Custom Mandos

Hi all,
I'm wanting to start on custom mandos for me and the wife... but I'm stalled out in the planning phase and could use some help. Anybody out there with a tallent for this stuff please feel free to pitch in. Here's what I have so far. Clan crest is a modified sabertooth tiger skull. Both sets will have standard helmet and the common grey flightsuit.

Mine:
Male 5'8" Thin/Athletic build
Specialty: Scout/Sniper (usually in a spotter/supporting role)
Additional Skills: Tracker, Tactical Air Control
Colors: Not Sure Yet... I want a subdued sort of Boba Fett look with a little bit of customization and no jet pack... but I would like to have a sort of camo cloak type addition. Includes crossed leather (western style) pistol holsters... sidearms will be modified westars or 1911 airsoft pistols.

Wife's:
Female 5'4" average build
Specialty: Sniper/Sharpshooter
Color: Want a Kentucky Wildcats type theme for this one with a predominance of blue. single (western style) pistol holster with a similar sidearm to mine. Not sure if we want to go with a similar cloak or a kama with this one. Will be hopefully basing the armor on this one from Rotton's fem'mando chest plates.

Thanks,

Kal'ika

living in the good ole' state of Kentucky i enjoy the idea of a wildcats mando but for a sniper i would go darker, but thats just what i think.

also snipers are cool
also i think that for the sniper whose the tact' air support it would help to have like a ghillie cover in a pack
and a woven hood.

Originally Posted by Carb-1

living in the good ole' state of Kentucky i enjoy the idea of a wildcats mando but for a sniper i would go darker, but thats just what i think.

also snipers are cool
also i think that for the sniper whose the tact' air support it would help to have like a ghillie cover in a pack
and a woven hood.

I know that Wildcat Blue isn't the best color for a sniper. However, for the fem I wanted a little more flashy. As for the other, I was thinking about the ghillie... I think I'm going to go with the hooded cloak similar to the one used by the snipers in the new Killzone2 game... they look pretty frakin' awesome. Thanks for the input... I appreciate it. I hope to have concept sketches up soon.

Try the Mercs "Mandomaker" program. It will get you started off in the right direction, then from there you can get a good basic view of what you want try to accomplish.

Mandomaker 2.3

YEs, listen to Noval Talon you must! The Mando Maker will help you at least get an idea of what you want to do.

As for colors and specialties:

My characters specialty is guerrella combat. I wanted a camo type look without using any camo at all in my colors. I would think for your specialty, you would be wise to use the same principal. Subdued and military earthy colors are your friends... browns, tans, green etc. If you look at my pix here or at the Mando Mercs site, you will see what I did. Also, Check out Beviin Verhayc's pix on the Mercs site or you could probably google him for pix. He's one of the "famous" Dune Sea Garrision Mando's from Celebration 4.

For your wife, being a sniper and wanting to still use blue. Might I suggest using a matte black as your primary coloration and use the blue as a secondary color and sparesly. Some trim here and there etc.

Good luck!

well if you can get a good enough camo net/ ghille cover it does not matter what color your armor is plus i think mandos chose their colors either on personal preference or the whole red= 888888 or gold= 888888
so thats something to think about

yeah actually listen to noval talon I will! As for the color scheme... yeah I'm still looking into my own color pattern but for my wife's I'm still leaning toward the wildcats scheme, because yes... in mandalorian culture the color of the armor can be chosen for function or on personal preference... and she's not real big on the whole matte camo colors, especially black. We will be adding a sort of ghille/sniper cloak to her costume though.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Kal'ika

Originally Posted by kal'ika

yeah actually listen to noval talon I will! As for the color scheme... yeah I'm still looking into my own color pattern but for my wife's I'm still leaning toward the wildcats scheme, because yes... in mandalorian culture the color of the armor can be chosen for function or on personal preference... and she's not real big on the whole matte camo colors, especially black. We will be adding a sort of ghille/sniper cloak to her costume though.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Kal'ika

You can always give your wife a really, really big black cape to hide all that blue under.

