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[Bansidhe]

HI there! I'm Erika (until I figure  a Mando name) and I'm currently working on a Late Crusader build.  I have this posted in my clan's area but it has been suggested since I have so many questions that I cross post it here as well.  I'll start out with what confuses me the most:


"Acceptable armor material:
Sintra, Kydex, PVC, ABS, Styrene, Fiberglass, Metal, Fiberglassed/resined paper board, Leather"

It doesn't list what areas, what specific parts, just the materials.  Ok now I'm going to cut and paste my origional posts and questions here and maybe I can better understand what I can and cannot do. We have an armor party tomorrow night, with a Comic Con rumored to be coming soon, and I'm so excited to dig right in!  I've got sintra and leather and will travel!   (Ps I'm also planing on working on a Sabine and a Tes Vevec so I'll be around a lot! )


Ok.. just when you thought I was geeky enough.....
Here it goes. Yes.. Erika is a gamer.. as well. I plan on making 3 kits so far. Sabine, Tes Vevec, but first I'd like to make a custom.  I figure it's going to take a while to get Tes approved (if I even can.. it's going to be hard with the limited amount of reference pics but the girl who first did Sabine did it with two pics so hey.. challenge accepted!) and I'm waiting for Krayt member to make Sabine (they are also making Sabine so pooling resources etc).. soooo in the interest of becoming an OM (I'm not patient) and having some fun, I'm doing a custom first to get approved Since I'm a hopeless gamer, I thought I may as well live vicariously through my mandalorian cyborg combat medic I play in STWOR, and attempt to create a late crusader kit based somewhat on her   I realize that parts of her are not functional and stick too way out to be practical, but hey, she's a combat medic and I'd like to try for brigade eventually as well. So (I know I know.. I can feel the shaking of heads from here lol), here are my reference pics and ideas.    If I'm going to be custom, may as well be the ME everyone knows in cyberland lol.

This is actually not my character.. but it is a male character with the helm that matches my character's armor (my character is wearing a helm I created.. that is actually an earpiece.. you cannot see).  Now.. I know the fin on the top of this helm is way too high (and resembles a sleestack from Land of the Lost) but I like the rest of the helm, and after OM I'd put a red Krayt logo on half of the face of the helm.  I am not sure if this helm requires a tube for breathing... a lot of the reference pics in the Late Crusader era area had them.  I would add one if need be.



Here is one a bit closer up



Ok here are various pictures of my Character.  First off, I know her shoulders stick too far out. That I would fix and bring in farther. The pack on her back is actually medicine she uses to treat others as she is a combat medic.  it goes into a stimpack gun on her left hip.  The hoses on her stick way too far out, so I'd have to bring them in and perhaps clamp them to my armor better, but they are needed to go from the backpack/medpack to the stimpack/gun.  She'd be only wearing one weapon on her right side, a late crusader blaster.  She'd also have various healing things, bacta, bandages etc on her belt and in other compartments of her backpack.  Her armor on her feet, arms, knees, shins, thighs etc is a lot like Shae Vizla, also in game.  She wears a form fitting flight suite that has more than one color to it and has a stripe down the side.  I'd of course fix the neck so that it is covered It looks like from the side that the sides of the chest piece are connected with leather straps, as well as her gauntlets (which i would make longer) are connected with leather straps and bolts.  She is not wearing a vest. 




















Now I know her chest sticks out too far so I'd probably actually cut it more like the reference pics: 



But I would do what Morut Naast (Seth) was saying on his facebook page and do a combination of layering and impressions to still give it the "crab shell" look ( I REALLY like that look of the armor). 

Also in the Late Crusader reference pics... I am not sure what comic this is.. but I bet this guy is a medic: 




I'd like to also keep the "crab" like texture on the gauntlets (that will fit my entire forearm) and left shoulder. I'd also like to keep a spot clear on that shoulder for a possible brigade logo in the future if I can be considered as medic and on my backpack/medpack as well. And the Krayt logo on my helm in the future,  the same color as my chest. 

