toybiz

Hi Diana, Yes, ABS colors vary quite a bit. Sometimes even within the same kit! My hand plates are stark white while the rest of the kit started egg shell and now UV weathered a shade of "misty tan" as I like to call it. But yes, I too agree if it's just the belt, chances are no one would notice the shade variance. Go for it and and continue to do what we do best - make our fans Happy to See Us!

Welcome aboard Chris! I have a MTK kit that I built to ESB / Expert Infantry level. So it's really not a matter of can the MTK meet 501st requirements but more what your goals are. For basic, it should be straight forward. For higher levels just visit the respective pages to see what you need to do the get there. I recommend shoot higher, it isn't that much more effort and since you will be representing both the 501st and FISD as well as yourself - go for it! Here is my build thread from many moons ago but much of it still applies. TK24336 ESB Build https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/26919-my-first-esb-tk-build-mtk

Hi Michael, These throat mics are not pre-amplified, so no power requirements. On the technical side there are signal to noise and for some applications, matching the ohm resistance to get the best performance, but with simple applications like an amplified mini PA, I have not run into any problems with the throat mic working with the PA. The challenge had always been individual physiology on whether the mic would pick up the sound vibrations. This is not a problem for acoustic pick up mics, but then those pick up breathing and more susceptible to feedback. Keep these things in mind and unfortunately, I have no way to assure you a throat mic would work in your application. Maybe find one for your cell phone and give that a try to see it it would work with your body. Only suggestion I have is, if you have a beard, chances are a throat mic will not work as the mic is not making direct contact with your larynx. Hope it works out.

Hey Hugh, Have you tired the throat mic yet? This vendor has made some design changes over the past few years. We are both in the GGG and I am wiling to let you try mine out before you place an order. I believe a few other GGG members are using the throat mic as well. Contact me via GGG forum PM or our FB group page. Thanks

Looks like the vendor has changed their website around. Here's where I found their throat mics. It also appears they no longer offer the dual transponder one. http://www.ixradio.com/shop/computer-accessory/ Good luck with your search and hunt.

Looks like the company changed their URL for their throat mic and amplifier packages. http://www.ixradio.com/shop/voice-amplifier/ Thanks for your interest.

This video is a follow up to my previous one demonstrating the a walkie talkie throat mic can be made to work with a personal voice amplifier such as the Aker. From my searches on the internet, it has been next to impossible to find a microphone ONLY throat mic. There are literally hundreds of throat mics with an ear phone speaker like those used by military or security but then those will not plug directly into any personal amplifiers without using an adapter. I looked up ix-radio, the original manufacture of the walkie talkie throat mic in my previous video and found out that they offer a wide range of audio solutions. Including the only mic only throat mic. After acquiring a personal amplifier and throat mic set up from ix-radio. I did some field testing at about 6 troops in armor using the throat mic with different amplifiers. http://www.ixradio.com/shop/voice-amplifier/ Update (02_13_17): the DUAL transponder WITH the velcro strap is no longer on their website. I recommend emailing the vendor if that is the one you are looking for. In this video, I will be comparing a typical over the ear acoustic microphone (the one supplied with the Aker 1506) and the dual transponder throat mic from ix-radio. https://youtu.be/4uH_iZh9Vwg (sorry still can't figure out how to embed a you tube video - someone point me on how )

I went with nomex gloves and elastic strapping on my ESB hand plates for basic and EIB approval. I was advised if I want to continue to use the same hand plates, I would only need to don a set of rubber gloves. IMO, I would go this route for two reasons: 1) fabric gloves give you more options for breathable fabrics, 2) you can use the same hand plates for your Basic, EIB, and Centurion approvals. Just need a set of rubber gloves to use for approval. Good luck and no problem asking for help, just make sure the question hasn't already been asked dozens of times or isn't readily available by doing a little research first. I have always said. I'm no one special, if I could find the information, anyone can!

Thanks for sharing Walter. It was my ESB regarding the bicep straps but I don't believe it comes down to approval without them. It is more a matter of speculation since the ESB suits were mainly re-purposed ANH ones right? The common consensus is most of J hooks were damaged thus not used while filming ESB. The bicep straps were there on most of the ESB suits but since the J hooks are missing the bicep straps slid out of sight on many of the TK actors. Locitus' position was two fold - 1) having the bicep strap helps our armor look more fitted and 2) it is reasonable to believe that they were still on some of the suits. IMO, it would be correct either way but in the end it's how we appear to our fans right? And don't we want to look our best all the time while in the public eye? The movie set suits only had to look good for a few minutes on screen and could get away with some ill fitting armor parts, we are not as fortunate. I have been in armor for 8 hours straight for my longest troop. I for one am glad to have the bicep straps. Not having the J hook is fine with me. But if you look closely at this TK's left bicep, you can see the horizontal black line of the bicep strap. But since his arms are so long the bicep is hanging much lower than on most of us.

Congratulations Trooper Jay! Welcome to EIB!

Looking great. IMO the MK2 is cool but it is so close to ROTJ. Just go for ESB and we can troop like twins!

Helmet replacement may be the best course of action. But it wouldn't be impossible to "correct" it with some heat and an appropriate shaped object to push it from behind the cheek bump. I have seen some pretty amazing reshaping of armor on this forum by some clever individuals.

I would not recommend using a heat gun as there is the risk of deformation when pulling apart the armor while its heated. Freezing works and safer but many builders here have be successful with carefully pulling apart the seam or running a blade in between (be really careful with this one) the joint to cut the glue. E6000 IS really forgiving and after you have the seam apart, it takes some time to "rub" off the remainder of the glue, but it does come off.

Congrats Mike! See, you can do it and did it!

Keep up the great work! That is one BIG tote shipping box!