Dark CMF

Looking good!!! Keep on building!

No turning back now! (not that you'd want to) Looking good!

Hey Ryan, The Getting Started section has all of the information about armor vendors, good and bad. Here's a link to who you should be looking into: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/

Thank you so very much, to each of you... I'll save my big "I'd like to thank the academy" speech for when I have my hopeful Legion approval and my TKID sometime soon. This is my build thread, but I fully believe that every build thread we see is a piece of community property here at FISD. They're all shared freely and happily with each other and we all interact in so many ways during the build process, from offering advice, to looking out for each other's builds (backwards bayonet lugs...), to laughing and joking together (aprons, anyone?). Each and every build thread is a testament to Troopers Helping Troopers, and each adds something to the ethos that we've adopted here at FISD in the common interest of making the community (and therefore the Legion's TKs) the best possible representatives of the 501st Legion for the fans that love to see us do what we do. This is my build thread, but it was only possible because of all of you who helped in any and every way possible, since I made the decision to set upon this journey about a year ago now. Thank you for sharing the ride so far. I've still got some electronics installations to share, and some to begin, and there are those tweaks that have to be made after it is "done" as the build is further prepared for EIB and ultimately Centurion submission. The build may be "done" but the journey's just getting started, and I'll be proud to make that journey with each and every one of you!

Jaren, I could have sworn that I'd commented on your build already but I don't see any comments anywhere... Looks like you're off to a great start. That first cut can be stupidly daunting and intimidating, but before too long (and you probably already are to an extent) you'll be picking it up and hacking/drilling/sanding/etc at it like it's no big deal. LoL. Looks like you've made some good progress so far. Just continue to read and research, then measure twice and cut once. Most importantly: HAVE FUN!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!

So, here comes the "exciting" stuff - Approval pictures!! There is going to be a distinct change in background during these pictures because on day one (you'll recall that I said I'd be submitting them the "next" day, and you may have noticed that I did not do so) I had an issue with the shins staying closed properly. That was because I had not yet installed the hooks/closure system and was trying to rush the picture submission. It didn't work, and the next day when I took the remaining photos, I forgot to put the background up before picture taking started. When you take your pictures, a plain background is best, and red or green are the best backgrounds you can use, as it makes it easy to photoshop you out in your action shots for your Legion profile picture (and trading cards)! Full armor, front - bucket off! Full armor, front - bucket on! Left side, arm down. Left side, arm up. Right side, arm down. Right side, arm up. Full armor, back. Action shot 1. Action shot 2. Action shot 3. Action shot 4. Action shot 5. Please take note of the background during the action shots... I'm waiting for my GML to tell me that I have to re-take them, honestly. If you look at the background, since it has depth to it, as opposed to the green one from "day one" you'll see a lot of shadow behind my limbs and outline. That will be very difficult for him to photoshop. But, that's the basic build, completed and submitted! I'll be making adjustments to some of the strapping, naturally, and I'll post up some pics of the electronics installations (very basic and easy, really) pretty soon. Right now, I've got to run off to an appointment. Thanks for commenting, etc, and checking in, yet again.

Moving on to the thigh pieces! Here, I've applied E6000 to both sides of the front of the thigh, after sanding. You can see that you don't need a LOT of E6000. It will smear all over the place and make quite a spectacular mess if you do. Front cover strip glued/clamped/taped/and magnetted in place to dry. Back cover strip installation under way. Final appearance of the front as it dries. Final appearance of the back as it dries. Both thighs waiting for the E6000 to dry. Fast forward 24 hours.... Thighs are done!! (Feliks approves!) This step caused me a bit of stress... I was unsure if I was installing the snap plates in the proper location, so when it came time to glue them, I put them slightly lower than I thought I had them tested at. This is not as easy as you might think it would be. Getting your hand down the front of the thigh to ensure that the snap plate is in the right location, and keeping it there as you remove the thigh is... Let's just say it was a little challenging. LoL Anyway, I taped the whole thing in place as seen here, for a test fitting. Both thighs, with small pencil marks showing the approximate location to glue the snap plates, along with the supplies I will need to install them - sandpaper, magnets, E6000, and snap plates. Glued in place, a look on the inside. And a look at the outside! One inch white elastic, cut into six four inch long strips for use in the shin closures, and the hooks that will be sewn onto them. Shoulder elastic loop construction! White sticky back Velcro and white elastic. The Velcro will hold them in place by attaching to the snap plate for the shoulder bridges on the back plate. Here they are... ready to install. That pretty much covers all of the basic strapping system's installation. Next step - test fitting / Approval Picture Taking!

