Slave2112's ESB Build

[viewoptic]

Thanks for jumping in. I completely respect your amazing attention to detail.

Unfortunately the person that’s doing the review appears to be strict on the CRL, which I still contend is mistaken. I briefly tried to explain that, and included original promo pics of Fett from the halls of Bespin. Once I lightened up the promo pics so the white wall appeared white, the buckles look like plain metal.

A 501st contact suggested I put just enough on to make it appear that way from 6’ away. I don’t plan to make them look like brass.

In the vintage photo you posted of the jetpack above you can also see that the metal inserts (with the red paint) in the middle of the thrusters appear yellowed/brass as well which we know they are not, further providing proof that the buckles are not yellowed/brass and it is just a result of the photo itself as Ord Mantell mentioned. They need to update the CRL.

 

[BudaFett]

Yeah, the approver for your Garrison is...interesting. I had a back-and-forth with him about getting some things approved for my friend's Fett a few months back. I wasn't pleased.

You're in for one.

 

[lowberg]

Eh... after you re-dye the girth belt just get a little tube of rub n buff and give the buckles a little gold tint if it will appease... BUT ....Just be careful, definitely don't let the buckles accidently fall onto a rag soaked with 90% Isopropyl alcohol later on because that would take the rub n buff right back off. Can't have that happening

Not a bad fix list for the other things, you should be able to get that sorted out.

 

[Slave2112]

I found Whistle8mp’s thread on staining/dying girth belts and decided to give that a try in order to get a deeper brown tone.

Over the weekend I stopped at Ace Hardware and picked up two cans of Varathane. (I also stopped at Home Depot and Sherman Williams, but neither store had associates that bothered to help me find what I was after.) From that thread, “Truffle” is the color used by BobaFettAZ in 2020. They didn’t have that color, but they had a flywheel that showed the results of mixing two cans. These combo of these two (“Early American” and “Cabernet”) appeared to be the closest to Pantone PMS4625C.

The staining part was easy enough. Not getting the stain on anything else was a little more difficult. The hardest part was not touching it for 48 hours. (I failed that part twice only to find the stain was still wet and still transferred.)

DO NOT use the gloves I included a picture of. The stain ate right through them.

 

[Slave2112]

I also weathered the knee straps and the gloves a bit. Is this enough, or should I keep working on them?

 

[lowberg]

I think you are right in the ballpark, If you really wanted to you could add a little grey near the back of the padding but I think what you've got already is effective and should be fine

 

[viewoptic]

I found Whistle8mp’s thread on staining/dying girth belts and decided to give that a try in order to get a deeper brown tone.

Over the weekend I stopped at Ace Hardware and picked up two cans of Varathane. (I also stopped at Home Depot and Sherman Williams, but neither store had associates that bothered to help me find what I was after.) From that thread, “Truffle” is the color used by BobaFettAZ in 2020. They didn’t have that color, but they had a flywheel that showed the results of mixing two cans. These combo of these two (“Early American” and “Cabernet”) appeared to be the closest to Pantone PMS4625C.

The staining part was easy enough. Not getting the stain on anything else was a little more difficult. The hardest part was not touching it for 48 hours. (I failed that part twice only to find the stain was still wet and still transferred.)

DO NOT use the gloves I included a picture of. The stain ate right through them.

Did you just mix both cans 50/50 before dying belt? The color looks great...hopefully once it's dry it doesn't rub onto the flight suit when wearing it.

 

[Slave2112]

Yup, both were small cans (8oz each), and I dumped them both into the paint tray and mixed it as well as I could in there. Once I felt like it was mixed enough, I started soaking the girth in, bit by bit, folded over, repeat.

From that thread, whistle8mp said not to rub the ropes much, as they can start to fray a bit (I think that was the term used). I mostly pressed the ropes against the bottom of the tray to squeeze out any air and allow it to pick up the paint. I was by myself, so I didn't have any assistance as I started to squeeze the excess stain out, so that process got a little tedious. (That's when my gloves opened up, staining my hands.)

It is a water-based stain.....I need to find a way to seal it so my sweat, or a bit of rain, doesn't make it bleed.

 

[Slave2112]

Here’s the result. The top two pics are before, one in the shade, the other in the sun. Bottom two pics are after, shade/sun. I didn’t alter the images, just snapped the pics with my iPhone. (Coke can for color reference.)

In person it looks darker. Hopefully it’ll pass my approver’s eyes. (I picked up some rub & buff for the buckles to appease that bit as well. I'm also going to try not to have pictures done when the sun is on that side of the house.)

