Arashi's first armor kit - WIP (updates on pg. 2)

[Arashi]

Got my first armor kit kit out and ready for priming, painting, etc.  I cut the parts out of a large tote bin and shaped them with a heat gun.

I'm not terribly thrilled with the durability of the thin tote bin plastic, but this will do as a trial kit to learn painting techniques and fit and such.

Here is what I have so far, I still need a back plate, but I ran out of tote bin  



I'll try to get them taped on and get a pic up here in a few.

[Arashi]

Here is my test fitting for the chest plates...which was quite difficult to get the plates taped on and photographed solo.  I can see how having a helper would make that a much easier process.

[Arashi]

Here is the base for my vest, a thrift store leather jacket.  I am going to use the leather from the sleeves to cover up the zippers to it meets CRLs.

[Kardos Shantiel]

Sweeeet lol

[Hondo Karr]

Overall very nice vest. Youll want to make sure you add a piece of fabric that velcro's over the zipper so it's not visbile.

[Thaxos]

Looks like you're off to a good start, any concept art of paint schemes yet?
Interested in seeing where this will go.

For future pics, try to get the lighting shining on you and situated behind the camera, rather than the lighting casting shadows over your front. Will make it easier for details to be seen.

[Taglar Dreskk]

I am going to use the leather from the sleeves to cover up the zippers to it meets CRLs.

Youll want to make sure you add a piece of fabric that velcro's over the zipper so it's not visbile.

ROFL

Spacing on the armor looks great.  Can't wait to see it all together.

[Arashi]

My wife is out of town with my digital camera, so I had to make due with cell phone self portraits.  Once she gets back I plan on updating with better pics, etc.

No concept artwork, I am going for a molten lava color scheme.  Mostly black plates with red/orange/yellow color gradients around the edges and showing through in weathered spots like a cracked cool crust on a lava flow.

The inspiration for my color scheme is from this Warhammer 40K figure (which is not mine)



I am going to go for a modern kit, with full heavy extra plating.  I was less than happy with my tote bin plates, so I am going to use those as practice pieces for painting, and I am ordering a full set of plates from K'raam Xrati.  For the helmet, I am planning on going with one of the M-DSB Mercenary helms.  And for my primary weapon, I was going to do a heavy weapon...probably either a flamethrower or a combo flamethrower/blaster (Something along the lines of a CIP-Quad or Z-6)

[Renick]

All that work only to go Metal..... At least your buying from Kramm

[Arashi]

The tote bin plastic just feels too flimsy to me.  Feels like a cheap halloween costume instead of a quality set of armor.  I will use the plastic plates to test out my paint schemes and techniques on, so they won't go completely to waste.  Once I get my metal set from K'raam, I will donate the plastic pieces to anyone who wants/needs them.

[Arashi]

The armor plates I ordered from K'raam are done!  Can't wait to get them and start working on my painting and mounting  

[Niabi]

How much damage are you going to have on your plates?
I ask because if you damage up your plates before you paint them you can get some really nice 3d damage that looks so much realer than just painted damage.

[Arashi]

I am probably going to go with light damage/weathering to start, then let nature take its course.  I haven't fully committed to a particular level of damage/weathering yet.

[Taglar Dreskk]

Great part about metal armor is weathering is easy.  With plastic if you go too far and gouge into the plastic, the paint doesn't look right.  But with metal...it's obviously metal colored, so if you scuff or scratch the paint all the work is done for you.

Myself, with plastic armor, I have go over my armor every few months and use a silver sharpie on spots where I wore down past the first layer of paint and into the plastic.

[Renick]

As always Kraam does great work,,, can;t wait to see what you do with them