Punkers

Helmet is finished now other than the "S" trim for the bottom of the bucket. Going to see if I can figure out where to buy it locally since it appears many want to charge high prices for a very cheap piece of plastic. I installed the hard hat liner, frown mesh, and the tube stripes tonight: Final step is to complete the thermal detonator (TD), make adjustments to strapping systems, and do a final fitting before taking approval photos I couldn't be more happy to be so close to the finish line!

This week I tightened up a few loose ends like shortening the kidney plate and adjusting the strapping, applied the thigh ammo pack, assembled the belt, adjusted the shoulder strapping system and attached the ABS shoulder straps to the chest plate. Yesterday I began working on the helmet again. I applied the decals and masked off the vocoder, ears, and frown for painting and did a cursory coat of paint on the teeth. Today I pulled out the paint again and did some repair work on the teeth as well as painted the vocoder and ear pieces. I also sized and installed the lenses into the helmet, sized thigh strapping location, and installed cap rivets into the thigh ammo pack "hinges" and painted the caps white. I am pretty happy with the progress and I believe that with some final adjustments to the lenses to pull them down into the eyes more (using a glue gun) as well as installing a hard hat liner, I should be ready for final adjustments to my strapping systems and ready for submissions photos this week!! I cannot wait!!

This weekend I made quite a bit of progress and am quite happy with where I'm at so far. I only have about two weeks to go until our Comic-Con, so I believe I will be done just in time! Yesterday I worked on making straps with snaps that go into the chest and back plates, shaped the belt, thigh ammo pack, & shoulder straps, and finished trimming the ears and installed them on the helmet. Today, I installed the snaps into the chest and back plates, trimmed the AB button pieces and glued them to the AB plate, made the shoulder straps with snaps that bring the chest and back plates together at the shoulder, installed snaps & straps in the biceps & shoulder bells, and last but surely not least.... did my very first test fitting of all of my armor!

Looks ok just even them out some. Here again is the method I used: I first used a dremel to punch two holes in the big teeth and one in the smaller ones. Then I used an exacto knife to cut out the remaining plastic with small scooping motions being careful not to cut out too much material. Then I used some needle files to sand down the interior edges and shape it.

Last night I trimmed up the thighs and added the cover strips to the backs. Tonight I started painting the AB buttons and will be trimming the plates to fit tomorrow.

Hi all, It's been a while since I updated my thread with my progress, and sorry that I don't have individual progress photos for each step etc, however here is the finished product. In the last two weeks I have made tabs for the insides of the thighs, calves, forearms (redone), biceps, and glued each side together. The only pieces that haven't been sealed are the thighs and calves as I am currently installing the velcro in the back of the calves and today got the sizing on the thighs to trim their height as well as the backs. I also put cover strips on the front of the left thigh, calf fronts, and completed the forearms and biceps. Earlier this week I installed nylon tabs with snaps for the AB & kidney plates and fashioned shoulder straps using camping gear straps with buckles (cut in half) purchased at Walmart, criss crossed them, and sewed them together in the back to prevent them from falling off my shoulders. Today, I also painted the thermal detonator / canister and sanded down & trimmed the associated parts, knee plate, and hand plates. I feel as though I am only a few weeks away from a finished product as I only need to finish the canister, affix the button plate to the AB plate & paint it, affix the ammo pack and knee plates to their respective parts, finish shoulder straps & snap system for shoulder bells / biceps, and then complete the helmet by affixing the ear pieces following some trimming and putting on decals etc. I'm getting excited and really look forward to posting some updates in the next week or so as I work to complete in time for our state's first annual Comic-Con features none other than David Prowse and Ray Park!! (Wish me luck!)

So on the right thigh with the ammo pack, does it matter if you run the cover strip full height to avoid running short and exposing any gaps etc? My pieces do not completely sit flush full height and I don't want to apply the cover strip leaving a big gap that's visible under the ammo pack.

So the epoxy didn't go so well, but who can blame me for trying to save time eh? I made tabs and glued the calves and thighs together on one side over the weekend. Pics to come tonight / tomorrow.

