That's a very clever solution and well executed. I always enjoy your updates, keep'em coming.
My Early Disasters pt 2 - A Biker Scout Helmet - How hard can it be?
- Thread starter Dtrasler
- Start date
TheWolfhound
Active Member
I have really enjoyed reading through the trials and tribulations of prop maker Dtrasler. I am impressed by your infinite patience when things go pear shaped. I have much less patience and have been known to hurl things about or attack objects with my hammer. I laughed so many times at things you have done wrong that I have already done myself. I am now well into my helmet and blaster builds and have learned by my many mistakes. I look back on some of my early builds and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I have pictures of my 1st 2nd and 3rd builds using pepakura, fibreglass and filler. I still use the same techniques now with the odd 3d printed item if I can afford it. Keep up the good work, you will get there.
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Dtrasler
Sr Member
Wow! All my old content resurfaced! Yay! The sad news is, I finished the above helmet quite nicely, then it fell off the shelf and cracked along the assembly lines. I was so downcast I have not been able to bring myself to fix it. I also have an unfinished Republic Commando Helmet, and a Phse 2 Clone Trooper I can't get round to. Currently making a small speeder bike that you wear, putting your legs right through it. There are fake legs on the side, and you use a hoverboard to drive around. It currently looks terrible, so I'll add pictures when I get it down to just looking bad.
TheWolfhound
Active Member
I can't imagine what the speeder bike will look like but it sounds like a right laugh! I have had some disasters with finished helmets as well. I build them outside where the light is better and there is no problem with king kong (pong/smell). Unfortunately the wind hates me and will try to cause me great distress at every opportunity. It blows crap in my wet paint, blows my paper templates and stickers away. Worst of all I have had 3 helmets blown off my workbench by freak gusts of wind. I HATE the wind!!! Good luck with your speeder, I look forward to seeing it.
Dtrasler
Sr Member
As a former street=performing juggler, I am very familiar with hating the wind! So, the speeder bike - I think I'm a bit off with my proportions, but only because I have not done any measuring...
I got five minutes to work on it today and built out more of the right leg, connecting it to the pedal-thing. You know, for someone who has a copy of the Star Wars Vehicle guide open on his workbench, I should know more about the parts of this thing....
I got five minutes to work on it today and built out more of the right leg, connecting it to the pedal-thing. You know, for someone who has a copy of the Star Wars Vehicle guide open on his workbench, I should know more about the parts of this thing....
Dtrasler
Sr Member
A whole day with no other real responsibilities, and I got the front end put together at last, as well as doing some reinforcing - the thing is very weak in the middle, because it's hardly connected at all.
I might add some engine details, and I do want the blaster in under the front there. But most of this was to be proof of concept, to quiet the nagging voices in my brain saying that I could build one. Well, the voices were right. Doesn't mean I should listen to everything they say.... I grabbed some old paint cans to try and make it look less like cardboard, but it just seems to make the whole thing blend into the chaos of my workshop....
Might get out today and try a trial run, if I can rig up the harness that holds the thing up.
I might add some engine details, and I do want the blaster in under the front there. But most of this was to be proof of concept, to quiet the nagging voices in my brain saying that I could build one. Well, the voices were right. Doesn't mean I should listen to everything they say.... I grabbed some old paint cans to try and make it look less like cardboard, but it just seems to make the whole thing blend into the chaos of my workshop....
Might get out today and try a trial run, if I can rig up the harness that holds the thing up.
Dtrasler
Sr Member
I don't know if I mentioned this, but I'm putting together a comic-book Dredd costume. I don't often do costumes for me, but this one feels appropriate right now. Anyway, the first thing I had to compromise on was the colour of the leather undersuit. In the comics, Dredd's base layer is dark blue. I did some searches for "Blue leather jumpsuit" and then I had to burn that computer and bury the remains. There are some WEIRD people out there. Not judging...Well, I suppose I AM judging. Anyway, I bought cheap fake leather trouser and a cheap fake leather jacket that had few bells and whistles. The idea is that the belt with pouches will cover the area where they join, making it look like a suit. I 3d printed the helmet ages ago, along with the comic-style Lawgiver and badge.
I have to re-work the visor a bit, but it should be good. Then I found a shoulder eagle to print.
I made the other shoulder pad from foam, because I was done hammering my printer for a bit (or, more likely, printing more dalek upgrades...)
Besides which, it's only the Stallone movie that implied the left shoulder pad was metal. I painted up the gun.
I've added the chain to the badge and printed out a belt buckle.
And I started hand-stitching the pouches for the belt, using up some scrap leather in the wrong colour - I'll have to spray them, but that's ok because the gloves and boots I got are also the wrong colour.
The boots looked like they were going to be pricey - I was looking at all kinds of motorcycle boots, and none looked close to the comic version and they were all north of $120. I'm gonna spray them green, everyday wear is not really an option. Then I found these wellies at Walmart for $60:
Yes, Walmart are evil, but that's $60 cheaper than the next cheapest boots, which are less of a match into the bargain!
So, now all I need are another 14 pouches, two of which will actually be a single pouch disguised as two to hold my phone and credit cards. Then I need to spray all these things green. Oh, and do a bit of work on the knee and elbow pads which I bought at the Dollar store and are ALREADY green! And then I'll have a complete Comic book Dredd outfit and ...nowhere to actually wear it.
I have to re-work the visor a bit, but it should be good. Then I found a shoulder eagle to print.
I made the other shoulder pad from foam, because I was done hammering my printer for a bit (or, more likely, printing more dalek upgrades...)
Besides which, it's only the Stallone movie that implied the left shoulder pad was metal. I painted up the gun.
I've added the chain to the badge and printed out a belt buckle.
And I started hand-stitching the pouches for the belt, using up some scrap leather in the wrong colour - I'll have to spray them, but that's ok because the gloves and boots I got are also the wrong colour.
The boots looked like they were going to be pricey - I was looking at all kinds of motorcycle boots, and none looked close to the comic version and they were all north of $120. I'm gonna spray them green, everyday wear is not really an option. Then I found these wellies at Walmart for $60:
Yes, Walmart are evil, but that's $60 cheaper than the next cheapest boots, which are less of a match into the bargain!
So, now all I need are another 14 pouches, two of which will actually be a single pouch disguised as two to hold my phone and credit cards. Then I need to spray all these things green. Oh, and do a bit of work on the knee and elbow pads which I bought at the Dollar store and are ALREADY green! And then I'll have a complete Comic book Dredd outfit and ...nowhere to actually wear it.
TheWolfhound
Active Member
The Dredd gear is looking really smart. You have done a great job on the uniform so far. Love the helmet, lawgiver and badge. Nice silver paint on the lawgiver as well. Great idea for the boots, they do look that shape in the comics. You could buy a green Kawasaki bike to go with green motorcycle boots! All looking good, keep at it. Blue leather jump suit! God that was so funny.
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Dtrasler
Sr Member
The pouches aren't great, but they are green.
Have to make a lot more of them, though. Sadly, from the back, the wellies look more like wellies, even when they're green.
I'm making a bootknife, but it's just the handle, and will be glued onto the boot above the sheath. No way to make a bootknife that will pass convention safety requirements, so I'm not going to try.
Have to make a lot more of them, though. Sadly, from the back, the wellies look more like wellies, even when they're green.
I'm making a bootknife, but it's just the handle, and will be glued onto the boot above the sheath. No way to make a bootknife that will pass convention safety requirements, so I'm not going to try.
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