Daryl's AT-AT Driver build [WTF]

[inquisitorius-picnic]

I'm just in awe of all the tiny details that go into this costume.

[daryldoak]

Basic helmet build complete.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Worked on the chestbox LED display hole.  My plan is the use the green visor for the window (stole this idea from somebody on ACD).  The "hole" decal has very little margin for error once you cutout the black section.  Makes cutting the hole in the tin sheet and chestbox more difficult.

I began by cutting the hole in the chestbox about 1mm bigger than the decal window.  Then I cut the hole the same size in the tin sheet using my dremel and a drill.  Then I cutout the green visor.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

The plan is for the green visor to be flush with the tin sheet so the decal covers the seem.  I think I accomplished it. (There is protective film on the green window in the photo)

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I painted my boots.  I think they came out great.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

And I painted the chestbox and shoulder straps.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Mounted my bubble lense:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I fixed a problem I caused by cutting a section out of the forehead, before I properly trimmed the trident.   (see problem in prior photo)

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I sprayed clear coat on the armor.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I think it came out better than I expected.

Plastidipped the interior of the helmet, using brush on instead of spray.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Added rubber neck trim.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

And prepped for painting the helmet.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Painted the helmet.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Cutout the acrylic sheet for the circuit board using score and snap and then a dremel for the side cutouts, and trimmed the decals.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then applied the decals (brown protective coating is still on the back).

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[Yesac]

Still looking awesome!

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[daryldoak]

Got some painting done.

Model Masters Panzer Gray for the canisters:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Model Masters Gunship Gray for the siphon tubes, flat black on the siphon hangers:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Painting the trident:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[Jabbasdead]

Look forward to seeing this finish

[Rat]

So just curious here, but is this the same bucket design as the Tie Pilot, with the addition of the trident?

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[daryldoak]

So just curious here, but is this the same bucket design as the Tie Pilot, with the addition of the trident?

The original helmets were Tie helmets that had additional greeblies added. Trident is the same on both.

[Rat]

Oh damn, it totally just dawned on me that Tie buckets have the trident.

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[daryldoak]

Painted the frown and vocoder:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Painted some helmet details, added pill box and canisters.

The paint is Model Masters Guards Red, it was the best match to the TrooperBay cog decals.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Today was a day of problems and mistakes.  (Thanks to Neil for discussing all of the following issues with me throughout the day)

It started with finding out I put the right forehead dot in the wrong location (Thanks to Michael on ACD forums for letting me know).  At first I was going to leave it, since it was going to be hard to fix.  But I knew I would never be satisfied it I left it.  So I sanded the dot off of the helmet.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I taped up around the area to be repainted, and I painted.  But when I removed the tape my worst fears were confirmed...the color did not match and I created a tape line. CRAP!!  So I removed a lot of the tape/covering and sanded away the line.  Then I painted over a larger area, which helped to blend the paint.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

But when I removed the tape/covering I discovered that gray mist had gotten on the trident.  CRAP again!!  So I sanded a bit, taped up again and repainted the trident.

I'm very thankful it worked out ok.

Next I attempted to attach my circuit board (CB) to the back armor.  Since my rivets were too short I decided to just attach the rivets to the CB and then E6000 the CB to the back armor.  It sounded brilliant in my head, but when I glued the CB you could see the E6000 thru the clear CB.  EPIC FAIL!!  So I had to remove the E6000 from the CB and back armor and then drill out 4 rivets from the CB.  It sucked.

Then  I found I had long enough rivets, but they were bigger than I wanted, but I attempted to rivet anyway.  Big mistake...I cracked the CB corner on the first rivet. CRAP!!  So I glued the corner back on and went to the store to get the proper rivets.  Put the CB on the back armor finally.  Not happy with the cracked corner, but my wife wasn't able to detect it, so it's probably fine.  Then I attached the bug box.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I also sanded and painted the pill box black.

[Rat]

Man you folks amaze me. The more I look through wip and build threads the more I realize all the little things that go into the building of some kits. I always figured if I did this it would be a trooper or a Jedi. The trooper has won out, of course, but it amazes me. Thumbs up to you folks that get into these other kits.

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[Lidocaine]

Outstanding work Daryl! Another outstanding build so far, looking forward to seeing more.