Rome's Sandtrooper Build

[crow]

Fan-freakin tastic build, Rome!! Lookin awesome! What did you use for the weathering, if I may ask?

[Crimson]

Just a basic black wash with $0.89 tempera paint and water. Slathered on with a sponge brush and took a couple of whacks with a paper towel to add some spatter and to take the hard edges of the drips off. Let the first layer dry and keep building on top.

Then I took a brown pastel crayon (a 4-pack was the most expensive part of this portion of the project ), broke it up and ground it down to dust and applied the dust with my fingers onto areas of the armor. Then rubbed in as much as possible, and wiped off the excess.

The photos are the state they're in now, but I'm going to reapply some more. I forgot to do the kidney plate, the belt, and the right knee piece (and I still have to pick up the hands and left knee from Terrell).

[Ripcode]

Sweet!

[Crimson]

Another electronics update.

The flashing red LED that was supposed to go on the T-antenna made the current fluctuate too much when in the same circuit as the two spotlights, so I'm going to skip that one for now. I don't want to add Yet Another Circuit just for one stupid light, especially since I have three circuits going already. I intend to keep the back of the pack open for easy battery changes and rewiring so if I decide to do something later, I can.

Canvas belt and shoulder straps are done. Med-kit and accessory box painted. And when I say "med-kit," I really mean a dollar-store first aid kit that consists of gauze pads, alcohol swabs, and bandages for armor bites. We've all been there, so I might as well carry some around. The accessory box will be able to hold some small rolls of tape, a tube of cement, maybe some velcro strips, and extra batteries.

[tk1440]

love the sound system and avery good idea to incorparate the med kit/repair kit to the
back pack

Rich

[crow]

You doin a canvas belt? How are you going to weather that sucker?

[Kal]

I saw Rome at ikea today!! It was strange to see him out of armor and not at a bar or something.

[Crimson]

You doin a canvas belt? How are you going to weather that sucker?

Crushing up the black pastel crayon that came with the brown and using that to dust it and the shoulder straps. Then dunking it a few times in water to even it out a bit.

At least, so goes the theory

[Crimson]

I saw Rome at ikea today!! It was strange to see him out of armor and not at a bar or something.

Yeah, really. Who knew that I actually exist outside of those places and conditions during the daylight?

[Mowskwoz]

You doin a canvas belt? How are you going to weather that sucker?

Crushing up the black pastel crayon that came with the brown and using that to dust it and the shoulder straps. Then dunking it a few times in water to even it out a bit.

At least, so goes the theory

Do you have a canvas belt made yet?
I ended up making two when doing my build. The first one I messed up and cut too short by a couple inches. You are a smaller guy than me, so it might work you. End to end it is 50". With the roughly 5.5" over lap, it make the belt about 44.5". If you think it would work for you, it's yours. Just PM me on where to send it to.

[Jaster]

I saw Rome at ikea today!! It was strange to see him out of armor and not at a bar or something.

Yeah, really. Who knew that I actually exist outside of those places and conditions during the daylight?

You mean to tell me you're not chained to a computer somewhere vigilantly watching multiple forums at the same time all while swilling a beer?

[Kal]

I saw Rome at ikea today!! It was strange to see him out of armor and not at a bar or something.

Yeah, really. Who knew that I actually exist outside of those places and conditions during the daylight?

You mean to tell me you're not chained to a computer somewhere vigilantly watching multiple forums at the same time all while swilling a beer?

Yes!!! See. Thats what I had thought as well!! Guess we were wrong.

[Crimson]

I do have a Blackberry....

Mow, thanks for the offer, but I'm all set on that score. I made mine last week.

[Terrell78]

Wow Rome, your making lightning progress on your armor.

[Crimson]

Frame made, more progress on pack and helmet, updated first post. Figure that this Saturday's double-header should be a good trial-by-fire before jumping full bore into the SHPL event.

Terrell, I'm gonna need to hook up with you to pick up the handguards and knee plate.

[Crimson]

Definitely need to install the fans in the helmet. Did a test fit of the whole outfit. The backpack and frame is a bit bulky to get through doorways, so definitely no Droid Hunt in this outfit in crowded places -- I'd end up smacking people all over the place with just my gear.

Leg trimming turned out well. I can actually climb stairs now.

I may have problems with the three lights on the pack, as the caps were glued onto the surface (read: paint), so it seems that any slight impact will peel them right off The chaser light and spotlights work out nicely, though The rest of the gadgets and doohickeys will need to be attached with more permanent methods than just glue.

[Crimson]

6/1/09

My last day off, so I put on what I had and stepped outside with tripod and camera.





The frame is coming in really handy, as I can set the pack down on the floor or ground and stays vertical by itself! Of course, from the right angle, it kinda' looks like I have a towel rack hanging off my bum....

[Lumpy]

Never know when a towel might come in handy!!!

Looking GOOD!!

[Kal]

Ya know... That looks d@mn Frak'n good

[pfont]

Looks good Rome