dork_jedi

Hey, Luis, you live, you learn.

I saw that when I saw the CRL change specific to the AM kit. With all the modifications I had to do with my AM kit I think what I'm going to end up doing is when I free up some cash, I'll buy an ATA kit, build that, (shimming out the thighs) then sell the AM. i think it will be less headaches in the long run based on my height and weight. I think I made a mistake going with the AM. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think the AM kit looks BAD per se, I just think I, personally, would look better in an ATA kit.

TK8603 requesting 501st Access http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=14049 Thanks!

Hey Mike, Yes, I got accepted! (TK8603) Nope, no changes to the shoulder bells, though I got a recommendation to shorten them a bit this past weekend. other changes I've made (and still have to make) I replaced the nylon taint strap with elastic, also the straps that I use to keep the chest and back close to the ab/kidney (respectively) I replaced the nylon strap from the shoulder bells to the shoulder with elastic because if I overstretched my bells would snap off on me. Be careful with your calves, I put mine together wrong, there's a problem with the AM molds and still need to fix them. I was having all sorts of problems with my calves turning so I put a snap on the outside of my ankles on the elastic part of my boots to connect to the calf, they haven't turned yet, but are a bit og f a pain to line up and snap. My forearms are still a bit large on me and I am probably going to need to cut them apart and take a little girth off of them. I have to finish my thermal detonator, just been strapped for time on weeknights and been having too much fun trooping to fix it. I'm home from work for the remainder of this week and depending on how I feel I may be able to get some more of these fixes finished.

@ Pandatrooper and Dashrazor: Thank you guys for the comments. I took the suggestions and reversed the knee plate and filled the holes. @Tkresonva: I didn't see your message till after I had taken my submission pix but those are on my "to do list". I hope these are good enough for approval.

Hey Terry, - The thighs are already tight, not sure how I would get my leg in if i pulled the cover strips off and resized them. As far as length, Plastic Fury pulled an inch off already and was wary about taking more off to avoid huge gaps between the calves or the cod. - I don't understand "the calves are not assembled properly", I *originally* put them together outsides to outsides, insides to insides, then pulled them apart (god bless e6000) and redid them properly. As I'm using the butt-join/cover strip method I was told to have the outside half overlap the inside. did I do that backwards? - Torso is right against me, unless I drop the 30lbs I need to it's tight. - How would you suggest raising the back? Trim the bottom edge? (Plastic Fury and I cut off a good chunk already on the bottom) - "sides of the chest" you mean where the arms go or below where it almost meets the back? - biceps fit, I am just able to get my hands through them and if they are not snapped to shoulder and my arm is straight they don't move. Thanks for the suggestions, hope you don't mind clarifying. I referred a lot to your build.

I know I'm missing the following: Neck seal Drop boxes Paint on knee plate rivets Thermal Detonator They will all be on tomorrow and I will submit photos then, but for the time being: Front Back: Left: Right: Note: I have MONSTER thighs and calves which is the reason I went with the AM kit. It was a struggle to get the parts to look (IMO) appropriate on me. I think the calves are wonky but because my actual calves are weird shaped I don't know what to do. Special thanks to Brandyn and Plastic Fury from the Everglades Squad for all the help in this build!

Thanks guys, made the modifications to the chest and back tonight and tomorrow or wed will shorten up the kidney plate! If it weren't for my tree-trunk thighs, I woulda gone with an ATA, but I don't think it would have fit properly even with shims. Thus we have had to shorten almost every piece of armor in the AM kit... Read through Panda's buld a few times too, some things I still need help with. Thank you and thanks Brandyn, my buddy helping me finish this.

Hey guys, working on the chest/back, ab and kidney tonight and last with Brandyn. We looked at ANH and I know the AM kit isn't 100% screen accurate but due to my size I think we're going to need to cut the chest and back to make it look right. Can you guys provide some guidance? This is the reason I suggested the cuts. What do you guys think?

Any TK's out there who used the Tandy 1238 clips. I was told to cut off the return portion (where it curls up so you can get it over your belt normally), but I'm curious if I should cut the length off the other end. See pic below.

