Rich330

Here we go then. Here's the 2012 version ....

I've got an old version on my PC but it's really tempramental. If Ive got anything else running it won't open. I'll give it another go when I finsih work and can close all my work apps.

That's the one! Hold blaster in awkward pointing-out-of-the-chest pose, squeeze the chest plate in and stand to attention ... Remember these with the 1mm suit? Time for a new version ....

Positioning of original strapping as below. You don't need to use the original system, you can put a heavy duty snap system in, just reproducing the positioning of the fastening points. On the outside it still does a good impression of the original suit. And yeah, the braces/suspenders method is rubbish ...

Result!

And finally ..... helmet off .... .... .....

Just waiting on my tube stripe templates to be abeo to complete the ANH costume but, with my old 1mm TM helmet (and my old handguards because I was too lazy to sew the new ones ... ) I already have my ESB costume. So, it was out onto the patio to take advanage of the Tenerife sun for a first suit-up. I couldn't be happier. I really love what Paul has done (and keeps doing) with his armour developments and I'm really pround of the work I put into this one myself. I don't think there's even anything I want to tweak. Really happy with this one .... :D Oh, yeah, I know the elastic on the shoulder straps isn't necessarily accurate for ESB. I'll get suitably taped up for any troops as an ESB trooper, I promise!

The acrylic capped material is obviously the really pure white looking stuff (handguards with stitching) which is a bit shinier. But wahat about that new ABS? The perfect level of gloss and the perfect ivory colour?

Here are a couple of photos in natural light showing the very glossy 1.5mm ABS (current armour build) next to the acrylic capped ABS which TM also supplies

Bit of painting, bit more assembly, trimmed the ears and am now very happy with those. Just waiting for the grey traps to dry before adding the blacke stripes. Also realised I haven't got any tube stripe templates so I ordered some of those. The helmet will have to be a Mr. No Stripes until they arrive. I think the only thing I have left to do on the armour is paint the ab buttons and attach my holster. Test fitting soon then ....

Cheers, both. I'm thinking maybe a millimetre all round, just following the same curves (seeing as they fit nicely as they are).

Ears are on and the rivets are perfectly concealed .... phew! Might trim the easr thinner at some point. They're quite thick and flush-fitting at the moment. It's a ice look but there aren't too many orignal helmets like it. Opinions welcome. But what a lovely helmet! :wub:

Thanks for all the kind words, chaps. Really enjoying this build. I've stocked up on my white yarn to finish sewing my shoulder elastic and all going well, I'll be finished this evening. I think the rivets will be OK, Paul. I guess I should have searched a bit harder for those refs. As I didn't have them, I was referencing the 1mm ESB helmet you built for me in late 2010. The rivets on that are in pretty much the same place and they're hidden just fine. We'll see later on when I finish work ...

I love that video. I love a good tragic comedy!

Bit of spare time this afternoon so I tackled the helmet. It took me a good three hours just to get to the stage where it's trimmed and riveted (no ears on, no paint yet etc.). Two or more of those hours were spent just positioning, clamping, repositioning, taking apart, trimming the brow, reassembling, positioning, clamping, unclamping, repositioning, clamping etc. I messed up badly on a helmet once so I was taking my time this time round. I think it was worth it. For the first time ever, i have got exactly the brow height that I wanted and it seems to all sit nicely in place, ready to take the ears. :)

Just a bit of white yarn and a few dabs of grey and blue paint way from finsihing the armour .... ... helmet up soon.

Things change fast around here huh? I was looking at my Centurion thread which was pretty much "cutting edge" when I built the armour. There's a surprising amount for things I'm doing differently this time around with the new build.

So you did get that part right!

Be careful not to copy Mathias' photo. He has the hooks facing the wrong way. Look at Paul's photo for a better indication of how they should be fitted. The hooks hook into the plastic from the outside, that way your ankle doesn't get in the way.

Not entirely sure if I understand. Do you mean whether I trimmed off all the return edge so that the parts run out flat at the edge? If so, not entirely, but I left hardly any return edge on becasue the shins are quite slim-fitting and I have quite meaty calves. I even ended up putting a couple of shims in becasue I couldn't get the armour to close successfully with and overlap.

Good luck with the build. Mark has given the kit a lot of attention, making sure it all lines up correctly. As a result it's very easy to put together and turns out looking great.

FX