A few months ago I took on a commission to complete a helmet based on Jango Fett from Ian Doescher's The Clone Army Attacketh. Rather than a standard range finder, this jaunty knave has literally placed a feather in his cap, so I ordered feathers for the first time today. Whenever I work with a new item I like to gather a bit of information about it, 1) Because I'm kind of obsessed with learning new things, and 2) I feel it gives me a better understanding of how to use it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there...

I'm repeatedly asked what sort of tools and paints are required in order to prep a raw kit, so here's a collection of my favorites. These are my preferences and I don't endorse any particular product or company professionally. These are just my opinions!   Trimming For the casual costumer I recommend you grab a cheap rotary kit with a variety of tools off. I picked up the Wen kit below off of Amazon. I've upgraded to Dremel brand items in the past, but I put mine to so much use that I tend to burn them out. It's far less painful to replace a $17 set!...

While I certainly want to keep doing these builds, I also like to enable people to prep and paint themselves. To that end, here's a peek into what it takes to make a Mando kit.     I currently source all of my armor from the Mandalorian Arsenal. Why? Simply because David has amazing customer service, a variety of pieces that let you customize your kit, and solid materials with an excellent wear life. If you are up to giving this a try yourself, head directly over there and he will take care of you.   The picture to the...

I had a client come to me with a few reference images, a color scheme, and free rein with the rest of the design. In other words, AWESOME! I'm finally getting this started and promised him I'd provide images and updates so that he could chronicle the project from start to finish. If I get the chance, I'll add some video too. Helmet This was one part of the build that was left totally up to me. I think it went something along the lines of, "just make sure it looks Star Warsy".  I started with the idea of doing...

I've had the pleasure of working with David at the Mandalorian Arsenal for a while now, and the options for these kits get better everyday. This has gone from a "male or female" set to multiple options for shoulders, knees, cods, chest plates, gauntlets, hand plates etc... Here's a view of a recent kit I did for a teenager. It features primarily pieces from the Death Watch versions, with the exception of a more subdued chest piece and the full cod.   ex

I've maintained a dedicated site for my costuming endeavors for a few years now, but with the rapid growth of the industry and my little shop, I felt that it was time to start moving towards a dedicated e-commerce platform. Not only does this allow me greater flexibility with regards to the products I can offer, but it also provides greater security with the addition of SSL certification and dedicated malware protection. It's a work in progress so please bear with me! Jen Darth Cleavage