ravinousbunny

I think there may be some. One guy has given me his number and told me to call if I had any questions. Though I am not sure exactly if I have anyone that could physically help me yet. Still trying and hoping to figure that out. It is kinda hard with the garrison spread out over North and South Carolina. Less TPSM (Troopers Per Square Mile).

Thanks! I was working on sizing up all the torso pieces before work. Man is that not super difficult to do by yourself. Was using tape to hold everything up and try my best to get a good idea as to what I was doing exactly, lol.

Alright time for an update of the day! I feel like I accomplished quite a lot before and after I went to work. After feeling how the bicep was sitting against the back of my arm I decided to trim off all the return edges on the top of the biceps, still debating on doing it for the bottom. I am going to check the balcony out tomorrow and see what the situation is, hopefully good so I can finally start gluing pieces together! I also completely finished trimming and sizing the right forearm, even made a little bit of a mod to make it fit better by trimming out a dip to form better the my arm bending. I did not make the cover strips for the forearms yet, will do that in the morning. I think I am going to work on the torso parts next, get those fitted and trimmed, and form them better to me. I figure that will be best to get those pieces sorted out so I can see how I need to trim the top of thighs. I also do not have boots yet to trim the bottom of the shins accurately. And yes armor is officially baptized in blood, here is hoping that is the only blood drawn for this one.

Well after a few days I have gotten the left forearm to a point which I am content with. I learned an easier way to trim the armor, from the inside not out. Also I removed all return edges on both forearms first, was quite easy and turned out pretty good, think I will go back and do that to the biceps since they haven't been glued yet. I still cannot glue the strips on yet I bought some eco/child/pet friendly wasp and hornet killer. Did quite a number on the wasps killing them within about 10 seconds. Unfortunately, I walked onto my balcony to find a couple bees flying around, sprayed them real quick then a swarm flew out from some plastic siding leading to the storage door outside, I then quickly ran inside after spraying 10-15 bees, with one following me in. I found that one shortly later and took care of it. No stings were caught in that struggle. Though I do apparently have a pretty bad wasp problem on the balcony and will have to get some pest pros out here to clean it up. Besides all of that mess, I was quite sad that I wasn't going to get to glue the strips on tonight like I wanted =/ So I just finished trimming up and sizing the forearm. Its as small at my wrist as my hand will allow, also and my elbow is pretty good as well. Will def need some foam to fill in some voids and get it to sit right. Will hopefully start on the right forearm tomorrow and get some glue going by the weekend. I also suffered my first cut today! Quite surprised it took this long after I kept getting more and more chancy with my cutting, I had it coming!

I just finally got to a point with the left forearm where I have it trimmed down to a better fit length wise. Now are the forearms suppose to feel super huge as far as how much extra space inside of them? Seems like a lot of space from top to bottom between where the cover strips would go. I have trimmed them down quite a bit, will trim down some more tomorrow though to get a better look down to the wrist.

As far as the trading I'll have to see what mine look like! I haven't messed with anything other than the biceps

Well I finally finished the biceps! Hopefully... Well I think they are pretty good anyway! Also finished the coverstrips for the biceps... however... Due to my fear of bees and of getting stung and of being the only place I could use the e-6000 for now, this is stopping me from gluing... I live on the third floor of an apartment complex and these somehow nested between the glass door and the screen. I will start on the forearms after I get off of work and hopefully have those ready to glue by the weekend, might try and go over to a friends to glue these pieces. Also I got my TM ANH STUNT helmet yesterday!!! It looks amazing, my only two concerns are that the frown has 5 teeth cut out on both sides, and it is not as shiny as the rest of my armor, though this thing is super sexy!

Just updated my photobucket with some more pics. Spent about 2 hours just on sizing up the left bicep, and still not done... This is def a precise and painful process, every slice down makes me cringe. I have a question about the bicep, I have it where the top is getting to about a thumb width while have my arm bent flexed a little. However the bottom closer to my elbow is really open. Do people taper their biceps or keep them pretty much how they are? I am getting pretty sleepy so I won't be doing any more cutting or even attempt to glue yet haha. I figure once I get really worked into the first bicep, the second should follow suit quite well, but progress is progress Also I do not have a good way to take off the return edges or I would, trying to avoid any unnecessary blemishes on my armor as possible.

Also for the return edges, I am having a hard time finding any definite answers to whether I should remove it, which edges to remove, and so on. Except for the forearms. I know that it is recommended to.

I am sitting here staring at my biceps waiting for them to cut and glue themselves. Man this is really really nerve wracking. Well about to try and size them up and make the first cut... here goes?? Pics to follow soon

I finally was able to order armor!! After many years of looking forward to this day and wondering if I would ever take the plunge, and I finally did! Ordered the NE kit yesterday and got it today thanks to the magic of UPS and living relatively close to the source. My helmet unfortunately is still in the mail, dang USPS taking their time after royalmail did. The helmet is a fully built TM ANH STUNT helmet right from the master himself. So my only concern is the armor, I am fully ready to take on the frustrations and pain the future holds for me while building. I think I have about a quarter of an idea of what I am doing! It is one thing to look at photos of other builds and to actually hold the pieces yourself. Makes you ask so many questions. I will do my best to hopefully get this thing right the first time! Also to hopefully make a trip to the hardware store to get items to start assembling as I did not think I would order a kit so soon, or receive it the next day. Any and all help would be great! Especially as to how some of the pieces like the arms fit, making sure I got the pieces right. Also the trimming on the chest, back, ab, kidney, and butt all to fit right. As far as my build I am a really small guy, 5' 8" 136 lb. roughly a 29" waist. Got a little bit of popeye arms going on. Very lean, so I will need to trim this bad boy up like crazy. Think I will start with shoulders, and arms. Those seem like good starting points to get my feet wet. Hopefully I won't mess anything up haha. Once again, my biggest concern is matching the pieces right to one another. Will use my photobucket for the photos. http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/ravinousbunny/library/?sort=3&page=1 I just lost all urge to work for the rest of the week as well >.< Here we go...! Once I can get to the hardware store that is before work hopefully....

Hey no arguments from me. I am just a spectator at this point its your armor, I do like the look of the rivet though. Its nice seeing all these build threads to get ideas of where to go when I get my kit. Looks good so far

Yea I hear ya. I am in the process of ordering a kit at the end of the month, maybe sooner. Just ordered a TM helmet. Been doing hours of research for about two weeks now. Seeing the differences between builds, preferences, what is and isn't acceptable. If you look on the 501st site for the armor requirements here http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:TK_anh_stunt It mentions on the different areas with rivets that they are either Bifuricated rivets or split rivets on the chest and kidney. Split on the ammo pack on thigh, or brads. As a side note, that requirement appears to be for level 3, no mention of type is made for basic, or level 2.

I think the rivet with the hole you are thinking off is this type of rivet with this type of tool. Obviously this is way to big a rivet, just an example. I don't know the exact size rivet right off hand. Rivet gun http://www.lowes.com/pd_45272-412-RH200S_0__?productId=1087313 Rivet example http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=44294-37672-513136&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=4192179&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

Well I feel bad, didn't read the date on this one. Haha, that is what happens when you work for 10 hours then get home at 11 at night and try and work the internet. Shame on me lol.