Question about mando armor

MarvinderFett

New Hunter
Hello everyone, Although I have been lurking on these forums on and off for about a year now I guess you could say I'm "new". I have a Rubies bucket that I have modded and painted, and most of the soft parts for making my dreams of having a wearable mando suit come true. Here's the problem, I have made armor from cardboard which I was not very happy with and decided to try the trashcan method today. The results: not very good, my armor came out cracked and broken and just overall ******. So here's my question: Is there anyone or anywere I could get decent mando armor that would fit a 5.8 or so individual for around or under $50? As Iam a 14 year old dude that plays guitar in a band and am currently saving up to buy a new amp, hopefully a Bogner ;], I do not have much currency to fund my mando. I have seen Wickedbeard and Bobamaker armor and love there work but it is simply too much money for me. Any comments are greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Here's a pic of me and my bucket:
nutsack-1.gif
 
I am going to be starting my set here soon, going to give the trash can set a try since I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment. Only thing is I am going to be doing a lot more to it then just cutting it out and putting it on my flight suit. Mainly I am going to add foam behind it so it has some thickness to it. Or if I can find Sintra I might give that a go, though I have a feeling I'll be more successful with the trash can idea.

Anyways, depending on how hard it turns out to be I'd have no problem making a set for that price if all you wanted were the panels cut out and shipped to ya. If you wanted paint or stuff like that then it would cost a bit more. I'm always doing commissions so I can add more things to my portfolio for college, and having multiple sets of mando gear would be sweet to have in it. Right now its mainly drawings so I'm trying to expand it.

*edit*That is another thing I forgot to mention, templates. There are a few different versions out there that are of great help so make sure you use those if you were not, you didn't mention anything about it.

Then if you get a good looking set made out of cardboard or the trash cans you can always fiberglass/resin them so that they are a bit sturdier till you can afford something better.
 
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You know I am low on budget as well. But that never stopped me from putting down designs and recieving help with my mando armor. In terms of this I recieved some help with my mandalorian bucket from a friend on this site. The armor plates well I used the cardboard technique along with cereal boxs and lets say they turned out pretty good.

I am pretty well set for my armor it is just painting everything up (and getting a t-visor for my helmet). But the only other cheap way to go for a person like you would be to use the cardboard technique. It took me a while to fit my peaces up and ready for my cardboard armor but I got them.

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How I did it well; I snagged a template and traced it all. Had to make a size smaller but in the long run it turned out fine. Once I start earning a little more money is when I will be moving away from cardboard. But this is holding me over until that time.
 
Thanks for the tips guys yea i might just use the pieces cut out from my trashcan disaster and use those to back some cardboard pieces we'll see how that turns out. -Trev
 
Oh and Talon if your going for the trashcan method and you have a dremel tool that will make it alot easier on you and alot faster too the "scoring" method can be pretty frusturating at times -Trev
 
Yeah, Talon, you gotta use a dremel, they can be had for less than $30, but you gotta watch for flying MOLTEN plastic when you cut the cans, it burns pretty good. But that wont hurt as much as cutting into something important ;) if ya know what I mean :lol:... but seriously, if you cut your self in the femoral artery, you wont reach a phone before you bleed out, so be CAREFUL!

You guys know that I have made a few sets of plates (2 for my twin 5 year olds and 1 for the 9 year old as well as 2 for me 280 pounds of pure muscle {yeah right try fat})

I only used 2 1/2 cans. And the cans are cheap at walmart, and when you sand them and layer paint and battle damage them, they look pretty darn good.

550.gif
 
way to scare the poop out of him before i does it adonian :lol: but ya it is something you need to be careful with.

Somehow i missed this thread. Nice to see a fellow young guitarist expressing his love for star wars! What kinda band you in man?
 
haha Thanks, I was going to probably use my SoniCrafter thing rather then the Dremel once you guys mentioned that. Not sure why I didn't think of that in the first place, I was actually going to break out the utility knife but after picking up my cans I can see that would be a bad idea.

Sorry for the thread hijack Marv, but I'm sort of wondering about what Alpha said as well. I use to be in a band as well so always interested in others.
 
Yea definetly do somewere were you wont have to worry about a million pieces of plastic being everywere, i though my dog was gonna choke on one...lol I'm in a sorta 80's metal rock band if that makes any sense hahaha Check it out : http://www.myspace.com/ruelynx Well anyhoo I cut the armor pieces out of some thick cardboard and there lookin pretty good so next step is too paint Iam wondering if I need to cover it with cereal box or if it will be fine if i just paint the cardboard surface
 
Not bad, that song sounded pretty good imho. Gotta love 80's tribute bands when they can pull it off.

You'll need to cover your cardboard with a few layers of primer at least. Seem to recall that there is something else you might need to do so it all just doesn't soak into the cardboard and turn it to mush, but I can't recall what that is if I'm even thinking about the right thing. If anything what I'd do is resin/bondo it to give it some depth and workability, though I know you are limited on funds.
 
I'd use an epoxy based resin coating, I would think that polyester based kind (bondo) would break off easier. Hobby stores will have what you would need. It is used for foam carvings when they want to paint over them and not have the foam absorb the paint.
 
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