EJGreen
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Posts posted by EJGreen
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Looking awesome, Dadio! Keep plugging away!
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Greetings JC! Welcome to the FISD!
Make yourself at home and feel free to ask questions. Here's some information that might help you get started..
http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/12693-which-armour-is-better-for-a-bigger-trooper-read-here/
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Greetings Colin! Welcome to the FISD!
Couldn't help but notice that you're from NC. Welcome to the Carolina Garrison. We've got a terrific group of people all around so feel free to ask whatever questions you have.
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Yeah, I get the joke, LOL. For me, I miss the midwestern culture. Where I am in North Carolina, we really don't have much to do unless you want to drive a couple of hours to the major cities.
In terms of making future adjustments, a lot of it depends on the materials you use to build your suit. It's true that e6000 is a lot more forgiving in that you can slightly heat up the bond and carefully pry them apart. There's a lot of strapping involved and using something like elastic will provide a little more give while nylon webbing won't. Some have used parachute buckles in their methods to allow for adjustments as well.
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So it's Saturday morning and I'm sitting here debating where I'm going to start with my kit. I gotta be honest, I'm not really sure where to begin. I've had my brown box for less than a week and since it's arrival, I've spent countless hours poring over hundreds of threads and yet I still feel a bit lost. The good thing is that I'm not forcing myself to complete my build by any deadlines. My biggest downfall, however, is that I'm an art major and I spend way too much time over-analyzing the smallest, itty-bitty detail to the point where I've rendered myself indecisive.
My wife is at work this morning and I had plans to do some shopping. Yeah, I've got a LOT of that to do still. Aside from my armor, the only pieces I have are my undersuit, earth magnets (thanks, Dark CMF, for the Amazon link), and my belt from !
Right now, my local shopping list consists of e6000, clamps, and a roll of painters tape. I've added and crossed out, added and crossed out--not really sure which way is the best way to go with certain materials. Like I've said, I've read through dozens and dozens of threads and there's a lot of great tips out there but there's also a lot of differences in opinion. What works for some doesn't always work for all.
I feel really confident that I can aim for Centurian. As I've stated, I've got the patience, time, and the attention to detail in order to get there. I'm just having a God awful time making decisions.
Snaps: Dritz or Tandy? Again, I've heard some say both have worked for them but I know that it depends on the tools you use (pliers vs. setting tools/anvil).
Snap Plates: I've read countless threads where some are using spare plastic to make snap plates, some are using nylon webbing (for better fit against contours), and some are going with elastic (doubled over at the snap for more durability).
Elastic: Braided? Knit? Non-Roll? How wide, 3/4", 1"? White? Black?
I really don't want to waste time, materials, and techniques that aren't really proven to work? I'd rather try to get it right fairly close to the first time.
If anyone wants to weigh in with their opinions, my mind is wide open!
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Greetings Rob! Welcome to the FISD!
It's always great to hear about new members joining the ranks of the 501st. It may feel like a daunting task (and it can be a long journey), there's no better time than the present to start doing some research, ask questions and gain feedback. Our motto is: Troopers Helping Troopers. You'll find that we're always eager to assist you.
Sly11 posted a great link, above, to an area in our forums which has a lot of information about how to start and what you can expect when you're ready to begin your build.
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Greetings Andrew! Welcome to the FISD!
When I saw that you were from Illinois, I had to jump in here. I was born and raised in the metro St. Louis area (Illinois side). I'm currently in North Carolina but still consider Illinois my "real" home.
Based on your stated measurements, I would recommend going with an RT-Mod suit. I'm about the same height as you (but I've got a few extra poundage). Rob is a reputable vendor from Canada, who's fitted quite a lot of us "bigger" guys. He's great to talk to, excellent service, and is always willing to assist anyone with questions pertaining to his suits. The downside is that he's quite popular at the moment and is putting people on a waiting list.
