Traditional Vs Imagination

BobaFettDaddy said:
I've seen some really cool custom Mandos on this site, but I've also seen some really cool repaints. But let's call them what they are. It's a question of semantics, really. Don't you think? :)
Click to expand...

A better question would be; what does it matter? Why force a wedge in the community by creating a vague and wavering line of demarcation between those of us geeks that spend our free time recreating the armor of a fictitious group of soldiers?

And just as importantly; who would define that line? You? Who appointed you arbiter? Would your opinion differ from mine or others? Would the battle for definition just cause strife and discomfort among a group of people who visit this site, and build this armor just for the pure fun of it and don't want to get caught up in a semantics argument because someone gets a wild hair up their rear?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
BobaFettDaddy said:
Again, I will be flamed for this...

If I bought an OCC Chopper, custom made by the boys at OCC and then repainted it when I recieved it, could I say I "customized" it? Of course not. I repainted it. If I bought a Luke Skywalker costume and then died it purple, did I customize it? Same goes for buying Jango and Boba recasts and then repainting them and wearing a different color jumpsuit. It's not really customizing. The idea that Mandos would have all the same gauntlets is illogical. They are a nomadic culture who borrowed from everyone, who kept war trophies, who were masters of warfare and improvisation. Codex or not, they are as old as the Jedi. There are bound to be aberrations, and as I have seen in the KOTOR comic, there are thousands of variations on the Mandalorian. As long as it has a Mandalorian style to it, who cares? I've seen some really cool custom Mandos on this site, but I've also seen some really cool repaints. But let's call them what they are. It's a question of semantics, really. Don't you think? :)
Click to expand...


You're not going to be flamed. People disagreeing with your point of view does not mean that they're flaming you. If they do so in a rude manner, call you names, then yes, they're flaming. However, there are not many here who do that.

Actually, it's quite logical for many Mandalorians to have similar gauntlets. Why? Because they were a military/mercenary group. As such, they had to have the best equipment, versatile and powerful. The gauntlets that we see are just that; the overall design is a tried and true weapon of the Mandos, so it is only logical that they use it. Rocket, blaster, dart launch, flame thrower... a walking arsenal.
Also, Mandalorians ceased to be nomadic during the time of the Galactic Civil War, as they began operating from their homeworld of Mandalore. Therefore, mass-production of the armor and gauntlets came into effect, distributed among Mandalorians who came of age. If you look at many of the Mandalorians that Boba Fett has been leading, most have virtually the same color scheme as he does. Green and red armor, identical flight suits, etc. Mandalorians are about efficiency, with some individuality. Paint schemes, certain designs, etc represent this individuality while retaining maximum efficiency.

Anyway, they are called "custom Mandalorians" more because of their backstories; they are fanmade, not canon, therefore, they are referred to as custom characters. It's the same principle as if you created an RPG character.
 
I love them all I must say. You have awesome, just off the screen looking Jangos and Bobas and really really crappy Jangos and Bobas. Same for customs. You get some customs that look really really well done, and then those who look like they gave the preschool class some acrylics and a big brush and said paint my armor.

I always look to Boba and Jango when working on my Fett. The flight suits are worn in and weathered. The boots are very well thought out, and details for the need, not a ton of greeblies just for the sake of it.

I like hearing back stories and seeing that evolve tastefully in the custom mando. Mandos are a mercinary, nomadic warriors, who do not need flashiness and a ton of extra do-dads, but useful weapons.

I enjoy seeing different shapes to the armor, but well done, well thought out.

I guess you can take from the tone of my thread, is that IMHO, the best customs are well thought out, beyond the helmet and armor and carefully crafted and could have just stepped in for Boba or Jango.

That being said, I dont think you can beat a well crafted, expertly done Boba or Jango Fett. No insult meant, as I dont own either, but they speak mastery when you see them at a con or event. Even more so when the wearer has the character well rehearsed.
 
I guess since im the one that started the thread,i should post my opinion.
I think that every custom is fantastic.
Whether it be the fantastic basic armor most do,the revamped armor made by
big fett daddy,or darth valcars complete redesign,they are all great.


