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Hi everyone, So, after a long time of thinking about it, I finally went ahead and ordered an HDPE helmet from DA PROPS (UK...edit, now France...). The kit was delivered in good time and included all the the parts required for the build. As many of you might know, I’m a little particular with OTTKs and requested this to be supplied un-trimmed. As below, where the back section meets the tubes on the face plate, the lower edges were quite flared. After a rough trim and trial positioning I knew that I didn’t want to cut the flares off so I used heat to correct them. I’ve made a start on the eyes, using various screen used helmet pictures for reference. Whilst I’m not looking to emulate a specific Stunt trooper from ANH, I really want to capture the feel of the originals. In that light, I hand cut the eyes with a Stanley knife, periodically comparing (split screen using LiveCollage) to screen used helmets. Starting small and slowly taking more and more away. More to come soon.... :-)

Just publicly announced on the book of faces.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those shoulder gaps have been bothering me for quite a while. I believe you are correct about the undersuit, it is a lycra material and does bunch up in that area. AND I HATE IT! I'll try to get something thinner. And the shoulder bridge is an easy fix as well. I'll get working on those changes asap! Thank you!

Always fantastic to see another great looking set of AM armor, Robert! There are a few issues that I am sure the Mike will be going over, but overall a nice clean build! As I am sure you will be headed for Centurion next, here are a few items to think about in the time being: 1. The tube stripes on your left side should better match the ones on your right. The left side seems to be arching down in the back. Not the biggest of deals, as many things on ANH TKs were a bit wonky, but something that may have to be addressed. As per the CRL, there should be no return edges on the wrists, especially in the raised ridge. Even the small return edge shown should be taken out. 5 minutes with a Dremel and you will be golden! Reference image I love AM armor... (it's what I mostly troop in) but it has it's little peccadilloes. The edges at the bottom of the back plate tend to flare out like little wings, causing an overlap. @A.J. Hamler has a fantastic tutorial on how to fix em': https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/47357-how-to-fixing-the-am-armor-back-plate-overlap-issue/ Hope these help, and see you at level 2 soon!

Boom! I should off put this in a different post.. still going to tweak my thighs etc will go for EIB then!

I advise against that, you have plenty of a gap between the leg pieces and it looks better without those cuts. However, it is your armor and you can do what you want so if proceeding with those cuts be sure they don´t go past the raised edges, you got really really close of cutting to much on the shin. Going past the edges will hold you from reaching Centurion, just a heads up

Now I’m making some changes to work toward centurion. To reach that I’m told I need to close the gap in the shoulder bells and get the shins lower. To do that I’m trimming the shoulder bells shorten the top and follow the contours of the chest and back plates. Next day: Trimmed out the tops and contoured them a little. This is with the straps reattached ANH hung in place. Once I test fit it to me I’ll know if any more trimming is needed. I put a piece of Velcro on the boots and inside the shins to keep them down and centered. I also trimmed out the top rear area like the screen used stunt kits. Next day: Both done now. I also trimmed a higher arc I’ve the heels. They don’t get pushed up when walking now. Pushing up sometimes made the backs open up as the narrow bottom area was pushed over the wider calf area. That takes care care of the gaps that were there (below picture). I’ll be trimming the thighs the same way. This will increase mobility and lessen the stress on the kit when moving I neatened up the vocoder paint as well. Before

Thanks for the info

I,m sure you'll be approved.

Tony mentioned the belt too. Every time I put it on I think "Oh yeah, I have to put the velcro on the belt".

BIG push took place over the past two days to get this kit finished. Here's the story: I am going to attend a high-profile troop on Sunday in TK. Well, last weekend, I helped hubby get some epic photos in my TK. We used colored smoke bombs. Check it! So, the colored smoke actually deposited pigment into my armor several layers deep. Deeper than anything Novus 3 could touch. I had to resort to using 220 grit sandpaper, and even that didn't take all of the yellowed/red staining out of my kit. Moral of the story (and epic pics): Smoke grenades do not play well with plastic. So unless you plan on converting your TK to a TD, avoid smoke bombs at all costs!!! Which lead me to the reason behind fast-tracking my Hero to completion. My Stunt TK is in various stages of needing to be seriously polished, and it's stained in places where I can't clean. There is no way I would take it to a high-profile event in the condition that it's in now. This made my decision very easy: Get the Hero finished STAT! I spent the past two days fine tuning things for basic approval. I still have to trim a little from the right thigh for clearance, trim a little off the bottom of the right side back plate (both overlapping a smidge), stuff a wedge in the lower back plate for better fit/alignment, and install some fans into the lid. But, hey, it's done! First, the lid. And the pics for basic approval. My son took the pics, and my daughter was instrumental to make sure everything was in place! Then there were the fun pics. This kit is actually more comfortable than my first one, which came as a surprise to me! Today was the first day I put everything on and walked around. Happily, I don't have any areas of armor biting or loud rattling of the plastic. I have to figure out what's going on with the paint on the handguards, because it flaked off everywhere during the photos. Worst case scenario, I'll swap out these gloves for the ones from my Stunt kit for the troop this weekend. But overall, I'm thrilled to finally have the Hero I've always wanted to build. Now to finish hubby's Stunt TK, and move forward with converting my Stunt TK to a TD! And huge thanks to everyone for their feedback during my journey. I wouldn't be here without all of you here at the FISD! EDIT: Looking at these pics, I've decided that I need to size down the forearms a bit more. I never noticed it until I had the kit on, but they look a smidge too wide on my arms. Easy fix, though!

