My Custom Design

i love the belt and leg pouches. very cool. your armor/helm looks great! cant wait to see more!

Me too. Time is a nasty thing, I never have enough!

Wooow . It's amazing what some people can do. I would love to have a custom mando gear, but I lack the skills to do it myself. Would love to see some warriors in RL, not only Boba's and Jango's.

Looks great!!!

Hey guys!

Making progress again on my Mando armor!!

I've been paying a few visits to the 405th lately as those guys generally lead the way in new techniques for making Pepakura armor. They've been talking for a while now about a material they call "Mud" or "Rondo".

I thought I'd give it a go myself today in the hopes it'd speed up my progress and help finish my Mando for a con in November.

Now, basicly. You take 1 part filler(Bondo) and 1 part resin. Mix the too to make a grey(usually) thick liquid, then add the hardener which in most cases is the red paste. The red paste changes the colour of the filler/resin mixture to a dirty pink/red colour. This is great as you know when you've added the right ammount of hardener by checking the colour of the Rondo mixture as you stir it all up.

Now, the mixture is very runny so what they 405th guys say is to simple mask off any areas you don't want covered, then pour the Rondo over the piece to be worked on.

I tried the pour method first and although the result was great, I was very unhappy with the mess and waste caused by the excess run off. So I put the piece asides and mixed up a new batch of Rondo to continue with other pieces or my armor.

This time I applied the Rondo with a brush as it's runny enough I thought to be applied that way.

I started with my chest plate, coverage was good and because the Rondo is thick but runny, the brush strokes quickly vnished as the Rondo spread gently over the piece. There was very little run off and waste. I then continued with the same batch of Rondo to cover my ab plates, shoulders and cod!

Like I said, very little waste and mess, PLUS I covered a load more pieces whereas the first batch(both first and second batches were the same ammount) only covered my butt plate and I wasted loads!

Great news!!!!

You can see the pics above of the butt whcih I've started to sand a little now. You can also see how smooth my other parts are after being Rondo'd with a brush.

The top pic you see was done by a buddy of mine here, oneone1111, who took some concept sketches of my armor and a few progress pics and came up with that great artwork of me in my gear!!!!

Very interesting. I'm gonna have to try this. Thanks for sharing this info. Nice progress too, it's gonna look sweet when you're done.

Thanks T!

I can't take credit for discovering the Rondo method, though it's so simple really I'm surprised someone didn't think of it a lot sooner! I mean the resin and filler is all polyester so it's hardly rocket science. LOL!

Still, it' a great method but works much better when applied with a brush! Now that part I'm more than happy to take the credit for!!! LOL!

Well, I've been working on my Mando gear again today, one step closer!

Anyway, I'm doing my gauntlets now. I picked up a pair of ESB Boba gaunts in the hopes that they'd be Ok for modding to try and save me time in getting at least a temporary set of gaunts. The one's I'm making from scratch are ok but not ready. These ebay gaunts were cheap so I grabbed them but wasn't expecting much, it didn't matter if I was going to mod them right? WRONG!

These things are absolute garbage! The details are non existent, scrappy bits of resin all over them, bubble holes aplenty, you name it. If you could suggest a potential fault then I'd wager that these gaunts have them all!

So, I decided to go back to my own designed,half built gauntlets. Figured it'd save me alot of time just sticking with my own set rather than even contemplate fixing up the ebay set.

I've made good progress today but I need some parts and thought some of you guys here may be able to help me??

I'm going to sound like a true newbie here but I need the box that fits onto one of Boba's ROTJ gauntlets. I think they house flamethrowers?? Here's a pic:


I'd like to get hold of two of these if anyone out there could maybe cast me up a pair?? Legitimately(sp?) of course?? Or even if some gauntlet makes here may have some lying around or even sub-standard parts that they'd not ordinarily sell??

They're for a custom Mando so perfection really doesn't matter too much as they'll be modded to fit my design anyway.

Any help there would be hugely appreciated!

Tomorrow I have the inlaws visiting for the day but I should have more pics and updates by Tuesday.

Here are some pics of the gaunts I'm making. STILL need some flamethrower housing parts for them guys!!!!????

These need more sanding, hopefully my new sanding pads will arrive today so I can crack on?! some parts will need another layer of rondo too to finish smoothing them out. There's a pic of my lumber plate too.

Hey Skip, it's nice to see you are making progress in your armor again!!!
Congrats!!!

