Obey Wann
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Posts posted by Obey Wann
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Looking good so far. Nice to see the bells fit on you - you skinny people!
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Last week, I got in a new set of untrimmed shoulder bells and added them. Unfortunately, I still seem to be having the same problem: It seems like they are too small for my build. No matter what way I set up the straps, they seem to slip off my shoulders. They are not symmertrical, and are very narrow. I'm somewhat leary of heat gunning them to open them up. I'm even considering getting some FX untrimmed bells.
Thoughts?
Also, any recommendations to keep the knee plate from slipping in under the thigh plate? Add foam into the calf (if there is room?)
(Yes, I'm aware that my bicep is upside down, it slipped off due to a velcro failure and in my haste to get it back on, I got it upside down. I will replace the velcro connection with a snap.)
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^ What they said.
And you'll see a ton of NE build threads now. Read them and see where we messed up so you can avoid making the same mistakes.
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Excellent!!!
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I just used sandpaper or a sanding block, and the flat edge of my Xacto knife.
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Thanks, guys!
I still have a couple of things that I will tweak to make it better. I'm also desparately trying to lose weight, so that it fits better in the ab/cod. New bells are shipping now, and I'll trim a bit for mobility this weekend. But it's nice to have another costume on the books, and to be out trooping in it.
Heh, at this last troop (pictured above), I got my wife into my X-Wing pilot costume --her first time in any SW costume after 11+ years of doing this stuff witht he RL and 501st. 5 minutes into the troop, she tells me, "you guys get all the love." (After a gaggle of squeeing, giggling teenage girls came up for hugs and pictures with me as a TK.) Luckily, she had fun, and is willing to troop in the X-Wing (or IN) if we have a troop that is really short on people. It's a start.
It's also a good thing that she doesn't know about the "Chicks Dig Armor" thread, eh? -
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It looks fantastic! Have you received your approval yet?
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If you really, really want to see more TKs in your garrison or squad, you have a few options...
1) fork out the money for new kits for folks [sarcasm warning] (ha, like that's going to happen!) [/sarcasm warning]
2) sell kits at a more reasonable price (not really possible due to the increasing costs of raw materials, quality TK armor costs a LOT to finish, and there is always the "Rule of 3")
If you want it done quickly and accurately, it will not be cheap.
If you want it cheap and accurate, it not be done quickly.
If you want it done quickly and cheap, it will not be quality3) help new people get kitted up as soon as they get their kit - host an armor party
4) Make it cool to be a TK without beling elitist
The first two options really aren't feasable unless you are insanely wealthy and want to fund your private army or subsidize new TKs. [sarcasm warning] If so, I'll send you my PP address.
[/sarcasm warning]
The third option is relatively easy - host armor parties and go out of your way to help anyone trying to finish a kit.
I'm having a very difficult time getting armor parties organized in my squad. Yes, we all have lives and families. Yes, we have (tons!) of local troops going on. But if we don't get new people in costume --any costume --quickly, we lose people. I have hosted an armor party out of an RV in a campground... I might not have a lot of tools, but if I can do it, then anyone with a garage or a back yard can. Bonus points if you have power tools.
One of the worst things is when someone gets a kit and can't get help from their local garrison / squad mates. So if you see anyone within an hour drive from you that has a kit and wants to get it built, help them. I hate to see it when we get new people who are interested, and they sign up on (local) forums, try to get help, they get platitudes (general "post up if you need help responses), but can't get real help from established members --and then we lose them.
Do what you can - loan an extra costume, or encourage them to handle or be a photographer, anything to get them to events and see what it is that we do. It's even better when you get them into a kit that has a full-face bucket so they can see what it is like, and how much the public responds.
Mainly, the best thing any of us can do is to just get people in a kit, any kit, and get them trooping. Help them get them approved. Welcome them into the "cool kid club." Be open and encouraging to new people. Worry about what kit they are wearing later (if at all.)
The fourth option is relatively easy if you want to see more TKs: encourage TK pride (without beling elitist)
Do something like the Jolly Roger Squadron's wings where people get patches or swag based on the number of troops they do in that particular kit. I know several people who went out of their way to wear a TIE pilot kit so they could "get their wings." From what I have seen, Blizzard Force (Operation Whiteout) is doing something similar to encourage people to wear TS kits.