I worked on the ears a little then with some help I sized one of my thighs, taped it up to check the fit and prep for gluing. I decided to use epoxy to bond the two sides together first and then will glue the cover strip on after the fact with ABS glue. Here's the outside and inside following the epoxy application:

Is it out of the ordinary for the face mask to sit kind of awkwardly and not even when you look straight down into the helmet opening? It looks aligned on the front by the traps and eyes, but it sits strangely left to right when looking down over the opening.

Trimmed the sides of the cap and back and then aligned the brow and eyes how I wanted them. Did a "dry run" ... And I liked how it looked so I moved forward and taped up to hold the position and drilled side holes to hold it in place for now.

Cut out the teeth tonight. Hope they look at least mostly the same size / shape.

Week Three: I didn't have armor I could work on solo at the moment so I got brave and started in on my helmet. I hope to hell I haven't messed it up

Those are actually not elastic, they are nylon straps and snaps. I am however slightly concerned that they may end up being a tiny bit too long, but the gap will be covered by my belt so as long as they don't detach in the middle of a troop I should be fine. That's why I put four straps rather than 2 / 3.

This weekend I finished one of my forearms, separated the kidney from the butt plate, and glued on straps N' snaps for the kidney and butt. Here is how it hangs with the straps attached.

Thank you! I will definitely keep it attached.

Today I glued one of the finish strips on the left forearm after picking up some strong rectangular ceramic magnets at Lowe's (be sure to cover them in tape or something to prevent "mucking up" your armor) and selected some good "clear" ABS glue.

Week Two: I have been working on trimming and sanding for several of the remaining pieces that haven't been trimmed and put gluing on hold due to tactical errors that led to less than desirable results on the forearms. I am looking at fixing them or perhaps reordering forearms depending on the severity. I will refrain from images of them at this time since I will admit being my first armor build they didn't turn out how I would have liked Here is my progress with the trimming and sanding prior to fitting or assembly on the leg pieces, biceps, shoulder bells, and hand plates:

Day Three: I got gutsy and with the help of a garrison mate, I put one of the finishing strips on my right forearm.

Day Two: I rough trimmed the Shoulder Bells, Biceps, Wrists, Chest, Back, Ab & Cod, Butt, and Drop Boxes today

Thanks all for your input and assistance! I really appreciate it. I think that I will go with custom made suspenders with Nylon strapping, plastic clips with adjustable buckles, and heavy duty snaps to attach to the AB plate. I will await any reply from FunkyTrigger or others but if I haven't heard from them by the time I start in on fitting the AB plate etc, I will just use what I research to move forward with the cod "TK brief".

Ya I have the CRL PDF on my phone and always will check it with questions, but things and opinions always change, so I wanted to be sure that I get any new tips / suggestions for how I should put together my build with the most accuracy and possibility for EIB certification as possible. With regards to the "suspenders" should I just use nylon straps or invest in some kind of pre-made suspender kit? If not best answered by yourself this is an open question to the thread. With regards to the "TK brief" there is nothing preventing certification for EIB in separating the cod from the kidney plate and re-attaching with nylon strapping correct? As a friend pointed out in order for the TKs to sit or the hero costumes to do so, these were obviously cut. Thanks again and everyone's input is much appreciated. Just trying to get all of the accessories in order before I start building. P.S. does it matter which "split" rivets are used ? Is this stuff just regular hardware store stuff?

Thanks, I may have some EIB specific questions to send your way as I see you are detachment staff and EIB I do have one right off the bat.... Can I "cut the butt" plate and split the kidney from the butt plate at the belt and create basically a "brief" for better flexibility and comfort? And what would you suggest for a suspension system for the AB plate? Some suggest suspenders but not sure what to get to hide the straps and ensure they aren't visible etc. I'm a bit north of Bluehickey but I am sure he would be happy to lend a hand as we have spoken at a recent troop (good guy).

I will update this thread as I go, but here is my progress for day one. I unpacked it and finished rough trimming the leg pieces today.

Hi all, I know it's been a while, but I finally got my armor today and beginning the long process of completing my dream. Please provide any input as I go along, and I hope that everyone is patient with me as I am pretty new to costuming and this is my first armor build. I am going for EIB certification on this armor, and I will need any help I can get to ensure this goes smoothly. Thanks in advance! - Punkers