My Zam so far....

I wasn't gonna say a word... cuz I haven't any room to talk!

dang becky...you should be finished...all the hard stuff seems done! looks great

okay john and becky...

here is a question i have for you...cut all my squares and getting ready to punch holes...thought id test dye a couple scraps for fun...

how long did you have to have your pieces in the dye minimum to get any resemblence of purple? I tried 1 tsp of red and 1 tsp of violet...put it in for 1/2 hour and its still brownish....looks good for the brownish red squares but nothing for purplish ones...

i deglazed the piece first...not that it needed it but i did....soaked it in water and im patiently waiting for a change

any suggestion cause im starting to think leather paint

getting better results with longer time frame! yippee!!!!

JD, I think it would depend on the leather colour to start with? Mine was was creamy pale.
the more dye you put into the batch the quicker it takes. The longer you leave it in the darker it gets.
Wetting them with water and then airbrushing does give a quicker more controllable result though.....?

Hooray! Getting closer!
Here are my shin gauntlets. I discovered the fact a pencil eraser can give a great weathered look to the shin edges. I used black wax shoe scuf cover, mixed in with leather balm, for the final weathering





Ones weathered, the other isn't so you can see the difference

Really coming along nicely!!!

Ok we need to make the vest, spray the belt. Fix eyelets, glue things and ... well... we are finished!!!!

Tried the bodysuit on today and its nearly finished hehehehe !!! Im soooo excited!!

How exciting!!!! Can't wait to see the finished costume! You're gonna look great!

Love the new avatar too!!!

keep up the good work! it feels good to have the body suit done doesnt it...really makes the progress feel earned!

Thanx for the compliment on the Avatar! John took the photo hehehe i was like "coooool neon stuff!" LOL

Yeah too right JD its such a relief to see its nearly finished!!!

We just completed the boots today. We used magnets to hold the toe guars on and a nut and bolt to hold the spikes into the guard. This baby isnt coming off!!! LOL





Also the helmet is totally finished with Veil heheh - we again used magnets as i dont have to struggle to clip or fasten anything to put the veil across, it fastens itself hehe.

One more important thing knocked on the head today....the harness to hold it all together. fully adustable and also able to be cliped out of so you can pee without it falling off you. Very important

'Accurate' looking hinge LOL, accurate black elastic brace but my addition and idea of a circular waist harness to help straighten and stabilise the lower abdomen parts. Don't know if anyone has done one of these?

The leather sqaures will be stitched onto the neoprene pants. Then the harness attaches with dungaree clips. 2 in front, one at the back. The harness is designed to be totally concealed by the vest, so we'll need to make 4 small cuts in that to slyly weave the harness around Becky. 2 for the chest plates. Then a further 2 for the circular waist harness. (each side of the zip)







Adjustable circular harness helps straighten the lower things (adjustable both sides) and keeps them in place as Becky jumps about

Thats not my chest hair btw

I wasn't going to say anything...

Can I ask where you got that hose??? It looks fantastic!!!!!

Actually MonCal came up with a harness system too... similar to yours but not exactly the same. He posted some pics here someplace... I bought my webbing and stuff already, just need to get it sewn together now!

looks good john and becky...seems too complicated though...dont really understand how you will get it all hooked up once the vest is on? im sure im just not seeing your vision

i still think im going with velcro on the back of the ab piece...i do like the suspender idea to hold the top in place though...i could see attaching the single to the back of the pants then over the shoulder and through holes in the top of the vest and connecting to the chest armor...makes sense to me...thats what we are going for as well...just with velcro to hold it in place on the ab plate....

btw...love the magnet idea for the veil...did you just sew it into the side of the veil both ways to hold it in place?

I'm not sure where the hose from originally. It was in the box of love I got from Qui Gon Ludo a while back. It's painted like that to exagerate the ribs

JD, yeah mate. Find a good matching thread. The magnet is attached with a criss cross stitch. When you come through to the public side of the veil, you just double back on yourself by about 1mm and go back in to make the criss cross. I can hardly see the sticthes.
The straps that end leather panels are the more permenant ones. The others attach with little slits in the vest. 2 are needed for the chest panels, the other 2 are low down behind the ad panel. The ab panel has a harness the goes through the vest, around your waist and clips on the back.

Finished my boots/shins today



Just need to dirty up the purple panel a little to look weathered.


Hands up who loves magnets I've done this to stop them from riding up when you walk.

I hadn't thought of that.... pretty good idea! ... I'm thinking you're too smart for your own good Becky!

