LaserBrain99

Thanks, Ron. Good responses in that thread. I'll try to work "It's classified" into my answers from now on.

How do you deal with this question? I mean, the short answer is "Yes" However, some people get the impression that I made molds and vacuum formed each of the pieces. Or maybe 3D printed them or something like that. I guess one way would be to stay in character, and tell them it was issued by the quartermaster when you enlisted. That might work for strangers you meet, but not for friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.

My ATA helmet also came with some hardware I can't find a use for. Larger bolts, maybe #10, about 3/4" long, with nuts and washers. Any idea what those are for?

These are the ears that came with my ATA kit. I feel so dumb for asking, but which ones are left and which ones are right? -------------

I followed these instructions to mount my belt. Worked perfectly. Thanks.

So a drop box constructed in the manner of this tutorial would be acceptable? (Hey, that's your tutorial, Germain!) I'm following that tutorial, however instead of scavenging corner pieces, I used a heat gun to bend a continuous strip into a rectangular ring. I CA glued the ends together in a butt joint. Next I'll glue that ring to a flat piece of ABS. Then insert that into the drop box. The boxes don't need to open, right?

I'm a little unclear on this requirement. Will this DIY job pass Centurion? ------------ How about this one: What if the box was solid? Would that pass?

Is this the right or left arm? I can't determine what side is what.

Yes, that first pair was far too seductive.

So, I'm doing this wrong, but it's just so darn easy for me to put this in a Google Doc. I've been keeping this log for a while. Okay, so I just started writing it a few weeks ago, so I backfilled all the stuff prior to Oct 2014. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NoOx635eXuBRkALaKAWxU6VJF8a_gAe9NXqEyXeqQNw/pub

I think I see it now. That makes the rounder end the bottom, to match the button plate. I haven't trimmed it back yet. I'll double check after I do.

How do I know if I have the kidney armor right side up? Looking closer, it's not quite symmetrical. One side has constant radius curves, the other is slightly squared off. Which end is up?

Thanks, but I'm still not clear on this thumb rule. It's snug now, but I can still jam a thumb in there. That's too tight, right? Instead I should have a "thumb sized" gap that my thumb can slide into. Do I understand correctly?

I have my thigh armor trimmed and taped up for test fitting. It's sized for a 7/8 cover in front. In the back, I'm at a 1-1/4" cover strip and it's just snug around my thigh. It will stay up on its own, but falls when I walk. Is this too tight? I need to cut back the return edge around the knee a bit, but this doesn't feel uncomfortable. I'm 5'11" and 175-180 lbs, but an avid cyclist, so maybe my thighs are somewhat larger than normal.

Thanks. I marked it with a pencil, took off the clamps, then glued it in place and clamped it again. Sometimes you look at these things too closely for too long and you start to lose focus. If I've learned anything so far, it's "When in doubt, take pictures and ask for advice."

Before I glue this in place, does it look right? I'm having a hard time getting it in a position where it looks right, won't interfere with my thigh armor, follows the contour of the shin tops, and has a decent amount of area to glue. I put a shim behind it in the center. It's about 1/2" thick, just behind the clamp. I have a very small return edge on the bottom. Maybe 1/8".

Is it possible to wire the laser so that the laser turns on when you pull the trigger?

I fall between small and medium on the Trooperbay gloves. My hand measures 8 1/8". Small is 7½"-8", Medium is 8½"-9". Anyone know if the gloves run small or large? Should I go up a size or down? --------

Thanks, Steve. A two-piece speed rivet may be more accurate, but these would meet Centurion requirements (actually EIB) for the thigh ammo belt. Do I understand correctly?

I would just get these, but the seller is taking a break for a while. I love the dimensioned drawing, and these seem to match perfectly. Check out McMaster part number 97461A674 http://www.mcmaster.com/#=u2wdv4 It seems to meet all the requirements for the split rivets. About $6 + s&h for a box of 25. I'm aiming for a Centurion build and I'm just a little unsure where these are used. Two for the thigh boxes Three + one on the abdomen plate Three on the kidney Nine total, correct?

Nice work, guys! Looks like 2mm ABS will do the trick. Cut a donut shape. Heat it, then draw it over a cylinder to form it to shape. I hope I'll have a big enough piece of scrap left over from my armor build.

Maybe a better question for the Sandtroopers, but I think it would be fun to have that prop. It's round, hollow, slightly conical, maybe made from brass. Looks like it could be part of a tapered roller bearing.

Thanks everybody. This is great feedback. After looking at the helmets, I kinda like the look of stunt better.

What made you choose stunt, Barcode?

I have my ATA armor kit and I'm ready to start work on it. I've read through the CRL for each, ANH TK Stunt and Hero. They have their differences, mostly in the helmet. With a little extra work, a Centurion level Hero seems quite doable. However, when I looked through the membership rolls for my local Garrison, nearly all the TKs are Stunt. Like, all but one. This can't be a coincidence, can it? Is there something about Hero that makes most people do Stunt instead? Am I missing something?