Ok so, I have finally managed to sketch out the rough concept for my own armor... still haven't gotten around to sketching out the wife's yet. I had to devote some time to the custom fan art sketches for a few other ppl... you can check those out in my other thread. I'll have the sketch for my armor up within the next day or two.

Kal'ika

Here are the concept sketches for Kal'ika and Fi. Let me know what you think.

Kal'ika

I need help finding the parts here. Anyone know where I can find cheap flightsuits, armor parts and helmets? Helmets and Flightsuits especially. Any help will be appreciated.

Kal'ika

hi all,
Just an update, these two mandos have been designed! I'll post the completed updates sometime this weekend. I will also be working on about five additional mandos for my closest friends, warriors all (literally, since they're all military). I am carefully working on shaping and rigging their armor and weapons based on their personalities and actual skills. Once those are designed, they'll be posted here and as I continue to work on my projects, I will post the progress in this page.

Kal'ika

PM sent.

Here is are the most recent variations of Kal'ika and Fi, the armor for myself and my wife. Her rifle is a nerf longshot with a few mods, mine is a Nerf Recon with A LOT of mods, although since I based it on my M4 from work, it may become an airsoft M4 with a very large number of custom fabricated add-ons. The front barrel/underbarrel gun from the longshot has also been added to Kal'ika's carbine to give him an underbarrel micro-detonator launcher... have to protect that shooter

Kal'ika

WOW HUGE!!!!

yeah I use deviantart as my file host, so it makes the pictures come out a little large

Nice! And huge, LoL.

Thanks! Yeah I know... devart isn't exactly the best file host...lol However, by the end of the month I'll have a little extra income to work with, so I'll be starting actual work soon, and of course there are a few small redesigns I'll be posting soon. Not so much on hers, but a lot on mine.

just a quick update... new concept sketch coming up soon with a few minor updates... the design for Kal's rifle is finalized. It's quite awesome in my humble opinion. Fi's is mostly finalized I think, we may still make a few small changes before we start the actual work on it. I'm still waiting on materials to work with, and time to work... due to my current work schedule. Will let you know when I have more.

Kal

Okay... this is what I believe to be our final design. Work will be starting sometime soon on the actual beskar'gam... assuming my work schedule slacks off just a lil bit. No need for the light whip Ordeyn (since they want to use it on u all the time). Any advice or suggestions... now's the time people. I'm thinkin' for a lot of the parts I'm going to be goin' the trash can route like Ordeyn did... so manufacturing tips would be great! (hint, hint.)

Kal'ika

Well if the armor becomes as good as these drawings your home free.

Great art work!!

Good stuff Kal'ika!!! What are you gonna make the armour out of?

Well... I hope to use the $10 Walmart plastic trash cans for my chest and back plates... I'm not sure about the groin plate yet... probably will go the same route, as for Fi's, I'll be using the manequin trick for her chest plates and whatever I use for my groin plate for hers... I will probably use the templates from WOF, a dremel, a jigsaw, and a whole lot of work to make the gauntlets... not sure from what yet. I currently have plans to include retractable plastic blades in the gauntlets... and as for buy'cuy... well I will have to buy those somewhere... probably going to go the rubies route for Fi's and I might do a lil higher quality for mine. Also, I'm going to have removable decals for the helmet and chest piece so that I can do a Fett and use most of the same pieces. Finally, I will definately be ordering the knee pads... I can't make those myself. I do also plan on making both functional paintball/nerf weapons as well as wooden nonfiring replicas for both.

Okay... went to Wally world last weekend... I now have material for my chest and back plates... unfortunately I haven't even started the "soft armor" stuff though... I'll be using my issued flight suits as a template, I'm thinking about hand making the helmet if anybody has any suggestions. I'll be starting work sometime this week... maybe this weekend.

Kal'ika

Hand made is the best way to do a helmet! plenty of tutorial around here somewhere...try a search...if that doesnt work PM me and I'll walk ya through it.

awesome! thanks ner vod.