How much more do you have to do?

Man this is awesome.

magnets are very cool...i again used velcro for the same purpose...

Thanks guys

Not much left to do at all really. I don't Becky realises how close she is now.
We're waiting for the undersuit to come back (that's just being alterred) and the vest too. Then that's it. Nothing left to build, just paint/spray

Spray belt and vest
Spray greeblie straps
Make the leg greeblie strap
Find a cool way to attch the hoses

Sit back an enjoy

Don't say that.... something will break or fall off... Or you'll be unhappy with something and want to re-do it.

And don't forget, once you're done, it's time for upgrades!

Can't wait to see the pics!

ahhhh...the world of upgrades...doing some already and jamie never even wore it yet..LOL

Originally Posted by JDFett

..doing some already and jamie never even wore it yet..LOL

Jamie and me both!

When not cruising in an S speeder, I've often wondered what a kick butt colour co-ordinated female bounty hunter would carry her rifle in...?

Then i thought, hmm maybe something like this?

This was made from the first set of neoprene I got my hands on. too thick and way too pale. nice to make a gun bag out of though. Sewing with neoprne is like trying to sew jelly.
I've left Becky with the option of a handle of putting her own strap on if needed. I'd better re-phrase that :shock:







I've also added sunglass lenses to Becky's scopes. That way you get a nice curve. Curved lenses look cool

Sewing with neoprne is like trying to sew jelly

I know one time at Dragon Con, didn't someone try and sew jelly or something?

That's a really cool idea though - to protect the rifle!

Sounds like one time at Trooper Camp.....

Really guys you cant see the awesomeness of the lenses here, they are just like the cherry on the top of the cake!!!! Really i think my rifle is the most amazing thing ive ever seen and to think what it started out as!!! Its a real beast of a thing - heavy but i will be carrying it around until i drop!!! LOL

I really need the rifle bag too to stop me from being arrested!!! It looks so REAL!

I tried my bodysuit on at the week end but it is still too baggy and i am a bit fat for it i think LOL!!!!!!! Going to collect it this coming week end where it may finally hit me that i actually have, all thanx to John ... a top notch Zam costume. TY hun!!!! x *hug*

cool idea for the case....and did you say youre too fat for the undersuit...

unfortunatley the stretch material is none too forgiving for the ladies, but i think fat may be an aweful strong word dontcha think?

Yeah... I think you've got a keeper there... The costume and the guy!

When you get the whole thing together.. we want pics!!!

Well i think my undersuit is done!!!!!! Its just the finishing touches on the vest and then spray that and the belt together then .... all..... finnished ..... ...............

Its sooooooo tight tho my arms wont bend very well hahahaha!!!! Awesome job the seamstress has done tho she really took a lot of time and effort with it! My legs look a bit chunky but he the skirt will cover most hahah

What do you need to move your arms for??? Stop yer whining and get some pictures posted! We want to see it!

Eeeeeek - i just broke a seam lol. Im go too excited hahaha Have to take it back Wednesday and get it restitched. Its not very forgiving of my pear shape esecially as it squashes my boobs loads LOL!! I did take a pic tho - ill just have to host it etc

Come on Beks.

I'm dying to see a finished pic!! 8)

Pic of the bodysuit ... yes .. i have huge hips and thighs but hey i look thin-ish-er from the side Not very flattering but hey i have a big rifle to go with my big hips so anyone say anything, i swear youre getting see it firsthand (the gun not my legs lol)

That looks fantastic..! Wow!!!! What are you complaining about girl!??!

*John... please take that zam rifle and hit her upside the head.. Thank you!*

That is an awesome body-suit. Get the seam fixed (where-ever-it-is? and get the rest of the gear on and you're gonna be one kick-butt Zam!!! Can't wait to see the whole ensemble now!

Did you see that they announced the Celebration Europe Costume Contest?? Better get entered!!!

girl, have you lost your mind....????

that came out awesome...looks real good...stop making bad comments about yourself...lycra, spandex, neoprene....not a girls best friend but you pull it off just fine!

I love how all you girls take these undersuit shots with your head cut off...LOL

like we don't know it's you or something...too funny

Matching nail varnish too!

Looking great girl!

yeah I think it looks pretty cool on her too. We had a tough time getting the seamstress to make it thinner on Becky. We must have been back and forth about 10 times now. But yesterday she said, stuff it if you have time stay here, try it on I'll alter it, try it on, I'll alter it until Becky has what she has now.
she will fix it, I could fix it but her machine is way way better than any I've seen. Flies through fabric.

