Mandalorian helmet/armor in progress.

Blue jay

Jr Hunter
HEllos, all!
I have been reading numerous threads on this site since a few months ago.
I have been working on creating a set of armor-ish clothing, and am so far very UNsuccesful...
I think my first mistake was trying to use cardboard, but that's just me.
Any suggestions? For my buy'ce I'm using a clone trooper voice changer helmet. AS I have no idea how to modify it correctly so it fits mando standards, I need help.
I got a white binder that's made outta some kinda plastic mixed with something bendy, and am planning on cutting that up to make my chest plates.
I am trying to think of something else to use besides PVC (I basically took a strip of carboard, glued some bendy pipes on it, painted it all red, attached some elastic, and called it a thigh guard) and cardboard for leg armor.
Anyways, I need suggestions.
I have a limited budget (Like, next to nothing) as I am under 15 and basically can't AFFORD the 2000 dollar expense of getting an extremely detailed mando suit.
Going on vacation tomorrow, so I'll be checking in from library computers every 3 days or so.
Thank you for the time you took reading this message.
And thanks even more for your reply.
 
First, don't get discouraged. Several members have developed quite wonderful gear without very much money--you just have to shop around. Another suggestion people make quite often is to work slowly. Concentrate on one part and do the best you can. Then move on to another. When you are "finished," or when you can afford it, upgrade. Save up your money or ask for a holiday gift something you've researched, etc.

For armor, research using a plastic trash can. The pieces can be heated with many kinds of hair dryers (though a heat gun works much better) and formed. Don't skip the research on safety stuff. Hot plastic sucks.

For gauntlets, well, there're lots of opinions. I have a set of Fett gauntlets I haven't worked yet, I've got a few foam bucks I'll eventually form my own gauntlet plastic on, some people go with sports shin guards, others use the forearm plates from storm- and clone trooper gear, and still others use pre-made cylindrical plastic or metal. Most all of these will need modifying. Actually, in your case, your age might be to your advantage. You might be able to use something that is currently being used as something else as the base for your gauntlets until upgrade that most of us can't because of our size.

Good luck.
 
Yuppers! Trash cans are cheap at Wal-mart. I myself used cans and a hair dryer, but using the hair dryer isn't the greatest for big shifts from the plastics original form. Just keep that in mind and place your templates carefully.

Keep your spirits up, work hard, and best of luck to you!
 
for gauntlets, may i suggest trying a half gallon cups? the kind you can get from fast food restaurants? Late one night, while working on my ghostbusters/mandalorian/movie projects, I happened to look at a half gallon plastic cup full of Mt. Dew and realize it was about the perfect size to fit my forearm. I just took out my pocket knife, cut a hole in the bottom, dremeled it in an oblong shape to BARELY slip my hand through and put her on.

i like it. its not a perect shape and its not a very sturdy material, but with paint and some dressing, it'll certainly be a fair imitation. not bad, seeing as how its free.

gauntletcups005.jpg


gauntletcups002.jpg


gauntletcups004.jpg


just a suggestion
 
Any suggestions? For my buy'ce I'm using a clone trooper voice changer helmet. AS I have no idea how to modify it correctly so it fits mando standards, I need help.

If you're going to have your clone mod mando checked then, as far as the 2009 mando mercs rules go, each bucket is an individual case, fortunately, A'den Skirata is around here (as he is the one who takes applications for the mando mercs) and he might be able to advise you as you progress.

A cheap shill I know, but if you want to save up for a cheap bucket I make fiberglass mando helmets for about £70 plus postage, though I'll be on my hols for a while, I'll probably knock up a batch when I get back.

If you can spend a little more, then I am currently doing an interest list for one of my art pieces which will be about £100 plus postage.

I feel a little dirty now, so to clean myself up:

Make a drawing of the clone helmet then use card or plastic to make the basic shape changes, use Bondo (or car body filler) to smooth out any joints etc.

As for other pieces, check out the awful guns and bits and bobs in a dollar store, then hack them apart to make bits and bobs on your gauntlets :)

There, less shilly now :D
 
Shoot me a P.M. I am 13 and have a bunch of tips for you. :) I have built a boba (not too good) and a heavy mando, and am starting on a speeder bike, so you CAN do it. :)lol:lol::lol:) It's a lot of fun, P.S. on your gaunts, use the powerade bottles you can find at sav-on, they look wicked, but AWESOME.
 
