General Rahm Kota's Armor

[AMP]

Incredible work!

[Koda Vonnor]

Aug 5, 2008 8:14:53 GMT -5 AMP said:

Incredible work!

Thanks Tony. Now you see why I need those Diaz boots.

[Leda EmBorr]

Aug 4, 2008 23:33:34 GMT -5 Koda Vonnor said:

I fixed the shoulder bells this evening. I found an old pair of cheap poly-foam knee pads. The stuff that's not quite Styrofoam and not quite sponge rubber? I trimmed them down a bit and hot-glued them inside the bells, with just a bit of sintra strips framework to help support the curve of the kneepads. This time I also hot-glued the top straps right to the inside curve of the kneepads, and made small cuts in the poly-foam for the arm straps.

When I tried them on with the shirt I was heartbroken. Even with the weight-bearing straps attached to the innards so that they lay flat against my shoulder, the things were so heavy they pulled the shirt neckline all out of whack. I could jockey them into position and they'd stay OK, but the minute I'd move my arms they'd be all messed up again.

It was then that I kicked myself.

Thats what the armor harness is for!

I put on the harness (shown a couple pages back), attached to the shirt at the shoulders and to the belt in front and back. The harness held the shirt in place across the shoulders and lo and behold, the bells snapped into position and stuck there like glue! ;D

I put on the breastplate and capes and jumped up and down, swung my arms around and still the bells refused to shift (well actually if I make huge arm circles repeatedly, they want to shift a tad to the rear). The curve of the foam kneepad sits against my shoulder like a cup and rotates like my shoulder does. It's pretty slick.

Just need to add a tiny bit of padding at the bottoms where it rests against my upper arm, and they'll be good to go.

Now I'm really itching to get the bandoleer and the boots!

Yeah I suggested that my friend that was making clone armor use karate knee pads to make the shoulder bells, but he ended up having them molded.

and as always... thanks heaven for bondo...LOL

[Koda Vonnor]

I lined up all the hard parts and took a photo for posterity. After tweaking the shoulder bell anchor system and adding strategic Velcro to the BP, almost nine months to the day after I began this project, I am officially finished with the Rahm Kota armor version 1.0 ;D



Now I'm just waiting on the bandoleer and the boots.

~ Vonnor

[Kryy Jacobi]

That just looks SO cool! Can't wait to see it at D*C!

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Wow. So very nice.

[AMP]

I wish I were going to DC so that I could see it.
Great work!

[Koda Vonnor]

Weekend update:

I made a second tunic over the weekend, just to have a spare. The first one was deep dark brown color, but was a very thin cotton gauze. I'm afraid it may tear if I'm not careful. I also wanted a back-up in case of multiple-day trooping (like D*con). The new one is not as good a color (it's a bit too light brown for screen accuracy) but it's poly-cotton calcutta and very strong. It even holds the heavyweight shoulder bells without the armor harness.

I hope to receive the boots this week, and as soon as Mel gets the bandy finished I'll post up the final pix and put this thread to bed.

It's been a long journey.

~ Koda

[Koda Vonnor]

I got the boots yesterday. The leather is fantastic. Very soft and thick. They are about an inch too big around though, all up the shaft. I thought the front "Qui-Gon" type straps would be adjustable, and they do have velcro closures ... but the maker didn't leave enough room in the little slot "pouches" that the strap-ends tuck into.

So, to make them fit snug at the tops, I'll have to trim about 3/4" off each cross-strap and re-stitch the ends, so when I pull it tight and tuck in the tab-ends, they'll fit in the slot-pocket. It's doable, but it's more work.

Other than that, the boots look great. The shoe part fits like a pair of Reeboks. Very comfortable. Perfect color (¡Bravo Carlos!). All of the edges are in need of brown dye touch-ups and I've already done half of one boot. I should be finished dressing them up by Friday, that's when the bandoleer is expected.

Stay tuned for pix (will be my costume submission pix) this weekend.

~ Vonnor

[Koda Vonnor]

Mel Mattson, my leather crafter, just sent me preview pix of the bandoleer highlighting the cross-etching and saber holster:




She's going to try to get it to me by Friday.

~ BC

[Koda Vonnor]

Finished dressing the boots, and wanted to test out the look.



This is the final teaser.

Bandoleer coming tomorrow.

Full costume pix on Sunday.

~ Vonnor

[Koda Vonnor]

I present General Rahm Kota, Jedi Master.








So the project thread ends the way it began, with the first reference picture.

I owe a debt of gratitude to a great many people. To all the forum members of the Rebel Legion, The Jedi Assembly, Flagship Eclipse, and the Replica Props Forum (RPF) who gave advice, input, and opinion; to my sister and her family, who endured countless days of bugging to help me make plaster body casts; to my brother, who helped me brainstorm the armor mounting system; and especially to Thomas Spanos and Pam Simpson for their excellent crafting tutorials, without which this costume would not have been built.

To my outsources, Mel Mattson, leathercrafter extraordinaire; to Carlos Diaz, who is still willing to build a pair of boots from a napkin sketch, and to Don Close of Do-Clo Custom Sabers, who gets up at 5AM every day 'cause it's "time to make the lightsabers."

I am grateful to you all.

~ Koda "HairColorByAdobe" Vonnor

[Jara'kri'safis]

Oh My.

That is absolutely brilliant. Way to go Kota, I mean Kyle, errr Koda.

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Holy crap! That is sooo excellent! Fantastic job!!! can't wait to see it in person!

[Ky-Wan Zann]

said it before and I'll say it again

Ballin!!!

dude your a champion