generalFROSTY

Everything is done now except for forming the belt, ammo pack and constructing the detonator. After that, I have to work on installing the remainder of the snap plates and straps and it's all ready to wear. Pics when I can get them...

I'm working on this kit as well. It's tough because a lot of the cut lines are not-so-visible. I've made a few sloppy mistakes along the way but have also learned a lot just in case I decide to purchase replacement parts and try again down the road... One thing I am really striving for with my build is not so much screen accuracy in construction, but to be sure that the armor fits my body nice and snug. I've seen many armor sets that fit far too loose on the person and it looks just plain silly.

I've had a chance to get a lot more done that I was typically able to do - had a few extra days off work so I put it to good use. I botched up the painting a little bit on the helmet but correctable. The black pinstripes that came with the kit to surround the gray part on the ear didnt work well for me, so I decided to paint the line on by hand....bad idea...it came out looking like a pre-schooler did it! I will have to remove the paint and try again. Thighs and shins are done except for some final sanding and cleaning of the edges. Just installed the velcro for the shins today and they fit perfect. The shins and thighs are very form-fitting and even though my construction is not perfect by any means, I am happy that they fit the way I wanted them to. I really have been doing my best with what I got - this VT kit really has a lot of assembly flaws but gave it an honest effort to do the work. One of the problem areas is the back of the thighs. I chose to do an overlap construction for the back and weld it down. The result was a very sloppy look which I hope will go virtually unnoticed when wearing the armor to parties and events. Given the limited viewability in the helmets, I am hoping other troopers won't notice the flaws! I know alot of you are very serious into this hobby and probobly are lightyears better at building this stuff - I know I made some errors and there are flaws but please go easy on me, I really did my best

I made a small error today doing the thigh that hopefully I won't catch a whole lot of backlash for - I made the cover strip extend the whole length of the front instead of stopping right before the knee ridge. It's the left leg so unfortunately I won't have the ammo pack to cover it up, but it still looks decent so I'm not worried. I'm just happy I was able to make the butt/join method work - and it's a very strong hold as I used plastic weld. Also, I was wondering if it would be acceptable to attach the ab section to the back section by overlapping the ab to the back and using pop rivets? I have a slim build and want it to be form-fitting and did a test fitting of it already - if I warm up the plastic I can get it to wrap to my body type then just rivet the ab sides to the sides of the back plate. One side will use velcro closure - right now I'm more concerned about my own personal wearability but don't want tons of troopers giving me trouble for doing some non-screen accurate assembly choices.

Today I was able to construct most of the left thigh - looks pretty good, though it's not perfect I am pleased I was able to get it to be form-fitting and fairly decent looking. I am also almost done with the lid - just have to paint the gray areas. I tried taping off the black mouth vent but was not having much luck...so I tried something that worked like a charm...a black sharpie! I was able to fallow the countours of the vent with the sharpie and then color it all in and it looks very nice and clean, it worked great. I didn't have my camera handy with me today, so tomorrow I will start snapping some photos. The helmet liner I bought off Ebay also looks to be a perfect finishing touch to the inside of the helmet. My confidence is slowly building with each step I take forward so that is a good sign. Thanks for all the input.

Got most of the helmet assembly done today. It's not as perfect as some more experienced builders may be able to do, but I am overall pleased. I will be doing some masking and maybe painting tomorrow - pics coming soon.

Thanks - that will work. What about the blue 'vent' decals - what is the correct placement of those?

Everything is looking good so far, the rivet gun worked great. I was wonering if anyone had lense templates that I can print out and use to cut the green lense strip provided with my kit? Also, I noticed that the blue stripe decals are uneven in number - which side is which? And lastly, is there a good method of gluing the black "S" rubber trim around the rim of the helmet? It looks to come off easily if you don't glue it down...

Great, thanks for the reply. I will be heading out to Home Depot soon to pick up a few things I don't have.

Oh, and can someone tell me if this is the rivet gun I should buy for this build? Want to make sure before I go out and spend money... http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Hand-Tools-Fastening-Tools-Rivet-Tools-Rivets/h_d1/N-5yc1vZarfz/R-202061308/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Thanks for all the replies - I've been out of the loop lateley. I've been fortunate enough to have been blessed with a nice promotion at the dinner theater I work for. I just signed a contract that guarantees me a part in all five shows being produced this year, PLUS work as the theaters 'prop master' so I'm pretty stoked! I feel really stuck right now with the armor becuase I really don't want to mess it up...fortunately, I just met a fellow RPF member who lives very close to me who is willing to give me a second set of eyes in building this first-hand. I will upload progress photos when they come...I think I am going to start to assemble the helmet to give me some motivation. I cut out the eyes and they look great, going to open the grill next and work on attaching the ears this coming week. Part of me was thinking of just buying the eFX 30th anniversery ESB replica helmet and be done with it, but I'm not too happy with the shortcomings of the helmet....and I don't want to cheat!!

