Backplate & Jetpack Harness

To wrap up the backplate attachment and jetpack harness, I started by doing test fittings to see how long the straps would need to be.  They would have to go over the shoulder of the harness, through the flak vest, and through the backplate.  It took me two tries, but I finally figured it out.  When I got the length correct, I used grommets to make everything permanent and used pill-shaped D rings as my jetpack fasteners...

Here are the straps through the flak vest. Note the grommets added to the back of the vest to attach the backplate, just as I attached the armor on the chest.

Here is the mounted back plate with the straps showing:

With the backplate in place, I needed a way to attach the neckplate to it. I drilled holes in both and fashioned a bracket from a piece of aluminum flat bar, and screws that I cold-welded in place with JB Weld and a bit of super glue for insurance.

Boba has silver shoulder studs to cover those screws and keep everything secure.  A set of studs came with my armor. I spray painted them silver, and routed them out with my Dremel tool.  Note the double route so that I had a little "shelf" to support the nut, but some extra space behind it to thread the screw through.

I glued the nuts in place with super glue.

The studs were screwed on.  Note the cape is attached with one of these:

Here's a close up of the jetpack hooks slipped through the strap rings:

And the diver's belt from the jetpack secured around the front:

And we have a fully attached jetpack!

Almost done!  I have the gauntlet hoses and shoulder braids left!

~N

Jetpack FINISHED!

 High-res completion photos of the finished pack!

Two moths of painting DONE! The only thing left to do on the jetpack is add the harness hooks -- but I can't do that until I get the rest of my armor in (so I can be sure that the hooks line up with the harness holes of the back plate).  I'm going to take a few days break and then get going on the boots.  Hopefully by then my armor will start showing up in the mail!

~N

Jetpack Thrusters and Back

My first attempt at the back of the jetpack was a disaster.  I got a little too enthusiastic with the damage, so I decided to sand it down and start over.  (Sorry, no pics of the first try. They were horrible.)

For the 2nd try, I started with primer, then a layer of liquid mask, then Rustoleum Aluminum, another layer of liquid mask, blue, then a mist of black, and finally microdamage with a screwdriver.  The finished 2nd try looks like this:

I placed the harness hooks so you'd get an idea of where they will be. These hooks are custom made.

The last pieces to paint were the thrusters.  I started with a layer of primer, then Rusto Aluminum, then a layer of liquid mask, then Rusto white, At this point, I taped off and sprayed the locations of the black stripes at the bottom. So it looked like this:

Then more liquid mask, dark gray, and a mist of black.  I added the proper highlights with red and black Testors enamel, then I went to town on it with my screwdriver, and finally added some extra grunge with Testors black, gray, white and rubber. (Yes, rubber is a color...)

And the final thrusters look like this:

Finally, I added the three sets of alien writing on the lower front portion of the pack with a mix of Testors black, rubber, and gray, using a VERY fine tipped brush:

All I have left to do now is some touch up work, and then add a matte clear coat to the whole thing with Testors Dullcoat.  So the next time I blog will be the completion photos of the jetpack! Woohoo!  TWO months of work.

In other news, my custom boots came in from Man of War Studios!  They're going to need to be dyed and distressed, but we'll deal with that soon enough!

~N

Rocket Finished

The rocket is done! 

First, I had to paint the "launcher" unit.  Silver, then liquid mask, then line-striping yellow, and finally highlights of anodized bronze for grunge.  You can see the little lumps of the liquid mask in this picture.

Then I taped off the black stripe, sprayed it, and then over-sprayed it with more yellow to make it look like the paint is worn down by time.  After peeling off the liquid mask to show silver underneath, I attacked it with a screwdriver for micro damage, and then dabbed brown enamel on it with a papertowel for dirt and grime.

Once again, I decided to hand paint the alien lettering on the right side of the launcher. I used a the same dark brown enamel mix that I use for adding dirt...

Next, I taped off and the red cap on the launcher. Liquid mask, then red, then misted with black.

Starting on the actual rocket, I taped, liquid masked, sprayed white, a mist of almond, and a mist of anodized bronze.  Then I let it dry, and peeled off the liquid mask.  The next day, I added MORE liquid mask and then sprayed heavier mists of anodized bronze and black for the scorching.  These two layers of liquid mask let me show some of the white along with the silver underneath. Once all this was dry, I added the little black stripe at the bottom, and then attacked it with a screwdriver for micro damage.

Finally, I taped the tip of the rocket, liquid masked, and misted with red.  Once it was dry, I peeled off the liquid mask, and attacked it with a screwdriver. A few hours later, I dipped a papertowel in brown enamel and rubbed in some dirt and grime...and the rocket was done!!!

Now it's really starting to look like Boba's pack!

All I have left to do is the back panel and the exhaust jets.  Then one more round of touch ups and a layer of clear coat.

In other news, I hear that my custom made boots have shipped.  And I should be getting the rest of my armor and the second helmet in the coming weeks.

~N