DK5IDE

Good work! Great job on the ears, they are especially tricky. I did trim some off the opening (bottom) of the helmet to be able to squeeze into it. My AP bucket is on the snug side. I don't believe the CRL specs any requirements for the opening size, so would trim for ease of getting it on and off. Turning it 90 degrees before slipping it on helps, then rotate slowly into position as it goes on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful work! Glad to have you in our Central Texas Squad! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cannot overstate how important fans are to your trooping survival. Running 2 bucket fans in outdoor troops here in Texas is essential. Also, pack extra batteries in your bin, just in case. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome sauce! They look beautiful! Thanks, Joseph! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whatever underoos you end up getting, don't forget to wash them several times before suiting up, as some can transfer the black dyes to your armor when they come in contact and rub against it. Especially in areas that aren't polished. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, practice on scraps for heat gun. Go easy with heat from a distance. Check if ABS bends where you need it, if not, repeat. When I did use my heat gun effectively, I also tried to create a heatshield using wood or other materials to protect the surrounding areas and isolate the heat. This worked for bending the back of shin overlap so it laid flush on Velcro. But, It is not an exact science. Water bath is safer. But again, practice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hang in there, brother- those fixes are coming along nicely! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't know if your helmet is a candidate for it or how far it's yellowed, but I believe Trooperbay sells an de-yellowing compound. Some have seen improvements in getting armor back to original color. May be worth a shot vs. trying the paint route. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In addition to boiled water method, you could magnet/clamp in place and hit it with a heat gun sparingly until it bends to shape. Then you won't need to force it to fit and E6000 would work with no problems Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's a tip that helped me: double up the fabric (over itself) on areas under highest stress where snaps tend to pull out. For example, shoulder bells to chest/back strap. You can also stitch additional thread close to the snap themselves to prevent webbing from stretching too much around snaps and thus pulling out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tank scopes come up for auction on eBay pretty often. You can snag one for around 150-250 sometimes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You could also try Hyperfirm. All rubber and tough to break. Some swear by them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try Derek's at Phoenix Props. Email is dday@phoenixprops.net You can check out his Facebook page to see if you like. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, most caps come smooth... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And Mark makes the beautifully accurate AP bucket. He can be reached at authenticprops@hotmail.com I love mine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk