drosch

I'm totally baffled at this point. I'm almost 6'2". A little tall for a stormtrooper. It's my understanding that the original guys were much shorter. I have the thigh pieces of my new AP suit pulled up were the point at the top in the fronts cut into my groin/hip area when I try to lift my legs yet the bottoms cut into the back of my knees when I try to fully bend my knees. What gives? Something doesn't add up. I've been kicking around cutting some away from the back of the knees but I'm not sure. What do you guys think? Thanks

Mine really doesnt match up too well either. Although I have not used the iron yet. Just a ton of trimming, re-trimming, and then trimming again. You can always take more off but you can't put it back on! Take your time and you can make it fit.

Can't say enough about AP. I received mine about 2 weeks ago. Took about 2 1/2 weeks from order to arrival although I was lucky enough to catch him in the middle of an pre-Halloween run so if you catch him on an off time it may take longer but is worth it. Screen accurate and in more durable ABS. Mine came directly from Canada. I don't have the box anymore to tell you where exactly but it was somewhere right over the boarder from NY. Not the easiest to assemble but way better looking than my FX.

I too have my credit, debit, and bank accounts all registered with paypal. Have never had a problem and you are insured on your transactions if the stuff never shows. Paypal makes online life so easy!

Good eye on the brow. I actually thought it wasnt that noticeable and you picked it right up. I think I'm just gonna cut the cap a little to adjust the one side up a touch. I really dont want to take it apart and adjust the screw holes again. My hold up seems to be with vocoder. Again it just doesnt feel right and I like the one on my first helmet better. I guess you always like your first one best! Too bad the plastic shades are way off or I could just use that one. Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here is more than you want to know about the second one! LOL! I still use it! ---------

Instant classic

OK here are some pics. This is my second AP lid and I have the first one sitting right here to compare. Hopefully you guys can look this over and see if there is something I need to change. Something just doesn't feel right. See what you think. Still need to add lenses, screen, aerators, tube stripes, and details to the ear pieces, as well as paint the screws and add the neck trim. But this is pretty much what I got right now. My camera is down right now so I took these with my Crackberry!

If it came fully trimmed and you dont have to cut too much plastic you might be ok. I have been working on my AP for almost 2 weeks and I'm just getting to the strapping and final assembly. The only bad part is with any project of this type....if you rush it, it usually looks that way!

OK! I'm a complete moron! I thought I was going to do something new and different and really just ended up wasting alot of time. I tried to use a 2 part epoxy to glue the snaps directly onto my armor. Figured if it held the heads of my golf clubs on it would hold some metal snaps to some plastic. Wrong! Once the straps were applied and pulled on the snaps came right off the epoxy. I should have just done like pretty much everyone else on this board does and use the plastic tabs. So tomorrow I will be making about 20 plastic tabs. My fingers hurt already just thinking about it.

I'm usually one of the idealized guys wanting everything to look polished and maintained like the real military. That being said I think that looks really good! I wouldn't touch a thing. Can't wait to see what it looks like after several more!

One question. Can someone post a closeup or a link to a closeup of the plastic shoulder straps. I know they get glued onto the chest and left free in the back but I'm not sure how close to the ribs to trim them. Is it tight to the ribs or is there some flat area a 1/16 to an 1/8 or so left on there. Or give me an overall width. As usual the help is greatly appreciated!

OK. A week in and here's the update. I know you guys like pics but who know when I'm going to get around to that. (I'm on a deadline here!) Anyway. Helmet is trimmed and final assembly is completed. The ears came out tighter my last one which you all thought looked pretty good. I'm really happy with it so far! Still needs paint, decals, lenses (Smitty) and Hovis (Stomper) and a custom interior if I ever get around to it before D day. Ab and Kidney plates are assembled with rivets and snaps along with the necessary side gap covers (You skinny guys suck!) The chest, back and butt pieces are also assembled along with all needed snap points and straps. Shoulder bell snaps are drying as I type and should be ready tomorrow. Biceps have both been final trimmed and assembled with inside strip and after dry time should just need cleaned up and the outside strip applied. Same goes for the thigh pieces. They are drying and should just need final adjustment with model iron and outside strip. Mom is going to start on sewing the belt this weekend so should have it in place by early next week. Mom has been a huge help so far. Still need to do the forearms and the calf pieces but dont forsee any problems there. Biggest issue is I keep running out of clamps and magnets! Back to Harbor Freight tomorrow fo sho!! Up to this point it has been going slow but I'm getting alot of the details upfront. I know that point is coming where everything is just going fall into place nicely.

This was funny. I am building my AP right now and I thought I was looking at pics of my own suit. You are definitely not alone. I'm right with you brother!

I'm also concidering cutting the small amount of plastic that "cups" back toward the butt plate. I know there is not as much material on the AP as on the FX but I think it would be more comfortable. Just wondering what you guys think?

Just got back from Detroit! Left home yesterday and went to Winsor ON, Canada. Hit the casino, experienced the night life, got 3 hours sleep and attended the Steelers vs. Lions game today at Ford Field! Steelers 28 - Lions 20. So all is well with the world! I'm dead tired so I'm going to bed! Great weekend! Great people up there in Michigan and north of the boarder!

I couldn't find any recent discussions on this but remember it being a topic a while back. Have many of you cut the cod from the ab plate to aid in bending over and relieving yourself? How have you done it? How well does it work? Is it worth it?

Yeah I think I've been through that about 10 times in preparation. I was sitting there last night with the laptop right next to me glued to those pics. It really is a good tutorial! Thanks!

Got my kit earlier today! 38 Individual Parts 4 1/2 Hours 1 Sharp knife And a big pile of scraps And it begins with a marathon trimming session. In 4 and a half hours I got all of the parts "rough" trimmed. Now its a matter of going back piece by piece and starting to get them to fit but I think I got a good start for the first day. I will try to take some pics. You guys seem to like those!

PM Sent

I believe it was cheaper purchasing directly from him. You figure there are additional fees. PM me if you need the contact info.

------------- I always get a chuckle over the ridiculously short guy they threw up front!

Donation sent! A bunch of plastic that fulfills a childhood dream - $1000+ FISD Titanium Donation - $25 All of the friends, help and advice I have received from this site - PRICELESS! It's such a small cost for a huge return - Thanks as always guys! Keep up the great work!

Thanks man! Good to see you again too! I just want to get started on this new armor! Still haven't finished that first blaster either! LOL! I'm getting to it though!

Mine arrives on Wednesday with intention of having it done for a Halloween party! I don't think it will be done in 6 days but you are certainly giving me hope! Looks great so far! Congrats!