 
CGClone said:
That being said, I dont think you can beat a well crafted, expertly done Boba or Jango Fett. No insult meant, as I dont own either, but they speak mastery when you see them at a con or event. Even more so when the wearer has the character well rehearsed.
Click to expand...


I disagree. A custom Mando that looks like it could be in a movie beats that because you don't have forums telling you what colours to use, what accessories to get, etc. You have to kind of think up a backstory to make it seem realistic, and you have to add all your own pieces in addition to the imagination you have to have.
 
I appreciate your opinion, in kind I would say look at the very forum you are posting on. The Dented Helmet is not a regime organized to force you to have certain colors, they are living the same fantasy as you, only on canon costumes. Honestly, without Boba first, then Jango we are nothing. Thats not meant to sound arrogant.

I would actually say thanks to the TDH for letting us have the space to share our customs and gleem from the work they have done. No flaming meant, just something to think about.
 
Well, does it really matter? I mean its all star wars. At least their not merging mandos with star trek for god's sake...

-tubachris
 
I'm with the guys who like the "assembly line" look. It's sort of like Special Forces soldiers in my opinion. The all wear the same uniform/armor/gear/etc, but each guy makes his own special modifications to suit HIS particular needs and preferences. Some guys might prefer a thigh holster to keep their backup weapon, others a waistband holster, others a vest-mounted holster, etc. But in the end, they are pretty much identical in appearance.

I dont think there is anything wrong with using some artistic license while building your Mandolorian, but at the same time, when Mandos start looking more and more like Master Chief or a Transformer, I think the "personalization" has gone a little too far.
 
At least their not merging mandos with star trek for god's sake...
Click to expand...

Crossovers can be cool if they are done right. Most people don't.

This is a cool thread. Its nice to hear how passionate people are about Mando and costuming.

~Mel
 
its kinda nice ta c what others think about our passion/hobby what ever you may call it so i agree with thebiggunns also i saw ure pred queen at the lair im excited ta c what you do with a mandalorian
 
According to the article about Mandalorian culture in Star Wars Insider, the Mandalorian armor was something that was perfected over centuries. Who is to say what it looked like in its infancy. I mean, look at these:
Mandalorian_Armors.jpg

NONE of these look like Boba/Jango, but they have the Boba/Jango feel to them. I think that as long as the custom has the style of Boba or Jango and looks Mandalorian, it is ok. However, the creativity of the maker of the armor is the limit, really. Maybe later in the history of the Mandalorians, the armor became more cookie cutter as they refined their gauntlets and whatnot. Who knows. Just don't say they all have to be the same.
 
BobaFettDaddy said:
According to the article about Mandalorian culture in Star Wars Insider, the Mandalorian armor was something that was perfected over centuries. Who is to say what it looked like in its infancy. I mean, look at these:

NONE of these look like Boba/Jango, but they have the Boba/Jango feel to them. I think that as long as the custom has the style of Boba or Jango and looks Mandalorian, it is ok. However, the creativity of the maker of the armor is the limit, really. Maybe later in the history of the Mandalorians, the armor became more cookie cutter as they refined their gauntlets and whatnot. Who knows. Just don't say they all have to be the same.
Click to expand...


None of those look like Boba or Jango because of the time period. The first? Ancient Mandalorians, thousands of years before ANH. The second? Neo-Crusaders (which dont really have a Boba/Jango feel; rather, they have an Imperial Guard look), about 4,000 years before ANH. The third? Death Watch, a group that splintered from the true Mandalorians, and fashioned their own helmets so as not to be associated with the true Mandalorians. Even then, their gauntlets are virtually the same as Boba's.
Sure, they dont all have to be the same... but they dont all have to be different in a glaringly obvious way, either. Making a Mandalorian costume, and having others not mistake it for Master Chief or a Cylon, relies heavily upon symbolism. After all, you make this costume to show it off, right? What good is it to show off a Mandalorian costume if nobody has any idea what you are? There's nothing worse than walking around in a costume from Star Wars and having someone ask if you're from Battlestar Galactica or Farscape. In order to avoid this, you'd want your custom Mandalorian to represent the well-known Mandos in the movies, which people will then recognize.
Now, why are the gauntlets usually the same? Simple: it's cost-effective. It's difficult for amateurs to create completely custom gauntlets, especially if said-amateur is in college, with tuition costs and rent. Not to mention the hundreds of dollars that go into buying books for class. People like that (myself included) do not have the spare cash to buy clay and create molds, buy the material and assemble a vaccuuform table, and then buy the plastic on top of it all. Then they have to find the time to make it; not easy for a full-time college student who also has a part-time job. They'd have to do all of this just to get a quality pair of unique gauntlets when it'd be cheaper and more convenient just to purchase a normal pair (which will most likely be of better quality).
 
