ROTJ Scout WIP

[LTCAlex]

I can promise from the start that this will be a bit of a slow build, mostly because I'm already working on a shoretrooper and it's temporarily paused until a) my current life insanity calms down and b) I can attend an armour party because I desperately need help, but the stars have aligned to make myself a ROTJ scout as well, so thought I'd detail it here too. 🤷‍♀️

That said, I will do a list now.

Helmet: WTF, fully assembled off the main 501st forum, currently shipping

Flightsuit, Vest, Cummberbund/Pockets, Gloves: Fellow Garrison member selling his, don't know maker, will be picking up shortly

Armour: WTF, commissioned, will be waiting 8-10 wks for it to arrive

Boots: Will wait for wallet to recharge and then buy Crowprops

Blaster: Will figure out some way to acquire one

 

[Aradun]

Looks like you’re off to a solid start! We’re here to help when you’re ready.

[LTCAlex]

Great news! No pics, but will try to take them soonish. I'm so excited though!

Acquired soft goods today and two things:

1. It's almost a perfect fit! Almost too perfect, but will need to a) get front zipper fixed of flightsuit and b) sew on some of the velcro patches on the cummerbund.

2. He threw in a blaster so I don't have to acquire one myself.

[LTCAlex]

Look what just arrived in perfect condition and fits like a glove! Woohoo!! 😁

[LTCAlex]

So I fiddled around a bit with the soft goods and found out the flightsuit actually works just fine, I just can't wear a t-shirt like I usually do with my TIE Pilot. Fair enough. 

I haven't figured out how my cummerbund works but I think to make everything work properly I'll need to get my armour, so looks like I'm waiting for that. I'm worried about strapping, too, but that seems like something I'll have to figure out as I go. 

[Retrofire]

@Chopper created a great thread on strapping that you can find here:

@M.J Can you give Alexandra some pointers on the best way to wear the cummerbund?

[TreeHuggerMatt]

That thread Pete refers to was one of the first few threads I bookmarked. 
 

You might not need some or any of it but it’s well worth a read 

[M.J]

That I can, Alex are able to lay flat your cummerbund and cod piece, I’m not on my computer atm, I can show how to wear it once I’m home with photos and if you need to adjust any pieces, either way from your first photo it looks good

[LTCAlex]

On 7/5/2022 at 4:20 PM, Retrofire said:

@Chopper created a great thread on strapping that you can find here:

@M.J Can you give Alexandra some pointers on the best way to wear the cummerbund?

Oooh just took a look and thank you!! That all looks very valuable and I will implement.

On 7/5/2022 at 7:40 PM, M.J said:

That I can, Alex are able to lay flat your cummerbund and cod piece, I’m not on my computer atm, I can show how to wear it once I’m home with photos and if you need to adjust any pieces, either way from your first photo it looks good

OK! I will take a pic and post shortly. Sorry I haven't responded until now, life's been a little bit hectic.

[LTCAlex]

Update!

Thanks to a wonderful Garrison-mate I will be inheriting a pair of Crowprops boots that do not fit him. As for the armour, still waiting for it to arrive. I've messaged the maker several times and I dunno, I guess there's delays or whatever? 🤷‍♀️But anyway Garrison-mate should be coming over next week with boots for me to try for fit. 

And holy crap I never did upload a pic of cummerbund. My apologies.

[LTCAlex]

So, whoa! Some updates.

1. Armour arrived! Yay! I don't have a pic of it all but 

2. Friend came over to armour party with me and 

3. Brought my boots! Here's some pictures.

Please note that yes, my trimming is super rough, but I've been working/sick/exhausted/job hunting, so take yer pick. I'm going at my own pace. Garrison-armour party still hasn't materialized but friend has promised to come back because he's also working on a Scout, so we're Scouting ourselves up together! Also using the dremel is scary and loud and I hate it. I will do 'finer' finishing by hand probably.

And yes, I did notice the little boot thingies are slightly coming off, but friend's promised to bring shoe glue to fix that down the line. I tried the boots on while wearing costume flightsuit and they fit, so that's more important at the moment.

[LTCAlex]

Various stages of dremel trimming/sanding, supplemented with also hand sanding. In progress! Aiming to hopefully finish before Aug. 12, as that is the date for submission for pre-Fan Expo approval. Pray for Mojo. 

