come down to just above my knees, and it might be armored if I find a design/pattern I like.
-The gauntlets will be very plain, possibly entirely unadorned; we'll see.  All I know for sure is that they're definitely not going to be super-chunky like Fett's.


Completed Stuff:


I've had these boots for years, and I've mostly stopped wearing them because they're getting worn out. But, hey!  Perfect for Mandos, and I won't have to do much extra weathering.  They may get replaced down the road, but for now they're free and that beats everything else.


My trophy rope.  Because everyone needs one of those before they even start their armor, amirite? 


Templates/Stuff in the works:

Chest armor test fit!  I didn't realize until they were already taped on that white on white is a terrible idea... so yeah, sorry about that.  Despite the terrible quality, can you give me any pointers on fit/spacing?  It looks pretty good to me, but then, I've never done this before.


This is a shnee template that I worked up.  It's hard to see, but the center section is a separate piece that will be raised when it's made out of sintra.  These might get reworked a bit; I dunno.  Also, my vod'ika is modeling it for me, as it's darn near impossible to take a good picture of your own lower leg.  Thanks bro!

Claw-gloves:



I'm super excited about the way these came out.  The gloves they're on are NOT the final gloves; only placeholders until I can find ones I like.  The left hand is the only one with the claws because I really don't want to stab everything I go to touch; also, I like the asymmetricality of it.


I'd like to move on to cutting my plates out of sintra, but I don't want to start that until I hear some opinions on my chestplate's fit and spacing.  If I need to retake those pictures, I can - just let me know.

[Kris Jasra]

Personally, I'd put the collar plate and the extra bit together into one plate and then shift the rest upwards just a little. Bit hard to tell, but the bottom of the ab plate should end around the bellybutton.

On the other hand (pun intended), once you've made that glove, you can always send it to me for uhhhm, safekeeping

[Kavryn Falco]

Hm, I'll cot a new template out and try to get it fitted tonight.  I think it did come a bit past my bellybutton, if I remember correctly - I'll be sure to check that this time.

Very kind of you to offer; I'm sure you would keep it very safe.  Unfortunately, I like to live dangerously 

[Kris Jasra]

Very kind of you to offer; I'm sure you would keep it very safe.  Unfortunately, I like to live dangerously 

Pity. Ah well, can't blame me for trying 

[Kavryn Falco]

Okay, here's the new collar, on a better shirt:



Thoughts?

Also, new concept:



I realized I'd forgotten my bicep plates, so I added those in and moved my sigil to the bicep.  Other than that it's pretty much the same.

[Kris Jasra]

Looking much better. I'd see if you can move the rest of the plates up about another cm, it may mean more cutting and taping of the breast plates, but that last little tweak will have them sitting perfectly.

[Kavryn Falco]

Just taped back up and tried again.  It's an easy enough fix; I won't really need to recut anything.  So!  Off to the basement to trace out all my plates.  Again.  Oya?

[Tlor Fett]

Really digging the claw glove and your trophy necklace.

[Kavryn Falco]

Thanks vod!  I'm a firm believer in the details making or breaking the kit.  Hopefully the sintra gloves turn out as awesome as the paper ones; I'm a bit worried about all the little bitty cuts I have to make.  I may wait to cut it out until the Falcos' armor party next month; I expect they'll have a hair more practice at this than I do 

Also, minor update:


Aaaand unfortunately here we come to a screeching halt.  One of my friends was at my house the other day trying to cut his own plates out with a jigsaw, and he kept cracking the sintra.  I've heard people say that they use a dremel; I know we have one, but my dad says it doesn't have the proper attachments to cut sintra.  So I'm probably going to have to figure out what attachments I need, and how expensive they are, and go shopping.

[Oren-Cathal]

Diamond cutting blades I have found work wonders cutting plastics. Used on the high setting of the dremel.

[Kavryn Falco]

Thanks!  I'll look for one of those, then.  The list grows ever on and on... 

[Oren-Cathal]

I jobmate makes a big accessories pack, 10-20 bucks. Has a whole bunch of goodies in there.

[Niabi]

great concept vod

I personally like the extra collar plate the plate sizes look great and that glove  thats cool

[Kris Jasra]

I've used 6mm sintra for 5 different kits now and I used a penknife/stanley knife for all of them. It does take time which is the downside, I could only do a couple of bits before needing to rest my hand. (Or alternatively, find some friends and get them to cut some - it works wonders ) Using the knife did mean I could cut angles, curves and straight lines (use a ruler and cut alongside it) without having to worry about huge amounts of cracking or the plastic melting.

If you do decide to use a dremel, use a diamond bit, they don't tend to get as hot as metal cutting bits and keep it on a lower speed than you would use for metals and fibreglass.

Don't worry over tiny chips that might happen, once everything is cut, you can make them into 3D battle damage. I use an engraver or a sanding bit depending on what type of damage I'm going for to just lose the distinctive flat edges that sintra has when it chips. I've never had to cover any large cracks before, but I have seen people use another bit of sintra to make the armour look like it's been patched in the middle of battle.

[Kavryn Falco]

great concept vod

I personally like the extra collar plate the plate sizes look great and that glove  thats cool

I kinda liked it too - who knows, maybe I'll just cut them both out   

I've used 6mm sintra for 5 different kits now and I used a penknife/stanley knife for all of them. It does take time which is the downside, I could only do a couple of bits before needing to rest my hand. (Or alternatively, find some friends and get them to cut some - it works wonders ) Using the knife did mean I could cut angles, curves and straight lines (use a ruler and cut alongside it) without having to worry about huge amounts of cracking or the plastic melting.

If you do decide to use a dremel, use a diamond bit, they don't tend to get as hot as metal cutting bits and keep it on a lower speed than you would use for metals and fibreglass.

Don't worry over tiny chips that might happen, once everything is cut, you can make them into 3D battle damage. I use an engraver or a sanding bit depending on what type of damage I'm going for to just lose the distinctive flat edges that sintra has when it chips. I've never had to cover any large cracks before, but I have seen people use another bit of sintra to make the armour look like it's been patched in the middle of battle.

I do have a box cutter... or at least, I had a box cutter.  Between school and general disarray, I've lost both it and my xacto knives... /sad kav

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it 


EDIT:
Yeah, you know how I said progress would be slow?  I lied.

Couldn't help myself, ran to the store and picked up some paints and a new boxcutter


It's all Krylon, but the primer is "Dual Superbond" and the clearcoat is "Fusion."  Do you think it'll be all right?  I have the receipt, so I can always return stuff.  Also I couldn't find the color I wanted for the tan; I picked up "Almond" and I'm gonna try layering it with the black and/or the red... we'll see how it goes.


First plate first plate whoo!  I'm on a roll


Also I have a helper.  Holly-cat wants to be a fearsome mando warrior, too!