Okay... good news! I have the plates cut out for the torso and shoulders on my mando! Still in rough shape tho... will post pics when they're cleaned up a little bit.

Kal'ika

Okay, so after a few days of hard work on this stuff... I now have cut and trimmed plates... still need to do some small forming work but they're almost ready to paint

thank you! actually my collar plate is still a lil big, so I'll probably have to take the dremel to it again... but i think it turned out fairly well to be honest.

I'll give you a little advice on sizing in your plates:

1) You want the outside top corner of the chest plate to match the bottom outside corner of the collar plate. If it does extend over, then no more than an inch or it will be uncomfortable and look to big.

2) Gaps between your chest and collar armor need to be big enough to fit your thum through at the diamond. Index finger spacing between diamond and chest, and 1-2 thumb spacing from chest to ab plate. If you try to push it more than this, you run into your armor having way to much gap and looking to stretched out.

What you have so far looks great!

Thanks Mandalore! I'm actually going to be checking the fit again this weekend... the problem I keep running into is I'm not sure how it'll fit with the flak vest.

Okay... just wanted to give an update... I'll be starting the helmet for mine and the hard plates for Fi's armor this weekend... maybe even a lil before then. I'm also now going to be doing armor for a group of friends... about seven sets total. These are my closest friends, so close they're family. I really believe in the "family is more than bloodlines" ideaology. That being said, I'm sort of the head of this little clan, so to speak. So I guess it has fallen to me to design their armor... oh well. I guess Kal'ika is going to be more like Kal'buir from now on! lol More pics and updates to come!

Kal'ika

Can't wait to see vod!!!

Don't worry... I'll keep the updates going. I'm going to be working on it some this weekend so... more to come!

Kal'ika

Okay, This is a quick update and... a cry for help. I have all the plates for my mando cut, they're still waiting shaping and paint... have to wait for the next paycheck for that... I need a heat gun and paint. Working on getting the flight suit lined up. I hope Ladysewforus will be willing to stitch our custom flightsuits. Helmets are started, I'll be finishing those up over the next couple of weekends. I will also be putting in a lot of work tomorrow... after I mow the yard (the wife's gettin' a little irritated).

Now, here's where I need help:
First, I need two sets of low cost/high quality gauntlets. I DO NOT have the skills necessary to actually build the gauntlets.
Second, I have created an amazing design for my custom verpine assault carbine. I want to do a hard rubber cast of it (we call those rubber ducks in the mil) and possibly several casts for distribution. I need help figuring out how to do this.

Kal

Suc'cy gar vode, I have now shaped the plates for my suit, just need to paint them and get a vest and that part will be done. I checked the fit and they fit great, may need a little more trimmed of the ab plate but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I need some help getting a couple sets of gauntlets. Helmets are started... currently working on the shaping them into an oval part. Also, I still need help with the molding/casting of the rifles.

Kal

Okay... new Ideas! First... I'm working with another member of this forum to try to get a couple of custom made flightsuits. They will be a cross between standard milspec flightsuits, the standard Fett flightsuit and the crye precision combat shirt as seen here.

Also had an idea for a different backplate. I found this on google images and thought... hmm... I wonder if I could modify that to fit our mandos... I then decided to give it a try. So, I'm going to sketch the redesign... but this is the basic idea that I found.

Finally, The rifle pictured here is the prepro concept for my new MandaVerp Assault Carbine. Please don't rip off my idea on this, because I plan to mass produce (in limited runs) this particular design in a non-firing rigid rubber/plastic format that we in the military call "rubber duckies." I will then offer them for sale at a reasonable price.

My plates had been heat formed... but somehow over night they lost their shape... so I will have to do some shopping around and find a heat gun to do some proper shaping of these plates. I get paid friday, so there will be some major work done this weekend.

I Still need some help finding a reasonably priced set of boba gauntlets that can be easily modified, and the flack vest. Any help would be appreciated!

