activation email

[Talev]

Your glove is amazing! I'm bookmarking this to see where it goes.

And everyone needs a helper cat

[Kavryn Falco]

Thanks vod!

Unfortunately cutting plates out with a boxcutter is murder on the hands, so between that and school load (finals in a month, whoo...) I'm gonna have to take it easy.  There is progress, but nothing picture-worthy yet.  I also have a few ideas for other elements rattling around - but I'm not going to say any specifics 'till I get in a little further with 'em 

I did do a bit of research on gloves, and there really aren't very many good cheap options out there    Here's two I rustled up:

http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Womens-Genuine-Leather-Gloves/dp/B006ZMNYBY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Stitch-Pretty-Screen-Texting/dp/B00FFD4LUM/ref=sr_1_254?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1396838998&sr=1-254&keywords=gloves+leather

The first one is "leather" and I think it looks all right, but I'm worried it'll be baggy - I have leetle hands and the gloves will need to fit well for my fingerplates.  The second one I dunno if it'll be too fabric-y for Mando gloves, but I like having the touchscreen option open.

You guys have any thoughts/suggestions/other options?  I'd prefer to keep them cheap if at all possible; I really don't have $40 to drop on expensive gloves right now 

[Talev]

You could find fingerless gloves and attach the top claw with a loop to your fingers (that's the same technique used with metal plate gloves that don't cover the whole hand)?
Fingerless gloves tend to be a bit tighter and fitt better, you can actually touch things and not be totally helpless when in gloves and you still can keep your claws.

[Kavryn Falco]

Hmm, that's an idea, but I dunno if I like the fingerless look.  I'm gonna hit a few thrift stores, see if I can't rustle anything up.

[Kavryn Falco]

Rise!  Rise from the grave!  Muahaha!

Yes, despite a months-long absence, I have actually made progress!  First order of business: my new gloves.



I lucked out when I found these in a thrift store.  They're real leather, which means they work on a touchscreen - definitely a bonus.  Also, they came lined with rabbit fur; I pulled all that out, and plan to reuse it elsewhere.

I have also made a significant dent into cutting and shaping my plates.  Aside from my cod and gauntlets, I have everything cut out, and I have several pieces formed.



Also I have my hand plates cut out and formed, though I have no idea how I'm going to attach them to my gloves.  I'm thinking bolts, or something of the sort, but I dunno.  Anyone with hand-plate-attaching experience wanna weigh in here?




Will have more progress to show shortly, as soon as I get pics.  Also gotta wait for the weather to clear up before I can start painting!

[Jorad Werde]

I "attached" my hand plates with a bit of elastic that stretches around my palm and holds the plate in place.  Granted I only made plates that cover the back of my hand, not my fingers.  I found that fabric glue DOES NOT hold on sintra at all.  I actually ended up using super glue and it's holding up great as I test and re-test my attachments.  I'm aware of some heat activated glue strips that you can buy at fabric stores; basically put the glue strip between the two pieces you want to attach and then run an iron over it for a minute or so, I don't know how this would work with leather and plastic but it's an idea.

[Werde]

Barges leather adhesive is great, but I am unsure how it would react with plastics.

[Kavryn Falco]

Hm, I hadn't thought of using glues, but it's a great idea.  I'll have to look into those; thanks for the suggestions!

[Niabi]

Love the hand plates

[Kavryn Falco]

Thanks Niabi!


Hokay, time for another update!  I have finally made progress on my softs - ordered this flightsuit in charcoal and it came in today:

http://www.viccouniforms.com/Red-Kap-CT10-Twill-Action-Back-Coveralls.html

I'm 5'5"; I ordered a size 34.  Mostly picked this one because it was the smallest coverall I could find on the internet in the right color!  It seems to fit fairly well in the torso, which is good; arms are too long and both arms and legs are baggy, so they'll both need to be tailored.





I'm planning on removing the back pockets, and I'm going to have a kama that wraps about half/three quarters around the front of my thigh.  I'm not planning on making thigh plates at this point.  So I have two questions:  1) What should I do with the double front pockets, and 2) Can I keep the back instrument pockets as knife sheaths?  'Cause I think that'd be cool, and it'd save me having to sew them on elsewhere.


Some old softs/accessories, some new.  The four little belts are dog collars - gonna chop 'em up and use 'em to attach my shnees.  Shamelessly stole the idea from Vhett Naast   The other belts may or may not be used - most likely will be underbelts to hang my kama/cod off of.  Speaking of which, I still need to design/cut out/form my cod


Inflate-a-mando!  'cept for my cod and my gaunts, all of my plates are cut.  Most are formed how I want them, but I'm still fighting with my chestplates.  Once I get them symmetrical, I'll post a sizing/placement pic.



Closeups of chest/top half armor.  Can't really see the lopsidedness, but trust me, it's there.




Shnees!  Happy with how these turned out.  Gotta figure out how to mount the leather straps to 'em, though.  Don't wanna punch screws through the top - maybe I'll glue them to the underside?  In any case, they still need bondo work in the seams.  Lots of bondo work.  Sigh.


Gotta do:

Softs:
Flak Vest - Order from Sidi Ren (when she opens back up again  )
Flightsuit - tailor
Girth - make
Belts - get
Kama - design/sew

Hards:
Cod - Design/Cut/Form
Chestplates - Reform/glue/bondo
Shnees - Finish bondo, figger out leather strap attachment
Gauntlets - get the ball rolling

Things ready to paint: (gotta wait for less humid weather, blah)
Hands
Biceps
Shoulders
Boots
Collar/Belly/Diamond (wait 'till chests are done?)

Totally not a comprehensive list.  Will add and remove as I get things done/get closer to getting them done/think about getting them done...

Have I mentioned yet that this is a long-term project? 

[Kris Jasra]

While the bagginess may need to be taken in, the extra length could be useful. I've stirruped my flightsuit legs to keep them in my boots. Not got around to it yet, but I'm planning to use my still slightly too long sleeves to put thumb holes in, to stop the flightsuit sleeves from working themselves free of my gloves.

Your kama will likely cover most of the front pockets, but they aren't zip closed so they should be fine left as they are. Using the back ones for knife sheaths sounds like a sensible idea to me and I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

[Kavryn Falco]

Didn't mention it earlier (probably should have  ) but I do plan on stirruping the pant legs - they'd pull out of my boots if I didn't.  Hadn't thought about doing it for the sleeves, though.  I might have to give it a try - and if it doesn't work, I can always just chop it off and hem it like I was going to 

Okay, good to know.  I was thinking flightsuit pockets had to be removed, but maybe I was remembering wrong?  I unno.  The less I have to modify this thing, the better.

[Kris Jasra]

As far as I can remember, it's only zipped pockets that need to go. Anything else I believe is fine - since Boba had pockets on his it seems silly to have to remove them all. Most people just get rid of them because they sit under armour and can be uncomfortable.

[Kavryn Falco]

Ahh, okay.  Thanks for clearing that up for me!

[Canderous Falco]

Yeah, zipper pockets were the big issue; a real annoyance for me, because I was using a black flight suit that I had in the Army, and those stupid things have zippers EVERYWHERE.... so I've scratched that idea, and am going more the route that you are with civilian coveralls.

This looks SUPER cool... Can't wait to see it painted and slapped together! Keep up the good work!