Haribon72

Hey Jon, I'm a newbie here at 5'10" at 230 pounds. I chose NE armor because it accommodates my large size. I hope when my costume is done, it will inspire larger newbies to join us. You're not alone. I'm sure the more of us speak, we can all feel better around good company. Someday....someone will say... "Aren't you too fat to be a Stormtrooper?" My response will be... "I'm Vader's Heavy Calvary.....We get the job done!" As i'm working on my build, I do get frustrated because I see a lot of fit troopers getting help and guidance faster from other members. They don't have to worry about shims, hiding their muffin tops and wide butts, or sucking in their gut. After finishing my build, my big worry is being told I'm too fat for approval and I have to do "this" and "that" because my armor is not screen accurate. I kinda wish there was a trooper about my size that can help me out. I've been stuck for weeks, but I still keep a positive thought that - - - " I can overcome being larger and make an awesome costume. " I had a long talk with my fiancee about this project and she says, "it doesn't matter what others think or say....you're doing something you love....and that's Star Wars!"

I'm adding myself to the thread since i'm one of many future troopers that are having difficulty with the side shims. I'm 5'10" and 230 pounds. My goal for this year is 190 pounds.

I spent the last 45 minutes reading and re-reading this thread on shims (researching....researching). I have NE armor and still stuck on what's an acceptable shim assembly.

looks great! Yes, I love the heat gun method. Works like a charm!

Ron, make sure the thighs are centered as well as the back. Use the cover strip method. Its better looking that the overlap. It will help you center the thighs better.

Keep up the great work! This NE armor is really tough. I'm working on the abs and kidney right now. My thighs took awhile to work on as well.

The NE armor is very different that the original armor. I'm doing my best to make it screen accurate but now i'm stuck. So I hope my template above will work. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you.

The blue tape represents the area I'm going to cut off.

NOTE: This shim pattern is no longer acceptable. Please do not follow my shim example below. Its no longer acceptable. I will try to update this post when I get the chance. Thank you! 04/08/2016. Tonight, I made a white cardboard template of the shim (right side of the ab and kidney plate. Please let me know what you guys think before I construction it. I don't want to mess this up. Thank you.

Yes I'll trim off the flares definitely. But are my shims okay? I had taped the shims to the abs and kidney before I glue them down. I wanted to make sure i'm doing it right before they become permanent (gluing them down to the abs plate).

Please ignore my blue dots. It was my old markers for the rivets. I'll move them later once I get the proper shims done.

NOTE: This shim pattern is no longer acceptable. Please do not follow my shim example below. Its no longer acceptable. I will try to update this post when I get the chance. Thank you! 04/08/2016.

NOTE: This shim pattern is no longer acceptable. Please do not follow my shim example below. Its no longer acceptable. I will try to update this post when I get the chance. Thank you! 04/08/2016. Hey guys, here are some pictures of the shims i'm working on. Can you advise? The shim width is 3"(inches) between the kidney and abs.

hahahhahahaah!!!

Thank you again Mathias and Germain! Can't wait to get off work and start again tonight.

Question: How would I add a proper extension piece for my sides? I know I have to cut the extra edges from the kidney and butt plates. Don't mind the blue dot. Its painters tape that I use as a snap marker.

Back on the build this evening. Last weekend, the family helped me build a duct tape mannequin of my upper body. This is going to help me visualize the center of the armor.

Thanks guys! TrooperBay doesn't sell bubble lenses. I got in touch with Kevin and he's working on something for my bucket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Life-Size-Dark-Side-Collection-Darth-Sidious-Darth-Vader-Darth-Maul-/261323126731?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd81277cb

I was re-reading the CRL site and it says "Lenses must by green bubble or smoke bubble only." I have a welder's green lens inside my bucket (I got my lenses from Trooperbay). Do I heat it up to form a concave shape for each eye? Suggestions? Advice? I'm aiming to EIB via Centurion.

Congrats on your CL approval!!!

I love the "after" pictures of the ears!!!

Dominick.. I bought the primer and glossy paint from Orchard Supply Warehouse (OSH). I see you're in Southern California. The nearest store is here: OSH at Granada Hills Store No#: 840 Chatsworth Street Granada Hills,CA 91344 First apply the white primer (one even coat) and then wait 3 hours. Make sure its a warm day and start at 11:00am so that later in the afternoon you can apply a second primer coat. Wait one extra day before you start with the glossy white paint. Once you apply the glossy white paint, please wait 2 hours in-between coats. I gave my helmet a total of six coats (light and even coat). The paint will build up into a glossy finish. Please note: DON'T TOUCH IT the first day! I put a small finger print on the cheek by accident (and fixed it by adding light coats to cover it). I waited two days before I can touch the finish (let it hangout in your paint area - I brought mine inside the garage after the paint job). Since you're in Southern California, the weather should be nice a warm during the day so painting outside is great now.

Diana….dremel the ear so that it forms into the helmet. I trimmed mid slowly until I got it formed just right.

Hello Dominick, I have the same helmet. Here's my photo gallery on my paint job (with step by step pics). I hope this helps with your painting project. ----------