Dark PWF

Thanks, Germain. Oddly enough, mine are Hex screws but they do have a circular opening on them. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for some like the ones in your picture. Thanks!!

Greetings Jeff, and welcome to the FISD!!! Where are you located? There is a local garrison that could probably provide you with some additional assistance.

Excellent. Thanks, Ronny!

Another on the way.... Sometime in the relatively near future!

Even though you've been looking on the bay of E, you did the smart thing by posting the link and asking before you bought anything. I think you'll be alright! Have you read through the Getting Started section of the forums yet?

Ronny, it's looking phenomenal. Can you explain your process in making your selector switch functional?

So. Day #2 began with some shopping! Lots of fun stuff here that I thought would/should/could be useful in the build, so all of it came home with us! Started by drilling the 1/8" dimple in the end cap out with a 1/8" drill bit. Just another look at that particular piece of work. First thing I did, because it seemed pretty simple and "fool-proof." It was exactly what it seemed, simple and - so far as I know at this point in time - fool proof. Next, I took a 3/8" drill bit and drilled out the resin-cast "cap-head screw" in the base of the pistol grip. Looks like it ought to fit... Now, to give it a test-fit. Looks like it will be alright. Next is the resin-cast "cap-head screws" in the tip of the muzzle. (Apologies, as the camera clearly focused on my hand as opposed to the barrel) One side drilled out, also using the 3/8" drill bit. This one, was far trickier than the pistol grip. There wasn't (as you could see) a clearly defined "inside" hole to use as a basis for centering the drill bit. I found that it was best to take a smaller bit and drill a "guide" hole to a very narrow depth. That way when I did start drilling, it was... let's say it was less difficult and leave it at that. Something like "Rinse, Lather, Repeat" for the other side. I had taken some "in-progress" pics of this process, but it turns out that I had removed the memory card from the camera, so I don't have them to share. I put the cutting wheel on the rotary tool, and put the screws (in turn) into a clamp with the thread in the clamp and the head of the screw left free and clear to be reached with the rotary tool. For the first one, I "lumberjacked" it... Cut half-way through from one side, and then went to the other side to finish. After the first one, I just went straight through from one side to the other, all the way across. It seemed to me that the second way was much more efficient. From left to right, the first, second, and third screw heads. You can see that the first one has the slight burr in the center where I cut from both sides. Lastly for day #2, I drilled out the "extra" holes in the bottom of the barrel. Yes, they WILL be almost completely covered by the folding stock, but if I do decide to make the stock partially functional, or to ultimately replace it with a functioning one, this step will be completed with no risk to my inner barrel (which I will discuss more later, but can be seen in the "shopping" photo) being drilled out in the process. That's it for today. Day three pics will be posted up sometime in the next 24 - 48 hours. Then I'll actually have to do some more work, or I won't have anything else to share with all of you. I can't leave you hanging like that, so I'll do some more work. Please, let me hear any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or critiques that you may have at this stage in the process, and as it continues. Thank you.

Best of luck, Dennis!! Looking forward to it!

Excellent news! (Thanks again, Karin!) Fortunately, I've not yet begun assembling anything. I'll post my day 2 progress pictures tonight, though. Germain... sorry about that. No idea why that happened, aside from me doing it. It won't happen again. I'm planning on making a magazine clip, but I'm not sure what I'll use yet. I'm kicking around a few ideas, like so many others... LoL. I didn't recall seeing the D-ring in Craig's (DM101) build thread so I was hoping to make sure that everyone knows it is there - but I will agree (as I have handled a weapon or two that have D-Rings on them during the past 20+ years ) that the one supplied is rather flimsy, slightly mis-shapen, and would not be up to the task in a real-world situation.

Germaine, I was pleased to see that as well. It also included a D-ring, as you can see, which I was not expecting. I'm not sure how long ago that started, but that was nice to see. The only things that do not currrently ship with the kit are the rail/bracket, and the wires! Oh, and directions!

For the record, I have no fewer than 12 build threads opened up in tabs on my computer (to include yours, Mark - which I will be looking at when it comes time to paint, for sure. Great job on it!!). They've been there since Thursday evening, and should remain there for the foreseeable future, until I have mine at the very least partially assembled. I'm kicking around some ideas for my bolt carrier group. Mostly derivatives of previously used ideas, but possibly with different materials - which I'll explain a bit when I post day two sometime in the next 24 hours or so.

