Droidagem

I've added my files to the 3D file depository, but will also share the link here https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7197811

I've been quite busy with work alongside doing this mortar and starting my next costume, so that's why I haven't updated this as I went like I prefer to, but I will go over how I've gotten to this finished version of my mortar I went and made files for the feet of the bipod, though I didn't finish my "tube" print for the bipod, as I quickly realized that the screen used bipod is a lot longer than mine. The bipod used in the show is an extendable one, so is mine, but mine needs to be fully extended to be the length used in the show. If you look at references you'll notice that only the bottom part of the bipod is extended and that the upper part is collapsed. Adding the tubes onto my bipod would look extremely odd with how close it would be to the feet of it. This along with the iron sights being too big, and missing a couple greebles above the iron sights is enough for me to want to come back to this eventually with a version 2, and possibly modify this version 1 to launch stuff (obviously not for conventions and that, just for my own amusement lol). The bipod was also just attached using plenty of CA glue, I could've likely screwed it on or tried using a proper bipod holder, but I didn't think the holder looked very accurate on it, and I couldn't find exactly how it was originally attached for the show, so I just went off the placement seen in references. I will be sharing this bipod end file, as well as the file in my first post in a day or two. To attach it I used the small metal pin found on the bipod. Once you remove the original rubber ends, this pin gets exposed and it's used to hold the spring inside the metal tube, but it's also convenient enough to stick out and slide into my printed bipod ends. I also wanted to note that if you compare the 3 yellow dotted detail on my mortar to the Hot Toys references (these are also the references used for the CRL), mine is placed differently, I used this reference image below of the actual mortar for my placement of it Oh and as a fun little detail that I don't have pictures of yet, the cylinder piece on the side of the mortar matches the handle on the side of the munitions pack and can be attached to the pack. Though I haven't tried wearing it myself like this just yet because my munitions pack is already heavy enough as it is and I don't need to be adding another 5-10 pounds to it lol

I've begun work on the mortar, I decided to put it in a separate thread over here:

This is where the fun begins! I've spent the last couple of weeks examining the references/planning for the mortar, as well as printed many of the parts. Right now most of it is printed, and I have a bipod that is very identical to the one used in the show (I believe the brand and name of it is a trilock 13"-27" posi-lock rifle bipod). I've already modified the bipod some. Starting my removing the rubber end tips so they can be replaced by the adjustable ones I'll be making an stl for. Another adjustment made is I removed a second set of those dials where the bipod adjusts to be longer or shorter. Both on the hot toys and references for the screen used prop show that these dials appear on the top set, but not on the bottom. I also need to reprint the ball portion as seen in the first photo, not only because it printed rough but because the references show it has a hollow section in the middle to allow the base to be adjustable, below is my edit of the Oxprops files. I will likely contact Oxprops once I finish the build to see if he wanted to add this modification in his set of files or if he's fine having it be public so that others can pursue this build more accurately. Here's a look at how modifying it has been going. I'll likely be adding to this thread a lot in the next few weeks since I aim to finish this in time for my next troop in early November

I'm now going to focus on building the mortar in my spare time, although it might take me a while since I'll need to make 3D files to modify the screen used bipod brand to add these highlighted parts to it, as the Oxprops files don't cover the bipod, but they do point you in the direction of the bipod they modified for the show. I am also going to focus on my next costume I want to get approved in the legion (likely a range trooper or mimban trooper), so that might also add onto the time I'll take to make the mortar admittedly. Once I eventually make these files I'll be sure to share them and document my build on the mortar!

I decided to send my new pictures over to my GML and I've been approved as TK-75311!

TK-75311 requesting FISD access! https://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=48597

Yeah getting a good contrasting background has been a challenge for me just because most of my house is either too small for good pictures or has a very busy background, and all non busy places outside are a bunch of white walls. I'm going to be getting a green screen to help with that though, especially because once I get it I can do it inside and not rely on it being another sunny day (which has been rare lately where I live lol)

Thank you for the suggestion! My mobility is fairly decent at the moment, not perfect but decent enough for going up and down stairs. However I think I might be able to lift the cod piece up about another inch to get more mobility, I'll have to test out how that looks.

I've made some adjustments to what was pointed out including tightening the pack straps. These are pictures where I didn't have any help so there's likely still issues in these photos. I do know that I'll be able to tighten the pack more if I get help, so if it's still too big of a gap in these photos I think it'll be easily fixed. I believe I have the belt aligned better, it's fairly straight in the back too, but in the photo I wasn't standing up completely straight so it might not appear that way at first glance (another thing that can be fixed next time with help). I fixed the calves too, luckily I was able to take the cover strips off and put them on the correct side with little to no paint damage.

Here's the updated side photo since the black side panel wasn't velcroed properly in the other photo

I'm back again after trimming the sides of the abdomen, improving the arm strapping, attaching the pack, and hiding the thigh buckle. Also added some very light weathering to the pauldron using the same black liquid shoe polish used on the shoes. I didn't do too much since the CRL didn't mention weathering on it, and also reference images don't show too much on it. I've taken these pictures in case its ready for approval, I do know there's a couple things like the front picture's left arm being not aligned like the other, and the pack tilting the back of the chestplate down (although this appears to be what's happening to a lesser extent on the screen used when standing up in the cut out). Not too sure if these photos are good enough for base approval or not, any takes on it are much appreciated 👍 Edit: I did just notice one of the black side panels is not velcroed on in one of the pics, currently getting a better picture of that side now