Kal

Here's the two variants of the MandaVerp that I have right now... I'm currently working on both versions.

Kal

I like the second variation with the folding bipod.

Yeah I do too... I like them both actually. I am in the process of "reimagining" both of our mandos right now. I have the plates done for mine minus the paint and am starting the helmets for both right now.

Kal

i think that in you scetch it would look better if the red on your mando was changed to blue. it just seems like to many colors. i really like the big uns they're gonna be so cool.

Actually... I'm looking at some new colors and I'm doing a few modifications to the suit as is... I'll post those when I can.

Now, how did I miss this?... Great concept pics! Love the colors. But I agree with BamFett, to many different colors. The verpine design looks great, though a challenge to build with how big they are. Will you do the whole thing from scratch? Good luck with it!

I am not building it all from scratch... I've got my plates made, mostly painted. I'm sticking with my many colors! lol, I'm going to use standard Fett gauntlets so that IF I decide to do a Fett later, I can and I won't need new gauntlets, and the blue is my clan color (the white detailing on the sholders is a Kentucky Wildcat silouette crossed with a sabertooth skull)... but there are a few changes to the actual design at this point... I'll post the new concepts eventually. As for my verp... I'm actually building on airsoft parts; a few pieces from a nerf longshot, a little paint and voila! lol I Designed it based on the Magpul VIS-1 MUR combined with a Nerf Longshot Front end. The problem I have right now is that the Nerf frontend is literally bigger than my MUR upper and standard lower put together. So, I'm going to have to do some "modding." But that's where I am right now.

Kal

Okay, here's the plates for my armor set. They have a hammered bronze basecoat (Krylon Fusion Metallic) and are finished in Satin Italian Olive also from Krylon. I used masking tape to put the "weathering" on the armor exposing some of the basecoat. The shoulder plates will be Royal Blue/True Blue depending on which I can find in Satin finish.

Kal

Sweet! Love the copper look. So first you painted the whole thing copper, then put masking tape over the parts you wanted to weather and then painted it that green/grey color and took the tape off? Instant easy weather, great idea! i might do that with silver... Lol I figure that it was a longshot. Good idea to use it.

Yup, that's exactly what I did. Yeah, I'm actually going to have to cut some off the top and bottom back end of the longshot barrel though so that it will mate up with my rifle properly.

Hey Kal, Ill be watching this thread a lot! My wife and I are just starting our mandos. Still researching and sourceing things. Were going to make it all ourselves as well, though it'll be easier since our Beskar will be matching. Were sort of a matched set in real life so it fits. Looking forward to seeing more progress on your builds!
Mike

Awesome! Glad I can be of some use! lol We're pretty well matched too, it's just I'm a little more tactical/practical in my armor choice, that and I'm trying to double up parts usage whereas hers has to be entirely customized.

Kal

Yeah Kal, I wish I would have started this a month ago. It would have been fun to bounce ideas around. I'll be content to watch and learn. Ive sent a few PM's about the FM chest armor, nothing back yet. Hope to see some more progress shots soon vod, don't let me catch up to you
Mike

Yeah I'm having the same problem with the fem armor... also a little bit delayed due to cost and the fact that my wife is trying to lose weight so... lol obvious delays there since i don't want to have to resize it ten times. I'm making changes to the actual designs so I'll post those soon.

Awesome, vod! The bronze is shweeet. Kandosii!

thanks!

I love the hammered look copper, I used it on my first set of black & purple armor, trying to get an acid burn look, I like how it turned out.

