Cyra's Shoretrooper Journey

[KOtrooper]

I'd tone down the airbrushing (while still trying to be consistent with your entire kit). It comes across too soft and even while the Shore is more randomly weathered and scratched. The washes will do most of the heavy lifting along side some chipping/scuffs.

[Cyra Marrus]

Thanks, @KOtrooper. Curious - is that a personal preference thing or do you think that weathering would be a challenge for approval?

[KOtrooper]

Approval really depends on your local GML. I will say that obvious air brushing will prevent L2 approval.

If you have any concerns, I'd send a few photos to your local GML and ask for input on your progress.

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[KaiserintheHood]

GML in question.

Hey Paul, take a look through some of these reference pictures. I'm liking the weathering on your helmet, but the bicep and hands look like they're getting too heavy. We need to think about where weathering makes sense on the character and where it would gather the most. And looking at the reference, there is lots of black scuffing like you have, but any black/brown washes look pretty subtle.

For our basic approval I don't think being slightly more weathered than usual will be a problem, but I will encourage you to consider applying for Vanguard (Level 2) and anything you do now to reach that goal will make it easier down the line. 

 

[Cyra Marrus]

Well hello there!

Been busy chugging through the arm pieces, so wanted to share an update. Both forearms and biceps are done. Finished one shoulder and am working on the second. As suggested, I've significantly toned down the airbrushing and am now just doing the chipping and black wash for weathering. I've got shoulder straps on the way from Mr. Paul and am putting together the chest.

Still hesitant to start Sean's back plate and may just buy the NTX3D file for that (although I suppose I should/could have just done that to begin with), although I'm not 100 percent certain if the NTX back would match up with Sean's chest plate until I bought it and dropped it into my slicer for sizing.

Also working on the abs, so lots more to come.

Thanks all!

[KOtrooper]

You're making great progress!

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[Cyra Marrus]

Thanks, @KOtrooper!

I'm working on the second shoulder bell...does a spacing guide exist for the width of the black and blue stripes? I can certainly eyeball it based on the CRL image, but I'm trying to be as accurate as possible to avoid fixes later. @KaiserintheHood, do you know?

[Cyra Marrus]

Hi again! I'm working thru the ab section, but as I do that I'm also investigating options for the soft parts. I'm CONSIDERING making the undersuit myself. I found this corduroy fabric at Joann's (RIP), but wanted to get a gut check from you all on it. Do you think this would work?

[KOtrooper]

Thanks, [mention=83276]KOtrooper[/mention]!
I'm working on the second shoulder bell...does a spacing guide exist for the width of the black and blue stripes? I can certainly eyeball it based on the CRL image, but I'm trying to be as accurate as possible to avoid fixes later. [mention=84156]KaiserintheHood[/mention], do you know?

Here's a guide from Mr. Paul... Not sure if the link will be correct so I'm including a photo too.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1742353536003671/permalink/2205414926364194/?app=fbl



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[KOtrooper]

Hi again! I'm working thru the ab section, but as I do that I'm also investigating options for the soft parts. I'm CONSIDERING making the undersuit myself. I found this corduroy fabric at Joann's (RIP), but wanted to get a gut check from you all on it. Do you think this would work?

You're going to have to ask your local GML. The fabric should have a ribbed look to it. The ribs are about 4mm apart. I sewed mine. Was boring but I got good at sewing a straight line.

In short, if you're going for basic - this is a maybe. If going for L2 - this fabric is a no-go.

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[Cyra Marrus]

Thanks for that guide, @KOtrooper! I'd run across that one yesterday as well. Super helpful. I think I'm probably leaning towards just purchasing the soft parts - I don't know if I want to delve into the world of sewing right now.

[Cyra Marrus]

Just a little update...

Chest and left shoulder are painted, just need to do the washes. Also, my Mr. Paul buckles and straps arrived so they're on. Check it out! I know the chest should sit higher...but obviously I'm just holding it all here more just to see how it all looks.

 

[Cyra Marrus]

Finished weathering the chest and left shoulder!

Also, working on the belt boxes, below. A couple print lines still showing up in the top one that I'll take care of, and I'm not concerned about the lines on that bottom box, as that'll be the base of the hinged longer box and those will be covered up. And yep, I am trying to go for level 2 as much as possible with all this!

[Cyra Marrus]

One other thing! I'm going to do the belt myself. I ordered 2 meters of the Coyote Brown 38mm webbing from Contact Left for incredibly cheap. They ship directly out of England, so I'm wondering if @mr paul has worked with them before. I do need to purchase the rear metal clasp, though. If anyone has a lead on where to get just those (and not the whole belt rig), I'd much appreciate it.

[Cyra Marrus]

Never mind on the clasp, Imperial Issue sells those separately.

Also - for the chest and back, I'm using neoprene for the sides - it seems like a lot of folks go that route. Would that be considered a "plastezote-like material" for level 2? If @KOtrooper or @BikerScout007 could weigh in that would be fantastic.

[BikerScout007]

Yeah Neoprene is fine.  That's what I started with 

[KOtrooper]

I also used neopren. Used it on the hip armor too... And custom shoulder straps.

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[Cyra Marrus]

Great. Thank you both!

[Cyra Marrus]

Well hello! Got some solid work done this weekend finishing up the ab plate (minus final weathering) and the belt boxes, and started to knock out some very basic strapping.

For the ab, as I'm working with PLA, I did decide to heat form the sides a bit. It was just sticking out too much and making the whole thing feel really boxy. I know I need to leave room for the undersuit, so I made sure to fit it with me wearing a sweater. I think the result gives a trimmer, more tailored look.

Here's some strapping I did on the shoulder/biceps. Not sure why I didn't think to anchor the rivets with EVA foam before, but contact cementing that to the PLA is never going anywhere.

Here are the belt boxes, including the hinged long box. I ended up just adding negative space to the box in the shape of the hole, instead of having to carve that out post-printing.

I'm having a blast with this build, and it's so satisfying to see it come together! Next up is the back portion of the ab plate (the kidney, as it's called in Sean's files). I'm toying with leaving it as a separate piece and using rare earth magnets to connect the two sides at the diagonal strip. The CRL doesn't say it has to be a single piece, and i think that would make it much easier to get into and out of. More to come!

[Cyra Marrus]

Belt straps arrived! No issues stitching the two together with the zigzag pattern. Here it is all laid out - nothing affixed yet. I'm torn between attachment via snaps or screws. As this is PLA, drilling in can be a bit tricky, but is definitely doable. Any suggestions on that? Also - I haven't seen anything about spacing between the boxes, so mine are laid out here based on how it would sit with the ab armor on. Each is about 1.5 inches apart.

[KOtrooper]

The spacing depends on your body type. You just need to ensure the first and last line up on the sides with the armor and the rest are spaced appropriately.

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