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LadyInWhite

501st Stormtrooper[TK]
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Posts posted by LadyInWhite

  1. Submission Question

    in Getting Started - Read this First!

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    Before I submit for 501st and all that, I just wanted to clarify what the procedure is. I see "Request for EIB status" on this forum but submission to 501st is on the 501st web site (well, email...)... So I just wanted to clarify.

     

    Would greatly appreciate if someone would confirm or correct! :)

     

    1. I email my local garrison GML for admission to the 501st with photos etc.

    (Do I request EIB during this process or is it separate?)

     

    2. After acceptance/approval, and designation of a TK#, I apply for EIB status in the forums here... ?

     

    Thanks...

    Sorry for the confusing question!

     

    Ingrid

  4. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted · Edited by gmrhodes13
    link not working removed

    OK BOYS & GIRLS...

     

    This is my first time trying on EVERYTHING together. And boy do I have a lot of adjusting to do! So don't laugh, esp. at how nice and fat these photos make me look, k? :) I'm just wearing tights and a t-shirt, no neck seal or anything proper...

     

    Any suggestions or thoughts are welcomed. I can list most of the things I immediately need to adjust, but certainly if you see anything, chime in!

     

    ---------

     

    Cod piece not hanging right.

    Belt too big! I'm not as fat as I thought! Needs to be refitted.

    I think the drop boxes might be too forward?

    Thighs won't stay up, even with the nifty garter I made... darn giant hockey skating legs!

    Shoulder bells too far back.

    Forearms too long - easy to trim bottom.

    Hand plates too big.

    Shoulder straps seem too far forward?

     

    ---------

     

    This angle makes my legs look short...

    Butt plate too high.

    O2 might be slightly wrong, turned too high?

    Holster not far enough back? Or is that okay? It might move when I adjust belt length.

    Too much overlap of back plate onto kidney?

    Helmet fell forward (though I could see!)

    Haven't painted rivets yet...

    --------

     

    GIRL POSE!

  9. RF: Getting green lenses FLAT

    in Tutorials, Tips and HOWTOs

    Posted

    Try as I might, my green lenses will not lay flat in my helmet. The eye bone area is not flat or flush to the curve. It ripples or has gaps or looks a bit warped.

     

    Should I try making it a little more flush?

     

    Or is there some nice technique for getting cellophane to have a nice "flat" appearance?

     

    I'm trying to avoid having gaps between the cellophane and the eye bone. And trying not to trim too closely.

     

    Or maybe nobody is perfect and I shouldn't worry too much about it?

     

    Thanks!

  10. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted · Edited by gmrhodes13
    link not working removed

    End of year project: The Bucket!

     

    I followed these directions almost to the letter, and it has been turning out awesome.

    -------

     

    The main exception is that I did not use the dremel tool on the face. I used the hobby knife (Exacto) exclusively and it worked excellently for both eyes and teeth. Amazingly I did the whole thing without a scratch last night. Then this morning I used the exacto on the ear pieces and got two major cuts within 10 minutes. I think I need stitches in one of them!

     

    ----------

     

    One thing I discovered, to my dismay, is that although I placed my brow ridge higher than the top of the eyes, I was not paying enough attention to that detail when fitting my ear pieces. After I screwed in the ear pieces I found that my brow had dropped all the way to the top of the eyes. I personally don’t like this furrowed look, but I’m not sure I can do anything about it now. I might try fiddling with it all later, but for now this will do.

     

    --------

     

    I had painted my ear pieces with the gray base before assembling, just because I happened to have the gray out for the ab buttons. Everything else I waited until after assembly and polishing.

     

    -------

     

    I am considering slits in the back “vents†as suggested by another trooper. For now I will just finish them with black stripes and add my tube stripes as decals. I can update later. Lastly, the innards... and voila!

     

    I will say this: getting this thing on and off is entirely non-functional. I can see why the guys call it “a bucket†because, well, it’s essentially just a bucket on your head. It would be groovy to make some kind of hinge for the front or back to open it a bit. As it is, I have to turn it 90-degrees to get it on, and then twist it into place once my head is in it. I’m wondering if it’s possible to enlarge the back bottom or something for a little more space.

