Skip's KST build

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Got me some more work done on this today.

 

After doing the vent mod yesterday I remembered about another detail that was missing. I'm not sure what to call it specifically, but it's a detail on the forehead beneath the visor.

 

I added this by simply using some styrene strip cut to length and CA glued it in place.

 

Then, I fitted the visor to the face plate! This was tricky as hell but I managed to get it on level and true. Anyway, with the visor on it was time to fill in the gaps and sand smooth. Not an easy task trying to sand in areas where you can't fit your fingers!!!

 

I didn't take many pics today so all I have to show is the lid and some armor parts after getting black primer, then a chrome coat.

 

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Got my kids friends round today so not a great deal done.

 

I did however manage to paint the camo on my cod and I'm looking for feedback. I think it's Ok, but I want extra eyes to tell me if it's over done?

 

With and without flash:

 

 

The reference:

[Heatshock]

the camo looks good

the base coat always looks light at 1st glance - but the whole ensemble is put together , it often looks just right

 

do up the whole armor - then put it on your dyed BDUs - and you will see what i mean

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Roger roger. Cheers Nate.

 

Hoping to get some armor done tomorrow.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Ok, yesterday was spent mostly applying masking fluid over the chrome and laying down a coat of grey primer. This is the start of the weathering.

 

Not much more to say about it really so onto the pics.

 

 

The flash is washing out most of the chrome and lightening the grey of the primer but it was too dark(miserable weather) to take pics without the flash.

 

Anyway, that's where I am now and I aim to start remasking later to start putting the base coat down for the camo.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Afternoon all.

 

Been busy this morning with my camo paint scheme!

 

It's slower going than I thought. Funny how trying to be random takes a lot of concentration! LMAO!

 

Anyway, the helmet is close to being done but I have my toe caps and shoulder bells all camo'd up now.

 

[Guest Skupilkinson]

It's funny, I do the base coat and it seems too light, I carry on regardless and do the green of the camo and it doesn't look right. Still I continue and do the brown of the camo and STILL it appears wrong somehow. Then I peel away the latex and it starts to come together. Funny.

 

Anyway, speaking of coming together, here's the lid.

 

 

Ok, the armor's almost done now as far as the camo goes. Well, on the parts I have anyway, I still need to make the shin armor.

 

I think it's coming together now? It'll definitely benefit from some dirt but that'll come later.

 

I took some bits outside this morning to see how it all looked together. Just sort of placed the cumberbund fabric and some armor on top of the dyed BDU's to see how the colours work(or not) together.

 

All in all it's not too bad I think? Obviously it doesn't look quite right with it all laid flat out but it's enough for me to see what's what at this point.

 

Some pics?

 

 

As always, feedback is welcome.

[Arch27]

Horrible. Absolutely horrible. I think you need to finish this up with weathering and all that and send it to me. I will dispose it properly... by wearing it all the time.

 

 

Seriously - Looking AWESOME.

[Mosi]

Either it's my eyes, issues with the camera, or the color is actually off with the paint. It seems like the base coat is too light and the brown looks a bit too redish. Otherwise, I like the pattern and it may use a tad more here and there.

 

Sorry if this has been a buzzkill.. just trying to help

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Nope, not a buzzkill. The colours used are the colours recommended. The paint isn't fiinished by a long shot mate, this is just an update.

[Mosi]

Weathering will help complete the look, but you know that already. I used an airbrush and used black and brown. Be careful if you put a clear/uv coat over the top because the one I used completely took the shine out of the chrome coat. You may want to do a test spot first before you hit the whole thing.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

I'll be gloss clearcoating, masking the chrome, then dull cote.

[Heatshock]

the base coat is ok - esp.ly once you do some black misting. its actually computer matched to a colour sample I got from MB himself the brown is ok too.

 

but the green is a little drab (compared to Toms build and paint up skip); but is probably closer to the green in the high-res pic you posted a few posts earlier skip. But then again, if you use that pic as the ref, then the base coat is meant to be much greener, unlike the paler look you see on KSTs in the "out in the open" shots.

 

the green colour that Tom recommended is the Floquil POG that is impossible to get in UK; although there is a nice mix with humbrol paints to get a close colour mix on TDH - its Terminal Fettlers thread on TDH

 

think at the end of the day, its gonna be impossible for all of use to get identical colours for the camo (the closest being the brown and yellow seeing how they are readily available Tamiya paints). Its gonna be like the boots; very variable. What we as KST troopers (potential and otherwise) have to decide is... is each individual build colour choice is acceptable?

 

Will it do - I think so!!

 

But I am no GML. Tom - who do you think can decide of this rather important topic you think? Central 501st clone clearance? Or individual GMLs?

