Making Of a First Order Backpack

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

Hi FISD,

Few weeks ago, I’ve finished a long overdue project I debuted a while back, and wanted to create this thread to share with you all about the whole creation process of this First Order backpack. 

I truly love this backpack. Whoever designed it did a fabulous job updating the OT pack while keeping its spirit intact. 

 

First of all, using only reference pictures, I modeled the backpack. I finished my 3D model the third of March 2016, so quite a while back and didn’t realize I kept this project lingering for so long now.
3D modeling WIP.

 

Finished 3D model.

 

The 3D model was then split into several printable pieces and 3D printed in PLA.

 

The side panels could have been printed in fewer parts but I chose to break them down into three different sub-units to ease the smoothing job: outer frame, inner frame, and greeblies.
Right-hand panel.

 

Same process for the left-hand panel.

 

First side panel smoothed out.

 

My face when I realized I had to do it all over again for the left panel.

 

Two close-ups of before and after smoothing.

 

 

Second side panel done.

 

I initially intended not to bother, but in the end I reckoned I had to clean the junction line between the outer and inner frame for both side panels.

 

Next on the list was the bottom panel.

 

This bottom panel was then welded to both side panels to create the backpack frame.

 

The backpack frame.

 

After that I smoothed the junction lines between the three different parts to blend them into one.

 

 

Once the frame was done, I moved on to the back panel. The holes, letterbox openings, and vertical slits are matching similar ones present on my backplate so the backpack can be secured and the harness straps fed through them.  

 

 

Close-up of the twenty-two ‘piano keys’, as I like to call them.

 

Last of the main parts to smooth was the front panel.

 

Once finished with the body of the backpack (frame + rear and front panels), the only things left were the various greeblies starting with the top cover.

 

To make sure I would not glue this top cover out of place, I designed a tooth on each side to help me aligning it with the backpack frame.

 

The ‘exhaust port’.

 

And finally to finish with the greeblies, and the tedious smoothing job: the two clasp greeblies, various buttons, switches, vents cover, etc… 

 

Test fit of the left panel. 

 

Before starting with the paintjob, I decided to join together the backpack frame and the rear panel. The whole weight of the backpack was going to pull on this junction point, so to make sure the bond would be strong enough and withhold the weight I welded them together.

 

If you ever wondered how those backpacks were generating heat to keep their trooper warm, there’s one like that into each unit.

 

Once ready I hung up all the parts with wire, prepped them, and laid on the white.

 

After the white was dry, it was time for quite the challenging masking job. Fortunately I know few masking tricks that made my job much easier than what it could have been. Still I wish I had had a vinyl cutter to let the computer do the job for me. Once everything masked, I airbrushed the gloss black.
Left panel:

 

Same process for the right panel:

 

And again for the front panel.

 

The front panel also has small black squares and one rectangle that I believe are made out of vinyl instead of paint. I’m leaning toward vinyl because on reference pictures the black doesn’t seem to have a gloss finish but rather satin, however I’m far from being dead positive about it. These are so small, they were very hard to cut. Once again the vinyl cutter would have been most helpful here. 

 

With a brush I painted the inside of the pill openings in the four side switches with gloss black.

 

And then glued all the greeblies with e6000…

 

…except the ‘exhaust port’ which is secured from the inside with two M4 screws. The black inside the exhaust port is also satin vinyl instead of gloss paint.

 

Finished right panel, and nearly finished left panel.

 

Strangely, the two top buttons of the left panel aren’t painted black but dark grey instead. 

 

The large black areas of the rear panel are also cut pieces of satin black vinyl.

 

Final step was to glue the top cover with e6000.

 

The finished First Order backpack. 

Of course this backpack I made is nowhere near perfect and it has plenty of kinks and defects, but the experience I gained at every level with this project is massive and I’m thankful for that. 
On another matter, I would also like to thank all the guys who take pictures of the exposed original costumes, and then take the time to upload and share them with us. To be honest, without them it would be impossible for me, and all of us, to push the limits of accuracy always farther. 

 

And as always thanks for reading.

T5H.

Edited November 14, 2021 by The5thHorseman

[Sly11[Admin]]

Great work as always Germain.

[Daetrin[Admin]]

I'm blown away by the detail and craftsmanship.  It's beyond costuming - that's a piece of art.   Do  you know, the backpack has never been put in as an option on the TFA TK CRL simply because we didn't have a good enough model.  If you would be open to it, it would be great if we could use yours for the CRL.  We'd just need a few photos on a white background and up they'd go.

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

1 hour ago, Daetrin said:

I'm blown away by the detail and craftsmanship.  It's beyond costuming - that's a piece of art.   Do  you know, the backpack has never been put in as an option on the TFA TK CRL simply because we didn't have a good enough model.  If you would be open to it, it would be great if we could use yours for the CRL.  We'd just need a few photos on a white background and up they'd go.

Have you tried reaching out to the blizzard force? Jon Watson who is the CRL model, created an even better backpack and took fantastic pictures of it for the CRL. Perhaps you could ask the DL to borrow them.

http://databank.501st.com/databank/File:BACKPACK_PRIMARY_CRL.jpg

Edited December 2, 2017 by The5thHorseman

[Harbinger[IPM]]

Great work!

 

Now I have yet another item to add to my FOTK shopping list.

[jethroskull[501st]]

Incredible work! The pre-painted version looks good to go for a Sandy.

[Daetrin[Admin]]

12 hours ago, The5thHorseman said:

Have you tried reaching out to the blizzard force? Jon Watson who is the CRL model, created an even better backpack and took fantastic pictures of it for the CRL. Perhaps you could ask the DL to borrow them.

http://databank.501st.com/databank/File:BACKPACK_PRIMARY_CRL.jpg

I'm abashed - that thought never occurred to me. I appreciate you letting me know and will go from there.  I'll also loop the LMO to ensure they are 100% OK with it.

[Justin96039]

Amazing work!

[Daetrin[Admin]]

It's now approved by the LMO's as an accessory.  Thanks Germain for the tip!

[sandtrooper[501st]]

You did a beautiful job on the backpack!  I may try for a FO snowtrooper costume in the future and this will be a helpful resource for the backpack.

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

Thank you everyone for the kind words.

 

2 hours ago, Daetrin said:

It's now approved by the LMO's as an accessory.  Thanks Germain for the tip!

That was fast! Great news and you're welcome for the tip.

[Daetrin[Admin]]

You're welcome.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Some fine work there, most impressive

[bearings[TK]]

Awesome work as always! Love it

[Shrapnel[TK]]

Just found this thread - compliments on your design skills but, most of all, you did a beautiful job of finishing and painting the pack.