darienvader
Well-Known Member
It's been a long time in the making — over 2 and a half years of research, construction, and acquiring certain pieces. I'll start off with a few photos, since we all love looking at pics. They are small images, but can be clicked on for larger viewing.
I'll start from the top and work my way down.
THE HELMET
This is a Fyberdyne faceplate, which has been modified with bondo and Apoxie Sculpt to bring back certain details and to fill in small holes from the casting process. The dome itself is a mystery to me, and am unsure of it's origins (as I purchased this off eBay several years ago; the seller had no idea, either). This was originally a thin wall ESB style helmet, and I needed to put the 'Y' crease in and add the widow's peak. The tusks are from Cantina_Dude and the mouth grill from Kurtyboy. The paint is Dupli•Color automotive spray paint: the black was sprayed on while the gunmetal gray was brushed on using a 1 inch brush. A mini muffin CPU fan was installed inside in the mouth area, and 2 really small muffin fans blowing out at the top of my faceplate under the dome. The lenses were formed by me with some pre-tinted bronze acrylic bought at Menards.
CAPE/SURCOAT
The cape is 270º of gabardine wool (98% wool / 2% poly) lined with baroque satin and a leather collar. The cape closes in the front with an Aglok chain with snaps. The surcoat is 100% linen. I know a lot of people tend to stick with the same wool material as used on the cape, but the linen just drapes and moves so well. The back of the surcoat has a mesh back for improved ventilation. The sides of the surcoat are also split from the ankle to the hip. My awesome wife made these.
CHEST ARMOR
SPFX raw cast armor and painted with the same Dupli•Color paints using the same method as on the helmet. Shoulder bells are attached with a velcro and snap combination. Foam padding was added under each shoulder bell.
LEATHER SUIT
One piece leather suit made by LA. I still remember the old Galaxy Trading days when these same suits sold for well over a grand, as they utilize a similar pattern to those old GTs.
GLOVES
Superhero Gloves.
CHEST BOX
The base of the box was hand carved out of a maple stair tread to match measurements provided to me from a screen used box. The metal parts are all from RussRep. Green original Micro Lens cover from Lonepigeon; the red one is a red casting off the original model. Rocker switches were made by me out of pine and then cast in white resin. Leather straps were done by me.
BELT
The leather belt was made by 99¢Taco during his first run. Belt boxes and silver knobs with red washers were created by RussRep as was the front "buckle". The original green LEDs came from Guido, and the red pilot lamp/chrome bezel is from Sylvania (it took me several months to locate a source for these). I did the wiring for the lights with LEDs (one red & 2 green per box), as well as making the saber hook. The mesh is from a Telefunken player.
COD PIECE
Made by me using an old Army foam sleeping pad and black glove leather.
LIGHTSABER
Master Replicas hilt and FX saber (not shown).
SHIN GUARDS
GT/SA black ABS shins.
BOOTS
Xelement Classic Engineer Motorcycle Boots.
So, here now at the end of building this Vader I will be upgrading my helmet soon to a Darth Stone helmet (props to GH). May this be the only upgrade I'll need to do (even with MRs helmet, which in no doubt will be out of my budgetary range). I would love to hear your feedback, good or bad.
~Jim
I'll start from the top and work my way down.
THE HELMET
This is a Fyberdyne faceplate, which has been modified with bondo and Apoxie Sculpt to bring back certain details and to fill in small holes from the casting process. The dome itself is a mystery to me, and am unsure of it's origins (as I purchased this off eBay several years ago; the seller had no idea, either). This was originally a thin wall ESB style helmet, and I needed to put the 'Y' crease in and add the widow's peak. The tusks are from Cantina_Dude and the mouth grill from Kurtyboy. The paint is Dupli•Color automotive spray paint: the black was sprayed on while the gunmetal gray was brushed on using a 1 inch brush. A mini muffin CPU fan was installed inside in the mouth area, and 2 really small muffin fans blowing out at the top of my faceplate under the dome. The lenses were formed by me with some pre-tinted bronze acrylic bought at Menards.
CAPE/SURCOAT
The cape is 270º of gabardine wool (98% wool / 2% poly) lined with baroque satin and a leather collar. The cape closes in the front with an Aglok chain with snaps. The surcoat is 100% linen. I know a lot of people tend to stick with the same wool material as used on the cape, but the linen just drapes and moves so well. The back of the surcoat has a mesh back for improved ventilation. The sides of the surcoat are also split from the ankle to the hip. My awesome wife made these.
CHEST ARMOR
SPFX raw cast armor and painted with the same Dupli•Color paints using the same method as on the helmet. Shoulder bells are attached with a velcro and snap combination. Foam padding was added under each shoulder bell.
LEATHER SUIT
One piece leather suit made by LA. I still remember the old Galaxy Trading days when these same suits sold for well over a grand, as they utilize a similar pattern to those old GTs.
GLOVES
Superhero Gloves.
CHEST BOX
The base of the box was hand carved out of a maple stair tread to match measurements provided to me from a screen used box. The metal parts are all from RussRep. Green original Micro Lens cover from Lonepigeon; the red one is a red casting off the original model. Rocker switches were made by me out of pine and then cast in white resin. Leather straps were done by me.
BELT
The leather belt was made by 99¢Taco during his first run. Belt boxes and silver knobs with red washers were created by RussRep as was the front "buckle". The original green LEDs came from Guido, and the red pilot lamp/chrome bezel is from Sylvania (it took me several months to locate a source for these). I did the wiring for the lights with LEDs (one red & 2 green per box), as well as making the saber hook. The mesh is from a Telefunken player.
COD PIECE
Made by me using an old Army foam sleeping pad and black glove leather.
LIGHTSABER
Master Replicas hilt and FX saber (not shown).
SHIN GUARDS
GT/SA black ABS shins.
BOOTS
Xelement Classic Engineer Motorcycle Boots.
So, here now at the end of building this Vader I will be upgrading my helmet soon to a Darth Stone helmet (props to GH). May this be the only upgrade I'll need to do (even with MRs helmet, which in no doubt will be out of my budgetary range). I would love to hear your feedback, good or bad.
~Jim
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