DarSec

It's been a while since I picked up my armor to work on it. My wife passed several weeks ago and I am slowly getting back to finding ways to get things back to normal. This was as rewarding for her as it was for me, and she was excited watching me build. I am close to the point of strapping and snapping my ATA TK Hero set up. I have seen many links to the post about the Newey sizes, but they are no longer available. Can anyone give me a no-nonsense, millimeter by millimeter (inch by inch) measurement description of EVERY rivet, snap bracket and hook from head to toe for a Centurion level, screen accurate suit? I am considering getting the RS accurate strapping kit and just being done with it, but I think I can save a little money buying stuff on my own. Also, is it considered screen-accurate at a Centurion level to put in metal eyelets in the calf side that is receiving the hooks? I've seen it done and I think it'll make the holes less likely to split but I don't want to mess it up. thanks in advance.

I'm almost at the stage of thinking about strapping. I'm having probs finding measurements for the short and taller brackets for strapping. I saw in your AWESOME build that the brackets are 40mm across for the torso and 55mm across for the chest. How tall are the two sizes? Did you make them? What size wire and what kind? Did you use screen used measurnents or guestimates? Thanks in advance. By the way, I LOVE my helmet.

Wow thanx!!! This is awesome.

I am progressing slowly on my ATA Hero build. I'll be posting my build thread soon and get some great direction on which way to go and what needs to be done. Lots of awesome hints and tips from TM, Gazmosis, 5th Horseman, Panda, and countless others on here (not to leave anyone out for sure) and thanks!!! I have a few questions that I am having trouble answering. For the past four years I've been obsessively pouring over these threads and posts looking at all of your glorious work. I SHOULD have taken notes on threads that were as informative as entertaining and awe inspiring. Now I pour and pick through stuff and can't for the life of me find what I need. SO... here is my redundant list of questions. I want to build as much as I can and keep it as hand made as possible and keep cost down as much as possible. Some things I will have to buy but I'd like to say I made most of this. Thanks in advance for the help. You folks are always awesome at helping noobs find their way. 1. I want to make my own metal wire strapping loops like TM shows in his Hero build thread. Is there a resource showing metal gauge and measurements? 2. I'm making my own metal TD clips and there is some discrepancy on length of the aluminum strip. A lot of the tutorials have missing pictures and missing video. I just need a little guidance on these measurements. A ton of people have created these in a ton of ways. 3. Nylon strapping material, elastic loops for screen accurate strapping of ab, kidney, back, etc. Where can I find a definitive resource for all these widths, lengths, other measurements, colors, etc. 4. Believe it or not, I cannot find a depth for the drop boxes. They look fine to me but if they need trimming I don't want to make them too thin. 5. General question: if a piece is not playing nice (forearm) and has to be clamped and rubber banded together to glue tightly, and I'm using E6000 with a 24 hour curing time, as well as inner and outer strips, what is the danger of this stressing, splitting, cracking or springing open from the stress down the road, and should I heat it a little with a gun or boiling water bath to ease the stress and make it mold itself to its glued down shape? Thanks in advance. I'll start my build thread soon with my progress so far. Just biceps, forearms, bells, boxes, and TD done so far. Not too far into it to tweek if needed before I strap this monster together.

Got in just fine. Looking at thermal clip measurements. hope to start posting build pics soon. Thanks everyone for all the help.

Oh wow! That's exactly what I wanted! Thanks so much!!!

A while back I saw a ton of pics with measurements and everything from the found RS props suit. I'm doing my build and would love to reference these but I can't find them anymore. Anyone have a link?

I'm starting my ATA build as well. I started with the biceps. Your pics are great. I'm gonna leave a bit of edge to give a little meat to them. Let me know how the left bicep goes. I've seen people post on the "well known problems with the left bicep" although i don't know what that is

This look awesome so far. If your whole build goes this well you're gonna have a killer suit. My ATA should be ready tomorrow (1/2/15) so I can't WAIT to get started building. I have my TM Hero ready to paint, so hopefully the armor will zip along over the winter. I'm looking forward to following your build. Mine should start soon after I get my BBOWP (big box of white plastic).

