Distressed my WPG bag

Panama Tom Jr. · Post by **Panama Tom Jr.** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:18 am

Following Todd's Costumes tutorial, I distressed my WPG bag to get rid of the dark green color, which was my only complaint about the bag. On the picture of the bag open you can see the color difference as the inside of the bag is still fairly dark...

Darth V.A.D.E.R · Post by **Darth V.A.D.E.R** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:16 am

This bag looks great!

Very good work Tom
regards
darth

The real Henry · Post by **The real Henry** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 1:45 pm

Great-looking bag Tom!

IndyTaz · Post by **IndyTaz** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:15 pm

Looking good mate

TAZ

IndianaRedmon · Post by **IndianaRedmon** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:09 am

Great job on the WPG repro bag.

Flattery · Post by **Flattery** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:15 am

Oh yes. That's the stuff.

Panama Tom Jr. · Post by **Panama Tom Jr.** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:34 am

The basic trick was Comet with bleach and a good, stiff brush - after soaking it and wrinkling it up, I just kept scrubbing the cleaner into the fabric, especially around the edges. It's definitely a little more screen accurate than the original forest green color...

AceTachyon · Post by **AceTachyon** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:58 pm

Wow. Looks great!

I'm planning to do that this weekend with my WPG bag. I've already printed out the instructions from Todd's site. Just need to pick up a steel brush or equivalent.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:00 pm

Good job of getting the color out! I think you did a great job of recreating how much fade/wear it gets that way.

Now that you got the original color OUT...time to get some darker colors (years worth of grime/dirt) IN. Or you could let it happen naturally now - since you are close enough.

I noticed on issued MKVIIs it isn't just how much color came out, but how much darker shadows got IN over time. Nothing like marker or paint, really, but darker browns and such mottling the fabric.

J

AceTachyon · Post by **AceTachyon** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:50 pm

Todd's tutorial also instructs to bury the bag in dirt after using the bleach mixture. I'm sure that would add the "darkening" effect.

Maybe use a mix of water and potting soil, get it nice and muddy, then brush the mix onto the bag at various places and rub it down with an old cloth.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:45 pm

Potting soil is a good idea...but only in certain areas. Wouldn't want to darken the whole thing EVENLY!

Serial Hero · Post by **Serial Hero** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 7:26 pm

I saw an article in the paper last week talking about trendy jeans (you know the kind that look ripped up and dirty, yet are new) and it said you can get that dirt effect by spraying tea on them with a spray bottle. This trick might work on the mkvii.

Vannevar · Post by **Vannevar** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 7:50 pm

Serial Hero wrote:I saw an article in the paper last week talking about trendy jeans (you know the kind that look ripped up and dirty, yet are new) and it said you can get that dirt effect by spraying tea on them with a spray bottle. This trick might work on the mkvii.

I wonder how coffee would look.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:08 pm

Serial Hero wrote:I saw an article in the paper last week talking about trendy jeans (you know the kind that look ripped up and dirty, yet are new) and it said you can get that dirt effect by spraying tea on them with a spray bottle. This trick might work on the mkvii.

That does ring a bell. I forgot about that trick. Tea stains. Thanks!

Panama Tom Jr. · Post by **Panama Tom Jr.** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:18 am

Hmmm, should I go regular or decaf? If I go the coffee way there are all sorts of coffee regions we could go for to be "authentic" - South American, African, etc... I guess if Belloq carried a MkVII he would go with a French Roast?

Seriously, I considered the burying idea but where my house is built used to be tomato field, so it has very rich, black soil - a little too dark I think to look naturally "soiled..."

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:50 am

If you want it 'naturally soiled', just let that cute tyke in your avatar wear it as a diaper for a while...

...sorry, got kids, can't help thinking that way.

Indiana Cromeens · Post by **Indiana Cromeens** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:47 am

for the bag I used todds method has well and I think burying it in nice tan dirt adds the trick perfect after burying it to let it dry, now that I've pulled it out it has a nice light brown look to it in certain lights and angles. tan dirt is the way to go. a wet freshly distressed bag soaks up alot of brown from the sand turning the bleached spots a nice greenish-khaki I live in el paso in the chiuhahua desert so nice tan dirt is plentiful down here.