I just did a minor update on my white fang bucket if you wanna check it out.

glad u like it! I'm actually trying to find the right paint for the shoulders and the material for the vest and FS... I got plastic to start my gauntlets with, we'll see how those turn out I guess. But first... I have to mow the yard, and then... off to the range! I've got a M9 qual coming up and haven't shot in over 6 months... oh boy...lol

Kal

Okay, here's the new dope on our mandos. Fi is no longer wanting to be a sniper, since she's studying to be a nurse, she's decided to go with the whole medic route. I am maintaining my Air Liason Officer/scout functions but I will not be a "sniper" instead, I'll be going with the term... Squad Designated Marksman. Our armor schemes are definately finished now, we're both doing away with the cloaks, She's going to a Kama and I'm going with a Shemagh wrapped around the neck. As for the colors on mine... since they're hard to distinguish, My plates are Italian olive and Wildcat Blue, with grey primer on the cheeks of the helmet. Her plates are Wildcat Blue, black and white. Both of us have hammered copper metallic Krylon for the basecoat to give it that bronze beskar'gam appearance where the "weathering" has been added. Fi's new weapon is a modified MandalVerp Compact PDW.

Some awesome drawing skills there ner'vod. Looks really good! Can't wait to see the construction of them! Good luck!

thank you, thank you very much. Mine's about 50% finished, her mando's not started yet... I'll be painting up some shoulder plates very soon AND... I'm hoping to get my Flightsuit and Vest sewn up within the next 2 weeks.

UPDATES!!! and... PICTURES!!! lol Here's the completed (almost) vest for my custom mando... still working out a few kinks... my wife even said she's impressed with how it turned out. I'm going to be using a cut up old t-shirt and some padding for the lining... will be putting a roll over edge around it in the grey vinyl and probably going to be reworking the shoulder pads a little... and yes, that's a Commander Cody style comlink booster antenna on the right shoulder, gotta talk to our flyboys!

Kal

Haha, hooah to the antenna! Good work there kal'ika. Kandosii, vod! Glad the vest is working out. I assume you got that figured out without my nonexistent help(sorry about that, I havent been on for a while) and it looks great too!

Still following your husband/wife build! Nice color choices. A Mando Medic?AwEsOmE....totally kicks bum. As another matter of coincedence..my wife's a nurse too (an RPN at a nursing home)....very cool. Ill keep watching. What are you doing about buckets.....I could buy mine (though Im probably not going to) but my wife has a small melon, so If I go full custom and scuplt my own, the two buckets will be different sizes. Take
care.
Mike

Well Ordeyn... I wouldn't say that. I used my issued vest from work for a pattern; laid the vinyl over it and went to cutting in the shape of a mando vest using yours for reference. I'm having to redo my antenna unfortunately... I put it on at the wrong angle and it pegs me in the face when I put my vest on (crazy I know).

Miqt... Thanks for the compliments, yeah it took seeing a young vod named Isabet Reau's mando before I thought of the medic role. As for bu'cuiise I plan on making both, but I may have to buy them due to lack of skill in that department. I will be making my own gauntlets now... I'm planning on doing a few special tricks with those. We wear different sizes too actually, but with her hair braided properly she should be able to fit the same size bucket.

Kal

I hope you don't mind if I laugh but I read "...pegs me in the face..." and couldn't help it. Are you going to shorten it or something? Or just tilt it a few degrees?

Kandosii Kal'ika!!! Looking good!!! This is the first time ive seen the final drawing (must have missed it somehow...), and that is AWESOME!!!

lol thanks a'den, and yeah Ord'ika it's funny I know... I laughed myself when it happened... I don't want to shorten it, I just finished changing the cant and tilt on it, hopefully that will correct the problems.

It's hard finding time to work on it right now... and money! lol I'm working long days right now... and still short on cash. I'm out of blue paint now! lol Once I have my vest finished I'll start my gauntlets and when those are done I'll be starting my Cyar'ika's (Fi's) armor.

Her name is Felicia... I've called her Fi since before Karen published the Republic Commando series and ironically...lol but it fits her well, so that is her mando's name as well.

Originally Posted by kal'ika

lol thanks a'den, and yeah Ord'ika it's funny I know... I laughed myself when it happened... I don't want to shorten it, I just finished changing the cant and tilt on it, hopefully that will correct the problems.

It's hard finding time to work on it right now... and money! lol I'm working long days right now... and still short on cash. I'm out of blue paint now! lol Once I have my vest finished I'll start my gauntlets and when those are done I'll be starting my Cyar'ika's (Fi's) armor.

