Topic: Ralin's Creations

I sanded it some before painting, but not enough apparently.  And by pristine you mean am I going to add more damage?  Maybe a little more, but not right now.  I'm deeper into trying to figure out how I'm going to attach the ears, antenna, visor, and the inside padding/liner

EPOXY

(but you'd need to repaint at that point....)

Hmm, it looks a little flat to me, like not much detail in the paint job. Thats just me though

Finally done for anybody who cares to see:  My Mando self portrait 

Close Up of Ralin

Close Up of Mando I

Close Up of Mando II

Will post a pic of my Mythosaur Skull as soon as I can

---RD

Sweet ;)

Very nice, Ralin. How did the teacher react?

well done, ner vod.

WOW, awesome job RD!

looks great! :D

Thanks for the kind comments vode   

eh, he liked it, but he's a typical art'sy kinda dude... old hippy that he is   :P   He likes weird *imho* sorts or art: abstract and such.  Really off the wall sort of things.  On top of that, I'm far from the best artist in the class; theres a few in my begining level that WILL be pros.... or if they don't it'd be a crime, and the higher level artists are in my class to *all the different levels meet during the same class period.* 

But he did like it.  I think he was impressed with my progress compared to my first drawings, and was satisfied that it looked more-or-less like me

Really nice. I'd add some shadows in the background of your characters so the pale parts stick out a bit more, but it's really good. Congrats. :)

Thanks Terra  :)

Here's my version of the Mando DeathHead skull I've been working on:

Closer Shot of the Eye

Here's the first drawing I made that I was really proud of in this class:

Close Up of 109

Close Up of Osprey

And this is the project that set me on the Mando theme I'm still rolling with:

Close Up of the Mech

Close Up of Me

That's all I got for now.  Just finished the skull today, and now when I look at the Mando'a lettering that's off center from eachother on the sides I'm tempted to try and fix that.  So I probably won't have anything new up for some time.  I do want to draw a friend of mine in his armor, maybe with my character as he's been portrayed up to now, and I've also got a concept for my character alone shown from behind as he looks back over my shoulder.

Will post updates on what I'm working on if anybody's interested,

---RD

NICE stuff, Ralin! Looks really good, especially the skull. And liking the Mando'a lettering!

I really love the little drips at the bottom of the horns. And the texture of the skull itself too. Myself I'd try to add more shadows so it's all more visible but maybe you want them like that, it's very personal.

I always knew you were good. Getting even better. Now I get what you mean by the blood you were seeing at the bottom of the skull, I was never sure what that was on the basic versions. Your illustrations must have been a lot of work.

Thanks Terra and WV  :)

I played with the skull a little more yesterday, but didn't have my camera with me to get an updated shot.  Made the dimond/shield a touch darker, and moved the Mando'a word on the upper left a little higher so it matches with the one on the other side a little better.

I have a concept for another Mando drawing; will post updates on it as I can

Very nice stuff. :D I liked the mandos on the first pic. ;)

Your work is wonderful, Ralin. I especially liked the portrait of you and the two anonymous Mandos. That drawing with the walkers is also fantastic (what do the speech bubbles say?).

Thanks a lot  :)

In the mech drawing, the radio bubble my guy is recieving through his antenna is supposed to be a message from base or where-ever, saying "Your reinforcements should be arriving any moment", speaking of the Mecks.  So my dude is saying back "I think they're here..."  or something to that affect, I don't have the pic with me and it's been a while since I drew it

I've finally got an armor update to post. 

Only the vest is anywhere near done in the pics, so no, it's not going to look THAT getto when I'm done   :P   Gaunts still need to be trimmed and painted.  Helmet still needs to have the visor permanently attached, cushoning installed, and the antenna AND ears added *sigh.*  Still need a flight suit *no, I'm NOT using what you see in the pic*, and after all that, I need to find some weapons for it all.  But, at least there's SOME progress. 

Hoping to have something wearable in time for the Fiesta Bowl, where the Mercs have been invited to march     :D

Looks good, vod. Progress is good. I need to make some progress on my own. Only got the helmet painted silver.

Anyways, can't wait to see more.

Thanks Werda!

Those were all the down sides that I noted.  On the brighter side, I DO seem to have just about everything I need to get it up and at least decent looking withing a fairly short amount of time.  I also found something I can use for a kama, which I'd been lacking up to now, and I'll have my gaunts painted before the day is over I hope.

