Mando Super-commando Grunt Update

[Isabella20B]

Hello again, here's an update on my Mando Super-Commando Grunt build:

I finished putting together my Ammo Belt today, I think its looking pretty cool, but I would love to hear if it's up to regulations along with other suggestions.
Picture links:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z7nGIyi5Z6smxwkZIUng2VzmzcKQRzUM/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IeyxDAlCaS3mJbquwkZkD2_FIt0CDiqw/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y1HyDau9vwM29-RJ2e39jKSmR-c2c4EO/view?usp=share_link

Additionally I've finished painting the hand armor and the pelvic piece. I'm nearly finished painting the shin armor, just having a little trouble getting the right shade of grey.
Picture links:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a27PmirE_OlVNeOsDxdj8jSZR6k_eLcS/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12A7RGsmu80ZjOgQAQPRqDXPqsi6l2iub/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PhZVH7dGJzv9DAs5WsulWWIyFWk-dnyF/view?usp=share_link

In summary for the whole build I'm nearly finished shaping all the other armor pieces, and working on the sanding-priming-sanding process for my 3D printed materials from Etsy (the helmet, gauntlets, & the Westars).

Excited to be a part of the 501st and hopefully will have this Mando done soon (:

[CJ49er]

good to hear its progressing!

note- pic links aren't working, may need to change permissions in Google

[Isabella20B]

Ok I think I fixed the link issue, should be able to view the pictures now, thanks for letting me know

[Lidocaine]

Nice work so far! I do have a few observations for you, which may be obvious but I feel like it's usually better to say the obvious than not.

Belt: Looking good, just make sure when it's on that the adjustment slider isn't showing and that all the pieces are snug against each other. Ideally, it appears that they fit around the waist and there's little to no gap between them.

Pelvic plate: I assume that this is the "cod piece" in the CRL? If so, there may need to be some adjustments to the shape. In the picture below, yours is on the left, and the CRL is on the right. Let me know if I guessed wrong, please!



Hope this helps, keep up the nice work!

[Isabella20B]

Hi I'll make sure the belt slider isn't showing and the pieces do fit right up against each other.
For the cod/pelvic armor, I am a woman so I was thinking a cod piece would probably not work for me, I shaped the pelvic piece similar to the styles I've seen on other female Mandos like Bo Katan, I can definitely reshape this if that wouldn't be approved. Let me know what you think, thanks for the input!

[Lidocaine]

Unfortunately, the CRL doesn't allow for much deviation for that particular piece of armor. Totally get the idea you're going for but for this, you'd have to follow the CRL in the basic shape of the armor, sorry!

[Isabella20B]

Ok I'll reshape that, thanks for letting me know

[Isabella20B]

Hello again,
I ended up deciding that building the jetpack myself was a bit too much of a project in addition to what I'm already doing. So about a week ago I ordered the Jango Fett Arena Jet Pack from Etsy. And the jetpack arrived today; for the most part this jetpack is nearly exactly like the jetpack for my Mando Super Commando Grunt-but there is one main issue that I need some advice with.

Here is a picture of Super Commando Jetpack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bc7iwEjzt0Vha-TlNfC9SriELlsOTeyP/view?usp=share_link

And here are two pictures of the Jetpack I received today:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tR2KTp36DrcXqSyieo1ei4BmUDPeu8ad/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JstDcUfG2H0yhAwkGFWdFXkKKTLYLatC/view?usp=share_link

On the Super Commando jetpack there are to symmetrical plate sections beside the main fuel tank with some pin-striping.
On the Arena Jetpack these sections are raised up in tiers.
I'm not really sure what to do about this, I've been scouring Etsy to see if there's a jetpack that better fits the Super Commando version, but haven't found one yet. The entire rest of the Arena Jetpack is spot on with the Super Commando–so I'm not sure what to do about this problem.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, and I'd like to know if it would be possible for my Mando to be approved with this jetpack? Let me know when you can, thanks!

[Lidocaine]

That's an interesting point that you've brought up about the jetpack; I hadn't previously noticed the difference between the "live-action" style that you have and the "animated" style that's in the CRL.

I know of any vendors selling the pack as a kit, but I did spot a more accurate pack on Thingiverse here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4184843.

That being said, I missed the differences earlier when suggesting some possible sources for your pack, so after consulting with some others, I think that as long as the overall shape and appearance of the pack fits (as it does currently), you'd be able to use the pack you purchased as approvable. That being said, any higher approval beyond basic approval probably wouldn't be doable with the current pack. Higher levels are always optional but encouraged, and if down the road you want to swap the pack to something more accurate that's always great!

Also, since the current jetpack is 3D printed, I'd recommend working on it to get those print lines down so that they're not visible once the paint is applied. Visible print lines are usually a no-go for approval.

[Isabella20B]

Ok thank you for letting me use this jetpack, that definitely saves me a bit of extra time and money, I'll get to sanding down those print lines right away! As this is my first ever build, I'm pretty sure basic approval is as far as I'm going to get for now, thanks again!

[Isabella20B]

Supercommando Helmet Update:

Hello again, I have been painting this helmet since last Friday and I'm eager to move onto my numerous other projects for this build-but I think I really overdid it with the weathering and I'm trying to figure out how to patch up this weathering without spray painting everything over again, please let me know any tips or tricks for patching this up, thanks!

Here are links to helmet pictures:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I81Eq4OU0gcon7JbniiapBS0q_7xQQok/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zE_qLfvobmNtj3_pYr2gTTLY15VNp2rB/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aadNA-ufyqfgofC4yIIXAzb5vrgLnegU/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lMymMjUOYZNEH9J7BmtR1P4VIYd-oCSZ/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E9ZgB4K0tNR0lYukUBQvwxtxHD1i5sUG/view?usp=share_link

[Isabella20B]

Got pictures of my finished gauntlets, I think they turned out pretty nice

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XFe10nu29eITHwGDlo7Li94YPoa6-Reo/view?usp=share_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1peo9wRoYgYmmI4dY5GRdjbSbed7bRfwN/view?usp=share_link

[Lidocaine]

I think the helmet looks great! The CRL mentions heavy weathering, and I think you achieved the look. I wouldn't go any heavier, but I don't see a problem where it is currently. The major paint sections are still intact, so it's a thumbs-up from me.

Excellent work on the gauntlets, those look spot on!

[Isabella20B]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback!

[Isabella20B]

Hello again!
I know I haven't been on the forums in quite awhile, but I need some help with my mando's chest plates.
So I am a woman and I don't have a flat chest, but I'm trying to stay as close to the actual shape of my mando's chest plates as possible.
Essentially I'd like to know if the shape of my plates as they are now would be approvable? I know the paint/primer job on them right now is messy looking and I'm still working on that–but I need to know if I can actually use these plates or if I need to invest in more pvc?
Always appreciate the support and feedback!