Yay! Thanks, Karin! And, of course, thanks to everyone else for the awesome words of encouragement. No new BUILD stuff today - but I have two point five days worth of build photos to share and comment on, so I'll get right to that now... Another picture of the box, showing the angle that really had me worried. When I got home I just wanted to open it immediately and conduct an inventory, but the first two to three hours at home are spent with our two year old son, Kellan. So, I waited patiently until he went to bed before I did... Prepped for the inventory. I have DM101's beautiful build thread open and waiting on my laptop, to use as my "inventory sheet" since no documents come in the box - and I had already learned that from the countless build threads I've read so far. This is what was in the box. Three loose parts, and a zippable bag filled with what I was hoping was all of the rest of the parts. Fortunately, yes... All of the parts were there, so my beloved significant other had indeed, inadvertently caused me a minor anxiety attack at work where I am in a position of authority. Nobody likes to see a grown man cry, and I was only close to doing so, so no harm, no foul. The parts arrived with a lot of dust and release agent/powder on them and as I've learned from all of those build threads - you need to wash them before you do anything else. Rather than simply go and start playing, I knew (being an acutely aware husband) that a bit of housework before-hand would go a long way in this regard, so I did what made a lot of sense at the moment... I did some dishes! I didn't say I did a LOT of dishes. I said SOME. Anyway, with the sink cleared of dishes - it was time to clean Doopydoos E-11 parts... Getting the upper receiver cleaned and ready... A smile from England!! and... The rest of the parts get their bath, too. All washed up, with nowhere to go - except into a room where a two-year old can't get at them. That's the "work" for day number one. I'll post up day number two shortly. Thanks for following along.

This actually arrived on Thursday, while I was at work. I was in a meeting and was handed a phone message from my wife, by our Operations NCO. The message simply said "Call me at home when your meeting is over." No big deal, I thought. I get that message at least twice weekly. When I got back to my desk, I realized that my cell phone had a message so I checked it. It was from my wife, and it said: "Your blaster kit is here. The box is wide open. Only God knows if all of the parts are here. It's a freaking mess." So with about 45 minutes remaining in the work day, I became very preoccupied and useless. I spent those last 45 minutes trolling through Doopy threads here at FISD. I've shared this picture, as I finally remembered how to do so, which allows me to have a build thread. I'll begin to add to it tomorrow evening, I believe. Thank you all in advance for your insight, critiques, and previously shared experiences and inspiration. I'm excited to finally have a build thread of some sort, here at FISD. Enjoy the show!

Thank you, yet again, for the newsletter! Always an enjoyable and informative read, and this month is no different. Looking forward to February's!

Thank you, that's exactly the thoughts that I was having, but I don't have any sort of technical audio background - outside of operating radios professionally. LoL. To me it just seems that if the mics are only three to four inches apart facing to your front, there really isn't any stereo effect. There's too much crossover, so amplified, not stereo. Also, the sound is coming from in front of you, which you can see already, defeating the purpose of the system. Thanks, the system's theory is brilliant and the iteration that exists right now seems to be getting rave reviews. One day, I'll have one. Just need my armor first.

Taras, Would you say (having worn the kit) that mounting the mics in the frown causes any sort of confusion or disorientation? I've seen a lot of discussion of mounting the mics that way and to me it seems counter-productive. We are used to hearing sounds as they come from the sides of our heads. Just curious about your take on the notion of mounting the mics in the frown as opposed to in the temple/brow/ear area. Thanks.

Anthony, I think that is probably a good idea. Although I'd been thinking of joining the 501st in the back of my mind for quite some time, ultimately it was the Legion's FB campaign that really led me to the research that brought me to FISD. If I may, I have a suggestion as well... While recently conducting some cross-forum electronics research, I signed up over at the Sith Lord forums and noticed that they have something like a "Hall of Fame" for their second and third level approved members (I believe Emperor is their equivalent of our Centurion, I don't recall the second level title). It is a section of the forum that I think helps with the awareness of the programs, while giving a small nod of appreciation to those who have already done it. Might also help with awareness to have an "Honors Detachment" for EIBs and Centurions here for the new members to read/see.

bzb.... Any updates on what you've been doing with this project?

I'll vouch for him on this count - for at least ONE, because that is me. Bill, take a look at the Centurion standards vs. EIB... It really isn't that much more to do to accomplish the higher Centurion standard, and the subtle changes/upgrades will make a difference to you in the end! Centurion is definitely worth considering - in my humble opinion!

Excellent! Thanks., Mathias! Jannick, I think that it may be something that triggered it, yeah. Only because it worked fine whenever I used it prior to upgrading, and although I don't recall if I had used it immediately after the upgrade, it did stop working since that time.

Are you using Win 8.1?

Well, I won't lie... For what it's worth, I'm glad it's not just me. Sorry that you've been dealing with it too though.

This started within the last two to three weeks sometime. I'm not sure what may be causing it, but I cannot paste into the forums or into PMs. I can paste into other browser-based applications and websites. I can paste into non-browser-based apps or programs. I just cannot paste to FISD. I've looked at settings in my IE, I've looked at my settings here on the FISD site. I'm at a loss. Help... Anyone.

I concur... Definitely looks really good!! Nice job!

I'm all in!!! My armor kit is (currently) on pace for an August delivery, but I'm gunning for Centurion (with EIB the second stop along the way - following basic 501st approval as the first step) from the get go!! I think that we can do this! The attaches definitely seem to be making their presence felt along the way, and I'm familiar with a good handful of current recruits/prospects who all say that we are going to do it. March on to 700 in 2014!! On a side note, and this may not be the place for it - someone PM me please if need be - but I might have a contact in the relatively near future that currently does produce coins at a very, very good price for my Battalion. If there is any interest in investigating that as an option, please let me know. I can't make any promises and I understand that there is a lot of higher level approval etc involved with producing any merch for any part of the 501st, but if it is desired, I can easily ask the question.