Shrey's Cara Dune Build

Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:08 am Post subject: Shrey's Cara Dune Build

Figured I might as well start documenting my Season 1 Cara Dune build.

I am using 3D printed armor. I first sanded the print.

IMG_1530 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I then sprayed it with multiple layers of filler primer (excuse random parts of my Tatooine Luke build in there):

IMG_1580 by SumTotal, on Flickr

And then more and more sanding, and using Bondo sandable glaze, then more sanding:

IMG_1586 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Finally, on to the spray paint. Here's the products I used:

IMG_1654 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:12 am Post subject:

I sprayed everything that has a silver base with multiple layers of the silver:

IMG_1588 by SumTotal, on Flickr

After giving that ample time to dry, I painted liquid latex on each silver area that I could determine in the reference images.

IMG_1645 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Once that dried, I sprayed it with the teal.

IMG_1647 by SumTotal, on Flickr

When the teal was dry to the touch, I rubbed off all the areas where I had applied latex:

IMG_1650 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I then sanded the edges and anywhere that seemed like it would have wear. I still want to weather it with some watered-down acrylics, but I am pretty pleased with this "chipped paint" look.

IMG_1652 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:16 am Post subject:

For the glove greeblies, I purchased motocross gloves and seam ripped the knuckle and finger guards off:

IMG_1578 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I used a Dremel plastic saw blade and then a the sanding wheel to remove the outer plastic part that does not appear in the reference images for Cara.

IMG_1579 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I spray painted these pieces teal.

IMG_1648 by SumTotal, on Flickr

They are a weird color in the reference images, so I plan to try to match that with hand painting with acrylics, then drill a few more holes in the plastic so I can sew them on leather gloves with three seams on the back of the hand to match with reference images. I have upholstery needles but we shall see how well it works with small gloves and small, fiddly plastic bits.

I have also started hand painting details on the ammo boxes and will be starting on the blaster and greeblies. I have the base for the undershirt, so that is also on the list. Unfortunately, I do not have the accurate hexagon patterned fabric as of yet for the top and pant "chaps", but there's plenty of details to work on in the meantime.
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 6:52 am Post subject:

I painted the knuckle greeblies with a mixture of teal paint and metallic teal paint, and a little black. They're a weird color shifting color in photos, unfortunately.

IMG_1774 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I drilled some small holes in addition to the holes already on the knuckle guards, and am slowly sewing them on to three seamed leather gloves with a curved upholstery needle.

IMG_1777 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:02 am Post subject:

Here are the paints and the satin varnish I used for the belt greeblies.

IMG_1775 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1762 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1764 by SumTotal, on Flickr

To recreate the weathered look of the belt greeblies, I first taped off and painted the turquoise stripes on the ammo boxes. After that dried, I began slowly painting on watered-down brown and black acrylic in numerous layers. Since the bottom layer is silver spray paint, if I ever went too dark or didn't like how it was turning out, I could wipe off the layers with a wet cloth.

IMG_1763 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1700 by SumTotal, on Flickr

For the ammo boxes, I scraped them lightly with a screwdriver, and used silver, black, and mixes of teal paint to create wear patterns on the teal stripe

IMG_1765 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1771 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1770 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I sealed all the greeblies with satin varnish when I was satisfied with their appearance.

IMG_1772 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1773 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:18 am Post subject:

I apparently did not take a lot of pictures of the blaster assembly and probably would do it differently if I have to do it again. I wasn't paying attention to the reference photos and had sprayed the 3-D printed parts silver. I then glued them together with Gorilla glue.

IMG_1696 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I ended up painting over the silver with a zillion layers of watered down acrylics. I tried to create a bit of an uneven pattern for a wood appearance, and to let silver come through in indicated areas.

When I was satisfied, I sealed it with the varnish.

IMG_1715 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1716 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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natblack (Natalie Black) · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:30 am Post subject:

Looking good!
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LeiaAurora () · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 3:00 pm Post subject:

This is some beautiful work!
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:09 am Post subject:

Thank you! Every time I look at this costume, I find more complexity. Yikes!

Finished the gloves, finally. Unfortunately my dog grabbed and chewed up one of the finger greeblies, so I had to kinda fudge that and repaint it, which meant I had to repaint them all, so that's fun. I just sewed everything on with a curved upholstery needle, with four points on each finger greeblie and nine (four pre-existing) on the knuckle guard.

IMG_1949 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1951 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:18 am Post subject:

Moving on to the belts. I used a teal pleather from Joann's, with a layer of thin batting inbetween, since the screen-used belt appears to be a little puffy to me. The bias tape edging is a black stretch vinyl. To pattern and sew the belts, I largely used this extremely helpful tutorial.

IMG_1966 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I can't say I enjoyed this process at all. It involved first drawing, then sewing about 9 million lines, then creating bias tape out of stretch pleather, then attaching the bias tape.

IMG_1965 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1975 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_1996 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Hopefully tonight I will be testing weathering on some scrap pleather, then figuring out how to attach the belt greeblies, and on to the black belt and the gauntlets. I will be happy to bid pleather goodbye.
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LeiaAurora () · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:50 am Post subject:

Yeah that teal belt is a lesson in patience, for sure. Looks great!!
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In progress/submitted: Padme Amidala Deleted Scene/Padme Amidala Olive gown/Cobb Vanth with armor
"This is a Rebellion, isn't it? I rebel."

Amelia (Emily Haas) · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 10:05 am Post subject:

I really like the detail work. Looking forward to seeing more of your build.
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 7:04 pm Post subject:

Thank you! I got stalled out by real life but need to update this as I did make my gauntlets. Next I'll be weathering the pleather somehow, and the armor, and making the undershirt sleeve detail and the holster. Still need to figure out the custom fabric (experimenting with HTV and a Cricuit) so I can make the vest and pants, and figure out how I want to attach the armor to the pants and vest.

Also deal with my boot dilemma. Ugh. But this complex costume is getting there!
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 7:35 am Post subject:

Finally had some time to focus on this. Tested some acrylic paints and they surprisingly did okay on the pleather, so decided to weather the belt and gauntlets while I was weathering the armor.

For the armor, I stared at reference photos and used brown, tan, black and turquoise in various mixtures and washes, and added more armor "chips" with silver acrylic.

IMG_2398 by SumTotal, on Flickr

This is under three very bright lights; it isn't quite this dramatic looking under normal conditions.
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Shrey () · Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 7:39 am Post subject:

I broke down and bought a pattern for the gauntlets due to lack of bandwidth. They turned out pretty well, so I guess that worked out.

IMG_2356 by SumTotal, on Flickr

They are constructed of two layers of pleather sewn together with the exception of one small area to flip it inside out, then hand-sewn for that seam, and topstitched.

IMG_2357 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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