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cherry valley forever
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roma★
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will byers stan first human second
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
JBB: An Artblog!
art blog(derogatory)
Xuebing Du
Peter Solarz
d e v o n
Misplaced Lens Cap
KIROKAZE
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@kyrikaryc
A second successful troop at Alamo Drafthouse yesterday! Our cousins in the 501st came to visit (even if they vanished without saying goodbye save for one guy - who was their Darth Revan!), and our own Runa Calaar (ivory kit above!) had her first troop as an official MMCC member!!
A delightful troop at one of TWO Alamo Drafthouse locations last night!! Another one due today, plus FINALLY seeing "The Mandalorian and Grogu" after \o/
Being a mandalorian historian must be either the funniest job in the galaxy or an absolute nightmare.
The majority of your people prefer an oral tradition mainly composed of songs and ballads, which are either full of legends, made up things, things that just “sounded cool”, biased informations and so on, and the informations and documentation that were in fact written down are either biased (again) destroyed by time and various wars, or legends.
Imagine searching for informations about a devastating war that almost destroyed half of the planet 1000 years ago, the documentation made by mandalorians is not enough, or is straight up contradictory: a Clan’s ballad narrates it started because of a stolen lover, another Clan’s song says it’s because of an unpunished murder, an incomplete and corrupted document says it was because of a dispute over the lands, and so you start to cross check with documents from other planets, but the most you can find is just how the war ended and not how it started, because all the people that had saw it start were already dead and each Clan had already created their own version of the story!
And so, desperate in your research, you ask for help to another mando historian like you that lives on Coruscant, and he tells you that the Jedi have one of the biggest Archives in the whole galaxy, and have far more informations about Mandalorian history than he had expected, and he tells you to try and see if they have everything for your research. And so you go, they let you in, they show you everything they have about what happened to your people over 1000 years ago, and there you find it.
A document, a report made by a Jedi that many years ago, that had been there due to a mission, where they explain that the war that almost killed half of the planet, which is one of the most glorious and devastating ones the Mandalorians ever had to live through, forever remembered in innumerable ballads and songs- started over, a bucket.
Anyway yeah I think they would have a lot of fun
It’s canon and no one can convince me otherwise😭.
from an Oversimplified video about the War of the Bucket in Italy.
^ Which clans would be Modena and which would be Bologna💀
This also implies there was conflict between mandalorian clans over loyalty to a royal leader vs spiritual leader, and which had the right to crown (or depose) whom
Thank you for the great idea, guys it’s official the Mandos also had a Guelphs and Ghibellines type of war on top of the bucket one lmao
Look man you cant say a bucket in a mando context and expect me to think its an actual bucket. I thought we were talking about a helmet and im willing to bet some of the people in the war did too
What is Beskar? - A Breakdown
Beskar, also called Mandalorian iron, is a rare metal found only on Mandalore and its moon, Concordia. For Mandalorians, it's not just valued for its strength. Beskar is considered sacred, a holy material bound to identity, ancestry, and creed. The act of forging it is not merely a craft but a rite, performed by Mandalorian Armorers to bond warriors to their people through armor. Beskar is more than a metal: it represents resilience, heritage, culture, and soul.
Physical & Chemical Traits
Heat Resistance
What we know: Beskar can take direct hits from blasters and withstand lightsaber strikes without melting or deforming.
What that implies: It likely has an extraordinarily high melting point, higher even than tungsten (~3400°C). This places beskar among exotic, refractory metals or even unique energy-stabilized alloys. Canon also shows beskar resisting thermal shock (e.g., explosions) without shattering or fragmenting.
Durability & Toughness
“It’s beskar. It doesn’t dent.” - Medrit Vasur
What we know: It’s practically indestructible. Armor made of beskar resists slashes, blasterfire, lightsabers, crushing blows, and kinetic impacts. Even micronized forms can shatter bone.
What that implies: Beskar has immense toughness and impact dispersion. It doesn’t deflect energy like a shield; it spreads the impact across its surface. Think of it as a hybrid between metallic glass, Kevlar, and high-energy damping alloys. It doesn’t break, but the force still transfers to the wearer.
