Ref's ESB Fett WIP

Refestus

Jr Hunter
I'm really excited to finally be starting my own Fett thread on TDH.

To introduce myself a little, I'm Ref Al'drann and I've been an official merc since 2011. I currently have a custom Mando as well as the only (that I know of) completed and approved Rohlan Dyre kit. But there's always been a hole in my heart that can only be filled by having my very own Fett costume.

I've been doing a ton of research and I hope I can live up to not only my expectations, but the expectations of the community.

So here's where I'm at with my ESB build:

Flightsuit - LadySewForUs
Vest -LadySewForUs
Boots - MOW
Wookie Braids -Woodman
Blaster - Sidewinder
Sidearm - Stormrider maybe?
Ammo belt - 99cent Taco

vcxzc6.jpg

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I've got some questions:
1. Are my thigh pouches too close together? It doesn't seem like there's a lot of room for a codplate in there.
2. The flightsuit is a very, very light blue/grey. Everyone who's seen it swears it's white. I'm afraid of dying it because the neckseal is attached. Any advice?
3. I'm pretty slim and it's hard for me to find a girth belt that fits me right. I'm afraid I won't find one that will give me enough room to attach the leather straps. Has anyone successfully modified a girth belt to make it smaller?
 
I'm not too familiar with the ESB but I hear everyone loves LadySewforUS, thats why I am waiting for my ROTJ stuff from her. There are a few 501st Garrisons in CA. You should contact your local Garrison GML and see if you can meet with the local ESB Fett and check out that persons kit and compare what you have with them. I would do that before you go and dye anything. Adding some armor and weathering might get it to the correct look. Right now, it is a bit bright.

Did you give measurements to Deb or did you buy the suit from someone second-hand? I haven't given her my measurements and I would like to prevent having to send it back to get modified. Have you contacted her?

I'm sorry I don't have any real answers for you on the Girthbelt, i am starting my build as well. I am also an Official Merc and a CB in the 501st.
 
You're off to a really good start. Flightsuit color does look really light. Take some pics in different lighting and compare to the reference photos. ESB is actually pretty blue and then heavily weathered. Perhaps you could remove the neck seal and then reattach it after dying?
 
looks good, though the suit does seem really light and the pouches close together. is this a second hand suit or did she make it for you?
excited to watch your build
 
Did you give measurements to Deb or did you buy the suit from someone second-hand? I haven't given her my measurements and I would like to prevent having to send it back to get modified. Have you contacted her?

The suit is second hand, but it fits like it was made for me. I haven't contacted her about it since the only thing that needs adjustment is the pouches and I can do that myself.

Yeah I was hoping to keep the neckseal attached, but I think I will have to take it off, dye the suit and then sew it back on. I guess I might as well while I'm re-positioning the pouches, huh?

Thanks for the advice! I got my cape assembled and ripped up today. It has to go through the wash a few times to soften it up and then I'll weather it. Hoping to complete a little bit every day or so.
 
Update:
My helmet came in today. Got it cleaned up and prepped (after this picture). I wait to cut the visor until I'm ready to buff the CC and paint so it doesn't warp.
I've also got my jetpack on order and my gauntlets are still a WIP.
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(still needs weathering)


Question time:
1. I feel like the scope rings on my Sidewinder kit seem really delicate and they don't match up well to the mounting brackets
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Am I making a problem where there isn't one?
The second part of this question is: I'm worried once I adhere the scope on, it's just going to snap off. Is there a right way to assemble this kit so that this doesn't happen?

2. My Heiland flash tube is losing its chrome finish :(
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Is there anything I can do about this?
 
Need some feedback on my flight suit. What does everyone thing about the color?
Inside lighting
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Outside lighting
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I'm shooting to mimic the Jeremy Bulloch suit
Jeremy_Bulloch.png


It seems very blue to me, but I can't determine whether it's too blue or not. My hope is that it will dull down somewhat with weathering.
If necessary I'll run it through a diluted color remover bath to fade it out.
 
