Darth Clouds

I tried strengthening that area with "abs goo", but it need some prior experience in using that stuff. If we use the wrong amount of acetone in the goo, bad news. It will also cause softening of the hovi tips area in the lid. I would recommend super glue because it is colourless, as compared to a two part epoxy. But be aware of the dust particles in the lid, if you happen to sand the dried super glue or epoxy. Some people are allegic to that type of dust. I will post some pictures over the weekend on my build------------ pertaining to my attempt in strengthening that area. Well, I have not found the time to consolidate them as yet but here is some of them piece meal.

I just received my TE2 full suit and I like it! And I am hoping to get a TM as well. And IMO both are just as great. But I do not understand the logic of the comment, if the TE2 is closest to a screen used suit than why is it not the most faithful representation of what was seen on screen (ANH/ESB)?? Just curious and try to learn more for TK armors.

Thank you for sharing. I have to show my appreciation for your sharing.

It looks like it is a large U-shaped green face visor used on the lid posted by TE. Therefore, it covered only the first and 3/4 of the second frown vent, the third and fourth frown vent on the right is blank, not covered by the visor. In this respect I would think that it is due to the incidental application of larger U-shaped visor in that few particular lids due to resource availability, and not the intention to cover the frown vents with green flim by design. The picture is not conclusive evidence.

Glass Reinforced Plastic. Heres the site to tell you more: -----

Smitty, Just one word to described it; AWESOME! That pic is an inspiration! Peace

Hey dude, Fear is not the enemy, you are your own enemy, therefore fear not...just do it! And good luck with your build! But hmm.... I was suppose to get a package from THE MAN somewhere this week too, wonder if it was wrong delivery.....could you check the note in your package if it is addressed to me ? I sure you will have a merry christmas.... and please check the note.. Peace.

Hi, Thanks for the encouragement. More importantly, I hope this post helps rather than take up valuable disk storage space. Now for the right eye. Patience! Patience! Rushing and impatience causes accidents. 10) Using the dowel, I poked holes along the lines that I have drawn. My right palm is getting tired. So I rested rather than screw it up. Then I continued.... 11) Now for the incisions... again I press the blade of the hobby knife vertically downwards into the line of holes that I made with the dowels. I avoid cutting along the line to avoid slipping. Stab along the lines. With that many holes, it only require very minimal effort to push the blade down through the holes and cut through. Therefore, keep your fingers hold the lid far away from the blade. Point to note: Look at the pictures, the cutting edge of the blade (identified with a red arrow in the first picture) should always be facing away from the edges of the eyes lids to avoid accidents and the need to use abs goo to repair. Applying this technique, you are not suppose to cut continuously in one direction. But vary the facing of the cutting edge of the blade, thus having to cut in opposite directions if necessay, starting from each end of the eye lids and work toward the center. Safety: Always communicate with your other hand before every incision of the blade, WHERE ARE YOUR FINGERS NOW? 12) After the incisions, the unwanted piece should fall away like this; 13) And the right eye looking like this; And more abs waste for the goo My right hand needs a massage..... before I start sanding and filing.

6) To save some time and effort, I applied this method to only the curvatures of the eye which I think needs special attention. After cutting throught the guiding holes, I bent the unwanted piece carefully to allow the application of the side cutter. 7) And I continue to snip away on the straighter lines using the side cutter along the line that I had drawn. Patience is the key and angle of the cutter is important. Cut small triangle pieces to remove the unwanted material inorder to make room so that you can work your cutter. And the following picuture is the mess created in this process. 8) Applying the same poke and cut technique I applied to finish up on the other corner of the left eye. 9) And here is the rough cut result which need sanding at our own leisure and preference. Remember, eyes are the window of the soul. So work it slowly and lovingly. And I am keeping the clean abs pieces to make the "goo" to strengthen the weak areas. I have to stop for now and will post more as I progress. I will continue with the right eye by using a slightly different technique because of the infamous "Bump". With special attention to the holding of the hobby knife's cutting edge inrelation to edges of the eye lids. Hope this helps. And please feel free to critic and advise for improvement for the readers, because this may not be the best and most effective method but worked for me..... so far.