 

[Eagle]

I find it quite amusing the things they let go, the things they get knit-picky about, and the things they are completely wrong about. Tends to be the knit-picky stuff. I'll be happy to argue with them for you. Buckles on the original girths were nickel plated brass. Not raw brass. An original example was found and this is confirmed. Do not coat your buckles with anything. I can guarantee with absolute certainty there is no one in the 501st with the correct girth with the correct buckles. Not a one. /rant

As a member of the 501st and former command, I just want to say that everything you just said is...

CORRECT!

Some people in the club pick odd hills to die on.

 

[Slave2112]

As a member of the 501st and former command, I just want to say that everything you just said is...

CORRECT!

Some people in the club pick odd hills to die on.

I'll withhold any criticism I have of the process until after I get my authorization.

 

[Slave2112]

This felt blasphemous, but the CRL calls for it.

(Who do we petition to get this corrected?)

 

[Eagle]

This felt blasphemous, but the CRL calls for it.

(Who do we petition to get this corrected?)

Once you are approved, you should be fine to remove and go back to silver. They dont check your kit once you are approved .

I am still shocked they held you up over that. At most, it should have been an approval with the condition that you fix the buckles. That is just my opinion.

It will be worth it. Overall, the legion is a force for good. You are going to have a lot of fun!

 

[Slave2112]

Once you are approved, you should be fine to remove and go back to silver. They dont check your kit once you are approved .

I am still shocked they held you up over that. At most, it should have been an approval with the condition that you fix the buckles. That is just my opinion.

It will be worth it. Overall, the legion is a force for good. You are going to have a lot of fun!

View attachment 251242

The buckles was one of 4 items pointed out that needed attention. If it was those alone, I might have passed.

The girth was too bright of a red. I did ask BobaMaker if he sent me an RotJ girth, and he swears he did not. I did darken that up a bit and it looks better.

He said to dirty up the gloves and knee straps. Easy fix, but I'm really trying not to go overboard with those.

And lastly, my flightsuit had streaks where the weathering didn't touch. It was obvious when I actually looked at it. I'm going to touch those a bit more tonight....again, trying not to go overboard.

From what BudaFett said above, the approver I'm dealing with is apparently a stickler for extreme details. I'm just trying to give him what he's asking for.

 

[Eagle]

The buckles was one of 4 items pointed out that needed attention. If it was those alone, I might have passed.

The girth was too bright of a red. I did ask BobaMaker if he sent me an ESB girth, and he swears he did not. I did darken that up a bit and it looks better.

He said to dirty up the gloves and knee straps. Easy fix, but I'm really trying not to go overboard with those.

And lastly, my flightsuit had streaks where the weathering didn't touch. It was obvious when I actually looked at it. I'm going to touch those a bit more tonight....again, trying not to go overboard.

From what BudaFett said above, the approver I'm dealing with is apparently a stickler for extreme details. I'm just trying to give him what he's asking for.

Yeah, I should have read more. My mistake. Luckily those are all easy fixes. I know people who have had to fix a lot more. Like you said, just give him what he's asking for.

Admittedly, the GML is just following the CRL. He's not up to date on Fett research. The CRL is just outdated. GMLs aren't really expected to memorize every kit, especially something as complex as boba. Typically they'll bring someone in from the BHG to assist with the approval. TLDR, I think the CRL needs to be updated to reflect the new discoveries made here.

Still. I would undo the buckles after approval. Silver is the correct color.

I will also say that reference photos trump the CRL. If you can make the case that the CRL doesn't match the reference photos you have, they made let it slide. But I don't think that's worth the hassle in this case. You'll get approved, you have a fantastic kit!

 

[viewoptic]

I hope that color comes back off the buckles easily...

 

[BudaFett]

I still disagree with the buckles being fully brass, and it's comical that it actually holds up some approvals after what I've seen come out of different garrisons this year alone.

 

[viewoptic]

The funny thing as well is the photo of the girth belt used in the crl also has silver buckles...

 

[Eagle]

The funny thing as well is the photo of the girth belt used in the crl also has silver buckles...

I may be wrong. But I believe the Infamous level of approval (level 2) requires the silver buckles.

So the BHG requires it, which is good. But I wish they would update the CRL so garrisons stop holding up members over it.

 

[Slave2112]

The funny thing as well is the photo of the girth belt used in the crl also has silver buckles...

I pointed this out, and was “corrected” as to the text of the CRL.