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That's what I've heard, but my flightsuit was white originally. I found out that they use evening blue on their suits so I used a diluted mix of that and pearl grey.
It just seems to me that most ESB suits I see are much more grey.

I'm thinking (hoping) fading it will help give it the look I'm looking for too. I'm going to mist it with bleach (in a very controlled manner) tomorrow so we'll see how it turns out.
 
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hmm I thought the ESB flightsuit color on Arkady/LSFU flightsuits was spot on. I think the grey is more for the ROTJ/SE boba. I'm curious how it'll turn out though... hopefully to your liking!

Also for your girth belt, you have a small waist like me and I don't think we'll have a problem with sizing.(y)
 
I'm glad that you have a thread here. These guys will cradle you from start to finish. I'll be jumping between TDH and the Mercs watching your progress!
 
Most of the original jumpsuits had a blue/blue-gray color with different shades:
PrePro ESB Jumpsuit Color.jpg

Although the JB suit is excellent, I wouldn't recommend to use it as a reference; a reproduction of a reproduction always push the end result far away from the original prop.
 
So Raf, both arkady and LS4U have the correct flight suit color for an ESB suit without having to re-dye it? I am going to order a suit within the next month and want to be sure that I won't have to do anything other than weather it.
 
That's what I've heard, but my flightsuit was white originally. I found out that they use evening blue on their suits so I used a diluted mix of that and pearl grey.
It just seems to me that most ESB suits I see are much more grey.

I'm thinking (hoping) fading it will help give it the look I'm looking for too. I'm going to mist it with bleach (in a very controlled manner) tomorrow so we'll see how it turns out.

I would not recommend misting with bleach. That road is paved with tears. Based on those photos, I think the color looks great. ESB should be pretty blue, but heavily weathered. If you study the reference photos you can find unweathered spots that are pretty bright blue. Weathering will change the color significantly.

IMG_3802_zpsd3b45bc6.jpg


Here you can see mine unweathered under the flap. Huge difference. But study the reference photos and make up your own mind. You have to be happy with it. (y)
 
Mat, did you just mist your with spray cans? What colors did you use?
 
Although the JB suit is excellent, I wouldn't recommend to use it as a reference; a reproduction of a reproduction always push the end result far away from the original prop.

Solid advice. I'll keep that in mind.

I would not recommend misting with bleach. That road is paved with tears. Based on those photos, I think the color looks great. ESB should be pretty blue, but heavily weathered. If you study the reference photos you can find unweathered spots that are pretty bright blue. Weathering will change the color significantly.

Here you can see mine unweathered under the flap. Huge difference. But study the reference photos and make up your own mind. You have to be happy with it. (y)

That's good advice, thank you. I just feel like my suit is the right color, but the wrong shade of it. I'm looking at mine right now and comparing it to your unweathered spot and mine just looks like a much brighter, more vibrant blue. I'm going to kick it around for a few more days and really look at it compared to stills and other references. I won't use bleach though if I decide to lighten it. Thanks for stopping me from doing that.

So Raf, both arkady and LS4U have the correct flight suit color for an ESB suit without having to re-dye it? I am going to order a suit within the next month and want to be sure that I won't have to do anything other than weather it.

I know addressing RafalFett, but from what everyone's told me, yes they dye the suit the correct color. Mine was white though, not sure why. I bought it second hand so it may have been the buyer's request.
 
Made progress on my EE3
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still waiting on the Molex connectors, but I'm very happy with this right now! I'm sure I'll find something wrong with it though :p

I took another crack at my flightsuit today. I dunked it in color remover for 30 seconds and then set it to dry and this is what I got.
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I'm infinitely more happy with this color and I think it'll look awesome when it's weathered.
 
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Just for the info, I do not dye my suits. I scour downtown LA to find the right color fabric in a good mid weight twill. I can't say for sure what Deb does, but I believe she is dyeing now.
 
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