Dark CMF

Congratulations, and welcome aboard!

Honestly, to me, that doesn't look bad but to be honest, I haven't done very much research on the Officer pistol as of yet.<br><br> Perhaps someone that has will be able to provide some more input.

Definitely look into RT-Mod as Jenny suggested. At 6'2", and about 225 normally, that's what I wear, and I'll back up what she said about trimming the armor, in that Rob sends it pretty well trimmed for you.

I'll simply echo what you've already heard and read here: you won't have any second thoughts, buyer's remorse, or issues with the TM Kit, based on anything in the kit. Paul is a true artist, and a great guy to boot. You will be looking great, highly shiny, and very proud of your armor, without a doubt. Since you've gone with TM though, I'd suggest that you do some reading on the Centurion requirements before you begin building. TM armor should be pretty much approvable when built properly, and as beautiful as the armor is, it truly deserves to be Centurion when the time comes. Congratulations!

Answer to your basic question is: unless you already have an approvable helmet why wouldn't you order it from them?<br><br> Many makers offer that option. It allows people to buy the helmet ahead of time and build it while they wait for their armor to get ready, or maybe they just want a helmet for display and later decide to get the entire armor kit.<br><br> Also, it is a better likelihood at your colors will match if you order them all together. Typically, the plastic used in making a kit from one supplier will all come from the same ABS supplier, so you'll have little to no color variation. If you get a helmet from one vendor, and armor from another, you run the risk of the color having some subtle differences at wont be apparent until you're wearing the armor and helmet and the colors are right next to each other.

It does look like the return edge is still on the wrist. Remove that completely, as Terry mentioned. That will open up the wrist substantially for you. As for the forearm itself, what I'd suggest is that you untape it, and make the cover strip opening the same size on both sides. I'd suggest using inner cover strips to create a shim effect, gluing them in place and allowing them to dry and cure, and then glue the outer cover strip over the gap. Spreading the distance out between the two sides will keep the armor looking more consistent, and streamline the build overall.

Just curious if anyone has attempted to source a semi accurate version of the fabric for the pill holes yet? I've been doing so, with no luck thus far. Perhaps someone has fared better than I. My thought process is to cut out appropriately shaped pieces of the fabric, hem the edges about an inch larger than needed in each direction, and sew Velcro strips into that "extra" fabric surrounding the area to be covering the armor openings, and then put corresponding Velcro strips into the armor to attach it. That way, the fabric can be removed and washed (or replaced) as needed.

PM Sent.

Understood James. We're here to help. Your best bet is to head to the "Getting Started" section of the forums. There are plenty of threads there that offer advice about which armors are best for offering body types, budgets, etc. there are also threads about where to get those armors, and where you should not try to get your armor. Feel free to ask for help, but read through some of that section first, so that you may have some frame of reference to start yourself off with.

Yes, that is ACU. Taken in Qalat province, Afghanistan in early 2010.<br><br> I've been in since August of 1990.

Lead the way brother! <br><br> Looking good. I was already over-engineering this very modification in my head, so I'm very happy to see what you've done here.

That's definitely an option. You can find plenty of build threads to read - for E-11s and armor - that share what those Troopers were going through and thinking when they did their builds, and how they dealt with the situations and any mistakes that may have been made. There are VERY few mistakes that cannot be fixed.<br><br> Both of my own build threads are linked in my signature below.

I'd also say that a lot of the proportions on the helmets look off. There are definitely better options available for comparable prices.

For the shoulder bells, don't cut them until you know for sure how the parts will fit together. Once you're comfortable with that, look at screen shots (and some Centurion threads here at FISD to get an idea about the proportions that they have between the biceps and the shoulder bells. When your comfortable with that information, you should b fully confident as to whether you need to trim them or not. If you feel that they do, take some pictures with the arms being worn, and draw your proposed cut line with a pencil to get opinions on it before you start cutting.

Hey Michael,<br><br> I've built one and a half TKs. I've built mine, and I'm in the middle of a build for someone else right now.<br><br> It is an intimidating thing to begin by yourself. When I built mine, it was me and the FISD. I had no Garrison members living within a two hour drive of me at the time. <br><br> It was less tricky than I thought it would be honestly, but I did alright with it, as it was approved at the Centurion level about nine months after it was approved for Legion membership. It would have been sooner, but I moved in that time span.<br><br> We won't allow you to fail in your build so long as your posting the right questions and supporting pictures, so that we can give you proper guidance as you build.

Hey Jefferson,<br><br> Here's the email address to get in touch with Rob. Keep in mind that he travels very extensively for his job, so it may take a week or a little bit longer to get a response. its a great time to get in touch with him though. About two years ago this month (or so) I got in touch with him for the first time, and it has worked out alright for me. Rob is truly an artist.<br><br> Anyway, here's the email address: [email protected]<br><br> Best of luck!!

Hey there Phill! Had Mark not done it already, I'd have given you the same link. That's probably the best resource. That is readily available to you. Good luck, and keep s posted on your progress!

Hey there Michael,<br><br> I'd say that your best bet would be to review several recent AM build threads here and look at what came with those kits, and what those builders wound up buying separately. As a general rule, there aren't any greeblies on an original trilogy TK. you will need strapping supplies, snaps possibly some Velcro, an undersuit, neck seal, canvas belt, boots, gloves... Reviewing those build threads will be an invaluable resource for you.

Simply beautiful.

Well, the changes actually make a lot of sense from a functional standpoint. The flipping of the magazine well, and counter from the left side to the right side makes the F-11D a right handed weapon. With the magazine well of the sterling on the left side and the ejection port on the right side it was a right handed weapon but the E-11 in ANH was a left handed weapon because it couldn't be holstered on the right side. The F-11D however can, and is holstered on the right, making it more accessible to predominantly right handed firers. I believe the changes were more about functionality in the Star Wars universe than a change for the sake of changing things.

F15D = FISD. That's all I was getting at.

Would have been very sweet to see it called the F15D, but alas...

Also, be sure to reduce a lot of those return edges.

Okay, I wouldn't worry about strapping anything at all, until all of the parts (except the thighs) have been fully assembled. I always recommend saving the thighs for last, because of the potential for issues when trying to fit them.<br><br> As for just right... Test fit the pieces while wearing your undersuit. That will make a difference, because it is compression gear, so it will make the parts fit a little loosely if they fit you fine without it. Also, always go to the screen shots, or look at some Centurion submissions with the NE kit. You will know without a doubt, that those kits look proper with regard to fit, etc.<br><br> My next steps would be:<br> 1. Build biceps.<br> 2. Build forearms.<br> 3. Build shins.<br> 4. Build the fronts of the thighs.<br> 5. Build the TD and Belt.<br> 6. Attach shoulder bridges.<br> 7. Begin strapping the ab/kidney, then the chest/back, then arms.<br> 8. Fit thighs while wearing body armor, strap them.<br><br> Finally, keep,doing what you've done here. Ask for help,when you get stuck. We're here to help, and we won't let you fail if you're showing us what you're doing, and asking questions as you go.

With no good reason as of yet to assume otherwise, and looking at them comparatively to the E-11, they do appear to be a newer generation of it.<br><br> All of the same parts are there with a few upgrades/modifications/additions, and it fully appears to be based on the same frame.