Mandalorian Pilot- **big pics!**

Haven't posted on here in a while, but I figured I would share a new little custom project I'm working on at the moment. May have it done in time for D*Con if the star align for me.

So what I set out to do was to create a mandalorian pilot, that would look like it belonged in the star wars universe. Looking at the way suits and components were reused in the original trilogy, how would that apply to a mando? I wanted the helmet to look like it had been made right along side the tie pilot, x-wing pilot, and at-at pilot helmets.

Here's my original sketch:


Helmet rotated and cropped:


After drawing this, I decided it should have the mohawk, because the flight helmet that was used for the star wars universe helmets had the ridge, so it would look more canon with it.

Little bit of bondo, epoxy putty, ren-shape foam, super glue, plastic, and spot glaze putty later, I've got this:






Plan is to add the hose attachments onto the back of the mowhawk, little bit like the ep II clone pilot helmets and bring the hoses over my shoulders to the chest box (which I still have to make )

Hope you all enjoy!

sick nasty. I've always loved the idea of a mando pilot and you're going down the right road with the helmet (stick an old vietnam pilot's helmet on top!). This'll be fun to watch

Very cool idea and great work! Can't wait to see more!

WHAT A COOL project. It already looks frickin' SWEET!!

STAY ON TARGET!!! STAY ON TARGET!!!

AWESOME! I really like the concept and I like the art even more. It has a real trilogy feel to it and I think Lucas would approve as well as that McQuary guy. I appreciate you sharing!

Little update. Main colors blocked in and details glued on. Just taped the visor in the helmet for these pics.

looking good

I can't wait to see this baby weathered. Lookin great! Hope you get er done by Dcon. Good luck and keep it up!

I'm digging it all except for the back of the "mohawk". It kind of loses the flow a little bit. What if you did it something like this?

Maybe the addition of the hoses will even it out. Either way, it is a great design. It looks even better than in the sketch.

**** man you totaly beat me on this man...i was thinking about something similar but you came up with this cool...i hope the look catches on cause im going to do me one up like that for sure...just with my own twist on the mohawk...and with red insted of green^^ but anyways great work and great design

looks great man, and i'd have to say that is probably mirror what someone would be for a pilot. Definatly can't wait for the end result

totally awesome

Out-shabla-standing, vod, as always.

MORE MORE MORE!!! Popcorn waiting on this!

Now that my friend, is an awsome piece of kit!
I so wish 'they' would make a Star wars based on Mandolorians!

I'm liking this alot. Kinda reminds me of the SGB kit for converting a regular CT bucket into an AT-TE driver helmet.

I would totally disagree on this. I see where you are coming from, but the design as is hearkens more to a very cool mixture of OT and PT with the current spine of the helmet being somewhat reminiscent to TIE or X-Wing helmets. If the OP added the clone style fin to the back of the helmet, it would place this helmet squarely in PT and in my opinion would begin to look so much like a clone that it wouldn't be easily distinguishable as something totally different. I think this is a very cool build!

Originally Posted by dung0beetle

I'm digging it all except for the back of the "mohawk". It kind of loses the flow a little bit. What if you did it something like this?

Maybe the addition of the hoses will even it out. Either way, it is a great design. It looks even better than in the sketch.

Thanks for the kind words and interest guys. I'm having fun creating this. The fin or mohawk is definitely designed to look like it belongs to the OT right next to the TIE pilots or X-Wing helmets. It'll have a little bit of PT clone pilot look to it with the hoses attaching to the back of the mowhawk. I'm definitely staying much more OT with it, even the markings I'm going to put on the helmet will be more OT and I'm also looking at my "Art of Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back" book at the original Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston sketches and using and being influenced by some of their insignia on the original boba fett sketches.

I promise more pics soon! I'm working as quickly as I can. I got in some blinking lights from a friend, so I'm going to finish up the build of the chest box. Tonight I'm going to put in hose placements on the helmet and start laying out some helmet insignia. more to come...

Can't wait to see more pics,that helmets looking more and more awesome as it develops!

Here's a little update. got some symbols painted and pin striped onto the helmet. Again, visor is just taped in place. I also got the chest box built to the point of primer. Darn humid rainy weather slows down the already slow rustolleum primer I have. Anyway, pics!

Wow, vod. That looks absolutely fantastic.

Wow! Outstanding handiwork!

Yvette

I love it! I played around with drawings of the same idea but never came up with one I liked, but you hit the nail on the head. Good work.

wow nice job! maybe you should try to make a suit that carries some drink helmet, thatway, when your thirsty just take a sip of soda or whatever you want!

