C6 Clonetrooper tutorial and build from head to toe!

OK, now we are going to weather your suit and helmet. I like to use a airbrush for this. You don't need a real expensive airbrush, I use a Paasche 2000H H single action airbrush.
You can get them on ebay for around $50.00 but you will need a air compressor to run it. I use water based acrylic paint and I used Grimy Black on this suit and helmet. The water base paints are nice because of the easy cleanup.
I always try to highlight all the great curves and shapes on the suit as well as add some depth and realism to it. I start by taping off all the areas that I really want to stand out.
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The other areas I use a loosely cut template like you see below. Hold the template and spray.
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Once finished with the first coat, remove the painters tape and lightly spray the areas that were just covered. You don’t want these areas to be bright white. Just a lighter mist than the first one.
On the helmet do the same. Try to spray the offset and recessed areas to give it a little depth (Sorry, I didn't get a photo of this).
Once finished with the airbrush I knock the suit down with some sanding pads. I use the Gator Grit Flexible Sanding pads. I use to be able to find these at Home Depot but they no longer carry them. I think they can be found at TrueValue.
Another option is the 3M Sandblaster Pads. They can be found at OSH.

Do NOT use sandpaper or the 3M sanding blocks. They are just too rough on the painted suit.
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The photo below has the strap on the left sanded down and finished.
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Your suit and helmet should be ready for the hand painted details. The light sanding with the Gator Grit Flexible Sanding pads or 3M Sandblaster Pads should be done. I also completely knock down all of the pieces, this takes the shiny gloss off of the suit. I prefer a suit that the gloss has been knocked down. It gives it more of a real life feel.
I also think I read somewhere that the 501st is no longer accepting shiny white clones, so if you are planing on joining the 501st, the sanding pads are a must.
Once again, use the Grimy Black acrylic paint. For most of the weathering I use the brushes. It’s good to also have some tissue available. This helps any quick cleanup that may be needed.
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Below are some piece that have been weather along with there counterparts that have not.
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Finished weathered parts.
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Hot glue or epoxy the biceps to the shoulder bells. This is done to keep the shoulder bell from siding under the biceps while trooping.
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Once finished your pieces should look something like the photos below.
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I guess this is it, the last day of the tutorial. If you found this useful or just enjoyed following along please join my new Facebook page. I will be starting a really cool non Star Wars project next!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DW-Design-Studios/156217621115393
We just need to add a few items to the helmets and we are done!
First we will add the padding and the visor. I use hot glue to attach these items.
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Next we will add the light in the fin. Once again, I purchased these items at the Dollar Store. If you are handy with a soldering iron pick up a blinking bike light. I have never had much luck but I know C6 did when working on his helmet. You would need to take the bike light apart. Remove and extend the wires then splice them with the box inside the helmet and the lights coming out the fin.
Another option is to add a couple of book lights. First I take and cut the book light’s down. Then I add some hot glue to the area near the light and then wrap it with electrical tape. Then slide it up through the hole in the inside of the helmet.
Once both lights are in place, hot glue the on/off switch box to the inside of your helmet. Take the leftover red plastic and cut it down to fit in the hole in the outside of the fin. Super Glue this piece into place.
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Some finished photo’s of the two helmets.
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Darren, wasn't sure if this was covered in the thread, but do you add any foam in the thighs at all? I have the thighs trimmed down, but i feel like they would be pretty wobbly on me. Should this piece be taken down to fit snug on the thighs?

Thanks!
 
cool. i might buy depending on price. also if you can also include an episode III helmet as well as a DC-15 rife that would be awesome. thanks
 
Hello Phil,
Its extremely hard to make the thighs smaller other than shorting them. You best bet is to add foam to the inside. The best stuff to use is the same material that I use for helmet padding. It the foam egg crate stuff used for mattresses. You can get a full size for around $10.00 at Wal Mart. Trim and hot glue into place as needed.

Darren, wasn't sure if this was covered in the thread, but do you add any foam in the thighs at all? I have the thighs trimmed down, but i feel like they would be pretty wobbly on me. Should this piece be taken down to fit snug on the thighs?

Thanks!
 
I wanted to pass along some new info. C6 created this great sanding board. The size is 30"x18". Four of the six squares are heavy grade sandpaper and two are a bit finer. They have been spray mounted down onto a piece of particle board. Its is perfect for getting straight lines for the seamless items. Thanks again C6 for another great idea!
sanding_board.jpg
 
The fiberglass tape can be picked up at Tap Plastics.
Ok, I've been following your thread for a bit, and could you show where you started from? In this you started with pre-created peices and are putting them together, can you show how you make the pieces? and the messurements for it?
 
I've been following this thread, and planning to make my own clone trooper, but I don't know where you started, could you show how you started with your basic plastic, and how you molded it into what it is now. Thanks! :)
 
How did you get your armor this way? I'm planning on making my own suit, but I don't know where you started, could you show us HOW you got your armor to look that way from the original plastic, and
 
By any chance do u make any costumes for kids? My son always is looking for original looking costumes. He likes them to look as real as possible. This year for Halloween he wants to be a clone trooper and I've looked around, but they don't have any real looking costume with helmet all around face.:(
 
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