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Hi all, What a day- my blaster AND armour all got cleared for service today. I’m officially a 501st Imperial Stormtrooper. :-) Although I might do some little bits down the line, I think my blaster is pretty much done for now. It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable project, and my huge thanks to out to the wonderful contributors to my thread, specifically Tino, Jesse, Chris and Brian. Of course, I appreciate everyone’s input along the way. Cheers guys. :-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Greetings and salutations fellow troopers. At long last I have received my FOTK kit. It has been a long road that started in June 2016. Anovos unveiled a Premier FOTK kit that was promised to ship in Sept 2016. Welllllllllll, that kit still hasn't shipped to the poor folks who purchased that. I jumped out back in March and ordered a kit from KB Props. Unfortunately, life got in the way for KB but at long last I received most of my TFA kit last week. I was hopeful to suit up for the Ep 8 premier as a member of the First Order, but that just isn't realistically going to happen. I say "most" as there are few little pieces missing, namely the hand guards and the TD "holder" (the 3 ridged piece), which KB will send soon. Also coming from KB is an executioner "upgrade" kit with a black yoke, second back piece and black shoulder bells. I already have a TFA FOTK helmet from Anovos and have the Executioner helmet on order from them too, for now. Surprising to nobody, it has been delayed to next quarter. Goal: Basic approval for TFA FOTK and TLJ Executioner. The builds are similar enough that I hope to get two costumes out of only a little extra effort. By documenting my build and efforts to achieve that goal, I hope and seek your input as I progress on how to best accomplish this goal. Quick Links for my own convenience: Inspiration Build Threads: The great and always thorough Ukswrath's thread. Ruthar's Fabulous KB Build TFA FOTK CRL TLJ Executioner CRL Previous Build Experience: Anovos ANH-S, Centurion certification. Body Stats: Since this matters to some people considering a build, I am providing my body composition at time of build. Ht - 6 ft 0 in (1.83 meters) Wt - 205 lbs (93 kg) Somewhere between Mesomorph and Endomorph body type (I'm muscular but I also like ice cream ) Parts Origin: Buckets: Anovos Standard Line TFA and Anovos TLJ FOTK Helmet from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Kit: KB Props FOTK + Executioner add-on Helmet Fans - Henry's Helmet Fans Helmet Audio - Ukswrath's FO Audio kit Gaskets: Geeky Pink's Phantastic Gaskets - Cloth Boots/Gloves: Imperial Boots Belt: Belts of the First Order Blasters - Hestonkent's F-11D blaster with shoulder stock. Laser Axe from Stormtrooper on Weekends Supplies/Tools: Belt Sander - Others have sworn by this and I am now one of them. Great for quick sanding and creating a nice clean straight edge for seams. Contour Gauge - great for trimming the Ab boxes! Gaffer's Tape Heat Gun Industrial Strength Velcro - white, low profile, 3'x1" Lexan Scissors - curved and straight Neodymium 1.26" x 1/8" disc magnets x 6 Needle File Set - for pill holes and general filing needs Rotary Tool Tungsten Carbide Dremel Tip - for the pill holes. Weld-On ABS Cement - 1 Quart (1 Pint would probably be enough) Build Chapters: 1. Trimming (Admittedly, I do not go into great detail on how to trim most of KB's armor outside of the below links, you are better served looking elsewhere for this info) Miscellaneous Trimming Stuff Shin Accuracy Ab Boxes Chest Hole Filing Pill Hole Drilling (Chest, Biceps, Shins) 2. Assembly Ab/Kidney (bottom of linked post) Ab Box bolting to Ab piece Biceps Pt 1 Biceps Pt 2 Forearms Greeblie Sanding and Shaping Seam Filling (Forearms, Shin Boxes, Ab Kidney) Seam Filling (Yoke) Shoulder Bells (towards the middle of the linked post) Shin Boxes Shin Closure Overlap Spats Pt 1 (middle of the post) Spats Pt 2 Thermal Detonator Pt 1 Thermal Detonator Pt 2 Thighs Thigh Holster Yoke 3. Painting My FOTK was pro painted by a friend so this is mostly about preparation for that. I will be painting the black pieces of the Executioner Yoke and Bells and will update when I do that) Paint Prep Paint Progress 4. Strapping Ab/Kidney Magnetic Closures Belt Butt Plate to Back Chest to Back Cod to Ab Decal Application Gaffers Tape (Shins, Biceps, Chest) Gaskets Velcro Hand Plates Knee Plates Posterior Prep (towards the bottom of the linked post) Shins Shoulder Bell to Yoke Spats Thigh Supports 5. Progress Checks First Test Fitting Second Test Fitting (upper body mostly) Submission Photos Epilogue: 18 months later... Finishing up the Executioner costume.

Maybe the reference to the tears and traps could be re-worded. "Tears and traps may not be hand painted" I'm guessing that this means there should physically be a tear and trap with indented lines or vents and that they aren't just stickers or painted on. But I think that hand painting should be allowed as long as they are physically represented. Perhaps something like: "Tears and traps are built out from helmet and depth can visibly be seen. Grooves are indented to represent venting. Tears and traps are not stickers or painted representations" Does this make sense?