     

    I think I royally screwed up my belt, but cest la vie at this point. I can make it work with velcro or something for now. I'll figure it out later.

     

    This is something that happens when your rivet tool is faulty. I had to get creative to get it out without destroying my poor plastic. At one point I was thinking of marching straight to Lowes and chewing them out about their faulty tool... while it was still attached to the thigh piece.

     

    ----------

     

    Hopefully I can finish the helmet tomorrow (and a couple additional snaps and adjustments) and start the new year by submitting! Woot!

  12. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    Just an update, I feel like this is taking forever. My own fault, too much going on. I have the rest of the week off... let's see if I can get this done!

     

    All that's really left is belt, bucket, and a few more snaps on the body. The rest is looking good. Though it's just a pile of plastic on the guest bed, not very photogenic.

     

    Then I'll be ready to submit... and afterward a little more detailing. I'm hoping it'll be EIB from the start but if not it'll be close.

     

    I am able to keep most of the return edges that are in the pulls but a few that don't have it like the shoulders and my neckline. However, I've tried and tried to use the sealing iron technique and either get warping or no effect at all. Any other thoughts on that would be appreciated. My husband said I should use the heat gun first but it also tends to warp.

     

    I can't wait to get out there and see a few others up close now that I'm looking from a whole new perspective. Thanks to everyone for all the amazing info posted all over the place and all the questions answered.

  13. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    Next Question!

     

    Is the left shin's ankle area slightly narrower than the right area? I am guessing this is either a pull discrepancy, or it's because the right inner and left outer are different. So all things cut "along the lines" so far, the right ankle is fat or has a little flare at the inner bottom and the left ankle is a little less fat.

     

    I just want to make sure that's okay! You can't really tell from pictures.

     

    Thanks!

  15. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    Hey, all. I'm getting along fine so far, just slooooow going, hour here and there. Will post pics and full build thread soon when i get organized. (This isn't my build thread. What a horrible title! :P Okay maybe it could be.

     

    ANYWAY, question of the day is: Helmet - paint or decals? My helmet came with stickers but I fear they may look a little glossy-cheapo. Is paint preferred or does it really not matter?

     

    Also, what do you guys usually use to punch out the holes for the teeth? Drill + dremmel? Something like that?

  18. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    Abs, chest, cod, butt, kidney, back all sized & cut, just need edging. Shoulder bells & biceps cut, sized, taped. Getting better at cutting and trimming.

     

    Had to trim some of the bottom of the cod piece and top of the abs. Might need to trim abs more but seems okay for the moment. When I start the snaps I'll get it perfecto. Butt plate not currently lining up top to bottom of kidney, I think because my butt is bigger than most guys and it tilts it a bit. Guess I really need to work out! In that case, I should enlarge my bicep pieces a bit... ;)

     

    The cat fell asleep among my pieces. So much for avoiding static cling, especially when sanding.

     

    Cat-sleeps-in-armor.jpg

  19. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    Awesome, thanks Jenny! I've made a few scratches with the scissors but so far nothing you could even see, but I saw on yours how you filled in some gaps like the ab plate edges so I am sure this will come in handy for all of it!

     

    And as tiring as it is, I've been cutting/trimming away... (no throwing up)

     

    Next question: I have AP armor. My ab plate seems a little warped, like it's not flush equally on left and right. Is that perhaps from shipping, or is that normal... and is it something I should heat and bend to be a little more balanced, or not worth it? It doesn't look bad in the mirror, far as I can tell, but it sure feels a little odd.

     

    Also the ab plate is pretty long. I have a long torso for a woman but it still (while attached to the cod piece) comes up to my breasts, not quite mid-chest where it looks like it lands on the guys. So I am thinking I need to shorten the cod piece so that the ab sits lower. It doesn't seem like the ab piece could be trimmed except maybe at the top (where it's under the chest piece)?

     

    Am I just over-thinking things? I just want to make sure it's going to fit and look right.

     

    Cheers!