Originally posted by Boba_Fett_03

It's difficult for amateurs to create completely custom gauntlets, especially if said-amateur is in college, with tuition costs and rent. Not to mention the hundreds of dollars that go into buying books for class. People like that (myself included) do not have the spare cash to buy clay and create molds, buy the material and assemble a vaccuuform table, and then buy the plastic on top of it all. Then they have to find the time to make it; not easy for a full-time college student who also has a part-time job. They'd have to do all of this just to get a quality pair of unique gauntlets when it'd be cheaper and more convenient just to purchase a normal pair (which will most likely be of better quality).
Click to expand...

Dude. I completely understand. I am a high school English teacher with 4 kids and a wife who chooses to be a homemaker. I scratchbuilt my gauntlets from sintra pvc, odds and ends from Radio Shack and bondo, but they still cost 1/4 of what some of these guys are charging for premade gauntlets online. My custom scratch built Mando (I scratch built the bucket, too) cost a total of $500. That's pretty cheap when you think about how much some of us on here have thrown into theirs. My dear mother (who complained most of the time) stitched together all of the soft parts for it. My boots are from Payless, my gloves are from Home Depot, etc.

I still don't see how an ancient Mandalorian (like mine) can't have a machine gun gauntlet or to be more direct, a slugthrower gauntlet. And also, two missiles on the left gauntlet are better than one, especially if you can guide them in with your helmet laser (like some of the laser guided missiles of our era). I think a whole host of costumes which show the evolution of the Mandalorian armor over the millennia are great. We could have all of us stand in a row and have a picture taken similar to the "evolution of man" picture, except it would be the "evolution of the Mandalorian" That would be fun. Don't dis us for building Mandos with some imagination behind it. Mine and several others like me have our backstory, and that adds to the complexity of the Star Wars universe.

Most people call us Power Rangers anyway, Boba, Jango or Custom. It doesn't matter.
 
BobaFettDaddy said:
According to the article about Mandalorian culture in Star Wars Insider, the Mandalorian armor was something that was perfected over centuries. Who is to say what it looked like in its infancy. I mean, look at these:
Mandalorian_Armors.jpg

NONE of these look like Boba/Jango, but they have the Boba/Jango feel to them. I think that as long as the custom has the style of Boba or Jango and looks Mandalorian, it is ok. However, the creativity of the maker of the armor is the limit, really. Maybe later in the history of the Mandalorians, the armor became more cookie cutter as they refined their gauntlets and whatnot. Who knows. Just don't say they all have to be the same.
Click to expand...

As already stated, these images show armour from a time looooooooooooong before Boba and Jango, as are the examples taken from the KOTOR comics (over 4000 years before to be exact). Whilst come the time of the movies, there would be variation in equipment, colour, weapons, trophies and the odd nod to fashion, (as described in many canon sources, from Bloodlines to A Practical Man, Open Seasons to the Jodo Kast tales) much of the armour would be similar if not identical. Even the Deathwatch wear the same basic armour, except for (in the Open Season's source only) the helmet.

Now I have no problem with those that wish to take a further step away from the established canon regarding Mandalorians and their armour. Many create some very impressive armour indeed BUT and it's a HUGE BUT it's no more valid as someone that chooses to make only minor modifications or a change in colour.
And remember that it's soon gonna lose some of it's shine if you end up arguing with every person you meet on a troop if they can't tell your even from Star Wars let alone a Mando.
 
BobaFettDaddy said:
Dude. I completely understand. I am a high school English teacher with 4 kids and a wife who chooses to be a homemaker. I scratchbuilt my gauntlets from sintra pvc, odds and ends from Radio Shack and bondo, but they still cost 1/4 of what some of these guys are charging for premade gauntlets online. My custom scratch built Mando (I scratch built the bucket, too) cost a total of $500. That's pretty cheap when you think about how much some of us on here have thrown into theirs. My dear mother (who complained most of the time) stitched together all of the soft parts for it. My boots are from Payless, my gloves are from Home Depot, etc.

