Daetrin

There was certainly a run of AP that had a bluish tint, but IIRC that's been resolved. I have an older AP bucket and it's a perfect match for my FX. Alas mixing and matching armor is not always guaranteed, esp. if your armor has discolored a bit over time.

All set Karen!

My biceps float. Yeah, I know most people connect them via a strap to the shoulder bell but I just haven't gotten around to them. They're supposed to fall low anyway, so it doesn't seem to add much. The main trick for me was adding foam to keep them from rotating. The bells are connected via a short strap to the fabric straps connecting the chest/back. Sorry I can't post pix - my camera is FUBAR'd.

Why not just order a set from RT, TM, or AP?

I've done both the strap from the cod to the thighs and the garter. If you can see the garter easily from my POV it means that the thighs are sitting too low on your legs. Looking at myself in the mirror with both systems, it's not really a difference either way.

Yup, get a crotch zipper added or ditch the one piece and get some underarmor instead.

You should only need foam if you have very skinny thighs and thick calves. Some people never trim them and have barrel thigh syndrome and then these really skinny shins that look awful. Trim them - please please trim them down so that they look proportional on you. Please don't propagate the distended thigh look (and for sure they are asymmetrical, so look awful w/o any trimming/shimming at all). I'd strongly recommend only gluing the fronts and velroing the back for the first few troops until you're 100% confidant of how that back fits, as one you glue you're screwed.

I used the screen that people use for screen windows and multilayered it, then spraypainted it black. Seems to work OK.

Inches or years? I think the TE2/AP should be fine up to a 34" waist w/o the need for shimming (I'm 32" and had to cut material away). As for years...age does not equate to the size of one's middle, thankyouverymuch (from someone staring at 40).

All set Corey!

Methinks Bernard you are moving away from costuming and into the thin air of prop forgery. I can't wait to see pictures. You've definitely then taken a hobby and pushed it the outer extremes.

For ABS armor I recommend ABS cement. Others have their own opinions, but it's stood up to years of trooping for me.

I take it the reason you can't ride with the TK bucket is that it's not DOT approved? ;-) (perhaps someday someone will make one ) And as a former rider, let me say that yours is one sweet ride as well. Can't wait to see how the rest of the armor turns out - with luck it will also be similar to the one worn by the officer in Honolulu ;-)

Way to go Joey in setting the standard for all future Bolivian stormtroopers! :tk: As noted just some minor bits to adjust. The best part is the smile on your face

Absolutely - listen to the wisdom of Guns. Become a cross-dresser and enjoy the beauty of both worlds. I did, as have others. Yeah, TK's are pretty common, but *well done* TK's aren't. TD's are - for now - more accuracy obsessed as a group. I'd say go TK and when it gets too scuffed and grimy to keep clean, make it your TD and get a new suit. Also, as noted it takes time and research to do a *good* TD, so you can learn TD-ness while trooping as a TK.

Wow - I love the idea of how you joined the kidney/ab plate. This tutorial could easily apply to TE armor as well. Once you're done - would it be OK to trim out the comments and pin this as a HOWTO thread?

I bought splurged and bought a real variable speed dremel. What made all the difference in the world was getting the right cutting wheel. ---- TK4205 is quite skilled in using the score/snap method and does better with a Mark 1 eyeball that most folks do with a straight edge. Good on him, but for folks like me using the diamond cutting wheel is the way to go (IMHO). Even with the setting almost maxed out, no melting and I barely have to sand the edge.

Until recently I used the anvil approach per http://whitearmor.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=88 I recently got a pair of pliers and like them much better. I've never put a snap directly on the armor itself, and don't recommend it. IMHO having a snap plate spreads the distribution of load against the armor than having it directly thereon. I've never had a snap plate come off, but I have had a tear develop from having a snap directly on the armor.

Actually my first suit from 2001 was from costumejunkie and it arrived quickly and as promised. I still troop with it now in fact. I'd recommend spending the difference you would have spent between a kit and finished costume on beer & pizza for your soon to be garrison mates during armor parties. Better for you and them in the long run.

Frankenarmor is actually more common that you might think. Helmet upgrades aside, I'm actually going to use RT shins with my TE2 kit (they're the same size actually, just different shapes). My sandy brother in arms garrison mate has four different sets combined: newer FX base, older (skinnier) FX thighs, RT chest/back, and a TE2 lid.

You should also be able to add them via the site now, test below:

Not all were clones later on. C'mon, didn't you ever see TROOPS? ;-)

I don't think George did either, but I will say that he needs to hire better writers for the SW Wiki. They descriptions they create are totally lame. I'd wager the BT-16 was a new type of pod racer that was burning up the tracks. I never talked about military stuff when I was on guard duty anyway - we were always talking about stuff from home.

All set Matt!

I should have married your daughter then - I seem to attract nose/ear/throat infections on a regular basis.