Tusken Aspirations

Your bun end looks almost identical to mine when I first did it. There's nothing wrong with it. Instead of cutting the wood, I used sculpey, but it got brittle and broke off when I tapped the gaffi on the ground.

I ended up getting metal studs/spikes from a local leather shop, and glued them around the bun. It gave it a great look, and never broke off again.

I got them loose, but they are the same as the square studs on this belt:

[image=http://popcdn-zoovy-1.simplecdn.net/img/beltiscool/W600-H400-Bffffff/4/4038_blk.jpg]

Looking good!!!

 

Nice, that's a really cool idea actually (using the spikes). I kinda don't think my gaffi end as it is now would hold me back from 501st approval (at least I've seen worst accepted), but I think I could do better and it wouldn't be that hard to just buy a resin cast end and paint it.

 

My only fear about a resin cast end would be that it's resin... and the gaffi stick often ends up being used as a blind man's stick. There's not a lot of visibiity out of the eye stalks and there were many a troop where my gaffi helped me find my way arouond objects, children, and bumped against things.

As long as it's not overly brittle, you're fine. The casts I've seen are beautiful. I just don't know how sturdy they are.

 

I've heard from multiple people that the resin cast I'm looking at getting is a very solid build. Thats a kinda funny and resourceful way to use the gaffi (blind man's stick). Hopefully I won't have to worry about that though, as my girlfriend likes to go to cons with me. She's agreed to help guild me at events so I don't put out anyone's eye, lol. From the sounds of things, I'm going to have to practice wearing and walking in the outfit though. Visibility definitely sounds to be a major issue.

Also, it seems I forgot to post the pictures of me with my gloves and arm wraps together... here they are:

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0322101934-02.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0322101945-00.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0322101945-01.jpg]

I'm sorry to not have the most recent pictures taken, but since those pictures I've sewn in padding inside the inner arm part of the gloves and weathered them very darkly. I also beefed up the velcro straps so the inner arm wraps stay on tighter and more comfortably. It allows me to wrap the outer wrap more loosely, and so the outer wrap can cover farther up the arm. The under layer shows in places, but it's not much and I think it shows a neat depth to the gloves. Maybe not super super accurate, but I like the look.

 

Double post! Sorry..

Alright... I made some more progress this weekend. I'm feeling more comfortable about this stick. Over the last two days I basically used Bondo and sandpaper to fill up some holes, and make a more accurate spike. I filled the hole between the spike and the gaffi, and the holes where the spike tip meets the spike pole. I think with some layers of paint it worked out pretty well. I still need to order a resin gaffi club head though. When I get it I'm going to cut the curve a lot shorter, and then attach the club head, maybe even cut the tip of it flat.. The stick won't be perfect, but I think it'll be reasonably close.

Here's pictures:
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0502101438-00.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0502101439-00.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0502101440-00.jpg]

 

It looks really good. If you're unhappy with the look of the bend, try wrapping some leather or vinyl.

I actually made mine with 2, 45 degree cuts and filled in the two parts with wood so the bun end could be removed and screwed back on. It made it so I could travel with it to C-IV. It wasn't perfect, but made it possible to pack it in a large piece of PVC. I then kept the bun in my baggage.

Keep up the good work, and keep posting progress pics!

 

That's a cool idea. I had one Gaffi I made with two 45 degree angles cut, but scrapped it because I wanted a more smooth curve. I got wrinkles instead, lol. I like it though. I just ordered the Gaffi head and I'm excited to have this piece finished!
I also might try wrapping something over the curve for looks, but it's basically covering one inaccuracy with another (but a better looking one), so I need to think about it first.

 

End Result:

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/GaffiFin2.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/GaffiFin1.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/GaffiHead.jpg]

 

Nice Gaffi!

 

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words.

 

It looks great!

 

Thanks Obey.

So it looks like I'll be starting on the rifle today. I got some wood, and I'm going to start cutting and sanding. Work has been slow and sparse lately because I'm getting close to graduating college (3 weeks from now actually). I'll have lots of time to work on my costume after that. Maybe I'll even luck out and get money to get my robes and helmet all at once. Anyway, I'll try and upload pictures tonight for feedback/critique.

 

I had a long day of cutting and sanding. I started out with a 12 foot piece of 2 x 10 wood, cut it in half, and drew my design on the wood. I had to calculate the little nubs on the end of stock to be a little off shape and bigger than the original in my design because I didn't trust my jigsaw skills. It turned out to be a really smart move.

Anyway...here's a picture of a couple of the rifles used in episode IV. (yanked from the Krayt Clan forums)

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/tuskenrifles.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/tusken00.jpg]

I'm working on doing the top most rifle.

