The Ab section covers the front of your torso, from mid chest to the cod piece. This piece is usually formed as 1 piece of plastic, and wraps around the sides of your torso. The details on the front for a stormtrooper are comprised of the "buttons and ridges" panel, and a second strip of vertical buttons.  These are formed as separate pieces of plastic, and are commonly glued into position using the appropriate adhesive for your armor.

The buttons themselves are often sculpted and formed within the separate panels.  Most troopers paint the buttons using enamel paint, some use decals / stickers precut in circular shapes for the buttons.

On some kits such as AM, the buttons are separately machined "screws" with button tops.  This is because armor like FX and AM had button plates with no formed buttons on them, requiring buttons to be added.

These can be installed by drilling a hole and inserting the button from the outside, and securing a nut inside the ab plate.  A chicago bolt female end can also be used inside for a more "flush" installation.  There are also suppliers who sell "button kits" which work the same way, and can be installed on most types of armor.

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TUTORIALS

Some troopers will modify the cod section by "cutting the cod" from the ab piece, and re-attaching it to the ab via elastic strapping. Some say this offers more flexibility, others don't notice it.  Debates aside, this modification can make bathroom breaks (at least for male troopers) much easier.

The cod section connects to the butt via snaps attached to elastic that runs under the crotch area.  There are 2 snaps installed in the butt section and 1 snap in the cod section.  Care must be taken to ensure that you size this area to your body, for maneuverability / comfort.

TUTORIALS

The kidney and butt section is sometimes formed as one section.  In the films, the butt was separate from the kidney section, to allow for more freedom of movement. You can simply cut the butt section from the kidney (along the seam) if your armor has the two sections formed as one.

To size the ab and kidney sections together, place the kidney on your lower back and place the ab section over your stomach.  Ideally, you should have the butt section taped or attached to the kidney section, to ensure that it's sitting correctly on your hips.  The ab section should have the cod piece sitting correctly over the crotch area.  Most armor will have the top of the ab and the top of the kidney lining up at the top edge, at the side of your torso.

If you are slim enough and the armor has enough material formed on the sides, the armor will overlap (overlap the ab over the kidney).  Simply draw a vertical line running down the side of the ab, and if possible draw marks on the kidney as well.  This is where the cut line / seam will be.  You should be able to cut the ab and the kidney so that the seam is tight with no gaps.

If your torso is bigger than the armor, you will need to install extra "shims" on the sides to fill the gap between the ab and kidney sections.  While some troopers will use canvas, vinyl or other materials, it's preferable to use plastic to fill the gap (ideally, matching your armor).  Some common techniques are using spare ABS or HIPS plastic, "for sale" signs (some are made from white plastic) or even lids or panels from Rubbermaid containers.

- gluing the shim to the kidney, and having the front of the shim meet the side of the ab

- using velcro to hold the shim in place

In the films, the sides were closed by means of elastic on the left side (secured with 6 rivets / snaps, 3 on the ab and 3 on the kidney approx. 9mm in size), and an elastic strap on the right side secured with a snap at the top of the ab.  The bottom of this "clamshell" was secured with the belt worn on top of the armor.  This allows the wearer to easily slip the entire torso over themselves, and hang the armor via the suspenders, then simply closing the right side and securing it.  *Note: the 6 rivets are only required for EIB applications.

The sides can also be closed with velcro, by installing adhesive loop velcro inside the armor and using a section of hook velcro to attach the sides together.  Elastics with snaps installed can also be used.  *See "Strapping and harness solutions" below for more info.

As an extra detail, the exposed back of a male 15mm snap can be installed on the right side.  In the films, this was used to secure the right side via an internal elastic / snap.

TUTORIALS

The back plate covers the upper part of your back, from the top of the shoulders to the mid back.  It should have a "box" formed inside the perimeter, with the "0-11" cog and vertical bar shapes molded in as well.

To attach the back plate, some troopers use suspenders that go from the top of the ab to the top of the kidney, and the back plate snaps into the top of the suspenders.  The bottom is attached to the kidney section via 2 or 3 elastic straps.  The chest plate hangs off the top the back plate, via webbing or elastic with snaps attached.

Most troopers have the back plate lined up against the top of the kidney plate.  If you are taller, you may leave a slight gap here by extending the elastic strapping.

Many troopers emulate the strapping techniques used in the films to wear and put on the torso.  It can be worn as one piece, much like a pair of overalls or hip waders.  The ab and kidney are often joined at the left side, with the right side open with some type of closure. The top of the ab and kidney will have suspenders attached, to allow the torso to be hung from the shoulders.

Many troopers will use wide elastic joining the various sections together to allow the pieces to stay connected, yet have some flexibility as the armor is worn.  The elastic can be attached via several methods, each with their own pros and cons:

- somewhat permanent

- not adjustable for size

- must get length and sizing correct before gluing.

- use industrial velcro, it's much stronger than regular velcro

- adjustable for sizing / length

- could potentially fail during troops

- strong way to strap armor while allowing movement

- not adjustable unless additional straps are made

- more time consuming / slightly more cost