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Post by berzerker on Jan 27, 2011 8:22:38 GMT -5
Hey Marines,
I've assembled my parts and planned my build but have to wait until the snow clears so I can work outside. It will be a long 3 months!
My GM will stand along side my Darth Maul, 501st trim Clone Trooper, Tusken Male (ANH), and WIPs Darth Nihilus and Tusken Female (AOTC). My GM will be the first in Ottawa and will stand beside a fabulous Bacara here in the Capital City Garrison.
Info here is amazing. I hope to learn from you all and pass on to others what I can.
Berzerker SL-9223
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Post by Tango Fett on Jan 27, 2011 9:07:35 GMT -5
Welcome Berzeker, I'm not sure if I have the "rights" to say welcome because I'm about one day older in the forum than you!. Hahaha Regarding the weather we are experiencing quite the opposite down here. It is so hot that I had to stop working on the costume a few times. This is me a couple of weeks ago sanding the bucket after priming. With more than 100ºF this was my new idea for "wet sanding". Hope we can share our new experiences in this great costume.
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Post by berzerker on Jan 27, 2011 15:05:33 GMT -5
That looks like a combination of awesome! Costume building in a pool? Who knew.
Thanks.
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Post by berzerker on Jul 30, 2011 12:25:23 GMT -5
So, over the last 4 weeks I got to work. I didn't take a lot of pics but here are the few I did. A number of pieces came from a lot purchase from ShadowEclipse so I don't know all the makers. Chest and back did not meet or line up well so I added shims on the sides and extended the back with shims as well. Torso armour is attached with a piano hinge and secures with a 3and3 rare earth magnet union. In this pic the front and back are secured together with shims. I separated the two and put the hinge/magnet system in place. I found some old window screen in my junk collection and tacked it in with hot glue. 2 layers of FG resin over top and the 'tick' sound of hitting the armour turned into a solid 'thunk!' Heavier but I love it. Left elbow detail - unweathered. C6 arm armour, seamlessly finished. Handplate system. (I paint the inside of all finished armour pieces with a gloss black) Most of my near-finished kit. SB belt with home-made secondary belt. Aluminum buckles from unknown source. SGB helmet (I've since added the trim) Torso armour with SB mantle pieces. fibreglass knees from unknown source. Homemade overalls and kama (I never formally learned to sew but making my Darth Maul from scratch gave me the confidence to tack a swing at it. These coveralls were the best, first-attempt sewing project I've ever done.) Military spec boots white with leather dye and tan soles with fabric paint. C6 arm parts with SB shoulder bells. More to come...
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Post by RamZnation on Jul 30, 2011 18:46:40 GMT -5
Very impressive! I like how your GM is looking so far.
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Post by danrodjr on Jul 30, 2011 21:38:05 GMT -5
Nice work!!!
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trooperdyl
Higher Junior Member
"Gettin' the job done"
Posts: 87
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Post by trooperdyl on Jul 31, 2011 19:00:10 GMT -5
Wow, you're flying into it mate. Looks great. Just one thing, the GM doesn't have a compad on the forearm. We're such a well drilled, cohesive unit that there is no need for comms. Someone chime in if I'm wrong.
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Post by berzerker on Jul 31, 2011 19:37:50 GMT -5
Well, I love praise but I want the criticism that makes my kit better.
You are right. My search of ref pics shows no commpad. Good, I thought it looked too big anyway.
Thanks for that.
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Post by danrodjr on Jul 31, 2011 20:49:42 GMT -5
On your back, did you paint over the gray and white detail or did you just mount the backpack? And a question, how did you mount the Mantle? I think also that the boot soles should be tan, someone correct me if I'm wrong. But the armor looks awesone!!!
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Post by berzerker on Aug 2, 2011 20:14:04 GMT -5
Dan, I'll get to you in a moment but wanted to share this... So, ever since seeing Battle: Los Angeles back in March I loved the versatility and look of the tactical sling. So I added a couple D-rings to my DC-15 and converted an old laptop bag strap to the purpose by adding a D-ring to it. Here's a pic. NOT CANON but seriously practical so it stays. I expect that by Saturday I will be done with all the parts I have on hand. Still waiting for lower leg armour, chest greeblies and some backpack parts.