The vest is almost done too I've cut that out for her (she was too scared) and we stiched some of it. atm it's held at teh shoulders and stuck together with cellotape.
Should be done by Wednesday I think....hooray!!!

Wow!!!!

I don't know if anyone has ever made gloves before but I certainly havent!
Becky has gloves for her Zam anyway but I had a bit of white pig skin left over and decided to make a nice set of gloves for her. So soft and comfy, they're great.

Here's my first and proably last effort at making gloves.
Very complicated things. Especially with no pattern

They should look cool sprayed

yup..gloves are not easy thats for sure...when i redid my anakin rubies gauntlet that was bad enough trying to get it back together...thats why i grabbed the ones from the department store here...i though i sent you guys a pair? those are the ones i used

yep you sent a pair, thanks. Just felt I'd use up the spare pig skin

okay...i thought so

Langsuir666,
Where did you get the materials for the harness?

Hi Cressie (I'm John's, Becky's better fraction) the harness is just 1inch webbing and then the same thickness black elastic sewn in sections to help it stretch around her.
The leather panel bits are left over sections that came from Tandy for he skirt etc.

You can find that kind of stuff on ebay or in any habberdashery (great word). Usually sold in metres

oh yes, tomorrow sees the final steps in Becky's Zam. I'm off to the seamstress to finish the vest then it's back here to spray them all and put the eyelets in. I'll wait for Friday to airbrush them all when Becky's here

How exciting. I don't she realises how close she is . He he

Getting closer

All holes punched and I didn't fancy a headless horseman type photo so I can only hope it looks as good on Becky as it does on me



All that's left to do now is cut holes for the hoses and harness thingy, spray this, the belt and a spare set of gloves and she's a good un. he he heeeeee

You look lovely John.

The vest looks great too btw! Think it'll look better on Becky though! I'm excited to see the whole thing put together!

wow john...that hot!

vest does look killer..is that only one layer of pigskin?

Ta. Yep, it's only one layer JD.

I sat up late last night and thought stuff it, I'm finishing this. It's only one layer and atm laced together with thick sewing thread to get the idea. It should fit Becky nice as the lady in the shop is a similar size. She just helped me put the shoulder things on and then I did the rest.

It's folded back on itself where the rivet eyelts are and the rest of it is just facing that's glued back on itself. Seamstress' idea, and it's a good one!

well it looks fantastic in the pictures...i know from what ive seen in the dcb disk the vest does appear to have a lot more weight to it...a much thicker material than the 2 oz pigskin i bought...it also seams to have two layers to it..it just seems to be more like my motorcycle vest in thickness in the pictures...i too went with one layer and folded the edges back on themself and glued them...looks good but i think i may have a professional leather maker do one up for jamie some day that is a heavier weight and that has a more solid look to it

I dunno if it is 2 layers see. I'll have to look again.
It looks like its folded back on itself to help strengthen the eyelet line and seams but I dunno. Ours looks cool anyway so I'm happy with that

ya me too...i think the one we have going is plenty good for now...im thinking upgrades...if you check pictures....

4218 and 4360 you can actually see the stitching that holds the two layers together olong the eyelet area...i had orginally thought of sewing two layers together suede sides out and then reversing the material before sewing the whole vest pieces together...I may still try that on a second run vest when i get the extra cash to try an upgrade...

I think there is some padding in the vest above the bustline ... could that be what you're seeing as well JD? It makes it appear much heavier than a regular vest.

Not so Purple? Ever Wondered?

As John lives a way from me and as i didnt have all of the costume with me (no bodysuit, vest, greebs, cumberbund) after seeing the vest pics i got excited!!!!

Now i wanted to try it all on, but i didnt have it all and the bodysuit is a pretty important part Re: Coverage n all LOL

Anyway i have a black suit ive used for Catwoman and Black Cat so i thought what the hey!





I actually quite like it!!!

But i am worrying because i was getting quite hot and thats without the neoprene and layers of leather!!! lol

LOL MM and hey girl the less "padding" i can get away with the better!!!

Oh yeah and i dont have 1 eye lower than the other lol, i need to pad the helmet on 1 side as it falls down funny. (maybe i have a lop sided head haha)

Wow! That looks super cool! What a changling you are! Love the black vinyl. Zam stealth! Gotta pm qui gon ludo and ask about the hoses... Oh, and pshaw! John, great lookin vest. If you use a piece of leather as a reinforcement for the hoses to attach then you won't have to worry about it falling off, because the back connectors screw in. Just make sure that the holes aren't too big in the vest so that it doesn't slip off by accident.