Her name is Felicia... I've called her Fi since before Karen published the Republic Commando series and ironically...lol but it fits her well, so that is her mando's name as well.

Money, money, money! If only we were all millionaires.

Originally Posted by Ordeyn

Money, money, money! If only we were all millionaires.

Then we'd pay someone else to make our armour for us, and that just wouldnt be as fun!

how true! lol on the plus side... I have the stuff to make my gauntlets already so I guess I'll start working on that tonight maybe, I have a fitness test coming up sometime soon so I'm having to really work my butt off trying to max it.

Okay vode... I need some help here. I'm working on my gauntlets, but they're not turning out quite the way I want them to. I need suggestions, I think maybe it's the material I'm working with is too think and tough... but I wanted the tougher plastic for the base. Also, I have a design idea I wanted to run by everybody. Instead of the usual "rocket" shaped conical blaster on the left gaunt... I'm wanting to throw on something different. I'm puting a "vibroblade" in a retracable configuration in the front of the left gauntlet since I'm left handed. I was thinking about putting a "tri-shot" wrist blaster like the droids use on SW Battlefront. It'd probably be a three barrel configuration with a slight offset to get some spread. I'm imagining using this as a CQB self defense weapon.

What material are you working with thats so tough? Post a pic? I like to work with 0.080 and 0.125 HIPS PVC is just fine too. My plan for the 4 gauntlets that I'll be into will involve PVC pipe forming the under portion, I think a vinyl hinge, or magnets, or seamless, and a HIPS custom upper. Ill mock it up in cardboard or leftover foamboard (yuck) and then just start building boxes with the HIPS using dremel and guck to round some edges. I like the idea of the tri-shot esp. since I hav'nt seen that yet!
Mike

umm... trying to use left over trashcan scraps for the actual gauntlet and the detailing is going to be done up with sintra for sale signs. Those I don't expect problems with... but the trashcan plastic is not forming properly... even though it worked fine for the rest of my armor.

How are those gauntlets coming along? Will the FS signs be strong enough? I was thinking 4" or even 6" pvc pipe cut length-wise for the bottom shell and Styrene in .060 for the top....nice and rigid, magnetic closure probably. Can you get Styrene (HIPS) where you are, or have you ever worked with it? Its very forgiving and dead easy to make anything boxy
(like gaunt tops). Once its hot its a pain like any other thermoplastic if its heated unevenly.....or even if its heated evenly its still a pain IMO. Its got that critical few moments to it that metal doesnt have. |-( doh!
Hope you're still clipping along (time for a fresh pic or 2 don't ya think)
Mike

lol ok here's an update for ya... I've stalled on the gauntlets for the moment... I've got all that plastic already cut from the trash cans, so I'm going to try to work that into the shells this week. I've also got the low grade plastic for the detailing, so I'll be working on that later this week too (I Hope). My family is dragging me on yet another trip to disney this weekend, so I don't expect to get too much done, my wife and daughter are a lil weird about me taking my hobby "work" with me on "vacation." As for the why I have not made progress this week... well my mother gave my wife a sewing machine... I learned how to use it... by redoing my vest. I just need to attach velcro to the new vest and It'll be done. I'm also considering redoing my backplate into a segmented overlapping set to provide more flexibility. If I do... I'll use my old backplate to test it for durability against airsoft rounds just incase I decide to wear it one day that I go to play . As for pictures, I'll take a few sometime in the next day or two and get them up ASAP.

Here's a sketch I did just for the fun of it... It's my squad, Direcat Squad. The entire squad is based on people that are very close friends of mine, and everyone is specialized. Chris is the pilot, Jayce is our "acquisitions" guy, Snips is the martial arts expert, Lexi's our slicer, Fi's the Medic, I'm the leader/Forward Air Controller, and Shannyn is our squad psycho and explosives afficionado.