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Post by berzerker on Aug 2, 2011 20:24:19 GMT -5
Mantle is an SB production. A little too big compared to the 360 turnaround but decent. I measured distance between them when in place and placed a piece of HIPS to lock them together. A lot of heat was used to shape it so that the glue would be most effective. I wrapped the exposed part with black vinyl but saw that it should be armour coloured so I painted over it. underside: My neck keeps it from sliding forward so I needed to find a way to keep it from sliding back. i considered magnets (I love using magnets) but figured the easiest, most effective means was my 2nd love, side-push clips. Opposite side of clips mounted to chest armour - all covered by cowl. As for boots, yes they should have tan soles. they do, just not visible in pic. So here: Lastly, I just hit the helmet with paint today so here is the addition of the rim to the SGB. No backpack yet. I did insert the clone detail backpiece but it will be covered. I will put 4 rare earth magnets in the 1 inch holes and marry it to the backpack that way.
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Post by berzerker on Aug 5, 2011 8:13:38 GMT -5
OK, I'm in the final stretch. I am still waiting on parts: -Steelblitz backpack sidepods -Steelblitz chest greeblies -Mr. Bungle lower leg/foot armour In preparation for the arrival of those parts and a goal to have it 100% complete for FanExpo in Toronto in late August I want to present you with what I've done so you can give me feedback (be harsh if necessary) to make my GM rock. Here's my 360 turnaround... The 'floods' were intentional to better tuck into leg armour. Knee straps are white on (my) right, black on left remember, backpack side pods still awaiting delivery. I modded the steelblitz pack by adding sides and extending the front. Pack attaches to back using a rare earth magnet system.
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Post by danrodjr on Aug 5, 2011 16:04:32 GMT -5
Looking good!!!
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Post by berzerker on Aug 15, 2011 22:08:31 GMT -5
Just finished my GM helmet setup on the weekend. -The blower fan is located in front of my mouth, blowing down. Get your breath out of your bucket and you will deal with 90% of all heat issues. My untreated lenses in my clone bucket never fogged using this setup. -9.6V battery pack purchased on online auction site for cheap. It will run 2 12V fans for 7.5 hours. My other fan (shown in next pic) runs intermittently to provide a comfort blast when needed. Expected power supply for regular use of fans would be 10-12 hours. -9V battery holder in place just in case back up power is required -9.6V battery pack can be charged by plugging the charger into the port. 4 hour charge time. -blower fan on the left is previously mention mouth fan (for locational reference) -sliding switch is main power fr both fans. Accessible with helet on and in full armour but intended to be turned on before helmet goes on, turned off when helmet comes off. -toggle switch powers the rear fan. big toggle is easy to locate and operate in full gear with helmet on. Provides a swirl of air around my helmet when needed. Used intermittently. rear blower fan draws fresh air from the rear opening, blowing it forward and up (toward my temple). A cool wash of fresh air across my face and "Aaahhhhhhhhh!" The biggest challenge with this setup is the mouth blower. My Ep III clone bucket has the blowers found on the main 501st forums but it was too deep for my GM). I bought a 10 pack of 1cm deep units from China and have setup a few garrison mates with a similar setup in and ARF, a TK and Boushh. The only difference is that I used 2 9V battery holders rather than an R/C batt pack. Other setups to go into a Tusken male and Tusken female soon. To put my GM mouth blower in I had to add a piece of styrene across the cheeks, behind the cowl, so that I had something solid to mount the blower to.
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Post by berzerker on Aug 15, 2011 22:29:43 GMT -5
Torso armour My GM chest and back were a good 3 inches apart on each side. To make things worse, they didn't line up well so I had to lengthen the back. Here you see the sides with shims added. I made this solid (unable to put on) just so everything would be in the right place and square. To extend the back, I had to cut it and place the shim/filler in. Heat was used to get the right shape. Once everything was bondo'd and sanded, I cut the front and back apart at the same point on each side. Then I ran a piano hinge down my weak (left) side, reinforcing it (sandwiching it) with a strip of styrene on the back. On the opposite side i used rare earth magnets as my closure system. 3 magnets receiving 3 magnets for great strength. I sunk the magnets so that they nest into a cup so that they won't shear apart. Seamless torso armour.
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