 

Nate

[Falcon-One]

The paint job looks fantastic.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Thanks Denny,

 

Nate, I had concerns over the green. At first it was a lot darker! Like I said in an earlier post I picked one of my reference pics and based my new green off of that. I pretty much added some white, yellow and green acrylic paint to the existing green to mix a new shade. Obviously it's difficult to get a dead match since wet paint looks different to dry paint. LOL!

 

I'm gonna stick my neck out here by saying I personally feel that the green used on some KST's is a little on the pale side.

 

I think you're right in that unless a selection of readily available paints(that we can all get no matter where in the world) becomes available, then we're all gonna have differences. Some subtle, some more obvious such as boots.

 

I knew my Trooper would be different as I went for different fabric on my cumberbund for example.

 

I stand by my choice of colours, and remain confident it'll pull together once the final weathering is done. I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant, I really do appreciate the feedback guys.

[Acrylikhan]

It's coming to together very nicely! Way to go!! Looking forward to more photos.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Thanks Frank.

 

Here ya go mate. Snapped some pics.

 

As I said before I have all the armor painted now except for the shins but both are now built and ready for fibreglass later today. Then I'll weather once those shins are painted up.

 

I was going to clamshell the shins and use the webbing straps on them as functional straps to secure them closed. Fortunately they go on in one piece so I won't be cutting them now. Why make it more complicated? I've also cut away a portion of the ankle on my boots. These were the padded part and would have made suiting up more difficult and possibly prevent movement. The shins have also been modded slightly prior to fibreglassing so that they fit inside the toe caps better.

 

Also, I've started work on the greebs so hope to have some of those added today/tonight.

 

This morning I did a bit of work on the earth magnets that lock the lid closed. They had such a pull that they had a tendancy to break free of the helmet when opening the helmet. They're now all sorted and I even noticed that some magnets hadn't been glued in properly so were actually repelling eachother. That wouldn't do so that's been rectified now. Also on the helmet I've cut and glued in the black speaker mesh I selected for the vents. Should be enough to allow me to hear and air the lid when I'm wearing it and does a better job of preventing anyone seeing in. I felt the vents were too large for standard mesh used in clone and TK frowns. Finally I also trimmed the eye stripes after thinking and being told that they were a tad large. Thanks Nate.

 

I also plan to get my riding patches made and sewn in tonight so that's one more soft part job(that I enjoy the least) done.

 

Well, the pics.

 

[Boro]

Skip what can I say its the nutts, and as I have been lately ill will be picking over this thread and your brains bud

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Question for you guys. How are you securing your shoulders? I've heard mention of simply using velcro? Or do any of you use webbing straps coming from the chest/back plate much like regular clones?

 

Any tips or pics here would be appreciated.

[Mosi]

Question for you guys. How are you securing your shoulders? I've heard mention of simply using velcro? Or do any of you use webbing straps coming from the chest/back plate much like regular clones?

 

Any tips or pics here would be appreciated.

 

 

I slapped strips of industrial strength velcro w/adhesive (rough side) on the inside shoulder area front and back. I then used sewable (non sticky) velcro strips to hold the front and back together, which are the load bearing straps. Then I sewed some more velcro on some seatbelt type webbing material and painted w/primer... then just attach the grey straps and you're done. I did also put a couple of small pieces on top of the armor so the seat belt straps can lay down nicely. I did have them free-floating before, but they curled up and made it look like they weren't holding the armor together.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Skupilkinson]

So what I'm looking at there is your chest and backplate fitted at the shoulders right?

 

Sorry mate I should have been more clear. I was referring to the fitting of the shoulder bells. I have my knee pads to lift the just like my clone armor but wanted to know how other KST's wear their bells?

[Mosi]

Ahhh.. yes, that is the chest and tank.

 

I sewed velcro directly to my suit on the shoulders, then glued velcro on the knee pads in the bells. I did the same thing with the bicep pieces. I'm a tad lazy and just leave the bells and biceps attached, so I just have to toss the shirt on and not worry about lining pieces up properly if there isn't a mirror available.

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Ok, cheers for that Marc. One more sewing job to do. LOL!

[Guest Skupilkinson]

Ok! Piccy update!

 

My 6yr old once again playing photographer. That explains me appearing to lean to the side in ALL the pics. LOL! We took around 30 pics. What you see is what was actually usable. Bless her.

 

Overall I'm really pleased so far! No major issues aside from the shin/toecap problem from the other day but I already knew about that.

 

My chest and backplate/tank were only joined at the shoulders which is why they're not sitting quite right. Tell ya what! That tank takes some getting used to! It pulls my chest up to my neck a little as it is now due to the weight. I also crashed into the odd doorframe. LOL!

 

Well it was fun to get it on today but I have a few more jobs to do before I can call it ready.

 

[mrbungle]

looking good other than the tank.

 

i like your shin armor. the only thing is it comes out at the bottom like clone armor , the kt does not do that. it stops at the ankle and and slants down toward the toe armor.