Agonistes' Star Wars customs

[Too Much Garlic]

WOW, looks awesome.

 

[agonistes86]

Still making slow but steady progress.

I'm currently working on the chest armor, so I can paint everything together. I went through another round of dremeling, sanding and priming. Next step will be some more sculpting along some edges - I didn't have my silicone brushes yet during the initial sculpting of the raised center ridges, so I wasn't able to get them as crisp as needed.

Next to that, I'm working on the chest box. I made the two extra ESB greebles today. There are some ROTJ details on the chest box that I won't change to ESB, but at least most details will be correct now. There's a fine line here between 100% accuracy and actually finishing this project, so I need to choose my battles.
So far I've primed the greebles, next step is painting and gluing. Then I can attach the leather straps.

 

[agonistes86]

Chipping away at the details.

I shortened the cod piece by cutting off 2-3 mm from the top edge, then replaced the strap with a wider, real leather one. I don't want to have any faux leather left on this.
While I know most figures and even props include it, I didn't add the middle "thong" strap, since I couldn't find any evidence so far of this actually being on the prop. The velcro on the back holds it in place anyway.

I also shortened the left shin guard and primed it, since I want to paint everything to be uniform.

 

[agonistes86]

As I'm getting closer to the finish line, I try not to show too many full body shots so as not to spoil the full reveal. But I thought this one was too cool not to share.

After finally figuring out to how to install the new leather boots, I padded the body some more. Since I'm almost finished with the chest box and belt, it was time for a test fit.

I'm really starting to see it all come together.

 

[Scout Trooper]

I still want you to finish that Fett

 

[agonistes86]

I still want you to finish that Fett

Haha yeah, me too. If somebody offered the helmet printed and ready to go, I would probably be done by now. I'm just dragging my feet getting the minutefett 3D parts joined into one helmet, getting the walls thickened, and then getting it printed.
I also simply don't have the passion for Fett as I do for Vader, so it takes more energy to get that process started.

Speaking of, I believe I'm finally done with the modifying and resculpting of the armor!

I finished the chest armor, reworked the neck of the mask some more, finished the y-indent of the dome, and dremeled/sanded the left shoulder bell to angle more accurately in front.

Now I need to sand these, so I can apply the first layer of gloss black. I read that in order to get the best result for glossiness in both 1:1 helmets and model cars, wet sanding is recommended. I've never done that before, but it seems pretty straight forward.

 

[Chakaman]

Looks fantastic!!

 

[swtimes11]

Impressive wow

 

[agonistes86]

I started painting the armor today. This is going to be a weeks long process.

After reading up a lot on model and prop painting, my strategy is as follows:
Wet sand. Spray paint several layers of gloss black, including a final wet coat. Let dry for a week. Wet sand. Spray paint several layer of gloss varnish. Polish.
The chest armor and the mask will have several layers of gunmetal before the gloss coat.

Today I wet sanded the shoulder bells and shin guards and painted 2 layers of gloss black.
And I painted some layers of matt black on inside of the dome.

The gloves and belt buckle in the background have some layers of satin varnish. I'll apply the final layer tomorrow.