Darktrooper Progress Thread 8MAR2011: Getting back to it

[tubachris85x]

Great progress so far. I did have a thought about your electrical issues being an electrician myself. Depending on the age of your house and local codes, the best place to find a dependable 20 amp circuit (2400 watts at 120v) would be in your kitchen. Another option would be your laundry room. Where do you live at exactly? If you're somewhat nearby, I might be able to help out in the electrical department.

Thanks, the electrical issue is solved, actually my first choice of the 20 amp outlet was in the laundry room, but was too far for the oven. Now the outlet Im using is actually the socket undrneath the kitchen sink we use for the dishwasher.

-tubachris

 

[askywalker98]

Chris be in Florida last time I checked the local 501st boards.

Vista... I wish it was more stable. It'll be great in a few months. Now, it just slugs your computer down. At least thats what I've seen from my various friends that have gotten college laptops.

Edit: Oops. Posted after you did. Keep up the great work!

 

[GCNgamer128]

Any work on that helmet yet?

 

[tubachris85x]

Any work on that helmet yet?

Yea, Im working in it, Im gonna get some .093 thick HIPS for the helmet backpiece mold. Once I get a decent cast from that, I'll finish the helmet. I REEEALLY wanted to finish the helmet first, but it turns out my forearms casted better.

-tubachris

 

[ragamuffin 1616]

The machine you mean?

-tubachris

yeah, the machine. that could be very handy.

 

[Mandalore23]

can't wait to see the finished product. keep up the awesome work bro!

 

[tubachris85x]

Thanks guys, Im just getting stuff ready before I head up to tallahassee for college. Since I got the vacu-former done, Im gonna continue making the molds. What I need to finish though is the bicep mold, and the shoulder bell especially before I can move onto the chest pieces. I am thinking however of re-doing the hand armor molds. Ive noticed recently how for example, the FX TK hand armor details are really crisp and defined, where as mine are there, but just not pulling in tight enough. Plus, I think that the mold I have right now may be too small for my hand.

I also picked up a light cone cover for like those small lamps, and I got it because it looks like I can use it for a section of the thruster I need for the JP.

In August, I will be moving into a house in Tally for college, and will be moving this project up with me. Fortunatly, I made the vacu-former transportable (somewhat) so I'll be taking over the garage and backyard for this year.

-tubachris

 

[Jodo Kast 3]

Chris,

Keep up on the project. There are many people in the 501st watching this project with great interest. Whether you know it or not, this project may be the start of something waaay bigger.

Keep up the progress reports!

 

[tbone9600]

Glad to hear you're going to be able to take everything with you. Keep it up man.

 

[mandalore697]

Chris, this is seriously some awesome work, it's been a pleasure to watch your progress. Don't give up!!!

 

[tubachris85x]

Thanks guys. Jodo, you honestly think this is goin to be something big? LOL, im just tryin to build me a suit so I can change my status from "501st wannabe noob," to "actual 501st member." Im not trying to make anything groundbreaking, and just wanna keep it at the same level as the rest of the suits out there.

You know, Im REALLY thankful to the TDH for letting me keep this thread in the dented variants section, despite the fact its not even a mando related character. I know on other sites, they would have already deleted this and tell me to move it elsewhere. For this, I want to thank the admis for letting me keep this posted here

Anyways, I got another sheet of MDF today and Im gonna start working on the shoulder bell. I need to add like 2 or 3 more layers, then I can start sculpting that to the shape. I'll keep it going!

Just wanted to add one more thng. I found a plastics place nearby that Im gonna check out this week, and that would really help me out to get plastic locally. And the gunetlet and hand that I formed earlier, Im not going to keep it. Im somewhat dissappointed that the last 2 boxes barely formed, and Im not going to accept that as "good enough." Same thing with the hand guard, Im gonna re-sculpt them and give it a better curve towards the wrist, much like the FX hand guard. Im standing by this when I say that I will not accept **** casts for the final suit, therefore going to keep practicing until I produce something worth wearing.

-tubachris

 

[Ram ser]

Hey, if you really think about it the best troops were still cloned from the Fett template so it is kind of mando

 

[tubachris85x]

Well, either way, Im glad I can still post it here.

On my trip to home depot I picked up this lamp shade. I have seen these everytime Ive gone, and always told myself to see if it would work. Well I think it will. Im gonna have to cut some of it, but the final cone should be adequete for the thruster. I just need to go get another one.

I think its funny how Im just using a PVC cone and a lamp shade, and you instantly have a thruster lol

-tubachris

 

[askywalker98]

That looks like it will work pretty great! No shame in the lamp shade! I snatched some intense card board tubes from work yesterday to possibly use to holster refillable dust-off cans in my jet pack for the smoke effect. Anything is possible! We seem to see everything differently when costumes are on the mind!

Keep up the great work! And this thread is too great... and long to delete!

 

[Mandalore23]

Talk about ingenuity!!! good job

 

[tubachris85x]

Today I got started on the shoulder bell mold once again. Working on the molds like this requires like a routine or else you'll get lazy and not do anything for awhile lol. I was looking over my diagrams and measurements and I saw that I lables the height of the bell to be 7 1/2 inches tall. So i took measuring tape to 7.5 inches, and held it up to my shoulder and yea, it was too tall, it would have been too bulbus then in the game's model. So I decided to keep it at 6 inches tall (real 6 inches, not the "half of a sub sandwich" kind lol) I just added 4 layers and the glue is drying. I cant start shaping cause Im getting my braces off soon. After that or tomorrow, I'll start the shaping.

Took this pic to show the size comparison of all the arm molds. After seeing this, you can even see how small the hand mold is, and how out of proportion it is.

-tubachris

 

[askywalker98]

Hey that's looking great! Keep up the great work, and don't get lazy!

 

[Zeever Fett]

still no helmet pics

 

[jodo]

Still looking excellent man! Keep up the excellent work! :cheers

 

[tubachris85x]

still no helmet pics

I know a large majority of you REALLY want to see the finished helmet. Trust me when I say that you will see it. I still got to get more plastic before I can even think about finishing it. LOL, Its not a cheap thing, and I'd rather spend more time working on something then just half-fasting something, and it turning in a piece of ****. Dont worry, you will see the finished helmet.

Im gonna start shaping the shoulder bell soon to get it started.

-tubachris