Thanks everyone. I'll check it out. Armor coming late dec or mid jan so I wanna b ready to build!!!

Who is a good supplier for the wire strapping "brackets" and screws for a screen accurate strapping Hero build. I also need some thermal detonator brackets.

trying to PM mr. bondservant but it's saying he can't get messages. If you are out there, please reply.

Hopefully everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Hope to have this painted and eyes popped in soon.

You are so right. I already have my tube stripe templates from Trooperbay. Also got a belt from them and the Humbrol paints. Gonna get it started this weekend with any luck.

Well put. Thanks for the feedback. I am thinking that I would have more control taking the ears off and placing them on the table or holding them in my hand. I'm not too confident in making my thin black lines look good so I am thinking of the easiest way to get them done well. I may have to remove the brow trim to get to the front traps as well. Still thinking, hopefully not over thinking.

So I am fighting the enemy of good. The enemy of good is not "bad", it's "better". I like my ears. I am seriously contemplating reducing them some. I like the wide profile the Hero has, and I think the ears accentuates this, but I think they stick out a bit more than they should. I am going to disassemble soon and start painting, but I may take a bit off of the ears. Thoughts? I'll post paint pics soon either way.

So a few weeks and a new ear later, I'm pretty pleased with the results. I'll probably keep tweeking it a bit here and there, but, considering all I went through to get it this good, I'm not gonna go too crazy. Remember, the enemy of good is "better".

Wow! thanx for this. i love the whole ear outline concept. Still waiting for my new ear, and ill definitely be using this!

Does anyone know exactly what the brow trim and the authentic "S" trim is used for in real life, or was this created just for TK helmets? I know this may be a silly question for veteran armor builders, but I am tweeking an old Don Post mask from the 70's/80's and I want to look around at finding some. I may have to order it from Trooperbay, but I would love to say I found some just lying around, and I am cheap.

I truly tried to get it whittled down to size, but by the time it did almost fit the round part was way too thin and there was not enough on the posterior edge to cover the gap. No big. Now I've got a practice ear for rank stripe painting!

Thanx everyone. Gonna ponder this a bit. I saw where one individual stacked squares of abs and glued them in place at three points around the eye then drilled holes into the lens and screwed the lenses to these anchor points. Lots of great ideas.

Dude that's a cool idea!!! Thanx for the tip! Any pics?

Got my super awesome TM 2mm Hero almost ready to paint (thread is at My 2mm TM Hero build). I am stumped as to how to get those thick green beauties put in. Any help or build pics would be great. I saw the Eye reference pics and it helped a ton!!! Just wanting to know the best, safest and most secure way to mount them. Thanks in advance.

This is true. That's why I had to make both wires seperate and cut individually. Didn't do to bad right up until "the incident". I'll try to salvage it (again) but in all my original futile attempts I just kept getting the ear thinner and thinner. I think it's a lost cause. I won't give up until I'm down to the nubbin. Thanx for order info Mr. TM.

So I thought I'd try something "new" (or at least to me) to get proper cuts for the dreaded ears. I must preface this by saying, yes, I am totally aware that those are some big honkin' screws and washers holding this together. I got some that are the same size as the pop rivets so If anything went wrong its not permanently fixated. I got some super thin aluminum pieces that would retain their shape and cut them to size. I then molded it to the helmet where the ear would touch. I placed this on a small piece of cardboard and drew the outline. I cut it out, held it up to the helmet, drew the outline onto the ear, repeat for back half of ear. Then I cut. Love my Curved Mayo scissors!! Benefits to working in the operating room. These were on the way to the recycle bin. Not if I can help it!! Makes curved cuts a breeze! After a little snap n score action (notice I am not right on my line. Gave myself a little error room) I'm ready to fit. It really paid off after a little trim with the ol' exacto. So here is where the fun ended. Clipping right along with the right ear and had huge success with the front but TOTALLY blew the back. Yes, Mr. TM, I PM'd you for another ear. Oh well, got the left on, riveted it permanently, and installed hovis. Waiting for the follow up "little brown box".