Malleability
“Mandalorians jealously guard their beskar-working skills and refuse to sell the formulas for any price.” - Imperial commentary on Mandalorian forging
What we know: Mandalorian smiths shape beskar into armor plates, wire, mesh, transparent film, foam, and even micronized particles.
What that implies: Beskar is incredibly workable when properly forged. Canon describes repeated folding (like Damascus steel), suggesting that its structural strength is enhanced through expert lamination and layering, a craft only mastered by Mandalorians.
Density & Weight
“Jaina examined her beskad; a blade forty-five centimeters long, maybe five or six centimeters wide, with a single cutting edge curving to a point—and much heavier than it looked, perhaps more than two kilos.” — Legacy of the Force: Invincible
What we know: “Full-density beskar” is heavier; alloyed forms with carbon or other materials are lighter but less durable.
What that implies: Pure beskar is likely denser than steel, possibly approaching the density of uranium or osmium. Alloying reduces weight and slightly lowers protective capacity. Export variants (like downgraded starships) use lighter, less refined beskar composites.
Corrosion Resistance
What we know: Beskar doesn’t tarnish, rust, or degrade over time, there’s no mention of upkeep for oxidation or weathering, even after centuries of use.
What that implies: It’s likely extremely corrosion-resistant, maybe through a naturally passivating surface layer (like titanium or stainless steel). That’s important for armor that’s expected to last generations, even in combat, salt air, or deep space.
Sound Signature
“Beskar had a sound like no other metal, all heavy dull solidity, no high tinny frequencies like durasteel when hit.” - Republic Commando: True Colors
What we know: When struck, beskar gives off a heavy, dull sound, different from the “tinny” sound of durasteel.
What that implies: This suggests high mass and excellent vibration damping. Materials that sound dull when struck often have lower resonance and greater ability to absorb kinetic energy, another point in favor of beskar spreading out impact forces instead of rebounding them.
Alloying Elements
“Anyway, this is top-grade beskar—full density, two percent ciridium, no fancy lamination or carbon-alloy.” - Kal Skirata
Known additives:
Ciridium (2%): A canon example from Skirata’s armor; Possibly a heat stabilizer or strengthener, unique to the gffa.
Carbon: Might lighten the material, increase flexibility, or improve strength (like real-word carbon steel).
The Shapes of Beskar
Plates - Ship hulls, traditional Mandalorian armor (beskar’gam)
Laminates - Layered armor, combining flexibility and protection
Wire/Mesh - Lightweight undersuits or integrated systems
Beskar-impregnated fabric - Beskar armorweave
Foam - Padding that still retains durability
Micronized particles - Used in crushgaunts
Transparent film - Rare; possibly used for HUDs or specialized optics
What’s in a Color?
"Armor colors and markings can indicate many things, from the clan or family to more ephemeral concepts such as state of mind or a particular mission." - Karen Traviss
Mandalorians don't just wear armor, they live in it. Beskar’gam is handed down, reforged, or remade, and each new generation adds their own mark. Painting one's armor is a declaration of individuality, experience, and lineage.
Cultural Significance
Declaration of identity: Some Mandalorian clans use distinct colors and markings to signify allegiance or heritage, including clan symbols or cultural symbols.
History and Feats: In some traditions, marks of honor, like jaig eyes, were painted on helmets to signify acts of bravery.
Expression and accomplishments: Sabine Wren, regularly painted and repainted her 500-year-old armor as both personal expression and symbolic evolution through her life’s stages and affiliations.
For Mandalorians, armor isn’t just armor, it’s a second skin. It's a visible oath to one of the six tenets of the Resol’nare: wearing beskar'gam. Choosing to paint one’s armor (or not to) says something.
Practical purposes: protection, camouflage, and preservation
While beskar is incredibly durable, painting it serves practical roles too, especially for older, heirloom and alloyed armor:
Corrosion control
Durasteel components, often used in place of beskar or to supplement it, can be vulnerable to environmental wear. Paint protects these surfaces from oxidation and corrosion, especially on long campaigns or in hostile conditions.
