My Zam Project Progress

[JDFett]

actually the silver on the blaster was a pain..we used a aluminum paint..i ight suggest using rub and buff on anything you are looking to make "metal"...the aluminum and chrome (any matallic paint actually) is very thin and runs easily and can really be a chore to use...as far as it being silver(the safety) not sure..lemmie check the disk....

(pause)

couldnt find a reference shot on all my pictures...she is always holding the blaster so the safety is away from view...so not sure...i say go with what makes you feel good on that one unless someone has an actual shot of that side of the screen used blaster? i just thought it was too cool to go un-noticed

also messed with the color and photo's contrast above on the greeblie to make it look more like it does in person...

 

[MaulMaus]

I think I must've repainted my greeblies 3 times.... then I dirtied them up, because they were so bright. Still not happy with one of them.

I ended up using Rub-n-Buff on my resin blaster as well. I like it much better - it looks more like the real thing. Paint just doesn't look the same. The safety on both my blasters is black (resin and aluminum). Though, I think it kinda looks cool being silver!

 

[ItsThatGuy]

I don't have the references like you folks do, but I have a pretty good eye for detail...

Any idea what the silver thing is on the right side of the blaster barrel? I was thinking it was the safety, but its too high.

:confused Hope this helps!

 

[MaulMaus]

*points blaster at self* Arrgghh!!! I think it's just the way the light is hitting the left side of the blaster, because that whole bottom section is black. And the only thing sticking out below the barrel is the black thing that holds the barrel.

 

[ItsThatGuy]

*points blaster at self* Arrgghh!!! I think it's just the way the light is hitting the left side of the blaster, because that whole bottom section is black. And the only thing sticking out below the barrel is the black thing that holds the barrel.

Yeah I was thinking it was the bottom too, but wasn't sure why it was silver. I never thought about lighting...makes perfect since though.

 

[sl tk8456]

Thing is with those greebiles they were painted high contrast colours to look cool on screen/film. When you see them close they do look pretty pants. Even the exhibitions shots look like a child has painted them.

Becky's are bright and look like a talented child has painted them. If they're dirtied/toned down a little they'd look cool

 

[Langsuir666]

Becky's are bright and look like a talented child has painted them.

:angry

 

[JDFett]

well for the universal key we went with the concept that the original pieces was all copper and the other colores were various levels of patina from being old...we actually sprayed a couple coats of flat matte clear to it since the picture and it does look less bright and shiney now

 

[Langsuir666]

I have done my greebs now i posted them in my progress thread. I think everyone is going to have different colors. im happy with mine but i need to see how they look on the costume as a whole not just on their own

 

[JDFett]

so we wanted to see how things were coming together...we did a quick mock up of the armor, using our carboard template(havnt made the leather piece yet)...i think everything looks good together...a couple small issues with some of our parts but thats why upgrades are a never ending battle...should look nice together when it's done....

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Lookin good!

 

[zamgram]

Lookin' amazing. I can't believe how quickly you've gotten so far!

 

[sl tk8456]

Great work. When that ab assembly is completed it looks way cool

 

[JDFett]

we went out to tandy leather today and got some scraps for the ab plate and the trim on the armor...
here is what we came up with after finishing the ab plate

we are going a bit darker(our preference as we are trying to mimic the on screen zam more than the actual color suit used) but i think it came out great...we even curled up the left bottom corner and put the wear marks in it...used purple and red dye, toned down with some rubbing alcohol...then used mahogany antiquing for the darker (weathered) spots

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Very cool! Good to see it's coming along!

BTW - did you come up with the template on your own, or was it blown up from the visual dictionary images?

 

[JDFett]

actually i just freehanded it from the book onto a piece of cardboard..then referenced it off the other armor i got form cal and the greeblies...making sure it matched what i saw in the dressing the galaxy book..it is a tad dark but im going for the darker color for the leather..i like the more weathered look...

having trouble with the vest though...we tried a mock version with some cheap pigskin today and we tried it pattern-less it was okay but i got a bit stumped on some of the areas cause ive never done anything like that before..i guess ill pick up a vest pattern

 

[MaulMaus]

having trouble with the vest though...we tried a mock version with some cheap pigskin today and we tried it pattern-less it was okay but i got a bit stumped on some of the areas cause ive never done anything like that before..i guess ill pick up a vest pattern

Um... Yeah... might be a good idea!!! ... Lesson #1 ....

There's a thread on the Zam boards here to a leather vest pattern I found that works very well, with some alterations. A regular vest pattern would also work, but will require more alterations - just keep that in mind when you make your pattern. Also, it's always a good idea to make a muslin mock-up of your piece before cutting up your leather (or expensive fabric ) so you can check for fit and/or cutting and sewing issues ... but if you just want to wing it...

 

[JDFett]

i think to be honest..the hardest part of this entire costume is going to be the vest and the belt...ive been looking around for a reliable leatherworker to do them for me but even some of the better folks are afraid to tackle it(maybe my instruction on it being so presice is scaring everyone.. ) what was the consensus on the size for the eyelets?

I was looking for some sort of tutorial for the vest and belt on the thread and there really isnt much...any help on the belt construction would be appreciated

 

[MaulMaus]

As Yoda would say... "Look through the threads you must!" Do a search - there is at least one thread with good information on the vest and one on the cummerbund/cumberbund (spelling???) here on the boards with links and/or information on how to make the cumberbund here.

The vest isn't so hard really, if you've got some basic sewing skills. The cumberbund is pretty basic as well.. Maybe it's the dyeing/coloring the leather that has you so nervous?

 

[Langsuir666]

Ill also be looking for the same threads in a second. I have my eyelets, ive measured them and the are supposedly the correct size but i dunno they just look small Right im off to use the search thingy ma doodle!