looks great i tried the pep way but the file just didnt turn out good i was about half way thru glassing it and it was to wide at the top where the buckles went.

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SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

I want to get my armor looking its very best for the Calgary Expo, so I have completely stripped it down with hopes of re-working much of it.

My goal is to:
-Make it more comfortable (will be wearing it 2 straight days)
-Make it more Screen Accurate (proportions and paint)

After drilling out pretty much all the rivets, I was back to my bare plates. I think my comfort and screen accuracy of the shapes problems were one in the same. From the start I feared my breastplate was too long in the torso and I have come to realize my shoulder bells and flaps may have been a bit large/bulky as well. I also felt my chest "ridges" were too wide. So I sanded those to a new spot as well.

Basically I did a lot of chopping and trimming. I planned to re-fab most of it, but I realized I would be better off trimming up.

Before

After (also got ride of the bottom ridges around the belly. That part isn't real accurate on my build, but I can actually bend at the waist now. It will be covered with the belt anyways, right? Comfort is key...

After


I also made my shoulder flaps narrower as they looked too wide. I had to scrap the "top" layer as the cutouts that made the indentation were too big to reuse after trimming. So for the new top layer I used something with a better looking natural "curve" to it instead of the flat garbage can I used before. (old flaps with base material for new 'top layer')



The bells themselves I started to fab new, but then decided to trim as I liked the curve of the old ones and after trimming they weren't as bad as I thought. The indentations from my layering are off, but that part won't be too noticeable



And here I sit. I decided my spray can job was quite silly. I went with a brush this time.



MY BIG QUESTION: MIG black. Do you guys use the powder or the "wash"? I don't think they have it in the US. I know some other companies have copied it. What exactly am I trying to replicate here?

I have plenty of artists charcoal I could grind up if the powder works (but don't want to destroy my charcoal for no reason if it doesn't!).

I could mix up my own acrylic wash, but dont want to waste that and ruin everything either.

What works best?

Mig pigments are powders.

See here:

viewtopic.php?p=216220#p216220

You can buy them in the USA, just search popular auction sites for mig pigment.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Thanks, just double checking because most of the youTube videos about it were MIG's new line of liquid washes (at least the ones that popped up first on the list after the search).

Unfortunately I don't trust shipping them in at this point though so websites are out. This projects needs to be in a suitcase in 7 days, so I need to source something locally or improvise.

Check local model shops then?

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Powdered charcoal and a matte spray to set it works really well though, especially since you have it already!

Great looking paint job man.

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

What about using watered down acrylic paint?

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Thats what I almost did last night. I was about to water down some acrylic when I thought I better research it a bit first.

I guess the advantage of trying my crushed up charcoal first is that I can wash it off if it looks bad. Then I will try the home made wash. Then...if it still doesnt look good I will hit this train shop down the road. True "hobby shops" are a dying breed around here, but there is a model train focused shop down the road that must have something comparable.

Black satin boot polish will darken it and be self sealing when dry.

Moving along again,

I decided to have a go with what I had in hand before I got too crazy. I did end up grinding down some artist sketching charcoal. Then I brushed it on with a big soft brush.




I decided it wasn't shabby, so I went and did the rest. But for the record, the dull coat did kind of kill some of the subtleties that I liked in its freshly blackened form. If/when I do it again for Armor ver. 3.0, I will probably use shoe polish. Something more robust wouldn't be a bad thing.



Then some 'wear' on to the weathering (I think I overdid it and the silver is more prominent than the cammo in some places. I may go back and paint some of the silver out).




And now I am in the process of re-personalizing my gear. Its starting to feel like "mine" again. I'll finish up and redo the name stencils tonight.

It looks (from the wear pattern on the armour) like you're fond of sliding into a room on your knees with a pulse rifle in each hand blasting the baddies.

Your kit really looks 100% better!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

wow that armor came out great!!.
good job.

Personally I think the level of weathering is just about right. I like armour that looks really beaten up so I'd only tone it down a little if you feel it really needs it.

Looking good!
Weathering's something that's in my near future too, the powdered charcoal may be a route I'll be going down...

Cheers,
Doug

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A11/TQ1.0.4214
Sgt Doug Phillips
69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes

"If it doesn't get you dirty, it's not worth doing."

Thanks guys.

Tried to get some photos of the "finished" version 2.1 but it was a bit dark outside. Without the flash its dark and grainy, and with the flash it was washed out. Can't win! But here are the least horrible of the images.

I have Spats BDUs on the way, but unfortunately they won't be here in time for the Expo. I will be running under armour at least one day. For the other I am considering using my service C shirt... (its got a manderined collar and patches at least).

Under armour style...



Service C style...

Looking good ! Great paint job!

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Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

WOW!!! That is an awesome job and you look the part too! you've used some fantastic material to fabricate a truly amazing set of armour.

Great job! I almost can't believe you've build this all from scratch! Your custom action figures are impressive and this is even more amazing.

Thanks guys! I am still holding out hope someone's camera captured some images from my last (and only!) drop. My own camera was dead. If they didn't get any, unfortunately I wont have good pics until the gear is back on the mannequin. Oh well, fingers crossed.