Indeed! And I am okay recreating a few things, but having the font just makes it a bunch less time consuming! Just like the Aurebesh font, I'm sure it'll eventually get re-made by someone (and heck, the land hasn't even been open a month at this point!), so I can wait... I guess...

Hi again Ryan - you have a great looking kit but we do have some requests before we can issue that Centurion Award. 1# The shoulders need to be closer to the chest and there could be several things preventing that as they look to be rotated towards the back and the undersuit seem to be interfering as well. Some tweeking and a new pic should have this sorted. 2# A simple fix but an important one for the highest level - keeping the shoulder bridges at equal lenght.

He has my support - you really should

Some serious Dad-Points beeing scored here

Yes, the notch is optional meaning if the kit is missing it you don´t need to cut it out

I can't see a thing holding you back from Basic approval, Andrew. GREAT job on that armor! Once you get your official TK# I can see you taking that kit all the way to Centurion. If you decide to aim for that, there are a few small items (super easy) that will get you there. One that jumps out is the ABS belt placement as Daniel mentioned. In your first photo it looks pretty good, but in the last one it looks a bit low. I noticed that in the front of your ab plate that it appears you have no snaps or Velcro to hold it in place. If you can't install snaps, a couple of strips of Velcro attached to the cloth belt and ab plate would keep it in place,

Look really good A little something for the higher levels would be to raise the ammo belt and close the shoulder gap more by shorter/tighter strapping

Looks like you're of to a good start there Dan French France land now isn't it?

About time.

Hey Robert, Just dropping a line to let you know we haven't forgotten about you. I've started your review and will get with you shortly, Thanks for your patience!

Congratulations Dan!!!!!! Welcome to the ranks and I hope to get to troop with you soon! Wish you all the best!!!! So happy you crossed the finish line and now can enjoy being a 501st trooper.

Better but I would lower it just a bit, that brow that is

Congratulations Jason welcome to Expert Infantry, fantastic job

HECK YEA!

Awesome!!

This stuff looks great! Love the soda/Thermal Detonator tub! I've been designing a few things *inspired* by Galaxy's Edge as well, cause after being there, it's just full of cool design choices!! I know they created the font they used specifically for Batuu, but man, I hope either they end up making it available or at least if we can find all the letters/numbers through menus/cards/pics to make our own, cause I WANT to use that font!

Congratulations Jason!

Woahhhh , I just done with my shift from hospital and got this news Thank you brothers :)))))))

Looks good for basic, as glen said you might need to square up the ab plate buttons

Try Eadu Armory on Facebook, they have 2.5" approvable nylon belt in stock (you might need to provide them with your waist size in armor).

I invert the bottle and run the tip along the edge of the armour and then push the trim on. Keep the side without glue towards you and be careful to keep you hands and fingers off the glued edge when pushing the trim on......

Yeah, shins and arms are the same both sides. The original suit that was cast was missing parts. I hope to upgrade these issues when I'm in the new workshop. I will be cast parts off my Disney suit which has the lefts and rights. So it won't be totally unaltered but it will look better. I hope to offer replacement parts at cost for existing troopers that have already bought armour from me. This house renovation and workshop can't happen quick enough. Good news today. Had an offer on my 2 bed flat so can relax on financing my house!

They are completely asymmetric. So if it looks wonky it looks right...... Trust me. Once you have it assembled put it up to a mirror and have a look at the shape then... You will be amazed how wrong it looks as we are used to the orientation of the asymmetry we see normally..... Try it!

All would not have been lost..... I replace messed up items at cost....