Anyway, those are my ideas so far.  I'd probably use steel tubing.  Oh and I'd like to keep the bone like trophy art on my right shoulder (There is a plate like shoulder piece under it). Not sure if I should use real bone, or something synthetic that looks like it. Not sure what is correct for the era...or for a combat medic.  I really like the look. It would not stick out as far, neither would the other shoulder and the other shoulder would be more rounded, and not have that funny piece that sticks out. 

Oh and I got gunmetal colored vinyl paint..to paint my white sintra (I didn't know any better!)  so that should look really cool under for weathering etc...

So any suggestions?  Should I give up now?  Have I scared everyone with my overpowering geekyness?   

And no I don't know what those things are hanging on her butt, but i'd probably just put an armor piece there instead...

Erika

[Bansidhe]

My next question is, after having a fun time at Tandy leather, and after reading the CRL's about leather was:

I would like to use very thick leather instead of sintra for the red armor parts in the reference pics
  I fell in love with some stuff the guy at Tandy was showing me last night.  Some ref pics look metal...some look leather and metal.....  leather is listed as an in period armor material but I am confused as to what parts it can be used on.  I am talking extremely thick 5mm to 6mm hard leather.  Tooled, colored, antiqued, aged, and battle damaged...just on parts of the chest, one shoulder, gauntlet, and thighs.  The silver shoulder, boots, shins, pack etc are sintra.  Any thoughts?

[Zophar Ptay]

Hi Erika!    Fellow Late Crusader here, I'll try to get the answers I can and leave the rest for those who know more!

Tes Vevec

awesome!  can't wait!

resembles a sleestack from Land of the Lost)

awesome refrence.   you're in, as far as I'm concerned!

I am not sure if this helm requires a tube for breathing... a lot of the reference pics in the Late Crusader era area had them.  I would add one if need be.

For a Late Crusader they are "highly encouraged".    Mine doesn't, but I often get asked why not.  You may want to consider it, if only for your own sanity.   I'm working on a second helmet which will have some.

First off, I know her shoulders stick too far out. That I would fix and bring in farther. The pack on her back is actually medicine she uses to treat others as she is a combat medic.  it goes into a stimpack gun on her left hip.  The hoses on her stick way too far out, so I'd have to bring them in and perhaps clamp them to my armor better, but they are needed to go from the backpack/medpack to the stimpack/gun.  She'd be only wearing one weapon on her right side, a late crusader blaster.  She'd also have various healing things, bacta, bandages etc on her belt and in other compartments of her backpack.  Her armor on her feet, arms, knees, shins, thighs etc is a lot like Shae Vizla, also in game.  She wears a form fitting flight suite that has more than one color to it and has a stripe down the side.  I'd of course fix the neck so that it is covered It looks like from the side that the sides of the chest piece are connected with leather straps, as well as her gauntlets (which i would make longer) are connected with leather straps and bolts.  She is not wearing a vest. 

It sounds like you are on the right track.  Bring all the armour in so it is against the body.  Depth is allowed, but you don't want gaps between the plate and your body.   Formfitting flight suit is desirable, and it can be multi-colored as long as it has the appearance of being all one piece.  Some wear two pieces, tuck the shirt in and hide the pants/shirt seam under belts, which works.  Vests are not required for LC era.

Also in the Late Crusader reference pics... I am not sure what comic this is.. but I bet this guy is a medic: 

Those are pictures of Rohlan Dyre from the Knights of the Old Republic comics.  If you want a Late Crusader Mandalorian, they are great reading.   [[anyone else posting to this point please respect the no spoilers]]

I'd like to also keep the "crab" like texture on the gauntlets (that will fit my entire forearm) and left shoulder.

you lost me there, sorry.    One thing I will point out which caught me on my build is that LC gauntlets are required to cover 75% of the circumfrence of your forearm.    So strapping plates onto the top of your arm won't fly [which is what I tried].  You should consider clamshell or look at mine for an idea of what does work.

Oh and I'd like to keep the bone like trophy art on my right shoulder (There is a plate like shoulder piece under it). Not sure if I should use real bone, or something synthetic that looks like it. Not sure what is correct for the era...or for a combat medic.  I really like the look.

Either would work.   We have one member who sells real bone and a couple who sell resin-cast bone look-alike.  Depends on your taste and, possibly, your budget.   I don't know what either one charges, I've just seen them around.

Should I give up now?

absolutely not!   carry on!

