Dart placement

[Kora]

Since I said I would in the chat, here's how I figure out where my dart placement on my chest plates goes. Now, bear in mind, the pics I'm using are a quick and fast set that I made for the purpose of this thread. They did not come out how yours should (unless you're going for a more cone look XD), but I'm just doing it to demonstrate the method, not the outcome. For the best version of how they came out, check out my red kit - http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u277/barghestdemyshra/Mandalorian%20Armor%20V2/DSC01301-1.jpg and http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u277/barghestdemyshra/Mandalorian%20Armor%20V2/DSC01552-1.jpg

First, draw out the template for the shape (and keep in mind, you may have to make adjustments once you actually put the darts in).


Cut it out (obviously lol), then haul over the duct tape dummy. You'll have to have reinforced the chest of the dummy in order to press on it, I used paper mache. I pressed the cutout down over the boob, trying to make creases in it where I wanted it to fold. Obviously, I was a lot more careful in doing this for my actual kit than this demo. You probably want less extreme darts and more in number to help get the multiple curves in.


For my actual kit, I drew in the lines for the creases, then cut along them, just to make sure I'd get it right.

(Yes, that bottom dart is way too large to make this smooth. XD)

And, so you see how it comes out, I taped the darts together (also, a good way to check what you may have to modify on the pattern, as, if you look at the bottom, you'll notice it doesnt line up anymore).




If anybody who has done the dart method has a better way of making the darts (or a better tutorial sequence of pictures XD), please post them too, as I know I'm not the only one who had trouble figuring out where to put the darts the first time around.

[Mar'eyce]

Nice tutorial on the dart placement. That's the same way I did my patterns.

[Cyrus Rang]

See if this helps ya. She did a good job.
http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=19236.0

[Kora]

Made some new boob templates, and they came out far more like they should. *chuckle* So, here are those pictures.

[Riya Morut]

For mine, I actually stuck duct tape on me in the shape I wanted my plates.  Then I trimmed things up to make them symmetrical and cut out darts to make the tape lie flat on a trashcan.  This method works all right, but I found out that I should only do it for one side and reverse it for the other, because my boob plates don't match up perfectly.

[Kora]

Give my creation, LIFE!

*ahem* In order to make some chest plates for another merc, I had to resort to ripping apart my neo-crusader chest plate I was working on in order to recover the original boob templates I made. I'd unfortunately forgotten that I'd cut them down somewhat, but I was able to use them to get the darts down, then sort of tried to replace everything else as best as I could. I'm actually a bit happier with this one as it has just a little bit more side boob coverage (something that always irks me about my male plates bent is that they have virtually no side coverage).

So, here it is, the almost original dart placement for my chest plates.



ETA: Just so you know what these look like when "done"-




With some time and patience, the bottom can be flared properly; however I was in a bit of a hurry to get those at least glued and apply the bondo. I'll be doing this same template for my purple kit's replacement chest plates, which will be sintra, so not only will I have more time, but it will be FAR easier to get them to hold the right shape.

[Mar'eyce]

Looking good....those really have a nice shape.

[ONYXRAEN]

Awesome! I had cut out some HORRIBLE plates from trash can, and if I can't get those to work, I'll be going the sintra route. I'm just trying to find a dealer closer than 50 miles away. Know any place you can just order from?

[Kora]

I've never ordered from any of these vendors, but check this thread. http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=10536.0

[Mir'ika Tarvos]

I used basically the same method to make my plates, however, didn't use an adequate compound to seal the darts so they kinda fell apart    I might try to re-work the ones I have or make a paper tape dummy and shape up some better ones.