kaptinkaos

Here's a shot of the new darker eye lenses I made and my cooling fan.. It's perfect there as the blower side blows just about directly on the lenses and around my face. Should keep me nice and cool... well, cooler, haha!

Here's hoping I won't have this problem myself... I ordered my Doopy E-11 kit on Aug. 30th. Nothing yet, but I'll give it 2 weeks before I even send an email. I know it will sit in customs for a week alone cause it's coming into Canada, LOL!

Lol... Almost forgot this! My reward for posing for the camera, haha! I really do love beer... Most especially Corona!

Woohoo! Suit is finished and I've sent in my approval pics to my local GML, edit* (The pics were taken with a flash... that's why you can see my eyes, ) Other than the lid being a bit out of scale for my frame, it turned out well! I'll be replacing it with an ATA lid when they arrive so I'ma either sell this one then or donate it to a worthy trooper in need with a larger head than mine. It definitely would look alright on a much larger frame now that I see it with the armor on, but I'm so skinny it just looks wrong. I have a few tiny tweeks to do (shorten my right thigh strap and put a bit of velcro on the top of the boot back to prevent my shins from crawling up), but other than that it fits extremely well, isn't as hot as I'd thought it would be (but the fan kits I'm ordering will be an asset for a decent troop time) and I'm pleased with the result! It's a clean and tidy look even if it isn't screen accurate. I won't be mistaken for a Tron character or Mario that's for dang sure! On top of that, this suit is RUGGED! The way I've put it together using butt splices I could almost play football in it, lol! My strapping system works very well (Thanks for the base format of it Pandatrooper!) and feels VERY secure. The holster I was wearing is a bit on the heavy side and was pulling the belt down a bit so I may add some velcro to that side right behind the holster to help maintain it's position. I'll be substituting one that I will make myself once I get my Doopydoo E-11 build complete. The E-11 is one I borrowed from my buddy Dan and is in need of some TLC, lol... Maybe a side project. We're gonna do some repairs to his TD soon anyway now that he's done his ESB Vader. One thing I would like to upgrade is my mic... I'm thinking of wireless, but have no idea where to start. Anyone have any great suggestions on a wireless mic to look at? The mic works well, but is a PITA in and out of the helmet. It'll only be worse with a smaller lid and it's just the cheapy that came with my Aker 3 years ago. Some fun pics... Hayden getting his for being a terrible Anakin. The Empire wants YOU! The full rig Hung up in the closet I think I'll either end up doing Panda's duct tape mannequin or try to find a real mannequin somewhere. I'd like to store/display it somewhere in my office room alongside my glass displays of SW's toys. Anyone know of a cheap and easy to build solution other than Panda's duct tape mannequin? I don't trust anyone I know enough to not leave me wrapped up like that, LMAO! I'll update this thread when I get my TK #. Cheers!

Thanks man! I would have done a lot more detail as to what I'm doing and where, etc... But Panda's and Tk's AM build threads cover a LOT and are awesome! This was supposed to more of a funny insight into my build and I'm glad you enjoy! The speed of the build is only because I've literally devoted just about every moment of my time to it over the last week and a bit. I was prepared though... lol! I had two years to contemplate it all and having the help, support and insights of this board and also my local garrison made things a lot easier had I been slogging it alone. Cheers to you and all you guys! I couldn't have done this and probably wouldn't have wanted to if it weren't for the great social atmosphere associated with trooping!

Dang! That's half the price I see them at Walmart here in Canada. We don't have Targets though. Lol... I should get a friend of mine from WA to find me a couple and send them up. Good find!!!

Belt is done and the buttons just drying a bit. I just used CA on them so they should be good to go in a short time. The belt snaps to the ab in two places and will velcro to the bottom of the back where the TD sits to prevent sag. Belt is riveted to canvas belt under the three buttons sandwiching the drop box elastic between the two outer edge ones. Belt is trimmed at 45 degree angles on the corners as per ANH. It will snap here and here on the ab. And when on me it will look like this! I will hopefully be posting pics of the finished product tonight,

Only one package this morning, but it's the important one, sweet! Thanks Rob!!! These are PERFECT! Now to get cracking! Looks like I'll be able to get some photos done tonight as Dan is comin' over to see the finished suit.

