Rich330

Oops! Sorry, Pablo. I initially thought you were joking and theat the two sets of stripes are identical. Looking at them again, it seems they're not. I have indeed now swapped them so they are as displayed on Mike's site. Good eye, P! Thus ...

OK, I've done that now and replaced all the photos with photos with the tube stripes on the correct sides.

I asked a Scottish friend on his opinion and he said it all comes down to one thing ... "Some armours look screen accurate but the Disney ..... disney (sic)"

You've put that together very nicely. I didn't have that much luck with the AP I built lining up. It needed lots of trimming and readjustment afterwards. But it's a nice helmet when it's all put together.

Bar a little bit of white paint on the screws and a chunk of foam inside, the helmet is done. Just waiting on my holster and then I'll be ready to sign up with the Legion and go for EIB. ANH version to follow after that too.

Thanks, Paul. It's wonderful armour, I spent a lot of time adjusting it and got great advice on this forum last night. It wouldn't look half as good without the FISD! Looking at the pictures again, I'm actually going to have a look at raising the back plate a little more at some point. It seemed to sit higher this morning .. Anyway, I'm ready to tackle the helmet next ...

I think it's mission accomplished with the armour. I'm going to trim a bit more from the forearms for comfort and freedom of movement but as far as the fit is concerned, I think it's all looking pretty decent. I even had a shave!

Damián pretty much named them all I think. We do have a Biker Scout in Tenerife too. Other than that there is a small group of other costume fans (3 or 4 stormtroopers) getting together with the local 501st members to do unofficial troops. One guy with Rubies armour and an MRCE helmet signed up with the Spanish Garrison forum recently to ask what modifications he needed to do to join. He didn't seem very receptive to the help offered though.

Thanks, Pablo. I'll bear that all in mind. Your builds/photos are superb.

Oops, seems our posts crossed ... Yep, 1.72 m (just short of 5'8"). I agreed in principle, don't get me wrong, but it took Paul to point out how simple it is to alter. I plan to get a hero helmet done some day and convert the AP to a full Luke-style suit with grappling hook and comlink but that's another project for another day ...

I thin I've pretty much sorted out all the little issues. Probably won't get round to a proper suit-up until the weekend but here's what I've managed to sort out so far ... I trimmed a little bit off the back plate tab and added a new snap to the webbing to raise it a good 1-2cm. Seems to have worked a treat. I also trimmed out the neck opening and can now breath just fine! I added two more rows of female snaps inside the abdomen and have got that area nice and snug with an overlap. Really minor, simple modifications but really effective. Thanks again, Damián and Paul. These little thinsg make the difference between and OK build and a really great one!

Thanks, Paul. Really glad/relieved to get your feedback on that. OK, so now ther's two of you. I consider myself well and truly outvoted. I'll make that my next project. I'd never considered having the tabs meet and automatically left a gap. So, it should be an easy fix. You reckon? I've really been trying to avoid trimming the chest plate, hence the high positioning. And I think I just about got it hight enough to show enough of the buttons without chopping off the return edge. I'll see how high I and get the back plate and then decide whether I need to trim that. Forearms are great so far. I'll do a final check when I suit up with the biceps lowered. Thanks, lads. Really appreciate the feedback.

Hi Damián, I agree with the points you make but I don't think I can do much about the back overlapping. I'm an inch or so smaller than you and probably a good 2 to 3 inches smaller than the actor in your screen grab. To be honest, I don't mind the overlap so I won't leave too much sleep over it. There are a couple of shorter troopers to be seen in the first Star Wars film and I'm sure if we look at them from the back, they'd have the same ovelap. If I get really ambitious, I suppose I could cut the (internal) shoulder straps shorter and raise the whole thing a bit. Hmmmm ... maybe ... I think I'm just thinner rather than the armour being cut any different. I could trim a whole lot out of the side, that's true but I'm going to try the overlap thing first. It looks great on Pablo (if indeed I'm seeing right) and it means if I put on a load of weight, I can still wear my TM without shims! To give you some idea how slim I am, this is me in AP: I trimmed it to its natural lines and it fits like a glove with room to spare at the sides. As I say, "skinny bugger". I've done most of my modifications already anyway. On to the helmet next, and before you know it, we'll be trooping together!

You're right. I've already lowered the biceps and I think that makes the whole arm combo look better too. Oh, and thanks for the compliment.

6. I need to cheer up and get a shave!

Well, it's official: I'm a skinny little b**ger! Completed the armour and had a first test fitting. I nearly got downhearted for a moment but I think I've worked it out. These are shots of my first test and my conclusions ... 1. I could not be happier with the legs. The thighs and calves alike are perfect and I don't even need any trimming inside the back of the knee to walk freely. 2. The shoulders look a little large on me but I think any trimming would ruin the overall look of the pieces. No big deal; I'm just quite small and slim. 3. I need to lower my biceps a little (I'll add a new longer piece of elastic). Making the arms look longer may also help make the shoulders look less oversized. 4. I have managed to mount the chest so that it sits high and doesn't cover my buttons. As a result the neck line is too high and chokes a little. Need to lose a centimetre or so from the opening. 5. The biggie and the one that nearly got me down a bit: The torso is huge on me! It also puffs out the chest a bit making it look too large. I thought for a moment I was going to have to start hacking off all my fasteners and trimming down the sides but I think I have my solution .... I unfastened the snaps and pulled my belt tight, allowing the side of the armour to overlap (I was looking at some of Pablo's photos and it seems he's done the same - thanks Pablo!). Here's (what for me at least) is the vastly improved look after letting the armour overlap ... I think I'm going to put in a second row of female snaps on the inside of each side of the abdomen so I can secure the armour with the overlap - nice and snug around my gut. I really would welcome your opinions and suggestions on this and any other aspect the general fitting though.

I remember the one. Very nice!

Daft sod!

What helmets are you going to be using, Brian?

Don't you remember the days before CDs when we constantly had to replace our vinyl records becasue they kept fraying?

Great place to start. It was the one thing that finally gave me the confidence to take on the butt joints for my first build. It's not really that difficult - it's just a question of being properly prepared - and the Stukatrooper pictures give you all the information you need. Good luck.

Another very constructive day. I was up at 6.30 am on my day off to start buildign straight away. I can't sleep when there's armour in the house! The armour itself is very near finished, wtih all snaps and strapping in place. Just got to attach bits like the sniper plate etc. and get the belt put together. Then I'll be on to the helmet. Back to work again tomorrow! Sorting snaps, but the dogs are convinced they're some kind of edible treat! Progress pics ...

It's how it was done on the original suits (used in ANH & ESB). It's not a requirement for the 501st Legion or even for EIB but if you want to "go the extra mile" ... It's more work but it looks great and is very rewarding. I chose to cut off the overlaps from the AP I built and with TM, of course, you have no choice, it's a direct replica of an ANH suit (i.e. no ROTJ lineage and no overlapped seams). I personally would always do butt joints, regardless of what kit it is.

As we're talking about details ... I have been working on the torso of my TM kit a lot today and I noticed something I had never picked up on from photos. The TM very accurately replicates certain nuances of the abdomen area that you don't notice till you have the parts in your hands. First off, the slightly bulbous left-hand side that you can see clearly in this picture ... ----------- ... and how the way the "circuit" design in the ab area is very off-centre. It's really quite a wonky piece of work and it's all reflected in the TM kit. It just keeps blowing me away the more I discover.

More photos as promised ... ---------- not confusing.