I actually just received my suit earlier this week and I'm in love with it! The bucket comes pre-built but if you're aiming for more accuracy (EIB or Centurian), there are a couple of details on the helmet that needs a bit of an upgrade.
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Greetings Thomas! Welcome to the FISD.
While I can't speak on the topic of fiberglass suits with any authority, you can always go and check out some of the approved vendors, ask lots of questions, and see if their suits are your style, size, and personal flavor. Everyone has its pros and cons but in the end, we're all still the same when it comes down to our passion for what we do.
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I'm waiting just to get on the waiting list...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I really didn't have to wait long to get on his list but once I got on it, it was close to 7 months of waiting.
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I think I'm just as excited to finally see your build get underway as you are!!
As the others have said, Rob is in full tilt production... There are definitely going to be more giant TKs in the Empire's service.
Peripheral vision???
Did you check out your shoes yet? LoL
You will need to keep your eyes peeled for an opportunity to wear an apron in your armor. All the cool RT kids do it.
I'd email Rob about the PVC. Yeah, it's easy to run and get it, but I'm sure he'll square you away with one, and you can focus on your build.
Good luck, measure twice, ask once, cut. Also - have fun!!
Brother, you can't imagine how stoked I am that you're here. I gotta be totally honest, I'm extremely inspired by your build and I'm going to be refering to it A LOT!
But with that helmet on, I still can't see my toes unless I'm bent over 90 degrees at the waist!
As for the apron, that's one I don't think I know about.
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Rumor has it that Rob is in full production mode right now. If I had to guess we'll be seeing a lot more RT troopers before xmas
-Eric
I can honestly say the rumors are true. My time on the waitlist was suppose to end in early July but he received a bad shipment of ABS from his supplier and that pushed everyone back a bit. But I have heard others say that they expect to be waiting till Spring 2015 or longer.
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Sigh.....one day, I hope to have a brown box full of shiny white armour arrive at my doorstep, in the meanwhile I shall be following your build intently.
I was actually in your position not very long ago. The investment is huge and the wait can feel like forever but you've taken the first steps by actually making the decision to follow your passion. Your brown box will arrive some day and we're all going to be there to help you celebrate.
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Excellent. More RT troopers!
Let us know if you need any help on your road to centurion. Did you have Rob trim it for butt joints and cover strips?
-Eric
Actually Eric, I didn't know that Rob provided requests like that but I am definitely going with butt joints and strips. Still not sure about the strapping system but always looking for anyone's opinion.
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I bid $1325... wait, that's "Price is Right."
Congratulations, Walt, on your new addition to the clan.
I'm gonna go with June 13th.
You do realize that admission for Star Wars Weekends is only going to keep getting more expensive?
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Welcome to the FISD, Joel. Congratulations on selecting your armor. Remember to keep us posted.
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Welcome to the group, John. Please remember to post some pics when you get your armor on!
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This definitely looks like it was a great time for everyone. Congratulations on making your first troop! Just got my armor today and I'm now one step closer to my first troop.
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Another great read! I always love the monthly newsletters!
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Finally!
After sitting on the waiting list for several months, the eagerly anticipated brown box finally arrived safe and sound! I had been tracking it's migration from the time Rob sent me the tracking information for FedEx.
Words cannot begin to express what I feel right now! This is the moment that I've always dreamed of. Ever since I discovered the 501st's existence, I knew that I would some day be a a part of it. To finally have the opportunity to build my own suit and join the ranks of some amazing people is, in my opinion, a tremendous honor.
I was seven-years old when my dad took me to a drive-in theater during the summer of '77 and I saw Star Wars for the very first time! I'll never forget that memorable scene when dozens of Soldiers in white armor stormed the Tantive V and took the Princess Leia prisoner. Now, I have a whole new reason for watching those shots but from a totally different perspective, lol.
But enough of my rambling. Here's some of the "obligatgory" pics that everyone likes to see...
Last year, my wife taught our dog how to open Christmas presents. Now, anytime a box arrives in the house, he automatically thinks it has his name on it.
