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Jedi-Loreen
03-23-2009, 03:55 PM
Since I'm currently unemployed and have no money for new saber parts for the time being, I thought I'd show off something else that I've been working on.

I just completed this rig to go with my X-Wing costume, when I finish it (My Rebel Legion CO's gonna kill me if I don't finish it this year! Since I've been working on this costume for a couple years, not including the helmet that I finished over 5 years ago :p )

I was going for something similar to this Luke ESB rig, but without the 2 weird pouches in front of the holster.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/lukeE4.jpg

I put my buckle on the opposite end, so that the D-ring will stay in the same orientation as I lose some weight. I also used button studs to close the pouches, instead of snaps.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/SUNP0026.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/SUNP0028.jpg

Since it's a "utility belt", I put a D-ring on it like Luke has on his belt, but, instead of a saber hook, I added a piece of leather that can old either a Covertec clip or some sort of D-ring clip, if I ever decide to carry a lightsaber with it, for some reason.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/SUNP0031.jpg

Here are some thumb nails which show the construction processes, from wet molding, to gluing, to stitching the holster, dyeing and finishing.

Click the pics for larger images

One pouch being wet molded:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0006.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0006.jpg)

I got lazy and decided not to stitch the pouches. After gluing the seams and just added rivets at the top of the seams.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0009.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0009.jpg)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0033.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0033.jpg)

Work begins on the holster (I had to wait till I got my mod kit from Blast Tech to add to my airsoft Mauser):

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0001.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0001.jpg)

All parts cut out:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0009-1.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0009-1.jpg)

Holes punched for stitching:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0011.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0011.jpg)

Stitching begins:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0016.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0016.jpg)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0018.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0018.jpg)

Assembled with temporary "rivets":

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0019.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0019.jpg)

After dyeing:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0021.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0021.jpg)

Finished Holster:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0022.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0022.jpg)

With blaster:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/th_SUNP0025.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/Pilot%20Belt%20Rig/?action=view&current=SUNP0025.jpg)


Since I did this over a long period of time, I don't know exactly how long I spent actually worked on it, not including various drying times for the wet molding, the dye and the finish. I would say at least 10 hours, maybe more.

Kal El Rah
03-23-2009, 04:00 PM
Very nice rig there J-Lo.:-D:cool::p

ARKM
03-23-2009, 04:30 PM
Very cool.

Jedi-Loreen
03-23-2009, 04:48 PM
Thanks, guys. :D

JediMasterDak
03-23-2009, 07:06 PM
I like it! I've kinda wanted a Luke esb costume for awhile

jaiden_teed
03-23-2009, 07:30 PM
that looks real nice.

Darth Leximus
03-23-2009, 07:30 PM
Wow!! I was totally thinking of putting together a Luke ESB costume, mainly for a good halloween joke. I'm 6'4 with brown hair buzzed down, so that means wig! As the kicker we were gonna dress up my new baby as yoda and I was gonna wear her in a baby back pack while trick or treating! I may have to bug you for some tips if I decide to go through with it.

Excellent work!

Do-Clo
03-23-2009, 07:57 PM
J-Lo that is a very nice looking setup.:)

DJMoonbass
03-23-2009, 08:01 PM
that is sicknacious!

Titoshi
03-23-2009, 08:32 PM
very nice. It makes mine look inadequate :(

Swordlord
03-23-2009, 08:34 PM
I really like your rig, J-Lo. I may do something similar for my own DL-44 when I finish modifying it.

What weight leather did you use?

Rhyen Skytracker
03-23-2009, 08:37 PM
Great job J-Lo. So, you made the pouches youeself too? Where do you get all your leather. I need to make some pouches for my Jedi belt and looks like you do a great job working with leather. I may have to ask you a few questions later.

Jedi-Loreen
03-23-2009, 09:43 PM
Thanks guys. I buy all my supplies at my local Tandy Leather. They know me by name now.

I used 8-9 oz leather for that holster, it's carrying an all metal airsoft Mauser. For plastic based blasters, I often use 6-7 oz, because they are lighter guns.

I've been doing leather work for 6 years. It's just a hobby, it goes well with my costuming bug, but it's a pretty satisfying one. When someone asks me, "Where did you get that holster, belt, whatever?", it's nice to be able to say, "I made it myself." Though sometimes people don't believe me at first. Like they think a girl isn't capable of making something cool like that. :-|

I don't mind giving advice or tips to anyone who wants to try their hand at some leather work.

But I can't give you the skill. Like anything else, it takes practice. Making a Jedi belt is pretty easy, and a good place to start, but when you get into holsters or pouches or other things, it starts getting more complicated. I bought a couple of books, before I tried anything more complex than a Jedi belt.

I also bought a couple different pouch kits from Tandy, to study different construction methods.

I do my own designs for my work. I make the patterns and templates, because my work is custom, to go with my costumes.

If anyone wants to see more of my work, check out my Leather Work Album (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/)

Kant Lavar
03-23-2009, 10:49 PM
This thread is full of win.

SpectreT65
03-23-2009, 10:53 PM
31 flavors of awesome!

Jedi-Loreen
03-23-2009, 11:54 PM
Thanks! :D

Sairon
03-24-2009, 09:31 AM
Very cool J-Lo, looks sweet!

MasterRoop
03-24-2009, 09:37 AM
Cool! i like it!

Darth Siggious
03-25-2009, 11:16 PM
Man, that thing looks legit. You sure you didn't steal it from the movie set? ;)

Awesome work you did on this.

Pullo
03-27-2009, 03:54 PM
Nice work. You are obviously very talented at working with leather. You should market this stuff.

bigbret50
03-27-2009, 05:10 PM
Impresive, most impresive, as always.

Jedi-Loreen
03-27-2009, 11:07 PM
Nice work. You are obviously very talented at working with leather. You should market this stuff.

Thanks, but this is my hobby. If I started trying to do leather work as a business, I wouldn't enjoy it anymore, because it would be work.

strengthofrage
03-29-2009, 06:09 AM
Very well done, leather working is no easy craft... your patience with it shows in your work :)

Tradeliphine
03-29-2009, 03:41 PM
Your craftsmanship is amazing jlo, you are an asset to the community

Jedi-Loreen
03-29-2009, 03:56 PM
Thanks, guys. :D