Over the past few weeks, I've been assisting with dissections and suggestions on a couple of forums for this costume (Pathfinders and SpecOps). I have a WIP over there and thought I'd throw it up here, as well for those interested. I'll be doing as much detail in my build as possible for anyone who want to follow along at home. This includes where I am sourcing my materials from and what tricks I am using on them.
Something about this armor just grabbed me when I saw it. Remember, I'm the guy who never wanted to do a "normal faceless character" in the 501st. Well, now I'm doing Shoretrooper 6132. Hopefully, I won't be the only one!
I'll be making my posts as detailed and pictureful as possible. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.
Now, let's start off with one of my famous dissections. I’ll update it with pictures (like the CRL pictures) as the various items are completed.
SOFT PARTS
Neckseal
The neckseal will be made from a black 4-way stretch rubber-looking material. It will zip up the back.
Shirt
The shirt will be made primarily of black mesh material. It will include ribbed 3/4 sleeves with a hand stirrup. There will be a ribbed chest/pectoral plate all the way up to the collar. Another plate will be located on the back. The shirt will zip up the upper back for a smart fit.
Gloves
The gloves will be purchased from a 501st vendor. I’ll be installing a pair of grommets on them to connect the hand armor.
Belt
The belt will be made by sewing a pair of brown nylon straps together using a zig-zag stitch. It will velcro closed in the rear with additional velcro on the top in the rear (for the belt cover). I’ll be adding a number of grommets to it for attaching the belt boxes to.
Kama
The kama will be made using black canvas. I’ve scoured the reference pictures and drafted out the pattern necessary to have all the proper seams and stitching on the kama (I'll post it once I trace it into AutoCAD). It will feature a pair of black straps horizontally on the front. I will be building it onto a separate strap that velcros in the front and attaches to the trouser waistline with belt clips to keep it in place.
Trousers
The trousers will be made using brown duck cloth in a riding jodhpur pattern. It will have a working fly because… well, come on, working fly. It will include a belt and a pair of suspenders. It will have 3/4 legs with the bottom being a breathable material with a pair of stirrups to keep them in the boots.
Boots
The boots will be a pair of Havana-color Orca Bay Becon boots. I’ll be weathering them in various ways (to include tan polish brushed off with steel wool like my WWII reenactment boots).
HARD PARTS
Helmet
The helmet will be made using pepakura. I’ll include a modified scout snout greebly, 1mm sintra detailed vents, a hard hat chin strap, and a gray welding mask visor. It will be padded inside and will definitely have a helmet liner (OregonAero liners rock for buckets of all kinds).
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps will be made with sealed EVA foam. The attachments on the front and back will be permanently attached to the belt and attach through the chest and back armor with bolts.
Shoulder Armor
The shoulder armor will be made using pepakura. It will attach to the torso armor with a strap off of the shoulder strap. It will also include a strap to the bicep. It will be lined with black foam/neoprene.
Bicep Armor
The bicep armor will be made using pepakura. It will open/adjust in the rear under the tab and will include a strap to the shoulder armor/torso armor. It will be lined with black foam/neoprene.
Forearm Armor
The forearm armor will be made using pepakura. It will open/adjust under the cover strip. IT will be lined with black foam/neoprene.
Hand Armor
The hand armor will be made using pepakura. It will attach to the gloves with bolts/Chicago screws.
Chest Armor
The chest armor will be made using pepakura. It will attach to the back armor at the shoulder using strapping. It will attach over the shim between the armors at the side using magnets in a similar way to the FOTK armor. It will include a pair of grommets in the shoulders for the straps. It will be padded using black foam/neoprene that extends out from the edge.
Back Armor
The back armor will be made using pepakura. It will attach to the chest armor at the shoulder using strapping. It will attach under the chest armor at the sides with a shim using magnets. The insets will have details in accordance with the reference pictures. It will include a pair of grommets in the shoulders for the straps. It will be padded using black foam/neoprene that extends out from the edge.
Abdominal Armor
The abdominal armor will be built using pepakura, foam, and sintra. The front details will be made using pepakura. They will attach to a sealed EVA foam pad that wraps around the back of the body and secures under another foam pad with velcro.
Belt Equipment
The belt equipment will be made using pepakura and other materials. The belt buckle will be pepakura along with the arrow devices, small boxes, and medium boxes. The belt plate in the rear will be made using sintra and will connect to the belt with bolts on one side and velcro on the other. All boxes will attach to the belt with screws.
Thermal Detonator
The thermal detonator will be made using a pair of PVC pipes, couplers, and sintra. One will be cut apart and glued on top of the other for the ridges. The couplers will be cut down and sintra placed inside them for the end caps. It will be attached to the belt plate with screws.
Shin Armor
The base of the skin armor will be built using pepakura. They will attach in the rear and have foam/neoprene under it. The front plates will attach over it using screws. The straps will wrap around the legs and connect with either found items or resin reproductions. The straps will be made of sealed foam. It will attach around the leg with magnets.
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Blaster
I’ll be modifying a Doopydoo E-11 to look like that seen in the reference pictures. This includes the new power cylinder set, flashlight, and sight rail.
COLORS
The base coat for everything will be black self-etching automotive primer. Over that will be the tan color with the individual paint jobs over that and sanded through to the black for weathering. I’ll also use the windex method for weathering. The blaster will be painted in accordance to some of the FISD tutorials.
