mr paul

Play time! made a master and I am experimenting with some press moulds to see if I can make the 8 studs for the sniper plate. That worked.

Thank you Arturo for this comparison shot. There is still a whole bunch wrong with my shin but I am very pleased the sniper plate is now not obviously wrong.

See where this ends up. Hopefully not in the bin. I am very happy with the shape on top. You can see how more streamlined it is compared to the BSP original beside it. It will need securing well and some tweaking here and there. making the studs tomorrow and remounting the straps as well.

With the lighter mag pouch.

Ooh-Rah. Kit with blaster.

I definitely prefer this lighter magazine pouch. It looks less vintage. This looks to be the lighter tan pouch hanging from a grunt in the R1 Visual Guide. You can see it's colour in comparison to the captain's mag pouch standing behind him. And so does the one on bicep boy page 132.

Yes you must and I look forward to reading it.

Thanks Bradberry00

I am going to switch out my mag pouch for this lighter tan version. Although my darker one is accurate as well, I prefer this colour. I polished the corrosion from the brass with a wire wheel on a Dremel and stuffed the compartments with cardboard strips. It has a very good shape to it and the leather does not need cleaning. The condition is perfect for what I need.

Some of the upgrade parts I added to my kit before Christmas. Note the curved shape of the shoulder straps. This shape is true to the screen used. These shoulder straps are consistent in shape with the Deathtrooper, AT-ACT, Tank Trooper and possibly the Imperial Ground Crew.

Had fun with some Kydex and formed a new back plate. The previous version was a bit of a bodge job. The newer version is a lot lighter and stronger and it may be possible to make a further version with the 2 forks included along the bottom edge that tuck in behind the belt cover to secure it into place. The screen used back plate would hook over the top of the back of the kidney armour. There is no need to include this feature on my kit.

I want to say the magazine pouch is fastened to the hip armour to stop it swinging around when moving. There is a silver fastening on the back of the magazine pouch seen in this image and it somehow interacts with the hip armour. Here is a picture from the Walmart commercial showing a D shaped cut out on the right side skirt and it can be seen again on the costume display at SWCE.

Some pics of the armour with all the recent little mods and some pictures for comparison.

The curved shoulder straps are now fitted but still need weathering etc. The buckles are just tacked on temporary. The ramps under the straps work and they launch and line the curved straps up nicely so they dock into the housing on the rear (which also looks a lot better now it is smaller) New back plate and belt cover look the part also. Pleased.

Thank you peeps. Really appreciate your support and interest

These are some of the latest areas that have had some work done on them. The strap housing on the back has been reshaped and reduced in size to accommodate the new shoulder straps. The slots underneath them are being sorted out as well. The collar although it does not slot into the chest like the screen used it looks convincing as it is so I am happy for the time being. The shoulder buckles are gorgeous and I could not be more chuffed with them. They look good from every angle.

Adding my new parts to the shins. So chuffed with how they are looking. I am taking time adding piece by piece as the glue needs to hold and everything needs to line up. I have removed the old parts which means I am having to paint these buckles and straps before I put them on. Then I will add a bit more weathering to hide the fact once they are all in place.

Slapped some colour on the new straps.

The shoulder buckle has been replicated as close as possible to the screen used should buckles given the reference available. I think it is pretty close in scale and proportions. It certainly looks the part. It is great to finally place it next to one of the shin buckles for comparison and it is interesting to see just how different they actually are. I am still researching the buckle used for the shin. Although this one in the pictures ticks all the boxes I happen to know a variant of this buckle type was cast for the screen used costumes. It will be great to one day have the found part in hand and make further comparisons.

I have scratch built a set of shin straps. The master was completely hand made and then cast in rubber. These have that chunky, segmented feel and look needed for the shin. They are not perfect however they are a lot closer to the screen used straps which was my goal. I have also made a shorter piece off strap with less depth than the longer piece. This is for the section that exits the buckle. Note in the image how the strap appears to split in 2 and then join back up with itself before entering behind the shin guard. The fact this section has less depth allows it to bend and curve nicely over the edge of the buckle with no resistance. I will also add that flat piece of backing strap indicated by the upper arrow to help create the desired effect.

Here are the correct buckles for the shin straight out of my new moulds. The original buckles had been adapted for moulding and these resin casts include the same alterations as the screen used.

The updated buckle at the print shop over at JJ Industries. Can't wait to see this chunky version.

One of the new curved shoulder straps laying over the shoulder. Perfect fit. I need to build the ramp to make it sit higher.

A much more tidier and to scale belt set up. The back plate is sitting a little high and exposing the top of the slider but you ge t the idea. Note how the belt boxes overlap the ends of the belt cover.