bigtrev503

I taped up my arms and that went well. I took pictures and everything was fine. I tried to figure out a temporary way to attach the chest, back, ab, kidney and butt, and did not have as much success. Everything basically exploded apart before I could get a picture. Anyone have suggestions for how to tape this all together for test fitting?

I'm talking about removing the raised part pin the backs of the thighs in a tapered way to custom fit my legs. Is it cool to do that?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're blowing my mind! I could be more accurate by cutting ALL the raised parts off? I'm willing to if it is accurate....

I am wondering the same thing. I am not a lady, but I am only 160 and 5 10. I don't want to have big plastic tubes flapping all around my body . I just stare at the ANH reference pics and hope that my thighs will fit properly like this:

I want to acheive that iconic look of the fit. I know each one of those suits were custom fitted to the wearers back in the day. At the same time, I'm sure they didn't have much mobility. I suppose it'll be a balance of good fit and mobility. So, you and supertrooper have both advised against attempting to cut the forearms down. Should I only cut the thighs down, and pad the rest?

I was wondering of there was a rule of thumb about how much space there should be between my body and the armor. I am 5 10 and 160 pounds. My ATA is kind of roomy all over on the initial test fit. How do I fix this?

This is the approach I'm going to take on the thighs, but I am wondering how to get these thigh tops to the same shape like pandatroopers, yet get just an extra little bit of material folded up with the iron so it can get closer to the same height. Any suggestions?

Does the trooperbay belt come wit hthe plastic insert like I've heard Tkittel's does?

I am at the point in my build where all I have left to buy Is: canvas belt snaps black elastic holster doopydoos full resin e-11 I have spent a good lot on this so far and am trying to acquire the last bits for as cost-effectively as possible. This will be an ANH hero, but the really small details are not as important as they seemed to be a few hundred dollars ago... I still need one or two things from trooperbay, so I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get the belt at the same time to save on shipping cost or get one from here. Also, which sellers are at the top of your list as far as holsters and belts?

I followed everyone's example from lurking around here and started with the biceps, then forearms and am now on to the shins

I am 5' 10 and fluctuate between 158 and 164 pounds. Isn't that the size and height of the average trooper in 1977? Actually, that's one of the reasons I chose this as a project. I thought I would be the ideal size for it. I need to know how snug all the pieces need to be with undersuit on with no strapping, just pieces held in place. Do I need to be able to slip a whole ungloved hand in anyplace? Tighter? looser?

Ok, I'm lacking the motivation to continue this project without some serious help! These forearms are driving me crazy. Where should I cut from?

I was actually thinking of taking the ridge completely off of the backs of the thighs and possibly shins. Maybe even the arms too. I thought that's what the strips were for. Isn't it accurate to leave them on the fronts of the thighs and shin sand not the backs? Remember, I'm shooting for as accurate as possible for a first time build.

I'm just freaked out to do anything to the thighs because, as far as my extensive research goes, I haven't seen anyone in the history of ATA armor try this wacky idea.

Also, When I put on the ab, chest, butt, and kidney; the kidney overlaps the ab plate a lot. Should I trim extra material from the ab plate or the kidney plate? I wish I could upload pictures more easily, but I use my phone and I get no service in my home so I can't upload to photobucket until I leave the house and go somewhere. Any additional pics you need for assessment let me know I can tell I'm gonna be one of those skinnier than average troopers who has to trim a lot of material from everywhere. I haven't touched the shin backs because I found a wonderfully genius way to do it that doesn't require extra material i.e: elastic or velcro. Here is the link: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=11145&hl=dashrazor's%20ata&st=20 It's about halfway down the second page. My question is: how much of the raised part should I cut back to achieve this? I asked Mr. Dashrazor but he hasn't responded. Any help is appreciated!

Well, I've done as much as I can by myself and through researching the board for months. I've been cutting and trimming everything and now am starting to cut straight lines. Now I reach the point where I need to start an official build thread so I can properly document my work and ask questions when needed. I have let my questions bottle up to the point where I am ready to explode! I'll begin with all the progress pics and start asking all my questions after those. Brown box pics: Armor laid out, uncut: Got the boots: I started with the helmet: Test fit with a (trooperbay) magnet but left alone because I don't have a drill right now The armor trimming: Separated by "big parts" and "little parts" The slow, careful trimming: Cutting straight lines. I was accidentally measuring these as 12 mm instead of 7 mm. This has since been fixed and both biceps, both forearms, and both calves have been butt jointed and taped for test fitting. These are the tools I used: Here are my finished pieces: Here's the leftover strips I plan to use for inner strengthening strips: And here are the test fitting pictures for you guys to assess and tell me how to make them fit properly. The left forearm is a little loose and the right is way loose. What to do? I have not touched the thighs at all except for the lower edge where the knees are. I have not cut the butt joins and I have not cut the tops at all because while I was waiting for my armor to arrive I found in my research that the thighs are extremely uneven. I want to use pandatroopers tutorial but put an extra twist on it by using my heat sealing iron to actually lift a few millimeters of the extra material on the left to match the right. This is where I am at a stand still. I want to mod these thigh tops and I will not just give up and have one round one and one accurate one.

Can anyone tell me what the "side B" means on the ATA cover strip sheet? I'm assuming it is the non shiny side, hence why it is marked with a marker, but wanted to check to be sure before cutting. Also, I have had to store my unfinished parts in the same box it came in and the sheets were at the bottom. Now, when I pulled them out for the first time in some months, they have been scratched to heck by the raw edges of the other pieces clanging around in there. Should I sand and polish the sheets now, or wait until they are cut and attached?

If you ever spill blue milk on your canvas belt it might be an issue I think a lot of guys here snap them on so they can be washed/replaced more easily. I'm not 100% sure though.

Thank you all! I will begin cutting straight lines this afternoon and will begin my official build thread either tomorrow or the next day. Speaking of perfectly straight lines; how about the belt and knee ammo? Should I use the score and snap method or just draw a guideline and follow it with my scissors?

Have the mm measurements ever been converted to inches? Does that work? If not, where do I find a ruler with mm on it?

Great advice guys, thanks! So, my flexible ruler and clamps is all I really need? Then either mark the line with a pencil or score right along the ruler?

What kind of a store is it? Home improvement?

Is that referring to the curvy armor parts that require straight lines or the strips? I'm more worried about the armor than the strips.

I didn't even think of that! I have to get my tube stripes and was trying to think of something else to justify the shipping cost a little more . This will be perfect! Thank you! EDIT: I just saw that there is free shipping on decals... I can't help to wonder where these suppliers are finding them though...

I have been a full time lurker since about Halloween '11 I have posted a little here and there but really wanted to research thoroughly. I got an ATA ABS kit and have been cutting on it for about a month. I have made decent progress, but would like to get the butt joins cut and taped for test fitting before posting an official ongoing build thread. I do use the search function when trying to figure out how to do things and it has helped until now, but I have specific questions that I just can't seem to find the answers to. How can I get the butt joined parts and the strips cut? Supplies I have are as follows: curved lexan scissors x-acto knife w/ extra blades heavy box knife w/ extra blades 18 inch flexible metal ruler w/ cork like backing (nice one) frog tape crappy dollar tree off white masking tape sandpaper varying from 100 grit to 320 How do I make this work guys? Admittedly, I have avoided anything that has to do with measuring and have eyeballed everything up to this point where I am forced to deal with numbers (I hate math) I'm mostly weary of trying to convert the mm into inches so I can use my ruler. Plus, I have been forseeing myself not making a straight line and cutting the butt join edges into a V and creating a lot of work to correct or just plain ruining my armor... Help please??!!