Custom Mando V2.0

Shipment of Cromatex finally came in, basically sintra, cost less. started off with the helmet, hardest part IMO. using the WOF templates and scaling them to my GIANT HEAD.

firstly I used the base helmet template to cut out the largest of the parts, the entire helmet frame, leaving in the the visor and cheeks to allow for better bending

heating the piece into the general shape and securing it together with a strip of industrial tape, non permanent stick of course

using a form to shape the crown of the helmet

and another one to shape the bottom

the helmet is quite springy at this point, now ill heat it up until it takes the shape, as its force to keep the shape due to the forms, much like how they make cowboy hats

figured Id get some feedback by now, oh well, heres more progress on the helmet and I Finished assembling my assault style shoulder armor

The helmet is coming along nicely. Looks to be sturdy when you're done with it. And I love the detail on the shoulder pieces. Any concepts, color schemes?

The concept of the armor is more of an assult type mando, No range finder to get shot off or bent, heavy armor for protection, and the basics on the gauntlets, nothing fancy. A real grunt work/Front line type of mando, that doesn't rely on gadgets, just brute force and armor. Color scheme wise its going to be a dark navy blue with a charcoal black.

cheeks are in, nice and sturdy now. need to work out which method is the best to do the dome, any suggestions?

I'm digging the design of the shoulder plates. I've seen some do the traingular strips to create the dome of the helm. I'd do some searching on the other scratch build helmet threads.

Sick shoulders. If all your armor is similar, man, that'll be one crazy suit! Keep it up

I did a scratch build dome from the WoF templates, cereal box base, fiberglassed inside and bondoed outside. I've also seen skateboard helmets and biker helmets used as well. I think it's also possible to order a dome online but I have no idea how.

Im really leaning towards doing it with 2mm sinta, using the WOF template

lots of progress done when i had some free time this week, figure out the dome issue and got the vent hole cut and the trim added at the back, im doing my own custom ear caps, designing them to hold batteries and be easy to change without taking up space inside the helmet.

So far that looks really good. If you dont mind me asking where did you get the Cromatex? Im looking for the mats to start my build but Sintra online seemed expensive and the shipping to an APO was almost as much as the mats themselves.

very nice work!

Looking great so far.

not much else but i found these and will incorporate them into the ear caps

going with a full visor range finder, it will have leds and pivot up once i get the ear caps made

looks a bit better now that the shell is done for the full range finder

Originally Posted by CustomSin

So far that looks really good. If you dont mind me asking where did you get the Cromatex? Im looking for the mats to start my build but Sintra online seemed expensive and the shipping to an APO was almost as much as the mats themselves.

Well first of all what area do you live in? I have tones of link to sites and store all over the world I found looking for a place near me to buy from

Very nice range finder. Just make sure you can see out of it.

that rangefinder is awesome, is that shape completely custom?

That armor is amazing! I am excited to see someone building theirs nearly the same way as me, Your dome turned out smoother than mine did, but nothing I can't fix with spackle. I will keep watch on this build as I am at nearly the same point as you.

When I said armor I meant to say helmet, I have not yet starter my armor, But your shoulder armor is already looking good.

Originally Posted by dustunite

that rangefinder is awesome, is that shape completely custom?

yup , though it is influenced by looking at a lot of other star wars tech

range finder almost finished, just need to add the arms for it to pivot

Beautiful work, can't wait to see it on!

thats looking great, what did you glue that together with?

Originally Posted by dustunite

thats looking great, what did you glue that together with?

I use 60 grit sand paper and high strength hot glue from Home Depot then I spread it down in a W pattern, holds great!!

working on the ear caps, battery compartment and the leds, running them through the side of the helmet.

I added on the ear caps that wont come off and did a side by side with the old helmet


waiting for a non rainy day to bondo the dome

lots of work on helmet the last few days, but i was sidetracked the last 2 to help a friend build a helmet for his GF, and by help i mean do it for him

now no one will ever ask me "pics or it didnt happen'" ever again!

awesome!

That's great! Nice way to conceal a non-Star Wars item. Very clever.

I like the idea for your gauntlets, in fact your whole rig is gonna be really nice.

got a massive amount of work done on the helmet, and its pretty much done, did the dome, fiberglassed the inside, painted and weathered. Wore it to Fan Expo 2011 along with my original armor set i did a few years a go




everything together at fan expo




i weathered it on the fly while in the hotel room and im not quite happy with some of it so ill be working more on the smaller details

I really like the look of it all! The helmet gives an evolution look from clone trooper helmets with that little v shape at bottom of visor. The range finder looks cool as well! A really nice touch to the bucket! Great work on rhea whole costume!

I would recommend that if you're going for an "assault" type look, the addition of shins/knees (but especially knees) might be beneficial. If you're in the front lines, you'll often have uncleared obstacles to get through and may often have to fire from a kneeling position to allow those behind you to get off a shot. Just my .02