Camouflage & visibility
Mandalorians often operate in diverse terrain, paint lets them both blend in or intentionally stand out.
For stealth missions or ambushes, darker or terrain-matching colors can make a life-or-death difference.
Battle damage
A warrior's beskar'gam can take a hit, but it remembers every blow. Paint can mask surface damage, hide vulnerabilities, or maybe even accentuate past battlescars.
“The battles, the history, the blood all live within it. And the same goes for every Mandalorian.” - Sabine Wren
Painting Mandalorian armor isn’t merely cosmetic, it’s an ambulatory cultural mural, a testimony of paint and pigment. Every color, symbol, and stroke tells a story, and in true Mando fashion, it’s often one they’re not afraid to let you see coming.
K'oyacyi! // Mavla
If you have any comments, feedback, corrections or speculations, they are as always warmly welcomed!
Star Wars Day at Nationals Park this past Saturday!! We stood in front of that display for over an hour to clear just one of the lines that got photos with us Mando'ade...
Goal ACHIEVED! Although not in app yet, Reyn was wearable and ready! Gina absolutely LOVED it (though she was understandably exhausted entering solo photos after Firefly cast shots). Now to get my own fixes done and make this kit official!!
After a crazy weekend and early week of crunch and last-minute pivots...we have the full wear test for Reyn Koryn, AKA Ikora Rey-inspired Post-Imperial Master 🙏🙏
Is wearable for the weekend, but I already have two major changes to do ahead of a proper approval run: changing the flight suit (and additional detailing necessary for that) and getting a longer kama to improve the silhouette!
TOUCHUPS AND INITIAL DETAILING GETCHA TOUCHUPS AND INITIAL DETAILING -
After a fast spot-wet-sand at high grit, did the final touch-ups to the helmet and chest! Looking FABULOUS now!
Then I felt bold and daring and started adding gold acrylic. by hand.
To EXCELLENT effect. May do a second coat as time and weather permit but if the low humidity after work persists I can get everything done on Saturday and Sunday!!!! Giving me a whole week to relax ahead of AwesomeCon!!!
Had a solid work day yesterday, though there is still work to be done over the next week. T-2 weeks to AwesomeCon.
Second attempt at putting colors on my helmet and chest. While most of the lines are gone, heavy primer spots linger and popped right out when the paint went on. Going to try spot wet-sanding at high grit on the worst problem spots, then attempt a re-paint later this week when the weather improves (forecast suggests temperatures dropping tomorrow and rain before temps come back up ahead of the weekend) and ideally getting all the painting done by this coming Saturday.
The biggest project yesterday was getting my capelet put together! Ruus'alor Sol Hex and fellow Ruus Vale teamed up to get all the pieces put together. Hex still needs to finish the edge trim (pink bias tape) and then get the hooks sewn on for attaching the capelet to my flak vest.
Unfortunately we've hit yet another snag on my flight suit. Even with the side stripes giving me some more space in my hips, the inner thighs are still incredibly tight and the seams have reached a point where they're visibly strained. Hex and I are going to try and put in an emergency gusset to fix this and give me appropriate give. I have gone ahead and ordered a backup suit, but that will need decorative stitching and a double-sleeve added.
Current game plan is using the current suit with added gusset, wear that for AC, then work on shifting to the new suit. There are a few fixes and like-to-haves as well (longer kama, new girth belt or sash as the current one, while it fits, has visible velcro at the comfortable secure point - Vale ran up a cover sleeve so for now it's serviceable) but those can definitely wait to after AC.
*headdesk* Of course I can't catch a break.
Threw down colors today on helmet and chest and of course, of course, all the VSLs pop out.
Chest I think needs less work than it seems for the silver paint; with using the multitexture paint underneath, I think that is what's popping more. Possibly a quick sand and re-filler primer will square the VSLs there
The helmet though...
