gmrhodes13

So after seeing prototypes when ever I pressed Anovos for an answer as to how the new armor wouldn't need filling or painting I would always get a run around answer, not getting exactly how this was achieved, now I see, one of the main places that does need gluing, filling and painting is now two pieces (top right of image), wonder if that's going to get 501st approved Closure on those biceps is a little sloppy Those gaskets are as floppy as my d__k after a cold shower What's up with those overlapping forearms to biceps, don't they know how these should look Miss something on that endcap of the TD? I better stop now or I'll be here all day

Looking sharp trooper, know where's those photos

I'd go with what you have, I know the DO's like the shoulder bell gap to be pretty close for higher levels

Looking better the black inset line on the bottom still needs to be shorter, it finishes before the end of the tube stripes. Another thing is the chin section in the screen images it seems a lot sharper and squarer than the normal curve of movie version, it also is not straight angled from the mouth, it angles out then from the middle it angles backwards to a sharp edge. To me the animated look still seems a lot wider at the base compared to the movie version, especially so when looking from the front, in some images the helmet seems to just about cover all the armor between the shoulders. I think if you compare the V of the mouth you can see the angle of the V makes it a lot wider.

I use the leaf design in mine but absolutely hated the chin strap kept digging in to my throat when moving around so I ended up removing it and added some foam blocks either side of my head just in front of the ears, works great and stops the helmet from bobbling around, also cuts down the fan noise

Congratulations trooper

Congratulations trooper and welcome to the ranks

Interesting, is this an actual issued weapon for this character or something that can be used by any character? I'm not game savvy so thought I'd ask

Looking forward to the progress

Nice work good luck with approval

Adding a strip of ABS to the cod/ab section shouldn't be too hard, it will take a little heat, once you have made your cut and the parts are separated it's only a case of making the filler strip, heating to shape, then added a support piece behind which would also need some heating, once it is glued in place add ABS paste to the join lines, wait until fully dry and then wet sand going up in finer grade sandpapers until flush and then polish. As most will be covered by the belt it really wouldn't have to be perfect, you may not even have to add the ABS paste, there are white silicon's out there that could also fill the join lines. I'm sure you'll get a lot of hands on help at the armor party, we can all look at a problem and see different solutions at times. Hey if you really wanted to be quick and cheap you could cut and extend with white duct tape, would still do the job but just wouldn't be as strong Back is a little tougher, you would have to extend the back of kidney plates, which mean going the ABS strip and paste method, really depends how much of a gap you have, many don't see us from the back so unless you are going for L2 or L3 it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Once you get strapping on a lot of pieces will hang a lot better, I am skinny and didn't trim the sides of the ab/kidney, if I had the butt plate would have stuck out, you can just see in your side photo the same is happening. I do have room in the armor but once the strapping is on it doesn't feel loose. Also when test fitting, especially legs and arms try to wear your undersuit, it does make a difference

I actually added snaps to the back of the rivets, a little fiddley as you have to trim the posts, you can then add the opposite snaps and elastic, this helps if you want to break the kit down further for transport, I did this to fit inside a heavy plastic suitcase for air transportation. In my other kits I have elastic (with a plate glued) and rivets straight through the elastic. Really depends how you want to build but A.J. said you don't even need to have them functional, you can always add snap plates over the rivets or even glue elastic directly behind. Good luck what ever you decide.

Congratulations trooper and welcome to the EI ranks

Very nice, amazing what can be achieved with foam

Do you have a rear photo as well, I'd gather you would have a big gap there also

Appear a little loose on the mannequin

Just appears one corner of the back plate sits inside the kidney plate and the other outside, it gives the impression that the back plate is on an angle, not sure if you can tweak that at all with the strapping. I applied some angle to the flap sections of my grappling box, just sat a lot better, was fine for L3.

Nice work, looking forward to seeing some pre approval photos, good luck

Roger that, just trim a little off at a time, some times you can find it's just one corner or side, good luck.

Well I've cleaned off some E6000 but never had to remover a strip Yes standard cover strip sizing is ideal but you can go bigger if needed. Are you putting on your helmet sideways then turn straight, just making sure as a lot of people try to put the on straight and they just don't go that way. I know some guys trim a little more as they find them tight even going on sideways, Hopefully your S trim will still be long enough, normally we cut it longer and it's the pressure of the longer material which helps it to stay in place.

I wrap silver duct tape around mine just to stop it scratching, still looks like metal in color.

It looks like the strip is not quite central, but it's not leaving too much or a ridge on the sides showing. Here's some screen images, when in doubt check the gallery section. You'll also notice that even though a lot of people round off the corners of the coverstrips they where actually just cut off.

Big differences in the armor and details, head to the CRL's as Joseph suggested, also have a look through some of the different build thread sections. -------------

Nice work, come out great.