onedge30 Posted February 15, 2007 Report Posted February 15, 2007 Ok, I talked with Paul a while ago about all the small things that make the ANH armor distinct and have pieced together what I can see. Again, I am looking at these items as if I was going to create my own unique set of armor. Having to create all these small things in the new set of armor. I may, and I may not, but it is a very interesting topic for me right now. And I find myself trying to see so much more than I have ever looked for before. Here is what I think I see: ( in kinda broad terms on some of the more noticeable features.) 1) shoulder bell swoops 2) sandtrooper abs plate, with separate TK plate over it 3) hand plate 4) bicep thumb print 5) upper calf edge, 'v' shaped 6) chest longer on sides 7) abs button colors 8) off white 'milk' color 9) gray teeth 10) 4 teeth holes on each side of smile 11) 2 major pc helmet ( cap and back together, then front) Ok, help me out - what have I missed? Or what fine tuning do I need to think about. Jeff Quote
TK8280 Posted February 15, 2007 Report Posted February 15, 2007 Do you own a kit of armor? Or just have armor that you are trying to improve? Quote
onedge30 Posted February 15, 2007 Author Report Posted February 15, 2007 I am quietly starting my armor from scratch. I have a massed all the measurements and reference photos and now am starting on the original sculpts for the molds. The vac table is 50% finished. The best reference I have found so far is the Marmit 1/6 scale figure. Very well done. And some of the size reference help has come from Rob, RT Mod. Jeff Quote
troopermaster Posted February 15, 2007 Report Posted February 15, 2007 10) 4 teeth holes on each side of smile Most have 4 each side, but some have 5 and some 3. It's not just the hero helmets that have 3 Quote
onedge30 Posted February 16, 2007 Author Report Posted February 16, 2007 Hey, Paul. I was noticing that the number of teeth seems to be very irregular. I guess when I started asking all these questions it was Paul, Daetrin, from WA. LOL! But now have come to hear that you are the man in the UK with all the good info. I am always dancing on the edge of just buying a full suit instead of the "Ordeal" of making my own. That is why I did request some further info from you, on your suit. But, I am currently on the side of the fence that I really want to do all my own molds and sculpts. I think starting the helmet from scratch will be the last thing I work on. It will be the killer for time and accuracy. Quote
troopermaster Posted February 16, 2007 Report Posted February 16, 2007 You can expect it to take at least a year to get it all done. It took me about two years before I had a plastic suit to wear but I lost interest in the project a few times and many months would go by without doing any sculpting. I left the helmet while last too. It isn't as hard as you think to get the basic shape but the fine tuning will take forever The helmets are such a weird shape and not symetrical at all. The armour is basically body shapes with a few bits and bobs added and once you get the first set of moulds made you can easily do the hard work of getting them movie accurate. It isn't hard but it is very time consuming if you are going for accuracy but I can say it is well worth the effort and a great hobby Quote
onedge30 Posted February 17, 2007 Author Report Posted February 17, 2007 Here is one that I have just noticed. How many gears are there on the back plate? Oops, how many teeth on the gear? Jeff Quote
TK8280 Posted February 17, 2007 Report Posted February 17, 2007 I am quietly starting my armor from scratch. I have a massed all the measurements and reference photos and now am starting on the original sculpts for the molds. The vac table is 50% finished. The best reference I have found so far is the Marmit 1/6 scale figure. Very well done. And some of the size reference help has come from Rob, RT Mod. Jeff Thats cool taking on a task like that Quote
TK8280 Posted February 17, 2007 Report Posted February 17, 2007 Its great that your talking to Paul, because he is the person to go to for those types of questions Quote
onedge30 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Report Posted February 22, 2007 Hello all, The Ultracal, plaster bandages, mass-o-clay, and alginate all show up this week for me to start on my body casting, sculpting, molding, and casting bucks for stromtrooper armor!!! Yea. Now to see how long my good mood lasts and when the first pitfall occurs to derail me! LOL!!! Trying to balance all the parts and pieces of this massive puzzle which is armor BIRTH!!! The vac table construction, now that I have about 85 % of the parts. The tank being the only part I really am still working on. Small other pieces that will just see what fits. All the freaking armor measurement I have taken and double checked and they are all DIFFERENT!!! LMAO!!! Damn my anal retentive nature!! I will make my best effort. I am also working on my Imperial Officers Uniform ( black of course! ) - the sewing machine just gave out. Off to the repair first thing tomorrow. AND I was on such a ROLL!!! Also, working on my Imperial Guard Costume. Have outer cap, working on inner. Working on Force Pike and getting a helmet. I may just sculpt my own helmet and trick it out. I here the Don Post are just to small! Need to cast some resin parts to make a few E11 conversion blasters. Oh, just a few things on my plate. But as soon as the project begins - I will start posting pictures so that everyone can have a good laugh and make comments. Cool Be afraid! Be very afraid.... Jeff Quote
Exodus[TK] Posted February 22, 2007 Report Posted February 22, 2007 Good luck on the project and don't forget to post progress pics! Quote
