Matty's ESB Display Build Thread

Matty Matt

Active Hunter
Instead of making multiple threads I figured I'd just put everything I'm doing in this one. I think I've made enough progress to start posting some pics, so here we go!

The bucket is a fiberglass mystery helmet I bought back in....2005 I believe. Needless to say I put a ton of work into it before it was even ready to paint, including completely reshaping the horrible rangefinder ear cap. That thing was like a half inch thick. I remember I even had to fix the rounded cheek corners! This is the first thing I painted and what started me on this crazy path. I got the stalk from BKBT a long time ago.

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The flightsuit is an older Bobamaker and the vest is an older style Cucblack. Can you tell I've been piecing this together for a while? In fact, most items are used because I'm trying to do this on a budget.

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An excellent set of IOA armor right out of the box.

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Studs made from computer keys. I've put threaded inserts in them and sanded down the scalloped tops so they're flat. I think they'll work for now.

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A Batninja ammo belt. I got this secondhand and this is how it arrived...several of the pouches were coming apart.

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A little glue and some paint on those shiny snaps. An awesome belt.

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Many more updates to come. This will be a wearable costume but I'm really only making it as a display. The mannequin is also scratchbuilt to my size/build. I can post more info on that is anyone is interested.
 
I think your helmet looks great and I love the computer keys. That's brilliant!

Thanks! I'm really happy with how the helmet turned out. I painted it when ESB reference was a lot slimmer but I'm still happy with it. I wish I could take the credit for the keys but I'm just following in other's footsteps. Thanks again.
 
Chibi Fett said it all that pack is awesome Bro! I have learned to look at things for parts in a different way thanks to this site and the people on it.Nice work so far , the bucket is impressive as well .
 
May I ask how you scratch build your jet pack. I'm also on a budget and time limit...trying to get done before I head to Florida in a month :D
All i got is a FP helmet and WoF trash can armor :/
 
Outstanding so far Matt. Looks like you're off to a running start and you're doing this on a budget?? I wouldn't have thought so if you hadn't mentioned it otherwise...really good work bro! (y)
 
Outstanding so far Matt. Looks like you're off to a running start and you're doing this on a budget?? I wouldn't have thought so if you hadn't mentioned it otherwise...really good work bro! (y)

Thanks a lot. Having a nice set of armor is a big help. (y)
And yeah, I'm on a serious budget. It's just now that things are starting to come together.
The armor was a huge purchase for me, but that took care of a lot of things I needed.
 
Scored some Bobamaker pouches from a member here for $20. Someone had reversed one of the flaps for some reason...so I immediately cut it up and flipped it back around. You can still kind of see where the velcro was, but I think I can hide that with some more weathering.

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Thank you everyone for the compliments. It's always nice to get good feedback. I got a little work done on some of the armor. Cut out the display slots, sanded, primed. I thought long and hard about the different methods to attach it and finally settled on rare earth magnets for the ease. Plus it's really just for display, so I don't have to worry about them shifting or falling off, not that they would because the magnets are strong as hell.

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What do you guys think? Look ok? The good thing about the magnets is that I can play around with the spacing and positioning of the pieces. I know the flak vest looks kind of lumpy and weird but I'll fix that later.
 
So far so good mate! I went with the magnet method too and I think it works great (plus it's a very forgiving method of attachment). I think you got alignment of the breastplate spot on!

One thing that is bugging me a bit is the helmets' yellow ear. That yellow just doesn't jive with me. I think it requires some weathering with that creamy sort of color that people use for that layer of corrosion in the shoulder pads. It will tone that yellow down and also make it look like it's faded with age.

Other than that though, the helmet looks great! Can't wait to see more.
 
So far so good mate! I went with the magnet method too and I think it works great (plus it's a very forgiving method of attachment). I think you got alignment of the breastplate spot on!

One thing that is bugging me a bit is the helmets' yellow ear. That yellow just doesn't jive with me. I think it requires some weathering with that creamy sort of color that people use for that layer of corrosion in the shoulder pads. It will tone that yellow down and also make it look like it's faded with age.

Other than that though, the helmet looks great! Can't wait to see more.

The ear color is Floquil Earth, but it looks real yellow in my basement. The lighting is terrible down there. I was going to add some brownish weathering to it anyway, so that may help. I agree with what you're saying. Thanks for the comments!
 
Whats the ''mystery helmet''?..and where can i get one?

A "mystery helmet" is a particular mold of a helmet who's history of how it came to be was previously unknown. If my Fett knowledge is right, it is a recast of a "lava" cast (another type of helmet) that was a recast of the original Pre-Production 2 Helmet. Common makers of this helmet were Sgt. Fang (I have one of his helmets myself) and Marrow Sun if I'm not mistaken. Sgt. Fang hasn't made them in a while and I'm not sure weather Marrow Sun does or not either so aside from ebay and when members here want to sell theirs in the Cargo Hold, I don't know for sure.

Hope this helps, and if my info on the helmet is incorrect, please feel free to correct me! I'm not perfect after all :p
 
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