Black Falcon FX
New Member
I’m going to have a go at the ‘Dark Empire Luke Skywalker’, specifically the Dave Dorman cover versions.
After looking at the various reference images I have decided on an approach.
This will be a slightly different interpretation from what I seen from other people attempting this build and also from the Battlefront II skins that have been made.
The elements that I can use from my Vader are as follows:
Boots, Shins, leather pants, leather sleeves.
I have the 3 piece leather suit which means I don’t have to have the extra layer of leather on the body.
I also have a Master Replicas Luke ROTJ lightsaber although I am looking at other more accurate and durable options.
I could just use my Vader belt set as well but I feel that this is not quite right based on the illustrations.
Initially I’m going to use a ROTJ 2” leather belt together with a new buckle design combining the Vader and Death Trooper elements with a couple of extra details.
The boxes are also something which I am going to re-work. I’m going to use slightly smaller boxes to ROTJ Vader to better fit the smaller Luke scale. The light and button detail will be roughly approximated from the Dark Empire 2 #1 cover as this is the only image which shows the belt box.
I have a set of black gauntlet gloves which are a nice compromise between Vader’s and Luke’s from ROTJ. This may change depending on what else I can find.
The main difference from the previous builds is going to be the upper body soft parts and cloak.
Most versions have gone for a standard cloak with a high collar shoulder cape over the top. Possibly with the Jedi style cross over tabard that Luke wore at Jabba’s palace.
I feel that there should be a mandarin style collar shirt and then the shoulder cape is actually part of a half sleeve, layered, open fronted jacket with the cloak attached to the back of the high collar which can then either worn behind the shoulders or pulled completely over the front as in the Dark Empire #2 cover.
I have bought 2 Kung fu training jackets in 2 different sizes. The smaller one will be the shirt. The larger one, the basis for the outer jacket.
The wide closure panels on these jackets are reminiscent of the Jedi crossover robes.
Both will need the toggles removed. The shirt will also have the sleeves completely removed effectively making it a waistcoat, then it will need a new hidden fastening to keep the front closed, possibly Velcro.
The outer jacket will have the sleeves shortened and then the high collar added. This will be in a sateen material which will also be used to make the cloak. It may then have a couple of Velcro panels to keep its placement with the inner shirt.
As with Vader these layers will be tucked into the belt to also help maintain positioning.
The cloak will be attached to the base of the high collar, possibly permanently, maybe with Velcro for ease of packing separately. The cloak will generally sit behind the shoulders but will have enough width so that it can be pulled over to the front.
Finally, I am severely ‘follically challenged’ so the final piece will be a suitable wig.
I've attached the reference illustrations that I am using along with my initial parts that I have.
After looking at the various reference images I have decided on an approach.
This will be a slightly different interpretation from what I seen from other people attempting this build and also from the Battlefront II skins that have been made.
The elements that I can use from my Vader are as follows:
Boots, Shins, leather pants, leather sleeves.
I have the 3 piece leather suit which means I don’t have to have the extra layer of leather on the body.
I also have a Master Replicas Luke ROTJ lightsaber although I am looking at other more accurate and durable options.
I could just use my Vader belt set as well but I feel that this is not quite right based on the illustrations.
Initially I’m going to use a ROTJ 2” leather belt together with a new buckle design combining the Vader and Death Trooper elements with a couple of extra details.
The boxes are also something which I am going to re-work. I’m going to use slightly smaller boxes to ROTJ Vader to better fit the smaller Luke scale. The light and button detail will be roughly approximated from the Dark Empire 2 #1 cover as this is the only image which shows the belt box.
I have a set of black gauntlet gloves which are a nice compromise between Vader’s and Luke’s from ROTJ. This may change depending on what else I can find.
The main difference from the previous builds is going to be the upper body soft parts and cloak.
Most versions have gone for a standard cloak with a high collar shoulder cape over the top. Possibly with the Jedi style cross over tabard that Luke wore at Jabba’s palace.
I feel that there should be a mandarin style collar shirt and then the shoulder cape is actually part of a half sleeve, layered, open fronted jacket with the cloak attached to the back of the high collar which can then either worn behind the shoulders or pulled completely over the front as in the Dark Empire #2 cover.
I have bought 2 Kung fu training jackets in 2 different sizes. The smaller one will be the shirt. The larger one, the basis for the outer jacket.
The wide closure panels on these jackets are reminiscent of the Jedi crossover robes.
Both will need the toggles removed. The shirt will also have the sleeves completely removed effectively making it a waistcoat, then it will need a new hidden fastening to keep the front closed, possibly Velcro.
The outer jacket will have the sleeves shortened and then the high collar added. This will be in a sateen material which will also be used to make the cloak. It may then have a couple of Velcro panels to keep its placement with the inner shirt.
As with Vader these layers will be tucked into the belt to also help maintain positioning.
The cloak will be attached to the base of the high collar, possibly permanently, maybe with Velcro for ease of packing separately. The cloak will generally sit behind the shoulders but will have enough width so that it can be pulled over to the front.
Finally, I am severely ‘follically challenged’ so the final piece will be a suitable wig.
I've attached the reference illustrations that I am using along with my initial parts that I have.
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