Also I took the day to strap a bunch of the armor, and while I know I need to fix a few things, such as the abdomen showing where it shouldn't on the sides, and the shoulder armor flying all over the place. Here's a photo of everything but the pack, as I still want to plan it out more before trying to attach it (likely will do it by holes and attaching backpack straps like the CRL model) And here's what it looked like with the shoulder armor not all over the place (no helmet cause the person who helped me left after this photo

Yeah I thought about this quite a bit, and that's why originally I was only doing the one, and is why only one imploder is removable, instead of both. I decided that it was worth the risk though considering I 3D print them myself, not too expensive to make, plus I'm wanting to make a ton of variants for holidays etc (imagine a candy cane thermal detonator as an example)

That's an amazing idea, I'll definitely think about it lol

I've painted the thermal detonators as well as added weathering to the pack, and I'll be adding some scratches and weathering showing silver underneath on the black. I'm also going to make each detonator attached by velcro for a few reasons. Firstly if I need to change anything or repair it, I can do it easier. Secondly is I think it'd be funny to dual wield detonators or pretend jawas are stealing them. I've sanded and spray painted every part except for the back of the belt, which needs some work since I had problems with paint cracking on it. I'm also starting to go over my other parts and add small bits of dirt to them. Mainly the calf and thigh armor, as there's more dirt around the bottom of the calves and dirt in the cover strips. Also another thing is that I started planning more about weathering my boots. One of the guys in my local garrison suggested using black liquid shoe polish that he used on his shore trooper. I'm going to try that out, but before that I tried naturally weathering it by wearing it at work, just to get a better idea of where dirt likes to naturally stick to it, which resulted in the picture below And here's what one of the on screen shoes look like: So I'll definitely add a little more to it

I've painted the details on the smaller box of the pack, as well as painting the front of the belt. This picture is before I sanded my thermal detonators I've also painted the front belt, as well as went over some of the armor that I still needed to clear coat. You can also see in this image the updated forearms as well as the calves in the last picture. The thermal detonators are also done sanding and are now painted white

Here's how the pack is looking so far. I'm currently working on sanding the thermal detonators as well as putting more work into the belt. I did also manage to make one of the Imploders removable which will be great for photos, as it kind of slots in and out of place if pulled out a particular way

Smaller update, but I've made good progress on filling the printer lines for the munitions pack. Most of the work left for sanding is with the small box details and the imploders + detonators. I plan to try and make one of the thermal detonators removable, and so far my best idea is maybe velcro, but I'm not sure if that'll make it stick out more or not (this would be the TD on the farthest right side). I'm open to any suggestions that might work better for that though I've also had to redo the white on the forearms because I completely missed both in the CRL text and in references that the stripe on the indents is only on the top, not on the sides. I'll likely give another update tomorrow or Wednesday as I have the whole day off to put more work into the belt, calves, and munitions pack

So I've fixed the thigh armor, painted the abdomen (although I still need to make some small adjustments to some of the buttons), and I started painting the calf armor, now I'm waiting for the white to dry over the next two days before adding the yellow details. In the meantime I'm now focusing on the belt, which I'm going the route of printing the updated files in this thread here: Instead of using the boxes I got from 850 AW Also something that always stood out to me when looking at both the Hot Toys and screen used references was that the top of the right thigh is heavily chipped compared to everywhere else, and I tried copying that the best I could. Here's a better look at specifically the thigh armor

I've finished the rest of the arm armor, and I've painted the thigh armor, however I've noticed some mistakes I wanted to point out that would help anyone in the future pursuing an artillery trooper. When I did the yellow details for the thigh armor I mistakenly only used the CRL images when taping it off, but looking at the screen used references, there's a very different shape. Particularly on the front of the thigh on the side pointing inwards. In the CRL it goes out straight a little, before curving down, but on the screen used it doesn't go straight out Left image is what I did, middle is screen -used, and right is CRL. I'm working now to fix and tweak the detailing I did

Progress on the rest of the armor has been going well. I've started painting everything except for the belt and calf armor, which still need to get sanded and primed. I've also just started filling printer lines on some parts of the munitions pack as I wait for all the paint to dry before adding more yellow detailing and weathering. I also did a test fit of the chestplate and abdomen armor (all still partially assembled, not fully strapped together) with the helmet, pauldron, and undersuit to get a better idea of how the parts were coming along. Admittedly I need to adjust the pauldron to get it sitting better than it was in the photo, but I figured it's best to hold off on fixing that until the shoulder plates can be added

Quite a bit got finished on the helmet this time around. I fixed both the back piece and the weathering under the right eye. I added more weathering to the yellow, as well as added small dirt/debris marks here and there on the white I fixed the white inside on the mic tips, added the neck seal (I used some truck edge seal stuff found in 11b30b4's black series build). I also darkened the lenses by cutting and putting a welding visor behind the green lenses. I also figured I should add a before and after picture as well to better show some of the changes made.

I've done more work to the helmet, such as painting the grey details, and adding the black outlines. I dropped the back piece of the helmet and unfortunately the battery tab popped out. I made sure to glue it better back in place, and I'll have to work to fill in the new cracks. Plus side is I noticed that there were a couple bumps and imperfections on the back that should be getting fixed up anyways I've also added the vocoder, Hovi mic tips (from Trooperbay), the mouth screen, as well as the blue and black fabric on the inside. However I'm currently working on filling in the weathering I made earlier under the eye so that it's more smooth, since looking at the references the weathering on the helmet is more like very faint debris/dirt splatter rather than any chipping on the white. I might add more little bits of weathering on the yellow around the sides by the hovi tips to better match the amount of weathering seen on a lot of the reference images. Otherwise it seems like the helmet is close to being finished