Okay, here's an update... since I know I haven't posted recently enough to avoid A'den and Adonian's wrath...lol. Okay, I've got the parts for my gaunts cut and shaped, just need to bond them and glass 'em. I've got my new vest made, plates attached and it looks okay, except... the shoulder plates stick out and don't roll with my shoulders, so... I'm trying to figure out how to solve this problem. Right now my vest is a grey vinyl "Jango" type with velcro side closures... I'm thinking the solution is to go with a cloth "Boba" type, but that'll be a lil while before I can adjust. The flight suit will be done in a few weeks, until then I have a pair of grey fatigues that used to belong to my dad back in the day when he was my age (and size) and just out of the KSP academy. My rifle is still a work in progress as is my sidearm, but... I do have my shemagh now! I found my blue/green/tan one that I used for OPFOR roleplaying for a local training ex back home a couple years ago. Now all I need to do is get a bucket, paint it, glass my gaunts and paint them, rig up my knee pads and groin plate and paint those, and get the rest of my webgear and weapons, then mine will finally be done... and I can start on Fi's! lol

Kal

Good!!! glad to see an update...can I be pushy and ask for pics?

Your amazing artwork has diverted my wrath until now...so now I need pics!!!


A'den

lol yeah I'll try to get some pics up this weekend A'den, Almost there! lol

Alas! I must report some sad news... due to some personal reasons, and the local weather... I was unable to complete my gaunts this weekend, and have no pics to post. We lost a close friend of the family about an hour ago after a week long battle in the ICU back home. His one wish was to be home in the mountains when he passed, they were going to send him back tomorrow morning... he didn't even make it home. I'll be working some this week tho.

Kal

I have gaunts! well... sort of... they're still awaiting some bondo-glass application and paint, but they're assembled, preped and ready to glass! Here are some progress pics, and yes they're being held together with duct tape... goofy I know, but it's the only way I could get the shell to hold it's shape, and It's actually a lot easier to position the other chunks that way. They're not the best, but they'll work for now. Still not sure if this is how my tri-shot will be situated in the long run.

Kal

Okay... yet another update! two in the same day I'm on a roll... I have encased my gaunts in bondo-glass... which once it cures will leave me with a pair of fiberglass gaunts, that will only need a lil TLC with a dremel and paint... then they'll be done. I did change the config of the tri-shot. It's now lower on the body of the gaunt, I relocated another portion of the original frame to above the tri-shot and enlarged the barrels by wrapping duct tape around the cylinders of the ink pen bodies that i used. I'll also be resketching my armor to include some concepts regarding the addition of a piece to the helmet inspired by Mereel.

Kal

Nice level of detail, man. Don't mind me, just browsing around.

why thank you... and no prob.

Wow
Looks great


I'm just curious about how you made those gauntlets

Thanks! He he me too...lol seriously I cut all the pieces from some for sale signs I got at the BX for 50 cents... Used loctite and bondo gel to fit the pieces to the shells, and then reinforced everything with duct tape prior to glassing. As for shaping the shells, that took forever to figure out, but I connected the top and botom halves with a slight bend, then headed them so they'd bend easier. After that, I squeezed the shells until they were in the shape I needed, then... I put duct tape across the ends to hold the shape, then I photo'd them and glassed 'em. Still have to dremel the excess glass off and fix the detail back to how it should be, then I'll post more pics. I did find a much better way to do the barrels than what is shown.

Okay... gaunts are glassed and sanded! They look fairly decent... BUT, I accidently dremeled a lil too far into the gaunts and knocked a few small holes in 'em. I have some quick hardening epoxy putty I am thinking about using to fix these holes. Any tips? I also have another dilemma... when I finished sanding, I found that there are lots of small fissures and pits in the fiberglass that cannot be sanded out due to various issues with depth and such. Any tips on that? I'll get some pics up shortly... waiting on the camera to recharge. Once I've got these issues figured out, I can paint, attach hoses and I'll be good to go, minus the helmet, groin and soft parts.

Kal

Okay, as promised here are some pics... any advice on how to clean them up would be greatly appreciated.

