Feedback needed for new variant

Di Than Coda

New Hunter
Hey Gang,

I have finally finished my first Mando variant and wanted to see if it could pass TDH muster. I have many of you to thank for helping me get the project this far. And while it is not entirely finished (there’s always something more to do), I never would have gotten to this point without all of your ideas, explanations, examples and knowledge. A special vor’e to Marrow-Sun for the exceptional bucket.

Helmet: Crafted by TDH’s very own Marrow-Sun this bucket originally came in a brass/pewter color. It’s been painted to match the color scheme and markings of the main character from my first novel (unpublished). I am toying with the idea of returning it to the original color, excluding the three indentations on the crown of the helmet, which would remain blacked out.

Flak-Vest: The vest is a new take on the classic Mandalorian design and combines traditional Mando armor with flak jackets worn by the US military.

Leggings: The leggings are a combination of Jango Fett’s tri-sided shin armor and the military-style legging American soldiers wore during World War II (if you’ve ever seen Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan you know what I’m talking about).

Blaster of Choice: Unlike the highly specialized Westar 34, its predecessor, the Westar 30, is not made of dallorian alloy. While it cannot match the 34 for sustained-fire the Westar 30 does have a higher capacity than its rarer and more expensive successor (I just made that up, it sounded pretty good though). I am in the process of fabricating a heavy-blaster to replace the Westar.

Comments, critiques (no matter how brutal), improvements and ideas for changes would be appreciated. Thanks all.

Coda



Tenebrae Factae Sunt -- Night has Fallen

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I think you have a supreme Mandalorian (you don't need to call it a variant) costume. You get some chest armor on the vest and your in the door man =)

On your leggings, I assume you mean the gaiters (can also be called spats) like were worn in WWII. They look great, you've given your mando a very original look and it stands out well.

Was that a normal Boba/Jango helmet or one of MS's custom helmets? I wouldn't change the color, it mixes well.

All you need is your chest armor and you'll be set man, great job!
 
I think it looks great! I love the vest/armor combo. Is your helmet a scratch build? It's a nice looking bucket. My only suggestion would be dirty it up a bit more. Again Very nice!

Oh, I think I have those same gloves!
 
Personally I'm not much for the Armor *inside* the vest, as the rest of your armor plating is external. Almost looks like your not wearing armor at all. If you could find a way to vary the armor plating inside the chest a little, I'd think it'd be a lot better overall. I guess I just am used to the Weathering and Contrast on more "traditional" mandos ^_^

Im assuming you kinda went for a "Bulletproof Vest" sorta look?

You did a Great job anyway!
 
I really like this. There's something about the way you've done the flak vest/armor combo that's very fresh and different. I'd love to see how you went about achieving this. Surely there's more to it than sewing carefully around the plates. Progress pix? What version armor are you using in there? I think I will second the point about some armor being external--perhaps your shoulder plates should be covered in the same way as the torso plates as well? I'd like to see some more pictures of the whole suit, too. Did you plan on weathering the flak, or have you and I can't see it in the pictures?
 
I'm loving the stitched-in chest armor. Unique idea, good execution. It would be cool to try that look on the rest of the cod, shoulder and thigh armor, etc.

I'm less excited about the camouflage suit, though. Seems too rooted in reality. Maybe a dark brown or gray flight suit would look good too.
 
Overall I think it looks pretty flippin sweet. I agree that the shoulder plated might look better sewn in but other than that it just needs some dirt.
 
I like it!!!!! Very innovative approach. You know what might look really cool...weathering wise that is....Maybe have some torn areas in the fabric covering your chest armour so you can see bits of the armour underneath??? If you had silver armour underneath, with bits of it showing through the with darkened scorch marks on the fabric, that might look wicked cool!!! Just an idea.Great job. As other have said...dirty it up a bit more!! ;)
D
 
It might look pretty cool if you put armour on top off the padding :)

The padding is the armor though, just a different twist.

Personally, I think it's a nice innovative move and is something highly original. Have you thought about coloring the "armor" portions of the vest to contrast them a little better? I think that would be the only real improvement you could make to this set.
 
I think it looks great. The armour plates on the chest look A _tad_ too big.The stomach also. Just an inch or so. But thats just me.

I think its a pretty kewl look though. Definatelly starwarsish.

Stealth commando.

I always thought that having the armour half sewn in would be a neat idea. Like 2 plates of armour a top layer over the vest, and an under layer, with the cloth sandwiched in between, so that the vest was perfectly attached all the way around. So the armour couldnt lift away from the vest at all. This is the next step past that:)
 
Ahh I see now why it looks strange to me, Theres no collar armour, so you made the plates a lot bigger.

Id work in a collar piece and shrink the armour down. But now were talking personal preference and not review. Review wise you did a killer job.
 
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