Darth Aloha

Check out Billhag's post here. Aloha, -Eric

Yeah what Brian said. Are you saying that your chest sticks out enough to see inside your chest plate from the side? If you look at screen captures from ANH you'll see that the chest and back don't necessarily meet. However the chest should lay flat against the ab plate like Han below. I'm not a huge fan of the underarm elastic strap to connect back and chest. I did something similar to firebladejedi's solution pictured here... but not quite as fancy or adjustable. That wide elastic not only keeps my chest plate flat against my body it helps keep my back plate up higher and aligned with my kidney. Aloha, -Eric

I know, right?! The position of those thigh packs might be a good candiate to add to the INC and TKC CRLs for centurion. They certainly look thinner/shorter than the usual thigh dakine. Either way the centurion requirements for both state "The bottom corners of the thigh ammo belt shall be rounded off." which is clearly not the case on the game models. I've been in a real CRL nitpicky mood.... if ya'll haven't noticed (screen caps by Star Raider - Corey) Aloha, -Eric

Steve... you've clearly put a TON of work into your armor. Looking good... I'm not an AM expert but I think you may have even assembled your shins properly. And brah... your suspenders dealie is super clever. Mason will obviously chime in with what, if anything, he thinks should be corrected for EIB... but here is my list that may have nothing to do with getting EIB. None of these things should stop you from trooping your butt off and looking good doing so. So I'm sorry if it seems like I'm pooping in your easter basket.... On general fitting... Both thighs need to come up a bit. The right shin looks like it is hitting the ammo pack. Does your left shin/sniper knee get caught on the thigh when you walk? Maybe you could get the shins to ride lower on your boots as well. I suggest strapping your chest plate to your ab plate so it doesn't ride up. I put to wide straps of elastic between the two. Move your biceps up and twist them inward. Try to get the strap from the should bells goes around them. If your biceps come up your forearms may also need to scoot up toward your elbow a bit. Your back overlaps your kidney rather than just butting up against it (more of a centurion requirement really) If you attach your chest to your ab so that it pulls down some, I think your back will come up enough to not overlap. Your forearms look a little big. I suggest trimming them to fit so they're more narrow and screen accurate. The ends of your plastic belt stick out a bit. I have this same problem because like you I velcroed it the canvas belt. This is such a stupid thing that I invite you to ignore... but I suggest trying to extend the velcro to the very end of the belt. I ended up heat bending my belt to help with this. A couple fiddly centurion things... having nothing to do with EIB.... tell me to pound sand if you're not headed that way. The cod should have a split rivet or brad not a snap. Preferably unpainted. On your side rivets they should be spaced out more equally along the length of the side of the kidney and ab plate. The CRL for centurion "a total of three rivets equally spaced out along the depth of the armor and about 10mm from the edge." Are there a split rivets/brads on the thigh pack? Are you aware of the impending new centurion requirement for modifying the AM chest plate? Just something to think about. Good for you getting the TK boots... they always improve the look of any trooper. Aloha and good luck my man. -Eric

Spiffy! I'm honored. You're welcome. Let me/us/FISD know if you have questions. And post lots of photos of your progress. Rob: If you're reading this. My plan is working. Have RT-MOD take over the 501st one large sized trooper at a time. Aloha, -Eric

Bummer man. Did you have it out with your GML about it? While its clear from the screen caps that an INC should have the ab buttons as you describe, shouldn't a GML follow the letter of the CRL? Aloha, -Eric

I'm no GML, but I just went through the base incinerator CRL criteria for the legion acceptance and couldn't see anything that would prohibit you from being approved. Your GML might want higher res photos but it looks likem you did a great job on your paint. It looks great on you. If you're going EIB there are a bunch of things to point out.... But none to stop you from being a bada$$ INC. Good luck. Aloha, -Eric

I say Velcro those bad boys. The weirdness of having the extra thickness from the Velcro doesn't look as bad as poorly fitting forearms. Heaven forbid you apply for EIB/centurion and someone tells you to trim your forearms down.... I doubt anyone would get dinged for Velcro. Oh and Apple? Please stop capitalizing Velcro for me. Aloha, -Eric

Funny you say that. I'm pretty sure one tear is a little bigger than the other. For sure the traps are a slightly different. I had a tough time placing that one tear and probably could have centered it more to make it look like it fits. These decals from Applingbay are made just for the RT bucket and otherwise fit well. Without his method of floating the decal on soapy water there's no way I could have placed those stickers as well as I did. I do think they could look even more hand painted. But maybe because I know I would do a sucktastic job with those lines Thanks Paul It's also been some of the best fun ever and I couldn't or wouldn't have done it without the FISD. Aloha, -Eric

