First attempt: Mando Build

Hi,
I have been a member for a few months now and think I have learned enugh from reading everyones posts to either make a good suit or horribly emabrass myself....

So I got my Sintra and started cutting the pieces (Thanks for use of your templates Alan!!) But I'm having trouble getting the the curves smooth for the knees and shoulder bells. I was thinking about trying to use a tin can as a form to help ensure that the curves are smooth (providing I find the correct size cans). Anyone have any thoughts or better sudgestions?

I will post pics of my progerss so far sometime this weekend but its going to be a long slow build due to time restrictions (workin fulltime, havin a dog and goin out to drink a few beers with on the weekends takes up time)

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Here is my progress so far. I am attempting to use an old tankers vest as the base. Since I'm not going for a traditional Mando build it should work out ok. The problem is that he collar hangs over some and might need to be trimmed abit. Also looking at it I think I should add 2 plates to the sides to fill in the gaps. Tell me what you think and be brutaly honest (except about my spelling..I know hat sucks and my spell check don't work)

Looking good so far! I agree that maybe two pieces on either side of the back plate might help fill in that space. Check the spacing on your plates: they should be about a finger width from each other unless you want them to overlap in a particular way. As for trimming the collar piece, I say whatever is comfortable for you movement wise you should do. I think it will look fine either way. Great work, keep it up!

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I think your right Ordeyn, here is an idea that I think might work. Maybe intergrate an improvised jetpack into the whole design.

Very nice. And a jet pack would be sweet. :)

I forgot to put WIP: in front of the thread title. Any idea if it is possible to edit? Im not seeing one but I'm not too forum savy.

One WIP prefix set. The plates for the segmented backplate look really good. A good style that keeps with the overall look of the armor.

Thanks for the prefix TX. The helm is going slow but its only the first attempt. Im also going to add some small CO2 tanks (like the ones from a pellet gun) to the back or sides to simulate contained air supply and I still have some surfire helmet lights that I want to intergrate into it somehow. I have lots of ideas but it will take some time to do it right. But I know I will eventualy buy a nice casted bucket.

Good job! You've managed to accomplish what takes some quite awhile to do which is pick a distinctive style for yer armor. Great work and keep us all posted! - Kibiri Foxx

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Thanks Kibiri.
Here are the knee armor so far. I intentionaly turned the sides the opposite way to give it my own touch. They still need lots of work. I was thinking about making them both unique to eachother so 1 could have a few spikes and the other some type of short range weapon. Any ideas?

I say go for it! Asymmetry makes things interesting.

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I havent had much time to work on the suit lately, but here is the progress so far. Im not sure if I want to intergrate the lite on the knee, although it would look nice once its molded in with some bondo.

Not sure why there is a link instead of the pic this time?

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Here is one of the shoulder bells completed with the exception of some weathering to the paint. I figure I will go with the primer grey, blk and od color scheme. Maybe a little red somewhere mixed in. Carving out the skull was not too bad either.

looks good man. do you have any sketchs of what your final costume should look like. i like when people already get the idea in their head.

I like the tankers vest as your base. Very cool and original idea.

The bell looks great. I like that you did a 3-D skull. Most people just paint it on. Nice work. :)

Sorry Shroom, I havent put the design on paper for most of it yet. Im kindof just seeing where each piece takes me and letting it form its self so to speak, but I could try to put to paper the general vision I have.

Darkson, I've still got an old CVC helmet that I thought about eventualy maken a mando helm out of. If I could figure out how to re-wire the speakers and mike to an old iphone I could theoroeticaly have some type voice controls or al least make calls with it on.

That would be sick. I would dig on hooking my iPhone up to my bucket.

haha custom that sounds awesome. the new iphone has plenty of voice comands that would be perfect for that type of setup.

I thought that if I built a small ipod in the range finder it would be functional and I think they have a camera which would give you a live screen.

****, I am lovin the ipod/cam idea!!! Keep me posted man! If i ever do my own armor I am going to make it completely functional with radios, cams,lights, and the whole apple pie!

Talk about being functional, a friend is a gun smith and is making me an EE-3 in .357 cal. Im hyped for that!

Sweet!

haha the full functional helm sounds cool. to bad we dont have HUD technology yet:p

a little bit of reflective tape (like the stuff on glass doors so you can see out but not in) could be used to reflect the image from an ipod nanoscreen on to the inside of the visor making it a HUD. The trick would be the angle of reflection and space inside but it might just work.

itd be sick to put a tiny mirror on the bottom of the range finder so when you put it down youd have a small field of vision behind you.

If you pull all this off you will become like the coolest person on the planet.

Hi, sorry I havent responded or posted any new pics in a long time. Things have very busy and I havent done much work on the armor but hopefily I will be getting the pics from the prototype EE3 soon. The barrel cracked on the test fire so it should be some interesting pictures...and means it will take longer since it has to be rebuilt.

Not bad, keep us posted!

I cant seem to insert the pics of any progress I made on the cold cast I bought from ASOK

I have to see that EE-3!

I like what you've got so far! I hope you can get that fully functional helmet to work.So is that EE-3 going to be a LIVE firearm?!?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShroomSoldier

haha the full functional helm sounds cool. to bad we dont have HUD technology yet:p

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This tech is already out there. Vuzix Tac-Eye Products We are able to use it with some of our robot systems. I'm working on integrating it with the RF and possibly getting the augmented reality suited for the interior of the helmet.

As for a functioning .357 EE-3, sweet idea.

Looks awesome! I cant wait to start on mine! just need some templates for everything...

Its been a while but lets see if I can get these pics to post. I still need to do some weathering and kill stripes on the helmet and some minor work to the gauntlet.[IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...omsin/Helm.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...msin/helm2.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...msin/helm3.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/.../gauntlet2.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/.../gauntlet3.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...rtgauntlet.jpg[/IMG]

Looking good! :D