LadyInWhite

This is for Southern California, mainly around Los Angeles, but in case anyone knows anyone who knows anyone who might be in the area who might be interested... http://www.southerncaliforniagarrison.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10025 June 2 or June 3 (gauging interest), Sherman Oaks/San Fernando Valley, 10a-6p ish. Anyone who has hosted an armor party who has tips/advice, I'm all ears.

FUN NEWSLETTER!!! I love that First Time thread, it is enjoyable to re-read on a bad day. I hope it'll be pinned if it isn't already. And the video inserts really make it Congrats, Todd! I never knew what a Sky Trooper was, despite living at Disneyland and on Star Tours. I'm going to have to check out your threads to see how you solved your backpack. I wanted to toss a BIG SHOUT OUT to TKRalf, TK-8616, who is the TK supermodel beside me on The Price is Right. Ralf is a great trooper, has a sensational attitude, and would be the first person I ask to join a Fire Team if I were to start one. Rafael is fun to work with and i always look forward to seeing him!

Zellers is shutting down!? How ever will I supply my young son with his branded hockey jerseys!!! Thanks for the tip!

LOL. It does help to have room to add padding/insoles. I tried adding two layers and it got too snug, so back to one. They're very comfy, but the insole padding really helps. I'm size 8 and got size 8; by "run big" I would say they are stretch-loose, not "big" in that they are sized wrong. The leather is just very soft and pliable.

I host my pics on an external web site (Webshots) and link to it with the tags. Looks good so far (the build) - but I think you want your shoulder bridges to be white.

Me either, but why build when you can rent? And despite the dated "button" look, it still looks pretty kewl in the dark!

HAPPY 5/01 today! This will be another busy weekend of trooping. On Friday night I have a "show" (not 501st), and Sat. morning Relay for Life charity event + FCBD event (with my son in his newly built Jawa costume I hope!), and Sat. afternoon a wedding, and Sunday hopefully the "Jedi Camp" anti-bullying film shoot (find it on kickstarter). Mostly I'm excited to see my TK buddies and spread some big-time cheer! What better way to spend May the Force and Sith?

ROFL Sorry I seem to have left my brain on Endor.

Awesome! It needs its own build thread too.

WHAT!? Oh snap. Mine faces out too. That's what I thought I saw in the reference photos.

*JEALOUS* How did you "tackle" anyone - on the ice no less - in armor, without destroying it? (Is it tougher than I give it credit for?)

Great question! Watch other TKs - that's how I've been learning! Find a couple of acceptable, manly poses for photos. It's kind of all about where you put your blaster if you have one. I default to parade stance and bent arm blaster-up (if I can do it without being girlie) with one hand on my belt. No blaster = two hands on the belt default, pointing, a few other things. I know some find it out of character, but at some kinds of events I have a great time hi-fiving kids and playing "you missed" (esp since I can't see them most of the time). In character I have occasionally stared down or followed a pre-teen or kids who look engaged. Going in and out of "areas" and around corners, make it look like you're on a raid or something. I also do a lot of shoulder checks and stuff. Otherwise, it seems that's pretty much what TKs do... stand around! LOL Need more opportunities to chase Jedi and engage in skirmishes... okay not really. I don't want to have to fall over in my armor. Those guys in the movies make it look so action-packed! Can't wait to see what others share!

I told my son I work on the Executor. When DV visits a planet, we accompany him. That way I'm not on the Death Star getting blow'd up, or on Endor getting beaten up by teddies.

Yep, sounds like you're making the right decisions and doing well... the first few cuts are always the hardest (emotionally) until you get the hang of it. Sniper plate looks good to me

Yeah, 99% of photos and views of your bucket will be from the front. Get the front-facing part of the earpiece as close as you can, and don't worry as much about the back of the earpiece. Some guys use bondo or whatever to seal up the cracks if they're significant. Not saying I recommend this.

That's what made me think of it I like the blog idea.

Hmm. As the queen of thigh problems I want to help here. But I am afraid of steering you wrong. Some of my potential solutions for my own issues lie in this area. It might be best if I wait to see how the guys respond. But my thinking is that you could probably trim it a little bit off the bottom, or at least flatten it out so there's no return edge biting into you there, BUT first choice I would trim the top and forego the return edge at least in back, because return edges aren't required but the bottom of the thigh is part of a defining "look." So now I'm watching closely...

You figured out your side shims?

Personal preference. I tried to get about 1/4" white to show but once I screwed in the screw holes it kind of moved forward and was level with the top of the eye sockets. But if you look at reference photos from the films, the gap is all over the place. I like the wonky trim, it has a kind of a "one raised eyebrow" look.

Exactly my cues. And the ear pieces are flush and sealed. Also there is the fifth eye tooth taken out, so it wouldn't really pass muster anyway without filling that in.

I totally with Tom on this, and I wish it were that easy to convey to ALL folks looking to buy armor.

I've read a few other solutions that people have posted. One might work depending on your situation. hold the mic between your lips until the bucket is in place, then "ppft" it out and it'll be right where you need it wear the mic inside the balaclava (mine comes up to my lip, can hold it in place, but I don't like the feel of the balaclava there myself) attach mic to helmet and tape down all wires, have an attachable wire/end come out of the bucket instead of the mic having to come out - mic is permanent, wires can be moved around to go inside neck seal, attach to amp etc. use a lavalier mic or throat mic you can clip to the top of your neck seal or somewhere Good luck!

Take it from a girl with lots of thick hair: balaclava. And pull as much back as you can without distorting how the helmet sits on your head. I have no padding in the back of my bucket. I like the "bigger bucket" suggestion. And that's the bottom line, because LadyInWhite said so.

That's a mess all right. Is that fiberglass? Why is that far tooth hole red? You could straighten curves with a file and sandpaper, fill the gouges with bondo and stuff. Ugh. Can't respace the teeth for proper 4-teeth without filling in all the teeth and measuring out new ones so that 4 fit. Bleh. You'd have to repaint, reform the curves in the plastic that were gouged out (lips, etc). If time is money, think of what your hourly "worth" is (i.e. hourly wage or how much you would charge per hour to do this work for someone else) and how much money you'll lose in opportunity cost by doing this fix yourself plus supplies vs. saving up to buy a new one as soon as you can.