snoberg

What paint is correct for the ESB frown, a lot of the pictures I have seen make it look very matte, not quite a flat black but definitely not the testors gloss enamel I used on my ANH helmet.

There really aren't websites for them, but I would suggest browsing through the EIB threads to see full kits assembled in the proper way. It may take some digging, but you will soon find out, any information about TK suits requires a lot of digging. AM is a good kit, but as I am sure many others will tell you, it requires a lot of tweaking and a new helmet if you want to go for EIB with it.

I do not own the kit, but TM works well for taller people so I have been told. I am 6' and I own AP, and I can tell that if I were any taller I would be stretching the pieces apart a bit, especially at the knees. Having some space between the pieces is not necessarily a bad thing though, and with a little readjustment I think a 6'3" person could make AP work for them. Are you tall guy in the torso or in the legs?

Yeah, I totally sniff fumes all the ti... *droool*

Dirty, dirty awesomeness

I prefer a few layers of plasti dip. Primer is not needed, and the layers really add to the feel of the helmet. In addition, it sprays on black, so you have a darkened helmet which in my opinion is nice for little kids who can see up your neck, and into your lenses. Another thing that can make your dome feel more solid is some good padding. That is my new AP helmet, and it feels like a rock, I love it.

Did you fill your ear gaps? You must have, otherwise thats the best fit I have ever seen. I have debated doing it myself. What did you use, if that is the case?

Have you done your lenses yet, and what method do you plan on using to install them? I only ask because the method I used would have been a million times easier prior to assembly.

Ever since I made my AP helmet, I LOVE seeing them, I really do think AP has the best helmet out there, its so crisp and pretty every time I see it built.

I thought of that as well, I'm hoping to find something that will be a bit easier to clean and not as prone to collecting dirt and dust.

So I was out on my first unofficial troop, and it went really well, I managed to be in my armor for 5 hours without even wanting to take my dome off, HARDCORE! I brought my armor back home to assess the damage, and it held up really well except I have one small concern. My dropboxes seem to scratch the hell out of my upper thighs on the front where they rest, in addition they clackity clack everywhere I go, kinda loud and annoying. Is there any solutions for padding the backs of drop boxes to prevent this? I have inner drop boxes, so I was thinking some sort of thin white foam adhesive, but nothing is coming to mind.

They are similar, but E6000 has the potential for a more permanent bond when applied to both sides, allowed to set, and pressure on the join. E6000 is also a bit thinner, easier to smear into a nice layer. Stick with E6000, it is tried and tested among all of us.

The final part of my suit and I don't know how to assemble it. The only question I really have is how do you guys attach the tube panel? If the tube is painted grey first, how does it stick properly? Thanks in advance.

This sounds like the best thing to do, I can dremel a few 10mm dots off the barrel here and there for glue to rest on. Thanks man.

I don't think I'm going to get to sand down precise 10mm strips down the length of the barrel down to the bare pipe.

I had my blaster fully assembled and painted, it looks great, I will upload pics another day, but that is beside the point. When I built the blaster, I got it ready in a hurry for an event. Nothing was rushed on it, and it does not look sloppy at all, in fact it came out really well, except now I have one small issue... I finished the blaster without the T tracks. I have T track now, and they are also painted and ready to attach to the blaster. My issue is getting the two painted surfaces (gun barrel+t track) together in a strong bond. I am pretty opposed to sanding down the barrel to the PVC to get better contact, so I am looking for advice on what to do. Pin them somehow? A super duper super-y super glue? A satin clear coat that does not react with glues that I can apply to the gun and tracks? Ill run and get whatever I need to get it done, I just don't want to have to repaint the whole blaster because of it.

I think he has a weird variant -----------

I was browsing youtube and came across this. It has helped me a lot to understand all of the parts in my kit and their functions on the actual sterling SMG. I am of the opinion that knowing your project inside and out gives you a head start on assembly. This is especially helpful with a doopydoo kit, but I think any blaster build could learn a little something here. Sterling SMG info

Here are my final shots. Issues I know about and will not be addressing unless EIB is threatened (which I do not feel it will be) Low brow - I wanted a low brow to begin with, and it ended up a few mm lower than I had planned, but I like the way it looks and I am not going to disassemble the helmet, especially since the interior is now rubberized Thick pin stripe - The pin stripe tape I purchased might be a tad too thick, but it is going to stay the way it is, I am not going to paint over the tape edges in grey to make it thinner, that would defeat the purpose of the tape in the first place. If I run across some thinner stuff I might change it out someday. Things I may do in the future Frown mesh - I may add this later, I am still torn on whether or not to, one one hand I want to be screen accurate, on the other hand, screen mesh is a very nice idealized mod for a helmet Clip screws off inside - They catch on my balaclava all the time, I may clip them but it may make the helmet completely permanent in its current state if I do so (which I don't think really matters too much) Fans - So far, not a whole lot of fogging issues, heat might be a concern in the summer though Thanks to Keith for the killer hovis, Smitty for the lenses, Brian for the awesome padding and of course, AP for the sexiest helmet on the market.

SO, the question remains, is the egg cooked now?

Just do a really good job of taping it all off. I sealed the eyes and frown with blue tape, then placed the helmet inside a small garbage bag and taped it to the bottom rim, this allowed me to go crazy with it.

Thanks! The helmet is done now, I will get some shots up later tonight or tomorrow, it is sexy

I used plasti-dip on the inside of mine, you can get it in the spray, and its nice and smooth.

It looks like a pipe build to me, but the paint is freaking beautiful, is it all plastic/resin?

First off, amazing looking setup man, really clean and accurate. Can I ask what your blaster is and how you got that awesome looking finish on it?? I love how it has a semi-metallic look to it.