Thanks buddy, it's great to be back at it. I've made some good progress this morning too. The in-laws are here now though 'til tomorrow so I'll be back on the case tomorrow afternoon.

Awesome skip!!! Thanks for that Rondo idea...I'm gonna have to try this...

Glad to see you back at work on this!!!


A'den

Thanks buddy,

I'll have some new pics soon after a session on the sander this morning.

Ok vode!

We're painting!!

I managed to sand alot of the armor to a finish I wanted for it yesterday. My paint arrived this morning so we're good to go!

There are tons of surface imperfections particularly around the abs, back, cod and butt. I could have sanded them away but they'll add to the used, battleworn look I'm aiming for later! Same goes for the gaunts too! I could have spent more time to get them perfect but then they would have just looked too "shiny"!

Paint and further weathering should bring it all together. I HOPE! LOL!

So far I'm just laying down the base silver, my color scheme will follow soon enough. Also, I managed to solve me flame housing problem thanks to a few people, and I should have some tasty knees soon too!

It's all coming together nicely now! Good thing really 'cause the wife wants to throw a Halloween party this year!! I wonder what I'll wear?

Onto the pics!










Last pic just show some parts that aren't quite ready yet. The shoulders need a bit more work too.

Awesome! Good work, keep it coming.

Skip; awesome work on that helmet!! I'll be happy if mine turn out half as good as yours!
And again; Nice doing business with you!

Thanks guys. I started cutting my slots out for the chest lastnight. Plus I'm hoping to have my shoulders ready for paint.

I'm new here and to mando armor in general. But I have to say Skip, you are my inspiration (but not in weird way). I hope my stuff comes out half as good as yours.

Awesome build man.

Thanks very much, I'm flattered sir.

Nice Pics!!!! But we want more!!!!!

I'm working on it vod!

I started laying down some black paint after applying masking fluid lastnight, planning out greebles for my gaunts and this morning I'm fibreglassing my biceps, collar and lumberplate.

Pics soon.

Sweeet vod!

Thanks bro!

Just a quick pic guys, here's my chest plate after some masking and a first layer of paint. I've done the cod too but the weathering is too heavy so I'll redo that. I've masked off cracks and chips on my ab plates and diamonds too ready for some paint in a bit.

Hopefully my green paint will turn up today too meaning I can crack on with my gaunts today! I'm hoping to have my upper body armor painted and have the webbing rigging all done by the end of the day tomorrow so fingers crossed I'll have some test fit pics on Monday? HOPEFULLY!

Anyway, here's the pic:


The lighting isn't great and this is my phone camera, but you get the idea. I'm trying to follow the weathering we see in the artwork I posted a while back by oneone1111.

Looks awesome skip!

I really want to see this all come together!

Me too bro. I'm so close I can taste it!

I'm trying to avoid rushing now though. It'd be too easy to just slap it all together and ruin it.

Another pic.

I think I peeled the masking fluid away too soon?? Normally it's fine but I think the damp weather here is playing a part in slowing the cure time down on the paint? Still, I can touch up the silver spots easily enough.



More to come...

Damp weather? In Wales? Surely you jest!

Actually, perhaps I need to visit, It's never rained when I have been in Wales, strange fact!

Looking good bud!

LOL! Trust me, it's raining! The wind just tried to rip my gazeebo(sp?) away!

Skip... I'M JEALOUS!

Awesome work, ner vod!

Why don't you just build the flamethrower boxes, mate?

:thumbup WOOOOOW!!! Nice weathering!!!

Originally Posted by Ge'tal Gra'tua

Skip... I'M JEALOUS!

Awesome work, ner vod!

Why don't you just build the flamethrower boxes, mate?

Thanks guys,

I could have easily enough but I'm trying to cut down on the work I have to do in order to get it all ready for the end of the month.

I see... Hey, Skip, what's that pink stuff you use on your armour? Epoxy?

That's the rondo mixture, that is if you're referring to the outer surface?

Yessir, I was referring to the outer surface... what's rondo? :P

It's a mixture of fibreglass resin and Bondo(filler). I talked about it more in post 205.

I see... That's interesting...

Yeah! Made a massive difference to my working time! So much faster and labour saving compared to using standard filler.

Small update guys.

Got one of my flamethrower boxes mounted! I'm waiting on another one(coming from the US) before I mount it to the other gaunt(the green one). I'm also starting over on the green one paint wise as I ran out of green halfway through painting it so I'll mount the flame box, then repaint the whole thing.