Not pictured (because I'm tired right now) is that my chest/back armour has also been trimmed/sanded with preliminary strapping measured and ready to go. I finally did get my armour party and it helped IMMENSELY. I promise I'll get more pictures in the future. Or at least try to. 🤷‍♀️

[Gree23]

If you hit this hard, and I mean just give it some attention, you should nave no issue with finishing this well before you deadline. I would say a solid week spent on it and you should be good. You already have your bucket, boots, and soft goods, that is the hard parts. Everything else is easy and should come together as such. Honestly, a solid day could get you finished. Strapping is easy once you have that figured out, meaning what system you are gonna use. the only other thing that might be funky is getting the tank on the back, but you got this and it looks great so far. Keep up the good work!

[LTCAlex]

If I've learned anything from sewing it's measure six times cut once so I thought I'd ask here on some trimming before I do it. Specifically, the belt pouches. I traced out a couple of rough arches and was wondering if these would work? I measured roughly against my thighs so they're an eye measurement but they look okay to me? I also have a Scout Trooper doll that I've been using as a guideline and the arches roughly match that too. 

Advice? Thanks in advance!

[Chopper]

I think you're in the ballpark. You can probably trim them with what you've marked and always tweak them more as necessary once you've removed the bulk.

[LTCAlex]

Hey! Another trimming thing. I roughly trimmed the smaller part of the holster to approximate shape and size but my anxiety is making me panic a little. I took some pictures, including both sides of it and a size reference, and was wondering what you all think. Yay, nay?

[LTCAlex]

So I got impatient waiting for an answer so I just...did it.

Note that it's just fitted, not properly attached, and I glued the little strip on the edge of the sticky-out part and am waiting for the glue to cure before I attach. After I attach I'll trim the back part to match. Still trimming/sanding to do, etc. of course. Would do more but this is after a full day's work so my battery's empty.

[M.J]

Sorry Alexandra, busy weekend.

Do you have a pistol? make sure you can fit your gun into the holster.

Sanding isnt fun but it will make it look more finely tuned.

I also wouldn't worry about the size of it, I had to replace mine and had to buy a larger one, its fine as long as the gun sits in.

[LTCAlex]

5 hours ago, M.J said:

Sorry Alexandra, busy weekend.

Do you have a pistol? make sure you can fit your gun into the holster.

Sanding isnt fun but it will make it look more finely tuned.

I also wouldn't worry about the size of it, I had to replace mine and had to buy a larger one, its fine as long as the gun sits in.

No worries! I'm just trying hard to make this costume work before the pre-convention submission deadline so I've got a timer going in my head, heh. It's playing with my anxiety.

I do, and I've measured it against the blaster! I will probably put the blaster in while the glue dries so it all works.

[LTCAlex]

Does the bottom curve of the backpack have to meet up with the back plate or can it float a bit? I'm really having trouble fitting it to get it close but if I don't have to do that I won't. I don't care about Lancer approval right now I just want basic. If I want to upgrade later I'll worry about that later.

[M.J]

It has to be riveted at the bottom so it can't float sorry, I also had major issues getting mine to sit right. If you have photos we can have a look

[BikerScout007]

22 hours ago, LTCAlex said:

Does the bottom curve of the backpack have to meet up with the back plate or can it float a bit? I'm really having trouble fitting it to get it close but if I don't have to do that I won't. I don't care about Lancer approval right now I just want basic. If I want to upgrade later I'll worry about that later.

In the film, the tanks were strapped to the back plates with an elastic strap.  So they weren't permanently connected.  If you want to rivet your tank to your backplate, you should try to get it pretty close to lined up with the bottom

Personally -- I would do the elastic strap.

 

[LTCAlex]

4 hours ago, BikerScout007 said:

Personally -- I would do the elastic strap.

Can you strap both the top AND the bottom? Because if so I'mma do that I think. 

Here's the current picture, and yes, there was some reconstructive surgery done on this side of the backpack. If I can't sand it away to some medium of acceptable it's gonna become a blaster mark.

20 hours ago, M.J said:

It has to be riveted at the bottom so it can't float sorry, I also had major issues getting mine to sit right.

I'm close but the amount of backing and forthing I'm doing on this is irritating. But if needs must...

Also, I added straps to several arm plates and the knee plates. In the process of painting greebles to add to bicep plates and adding the top straps to the knee ones.

[BikerScout007]

Yes it was strapped top and bottom. Watch the video I posted. 

[LTCAlex]

Just now, BikerScout007 said:

Yes it was strapped top and bottom. Watch the video I posted. 

Sold! Sorry, been busy all day, but will give it a watch! Thanks so much. 💗