UGH. VSLs everywhere. Once the paint's set I'll have to sand it down and try another couple coats of filler primer (with sanding between).
This puts a hefty kink in my hoped-for timeline, especially with the weather forecast looking terrible the next few days. At the very least I can wet-sand indoors but I won't be able to do any filling until Thursday at soonest - IF the weather is kind and not cold and wet.
Next week will probably be more around plates as well as capelet, and tabling the pre-app photos to...whenever I can manage them. Still has to happen before March 14.
Also reminded, some updates on the capelet front!! Hex came by last Sunday and we did some designing. Since the duster is a no-go, we're doubling back into Ikora's costume design and riffing off of her actual capelet and collar in Destiny. The main capelet will be this grey color, falling to about my lower back for that CRL-required coverage. We'll have a purple accent on top roughly following the shape of Ikora's capelet and trimmed in that cool black-and-gold above. The edge will be trimmed in pink bias tape, and lined in the fun red cotton above. For attachment, we're going to try some simple but lovely hooks, one sewn onto my flak vest under the chestplate and the other on the capelet, holding down pleating that will keep my shoulders free!
Girth belt, kama, and tabard due this week :3
PRIMER!!! COAT!!! ON!!!
The weather forecast for Saturday is Cool But Sunny. It had better be or I will be LIVID and have to wait to paint to NEXT WEEK.
IT'S ABOVE FREEZING. FILLING TIME!!
Instead of using the traditional slurry method (about 50/50 spot putty+acetone mixture), I am attempting what had been called the "Druj Method" of filling. You begin with a light (heh) coat of Rustoleum multitextured paint, let dry, then add a coat of filler primer. This SHOULD be a quicker method for filling, so I don't have to do 5 coats of slurry with sanding in-between x_x
I think once again the top of my helmet will be my nemesis, BUT sanding this should get them gone for good. I hope I pray. I only have a month.
Tomorrow!! Sanding if it's not raining cats and dogs! But also Ruus'alor Solyc Hex is visiting so we can get the new capelet designed and try putting it together! The week is looking nice for painting colors....
Mando fun at Star Wars Night for the Washington Capitals!!
Mandalorians are stronger together. Take this lil’ Snow Mando with you!
It snowed (again). But this time it was relatively warm out so the snow was wet enough for traditional Maple Syrup Mando shenanigans.
She’s cute. She makes me smile. Now I’m worried she’s all alone out there in the cold. Perhaps I will make her a friend. My selection of tiny helmets is small though.
I have: Tech, Crosshair, Wrecker, Hunter, Scorch, and Gregor (and an unfinished reg).
Should I build a tiny Snow-Clone army? 🍦
@eobe @fuzzyenthusiastnelket01 @feralferrule
Fellow maple syrup Mando: @nocturius8015ficore
HOKAY. After double-checking the CRL, turns out I can't use my duster as part of the IkoraMando kit. SIGH. But we have options! And barely enough time to pivot!
- ordered a new kama and loincloth and girth belt set to make up for no duster swish
- designed a capelet that will cover my back!!
- confabbed with clanmate on art team for how to style chest and helmet!
Now to just make it happen!!!
WE GOT STUFF DONE TODAY!!
Soft goods AP today got the liner of my duster nearly done (sleeves and collar still needs to be sewn into place, will be done by hand) and the sleeves on my flight suit cut and re-hemmed! Stripes are darted secure at my waist, though the pants still need to be hemmed. All in all though?
Looking amazing -
Even did a semi-full fit test with everything I have right now - looking slick!
Pending arrival: girth belt and loincloth tabards (purple and pink!!), which should get a great splash of color and texture!
And, of course...plates. PI Master only requires chest and helmet, so to close out the day - I have gotten my ab plate glued to the main chest!
Though with my build the ab plate is kinda more annoying than anything...oh well
That's update so far! App-in goal date (so I can wear this to AwesomeCon and get a photo with Gina Torres, AKA the OG Ikora Rey) is MARCH 14.
Please weather be above freezing over the next six weeks thank you!!!