5) Then I start to use my hobby knife to press through these holes. Point to note; if you have to use considerable amount of strength to cut, then the number of holes are insufficient and if you slip, you may damage the lid. The whole idea of the holes is to reduce the structural integrity of the surface material where you are cutting. Patience. Also, press directly into the lines with holes. I use only vertical force. I avoided cutting horizontally to avoid slippage of the blade and damaging the sides of the eye. Safety point; Where are YOUR fingers on the other side of the lid? Keep asking yourself this question to avoid cutting yourself. Having a good grip on the lid and your work tool is very important to avoid accidents. You must find your own holding technique that you are comfortable with, safety, safety. Remember, you have to use those finger to scratch you an impolite person and pull the blaster trigger in the armor that you endeavour to complete.

3) I begin to scribe on the lines with the modelling knife to make a light grove as a guide for the dowel pin so that I will not slip when I make the indents using the sharp pointed dowel. 4) Then I start using the dowel pin by poking through the abs, making tiny holes along the lines that I have drawn with the marker. I paid special attention to the curvatures at the corners of the eyes, the more holes the better the guide when you start cutting in the next stage. I poked from the front and back to make sure these tiny holes are dense and close to each other.

Hi all, I have been from zero newbie in TK armor, and now have acquired some good armor from respectable members of the community. And have also benefited from member builders who share their knowledge and good advice. This method may not be new, I decide to take sometime to document my build and share some of my modelling knowledge in the hope to contribute for the good of the community and potential fellow newbies in TK armor. But in the process, if I screw up , you will know what NOT to follow and avoid at all cost. And I hope that members can chip in to advise or critic the process, please. I have acquired an AP set of armor and will start my build with the helmet. Before I start my build, I inspected the relevant pieces and found some weak points in the vac form, mainly in the depressions and sharp corners. I hold the pieces against a light source since thinner areas will let more light pass through, and I identified these weak areas that are damaged or prone to damage, that I have to work on and strengthen later by using the God sent advise from "TI 3844" , please see this link: http://whitearmor.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2041 Here are the pictures showing the thinner areas against the light source. 1) Here is the setup that I will use to begin the trimming of the eyes. I am not going to use dremmel. Just simple tools; a cutting mat, dowel, fine tamiya marker pen, tamiya modelling knife and a pair of tamiya straight side cutter. ( I am not advertising, just happen to have these from my miniature modelling) Point to remember: Good tools are important, it will save you alot of efforts and costly mistakes. Safety first, the workbench must be tidy. 2) Than I set out to mark the eye areas of the lid with a safety distance from the edges.

Hi, Thank you for the tip. I will definitely give it a try and feedback. Thanks again.

Hi, Thank you for responding. The vendor claims that the glue is in-house developed and not willing to disclose.

Hi I just received my tie lid from a UK vendor but I decided that I need to disassemble the whole mohawk assembly due to misalignments and parts poping out. Any advice is much appreciated. Please see the pictures to understand what I mean. Thank you in advance.

I am awaiting for my AP armor. And I read this thread with interest and its very informative. I agree with GUNS; Way to go TrooperMaster! I am sure, I will have to visit this thread again and very often, as well as Kiyotei's armor build thread. Thanks guys, you make this forum the way it should be! Happy to be a part of it.

Sent as a small token of appreciation for the existence of this wonderful forum.

Hi, But I can't find the "controls". Please help. Tks.

young and innonent....I believe that moment was "priceless"....for you TK.

Thanks Apone, And that's a 10-4, Rusty. Thats why I want to get the movie for the younglings, they are my mother's brother's daughter's cousins' husbands' sons. JAM THEIR RADAR!!!!

Hey, ItsThatMan thanks! I found the movie. And thanks for the welcomes and guide. I have seen that movie on the big screen when my friends and I hanged out when we were school kids (LOL) thats a long time ago. It really brings back memories seeing that it had such an impact on you guys too. I had a good laugh right from the beginning of that movie with a long long long long......long death star chasing the tantive. and throwing out coffee with the vader mask down. Erhm..EK..Cough..ER.. You know alien language? No, I was just clearing my throat.

Hmmmmm........I see that my shwarts is longer than yours

Hi Huttman, I came on board a little late to help answer your question. But late better than never I hope. Follow this link to a japan blog written in english, very informative and humorous. The owner of the blog troop in TK armor in Japan and had quite an experience with the said supplier. He has vader stuff too. I am not making a judgement here because all of us have different experiences. So enjoy this site. ----------- CORDIALLY FROM ME TO YOU.

Hi, I am new to the forum. I am wondering if any of you have come across this movie because I am trying to find it now without any success. It is a spoof of ANH, comedy shown on the big screen in the early 80s'. If I recall correctly, the deceased actor "John Candy" was chewbaca. Hope you guys can give me the headsup if available. CORDIALLY FROM ME TO YOU.