Thanx hun!!! Means a lot from you! Oh and hey because im nearly finished i thought i better try and see what ID's were avaliable, Guess the first one i tried!!!! Gutted !!! ZamW LOL. We must think the same

That is awesome! Wooo-Hoo!!! Actually looks pretty cool with the black suit too...

Did you sign up for the costume contest yet? Huh?? Did Ya??

Yes ZIA - if you find out about those hoses.. please give a holler!!

Originally Posted by Zam I Am

. If you use a piece of leather as a reinforcement for the hoses to attach then you won't have to worry about it falling off, because the back connectors screw in.

Ah yes. I was wonderring where the other one was last week. I think Becky's lost it. Can you imagine how hurt she's gonna be if that's the case. LOL

The vest is ' hanging' atm. I'm hoping to get the creases out of it. Nightmare for that. We'll spray it later/tomorrow. That with the belt and gloves and it's a rap

hmmmm...dont know what to say becky, other than...meowwwww!! that is hot!

cat woman zam...now there is a concept i like!

patiently waiting an update on the finished beczam....

First time its all on and i felt like i was in a straight jacket all over LOL. How cool though to finally be a Zam. I saw it in the mirror for the first time and kinda couldnt believe it was me. Needs bits tweaking still as my hand plates kept falling off (we just stuck em on with tape for the photos)

Thanx you all sooooooo much for being here and posting up all the info and links and sources and advice for this costume over the years and years ive been trying to do it. Without you guys this would either have never been possible or would have taken years longer!!!

If anyone sees anything that could do with changing or improving then let me know, for example the hoses, we need to work those out better. The tension pushes the vest outwards. So how did you guys fix that?
Weight of the blaster on the belt, pulling down etc. How have others fixed that?

wow...looooooking good becky!!! I think you guys did a great job...as far as the hand guards...try some industrial strength velcro..thats what jamie and i used...as far as the hose issue...maybe some sort of snap on the inside near the hose connects to the under suit? on a second layer of leather in the inside? and maybe just a small wire from the holster to the skirt belt may help with the weight of the blaster and holster? just some quick ideas...

Absolutely A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
I'm sure a lot of blood/sweat/tears were put into that costume but it's wonderful. Great job!

This costume is renowned for being like a chameleon under different lights. Film set on Coruscant doesn't really help. I see what they mean now as there's no way it's that blue in places. LOL

Yay! What a glorious site! You better enter the costume contest at celebration and make us proud!

back handplates ~ the real thing has loops jb welded or E6000 glued on the back with sewing to keep them down. Industrial velcro is just a quick fix, not permanent enough. There is bendable wire that you can insert into the hoses to try to keep the shape, but moncal prolly has a better solution, as mine still don't bend right. More foam in the back of the vest to make it sit better around the arm holes. Foam on the back of the ankle gaurds, they will dig into the boot/ankle, and hurt like all get up. You might want to have a hard 8-10 oz. piece of leather to "back the cumberbund" in order to keep the pressure off.

I agree with JD... I've used industrial strength velcro on my trooper handplates and on my Fett armor for years now and never had an issue. Industrial strength stuff is much stronger than people give it credit for.

WOW!

Absolutely awesome! Now if I can just get my wife into SW costuming.

The pull off your torso hel;ps if the vest sits really tight on your torso. It doesn't lift off of me but does Becky.
Padding with foam may help?

YEEEEHAWWW!!! Congratulations Becky on a job well done!! You're a Zam now!!

Sure, there will be some tweaking to do... and things will always need to be glued/velcro-ed/snapped down... but YOU DID IT!!!!

You better be in that costume contest girl! Or you won't hear the end of it!!

Well done!

Thanks Yvonne
We used poppers on her stuff in the end.
Becky wasn't too happy with gloves I made so she has 2 until I fix them. So I thought poppers would be better as then she can swap the over.

They won't fall off as these poppers mean buisness! all the greeblies have them now too. Very thin clear plastic poppers. Good things

It's just the hose issue left to sort out now.
she'll waer it for the first time this weekend (if she doesn't pee herself in excitment first) so any tweaks will be raised then.

It's good someone like you, sho's done it a million times can say what will go wrong

I remember DC 2003.... Besides the heat issue.. You had issues with parts falling off or breaking! But you still looked awesome! You were a bounty hunter so of course you had battle damage!

Originally Posted by sl/tk8456

Thanks Yvonne
We used poppers on her stuff in the end.
Becky wasn't too happy with gloves I made so she has 2 until I fix them. So I thought poppers would be better as then she can swap the over.

