Hey everybody.
So with a LOT of reading, and lurking, cutting, sanding, gluing clamping, and patience, I've finally finished my AM armor--save for holster and boots. I won't make the 501st until the guys at TKboots finish their next run of size 11s in 6 weeks or so, but I figured nobody at a low-key haloween party would notice that my shoes were wrong, so I suited up anyway. I was also using it as a testbed to troop-proof my armor.
As I'm sure you remember, your first troop is a lot of fun. But it also brings up some... unforeseen problems. For me, it highlighted certain deficiencies of design. Things I imagine real stormtroopers would have faced every day.
Chiefly, I can't sit down without taking the ab plate off, and I can't walk up stairs while preserving my dignity. I think I need to cut the cod, but I"m not sure the best way to do it. What have been your experiences? Have you bothered? What else can I do to gain some mobility?
Also, what's the best way to shorten the thigh pieces? Right now, they have a beautiful return edge all the way around, which (in my opinion) gives the armor an awesome, idealized, and very clean look. I've always wanted ideal over screen-accurate (since we all know the movies were made on a shoestring budget). Can I shorten the tops of the thighs while still preserving the good return edge? Should I bother? If I don't want to mess with a crafting iron, will they dig into my hips after the cut?
Also, what other silly things can you no longer do once you're suited up? What otherwise mundane activities become a challenge?
