Hi Everyone!
I'll spare you the back story but basically I've always wanted to be a stormtrooper, and now my dream is finally coming true! Starting this thread so you can follow my progress and give me advice along the way. Please be liberal with the advice, tips, and tricks. Hoping to make expert, maybe centurion down the road some, but most importantly I just want to get trooping!
After some research and perusing the forums on here I decided to go with an NE Kit (price, speed, and general build-ability (sp?) led me to pick this kit. Trooper Gear was able to help me out and I was lucky enough to catch a current run. My armor arrived in just under a week!!
THE OBLIGATORY BIG BROWN BOX PICTURE!!! AHHHHH
Very tightly packed, really appreciate the care that went into wrapping each individual piece.
Oh boy there is a ton more to this than what I had pictured in my head. I have been reading build threads for a while now but its a whole different story to unwrap everything and see it all staring you you in the face.
Came with some nice decals too. Not sure if I want to paint these instead of using the decals, thoughts?
Finishing strips. Gonna have to cut these down to 5/8" for the arms, 7/8" for the legs, and 1" for the shin backs ... right?
Awesome detail on the HOV mics
Hand plates!
I think I've got everything figured out, the kit came with some nice extras: hero bubble lenses, TD shoulder straps,
and then these little guys ... not 100% sure what they are for.
((x2)
any ideas?
More supplies!!
Got a few more goodies from Trooper Gear (Holster, canvas belt, frown mesh, blaster ring, magnets, and a single rivet?). The magnets are pretty tiny, I think I'll have to up the size on those to have them be any help.
My e-11 blaster mod kit from doopy dos, pretty quick turn around on this one (I'd say just under a week), made it through customs safe and sound! Pretty nice detail on the pieces. I'll have to be careful when spraying so I don't obscure the details.
My first walmart and lowes run netting me all these goodies ... The kit came with ABS cement but after some research I decided to use the E600 glue just in case (cross your fingers no) I mess up and have to adjust some pieces.
Under suit from amazon, opted for the 2 piece get up to make it easier to use the john while trooping. Unfortunately I ordered the wrong top. I dont think the seams on the shirt are going to fly :/ What do you think? Pants have a small logo on the ankle but Im pretty sure the boots will cover that up.
Still need to get some snaps, boots, TD clips, and a neck seal. Been in contact with a few people about neck seals, just need to pull the trigger on that. Debating on making my own clips, I've got some time to decide on that though.
As far as boots go I'm torn. I appreciate the authenticity of dyed boots but am leaning towards something that looks pristine. CABoots and TK Boots seem to be the only options. I havent been too impressed with what I have read about CABoots, durability, overall comfort, and price. That being said TKBoots wont have my size in stock for another 7 weeks. Decisions, decisions ...
Enough talk lets get building! ... here it goes!
So I started off just taping all the pieces together with blue tape to get a feel for where they all go and what kind of trimming is going to be needed to get these things to fit right.
The helmet is going to be particularly tough IMO. A lot of trimming to get the ear pieces to fit right. I've noticed a lot of the NE Helmets have them mounted to low. Also a pretty large gap on the sides, from what I've read trimming should take care of this.
Forearms are going to take a bit of trimming to get to fit right.
Surprisingly (?) the biceps gave me the most trouble. I had to re tape these a few times to get the flares and right and left to fit properly. Still a little snug around the top part of the bicep but I think once I trim the returns off they will fit a lot better.
you can see here how the pieces really dig into the inside of my upper bicep
I don't know if this is just me but it looks like one of the bumps (?) on the shoulder straps is slightly bigger than the others. I cant find if this is supposed to go towards the front or the back? Maybe its just my eyes playing tricks on me but I measured it and it seems that one is slllliggghhtly bigger than the rest. Front or back?
The ammo boxes fit together super snugly, I don't know if I will have to glue these at all. Im actually a little worried that I wont be able to get these apart to rivet them on to the straps ...
The thermal detonator, the gap on the grey tube seems to be a bit on the large side. Thoughts? Actual dimensions on the gap?
Calves .. the top seems to fit well but Ill need to do a bit of trimming around the ankle. Im wondering if I should be wearing shoes or boots when I mark and trim these? How far over the boots do these sit?
Thighs!
Maybe because I was wearing baggy gym shorts but these were really tight and long on me. Made it really difficult to walk around. I couldnt really bend my knee.
Chest with buttons taped on. A little worried about the seams showing around the edges of these pieces
All stacked up ready for another work day.
I read that it is a good idea to go ahead and glue the back piece of the helmet before trimming anything. Roughed up both sides with some sandpaper, glued, taped, magnets applied (they are pretty weak not sure how much they are doing) , and clamped ... now I just need to wait 24 hrs ...
Well that will do it for the first post, busy week / weekend ahead of me life wise but am hoping to crank on sunday and get some more pieces trimmed and glued. Im thinking I will start by trimming all the returns off the forearms, biceps, and legs. Good idea? Yes, no?
Thanks in advance for all the help and comments!!
Here is a link to my entire photo bucket album with more photos ( I know seriously?! more photos?!?).
http://s1363.photobucket.com/user/wtrakas/library/?sort=3&page=1