Hey guys, I just finished putting my front covering strips on my thighs and a thought occurred to me...I have small gaps at the bottom and I'm curious if I should rip apart my thighs to fix it or leave it be because they won't be seen once I have my kneeplate and ammo pack on? I can always fix them later... Close up: Full piece:

Thanks for the responses guys. Terry, thanks, I'm really wary about warming up anything with a heat gun or hair dryer, i've seen some mistakes and I've already made my fair share. I tried first with the plastic knives and they worked like a charm. The knife plastic is soft enough that it doesn't scratch the ABS but the serrations are strong enough to get into the E6K and allowed me to work with it. Got the strip off and just re-glued it. Thanks again, all. Especially you, Luis.

Thanks Luis. What would I do without you...

So I was rushing and kinda goofed up my forearms. I applied the cover strips for the back of my forearms with E6000 and when I clamped them down they turned a bit and I didn't notice until they were dry and I took the clamps off. what's the best way to remove the strips and glue without damaging the armor? Normally with stray globs of E6 I can just warm it up with the friction of my thumbnail but I (obviously) can't get in there with my thumb. I was thinking a plastic knife like you would use at a cookout would be a good start, any other ideas? (I'll take pix tonight after work and find out if I should even be worried about them at all). Thanks guys, Ray

Thanks Panda. Another one real quick: the covering strips, rounded corners or straight. I am having a hard time telling from the photos I'm seeing.

Hey guys, back once again. Fixed the forearms problem. Doing better. My question now is: I see PandaTrooper suggesting tapering the thighs on my AM kit. I did a *quick* search and don't see a tutorial on how. Do I glue the front and taper just the back or should I taper both front and back then glue? I have big thighs (the reason I bought the AM kit) but full sized thighs are insane. Thanks again guys!

hrmmm. looks like i fouled it up with those small parts...any ideas? Should I contact TupperwareTK and see if I can get my hands on replacement parts? Should I try it with a thinner, skinnier, single strip like Panda's (no parking sign). I totally see what you did there Panda, thank you so much for the feedback. Do you see a way I can salvage this?

Thank you all for your help and tips, please keep 'em coming!! Thank you again!

Sorry, i wasn't clear in my idea. take the forearm as two halves left and right. if i glue my inner strips to one side (say the right) and let it dry and cure then come back with the left side and glue and clamp that into place. I too am using the scrap for the interior strips, but i am afraid they may be too wide (see pix above) and so putting a wierd pressure on the opposite side. Panda, boy am I glad to hear from you, i left 7mm as half of the 15mm covering strip on the side of the forearm with the ridge(see 1st and 3rd pictures). I then tried to butt up the two pieces together and apply the inner shims. I think some of my problem is the pieces of armor I'm trying to glue are curved and the inner strips are not. the inner strips are also of a heavy ABS (they're scraps of the AM armor) thus they don't flex well so when i remove the clamps they immediately apply pressure to the glue, add a flex and *pop*. do you think perhaps the omnipresent "no parking sign" would produce a better plastic (more flexible) and better inner shim?

Would I be making my life infinitely more difficult if I were to glue the inner tabs inside let them set then come back and glue the other half of the piece together? Also, looking the the pictures and especially the bicep, should the inner tabs be skinnier? (or of a thinner material? I'm curerntly using scrap ABS which may be too thick?)

I *do* sand (long time building models I guess) and lightly score to add surface area for bonding. I haven't rinsed & dried as I figured tapping it should shake out the majority of the plastic dust but I will try that tonight. Really? 2-3 days? I really can't do any worse than I already have. i'll try it your way.

Getting a little discouraged. Ripped apart my left forearm Saturday night to reglue it. The first attempt had one end a little above where it should sit flush So i ripped it apart, pulled off the e6000 and reglued. I waited the 24 hours then about 11pm last night i decided I was going to pick up my armor mess and put it in my box for the night. I unclamped these 2 pieces and pulled off my magnets, when I flexed the forearm to get it to where the other side would meet i heard the glue let go. same goes for the bicep... :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: I think the edge where i trimmed back to 7mm may be too small for the glue to get a good grip.

Sorry to resurrect this 6 month old thread, just thought it would be better than starting a new one to cover the same ground. I've heard from local TKs that the TKBoots are a bit on the narrow side and painful, anyone have any experience? I wore a pair of CABoots a couple weeks ago to a troop and was quite comfortable, but then again it was just a mile parade and a little standing around pre and post, not like an 8 hour day in them.