Only screen images are used as reference for the CRL's, toys and Sandtroopers don't count

Oh, I forgot to mention something about the initial fitting... I'm not too proud to say that the first thing I tested was the fit of the ab piece to the kidney piece - to make sure this thing would fit around my beer gut. It did! So I celebrated with a Costco bag of Doritos and a couple pints of Guinness. My wife continues to shake her head.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, for those who celebrate it! For everyone else, I hope your day was super too!

Until the day I die.

Woohoo, congratulations on this double-achievement! Can only imagine how great this must feel, mate. After all the work, you deserve it. Have a fantastic weekend.

Congrats! I've been following this excellent thread and will refer to it for my own build eventually. Thanks for documenting everything so well.

Yes it was moved to here (ANH build threads) Pulled the trigger on armor yet?

Your good to go Welcome back

Wow, Congartulations and welcome to the ranks. Totally awesome. I hope you have a great time in your armor and with your amazing blaster. Well done! Sorry I haven’t been active much these days to comment along your build. I was going to recommend to paint or replace the screw head that secures your scope rail to the rear sight but it’s not necessary. just something I thought might help hide the silver screw head, blend in with the rest of the blaster. Again , just a suggestion but certainly not needed, you already got cleared so bask in the glory of your accomplishments.

Good to go and as a future reference one should strive to eliminate all "flat surfaces" in the joint when possible

Off to a good start!

If you use quality snaps you shouldn't have an issue with single snaps IMHO

For my obligatory list of parts, supplies and tools I've gathered together: As I mentioned the armor, helmet, canvas belt, holster, TD clip, and latex hand guards (and gloves) all come from Authentic Props. Marks's kits are pretty inclusive. I picked up darker lenses, more frown mesh, S-trim, stencils for the helmet (I plan to paint everything vs decals), and gloves (again) from Trooperbay. I also bought a pair of gloves from Home Depot - all three pairs are exactly the same - they are Gorilla Grip nitrile gloves. Boots are from TKBoots. I also bought a pair from Amazon - I ordered them without realizing that there is a big ol' seam running along the toe. They will be a back-up pair. I have two sets of black under suit - both are are Duofold Thermal underwear. One is light weight and one is heavy - because Canada is often cold. E-11 is a 3D print from Blaster Master. My build for that is here: I also built a DLT-19 from a 3D kit (from TK421 PropStop) The neck seal is from Geeky Pink (FISD name - Soulart) (Canada post still has this one. EDIT: it arrived and it is perfect) I got extra split rivets and the rivets for the ammo pack from Justjoseph63. for some reason my collection of REE magnets (from Lee Valley) are in the pic too. I picked up 10 3/4" magnets and 30 (I think) 1/2" magnets. The pic below is of some of the tools and supplies. I had some rivets, post screws, pop rivets (1/8" x 1/4" with 1/8" washers) and pop rivet gun from previous costuming (I haven't done much, but I have done it). I'm not sure how to attach the canvas belt but I'm leaning towards pop rivets. I picked up 60 line 24 snaps (5/16" post - nickel) and snap set tool from Tandy - there was a sale so I bought them out. I plan to use the double snap system when I get to the point of putting it all together. I have a collection of sand paper and files left over from my blaster builds. Of course I have the bin o' clamps as it seems you can't have enough of these things. I've ordered all my nylon strapping, elastic, sew in snaps, and Velcro from Amazon - still in shipping. I referenced Ukswrath's Anovos build quite heavily for my supply list (and most everything else) as well as the Supply list for your TK build thead by Justjoseph63. well, gotta go put kids to bed...

Yup, my error, I'll ensure that's added too.

Congratulations Dan, your armour looks amazing Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Gareth, nice to see you here Before you throw in the towel you could try lenses from TM. I have them and although I haven`t yet trooped with them for a longer period of time they seem fine as far as bubble lenses go...vision is of course compromised and looking straight with clear vision is impossible for me too..however turning your head slightely every now and then as you walk makes a huge difference, at least for me....I will put them to the test for opening night of TLJ dec 13 with a 3h troop and report back...they might not help but...then again they just might so in my opinion it could be worth a shoot...and...perhaps you already thought of this but when standing still and posing you could close your eyes from time to time and rest them and it might just make it bearable

Congratulations Dan, your armour looks fantastic Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Freddy. Here is a good link for some reading. Essentially the conversation is always the same with TKarmour, TKUK, TKUS, Stormtroopercity which are all different names for the same company. Everyone says that David (owner) is a "nice guy" and the price is good. There are mixed reviews as to the quality of the armor. Some say it's okay and some say it's not that great. The ONE thing that has never been shown by David is where he obtained his molds from and pictures of his molds and sculpting process. If he has done none of the previously mentioned, then was he given permission to cast another set of armor which he has not stated he has. For those reasons he won't be a recommended vendor. It is likely he recasted another set of armor. This will be the case until he can show some type of proof that it isn't. I would stick to the armors mentioned in the first post.

Happy turkey gobbling to my American brethren, hope you all enjoyed yourselves

Hi all, Just a little update for anyone that’s been following. I’ve not disappeared; just been finishing off my E-11. I’m now into the latter stages of painting and will hopefully be complete within a couple of days. I can then finally apply for clearance with the UKG, then EIB followed by Centurion. Regarding EIB and Centurion, looking at many other applications, I’m very hopeful that my complete kit is already ticking all of the boxes. Of course, only time will tell, however if anyone has spotted any concerns, please let me know. :-) Many thanks, Dan :-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you know what you're looking for eBay can also solve your problems. Got all mine from there.