FIVE

I joined WeightWatchers online. Have lost over 25lbs so far (since Jan). It's slow going on it, but that's because it's changing your habits... as they say, it's not a "diet". Still got a ways to go for my ultimate goal, but I look great (if I do say so myself) in my armor now! I even got to decrease the shims in my calves to almost nothing!

Personally I think it would be fun to see some designs based on the SW universe. What would "become" of those, who knows? But doing them and seeing them would be fun in the least.

It's possible to do it without taking it apart. The reasons to take it apart are: 1) Makes it a BUNCH easier to trim / raise the brow. (If you don't disassemble it I recommend using a metal ruler under the brow to keep from nicking / cutting the forehead.) 2) Makes it easier to put on new ears / fill the gaps from where the old ears were. Those are the two main things I can think of as to why to take it apart... but no, you do not have to. It's not as hard as you think. Using a heat gun / hair dryer to heat up the glue and looking at the post above, as well as my posts on my website, to really see where and how it's snapped together, makes it quite easy. If you're using the same ears that came with it and doing the MR CE Ear Mod then I'd say don't take it apart!

Yes, that's pretty much exactly what you do. If you've not done so yet, do yourself a favor and read this thread like 100 times before you start.-------------- I've read it, re-read it, memorized it, forgotten it, remembered it, all but had it tattooed on my arms as a "memento", and then re-read it again as I'm in process. It is, by far, the end all be all "bible" for modding and MR CE. Hope that helps!

Man, I do love that AP armor... Nice job!!

Glad you're back man and doing better!!

Some great stuff so far man!!

Thanks for the pic of the AP all laid out... I had never seen that.

I've got pictures of my MR CE (un-modded while in armor) as well as in the mod process (which I'm currently doing)-----------

Why not just a textured black spray paint? Something that looks like "more" without really being anything more. I mean this is a highly technological armor... so while I agree the insides wouldn't look like they do (just reverse of the outside in white) they would (or could) look like something we don't think of... just black "textured" paint would be cool I think.

I've started my MR CE mod. Instead of posting on here during the process I will be posting on my website... that way we'll have a full step-by-step tutorial. I'm planning on doing all that Luis did (thanks again Luis) as well as possibly adding the "eye bump". Enjoy!

OH! I know what you're talking about now... or the difference. Yes, that's what that is... no, I don't know a tutorial on it.

Sorry I just now saw this... looks like you got it worked out though. (Sometimes I don't get alerts on things I've replied to.)

Wow... I have those SAME calves! I used "black out material" for curtains. It's dirt cheep and a good match on the white color. I thought the vinyl was far too shiny and had a weird "faux leather" texture. One suggestion I have is to attach the pieces in the back (the fabric) with Velcro and leave them attached. Then take your calves off from the front. The way to do this with your knee plate is to un-rivet the right (inner-leg) side of it and get a small white brad to fasten that side back together with after you put your armor on. The brad idea, actually, just came to me last week... I have been using a piece of Velcro with good success until now. Hope that helps!

By "invisible" I'm guessing you mean ones that can't be seen... so yes, they are pretty much the same as "normal" shims. Since the nature of shims is to bridge a gap between two sides of armor that can't another wise meet (be glued together) they are going to be visible to the degree that the sides don't reach. However, you "hide" them by using the same color plastic (or ABS) for the shim. I have plastic shims on the backs of my thighs and fabric shims on my calves and while you can see them when you look at pictures of me no one ever "notices" them. I know I never did. Hope that helps!

Do the "trooperdecal" decals work for the MR CE bucket... does anyone know? And Mike, do you have any pics of CAP's decals? Would they work on the MR CE?

Well if it's troop-worthy BEFORE these mods (which it is) then it surely must be now! Simply amazing work man!!!

Thanks! I'm looking forward to starting it!! Buying supplies this week (while we're in Missouri) and then (lw/ia) starting on it the next... after July 5th. I'm half way considering not even thinning the ears now... just to save THAT step. But, I think I would be much happier with them thinner... especially from the front side. (I will go back and forth on this decision 100x before I start... that's how I do things.) haha Obviously, if I do thin them, I will use Steve's tutorial.

Thanks for the link. From those pictures it looks pretty good. You're thread title is right, it's a whole lot like the MR bucket. I think the thing I do NOT like about it is simply that it's a hero version... and, of course, that's simply my preference. I like that the traps are hand painted... and, most of all, I like the padding on the inside. If anyone buys one and hates that and rips it out I'll buy the padding off of you.

I had this same idea last week. haha... Great minds think alike... and so do we apparently. I love the idea!

Haha... wow... global consciousness or something, I was literally JUST wondering about this very thing! Yes, if I could save those steps then that would be great... I will try it this way first then when I start and I'll post in my own thread to let everyone know how it goes. I will still sand the whole thing, and end up repainting it all don't you think? I mean the fact I'm going to fill in the gaps is part of that. Thanks Luis!

Yep, that's the order. It's funny, I remember not knowing the differences too... but boy howdy I see them now! Just keep studying and reading and you'll learn. It doesn't take long.

Yeah... that's a great find for sure!!

I've compiled a complete list (I think) of what all I'm planning on doing, based on what Luis has done, and uploaded it. You can download it here. If you see anything that's missing, or out of order, let me know and I'll add it. Here's the link to the PDF.

It is frakkin' hilarious!!! (can we say "frak" here?)