Airborne Trooper

Crap! Rookie mistake. I'll get another set ordered soon and just leave them on until those come in.

Ok, I can do that. I'll raid my daughter's arts and crafts kit. I'm sure she has some elmer's glue I could use.

Great suggestion, I'll throw on a couple layers and use some sand paper to scuff up portions for weathering.

My bucket is pretty much complete. I still need to glue in the hardhat liner and make an adjustment on the "Mike" tips to get the angels right. I wanted to share and get final overall approval before I glued in the mesh behind the teeth. Here's my reference as you will notice there's a lot of "imperfections" that I did my best to mimic A bunch more reference photos can be located here: http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=10005&hl=%2Bdavin+%2Bfelth+%2Breference I originally cut too much out of the eyes so I used my sealing iron to pull down some of the edges to get some eye droop Painting straight lines is a pain in the an impolite person by hand. I did my best, but even in the original, you can see some variations in the lines so I am overall not too worried. Also, after about 3 failed attempts painting the tube stripes, I gave up and used my decals that came with the kit. They look great and from what I can tell, there's 15 stripes on each side. I was worried that I may need to put scratches in some when it comes to the weathering portion but the reference shows them intact. Small gap on the ear, but so what!? Can't seem to find the thread on MEPD but that small little tooth is suppose to be there

My bucket really scratches my ears so that's why I have to open it up more. I don't think I have THAT big of a head. I wear 7 1/4 fitted hats.

Looking good, nice and lined up. I am doing shims as well for added strength.

I would try to use a little watered down paint thinner to remove the teeth paint. I have to cut my back cap some too as it's way to tight to fit my head in even with putting it on sideways and screwing it on. Just leave enough where you still have that ridge and only take enough as necessary. You don't want a huge opening that people can see up in.

Looking good, dude! Maybe look at taking a little off the bottom of the ear where it touches the tubes and it'll bring it closer. In any case, if you want my left over ears, shoot me a PM! I painted my black lines on my bucket last night. Grey goes on tonight after I finish helping out at a garrison event.

Yeah I'll pick up a small can of plastic-dip paint and mask everything.

If time and wife permits, I'll be paiting my bucket tonight.

Yes just the sanding dremel and sandpaper. I commented on that one ear. It looks good just sand up to those lines I indicated. I got one ear near perfect the second try. The other I did good the 3rd and best on the forth lol.

Shoot me a PM with your info.

I think your ears look great. I would do this minor improvement and call it a day. I would do it by hand with a piece of sand paper and keep checking fitment as you go.

I saw you using tape a few posts back so I tried it for my forearms and it works a lot better than trying to use the ruler for me too. Thanks for sharing the process for anyone else that has a hard time.

As someone who has spent well over 3 hours on each ear, I feel your pain. I went through 4, yes 4 right ears until I was finally happy. I haven't even posted it in my build thread yet. Remember where parts are touching needs to be sanded down a bit and it will bring it closer eliminating the gap. You also have to counter whatever you do to the front to the back as well. What I did is make a rough line to cut to and also sand down the top disc portion where I wanted. Then all I need to focus on was the curve and bottom portion of the ears. A dremel with the sanding drum and a piece of 100 grit sandpaper is what I used. Just do a little at a time, test fit with the screws in tight. Then look at where the gaps are and what's touching so you know where to adjust. Hope this helps.

I would recommend not using decals. The reason being is when you weather you may want some scratches and imperfections in the paint that will be hard to do on a decal.

I know it's a PITA just drill a little at a time to not overheat the plastic. My bucket looks like Swiss cheese but luckily the ears cover it up. I've got a jar of ABS paste sitting for when I am completely done and need to patch things like this up. If you need more ears, hit up your Garrison's forums. FL has a ton of members so I'm sure there's members with extras laying around.

I'm still not finished with my helmet (mostly due to family obligations and little time). If you haven't riveted the bottom by the tubes yet, I would suggest you raising the brow a bit. TK troopers have low and flush brows, TD have it raised from a little to a lot. TrainWreck's for example. Also, definitely sign up at MEPD.net even if it's just for references as they are the all encompassing experts on sandtroopers.

That's how I feel about my stupid ears..... my snaps should be coming in the mail today or tomorrow so that's a good thing. Your build is coming along nicely!

Thanks, Juan. I'm slowly getting more parts built before I start a build thread over at MEPD. I am building the best I can and looking at all the great examples FISD and MEPD has to offer. I have set a personal goal of being accepted into the 501st by July so I can do my first troop for an event scheduled then. I appreciate your help and all you've done for the sandtrooper community. You'll see me on MEPD soon when I have a little more to share in my build.

Well before I decided, I already cut the eyes and don't have the droop, so I don't think I'll be going SWAT but I want to be as close as I can possibly be. I'm ok with just being a PO.

It happens.... it's only 7am over there so I'll give you a break this time.

Dang it, consider me jealous. Fantastic job and great recovery! Now if I can get my kids to stop acting like Bebe's Kids when I get home, I could focus more time on my build. The past few nights my wife has told me to not even think about touching my build.

Oh yeah, I know that the original had gaps but it bugs me. I look at your thread and everyone's else and then I get jelly. It doesn't help that I'm trying to replicate a particular character either. I ended up buying 2 more pairs from Mike and I might just go ahead and use the fourth to see if I can do better, if not I can go back to what I have as of now. So yeah, if anyone needs extra right ears (as your wearing the bucket), I'm your man lol.

Thanks! I'll probably just trim the bottom. I've had enough with these ears!