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I searched the forums and did not find an answer. How thick should the drop boxes be trimmed down to??

Progress update 02/20/11: I have these parts all trimmed and any return edges sanded. I can start adding the snap plates this week. I know for some this can be done quickly. I am picky, so it takes a bit. The button strip is junk. Sanded too much off. <_< The nice thing about ATA. I have his number, he likes me and replacement pieces are fairly priced! Next on my agenda is shins.

My biceps are only a measly 14". <_< If you get the HIPS kit, shimming will be a lot easier. If you get an ABS kit, ask for a spare right bicep right from the get go.

Okay I added a pic to my original post. The right bicep fits snugly and that is with no return edge. The left bicep won't fit without some kind of shimming. Mine are ABS, so I won't be painting.

Called ATA last night. I have a right bicep on the way. I have also requested another left bicep inside part. I am going to cut and stretch that section. I'll glue in the shim and use ABS paste to hide that section. Then, sand, sand, sand, sand, buff, buff, polish, polish.

The thing is, I think I can go accurate sized strips on the right bicep. ETA. Okay, maybe not on the right either. However, not as small as the left. Hmmm.. need to sleep on it.

Okay, most of the stuff in the ATA ABS kit fits pretty good. The biceps are going to be an issue. I don't have giant guns or anything, but there is no way the biceps are going to work if I use accurate sized cover strips. If I go accurate sized cover strip on the front, I will probably have to go with a 1.5" strip on the back! What have other ATA owners done? Suggestions? ETA: This pic is borrowed from another build thread. If it is not okay to use, let me know and I will remove it.

How does the left bicep fit? Were you able to use accurate size cover strips front and back? If so, how tiny is your left arm??

Liking it!!!

The gluing of the cover strips is on hold, until I get some magnets. I do not have enough clamps or long enough clamps to do the job properly. I found some on eBay and will get them today. I will work on the body parts while waiting. ETA: (30) 3/4" round magnets ordered today.

#3

Hey mrgr8ness, how's it going! Now that the weekend is over, I will get back to working on this kit. Will try and get some progress done this week.

Are you trying to reuse the ABS?

I am in route to ATA now. I won't be able to post any more pics until tonight or tomorrow.

Okay, first pics. Taped up leg fitting. I am pretty happy. I know it is safe to final trim and get it ready for the butt join. And I was too lazy to dig out my dive skin. LOl!

Yo Sixx! How are you doing? I bought them at my local hobby shop. Ask for canopy shears or lexan shears and you want the curved ones. This is the brand: Lexan scissors If you can't find them locally, they are readily available online.

Update 02/10/11: (No pics, it was lunch hour and I was in my box briefs). During my lunch hour I did a quick trim to the calves and thighs as I was starting to worry they might not fit. Quick check. Calves and thighs will work with no shims! In fact it is like they were made to fit me! I will post pics up tonight showing a lower half tape fitting. For years, I used tin ships to trim down ABS and then had to follow up with a Dremel. Tin snips aren't that precise, so a lot of material was left to grind off. I HATED trimming as that part of the process was so freaking slow. <_< Terrell suggested this tool. It is THE bomb! I can't believe these tiny little scissors can cut through ABS! Since I can trim so close, the clean up with a Dremel or sandpaper is going to be minimal! I will again be visiting the ATA Man Cave on Friday. I will try and get pics, but I don't know if I can get a camera past the Body Image Scanner and pat down. Terrell is also armed during my visit.

Looking good! One suggestion, cut a piece of scrap foam to fill out your cumberbund pockets. I did that for my wife's TB. It looks better, and you can still put stuff in the pockets if you want to. Not the best pic, but it will show what I am talking about. And check out the Lancers! Click ME!

I think I will work on the handplates or maybe the belt tonight to calm.

Technically no, but when you are doing the butt join with a cover strip, that is the "seamless" aspect when you think about it. But yeah, I get your point! ABS OR HIPS Clones. Cut, cut! Oops! Patch, fill and paint! ABS TK. Cut, cut, oops! $Hit! Buy replacement parts. Don't do that mistake again.

Whoever said, "A TK is easier to build than a clone". When I find that person I am going to kick their a$$! Terrell is trying to talk me down, I believe he now regrets selling me an armor kit! Frustration level is very high. I will be making a run back to the ATA Man Cave for replacement parts.

You are coming all the way to Muskegon to help me! You rock!

Who's Paul?

ARGH!! Why is the hobby shop closed on Mondays?!?!?