Alright, so I finally got around to uploading everything into photobucket, so I can do a much more thorough update. I'm also gonna recap the stuff from my first post, but with more pictures to show the process. Hope this helps!
I actually started with the jetpack first. I ordered an MOW kit. I don't have many pictures of the early beginnings of the build, since my camera broke LITERALLY the day my jetpack kit came in.
I mounted the rocket and thrusters with wingnuts and some threaded rod.
Soon after the jetpack, I got my hands on an animefan budget kit. These kits are STUNNING.
I did a recessed bolt mount on the visor, and I also did recessed Chicago screws on the cheek brace. The brace itself was made from some light gauge steel I had in my little workshop.
Sanded the whole helmet down with 180 grit, and laid down a coat of filler primer. I also added the physical damage to the appropriate areas. I decided to skip the crack in the right inner cheek. Figured it was gonna be too tricky to properly replicate something that almost nobody would see.
Assembled the jetpack after all the individual pieces cured. I gave them all the same treatment as the helmet.
Once the filler primer was cured, I put on a nice coat of a dark gray paint&primer on both the helmet and the jetpack parts.
I let the dark gray cure for about a week. It was good after two days, BUT I didn't actually get around to spraying the silver until a week later.
My RKD chest plates had come in during that week, so I worked on those, and using fettastic's clutch back method, I attached my plates to one of the vests I use on my custom Mando.
Also. Shiny thrusters.
While the jetpack and all the other stuff was curing, I got to work on my shin tools. I went with an original stirrer and squeegee. The stylus brush rods are resin cast from originals, that I got from Molonlabe.
Fettastic helped me out, and gave me some tips on how to paint my shin tools. I used the testors silver enamel in the aerosol can for the base "metal" layer on the tools.
Now, wanting a bit more of a uniform edge on my plates. I trimmed all of the edges off the plates, and re-lined each one with a layer of 3mm sintra.
The end result is a nice, even seal between the plate and the vest, as shown in this little test I did on an old TK409 vest.
Now onto flamethrower work. I have a combat baby kit, and I love it to death. But I wasn't the biggest fan of the backing plate. I love RKD's backing plate on his kit, so I figured I would draft up and make my own, that way I could have the best of both worlds.
Once I was happy with my cardboard templates, I transferred it all over to 3mm sintra
After that was taken care of, I worked on my knees for a bit. Metal darts and knee kit by RKD.
Also. I finished painting the helmet. Still gotta do some touchups on the back panel.
I'll get some better pictures once I touch up the back panel.
The girth belt I ordered on Amazon came in natural white only, so I dyed it using some minwax woodstain. I wanted a brown, that had some red undertones.
Then soon after that was done, my Arkady order arrived! So of course, I had to do a test fitting.
I'm gonna stitch in a small magnet, and a corresponding metal plate so I can clip my cape in place.
I finished a box instert for the belt pouches that actually has a small sound card in there. I have a sound bit from Twelve Parsec Stare, and some song clips from the Trigun movie soundtrack.
I made sure to make it all removable for battery replacement, or for recording different sounds.
Can't even see the buttons once it's in the pouch.
And now we're onto today's work. I finished the Velcro and strap attachment for the knees, and made the Boba thong.
I'm also experimenting with the spur sound effect, I know.most people use bells, but I have a few ideas I want to try myself. But as of right now, this thread is FINALLY up to date. I've been meaning to make this thread for a few months now, so it will be nice to post new progress from now on!
Sent from my SM-G930P