THANK YOU!!! As far as trimming up the seam line on the thights, should this cut line be straight (with the formed ridge) or tapered down? Not sure the best way to explain what I'm asking... I did some test fitting...the thigh pieces feel too long, hard to bend my knees. After I do some trimming of the seam lines, I will post some pics of me holding the thighs on and hopefully I can get this moving along...

I can't tell the difference between the thigh pieces. I feel kind of stupid as I've been looking at them for days now and cant seem to figure them out. How can you tell which is the right and which is the left??

Got my TK boots today. They are nice - too bad they don't offer half-sizes, an 8.5 would have been perfect but 9 will have to do. I am thinking of doing the overlap construction for the shins as I like the way they look and fit that way. I am having trouble determining how the thigh pieces go together since the VT armor is not labeled on the thighs. I want to make them snug and form-fitting like the shins but I read somewhere that the thighs should be a little looser for mobility? I've been busy with work so I haven't had the time to continue sanding/refining and it's driving me MAD to let it all sit there unfinished.

Sweet! Thank you for the link!!

I got all the major trimming done today and have already begun to go back and start sanding and refining each piece. Below you will see a finished handplate next to a raw cut one. I am having some difficulty understanding how to align the helmet and what to cut - I already checked out the helmet building tutorial PDF and will be having it printed out. Take a look at the photos below and let me know what more needs cut around the brim prior to the black rubber trim being installed...Also, do I need to trim off that ridge on the top of the brow of the faceplate - as shown in the last photo?

Thanks for the feedback. Pandatrooper - yes, I have been going over the tutorials over and over again. I have a hard time understanding things so it takes me a while to soak in information. I am going to trim/sand all the parts first, then have a friend help me with fitting to ensure it looks right on my frame. More pics to come - thank you for your support.

The kit came with a large plastic sheet which I have to measure and cut off the strips myself. I am going to continue to work on cutting the parts then go back and sand them smooth. I think I have to cut the bicep piece more (that part is sticking up? Check out the photo I posted - I'm not sure I did it right) so please, some advice on that part...

Ok...don't be mad at me...but I started cutting today before I read your advice on drawing lines and posting pics...here is where I am at. I did RAW cutting on the shoulder and arm pieces. I havent started sanding yet. My arms are pretty thin so I have a lot of trimming/fitting to do. I am unsure how the bicep pieces are supposed to fit together so I took photos of them so far for you guys to help point me in the right direction. I am also wondering if the forearms have to fit with the butt/join method or overlap. They seem to fit me better with the overlap method. Doing the butt/join method will require me trimming off most of the rased ridge lines so that it fits on my slim arm.

I haven't had any time at all to do anything, but today I starting testing out different cutting methods. Cutting with scissors can only go so far, best for trimming the bulk off. For those who have worked with cutting ABS before, would the most effective method be the cutting wheel, sanding bit or the high-speed cutting bit? I'm also having trouble determining the edge lines of the amor. I'ts especially hard since I have to keep referring back and forth to pictures online and the fact that VT does not supply any instructions. I'm afraid of cutting too far to the edge. Based on the little cutting I got done....this is going to take a long time. I really hope I don't lose interest in the process.

It's a relief to have you guys to help. What I will be doing is baby-steps. I will post some pics of everthing I do (my photobucket account is going to be getting a workout!) and hopefully we can work through this together since I have some trouble understanding things sometimes.

This is going to take fooorrreeevvver! The kit came with a large flat sheet of ABS to cut the strips out - how wide do the strips have to be? You're right about starting with the arms. I still need to buy one of those nifty modeling irons to give the return edge to the plastic. I just bought the high-speed cutting tool for my dremmel and have a ton of different grit sandpapers to use. I am very overwhelmed, even looking at ONE piece. Pics will come soon - I have to dig out the arm pieces. I appreciate all help every step of the way.

Ok....I'm a little overwhelmed, so this is going to go ONE piece at a time while the rest stay in the box. I thought I would start with the shins since I just ordered a pair of TK boots. If anyone here has worked on a set of VT armor (and you know who you are) I will be posting progress pics every step of the way. Work begins on this tomorrow so I am looking forward to NOT messing anything up. Does anyone know off-hand if the parts labeled A and B go together A+A or A+B??

Thanks for all your great progress photos and input. My armor has yet to arrive yet - any day now though - but I did get my canvas belt in the mail, so at least I have ONE part of my armor I am really undecided on what kind of system I will use, but honestly I may end up using industrial velcro for everything as it is realatively easier to get together. I have to bring my Dremmel home from my fathers workshop since I am able to work on it more at home than up there....REALLY looking forward to this. When I start my thread up, PLEASE chime in frequently as per my posts with any suggestions you may have. Thanks again!

The wait for my armor is tough, but any day now! One thing I've seen a whole lot of is that there is no one way to attach your armor - there are a lot of options out there and any will do the trick, so long as the finished product (you in the armor) looks authentic. Once I get all my stuff in the mail (I LOVE package day!) I will head out to the fabric store and start stocking up on straps and pick up some industrial velcro at Home Depot. So far, your armor looks top notch and I can't wait to achieve great results too!