So I got the design, and then cut it out. It went fairly well, and as soon as I finished I got to sanding. The rifle stock, like most, is really rounded, so I had to sand a ton. I used a router, a table sander, and a belt sander before I finally felt that the stock was close to rounded enough. I still need to go over the whole thing again and hand sand it to remove all the lines and generally just polish it off. This was a lot more work than I planned on though.

So, here's what it looks like so far... the first is a picture of the stock after I cut it, the second after all my sanding today. I'm not sure if you can tell the difference, but I hope you can.


[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0530101752-00.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0530102120-00.jpg]

 

That looks great! Can't wait to see the finished product. Just curious, but how are you going to do the barrel?


Jealous!

 

Thanks.
The image is really unclear as to how the barrel sits in the gun. What I'm thinking about doing is buying a long small silver metal pipe and then cutting a circular groove into the stock so that the pipe rests into it with the top of the pipe being flush with the top of the stock. The pipe will be long enough that it will stick out about an inch or 2 past the end of the stock. Exactly what tool(s) I will be using to do this...I'm not sure. My girlfriend's dad has just about every tool imaginable in his shop though, so something will work. I'm also unsure at this point what I'm going to use to attach the pipe and the stock too. I think I'm also going to file the end of the pipe down too, so that it's smooth and roundish for the tip of the barrel, more similar to actual guns. The stock (as it stands now) is about 5 1/4 ft. long/tall, with the barrel, about another 2 inches. This gun is going to be quite monstrous.
I think next weekend I'm going to try and add the stock detailing, cut out the groove for the barrel to rest in, and maybe even stain and clear coat the stock as well. Once that's done, I'm going to have to buy a sheet of brass (or similar colored metal) to add the detailing, install and file the pipe, and then figure out what on Earth I'm going to use for the "firing" mechanism. Final touches, as with anything Tusken.... weathering.

 

Wow, Star Wars GLEE.

ten bucks to the first person that gets the joke.

 

Wow, so I haven't posted on this in a long time. I recently just graduated college and then took a little vacation back to my home state and moved into a new place, so I haven't made a lot of progress on my Tusken lately.

I was looking back through my pictures though, and I guess I never updated any of the work on my rifles. The longer rifle I don't think is turning out very good, but I'm gonna keep at it and hopefully I'll like it by the time I finish.

I kinda hate the stock design on the longer rifle. It turned out REALLY sloppy and it's basically unfixable.
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0606101708-00.jpg]

And here's the other one. It's not accurate to the pictures on this side, but I plan on being accurate on the other side of it.
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0606101937-00.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/0606101937-01.jpg]

And to note... I still haven't bought (or made) my robes yet, nor have I purchased the mask. I blew all my money on a new laptop instead because my old one had about had it. I'll get a job soon though and finish this up fast.

 

Not to be a grave digger on my own post...but I finally bought and received the mask for this kit. I'll be posting finished pics in a few days it looks like. It's looking pretty awesome right now I think.

 

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0781.jpg]

I finished my mask today!

 

Nice work.

Can we see more pics of it?

 

I took some more just for you, but this time I took them in the day.


[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0791.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0792.jpg][image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0794.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0795.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0797.jpg]

I need to wait until this weekend to get a clamp so I can glue the leather strap around the muzzle and nose better, and I'm going to put in acrylic for the eyes I think too. Maybe I might mist it with some black too to add some more dirty to it. I haven't decided yet.

 

Maybe scuff the shiney bits a bit? they look very smooth and polished for something that has survived sandstorms and whatnot.
As for the eyes, yeah maybe acrylic, with some shere black gauze-type stuff to obscure anyone looking in?

 

Looking good. I don't mind the shiny metal bits, but you can hit them with an acrylic wash, if desired. I could scuff up the leather with sandpaper, and an acrylic wash, just to weather a bit more. Definitely add a black mesh between the eyes. That's a must-do.

But it looks good. Makes me miss my Tusken.

 

I ended up tear off all the wrappings and redoing it. I think it looks better. I still need to tighten up the belt around the muzzle. Hopefully I can get to that tomorrow. I kind of like the shiny parts as they are. I was tempted to add some rust look to them, but I'm still sitting on the fence on that. I really need to scuff up the leather a little bit more though, I don't like the look of it compared to the reference pictures.

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0806.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0805.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0804.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0801.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/djshinigami/Tusken%20Aspirations/100_0802.jpg]

As always, thanks for all the feedback and advice.

 

Wow, that looks a lot better. Well done!