I have to say that the box was a lot lighter than I imagined it would be. The shipping label had it listed as being just under 14 lbs.
Rob definitely does a great job at packing his suits for shipment. Everything was neat and tidy and wrapped in LOTS of Saran Wrap.
I couldn't wait to see the bucket. The dog, on the other hand, was more interested in my belt.
Rob ships his suits with the helmet already built. I couldn't believe the level of craftsmanship that he puts into them. There's even a foam headliner inside that adds to the comfort level.
Upon trying the helmet on for the first time, I was amazed at how snug it fit. I don't know if my head is really big but I have to turn the helmet sideways in order to fit it over my face. But once it's on--its on! I've read about some helmets that act like bobbleheads; but not this one! I can tell it's going to take some time to get used to looking out with it. There's not much room to exercise your peripheral vision and I have to turn my head in the direction of where I want to look.
Still, I give it a big "thumbs up!"
I spent some time carefully peeling off plastic wrap and inspecting all the parts and pieces. After finally getting everything unwrapped and laid out, I began to wonder if something was missing. I've poured through several RT builds and noticed that everyone has something I don't: an O2 canister! Yes, the control panel arrived as did the end caps but I've noticed from everyone else's pics that I didn't get the PVC tube that everything gets mounted to. Not sure if I should email Rob and ask about it or if I should just run to Home Depot and get a piece of PVC and cut it to the proper length.
I will say that I'm quite pleased with the quality of craftsmanship that Rob puts into these suits. The ABS is durable but it's also really light. For whatever reason, I was expecting everything to be a LOT heavier that what it really is. I guess that's a good thing when it comes to trooping.
I'm willing to admit that this is really just the beginning. I (think I) know what lies ahead but the good thing is that I have lots of patience on my side. As excited as I am to start trooping and doing all the great things that we do, I'm not under any time crunch. I'm willing to take my time--slooowly--and build a suit that I can be proud of.
I've already made the decision to go straight for Centurian. I know that means that I'm going to have pay close attention to the details. As an artist, I can get easily distracted by the details. I know that there are going to be some modifications that will mean going as far as removing Rob's decals from the helmet and applying a "hand-painted" look. I gotta say that the only thing I have at this point are my earth magnets which happened to arrive shortly after my armor and I think I've got an undersuit that will meet the necessary requirements. But I still need to invest in boots, rivets, snaps, tubes of e6000, painters tape, and whatever else it's going to take to get this thing done. I'm hoping to start work as early as the weekend, doing my first fittings and so forth.
But I'm also feeling quite comfortable at this point. I know that I have access to an amazing group of talented people who are eager to help and answer whatever questions I might have.
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Welcome to the FISD Brian!
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Welcome to the FISD! Lots of great information and amazing people to assist you with your build. It might feel overwhelming at first but if you're willing to take the time and exercise a bit of patience, your suit will be a work of art.
Peace,
Eric G.
Fayetteville, NC
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How is the quality? Sometimes those costume pieces are made with cheap materials
Peace,
Eric G.
Fayetteville, NC
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Welcome Rebecca!
You're definitely in the right place for whenever you get ready to start your build. There's a ton of knowledge and great people who are eager to help. My suit is currently in the hands of FedEX so I'm going to start my build thread soon but even if you're waiting till buying a house and a couple of kittens, it's still a great place to chill and embrace your nerdiness
Peace,
Eric G.
Fayetteville, NC
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I'm still tracking my delivery from Rob and it's killing me that my delivery status changed to Monday. At one point I was getting a delivery date for this Friday but now it's moved to early next week. According to FedEX tracker my shipment crossed over to the states but I'm still hoping for delivery before the weekend.
Can't wait to start my build thread!!
Peace,
Eric G.
Fayetteville, NC
My AP build
in ANH Build Threads
Posted
I'm looking for those brackets. Where'd ya get 'em?