First build Ever Update and first timer questions

Coanc

New Hunter
I am in the midst of an ESB Boba Fett Build. First time ever going down the rabbit hole.

My suit, vest and neck seal from Arkady arrived and it is absolutely beautiful. Fits incredibly well and the quality and color are spot on I could not be happier.
My armor is on its way to being finished by NeoFett. If anyone is looking for armor and someone who can paint as well Neofett Prop Shop is crushing it. The work in progress photos are stunning. Such attention to movie accurate detail.

In light of the armor arriving soon I just want to see if anyone has suggestions or links where to buy the best strapping for knee pads, girth belts, and cod pieces? Or any methods to keep them secured and tight. Also, any advice on best Velcro to buy? I feel I neglected the odds and end materials that will really make a difference when wearing the suit. Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
 
I am in the midst of an ESB Boba Fett Build. First time ever going down the rabbit hole.

My suit, vest and neck seal from Arkady arrived and it is absolutely beautiful. Fits incredibly well and the quality and color are spot on I could not be happier.
My armor is on its way to being finished by NeoFett. If anyone is looking for armor and someone who can paint as well Neofett Prop Shop is crushing it. The work in progress photos are stunning. Such attention to movie accurate detail.

In light of the armor arriving soon I just want to see if anyone has suggestions or links where to buy the best strapping for knee pads, girth belts, and cod pieces? Or any methods to keep them secured and tight. Also, any advice on best Velcro to buy? I feel I neglected the odds and end materials that will really make a difference when wearing the suit. Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
Strapping is pretty easy to come by on amazon and I'm sure there's threads out there with the exact stuff to get. I just got whatever others on an ESB build got and made it work for both the knees and cod. As far as velcro, are you looking for armor attachment, because if so, I'd go with some of the techniques used by folks here. Check out Ord Mantell and his amazing build thread for the absolute 100% accurate way to do it. I've also had a lot of success with magnets but mine are all on mannequins and not trooped, so might not work well for something actually moving. You definitely have some high quality parts with Arkady and Neo...top shelf for sure. Let's see them pics!
 
For chest and shoulder armor attachments check out this thread. The jewelry pins w/ clutch backings are a nice alternative to the accurate way (grommets and bolts) and allows for re-positioning pieces easily if needed, nice option to consider:


If you have a craft or hobby store, they will sell white elastic for the knees and black nylon strapping for the girth belt.

Velcro can be helpful for additional knee support and kidney armor support, but if you use any velcro on your soft parts I would recommend the sew-on type. No sew and adhesive velcro just will come off.

To keep the cod and kidney armor tight and secure, I used Irongladiator's method of an internal hook and loop tactical belt.
It's got velcro on both sides of the belt, so you can use strong adhesive velcro on the inside of cod and kidney armor, and small patches of sew on velcro around the waist of the suit and that thing will not move on ya!

 
1) I took my vest to the tailor to have the strap holes for the harness properly made. It'll help durability overall for an area overlooked.
2) Use the grommet method and nylon screws. It's harder but more accurate and you won't lose anything!
3) Velcro on the knees!
 
1) I took my vest to the tailor to have the strap holes for the harness properly made. It'll help durability overall for an area overlooked.
2) Use the grommet method and nylon screws. It's harder but more accurate and you won't lose anything!
3) Velcro on the knees!
Have to agree with the grommet method for trooping. My Fetts all just stand around my basement all day so I ended up going with the magnet method. It works really well and makes it easy to tweak the placement of each plate but if you were trooping, they'd slide, shift and fall off.
 
Strapping is pretty easy to come by on amazon and I'm sure there's threads out there with the exact stuff to get. I just got whatever others on an ESB build got and made it work for both the knees and cod. As far as velcro, are you looking for armor attachment, because if so, I'd go with some of the techniques used by folks here. Check out Ord Mantell and his amazing build thread for the absolute 100% accurate way to do it. I've also had a lot of success with magnets but mine are all on mannequins and not trooped, so might not work well for something actually moving. You definitely have some high quality parts with Arkady and Neo...top shelf for sure. Let's see them pics!
IMG_7541.jpeg
Here is the vest. Worked with arkady to figure out the shiny/dull side of the tackle twill. It’s pure quality down to the last stitch. The length is exactly where it is supposed to be too. She also factors in for the jet pack harness too. Everything is considered down to the detail.

In the attachments is the flight suit.
Arkady gave me a run down of how the suit is supposed fit. She reached out to double check measurements to ensure a good outcome. The color is dead on. The quality and durability of the fabric used is so nice. I can’t believe I am going to weather this thing now. (Sorta don’t want to)
 

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Have to agree with the grommet method for trooping. My Fetts all just stand around my basement all day so I ended up going with the magnet method. It works really well and makes it easy to tweak the placement of each plate but if you were trooping, they'd slide, shift and fall off.
I am thinking of going the pin back method.. I don’t trust myself to grommet the vest. Does anyone do that on the forum?
 
For chest and shoulder armor attachments check out this thread. The jewelry pins w/ clutch backings are a nice alternative to the accurate way (grommets and bolts) and allows for re-positioning pieces easily if needed, nice option to consider:


If you have a craft or hobby store, they will sell white elastic for the knees and black nylon strapping for the girth belt.

Velcro can be helpful for additional knee support and kidney armor support, but if you use any velcro on your soft parts I would recommend the sew-on type. No sew and adhesive velcro just will come off.

To keep the cod and kidney armor tight and secure, I used Irongladiator's method of an internal hook and loop tactical belt.
It's got velcro on both sides of the belt, so you can use strong adhesive velcro on the inside of cod and kidney armor, and small patches of sew on velcro around the waist of the suit and that thing will not move on ya!

Thank you this is really helpful
 
My arkady suit replaced my original one I got months back.
I still can’t figure out who made it and the seller from eBay couldn’t remember where he got it from. The color is way off from empire I took a chance on it because in the pictures it looked close but it’s wayy darker. It look almost like a pre-production color. I might sell this off at some point because I won’t be using it. Here is a picture of the color below. If anyone has any ideas let me know. It has zippers on the ankles too. I’ve been trying to figure it out.
 

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You could look back at my thread- The Builder ESB Build. We all went through this process so you might find a lot of construction tips there.
HAPPY BUILDING!
 

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