This is great! How is it progressing?

Its coming along. The helmet is almost all done. Need to finish painting little symbols and insignia. Definitely taking from the original fett sketches by mcquarrie and johnston. Biggest hickup at the moment is just making the pattern and sewing the flak vest to fit the fett chest armor.

Amazing work, it just feels so true to the OT! Fantastic!

beautiful...just beautiful

this looks absolutely amazing

*so jealous right now*

very creative and well done.

sweet concept and awesome execution

I played a game called Star Wars Galaxies for 6 years. In that game I was a dashing Tie Interceptor Pilot (and one of the best on my server I might add :-) ). I am also very much into stories and the nature of WWI pilots. They were sportsmen. They felt their job was to shoot down planes not men. Great bunch of guys. And fearless considering they were flying around in machines made of wood and canvas!

Before settling on Boba Fett I had originally decided to build a Tie pilot costume based on Baron Fel of the 181st. But seeing this.....well....once I get my Fett built I might have to adopt this for my custom job. If this look catches on you just might have the makings of a squadron of Mandalorian fighter pilots! Heck...the more I look at this the more I think I should scrap the SE Fett project and join your squadron lol If that's ok with you of course!

well idk about you bunch but i am definetly going to make a mando pilot when i finish my open seasons jango...

Well done Vod this looks absolutely beautiful!!! Major props!!

I LOVE how clean it is. It really makes is unique and stand out. Very cool.

Freakin cool bro . Would like to see some weatherin

Don't worry, it'll get weathered. I'm just waiting til I'm all done to do the scratches and paint washes.

Can't wait for the next update!

WOW!!! How did I miss this! OUTSTANDING work, brother!!! This is looking amazing! Keep us posted on your progress...

I'm absolutely speechless. What honestly gets me the most is how late 70's/early 80's this look has, which a lot of custom builds don't seem to incorperate (After all, Star Wars was using parts from the 80's and before, right?). Outstanding work.

i was just wondering but are those legos you used near the edges of the visor?

Originally Posted by BAMfett

i was just wondering but are those legos you used near the edges of the visor?

Nope, Fett knee darts. When I'm doing a custom mando i always try to reuse some little detail piece from somewhere else in Star Wars costumes or props. Just more authentic to the original trilogy that way.

Here's a few pics yanked from some people of me bringing out version 1 of this at Dragon Con this past weekend:

That is freaking sweet!!! I'm working on my own secret project "Fett" for next years ECCC in Seattle, like to see something different and unique. Cheers!!!

O.O WOW! this is amaizing!if i ever get lucky aenought to make something similar to that in my entire life time i'l die a happy man

something seems to be missing from the costume. i feel like there should be more doo-dads on your gloves; and the flight suit should be more light gray like in the concept art, that would really make the whole thing stand out. but that is a BAMF suit, just a couple little things and it would really set a new bar for custom mandos.

awesome

This was so rush slapped together for dragon con. Of the 4 weeks before, 3 of them I was out of town for some of most of the week on business trips (two of them to just outside Atlanta- it was like work was torturing me! lol) I have material to do the grey flight suit, and the wires for the bossk-esque black wires to come down around the legs. It definitely will get a little overhaul when I have time and money. I was just trying to get it done in some fashion for dragon con.

BAD @$$!!

ori'kandosii! The only thing I see (from a flyer's perspective) is that the air hoses are a bit small, I'd beef 'em up a bit but other than that it looks great!

Awesome build, from concept to final product... simply stunning!!

My only concern is the transition point between the two hose sizes at the back of the helm. I might look better to simply continue the larger diameter ribbed hose to the helm, or come up with a coupler of some sort to hide/disguise the transition point.

I also feel that it might need a black Boba style vest under the chest peice to attach the shoulder armor to. They just seem a tad odd just hanging on the flightsuit to me.

I agree with the hoses (see my earlier comment), but I think the vest looks fine, it keeps with the traditional star wars pilot appearance that we see in the movies. I also love the helmet markings. Very nice work all in all, I love it! I need to do one of these kits.

piotr: awesome concepts dude, but may I suggest you start a new thread vs. hijacking this one? That way we can keep track of your progress and offer constructive criticism/praise without overshadowing/underplaying the fine work of Mr LW

Like the helmet.

Very neat concept!

Very nice looking armor!

Hey Mandos,
Piotr's Mando pilot helmet concept look similar to a helmet that is available on the Mando Merc board. As soon an the owner emails me a photo, I'll post it here.

Nice concept.

Here is a photo of the Mando helmet I mentioned earlier. I really think it offers a good base for Piotr mando pilot