Warning... nudie photos contained in this post. I am now officially one blaster away from Centurion. The decals that came with my RT-MOD bucket were peeled off today and replaced with the handpainted style decals from Trooperbay. The original decals left a ton of glue goop residue. I followed the advice in this thread and used WD40. I didn't follow all of the advice or I would have smeared sandwich fixins all over my helmet. Peanut butter? Mayonnaise? Is this some sort of FISD hazing to get new troopers to get them to dig around their kitchen and stink up their helmets? The sticky stuff went away like so: Rub a WD40 soaked soft cotton rag (or old infant onesie in my case) vigorously over the residue. Try using windex to get WD40 streaks off and fail. Wipe grease off with rubbing alcohol. I watch Mike's about 6 times this morning. Here's the naked photo as promised: I took this to remind myself which tube stripe went where... i suggest you do the same before you cut it in half. Centurion ready bucket: Did I screw anything up at all? Aloha, -Eric

Congrats bro. I know it'll be difficult, but try and keep it this armor clean and shiny would ya? Aloha, -Eric

Um Igrid? I think by mistake you posted a photo of a helmet with decals... instead of one hand painted Aloha, -Eric

When I grow up I want to wear my biceps like the trooper on the left... ----------

Rob! So great to see you here. I have a few other suggestions to make your helmets even better... all minor things... Decals that have the hand painted-esque look (see trooperbay.com) S-trim rather than the black u-shaped gasket around the neck opening Green lens material A third screw at the bottom of the ear instead of a rivet Flattter head flathead screws for the ears Thanks man... I love my RT-MOD armor so very very much. Aloha, -Eric

Hau'oli makahiki hou! (in four more hours) May your 2012 be totally suck free and full of Aloha. -Eric

And Hawaii'i natch.... In spite of all the fireworks freaking my dog out. -Eric

I had an ESB efx and had to turn the helmet to get it on. Same with my current RT-MOD which is slightly bigger than a TEish helmet. Is it possible to assemble a kit yourself in such a way that it would have more room? Or maybe use thinner or less padding to create more space for your squash? Are there some folks in your local garrison who might be willing to let you try on a few different helmets to see what fits? It might be worth doing so before spending the cash for a helmet that looks funky with an ata kit. Aloha and good luck. -Eric (null)

Whew! Thanks again man. Aloha, -Eric

Hells yeah! Thanks Mason.... and everyone else who have helped along the way. I know, right?! My shoulder bells are an ongoing battle. When snapped to the shoulder elastic they pull down on it so much you can see a big white blob poking out from under the shoulder bridges. I have a strap between the two that once went across my back but that pulled the bells toward my back too much. In these photos I put the strap across my chest but still can't quite get them high enough, but at least they're tilted forward not back. Yep. RT-MOD comes that way. I have the belt going over the seam between the two to cut down on trooper booty. A pic from my build: Thanks man. Kind words from a fellow RT trooper. The world needs more of us! I already have the hand painted decals from trooperbay waiting to be adhered, s trim is installed, and there's a half glued droopy resin E-11 on my workbench and that should be it for centurion. See above my about my shoulder bell woes... it's in process. I'm already using actual split rivets in those photos for my thigh ammo and the sniper knee is glued. Is there something else up with my thigh ammo that would warrant a replacement? Oh and yes... yes.... I'm one big mothertrucking vader sized TK Aloha and thanks everyone.... Best Xmas present yet -Eric

Alooooha! Here's hoping for the first Pacific Outpost EIB.... Name = Eric Brager TK ID = 9674 Garrison = Pacific Outpost Armor = RT-MOD Helmet = RT-MOD Blaster = Hasbro mod Height = 6'5" Weight = 240 lb. Boots = Totally Killer Boots Canvas Belt = TKittell Hand Plates = Karin Gloves = Karin's Rubber Chemical Gloves Electronics = iComm/Aker Neck Seal = TK409 Holster = TK8280 Mic Tips = Trooperbay Green Lens = Trooperbay Sorry for the sucky at night lighting... daytime hours for this type of activity is scarce. Thanks! -Eric

Looking great bro... even for a clone trooper addict That TM armor fits you like... like ... like stormtrooper armor that fits you really well. I'm continually impressed how many different sized troopers can rock the TM so durn good. And the details you've added are awesome inside and out. Congrats. Aloha, -Eric

As usual... I'm sure you'll make many many nerd boys very happy in that outfit this coming Kawaii Kon What's your plan for a shield? Make? Buy? Borrow? So it looks like this year its the same weekend as St. Patrick's Day... what's up with that? Aloha, -Eric

When does the airing of grievances begin? Before or after the feats of strength?

Thanks Kevin/Ray. Yeah I was a little worried about the thigh ammo. If you look at the other RT EIBs and centurions you can see that's sort how it sits. I wrestled with that stupid thing and a heat gun for a few days trying to make it sit right. I settled on getting the very front lined up properly and just dealing with the fact that the sides are higher up the thigh than I want. If I lowered it anymore the top edge of the ammo pack would sit below the bottom edge of the thigh. The TD is only .375" or less shorter than the Jesse TD tube. It may look too long because it is smaller diameter than his. I'm hoping it will be ok for EIB. I think most RT EIBs used their RT TD (also... PDQ LMNO) Aloha and thanks again guys, -Eric