TFU Royal Guard from Oz

[Sith Lord]

Looking good so far! Do let us know what color red you go with!

Thanks. As with the primer, I'm going for the local store (Supacheap Auto) Red acrylic spray cans.

Forearms are the same as the helmet - 2 halves that need to be seamlessly joined.

Start

Untitled by Ian Naden, on FlickrUntitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Finish

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

I've painted everything with 3 coats, but will now work on the strapping and stuff before I give it the final coat and then clear coats. I figured I'll possibly knock it around a bit in the garage, so best chipping the new paint if I can.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on FlickrUntitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

And sewed some stirrups onto my undersuit to stop the legs riding up and bunching around the knees

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Officer boots

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

[Gree23]

Looking good! keep up the good work. Going to get started on my trimming tomorrow

[Sith Lord]

Thanks mate.

Belt - I picked up a belt from a local supplier. Although great, I was not happy the way it folded over the buckle causing a large double thickness section. Also, technically, the Royal Guard doesn't have a rivet, although they are often approved with one.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

So, dismantled.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Cut off the before the fold, and used the the rivet hole as the hole through the two pieces of steel. Added a bit more glue this time too.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr
Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

And no rivet Should fit a bit better around my waist against the hard armour.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

[Sith Lord]

Lots of strapping. A combination of 'hard wired' using E6000, Velcro and Snaps.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Strips of reinforcing plastic on the shoulders too

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Shin straps and boot straps

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

[Crimson8]

Hello from Australia!! Or is that G'day...

Your build looks incredible so far. Love the photo progress. Keep this up as its such a helpful thread for those building this specific guard. Cheers mate.

[Sith Lord]

Thanks mate. It's been a quiet (or busy) few weeks... finally got the final coat of colour on today, then the first coat of clear. Now, do I polish/sand in between coats of clear, or just wait till 3 or 4 are on, then polish at the end?

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

It does look good when it's still fresh

https://flic.kr/p/2hEnj1z by Ian Naden, on Flickr

[Crimson8]

Looks fantastic! A fellow guard i know told me that its best to polish in between coats for that ultra shiny car polish look. If you dont you may get a matte finish but that may not be approvable. Keep working on it and youll be trooping an awesome costume.

[Sith Lord]

Thanks mate. I heard a few different methods. The one I tried was to sand after the last clear coat. It did make it smoother, but heaps and heaps of fine scratches to polish out. Would have taken me a year! Trial piece was one of the boot spats, so I just re-clear coated it and it's back to shiny.

So, no sanding and just polished all the pieces with a 'cream' polish. ie: the finest polish you get.

Final step is to instal the visor and make the kama, then all done I think.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

[Sith Lord]

Visor done. Glued in some styrene blocks and screwed through the visor into these blocks. Makes the visor easily removable if needed.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Kama measured and hemmed with iron on hemming tape. Velcro sewed to top of kama, and stuck to inner of belt.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

To keep the Ab plate aligned, I've glued a piece of elastic to the chest, trimmed down the Ab, so only the thin central section remains. This can then slide up and down to allow me bending over, but will also keep it aligned nicely.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Boots and strapping pics

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

And I think I'm done. Submission pics to be taken this afternoon hopefully, then in the hands of the gods (SP Detachment staff).

[Sith Lord]

And submission pics sent.

Untitled by Ian Naden, on Flickr

After first kit up, I think I will add some elastic under the shoulder bells (similar to TKs) and secure the belt/buckle a bit better. But apart from that, I think it fits ok.