The Mountain Garrison command staff recently purchased rocker patches for our garrison patch, to be given out based on the amount of troops people do:
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These are a great way to get people back out there and get out trooping.
Beyond that, any swag is good for encouraging Detachement pride. Patches, T-shirts, beret flashes, whatever. But I'd love to sport some "TK participation" rockers on my helmet bag. I'd also love to have a FISD T-shirt to go with my CTN shirts.
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I might just have to encourage the Rebel Legion Starfighter Command to do the same thing... my X-Wing pilot bag could use some rockers:
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I cut mine at an angle so that the rear hole was how you have it and the writst hole was just big enough to get it on over my wrist.
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Here are some pics from last night. LMK... I can tighten up the cod-butt plate strap, and sorry about the belt slipping under the butt plate.
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Let the fun begin!
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I hope this will help anyone doing a NE build... particularly the area highlighted in yellow.
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Some builders are mounting the comm covers to the helmet too low, leaving a space between the top of the comm cover and the line where the dome meets the rear piece. This space should be minimized, as seen on the screen used helmets. They have not trimmed the bottom edge of the helmet opening up enough
I left extra material on the helmet bottom so builders could customize them, trim them up to make the right look and fit. When they mount the comm covers using the (untrimmed) lower edge as a guide, it's causing them to be too low.
Interesting. I wonder if this is something I can fix on mine...
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New shoulder bells shipped today, I tightened up the back, and added a butt to cod strap. I'll get fresh pics tonight.
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Do you have anyone local in your garrison that could help?
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Good progress!!!
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Looking good so far!
Hey, want to trade a pair of slightly trimmed down shoulder bells for your untrimmed shoulder bells?
I cut of about 1/2 to 3/4 all around on mine, and they feel a bit small... but I'm 240 lbs and 5'8."
That's if you find your bells look too big. -
Tighten up the whole torso. You wear it too loose and it hangs all over the place.
Can do.
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These are easy fixes, I can add the strap tonight. I emailed tupperwaretk, just waiting on a response for the bells. Anything else?
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Looking good! I would trim about an inch from the top of the thighs to make them a bit more comfortable and give you mobility. Great work!
Thanks! I'll give that a shot.
I'm also looking into replacing he shoulder bells. I think there is too much gap, and they just feel small now. I cut off about an inch... regretting that decision. And I think I need a strap from the cod to the butt. Or I need to heatgun the cod and pull it in a bit, because it looks like it's floating out too far.
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Does anyone have any pictures of an NE helmet from the side before and after the ears are attached? I'm trying to figure out how to trim the sides of the back piece. Right now we have it trimmed straight down, but I'm sure it needs to be trimmed at some sort of angle. There doesn't seem to be enough room for the tube stripes.
Here you go:
More pics here: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/23895-ows-ne-build-anh-stunt/page-3
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So here it is... complete with smoke from the Black Forest fire in the background...
Adjusted the shoulder bells:
The neckseal didn't tuck in right, I'll fix that in the future, and make sure that the straps fall correctly.
Green lenses from Kevin Christley and the best helmet pad ever from Darth Hair, Fan by Evilboy:
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Give me a month or two to save up for it. ;-) I spent all of my excess cash (and the wife's patience) getting this finished. That, and I live in an RV... I'll have to see if a friend/family member could store it for me in between troops.
What are the approximate dimensions for it? Depending on how I rearrange things, I might be able to fit it. We bought this rig specifically because of the large storage on the left rear... I *might* be able to fit it... depending.
Looking good but I would still suggest to bring your thighs up just looks too snug at your knees, you could move your TD clips to closer to the end caps. That being said it should not hold you up for basic approval, good luck hope to hear some good news soon
Thanks!
I'll try to tighten up the straps that I have to pull up the thighs a bit. I'd also like to trim some of the back of the calves and thighs... I can't go up and down stairs yet.
I'll peek into the TD clips, see what I can do. Thanks!
I'm going to try and kit up tonight for approval pics. Time go git'r'done.
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Let the fun begin!!!
My NE Build Thread
in ANH Build Threads
Posted
I'm having the same problem with my bells. LMK if you find any way to solve this.