More pics of the lid finished and trimmed. There's a few issues with the way this lid goes together and the seam locations. It's definitely not as clean as a 2 piece lid with certain faults in construction. Flame away at the build, Some custom foam for my noodle (waiting on fan kits, but I'll definitely have one for the ATA) Front Left Back And I just realized I don't have a right side pic... oh well! Top Mesh and acetate (it's a bit light so I may try to find some darker green for my ATA lids) Got around to finishing my TD tonight too, And a little sewing netted me a neck seal for under $10, It's a tight fit, elastic sewn and NO seam. Still no belts in the mail yet... maybe tomorrow. Cheers!

Nice Cody! Yeah, I bet I'll wear my TK stuff a lot more than the clone 501rst I wanna do, but a little variety never hurts, right? Besides, it's a MUCH more complex build and I'm a tinkerer... lol!

Almost finished the lid. Just have to wait for some paint to dry a bit and I can mount the rank bars on the ears.

Belt will be snapped to ab only. I'll see how it works, but I doubt it's going anywhere myself. As soon as I receive the belts in mail I'll get'er done up and post photos and feedback. Thanks! You as well,

Thanks! I've just put the green acetate in, frown mesh in, aerators in, assembled, and am gluing the lid. I'm just going to use CA cause I won't wear it and an not too worried about having an ultra bond on surfaces. I have a dentist appnt. in an hour so after that I'll get a coat of paint on it and pop rivet the bottom of the ears. If you're 10 yards away it looks good!

Lookin' good man! Keep it up,

Almost forgot these! Aker and MP3 mounted. Still haven't dropped the $ on an iComm, but tomorrow morning when my belt comes I probably will, lol! I'll mount it just above the MP3. And my green acetate for the eyes along with a set of shiny decals... that I'm not going to use. Where/who can I donate these to?

Props dude. I just finished with some SERIOUS modification to an AM kit. I feel your woes, lol! It's kinda fun though, isn't it? Making it, forcing it to be what you need it to be. Keep up the good work! I can hardly wait to see it dirty!

P.S. - Corona isn't my sponsor, but it was the fuel for this build,

Ok, picture time! LOL! I did end upstarting to build the lid... It's very... inaccurate, but it will serve it's purpose and may make a good donation to a needy trooper or I can just have fun with it. I look like a moron with it on. Got it half slapped together and I'll need about 2" of foam inside to make it even come close to fitting my pin sized head, lol! However, I tore it back down and primed the inside and threw a coat of black on so there is a lot less light inside. I'll put the frown mesh on tomorrow too before complete assembly, green acetate for a lens, hand painting the vents and tossing the hovi's, erm faucet aerators on, Got my TD together and primed. ANH strips on the thighs back and front and some snaps glued up for the thigh straps. Shins, chest, and arms (bells, biceps and forearms) complete. Butt, kidney and suspenders done. Things left to do are finish the lid, complete the TD and hopefully, if the mail delivers my package in the morning, get my belt done, woot!

I've decided an Ep III Clone is a better fit for me if I went clone on a build.

Oh and thanks Banano! I will ponder it a bit, but there is HUGE positive feedback about TM's accuracy and quality of armor. I'm perused almost all of the TM build posted and being posted on here and every set I see is spectacular!

The more and more research I do... I think it's a phase II clone I want to do. The helmet is much closer to ours and the armor is a bit less... CG looking. I'll poke around clonetroopers.net a while and see what I can dig up on doing a 501rst blue/white phase 3 clone as seen in ROTS when Anakin goes to kill the younglings. Lol... Darth Vader came to my house today to watch ANH with me! It's actually my buddy Dan in his ESB Vader. I was taking the pics for him to send for approval,

Yep, and then it's the big question... For my Centurion set do I do a complete TM or a complete ATA? Price difference doesn't matter... it's a hobby so I don't look too closely at the prices so long as they are relatively in the same range. What I really want to know... is which one will be easier/better/better quality/CLOSEST to screen accurate? Unfortunately my buddy Dan came over today so I could do his ESB Vader pics for his approval... and he dropped an idea into my head and it won't go away... Commander Cody Clone (non-animated version)... What say you guys?

Yep, they should be on my doorstep in the morning actually. I got a tan one (for this suit) and a white one for my set of ATA that I'll build over the winter. My ATA lid kits might arrive in the morning too...

I won't be using the method of making the belt supplied by AM though. I'll be using a canvas belt with the plastic front mounted to it and the drop boxes sandwiched in the rivet on either side to the belt.

Simple really, the gap will be covered by the belt,