THanks, everyone!
ioelus: How much do most trashcans cost, and how long would it take to heat them up enough to cut with scissors?
*incredulous gape*

Django: Your gauntlet idea is great, and with a few 'bits and bobs' from the dollar store, I'll probably be able to make something cool.
I'm using acrylic paint, will that stick on the plastic and make it opaque, or will the letters and colors still show up?
(BTW, nice spray-painted maverick in the background, I wish I were old enough to buy spraypaint, and my mom never gets it for me...)


Saz, what kind of 'bits and bobs' exactly? I know dollartree has lots of stuff, but most of it will fall apart the second you take the plastic stuff.


Fractal-fett, what on earth is sav-on, and what's powerade?(I will P.M. you as soon as I figure out how :D.
 
Saz, what kind of 'bits and bobs' exactly? I know dollartree has lots of stuff, but most of it will fall apart the second you take the plastic stuff.

Toy guns, nuts and bolts, even packets of cheap dental floss that have interesting plastic boxes.

Just have a look around, if the shape looks star warsy then go for it.
 
FIgured I post here seeing as I am starting my own built of Mandalorian Armor. So far what I have done is take some white construction paper (and I am still working through that) and make the armor shapes that I want. Then I cut them out (with a lot of fitting and checking over) I made something that I could trace onto a peace of cardboard to make for armor.

Basically, you can make armor mostly out of anything if you look at it in a way. My budget is limited as well which is why I am building my armor out of cardboard. I already have searched through my home and found many peaces of cardboard that I could use to make my unique mandalorian armor.

Now as for a helmet I have no clue how you are going to fit mandalorian standards with a voice changer helmet but what I can help you with is search the internet for one of those rubies jango fett helmets and go from there. My guess is go on ebay and search up Jango Fett helmets. I have not gotten mine yet as the helmet is the last thing I am going for but it will help.

Now aside from gatorade bottles why not making the gauntlets out of cardboard as well and fit them to your arm. All in all it is your decision of what you want to do for your work. Hey if you had a concept sketch of what you want I am sure we could help you out more with the materials.

Good luck in your work!!!!!
 
To be honest, I'm not really that good with computers, and if I had any idea how to upload pictures onto my comp and then upload them here, I already would have...
Gauntlets: Half gallon/big cup, 'bits and bobs', acrylicly painted orange with red stripes.
Thigh guards: Cardboard strip, some bendy see-through PVC pipes glued and taped on, and all painted red.

Knee/shin guards: ????

Chestplates: White plastic, heated up to an estimated 30 secs, then cut with scissors...

BAckplates: ????

NEck armour: ????

Shoulder plates: Possibly PVC pipes hooked up to the neck armour.

Helmet: Modified clone trooper voice changer buy'ce. (Maybe tape on the visor, which I could paint red...? I have actually already tried it, but to no real-looking avail)

If you guys could *sigh* give me a tutorial on how to upload pics, I could probably help you out more...
 
Well, I've been looking around, and I think the idea of scarf wraps on certain areas of the costume may look good, but may get a little...too...feminine...
(I'm a boy)
(I REALLY hope you never thought different)
(or else I'll...do something)
PErhaps on the knees or certain areas of the arms?
 
Through my comi-con visits and a little web surfing I found a few male mandalorians wearing scarfs (as you call them) around their neck. I believe it is a well rounded idea as you can take any t-shirt and make it into something that covers the neck or something close to that.

If you have a myspace upload your photos to there and then go to the photo right click, go down to properties, and copy the URL. Then come here and insert the picture using [*i*m*g*] URL [*/*i*m*g*] take away the stars though when doing it. Very simple if you have a myspace account though?
 
Don't have myspace...

Me habs question: Does a rubies helmet only cover your face, or does it go all the way around like a buy'ce should?
Thinking of buying and customizing one of those.
 
What's the difference between a two-piece and a one-piece?
And a deluxe rubies helmet?
WAAAAY too confusing...why do they even bother?!
 
O.K.

2 piece is 2 pieces, so you have to keep it together some how, but it is bigger than the one piece/ Deluxe, I'm not sure about, but all rubies will warp in the heat of the sun, so you have to strengthen them.

Also, the lower portion of the visor is plastic, with an semi transparent "lens" on the top.

Hope that helped. :)
 
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