They won't fall off as these poppers mean buisness! all the greeblies have them now too. Very thin clear plastic poppers. Good things

It's just the hose issue left to sort out now.
she'll waer it for the first time this weekend (if she doesn't pee herself in excitment first) so any tweaks will be raised then.

It's good someone like you, sho's done it a million times can say what will go wrong

Oh, what are poppers? I've never heard of or used them?

Yeah, all the issues above I mentioned happened plus my blaster barrel fell off, and my helmet tabs broke at D'c 03.

Originally Posted by Zam I Am

Oh, what are poppers? I've never heard of or used them?

Poppers are better know as snaps here in the states.

Hopefully your question wasn't sarcasm, or I just made myself look dumb!

Yep, poppers, press studs. Tomato, tomato lol

These little things.
The ones we used were 15mm. (smaller for the thumb plate) They're very flat, hand sewn and seem to hold up well

im assuming you epoxied one to the back of the plates and sewed the other to the gloves?

Yep. That's the beauty of these things. glue on one side (they've got a large surface area and are plastic anyway) and sew to the other.

how many did you do for the hand plates? im guess maybe three and then two for the thumb?

I was wondering what the heck "poppers" were too!! But was too ashamed to ask!

Great idea!!! Thanks for sharing that!!! s

hey ZIA, could you throw me a picture reference number...im curious as ive checked the disk i got and cant find any shots of the way the handguards are attached...thanks

they are in there somewheres. I used industrial velcro, but they did sew it or punctured it through with a wire.
DSC04349,DSC04350

Originally Posted by MaulMaus

I was wondering what the heck "poppers" were too!! But was too ashamed to ask!

Great idea!!! Thanks for sharing that!!! s

yeah I have to always do the embarrassing stuff first , don't I? Like walk in tandy leather store with a bunch of customers with my life sized cardboard cut out in order to get leather measurements for you all!

ah yes DSC0439, good spot pet

Ah well, too late now. LOL
The only reason I used poppers was just incase we needed to put them onto another glove.
I used 4. 2 for each bit. the thumb bits are smaller though. So I used 2 sizes in all
2 large ones for the hands and then a smaller one plus a tiny tiny baby little one to keep the thumb bit level

Oh, Yvonne, thanks for losing all street cred and making a total fool of yourself by walking into Tandy's with a Zam standee. LOL. Ace dedication

Tomorrow is Becky's Zam debut............................................

Watch it all fall apart now

We'll all be cheering for you Becky!! Good luck tomorrow!!!

Don't feel too bad ZIA... last time I was at Tandy, the guy asked me what I was working on and I told him a Zam Wesell costume. He looked at me blankly. I said a Star Wars costume. He still looked blank and informed me he never watched Star Wars! He probably thought the heat had finally gotten to me... only 115 that day!

Becky's first troop went well. Nothing fell off and a few members public told her 'it was just a job' So at least some knew who she was

Amazing to see how your own costume changes in different light!!!!
This makes me think Yvonne got the right neoprene actually. Some look dark, some look pale but I've seen both these tones before


Shawn of the Dead, Yarp guy.


There are a few minor tweaks to do before CE. But nothing major

she is looking great! congrads on your first zam troop...bet there were a ton of ear to ear grins under that veil!

Becky you look AWESOME!!!! !!!!

I bet you never thought this day would come!!! Congratulations girl!!! Both you and John did a fantastic job on costume!!! :thumbup

Now we can't wait to see the pics from Celebration Europe and that costume contest... *nag nag nag*

That is a amazing Zam. It seriously looks awesome. Its nice to hear of nothing going awry on a first troop. Great pics by the way.

That looks awesome! Great job!! And you're right about the comments. It's nice when someone knows who Zam is. Kathy gets a lot of "purple lady" comments or sometimes it's Zam "Weasel"

Seriously though I can understand the relief of finally finishing it and the sense of accomplishment!!

Truly amazed here. It is obvious that "The Sniffer" himself will never do a Zam costume, however, he can admire the talent and beauty from afar. It is always a pleasure to see what comes from this board. Thanks for letting "yours truly" lurk here without giving him the boot! All of you are extremely talented.

The Sniffer Abides . . .

That is one AWESOME looking ZAM! It looks great beside Boba and the stormtroopers. Pair up with a Jango at an event somewhere and you've got a real treat for us Star Wars nuts.

Looks like all the blood, sweat, tears and money paid off.