Also, I WILL have a flight suit in time for the parade, but it'll have to be black rather then gray.  I'll compensate for that be marching as Ralin's father Konnar rather then myself.  This also gives me some options with other items, as his armor and look I never really thought out completely.  I'll probalby use my combat boots instead of my tall riding boots, and maybe some other changes that I'll incorporate along the way.

Finally, here's my last drawing I did for school; forgot to post it with the images above: 

It was kinda of a rush job, as the end of the semester came faster then I was expecting, so I'm not really happy with the jet pack or some of the other elements I used on Ralin.   But I really like the pose and how it worked with the smoke in the distance.  Hope you like  :D

i love it....
why couldnt u write star wars instead of Lucas?

wow the mando on the right has a sick helmet......sweeeeet. great drawings vod.

great artwork, ner vod. these guys would make excellent fan-fic characters, especially with that Mythosaur skull.

I like your costume Ralin. :)

Hey, thanks vode!

And Kaiza, now that's a LOT of praise, thanks man.  Though to give credit where credit is due, I could NEVER have come up with the monster that is Star Wars as Lucas did.  I'm just glad if I'm not too bad at adding a little Mando lovin' to the EU    :D

And I just noticed how vastly outdated my armor pics are here; completely forgot to keep ya'll posted on that.  Check my picture section HERE for my latest pics.  Unfortunately the helmet hasn't advanced yet, however I've finally got all the nesessary pieces.  Had to grind them down and paint them a couple times, but they're all set to be attached, I just need to find the time to do it.  The flight suit is black in the pics only because I can't find something decent in a shade of gray I like.  Will try to fix that before ComicCon, but I have to admit I like the black suit.

And Fett_II, only the Mando dude on my right in the self portrait is annonimous.  The Tiger-Stripe Mando chick on my left is my FanFic GF   ;)

I have a new drawing completed for the semester I'm in that I think is pretty good, will post it here or at least on my MySpace before too long I hope.  I've also just completed a piece of a FanFic for my Creative Writing class that I'll try to get posted here as well.  If you can't wait for that though, it's in my MySpace's blog section *its the only blog I have up, so shouldn't be hard to find.*

Later vode!

next time try thinking about the layout of you figure in the landscape before you start drawing. Do thumbnails if you can't picture it. even with stick figures. It helps then you'll be even happier. I also suggest using a softer graphite. At least for like sketching. Even charcoal, it helps get a smooth relaxed look to your drawing. Dont be afraid to loosen up, besides you can always draw stuff over. Thats what newsprint is for.:) Don't stop!

*EDIT*

Opps, I just realized that the new story I wrote that was supposed to be in my MySpace blog wasn't actually up yet.  It's now posted for anyone who cares to read.  Sorry to anybody who tried to check it out before.  I'll try to get a thread for it up here before too long if time permits for those MySpace haters   :P

---Ralin

that's ok Ralin

I want to make my own boba costume

like yours

But I haven't got the material.

Mine would be like, a sheet of cardboard, pens, scissors  sellotape etc.........

Yours looks like metal! :D

Probably because armor is supposed to be metal. Think outside the box, greenie.

Ralin, great job. Hit me up on messenger when u can.

okay. But it could be toughned plastic or whatever.

You're more hi-tech at this than me........

Thanks vod

Wish I could get caught up on Messenger, but it's totally down for me right now.  I've got no internet at home for the foreseeable future, and I'm not able to use it at school... 

And in other bad news, my helmet has had a setback - my earcap that secures the antenna on popped off the other day in my vod's delicate hands...  I guess it shows it wasn't on tight enough, but I still wanted to kick his shebs...  Sucks to be me right now  :(

On the bright side, I'm in the process of making an Army of Two costume!  Just ordered a blank white mask off of ebay.  Next I need to find some appropriate weapons and Airsoft tactical gear and I'll be all set.  Mask will be in my Mando colors    :D

Later vode

Latest shots of my armor, as taken by my Mythology class instructer at the end of this last semester:

Still need to replace the vest and get myself a gray flight suit, but not bad in mho   :D

Heres an update on my Army of Two character and costume project.