Have I scared everyone with my overpowering geekyness?   

nah, everyone's first post is LOOOONG with rambling ideas.  ... you should see mine... LOL  at least you had pictures, I tried to WRITE what I had in mind.  LOL

And no I don't know what those things are hanging on her butt, but i'd probably just put an armor piece there instead...

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I can't see her butt too well.  Got a better picture?   [[ohmai]]  The look like perhaps gear loops?   belts hanging loose so that things with carabiners can be clipped on and handy along the lines of the gear clips on a [url-=http://www.rei.com/media/xx/d12e79ea-72e1-42b9-b7d8-fd314c8afcf6.jpg]climbing harness[/url]??   not sure.

I would like to use very thick leather instead of sintra for the red armor parts in the reference pics

I may be corrected here, but I am 99% certain that only Early Crusaders can use leather in lieu of armour plates.

Some ref pics look metal...some look leather and metal..... 

This is a tricky one.   Rohlan, for example, has red plated over red leather over blue flight suit.   It is also considered appropriate to have cloth covering "metal" for his shoulders as some artists drew him with shoulders that looked tattered, but I think that has been decreed an exception to the rule, as with Mara Jade's otherwise illegal leg armour.  That is a question for your clan Ruus'alor and/or the app team to decide.

leather is listed as an in period armor material but I am confused as to what parts it can be used on.

leather is preferred to nylon for strapping in this era, which may be what that refers to

Tooled, colored, antiqued, aged, and battle damaged...just on parts of the chest, one shoulder, gauntlet, and thighs.

but from that description, I hope I am wrong.   sounds great.




Hope I've helped some.   Surf around the Late Crusader WIPs and have a look at what others have done.  Looking forward to having you join our ranks.

[Bansidhe]

My very next question ... I don't want to make a crusader era like in the red pic cod piece.. because uhmmm.. I don't have.. for the sake of being polite.. a "Mr. Winky". Nope. I"m a female.. so ...



In this reference picture there is a different type of cod piece. It doesn't look so.. manly.

I'd rather make one of them. I'd also like to know if i could make it out of thick leather.. as well as the above ab piece above it..

[Zophar Ptay]

Soft armour like in that picture is allowed for the cod, or you can go with a loin cloth.  If you go with padded like the picture, you'll have to make sure it looks like padded armour though, and not just a patch sewn over the suit.   I have a a loin cloth on my kit and I am playing around with ways to add soft armour like that one to mine under the cloth but can't find a way that I like that looks right yet.   If you have ideas, I very much look forward to seeing how you do it.   I find that quilt batting just doesn't give it enough puff to look like anything other than.. an embroidered groin patch which of course makes me laugh every time I see it now. "Does it come in paisley?"

[Bansidhe]

I wonder like thick leather.. 5-7 mm.. and then tooled.. to be striped like that?
 and colored and antiqued of course....

[Zophar Ptay]

sounds brilliant to me.   I am working on adding some soft elbows and groin to my kit in addition to the required parts it has.   That could be a way to go.   I'm currently playing with carving the pads out of foam and wrapping them in duckcloth canvas so they have the build of the foam but don't LOOK foam.  we'll see how that comes out.   I would say that as long as you do a decent job, leather should be alright for the cod replacement

[Ru'Der Marekar]

My wife and I are both late crusaders and love the freedom of designs and colors in the LCE. If you are looking for more reference pictures, there are several Knights of the Old Republic comics here: http://nukecd.com/cayce/mandcomix/

Zophar did a great job in answering your questions so I won't bore you by doubling up on his comments.
I do want to say that my wife's late crusader kit has leather shoulders and is approved. So using leather for armor material is good to go so long as it looks like armor (i.e no squishy/floppy armor plates).

I recommend looking through the WIP's of the completed LCE's to see what we did. If you want to see what my wife and I did, my WIP is in my signature below and my wife's WIP is HERE. Zophar's WIP is in also in his signature.

[Zophar Ptay]

I do want to say that my wife's late crusader kit has leather shoulders and is approved. So using leather for armor material is good to go so long as it looks like armor (i.e no squishy/floppy armor plates).

Really good to know, thanks!

[Ru'Der Marekar]

Really good to know, thanks!

Anytime!