Dargas[501st] Posted April 18, 2007 Report Posted April 18, 2007 You can expect it to take at least a year to get it all done. It took me about two years before I had a plastic suit to wear but I lost interest in the project a few times and many months would go by without doing any sculpting. I left the helmet while last too. It isn't as hard as you think to get the basic shape but the fine tuning will take forever The helmets are such a weird shape and not symetrical at all. The armour is basically body shapes with a few bits and bobs added and once you get the first set of moulds made you can easily do the hard work of getting them movie accurate. It isn't hard but it is very time consuming if you are going for accuracy but I can say it is well worth the effort and a great hobby the same thing is happening with my republic commando.... i have the helmet sculped and ready for casting as well as the shoulder bells but i lost interest in it so it is in my garage gathering dust. I suppose I?ll take the project up again sometime but I have no idea when... i have no vac table and the idea of rigging one is beyond me. We?ll see what happens in the future. Now for all the trouble you?ll be getting yourself on doing your own armor you should meassure what you are spending on the entire thing... if you don?t plan on doing any more than your own i beleive it?ll be better for you to buy an already done armor ready to be used. That?s my personal aproach on it. Anyway... good luck on the project man! Dargas. Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 Hi, im on the same road. So far i have the vac-form table up and running. I have some sheets of HIPS. One of the handplates is ready to vac form. The chestplate mold after 6 weeks is 98% ready to form. heres some pics.. Quote
troopermaster Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 Hi Chef, What are you using for the heating elements? Have you taken a pull of any of your moulds yet? The reason I ask is that you need a very even heat source to cover the entire sheet of plastic otherwise you won't get very good results. What vacuum source are you using too? -Paul. Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted June 21, 2007 Report Posted June 21, 2007 Hi Chef, What are you using for the heating elements? Have you taken a pull of any of your moulds yet? The reason I ask is that you need a very even heat source to cover the entire sheet of plastic otherwise you won't get very good results. What vacuum source are you using too? -Paul. Hi paul,ive take one pull that was ok,but i tried to release it too quick and the hips got distorted on one section. This is still a learning curve. It was good to see, which meant that i needed to make some more changes to the mold,as in the sides needed extending down and some curves put in. Last night dissaster. The 90% of the surface of the mold is ruined!! Because of the heating time it caused the car filler to seperate from the ar dry clay.....its taken about 6 and a half weeks to get the mold right. Believe me a grown man can cry. I need to rethink this to avoid any more setbacks. Onwards and upwards. In relation to your questions im using 4 wall heaters and two vacuums. Last night i lost some of the vacuum pressure which also didnt help. I will post some pics of the pull and the damage when i get home mate. ps I still think you are a legend mate. your humble apprentice chef Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted June 21, 2007 Report Posted June 21, 2007 Here are the pictures...please dont laugh. Picture 1 - Just before last vac form Pic 2 - when dissaster struck! pic 3 - Rough cut of vac pull-lack of suction meant edges not formed ! Cheers paul chef Quote
troopermaster Posted June 21, 2007 Report Posted June 21, 2007 That's tough luck mate, sorry Blood, sweat and tears are nothing new in the mould making game, at least for me anyway. PM me and I will try and help with your moulds. Don't give up buddy! -Paul. Quote
elkamino Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 Tough luck mate. If I may add two cents, you said you used air dry clay. Bad stuff for making molds. You'd be better making a sculpt in plasticine clay, then making a negative casting in Plaster of Paris (cheap way which works if you are very careful), then creating a mother mold from the negative using a mixture of Bondo and fiberglass resin painted on, a second layer of Bondo, then filling the entire cavity with Plaster of Paris. You can even skip the Bondo and resin parts to create an all Plaster of Paris mother mold, but it won't last more than a few pulls. Nice thing is, if you get some good woodcarving tools, you can "fine tune" your molds. Keep at it, you'll get the hang of it. Best way to learn is talking to others and making mistakes. Quote
Exodus[TK] Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 Chef, This is huge project so don't get discouraged. I'm sure I'm not alone, but I can't wait to see the finished product from all your hard work. There are plenty of folks on FISD that can help, so don't forget you can reach out for advise. Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted June 29, 2007 Report Posted June 29, 2007 Thanks guys for the advise,ive just recieved the plaster,clay and some stuff recomended by troopermaster. Ive started over the last week or so to rebuild the original mold,which i will cast from before vac forming. Ive also checked over the pipework on my vac-from to make sure there are no air leaks. have agood weekend all cheers chef Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted June 29, 2007 Report Posted June 29, 2007 Thanks guys for the advise,ive just recieved the plaster,clay and some stuff recomended by troopermaster. Ive started over the last week or so to rebuild the original mold,which i will cast from before vac forming. Ive also checked over the pipework on my vac-from to make sure there are no air leaks. have agood weekend all cheers chef Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 Hi guys ,,bit of an update. Over the last couple of weeks ive been doing little bits of patching up of the chestmold. Ive been advised to take a mother cast of this and make a male mold from that. last week i ordered of a company in the uk called Alec Tiranti(brilliant service) some items..... Gelflex Classic plaster. These are to make the casts/molds with. Ive also ordered some grey clay. From now on i'm going to use this medium to work with. anyway here's some boring updates pictures of progress(slow) soo far. Quote
elkamino Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 Off to a good start Chefhawk. Things will seem slow at first until you really get the hang of it. Then before you know it you'll only have a half dozen castings and pieces to make. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Quote
TK-2126_MD[TK] Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 Great Job Chef!!!!! I would take the mold catastrofy as a blessing, it let you get great info and contact info, that is priceless.... Remember your blaster is half Full not half empty Quote
Chefhawk[501st] Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 Thanks for the support guys. Your right, ive made some goood friends here. I just wish i knew about this forum years ago. cheers Quote
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