My shoulders got a shot of silver base as did my collar and remaining gaunt half! Same for my cod too as I wasn't happy with the first pass at weathering for it. My biceps are almost ready too but need another layer of rondo to fully smooth those out.

Got some supplies in this morning too so I'm good to go as soon as painting's done to start on the webbing rig for the body armor.

I think that's about it today so far?

Another update guys,

Lastnight I masked off paint chips and scratches on the armor that I'd finished and painted with the base silver. This morning I sprayed on the black. I'll post a few pics, the paint's still a little wet in the pics but since taking them I've done more masking and have now started to apply the shot of green to set my paint scheme up!

The paint's too wet to touch right now so there'll be another round of pics later.

Ok vode!

Painting for the upper body is all done for the front. I've still not decided whether or not to leave the back armor black or add some green there??

Take a look and tell me whatcha think.

Looking good their vod. Can't wait to see what you have for the finished work

I'll have to say it... This is not looking good at all... It's looking Amazing!!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys!! Think I'll start the rigging for all this tomorrow. Possibly tonight depending on what the wife wants to do.

Started the rigging!! WooHoo!



I also put in a mirror screen in my chest slots. Matches my visor. There'll be white LED display behind that too.

Woo! Another update!

Got the main front armor all rigged and I'll do the back and collar later on. I love it! Looks much better for real I think than it did in concept!

Also, my knees came!!! Really happy with them though they're a little narrow around the sides when I bend my knees, but it's Ok. I need to paint them now to match my scheme but have to wait for more paint to arrive.

Overall, a great day today!

Hey Skip... weren't you dressing up tonight?

That was going to be a surprise update!!!!!

LOL! Nevermind.

Ok guys!

I didn't managed to get quite as much done as I'd hoped but I did manage to complete the rigging for my front and back armor! I was hoping to get my shoulders mounted too but that'll have to be tomorrows job.

Still, I'm happy with what I did get finished today. So much so I had to get changed to see how it all fits!!!

The armor fits perfectly! My vest needs tweaking though as the velcro fastening is terrible, and my neckseal is poor(ebay ). I sill have some mods to make to my suit though but not too many.

I was hoping for better pics than these but by the time I was ready everyone had gone to bed so I was left to use the timer on the camera. D'oh! Still, check it out vode!






It's getting really exciting now!!

Looks great man!

NIIIICEEE!!! I absolutely love the yellow/green trim with the black. Good work!

Yeah, I think that says it all.

Looking good Skip! Though, does your collar plate look a bit high?

It looks like it can be threaded back down though!

Thanks guys!

Saz: Nah mate, it's because my lid is low. I haven't added padding inside it yet. Though you're right, I can adjust the armor at the shoulders and at the sides. Handy seeing how Christmas is coming and we all put a little weight on. LOL!

Ah, the Christmas pud equation

LOL! Nah, hate the stuff! But I do like my meat!

Sounds a lot like me Skip.

Great armor and also thanks for all the help so far on my bucket build so far.

And good luck finishing your armor today!

Thanks mate, looking forward to seeing your lid too.

Wonderfull!!!!! Congrats Skip!!!!

Thanks bro! More to do but I'm close now!

My other flame box came today! Massive thanks to Cruzer!!! Pics of the gaunts to follow.

Top halves of the gaunts after some silver base.




I also got my thighs cut, shaped and covered with silver too! I'll post pics of those once they're all painted and fitted.

Oooooo, pretty,

Excellent job, if I may say so, ner vod! I must try out this "rondo"...

Go for it buddy. I didn't make those flame boxes as you know but the gauntlets are scratchbuilt with mt usual Pepakura method and rondo.

Yet another update!

Got my thighs done and my new knees repainted. I'll be getting my gaunts ready now for the next testfitting.

awesome Skip. as always.

Thanks vod! I didn't make those knees though. I had build custom knees from scratch but they got squished before I'd fibreglassed them fully. Fortunately, I managed to get these from a retiring Merc. A little masking over his paint work and a shot of green and we have what you see in my last post!

They need dirtying up though as does all my armor but I'm leaving that until it's all built and painted.

wow Skup sorry I hadn't checked in on ur work in a while but it looks frackin' awesome ner vod. Kandosii!

