Hardened Leather for TK Armor

[Parquette[TK]]

Like the title says... 

I've been upgrading my R1TK armor, and by trade I am a leather holster worker. I have to do the wet moulding, dying, all of it. This all means that I've once or twice looked at the flexible urethane TK's of the new films/shows, and thought, "surely hardened leather would work as a budget flexible substitute for the expensive urethane?" So before I go and make some parts, resubmit my armor for approval and hope no one notices, I come here for y'all's two cents: Could there be a future where if the leather was prepared right, painted right, and accurate, that it could be approvable?

Especially considering there are ways to remove the leather surface grain, and painting a consistent glossy surface (think techniques painters use on rubber parts of Iron Man cosplays).  It wouldn't be anything like foam cosplays, since there's less room for precise details.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

That would be a question for your GML as he/she/they/them look after base legion approval, for higher levels the @Deployment Officer Team may chime in, but it would be hard to comment on something that they can't see, a test piece may be a good option to move forward.

 

I guess it all comes down to the finish and how much work would go into making these pieces. 

 

Problem I find with painting anything that may have some flex is cracking of the paint, I also wonder how it would look if damaged, scratched or chipped.

 

Love to see a test piece.

 

 

 

[jsilvius[Staff]]

It is certainly a curious idea. I'm intrigued. And would 2nd Glen's comment. Maybe try making one if the smaller pieces as a test and see what it looks like. Maybe hand guards or the cod pieces.

Looking forward to what you come up with.

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[Parquette[TK]]

Awesome. I think the main areas of concern for flex on a given R1TK/FOTK/Remnant would be the thighs, shins, and cod. This is why leather pieces would be great substitutes (even allow sitting) If a chest piece was made, that'd be even better. 

Will report back with pics once I get a good test piece 

Edited May 18 by Parquette

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Chests definitely twists and can rip. Good example of the thighs and chest bending

 

 

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Sounds like it's worth trying, but I agree you might want to start with a few smaller pieces. Then do a bit of a torture test to see what issues you will face in use.