My Zam Wesell

I have begun this costume - appreciate the wealth of knowledge that has been posted up until now. alot to read but invaluable!

heres the first part I've made - the cape seal. backing is 2mm ABS sheet, detail cut and dremmeled out of 3mm sheet.





Next step the Rifle - making it from scratch so plenty of long nights ahead!!

oh sorry forgot the intro.

Name: Centuri
Location: Christchurch
member of 501st (TK), Fanforce CR for SI new Zealand. Star wars fan (duh) and toy collector. relatively new to this costuming thing, fun though! Walked 12km in armour last week for charity, that should explain how crazy i am

Wow, looks very nice!
Can't wait to see the build of the rest of the costume!

Looks fantastic! Thanks for posting pics -- helps this utter newbie visualize how to go about making it!

here are some progress pics for the Rifle.

Stock: 2x 18mm sheets of MDF laminated together, total 36mm wide.
the butt of the rifle has been thinned to 30mm from the handgrip backwards.

barrel: 16mm tube 1.2m long and 5mm solid rod about 1m long.
a half round channel has been routed to sit the barrel into.

Nice! I can't wait until I see the finished gun!

Looks great.... you're certainly putting a LOT of effort into this!

I've got the parts except for the scope - Haven't figured that part out yet... I'll probably end up going a similar route to you, as I don't want to have to do castings and all that.

Keep us posted on your progress!

I might experiment making cones out of molten trash can plastic to build my Fett's jet pack rocket, perhaps that might work for the scope.

Okay... first I've ever heard of *that* method! What kind of plastic is that and how do you do melt it down and form it?

Just trash can plastic... I first build the object in 3D on my machine, find out the height of the object, the circumferance of the top and the bottom. Then I draw a pyramid on the plastic, cut it out, hover it over the stove and with gloves on, I form it into a cone.

sounds simple enough - might give that a shot!

It looks awesome!! good job

I'm just curious, why didn't you get a kentucky flintlock to start with?

the cost of it basically (plus the cost of shipping it over to NZ).

plus it's a good excuse to learn some new skills

Originally Posted by chansplace

the cost of it basically (plus the cost of shipping it over to NZ).

plus it's a good excuse to learn some new skills

right on! ... I understand. good job. i didn't want to sound condescending I was just curious. I got to thinking about it after posting the question

Can't wait to see more progress.

Congrats on the progress!! The rifle is looking really good!!! Bet you never knew Zam had so many parts!!! I know I'm always surprised!

Question: What kind of scope is that and where did you find it? That is one of the pieces I'm really really really have trouble with! (I'm probably looking in the wrong places or something... *sighs* )

MaulMaus, I discovered this weekend that the mini Mag-Lites at Ace Hardware are about the perfect diameter for the rifle scopes. That's as far as I got with this knowledge, though. Haven't figured out how to turn them INTO the scopes yet.

Hadn't thought of that!!! That's a great idea!

I should think just gutting them, and putting two end to end would do the trick... but trial and error will probably be the best judge of that.

Originally Posted by MaulMaus

Question: What kind of scope is that and where did you find it? That is one of the pieces I'm really really really have trouble with! (I'm probably looking in the wrong places or something... *sighs* )

like most parts it was a chance finding - a contact through our local 501st message boards. Its a "Safari" brand, 4 x 32. Overall length is 292mm, end caps are 35mm in width.

scope arrived today - unfortunately the diameter is too big. ah well - back to the drawin board.

Ah yes... I've got a box full of Zam "mistakes," "rejects," and "what-the-heck-was-I-thinking?!" Someday - it might make the ultimate "Bad-Zam!"

I think we all have those, Maulmaus. I figure they'll someday get recycled into other costumes.

Julie

Coming along nicely.

What kind of scope are you using?

most likely will be building a custom scope to get the scale right.

Ack ... looking awesome but ... is the barrel 16mm? Where did you get the measurements of that from as im thinking ive made a mistake with mine now lol. My barrel is 22mm see ... panic panic!!!! :s

I honestly cant remember, one of these many threads no doubt!
gotta say your rifle looks spectacular, nice attention to detail.

a few more progress pics. gloves and holster still need some weathering:

Looks good chansplace!

I agree lookin very very nice!!!

As for my barrel we went to the DIY store with the secton of the Kentucky flintlock that it would fit into, the 22mm fit perfectly - 6mm is quite a big difference i think, ill have to look at the threads again and see where this measurment might be from hehehe

Hey,

Everything seems to be coming aklong nicely. Great looking stuff.

A rifle from scratch?
Stuff that! LOL. Any help you may need (I'm the lucky chap who got to make Langsuir666's rifle), please ask.

22mm is what you want for the barrel. Defo! 22.2 if you want to be childish about it LOL. Classic plumbers width copper tube for homes etc.
Langsuir666, is chrome plated.

dang youre right, its definitely 22 now that i look at the ref pics more closely.

I hope you don't have too much rework to do?
Loving the scope mounts!

What did you make them out of and have you anymore?
From Langsuir666's rifle I painstakingly made some from an old ikea bed slat and milliput for the curved bit.

the base of the scope mount is a shape cut from mdf, and the round bit is a few bits of pvc pipe filled the centre in with Selleys 'Knead It' to get the right size hole for the scope. I've decided to stick with the 16mm tubing as its gonna be a heck of a job adjusting it, and It still looks pretty good.

its coming along!

yeah looks like I did the opposite to you

I used a bed slat for the straight oval part and milliput (moulding clay that goes hard) for the curved part.

Looking cool dude

Hi all, havent posted for a while, thought I'd get stuck in and get this finished - still a few minor things to add - but were almost there. Wendy had her maiden troop last week at the Queenstown Winter Festival and had a great response. she even got her photo in the paper!

Thanks to everyone who has offered advice and tutorials! will post some close ups and photos of individual pieces soon.

holy crow dude...you went from progress pic of gloves to a whole finished costume....????where are all the other pics along the way

she looks good!

nice work! It only took 1 year and 4 months

Great costume! And congratulations on making the paper! Wow!!! Must feel great to have the costume finished and make the papers too! Can't wait to see more pics of the costume!

Originally Posted by JDFett

holy crow dude...you went from progress pic of gloves to a whole finished costume....????where are all the other pics along the way

I know. we just went Zam-crazy for 3 weeks, we had all the materials just needed the time. it definitely pays to have a deadline when you want something finished!!

Hey. Good work dude. She looks pretty cool in that outfit and that rifle came out very nice!
Love the colour on the belt and vest

reviving the ol' thrhread once more. here a wee photoshop job using some images of wendy as Zam. we framed it up as a pressie for the lady who helped us with the bodysuit. hope its helpful for all you new zammers!

thats a cool montage!

cool flick dude.

BTW that rifle came out looking really well in the end. good work

Excellent job there! Looked through most of those pics... and the amount of work you put into that costume!! Wow!! Congrats on a Zam well done!

btw...ive gotta say that is some great work..just checked out the pictures as well...i say you get the trophie for going on your own and doing it from the ground up as of late! and for a dime price too! awesome

thanks a heap guys, i forgot i had uploaded progress pics there

of course i couldnt have done it without all your help!

Is anyone here fluent in Shyriiwook? I've got a friend that only speaks Shyriiwook and I'd like it if I could understand him. Thanks in advance!