Short4ATrooper’s ESB Boba WIP

[Short4ATrooper]

Hi everyone! Some of you may have seen the helmet paint up thread from me a few years back. As I’m now getting around to other areas of the build, I thought it would be a good idea to start a WIP thread. It’ll also stop me having to create a new post every time I have a question!

Just to set expectations for what kind of build I’m going for: I am going for 501 clearance so certain things will need to be done a certain way. I like to aim for the optional 2nd level of detail to save time should I ever decide to go for ‘infamous.’ So, For example, the armour has to be attached to the vest using the grommet method.

As far as the level of screen accuracy goes, I sit somewhere between screen and in-universe accuracy. My basic goal is to build an accurate costume I can troop in. I’m not too bothered about original parts, just as long as it passes the CRL so you probably won’t see anything in here about trying to find an Ever Ready Mini light! Similarly, I don’t really care what the inside of the helmet looks like so I won’t be trying to recreate anything in there.

So far the helmet is painted. Visor is not attached yet as I have some bolts on order from Bobamaker. I’m also waiting on a light kit from NeoFett before sorting out the rangefinder. Additionally, I also have a circuit board on order from BM



Armour pieces from MinuteFett. I won’t post pictures of those just yet since they’re only rough trimmed and not painted or anything and we all know what that looks like!

My NeoFett gauntlets arrived a few days ago so that’s probably what I’ll be tackling next



The following is on order, awaiting delivery:

• RF topper, aluminium stalk, MQ-1 circuit board, visor washers and bolts (Bobamaker)

• test armour pieces for grommet attachment to real pieces (MinuteFett)

• Gauntlet darts, rocket, whipcord cylinder (MachineCraft)

 

[BudaFett]

The helmet looks great! It's exciting when it all comes together!

It's also pretty cool that Neo Fett gives stencils for the gauntlet whipcord holder...such a pain using making tape!

 

[Short4ATrooper]

A few bits I ordered from BM arrived recently so I can get to work on finishing the helmet before moving on to either the gauntlets or the armour.

I could not get the lights and servo kit to work for the life of me. Lights work fine but they only come on when the rangefinder is up instead of down. There’s a switch on the board to toggle when the lights come on but I can’t figure out how to do it. I’ve hit the switch, turned everything off and on again - no dice. I’ve hit the switch, turned everything off and unplugged the wires - still no good. So I’m going with a static rangefinder set up with a stalk and topper from Bobamaker - both now installed.

Next up was the MQ1 board (also from Bobamaker). It’s a lovely piece and a new version. Previously I think it came with little pegs in each corner for easy installation. Now it has a curved edge on each side and was very easy to put it.

First it needed painting, I used the same red as on the mandibles and key slot area. It’s a Humbrol, I forget which colour. Maybe 73? I think it’s called wine Matt.

It was a little bright so I VERY finely misted with some good old Matt #33. You can hardly see the difference in this before (L) and after (R) photo but there is a difference:

The board was installed with black milliput:

Last things to do on the helmet now is to fit the visor which I’m kind of nervous about. I have some visor nuts and washers from BobaMaker. After that, I just need to do some weathering on the stalk and RF top.

 

[BudaFett]

I love how he casted the circuit board!

 

[Short4ATrooper]

I love how he casted the circuit board!

It’s really a flawless cast

 

[Short4ATrooper]

Does anyone have any good suggestions/links on how to actually construct the gauntlets? I have plenty of bits and pieces saved for reference - mostly from Ord Mantell ’s fantastic thread! But I’m at a loss on where/how to start actually building the NeoFett kit I have ready to go.

All I’ve done so far is trim excess plastic, everything has just been cut down to the mould lines.

They look absolutely huge at the moment and will need some adjustment to fit me but … do I start with securing the shells on one side? Do I trim them to fit first? Should I prime before or after doing this?

 

[Funkyred]

There was a good tutorial on YouTube that showed you how to create the perfect circumference at the front and back using pipe cleaners.

 

[BudaFett]

Does anyone have any good suggestions/links on how to actually construct the gauntlets? I have plenty of bits and pieces saved for reference - mostly from Ord Mantell ’s fantastic thread! But I’m at a loss on where/how to start actually building the NeoFett kit I have ready to go.

All I’ve done so far is trim excess plastic, everything has just been cut down to the mould lines.

They look absolutely huge at the moment and will need some adjustment to fit me but … do I start with securing the shells on one side? Do I trim them to fit first? Should I prime before or after doing this?

Here's what I've done...


1) The shells will "tell" you where to cut. I use my Dremel and belt sander to get the shells trimmed. If you have thicker forearms than the gauntlets were made for, keep more material.

They should look something like this after primed:

2) Once your shells are cut, you'll want to get the holes cut for the whipcord housing and the flamethrower. I use nylon bolts for the whipcord and the screws from the flamethrower that actually assembles itself into the shell. This is important as this is how I attach these sides of both shells and then close them with velcro on the other opening, just as they did on the actual gauntlets.

3) Cut all holes for greebies and accessories, it'll look like this:

4) You can see I still have wiggle room for the flight suit and foam to be added:

 

[Short4ATrooper]

This is really helpful, thank you!

 

[Short4ATrooper]

Some updates too:

Helmet is finished (ish). Still need to weather the RF and stalk but I finally got the visor in which was long overdue. It’s currently only secured at the edges of the horizontal section and at the top of the mandibles with some wingnuts and washers. I want to secure it at the bottom of the mandibles with some more milliput.

And I’ve started work on painting the chest armour after fitting pins with locking backs for attachment to the vest.

I sanded everything with 800 first to take the gloss off the ABS, then primed and sanded back again with 800:

Silver damage on the RH side chest plate masked off: