Udermeister

Yo dudes, just wanted to toss an update out: I haven't dropped this project, just got busy with the holidays and whatnot. Gonna get back into the swing of things soon as my holiday demotivation goes away! All that's left: Complete the thighs - glue rear covers, right thigh ammo pack (it's all derpy cause FX but whatever I can make it work) Complete the belt - attach ammo belt to canvas, attach holster (after I figure out if I can make it ANH), do snaps for belt-ab Acquire boots! Acquire neckseal! Acquire good gloves! Fit and strap the dumb thing! Going through my brief but hopefully thorough thread, have I missed anything? I mean, aside from this being a crap kit and don't even get us started on the helmet?

Very nice! My build has slowed down a bit, but I'm still working on it. Getting the thighs put together currently. After realizing I've trimmed them somewhat incorrectly (I think), I've lost a bit of confidence in the build. I think I'll still be able to get them to fit, but I only realized just tonight that in order for a butt join to happen in the back the whole overlap edge needs to be removed and I may be about 10-20mm short now. We will see though, and I plan to finish this kit whether I can wear it or not. Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Those are quite nice! I found a pair on amazon for around $40 but by the time I had the cash they didn't have my size, and now they're sold out haha. I am planning to go the painted route though, that honestly seems to be the easiest part of the build! Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Thinking about it now, I'm pretty sure I've got these graphics saved somewhere... I'll have to look at my Dropbox. I'm trying to work on my thighs today, but I'm finding it difficult to get the back measurement right. Think I'm gonna have to enlist the help of my younger brother to mark them lol. Also, with that list of supplies, I think all I need is the quarter inch elastic and some 3/4 or 1 inch black elastic. Then I'm set! Oh, and boots... but those will have to wait till I get my annual bonus from work! Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

NICE! I didn't know anything like that existed! That's perfect, thanks dude Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Rad, thanks Marc. What about elastic and stuff? I've got the stuff listed below, and if I can get away with using it then awesome, but if need be I can run out and grab something else... 2yd 3" white elastic 1.5yd 1.5" black elastic 2.5yd 1" white elastic 2yd 2" black nylon webbing Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

I finished the biceps and forearms yesterday, starting on the thighs today. As I get closer and closer to finishing the gluing of bits, I'm thinking about strapping. I've seen some great strapping tutorials on the board, using the snap system, but I can't for the life of me find them now. Is there a definitive "holy crap yes do it this way" thread, listing the widths and types of elastic/webbing that could be linked for ease? Updated list of things: 1. Forearms - Done 2. Biceps - Done 3. Calves/Shins (lower leg) - Pad left shin to stop sniper plate from going under my kneecap 4. Ab - Replace FX buttons with more accurate buttons (Considering skipping this step though, at least for now.) trim extra flange from cod, add rivet. 5. Posterior - Separate from kidney, check shape 6. Strapping - Snap plates, nylon web, etc - gotta do this! 7. Thighs - Trim to fit, assemble with cover strips (this is today's project) 8. Chest and Shoulders - Check fitment between chest and back, potential mod on bottom for better accuracy 9. Shoulder Bells - Trim to fit, strap 10. Thermal Detonator - Decide between 2-piece or PVC pipe, invert "nipple", TD clips (also today probably) 11. Belt - Canvas belt completed, add ammo belt/holster/drop boxes, how to snap ammo belt to canvas/make snap covers? 12. Back Plate - Check fitment with chest 13. Kidney - Separate from posterior, trim to fit so no overlap between back and kidney 14. Fitment Alterations 15. Reserved for additional details (new helmet, boots, etc) Another question: Is there somewhere that shows how the FX butt should be trimmed? I've seen other kits look very angular and streamlined, and I'm curious if this is a thing I should worry about. Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

I didn't when I took that picture, but then I remembered that the internal strips worked really well on my shins. So now I'm doing them haha. SURPRISE BICEPS! Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Well, I've got as much of the old adhesive off as I can, and I'm now working on assembly. Got a forearm gluing on one side right now, but I'm a little concerned it won't work the way it should. I followed ukswrath's trim guide, and measured out 8mm from the return edge, but there isn't a whole hell of a lot for my clamps and magnets to grab on to. The next forearm I'm going to trim less from the outside and more from the inside, leaving enough to clamp. Here's a pic! Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Lookin good, Mel! Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Copy that, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, boss

Thanks Paul! I'm 6'1", about 220lbs. I was thinking I'd leave cutting the cod until after I've worn it a few times, see how everything sits. I probably won't though.

I've seen comparisons between FX and "real" lids before, but that is by far the best example. I've read things saying it's around 25% bigger, and I feel like it's probably closer to 35-35%. I never realized just how big this dumb thing is! I even got to play with one of the Anovos buckets a couple weeks ago and I was like "this doesn't seem that much smaller" but now I've seen the light. The only thing I have issue with is I've got a pretty large head at 24" circumference and I want to be able to get hovi speakers and junk, and it barely fits in my FX with my head inside... EDIT: Just realized I'm kinda hijacking Mel's thread lol. Moving any conversation that doesn't have something to do with this thread to my own!

Nice job, trooper!

That's exactly what I'm doing with my kit! Learning as I go, but also trying to keep everything in mind cause I do eventually want to submit for at least basic level. I'm kind of hoping my GML will allow basic even with my FX bucket if I make it clear that I know it needs to be replaced and I will ASAP.

Wow, who knew? FX really boned it back in the day hahaha. Makes me really question what my kit is. I'll post up a pic of my shins when I get home from work today.

That's bizarre! I wonder if the JediRobe recast was corrected then, cause I'm certain my kit is FX, but I definitely have a right and a left shin. (Granted I knew none of this when I bought it from craigslist years ago, I was just a clueless noob with a dream!)

I don't know if I agree with that necessarily, Marc. When I was going through my bits of the kit, I noticed I had 2 shin halves that had overlap edges on front and back, and 2 that had overlap edges only on the front. It took me about a month to realize I could swap one piece from each pair and I ended up getting a right and a left shin out of it. I don't know if that's actually how it was supposed to be, but I made it work. Have a look at this photo: If you look closely, it seems like these are the same as mine - 2 halves only have the overlap/return edge on the front and no edge on the back. It is a weird angle on the outer pieces though, so again I could be wrong...

Well, back at it tonight! I took apart the biceps and forearms for cleaning and snapped a couple photos so y'all can see what I'm working with: So I'll be hitting these bad boys with goof off, scraping, wiping, etc until they're clean enough to trim and assemble correctly! Update on the thigh I sliced: got home from work and checked it out. CA glue seems to be holding still, and like I said earlier, I'll be covering it with butt joins so it should be really solid when all is said and done.

Hey Mel, it seems like you might be struggling with the same thing I did. These pieces are nearly identical, but if you step back and look at them they'll probably show you where they go. Can you toss a couple photos up so we can check it out? Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Marc, these are brilliant builds! I love everything about the Doopy kit and I can't wait to see this secondary build!

Okay, cool. Don't mind me then, just lookin' out!

What blue are you using for the ab buttons? It seems really bright in this photo...

I hit the slice with a very careful application of CA glue last night, seemed to be holding strong before I left for work this morning. Most of that edge is gonna be removed and butt-joined, so I'm not terribly worried about it - just need to make sure to at least do an inner join across that section if not the whole thigh. Right on the edge is a very small hairline, but I figure nobody will notice that unless they're inappropriately close lol. Also, it's not nearly as gross looking now! Stupid velcro glue is about 99% gone.

Right, so I was cleaning the ancient adhesive off and came across some hard crap I had to scrape off. In the process, I had a little oops. I slipped just the tiniest bit and ended up cutting a flap into the molding of the inner right thigh, where the overlap would go. [emoji21] Now, I'm gonna be butt joining these anyway, but I had a minor heart attack of course. I'm sure I can fix it so it's not completely detrimental, but wooooffff...