pandatrooper

I use lexan scissors from a hobby shop for trimming RC cars for the armor and some sandpaper to smooth the edges. Then I use a sharp hobby blade and steel ruler to score and snap cover strips.

Good luck with your build. Michaels crafts sells E6000

Rubbing alcohol caused this. If you did not leave enough time for it to evaporate, it will wrinkle the paint. It will "look" like it evaporated, but alcohol has an effect on certain plastics. It causes a chemical reaction and disrupts the affectiveness of spray paint solvents. I have had this happen on other plastic parts when rushing the paint job. I only wash with detergent now, no more alcohol to clean plastic.

Yes. Thats exactly what you do. I think the pictures in my build thread show this step by step.

Btw: Focus on fixing the female snaps.

My guess is the snap pliers are creating too high of a build up inside both snaps, and when you join them they are not sitting deep enough for the retention ring to set. Try using the little anvil and setting tool with a hammer.

The written and shooting scripts refer to Stormtroopers frequently.

The Sideshow troopers are close but require mods to be accurate: - helmet looks like an FX (too big and face is sloped) eyes are too sharp - shoulder bells look like FX - chest ogee shape is incorrect - side of chest too long - thighs are the wrong shape at tops

Get a longer metal ruler. One with a grippy underside helps. Use a sharp hobby blade and score multiple times before snapping.

Yes, you squeeze them. Glue the fronts, wait for the seam to cure fully, size up the armor then do the backs.

Firstly, you should only have a pauldron if you're a TD (sandtrooper) or a HWT (heavy weapons trooper) or one of the EU derivatives. Personally, I'm not keen on pauldrons for TK's as that's not in the films, but to each their own. In regards to decals or personalized gear, it's a garrison to garrison policy. In my garrison, there's a policy of "decorate as you like" for non canon events, but for canon events like LFL or hospital visits, etc. it's formal only.

Warm it up SLIGHTLY with a heat gun or hair dryer. I run a flat chisel in between the 2 parts and it comes apart quite easily. E6000 can be "rubbed" off with your fingers, I also use some glue gone to remove residue. When joining parts / cover strips, I tape them in place before clamping to prevent shifting.

This list covers the current vetted armor / helmet makers on Fisd. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=11538&st=0 VT is recast from other makers and not an approved seller on Fisd.

Gentle heating and bending with a heat gun will shape it to be a more flush fit.

Thats a shoulder bell, not a bicep.

I've been using mesh for sculpting that I wrap around forms, etc. I had a set of mic tips with no mesh and I used this, worked great for me. ----------

Very slight rounding. I tend to snip a mini 45 degree cut on the corner and just sand it a little. The ends of cover strips are not "round" like popsicle sticks.

Use a slightly bigger drill bit. It should be the same size as the rivet shaft.

Glue the front and taper the back.

Glue the front and taper the back.

Drill out the rivet and reverse it. I layer mine so that the rivet is actually holding a female snap on the other side. The torso has the corresponding male rivet on the outside of the ab plate. I know some would say its not screen accurate location but I don't really care. No one sees it.

Good question! Bumping this thread again as we need a few more questions for July. Thanks!

Unless you have done your own sculpting of helmets, don't insult people by calling it "crappy". At least Kevin has the balls to sculpt something on his own from scratch, and even though it might not be perfect, very few people have done the same. Give proper respect where it's due.

I think the closest match I have found for AM armor is TMC / Tray Moncal. Polish it up, and it's a pretty close match.

Coming along nicely so far. Personally, I usually leave the helmet for the last part of the build. In regards to leg shims (and the rest of the armor), there are tutorials written with sizes and specs here. http://www.whitearmor.net/home/tutorials/armor-tutorials/thighsshins.html In regards to painting the helmet, did you wash the inside with detergent first? Follow my ATA ABS helmet build for tips. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=14806&st=0