Worked out this character sheet as a reference for my writing.  This is the "Official Company" version; will make a deeper and more detialed writer's reference later.  For now, this is Captain J.C. Bateman, Cheyenne Security Operator:

CSA
PERSONNEL FILES
UPDATED: 14/07/2019

CLASSIFIED

NAME: Jack Robert Christian

AGENCY ALIAS: John Christopher Bateman

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 957255

CALLSIGN: COWBOY

RANK: Captain

ASSIGNMENT: Field Agent

RECRUITED: 17/10/2015

GENDER: Male

AGE: Twenty-Nine

DATE Of BIRTH: 10/06/1990

HOME TOWN: Flagstaff, Arizona

ETHNICITY: White

HEIGHT: 5 - Feet 11 - Inches

WEIGHT: 184 - Pounds

EYE COLOR: Hazel 

HAIR COLOR: Brown

IDENTIFYING MARKS:
   
    SCARS:
    Abdominal scaring in both upper quadrants from a shotgun wound - Burn     and bullet wound scars on left forearm - Two gunshot wounds on upper left     thigh

    TATTOOS:
    CSA Emblem on right shoulder - Force Recon, Scout Sniper, MSOT are     tattooed on left upper chest one over the other chronologically

COMPANY HISTORY:

Recruited personally by Mr. Cartwright in October of 2015, Capt. Bateman was tasked with the creation of a second team for the Cheyenne Security Agency.  In the span of six months, he had organized a team of eight field agents and a full support staff.  Team Two became operational in May 2016.  To date, Team Two has taken well over one hundred contracts, including fifty seven missions involving hostile engagement. 

PRIOR HISTORY:

Mr. Jack Christian joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of seventeen, having graduated high school early and achieving an ASVAB score of 93.  Enlisting under the Security Forces MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), Jack completed boot camp from MCRD San Diego in January 2008, and proceeded to Chesapeake Virginia for his training into the Security Forces program.  After his training was complete, Jack was assigned to Kitsap Naval Base in Bangor, Washington.  In four years as a member of the Marine Security Forces, Jack advanced to the rank of sergeant, completed the designated marksman course, and was transferred to the 2nd FAST Company based at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station in Virginia. 

Before the beginning of his fifth year of enlistment, Jack’s application into the Marine Force Reconnaissance program was accepted.  Within two years he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan.  Specializing in Direct Action, or ‘Black Operations‘ activities, Jack was promoted to Staff Sergeant and, among other honors won in both deployments, was awarded the Silver Star for action in Afghanistan. 

At the end of his billeted tour with FORECON in 2013, Staff Sergeant Christian was recruited into the relatively new Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, the USMC branch of Special Operations Command.  With a promised promotion to Gunnery Sergeant, Jack embarked into the rigorous and long training regimen.  By 2014 he was a fully trained operator for SOCOM, and was deployed with the Marine Special Operations Regiment based in Camp Lejune, North Carolina.  He was part of the company’s fourth deployment to Afghanistan, assigned to the recently tumultuous northern border with Tajikistan.  On December 2, 2014, Jack was involved in a bloody firefight with Taliban forces in a village east of Kunduz.  Jack’s four man team held their position against a vastly superior force for eight hours with no support.  Two of his teammates were killed during the engagement, the third died before the medivac could get him to medical facilities, and Jack himself was wounded.  The battle was initially hailed as a major victory, but later investigation revealed that several dozen local villagers including women and children had been killed in the firefight, many supposedly by the American team.  Staff Sergeant Christian argued that the village was a terrorist camp, and that the low light conditions combined with the massive number of hostiles in the area made mistakes in identifying hostile targets from noncombatants was impossible to avoid.  Political pressure was brought onto the military, and a court marshal was ordered.  Although it could not be proven that Staff Sergeant Christian had killed any noncombatants himself, the court came to the conclusion that unnecessarily harsh interrogation tactics had been employed before the ambush took place, and that he as the team leader was responsible for an unnecessary number of civilian casualties.  As part of a plea deal in July of 2015, Jack agreed to an early release from service, and was stripped of all benefits of an honorable discharge.  He was the only member of the team not receive the Navy Cross.

Some of the newer pics to go along with the character:

Pic I

Pic II

Pic III

nice duds there, vod'e.

Those are very cool

Thanks ner vod'e!

I'm damn near done with it; only things I'm working on now are trying to bulk up the vest to make it look more armored - trying to find another vest to wear underneath so it looks more bullet proof etc, and I want to add shoulder bells similar to those in the games.  Other then that, I'm set besides trying to diversify my camo configurations a little more; because of where I live I'd like to add a desert pattern - black was cheaper and easier to find, but a second set of gear in coyote and brown would be nice.

Interesting ideas. Looking forward to further developments.

Thanks

Also working on a Nord/Barbarian rig for a character I'm trying to write for.  Will post pics as I get them, but I just broke my damn camera, so not sure how fast that'll be...

You write so much about military, soldiers, heroes. Why don't you try to join them again instead, and really be one of them? Or do you stay out and just imagine by choice, to have a better control on what will happen?

but writing military fiction is fun! like tom clancy!

Yeah I guess. I still think it would be worth it to try again.