Kal

80 grit sand paper ner vod. Just sand em down then pack more bondo on the low spots then repeat. Takes forever, BUT, it looks really nice in the end.

Looking good, Vode.

Looks to be a very intersting mando!

Good Luck,

Pacx

Thanks vode, here's the really sad part... I'm only halfway - 75% finished, but I am already thinking of upgrades I can do to my kit, ways to improve it. Here's another idea of mine, actually did the shemagh in the right colors this time too. This is however, not the official version at the moment.

Kal

Okay, just a short update... I did glass/tape/paint my gaunts... but they don't look that good, so I think I'll be reworking them a lil bit. Waiting to hear back from A'den about a bucket or two. BTW, for ur awareness... We got our new assignment tonight, we'll be moving to Oklahoma by the end of the year, and I've been renamed... I'm now "Waco." That's about it for now.

Kal

Sorry for the wait vod!!! PM sent.

No prob ner vod... I'm actually really bogged down in the hardware department right now. Softparts are at a standstill... gaunts are on hold 'til payday when I can work on 'em more. I think the ones I have will go to either Jayce or Fi. My antenna broke off of my shoulder plate so I'll have to do a lot of repair work there, may even rebuild both my shoulder plates. Still need a groin plate and weapons, big sale on some good nerf kit over at Toys'R'Us right now so may pick up a few pieces around pay day.

Kal

Okay, I have bad news vode... due to some financial issues that have arrisen, all work on our mandos that cannot be done with what I already have in my possession will be stopped. So here's a rundown of what I can... theoretically work on.

1. I can work on some of my softparts, i.e. vest, flightsuit...but that will have to wait until my buir (mother) comes back to visit so she can show me how to run this sewing machine she gave me.

2. I can continue to develop my armor plan, I have a few mods to sketch up for consideration, I'll be sure to share them with y'all to get some opinions.

3. I have my couple of Nerf guns to work with, still need a few others and parts but such purchases are on hold until further notice.

4. Gaunts... yeah... gaunts... umm...lol

5. Bucket, well... I have stuff to make it... don't have the expertise tho

so that's it in a nutshell... I'll update again when I have something else to report.

Kal

Okay... I need help... I'm working on my custom gun. Or at least trying to. I have found a lot of cool customized airsoft guns that I really like, based on the Echo1/AirsoftGI Zombat/ZombieKiller carbines. Also, I went into photoshop, hacked apart a few real steel guns to come up with a few concepts, and finally, added in my sketch for my original MVARS concept. Basically... pick the model u like and post the number... maybe with a few comments/ideas on how to build it up, make it mando'karla.

Kal

Okay, I dig most of them, because they're based on the M4 carbine, and I miss mine, but I'd have to go with number 1 because of the under barrel launcher. There's just something beautiful about a guy who carries not only an assault rifle, but also a grenade launcher.

If it were my build I'd probably snag an Airsoft M4 or M-16 type gun, and then just add a PVC tube painted black beneath the hand grip. Fashioning a slide so that you can "load rounds" like an actual M203 (M4 with a grenade launcher beneath the barrel). That's just me.

Man I miss that weapon. Load it up, aim, and THOOMP! Off she goes. *sigh* You've got me all nastolgic for the Army.

he he he... I'm AF, they don't let me have a 203 but I do get to play with my M4 from time to time! lol. Yeah, my concepts for the rifle were inspired by my issued carbine, btw... #2 has an underbarrel launcher to, it's got a Nerf Longshot frontend, the underbarrel functions as a "microdet launcher" lol. But... yeah I like the 40 mike mike because it allows a wide variety of rounds, and it will actually work during airsoft matches!

Waco

i like guns in general. all guns are good as long as theyre not pink. i think,however, i prefer nr 2 with a different, more spacy/starwarsy butt. it just looks awesome.

do you play airsoft? since your using airsoft guns i mean.
i play and have a steyr AUG, love but wannt some more rails for it... you can never have enough rails