I still don't see how an ancient Mandalorian (like mine) can't have a machine gun gauntlet or to be more direct, a slugthrower gauntlet. And also, two missiles on the left gauntlet are better than one, especially if you can guide them in with your helmet laser (like some of the laser guided missiles of our era). I think a whole host of costumes which show the evolution of the Mandalorian armor over the millennia are great. We could have all of us stand in a row and have a picture taken similar to the "evolution of man" picture, except it would be the "evolution of the Mandalorian" That would be fun. Don't dis us for building Mandos with some imagination behind it. Mine and several others like me have our backstory, and that adds to the complexity of the Star Wars universe.

Most people call us Power Rangers anyway, Boba, Jango or Custom. It doesn't matter.
Click to expand...


This is yours, correct? Your gauntlets have the same basic outline/design as Boba/Jango gauntlets, with just a few different odds and ends. Hence, you are proving my point.
When you say you spent about $500, what are you including? Everything, including the weapons, switches, belts? The most expensive parts on my armor are the gauntlets, which cost me about $150 (more or less). My entire costume has cost me about $370.

I am not "dissing" what you've done. Im defending what you're attempting to belittle. My point is that nothing is wrong with either design; eleborate, or regular. Both take a lot of time, blood, and sweat to create. Belittling either one is an insult to anyone who's put work into making one. Nobody ever said that your ancient Mando (which looks more like a modern one than anything, btw) can't use a gattling gun or slug thrower on your gauntlet; hell, we've got Mandos here who put lightsaber blades on theirs. Go nuts; make your Mando what you want it to be, but please do not step up and belittle the time and effort of others who enjoy this hobby.
 
Uh oh someone better go find a ruler.....

I think both sides are right in some regards, but I can definately see where the Mando "purists" would complain when Master Chief or Power Ranger-esque Mandolorians come onto the scene saying they are an "evolution" of the traditional design. This thread was meant to discuss not argue, and so far its pretty interesting, so lets keep it civil so they wont shut it down.
 
There is a difference between custom and sintra armor over sweat pants and sweatshirt.

For every good custom mando i see 10 bad ones.

I really do enjoy seeing the result when someone pulls off their own design or one of the ancient Mandalorians from KOTOR or other EU material, but it takes a lot of talent and time. Since most parts for customs aren't readily available, people have to make them. Some people take the extra step, and some people fall short and it shows.

The first problem is the helmet. It should be relatively simple to alter the rangefinder and fill the dent (not all mandos are going to have the same dent). Also, you don't have to start with a Boba bucket. Starting with a BKBT helm gives you a clean start to alter the helmet. Next the armor, if you can't make molds or pieces of your own at least alter the armor you buy instead of just changing the paint scheme. Maybe accent the edges or add stuff to the armor. You could change a lot around with the gauntlets and knees. Even the jet pack could have a different rocket.

People are able to pull off prepro fetts, jaster mareel, and jodo kast. So making parts for a custom mando while using jango or boba parts to start with is possible

All in all I like what some people are able to do, but most people are going to recognize Boba and Jango and I feel a stronger connection with those two characters.

unconverted rubies are also a custom killer (it just looks bad)

-=QuinN!
 
This thread is more than 17 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.

Similar threads

A
Other Bounty Hunter Female B. Fett vs Rav Bralor
2
Replies
31
Views
8,513
Aicire
A
ShocKWavE
"Customs" - Cannon vs. Imagination
4 5 6
Replies
103
Views
12,572
NovallTalon
N
W
ESB vs RotJ vs Jango
Replies
2
Views
2,323
Hammer of Might
H

Similar threads

A
Other Bounty Hunter Female B. Fett vs Rav Bralor
2
Replies
31
Views
8,513
Aicire
A
ShocKWavE
"Customs" - Cannon vs. Imagination
4 5 6
Replies
103
Views
12,572
NovallTalon
N
W
ESB vs RotJ vs Jango
Replies
2
Views
2,323
Hammer of Might
H
Back
Top