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it was more of a general "today people just aren't thinking" than it was about TKs. we typically stay on top of any issues with TKs here within the forum. most times the ones that have really messed up are because the listened to someone outside of the forum (and generally aren't even an approved TK) and then they come here so we can help them fix it. most problems are overcome by this group, but it seems that people are more and more not caring enough or just don't know where to go, and so they just throw something together and it looks horrible

Bahaha! figured that would be a given. but in todays world, its not lol.

Correct! How it's mounted is not an issue at the higher levels of approval, well, unless it just looks like garbage then we might say something lol

Unpacking and checking quantity i just realized there are 20,000 of these ............ omg

Hey There! A BBB is enroute to me today from across the pond, arriving tomorrow!!! I'm so excited that I want to share. Ahhhhhh, so flippin' excited. I'm currently working on finishing up my WTF Hero build for a garrison friend, and that build will continue (documented on that thread) until she's got full approval. She's aiming for Centurion, so fingers crossed that I can get her there! In the meantime, I get to do my third TK build. The RS Hero TK! Yay! (This build wouldn't be happening at all without @TheSwede and his input, so... Thank you, Daniel!) In the meantime, since I don't have any BBB pics yet, I will share a few choice pics from last weekend's troop. Wearing my RS Stunt TK, of course. First, the ANH scene we recreated... Next, an official BadA$$ pic... Then when Vader left, we goofed off... See y'all soon!

Everything rough-trimmed and sort of lined up as I´m not 100% sure I paired them correctly, perhaps someone can shime in on that. And I have the TD painted and clear coated although it looks a bit dull in this pic. I also sanded the shoulder bells so they are ready for paint And was about to glue the tabs but they didn`t seem to line up right, atleast they looked different from reference pics so I halted on that...I´ll probably need to trim the support tabs but no other KB build has mentioned that so perhaps the bells are upgraded and made smaller, as many have commented on how big they were and maybe the tabs have stayed the same.... I don`t know...anyways here´s how it looks. The tab is protruding just over 1/2 inch at the top

Reading you loud and clear, Tapatalk. ;-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have ATA armor. Something was not right with the thighs, and I am confident in this case it was not my incompetence as a builder. I originally trimmed it to put the required 20 mm strips, and it was way too tight. I actually had to glue some of the return edge back on, just to make it big enough to get my legs in them. Honestly, I don't know what the issue was, not something a hot water bath could have helped with, either, because the circumference of the thigh was just too small. Anyway, a guy on my local team of approval experts said it should be ok as long as all of the leg cover strips (on the back side, anyway) are uniform - which they are.

. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TY, for the kind words Shashachu.... it’s usually me admiring EVERYONE ELSE’s armor. It feels good !!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you start polishing the ABS, the paint will come off naturally. You can use Novus 123 polish. It is well known here for great results. You get three bottles with polishing Fluid to go from rough to mirror like shine. Oh, I didn’t type quick enough.

Good to know; thank you again

Nice job! I'm jealous of the bin - I used Velcro but it came off the bin so I need to redo it. I like the snaps...

It does seem it is but in moving around it doesn't do it. I am thinking I may need to bring the backs down just a bit more though. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk

Alright Jesse, here are the dimensions of the spring cup: OD on smaller end: 24 mm OD on end with lip: 29 mm total length: 33 mm Its not that easy. As you have already noticed, the spring cup rests between two springs. When pulling back the charging handle, both springs will compress - with different characteristics. Meaning, the spring cup will move a bit back or forth. That is why the ROTEB (rear of the exposed bolt) is hollowed, to give room for the cup to dive into. Or to be more accurate: The actual moving part is the inner bolt. When in sliding backwards in action, its rear end covers the cup and hides it inside. Does that make any sense?

@TK 71627 you beat me to lining mine! I was thinking of using snaps as well.

Wow that's beautiful

Copy that and anytime Looking forward seeing it and as you say seeing yourself in Stormtrooper armor is awesome so you are in for a treat

Thumping right along, good job

yeah, I just looked at some build threads and they are all over the place. I guess esthetically they look great lined up, but when a project is rushed as in the films, it makes sense.