Vor'e! No sweat bro, there's plenty more to see as I get each part finished.

any chance we could get the templates for that chestpice? I'm thinkin' about swithcin over to a single piece chest plate, since it is so unique. If I do I'd like to use a modified version of yours (not the same because I don't want to ruin your uniqueness).

Awesome work skip! Love your choice of color. It looks spankin hawt

Kal'ika, PM me bro,

Thanks to you Flachzange!

I know how ya feel, my oldest squashed my bucket this morning. Gotta start over. Oh well. At least I'll be able to start off right with your suggestions.

Very Different style. Looks pretty easy to suit up too. Nice!

Anytime soon then when the rest is complete lol

It's not too bad to suit up. I can loosen the straps, put it on then tighten it all up. Works great!

Looking AMAZING man,

What did u use for your torso under armor?

The vest? I made that myself. It's black leatherette/faux leather with cotton lining(with a padded layer inbetween) and green stitching to match the armor.

it's looking good skup =)

Thanks very much buddy! I apprecite it!

Ok guys,

Got my gaunts pretty much finished! As with all my armor so far it still needs dirtying up and maybe a little padding in places but he paint and fiting of these gaunts is now done! I also finished my thighs and fitted my cod and butt plate too. LOL!

Right gauntlet:






Left gauntlet:






Sorry for the bad lighting. It's midnight here and these were taken on my phone camera.

wow looking good skup keep it up =)

Your armor is looking great!!!! It's amazing that you made it with the help of the Pepakura... Congrats!!!

HEY!!

Pepakura is a wonderful tool for costuming! Not just in the Halo costuming world too!

I didn't build this with the help of Pepakura, I couldn't have done it without Pepakura.

Ok guys,

I'm hoping for a test fit later but if I don't manage it, here are some pics of todays efforts.

Got my blaster painted and slightly weathered, painted my biceps, thighs, shins and handplates as well as made and painted my foot plates.

Tonight I hope to get all the velcro and straps fitted and be ready for my first full testfit!! If I'm ready in time I'll take a load of pics.



]






The blaster I got cheap from a guy here in the UK. It was a broken ROTJ scratcbuild which I thought would serve nicely as my custom blaster until my deece is finished. The sights are mounted off centre too which I like the look of.

That looks amazing! Really great work! Love the blasters you have going on.

Thanks buddy.

Well, I ran out of time for a testfit tonight but I have managed to get all my armor done!!!!!

There's more weathering to do and some padding to add to the gaunts and lid but that's it!

I'll be putting it all on tomorrow for my application pics to the Mercs! By then my new neckseal should have arrived too.

Very nice Skip!!!

*chants* put it on, put it on!!!

well, we've seen him with parts of it on, but yes, put it on buddy!

Thanks guys! I'll have it on later today! I've hired my wife to be my photographer! LOL

Awesome as always, brother! ;D

Thank you buddy.

Thanks to all you guys who post your comments here and at the Mercs forum.

You're almost there Skip!!!!

A few hours from now.

Come on....... *checks watch*

Come on! You of all people know how much time I've sank into this gear over the past few weeks!

I gotta get the kids to bed, sort the baby, then I'll be in good shape to get suited up. A womans work is never done eh? LOL!

Ok, so it went "Ok" lastnight. I got all my gear on and felt like it was fitting me just fine, but my wifey wasn't telling me that my upper belt had slipped as it was too loose. So now my belly looks like it was straining to burst free! LOL! It isn't even that big. Is it? LOL!

So tonight I'm gonna do it again but I'll get her to take more care in telling if things look loose or whatever!

I've selected some more pics to post for you guys, feedback is always weclome vode!





There's a few tweaks to make. The thighs were slipping down so need some velcro on my suit and the backs of the thigh plates to help hold them in place. Helmet didn't take long to fog up at all so I'm thinking of putting a fan in there? Belts need tightening too.

My boots I think looked great on but they killed my feet! I have fairly wide feet and these boots are rather narrow. They're steel toe too so there's not much give in them. I'll be selling these to any of you guys who may like then and have narrower feet than me. They're quite unusual in that they have a round foe in the boot but a square toe sole.





PM me if you're interested at all? They're a size 10(UK).

your kit looks really really good vod =)

C

Thanks, I need to make some small tweaks. Adjust those belts for a start!! Still for them to have slipped it must mean I've lost some weight since I first fitted them.

I just bought my new boots and should have those in a day or two.