Thanks, Andrew! Since you mentioned it, I think I'll go ahead and post some build updates as I'm sitting here this morning with the opportunity to do so. So when we last saw build progress, it had ground to a screeching halt due to somebody putting replacement sewing machine needles in backwards after breaking them - that was me, just to be clear. Once that was figured out, progress happened: Yeah... As I mentioned: Once I figured out that the needle was backwards and made the correction, progress happened - quickly. Within that first hour, all of my strapping was pretty much completed. Here you see the strapping for the ab/cod connection, and the bicep/forearm connection. Here, the shoulder bell and shoulder bridge elastics have been added to the mix. Snap plates are currently on the strapping to make sure that I didn't leave anything out. In this picture, the snap plates have been removed from the strapping. You'll notice that there are no corresponding female snaps attached to the strapping. That is definitely going to be happening. After wearing the armor for about five hours the other day, I will advise everyone that Velcro is fine as a "fail-safe" installation (which is the full intent in my own build), but should not be solely relied upon for much of the armor strapping. Preparing to install the snap plates for the strapping system. First step - cut the Cod down a bit. I am doing this, to allow for maximum flexibility in the piece. If I make longer straps, and leave it as it is, there will be a lot more plastic on plastic contact, higher into the abdominal plate. This will reduce mobility some, as it will have a little less give. Marked the hole for the split rivet installation. Snap plates (2 snaps each, on velcro) glued and magnetted in place in the shoulder bells. Right arm snap plates installed and drying. Cod piece split rivet and butt strap (we do get to say the most fun things, don't we? LoL) installed - again, two snaps. Here's the other side. Word to the wise, make sure that you're paying attention to how you're installing these snaps. I actually was so excited to do so that I put them in backwards initially and had to break them apart to re-do it properly. That wasn't really an easy thing to do. Cod piece taped in place so the snap plates can be installed. Center strapping snap plates in place. You can see the locations for the right and left snap plates pencilled in on both the abdominal plate and the cod. Snap plates, fully installed, and drying. Shoulder bridges in place - snaps still need to be installed, but they're here and they held up with no issues whatsoever during the troop without the snaps - but I'm still going to put them in. So that's the strapping installation (except for the bracket/loop install which was done earlier, and the thighs) for the armor. I'll be looking to get the basic build thread wrapped up pretty quickly. Please feel free to ask questions and provide comments, insight, or observations, as per usual. Thanks for checking in, more to follow.

NICE WORK!!! Kyle, that's a beautiful job on the conversion. Looks great!

Clearly, terrorists. They destroyed a Government facility that was theoretically built using billions of tax dollars, housing up to a million military members - based on estimates - striking from "hidden bases." Good read, to be sure!!

I have no idea if five year old Danny Nickerson is a Star Wars kid or not, perhaps someone in the NEG can reach out somehow and find out. If he is, then I'm sure that something even extra awesome can be done for him. In the meantime, he just wants cards and letters for his birthday so he won't feel alone as he battles an inoperable and chemo resistant brain tumor. I know we have a lot of big hearts in here, and a huge soft spot for children in each of those hearts. Please, take five or ten minutes to write him a letter, or fill out a card for him. Here's a link to the story: http://abc7chicago.com/society/5-year-old-boy-with-cancer-hopes-for-birthday-cards/201492/ I just know that we can cause that PO Box to overflow to insane proportions, and make his birthday wish an awesome reality!!!

PP Sent. Transaction ID: 3J975268PW759115M Totally honored to be a part of the FISD, and happy to be able to help and support it!

At some point in time, yes. Fairly soon too, I'd imagine. Thanks, Damon and Steve!

Thanks, everyone! Approval pictures have been sent to my Alabama Garrison GML!!! (I will finish the build thread during the next week!) Big/Busy day tomorrow!

And that was a Grande Owenespresso with extra foam, right?

LoL... Thank you, Carl. I appreciate being included with that group. I'm just not much of a "toot your own horn" kinda guy. I'm still a newbie myself in many regards. I referenced those builds while working on mine, so I'm not sure how much new stuff there is to see in mine, besides the counter button I debated long and hard between the Hero and the Stunt. Both have incredibly strong arguments for choosing them. The Stunt is the first one you see. Period... That moment that they burst onto the Tantive IV is burned into my brain forever. The Hero... It is what the film-makers WANTED them to be all along. That's why they were used for the close-ups. In the end, you'll notice that my build thread acknowledges that I'm building both. I will be submitting the hero for my initial Legion approval though.

Carl, the journey is a blast so far. For me, at least. Truly great people within the Legion, and specifically here within the FISD! DM101s build is definitely a must read. I'd also advise OsoTheBear, SIMpixel, And SorenM as builds that should be read for Doopydoo E-11 kit references.

Saying that I "know how to use a sewing machine" might be insulting to actual people that use them for a living. LoL. I'm able to put simple things together with it, apparently. Eric started the trend, I'm helping it to grow. The key to it is that we are (Well, he is, and I should soon be) RT-MOD TKs... We're giant Stormtroopers. As a result, nobody questions the apron. Approval pictures being taken and submitted to my GML tomorrow night!!! (Build update to follow sometime in the near future - SORRY!! )

ROFL. Larger than life TKs, over the top personalities? SLs have "Vadering." RTs have "Aproning!"

Thanks, guys. I'm proud to be able to help (and hopefully inspire) others along the path that we're upon together! As for your question, Steve, the color is Testor's #1238 Gray Spray Enamel. I picked it up at Hobby Lobby: http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/3-ounce-gray-spray-enamel-358952/

Looking GREAT, Diana! I have to laugh at your comment about your armor being "OK" when you finished it. I'm just about ready to take (and submit!!) my approval photos within the next 36 hours or so, and I've already got myself a pretty decent list of "necessary" improvements - many of which I believe will be centered on strapping/fit as opposed to "construction." That's pretty impressive that you can just reach everything. I'll admit that. I feel like I need to take on a bit of yoga in order to more efficiently get into my armor as it exists currently. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing, as always!

Yes, Damon - absolutely aiming for Centurion. Going to have to make some modifications after approval, but building that way from the start.

Especially important when the Imperial Propaganda Ministry is about with their holo-capture devices. Eventually, I'll get my "recent" pictures up for sharing. Cramming right now though. Thighs have snap plates drying in them right now (they haven't been cut) so that they can be worn for approval pictures within the next 48 hours. I've got shin closures, TD Clips, and shoulder bridge elastic loops to complete, and it is "done." At least for basic approval. After that, I'll get to sharpening up some things that I want to upgrade/tighten up a bit in the strapping department particularly. I promise I'll be sharing pictures again. LoL

Awesome, Christian!! Congratulations. I say start with the arm parts. Very excited for you!!!