Monday, October 30, 2006

Sunday Mission: Dak Coleccionables

A new mission for the Garrison Mexico... The Grand Opening of a new SW store and an outpost of the empire. We ought to conquer and secure the area. No prisioners are to be taken. No Rebels must survive.

From noon to around 4pm, we stood guard in the new location of the Dak Coleccionables Store in the south of Mexico City. We had a big comitment cause the store owner has always been very nice to the Garrison, being a sponsor for prices and toys we give away in our activities. So we had to do a good job. As we always do.

To the event, as much as 13 troopers, Sith Lords and Empirial guards arrived ready to fulfill their duty.

It was great to spend some time with fellow fans and SW enthusiasts... Pictures, and just talking about the six movies. Ar some moment, we step out of the store and walked aroound the sidewalk, most cars slowed down and waved at us. Several more stoped completely and well, after realizing we were causing traffic jams, we had to go back into the parking lot.

One new thiing is that I had my new Comsystem. With an amplifier and a speaker hidden inside my chest piece, I had the whole experience. Static Burts and all. It was amazing and took me to a new level of trooping. Awesome!

Here are some pictures of the mission.



Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Pictures of my E-11

So, finally I got some pictures of my finished blaster... after all the paintjob and the weathering, I am really happy with it. It just now needs the folding arm, but Ill build it in the next few days.







The Mexican Garrison hard at work





Monday, October 16, 2006

Expo Coleccionistas Star Wars 2006 WTC

This last weekend, the Expo Coleccionistas Star Wars took place at the Mexico City World Trade Center...

I was not able to attend the event during the three days, but I did had an awesome experience on Sunday Afternoon.

The event was great. Lots and lots of Star Wars fans. Lots of toys and colectibles available. One Jedi Night. And the Legion 501st of course. Awesome.

There are several things to tell. So I will just make a list of cool stuff that happend and post some pictures. Lets see...

Cool stuff:
-I got to wear my Stormtrooper armor
-I used my now almost finished blaster
-Met hundreds of fans willing to join the empire academy and become a stormtrooper
-Hopefully maybe two or three will actually do it
-Kids wanted to have pictures taken with me and fellow troopers
-The Legion 501st Garrison Mexico gave a conference
-The droid Hunt Contest
-Organization of the event was really thankfull to us
-I got my new sound system for my armor
-Got to see my friend Rotten wearing his armor for the first time
-Met Orli Shoshan, Shakti on Episodes II & III
-Enjoyed lots of good moments with my fellow troopers
-Got a Legion t-shirt
And on and on...


Cool troopers


Rotten, Orli and myself



Orli Shoshan (Jedi Master Shakti) and me

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Weathering...

i must say that for the construction of several costumes, props, and other stuff Ive done before, I have followed many times, tutorials and techniques found in the net. Never I have achieved the same result shown in the websites. Not untill now.

I must say that after the whole painting of the blaster, I was pretty excited about doing the weathering. Would it be cool, would it look real? So I got some sandpaper of different number and started slowly, but gaining confidence and striking the blaster with it.

First on the edges, then on the main body, the exit door, and the trigger... then I went a bit further, ageing it a bit, and giving cool touches to specific places where I felt it could need it.

At the end, the blaster looks great... it kindof has the look of a real weapon. I just now need to finish the ammo clip and some other mods Im planning.

Will post pictures tomorrow or later tonite.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Blaster E11

I decided to start working on my blaster modis rightaway, so I could have it done for the weekend, since Im attending a convention with the Legion.

First of all, I had to decide how would I make the ammo clip. I had found some tutorials, being the best of them one that suggested making it out of wood and metal. Since I only have a few tools, I decided to follow the plans and steps on this tutorial, but making it out of estirene instead of wood and metal.

So, first of all I drew a blueprint, or kindof, to figure out how to build it.



So, then, I started cutting out the pieces from an spare estirene piece I had (it actually was the utility belt from my armor), and slowly started to put it toguether.





I finished cutting the pieces, sanded them and them glued them all tiguether with E6000 PVC glue. And in the mean time, I satrted working with the blasters paintjob.

According to several sites, tutorials and tips, I decided to paint it in three layers. First of all, I sprayed a coat of grey primer, then a coat of silver paint and finally a layer of flat black. This, so I could be able to sandpaper out some black paint from specific places, to give it the weathered look.


Thursday, October 05, 2006

Only imperial stormtroopers are so precise.

So, after a few weeks shoping around, I finally found and bought my Blaster. I found it in an auction site a couple of days ago, made my offer and got it!

Its a new version of the old Kenner Blaster. This version is supposed to be from the 501st Clone Legion in Revenge of the Sith. So the packages comes with a picture of a couple of clones with the ble stripes on their armor. Its cool. Its not a Stormtrooper but its exactly the same except for the paint desing.

I will be making some modifications to it in the next few weeks. I am thinking of adding an ammo clip and some other stuff, modifiying the barrel and also give it a new paint job and weather it. I hope it will be cool at the end.

Here are some pictures of the package and the blaster when I got them...