It's been raining a little every day here, which is slowing down suit work considerably. It also doesn't help that even though I'm working with the epoxy in the most ventilated space (outside) and with a mask on, my asthma has not been taking kindly to the fumes. Thankfully I don't think I have to use it much longer; most of the things I still have to do on my suit don't need glue that crazy and I've found okay alternatives. The abdomen is a hot mess right now, as I'm trying to glue the panels in a way that makes it seamless. There's still an annoying gap on either side, which I'm going to see if I can remedy with DAP latex chaulk. My dad recommended it as it's easy to work with and it's paintable. If it doesn't work, I can probably snap off the panels and start over. I attached the shoulder bells to the yoke with a short nylon strap on either side with heavy duty snaps expoxied on. There's a thin black elastic loop that I also glued on the underside that my arm goes through so that the shoulder bells move with my arms. I'm pretty happy with how it looks so far. Comparing it to images on the internet of the FOTK, I think the proportions are okay. The forearms are a little large, but they are one thick heavy piece and can't be altered. Even if I could, I don't think I would because even with them seeming a little large, I can just barely get my hands through. The one thing I can change is that I can probably widen the biceps. What do you guys think?

sorry but this is wrong, lol. Approval day is so much better than BBB, but BBB is a good second haha!

I used the snaps on my belt. My thought is that it will be easy to pop the belt off for repairs if needed. I have pulled on the belt quite a bit to insure it wont just pop off. but yes it is a concern and ideally a more permanent fix should be used. also, as far as the method that you do use, this is not one of those things that is checked for Centurion level, so no matter what you do, it wont effect the approval!

Good work! I like the interior job and the snaps

So this is after trimming. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk

Great job - that looks much neater. [emoji1303][emoji1]

What I do is apply mineral spirits to rag and rub vigorously with strip of rag in and out to take of paint ... works GREAT [emoji1417] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope, cap rivets are canon that's all. You can use either, or, or both.

Snaps will work but you run the risk of the ammo belt being detached from the cloth belt by a fan during troops. Canon (screen accurate) is cap rivets. You can buy a set with the tool off Ebay for $10 https://www.ebay.com/itm/BBTO-120-Set-Leather-Rivets-Single-Cap-Rivets-Tubular-Metal-Studs-with-Fixing-4/122824427896?epid=21007692321&hash=item1c98e80978%3Ag%3A0IwAAOSw9gRaFjgc&LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=15&_sacat=0&_nkw=single+cap+rivets&_from=R40&rt=nc

Thanks Joseph and Tony!!!! EIB baby!!!!! The feedback is also very much appreciated and I will get on those adjustments asap, I thirst for Centurion. Special shout out to Randy (Magni) for being a source beyond the source, least of which was answering my pedantic questions at hours not normally reserved for talking about plastic space men. See you on the front lines, Gentlemen!!!! Regards, TK-92577 EIB 847 *kshhht*

They made updates to the armor, I believe some of the updates received some negative feedback and they may have had to change some of these, but I don't have any proof of that. I know they do deliver in the end but the process to get there is just taking far too long, I doubt many will jump on new items they offer and it's only doing their own company harm. Hopefully this run will be fulfilled sooner rather than far far later, it's taken too long so far.

Below is a link for a chemical compatibility chart. Need to know if something is safe on your ABS? Use the chemical compatibility chart! https://www.coleparmer.com/chemical-resistance This will help anyone know what to chemical/solvent is safe to use on there armor. Simply select what the chemical is and the material is and click "view compatibility" It will populate an alphabetical code from A to E and a chart to the side stating the chemical effect of the chemical/solvent on the material of your choosing.

If you use it dab a little bit on a cloth then use that don’t put it directly on there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KABOOM! And if my head was not inflated enough, there were no recommendations to fix anything or do anything different for Centurion. I am totally speechless since I know and see all the issues with my kit but I guess that is always the case with people who seek to do their best and are never completely happy with the results. Don't get me wrong, I do love my kit and I am very pleased with how it turned out but there are things I would like to fix on it. I also realize that I can get stuck in a cycle of fix this or that and never finish the kit.

Not being satisfied with the ABS paste, and also considering the paint seeming (hehe) to match.. I went ahead and used body filler and paint. I REALLY lucked out on the paint match here, it is DEAD ON Up close in the correct lighting you'll see the body filler. Not that good with fillers yet, but it's not noticeable at all from a small distance. For any Norwegian, Swedish, or Finnish folks here that have a 2012 ATA kit, this is the paint I used (gloss white): https://www.clasohlson.com/no/CRC-Pro-Paint-spraylakk/Pr346047001