  20. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted · Edited by gmrhodes13
    link not working removed

    James, thanks very much! As it happens I bought both those curved scissors and the industrial scissors today, thanks to other posts. I'm glad I did because scoring this stuff is tough. I can't get a ruler to stay straight while I'm cutting, even with all my weight on it. I must push too hard. I did resort to my dremmel, and that's been okay so far.

     

    I started with the O2/TD and hand plates because I figured it would be the easiest to make myself if I screwed up, and it gave me a good feel for the plastic and tools. It also leaves me a lot of empty/leftover edging to practice returns. It is hard to tell from the photos about the hand plates' exact edging. I left a little of the side curve so it has some depth, but I don't plan to do a return on that and I don't plan to trim it much more (it's a tiny bit big) as it would make it flat. If it's supposed to be flat (flush) at the edges, then I'll trim a tiny bit more.

     

    FUN!

     

    QUESTION about the canister: is the whole cylinder white, or just the bit with the controls and the rest is gray (i.e. the back side)?

     

    -------

     

    I like the idea of using it as a wardrobe kit. I had a tough time at Dragon Con in my costumes between my friend and I falling apart. I carried a kit around in my bag. I was also thinking of making my Mara Jade harness a hidden backpack for such things. under the cloak no one sees it anyway; under the cowl it's half hidden (at least on mine). Smart thinking!

     

    I guess I will suck it up and go with snaps! :-)

     

    Thanks again!

  22. First cut, then throw up, then measure, right?

    in Assembly, Mods, and Painting

    Posted

    All right. If I keep watching videos and reading tutorials as a method of procrastination I will never join the ranks of the 501st. So here goes.

     

    I've built armor out of other, more forgiving materials; I've sculpted/cast/molded things (badly) and then sanded, detailed, painted, etc. I used to build model airplanes. I've probably got everything I need except a rivet gun.

     

    Yet I'm scared to death to ruin this "investment." (Mostly the eye holes and teeth. And any part that "shows.")

     

    What I've gathered is this:

     

    1. Stop procrastinating.

    2. Purchase the stuff you still need i.e. rivet gun and rivets, industrial strength velcro, etc.

    3. Open the tutorial on the first thing you want to build as reference. (But don't read it AGAIN.)

    4. Take out the piece you are going to build as well as the tools.

    5. Trim off the plastic parts that come off:

    - Use a box cutter or exacto blade, leaving a little room to sand off

    - Throw up

    - Sand edges

    6. Rinse, repeat on any connecting parts, minus the throwing up part

    7. Use masking or painters tape to size pieces, measure, etc.

    8. Repeat #5 to size the pieces together, repeat #7 until it's right

    9. Glue, clamp, etc. let cure (patience!!!)

    10. Continue with next piece, repeating #2-9 minus the throwing up part because supposedly it's getting easier and I'm getting more confident.

     

    Does that sound about right?

     

    One more quick question - it IS okay if I do this entirely in velcro to start, and then modify over time to include snaps and what-not for screen accuracy, right?

     

    And last but not least, if I want to do a return on my edge, I am assuming I do NOT sand down to the edge, but leave a little bit to fold over? Or is it folding over at all, or just flattening the edge (like a T) to make it a bit "thicker?"

     

    Thank you all in advance, and definitely hope to be trooping before year's end!

  23. Advise needed on cutting my new armour

    in Tutorials, Tips and HOWTOs

    Posted

    I had all sorts of horror/comedy scenarios playing through my head of cutting clean through my armour with an out of control industrial sander dragging me along the living room floor.

     

    We must be twins! Except mine included a bawling 5-year-old watching the armor disintegrate (not caring one hoot about his mother being sander-dragged)!

     

    Thanks for all the tips, guys!

  25. NEW boot source!

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    I received a pair yesterday and wore them all evening at home. Very soft and comfy - way better than I expected. Look great, fit well. They are a bright matte white. So pretty I am afraid to scuff them up!

     

    I bought 8s... half a size bigger than I would normally get (whole sizes only) but they are spot on with a comfy sock and a little wiggle room for gel insoles (I just anticipate long troop days need as much padding as I can get).

     

    Just thought I'd share.

     

    ~ happy camper/trooper ~

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