Mercs metal Mand'alor armor.

I never put a WIP here for the metal armor I've been working on. If you want to see that, you can hit it up on the Mercs site. For those of you interested in making metal armor, you can find some tips and tricks in that thread.

http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=3029.0

I had started with all aluminum parts, but then in the last couple weeks switched to plate steel for my top and kept the aluminum for the leg, shin, and foot armor.

I still have to put together my metal knees, which I'll do this weekend. Have to have all this ready by the 19th of this month...so running close to time. Jumpsuit also has to be taken in, lost 33 lbs in the last 3 months now and it just doesn't fit as good as it one did (you don't see my crying over that!).











Mercs skull on the left shoulder and Talon Clan symbol on the right breast plate. The back plate is in my shop drying, but is also plate steel. I'll update with a pic of that tomorrow.

Do we get to see the whole thing on you? Also how much does it weigh?

yeah, it'll be on me on the 19th for a photo shoot with our local 501st Garrison.

It's lighter then a full fiberglass set, and stronger. If you get the right thickness of metal, then you can't go wrong. People wanna get the thickest thing they can find, but that's totally the wrong way to go.

Originally Posted by NovallTalon

It's lighter then a full fiberglass set, and stronger. If you get the right thickness of metal, then you can't go wrong. People wanna get the thickest thing they can find, but that's totally the wrong way to go.

Working on metal armor myself, I can attest to this. The aluminum I'm using is 16ga - which is thinner than my current 3mm Sintra plates, and the aluminum actually weighs less, too. The trick to making the thin metal look good is in how you hammer it out, and the edging lip you give it. Mine may be thin, but it looks thick and impervious.

Great job, looking forward to the debut!

Looks awesome man! I wish I could make it the photoshoot

Charlie

I wish you could to Charlie! We'd have around 5 mandos counting your Fett, think about the awesome pics we could get outta that.

Thanks for the compliments guys, I just hope it wears as good as it looks. Can't be any worse then lugging around a ton of fiberglass armor. =D

Armor's on the vest. Just need to add chest display and attach the backplate.

Novall... /drool

Hmm... whut? I think I feinted. That armor is AWESOME!

I approve That is just so... WOW.

/drool moar

-Naas

Very nice setup good sir!

Looks great, you've done a fantastic job. You may want to add some random scratches with a screwdriver so the large un-damaged spaces don't look too clean.

I designed this paint scheme to be weathered over time. It's something kinda cool for metal armor that you can't really apply to the other crafting mediums.

What you do is you sand where you want the paint to stick, then you leave other areas un sanded. Even with self-etching primer, paint has a hard time sticking to smooth metal. So as you wear it, it weathers itself. I'm afraid to add much more then this suit is already going to take in the near future. The right chest weathering was already accidentally initiated when I painted the Talon clan logo on lastinght. Sticky back vinyl paper is pretty strong stuff and pulled some up.

Cool. Looks great, and it sounds like it'll only get better as time goes on.

NovallTalon is there a way we can see what your rolled edges look like? I'm curious to see how you did it.

I don't necessarly roll the edges, I just give them some curve. You really can't get a good roll in the corners because the metal starts to fold in on itself. I'll take some pics of the inside of the armor tonight for you, so you can see what i mean.

BUMP....that was my head hitting the floor....i passed out when i saw that...and ive seen it before!

well done man its flawless!

Ok, nearly done. Metal knees should be together and painted up by the end of the weekend. Using my fiberglass knees in these pics for now since they are white. Also have a kama with cloth upper and a long black cape that my seamstress will have ready this week. Then I can take a break and finish the female armor.











I've lost 35lbs so far to make this armor look as good as possible. I've got 10 more pounds to go and I think I'll be right where I need to be for now. Anything more then that and I'll have to do a second set of adjustments. Already had everything but the vest taken in once LOL!

Said it on Mercs, and I'll say it here, That armor is beautiful Novall, truly amazing job on it.

-Naas

Made some movement poses today to show how metal can increase your range of motion. Stronger means you can do more!












Some tweaking I need to do.

More velcro on the knees. They don't like staying up, plus I need to hide the straps and put an extra set of snaps on the sides to hold them closer in to my knees.

Need to have the flight suit stick inside the cod cup. Will probably use velcro to secure it. Losing weight makes your stuff baggy! =D

Been following this on the Mercs site, but I'll post here first...



Nuff said.

David.

Looks great Novall. This is off topic, but it looks like you have lost weight, have you? If so, good job! But an even better job on the costume.

36lbs as of this weekend. Shooting for another 9 and I'll be back at 220 which is what I weighed in at 8 years ago.

A few reasons why I did it, mainly so I could represent Mercs the way I should be.

Thanks Clay, appreciate the compliments.

Looking good my friend, both the armor and you. Good show on the weight loss.

That looks great!Awesome job.you look killer bro!!!

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments.

Looks fantastic, beautiful colour scheme too. Very intimidating!

Thanks Flo! Hell it scares me just wearing it. =P

I must say Manda'lore you're looking quite well for someone who's lost so much weight. Let me tell you right now though, don't worry about the adjustments to your armor, just make 'em if you have to. Fitness is a very important thing, and I am glad that you are taking the lead and initiative and doing something to better yourself. You're an example to mandos everywhere! Congrats on the 35lb drop!

Kal'ika

Originally Posted by NovallTalon

I've lost 35lbs so far to make this armor look as good as possible. I've got 10 more pounds to go and I think I'll be right where I need to be for now. Anything more then that and I'll have to do a second set of adjustments. Already had everything but the vest taken in once LOL!

BTW, I love you're armor, it's probably the second best custom i've ever seen... I don't think anything can beat hydra's right now.

Wait till you see my version 3 in a couple months. This V2.0 armor has been upgraded a few times and is being parted out to members of my home Mercs chapter here in NC.

The new set...well, thats another story on another thread. =)

Below is the final v2.6 of the set in this thread. This was from DCon 08 when my girl and I helped out with the Star Wars costume contest.

Awesomeness, Novall. Pure awesomeness.

I know its been said before but what else is there to say?
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is truely epic.
Very cool! Cant wait to see the v3.0 set of beskar'gam.
Also (a little off topic) but might I just point out how lucky you are to have a mando gf! If only I was so lucky!
Keep up the good work

Tracyn

Cool armor!!!!!!!!!!
by the way where do you get the jump suits.

This would be a current picture of my version 3.5 armor.



My flightsuit is custom made by a seamstress. There are several different places to get a jumpsuit or flightsuit without having to get it made custom. My origional flightsuit was a pair of redkap coveralls I dyed bluish-gray. Some people use dickies, some people use actual fighter pilot flight suits. Some people use 2 piece BDU's. Just depends on what your comfortable with and what you can make look good. It's all about making it look "in universe".

*walks out of emergency room * WoW. I think that is sweet. I need to make some armor.

Wow thats a good suit

that is a masterpiece Mand'alor! i love the trenchcoat look, and i love the lil blaster pistol you have on your combat suspenders , great work!

You make it, you trust it, you get moving... and from there, the kit trains you

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.
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(recovering from being trained by chain-mail kama)

Jaw drop with drooling has commenced lol. Very nice beskar'gam ner vod!

Armor is part of yuuuuuuuuuu
Edit: Needless to say........ my drool might fry my laptops motherboard... so if its dead, Manda'lor You owe me a new laptop