oh boy have I got questions

Racin Vhett

New Hunter
Obviously this is my first post so I'll start out with the incidentals. I'm starting a Jango project. This is going to be a long ordeal, but for the more immediate purposes I will be taking a few shortcuts for the upcoming halloween (in which I think I'm not the only one preferring this holiday to all others.)

Anyhow, I am about halfway through a cardboard bucket build which is going faaaaaar better than I could have ever expected, due in no small part to the WOF templates and the inspiring tutorial from antman.

I'm also well into the "arena" jet pack from skip. If anyone is looking to spend a few hours on a top notch project I really recommend it.

I've got the gauntlet patterns printed out, but I have yet to start assembling. And I'm pretty experienced with fiberglass so I have no real concerns or issues there.

no obligatory pictures yet, I have been too busy building.

So on with the questions, of which I have a few.

First of all, I am looking for shortcuts for the purpose of Halloween, things which will get replaced later on for more accurate items. Later on I can invest in some honest to goodness helmet and jet pack instead of the cardboard (though the way it is coming I doubt most could tell the difference) But for right now I am kind of constrained by time.

One of the areas I can save in is the blasters. Rubies has a blaster/holster set which doesn't look too bad in pictures. How is it as far as proportion goes? I'm willing to spend some time sanding down the joining lines and giving it a new paint job, so long as they arent "kid sized" But if the set is somewhere between "*** are those real" and "how many cereal box tops did you send in for that" I'll be happy.


Next question how thick is the average armor plate. It seems as though the fastest way to fab up something decent is to use multiple sheets of 2 mil cardboard wetted and bent to shape since it looks like most of the curves in the armor are fairly mild and not to complex in shape. Then apply some resin on the front and a single layer of glass cloth on the back for stiffness.

My real goal is a manequin in our downstairs family room/ theater, but that will depend on the disposition of my loving and patient wife.


One last question, I am 6 foot but of slight build, and apparently large head. The helmet fits (tightly) but it looks enormous on my noggin in the mirror. Does being fully suited up balance the proportion?
 
First off, welome to TDH ( The Dented Helmet )!

Now then, on to your questions...
1. Yes, the Rubies blasters will work out fine as they are only about an inch or two shorter in barrel length than the Master Repicas. The holsters on the other hand... they'll do for Halloween, but afterwards I'd suggest saving your coin for a nice set of holsters from Cruzer. ;)

2. I would most certainly suggest doubling up on the armor thickness. Then norm is around 3mm, though I could be off on my guess. Just go with a thickness that's just enough to give the impression that the plates are thick enough to stop a blaster hit.

3. Yes, without the chest and shoulder armor/vest, the helmet will give you the impression that you're a bobble-head. The edges of the helmet should sit about mid way from your neck to your shoulders, if you're wearing a t-shirt.
 
One of the areas I can save in is the blasters. Rubies has a blaster/holster set which doesn't look too bad in pictures. How is it as far as proportion goes? I'm willing to spend some time sanding down the joining lines and giving it a new paint job, so long as they arent "kid sized" But if the set is somewhere between "*** are those real" and "how many cereal box tops did you send in for that" I'll be happy.

I was originally going to modify the rubies set, so I did a comparison of a rubies vs a template of the Westar from Wizard of Flight.
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/showthread.php?t=26161
I have since bought a resin set from cruzer. hope this helps :)
 
Welcome to TDH! My advice for your time crunch would be to get Rubies blasters. Don't modify them in any way. Very few will even notice outside of those on the board and once again, you're pinched for time. I did buy Cruzer Holsters from a member on here but the blasters look pretty good in them.

Look up the thread on trashcan armor. You can make a great looking set of armor out of $10 worth of WalMart trash cans. This is fast and economical. I'd focus the bulk of my time on the helmet and gauntlets. These are items people tend to notice right off.

Jumpsuit and vest are different issues. You can make due. I made a charcoal grey vest out of $3 worth of vinyl from a fabric store. You can make a passable jumpsuit out of any basic jumpsuits from thrift stores with a little sewing modifications for the sleeves and some Rit dye.


Keep us posted and remember, if you don't have pictures it doesn't exist! What can I say, we're a visual bunch.

:cheers

vest.jpg
 
I found some 3 ply chipboard for next to nothing at a commercial arts store nearby and it is the perfect thickness, it tends to delaminate on the sharper bends like on the foot and shin armor, but after a good coat of resin I'm sure it will be fine. Started cutting vinyl for the vest and I found a cheap postal blue jumpsuit.
 
ok then I have a cardboard bucket in progress that exists.

The face and ears are pretty well cleaned up, obviously I have a lot of work to do on the dome part.
10-14-08_1801.jpg


10-14-08_1802.jpg
 
Here is all the cardboard just waitin for some resin.

10-16-08_0818.jpg


And the Jet Pack in its present state

10-16-08_0819.jpg


sorry about the poor image quality, I'll take decent pictures when the results are more decent. heh.
 
It's clear that you've got a bit of work to do yet but everything looks great! With some hours put in on the weekends you should be able to get this up and running by Halloween. Someone on here was selling a great pair of Asok Knee's for $35...That's a really good deal
 
I have some too. I am in needed of cheap boots in a size 7.5-8, gauntlets(I can put a kit together but have no time for scratch build) and a girth belt. Can anyone help point me in a good direction? I apologize if I have violated any rules.
 
First things first. Mr. Vhett. Welcome.

Second things second. VERY good job on that cardboard gear. It looks very good indeed. You are quite talented.



Third things third. Princessleia...dangerous name on a site devoted to bounty hunters...;) As for the stuff you need, depending on how much money you want to spend...

Reinone has got a boot run in process. Though, a pair of black military boots will work enough to get you 501st approved.They won't be accurate, but it's what I used before I ordered Reinone's.

Thxdad is doing a girth belt run this month. Cruzer also does girth belts, but I don't know his schedule :p

And I'm not sure if anyone is doing a gauntlet run. If they are...count me in...*cough*CRUZER*cough*

Good luck!
 
Jango with a bad bondo combover
10-19-08_1750.jpg


This was the first layer, after sanding it down I realized I had some symmetry problems which a second coat took care of for the most part, now I just have some pinholes to fill from my bad spreading technique. I would not make a good cake decorator.

Here is the armor after a few coats of resin and some primer so I can find the low spots during sanding.
10-19-08_1751.jpg


Conspicuously missing are the gauntlets which were still curing the resin. Not to brag but they came out quite well I think. Of course I will take ****** pictures of them. It was wetter than Kamino last night so In lieu of bondo/resin work I sewed snaps on the vest, hopefully this evening I can get snaps on the armor.

I've got to have a somewhat ready costume for my daughter's school event friday night and a friend's party saturday afternoon. So chances are I will be without knees, a codpiece, and possibly...gasp a jet pack, but I will have them for halloween.
 
I suppose I should post a pic of the status just prior to the party this weekend. I actually have better pictures of me in costume but my wife has the camera right now.

10-25-08_1143.jpg


The armor is a little rough around the edges and I had to rush the helmet to be ready but I am cleaning it up and actually using two proper shades of blue for halloween, but this is where it stood friday night.
 
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