Jump to content

usaeatt2

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,134

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

 Content Type 

Posts posted by usaeatt2

  1. A Small, Slightly Beat-up, Brown Box Arrived Recently. Doopydoos Full Resin ANH E-11 Build.

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    Beautiful!  You're an ARTIST with the dremel tool!  My initial thought would be to rough shape the nail on a bench grinder and use a file to shape the shoulders just right, but you managed it with vice grips and a dremel.  I imagine a better sight line using the dremel, but how do you hold everything so you can see you're taking the same amount off both sides?  Lacking a bench vise, I'm guessing something like pinching the vise grips between your knees so you can use both hands to steady the dremel against something so small.  However you did it, I'd say it's a rousing victory!

  2. Doopy build...real Sterling folding stock

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    Watching this thread with envy.  Your charging bolt extension is genius.  My frustration level is peaking as I admire your build...I've got an extremely well equipped shop but no parts to work on yet...  Waiting, waiting, waiting...

     

    P.S. - Ever find any good photos of your car?  You gave a great description, but I think photos would help motivate buyers...I talked to the owner of the hot rod shop in Addsion and that's the first question he asked - any pictures?

  3. e11 Blaster Muzzle Bolts - Australia - New Zealand

    in ANH BlasTech E11

    Posted

    I just wonder why no one has ordered the original ones from Apex or IMA??

    I ordered a complete parts set from APEX on Thursday.  I'll try to post PICS when it arrives.  It might be nice to start a "blueprint" thread that organizes all the dimensions and hardware sizes in the FIRST post (instead of having to search through the whole thread).  I know there nice blueprints, but I was thinking more like photos with arrows similar to the armor CRL's for those that don't read blueprints well.  Drives me crazy to try and remember which thread has which measurement, etc.  I'm sure guys like Andy and Vern would chime in with any corrections...  I'd be happy to take the initial shot at making blaster "CRL's" once I receive everything I ordered (waiting is DEFINITELY the worst part).

  6. A Small, Slightly Beat-up, Brown Box Arrived Recently. Doopydoos Full Resin ANH E-11 Build.

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    Nice!  Trust me everyone, you can truly hear the joy when Army guys are running and singing!  I say singing for lack of a better word, but there's much more to it than that.  Tim, is there a word or a phrase for it?  I'm right there with you on your description of places...I chalk it up to experience.  Good or bad, it's still experience, and that makes you a better person.  Sort of why I found my way here - I love the movies and I love the characters, so I'm taking my experience to the next level.

     

    My kit is on the way here from England, so I have to live vicariously through your posts til it arrives.  One of the areas I thought could stand a huge improvement is EXACTLY what you posted tonight.  This tells me I must be on the right track...  My best friend is a sound engineer and he also does video and lighting.  I help him build sets on the side and I'm always blown away by the overall improvement made from proper lighting.  Light and shadow work together to create realism.  The "cuts" you made may not look like much, but I think they'll cast some shadow to achieve the desired effect.

     

    I recently did a project that perfectly illustrates your concept.  Totally off topic, so delete if it's distracting.  We throw a huge "themed" Christmas party every year.  Last year's theme was Hawaiian Christmas.  For decoration, I carved an 8 foot tall Tiki out of stryofoam house insulation glued together with Great Stuff foam.  The biggest cuts were only about an inch and a half deep but the lighting makes them look much more dramatic.  The shadows totally sell the piece.  Picture attached (first time I've ever tried to upload a picture here, so I hope it works).

     

    Same effect you're going for on your E-11 stock.  Awesome work.  Nerves of steel with the cutting tool, for sure!  A light coat of paint should really set it off the way you intend, as long as the shallow cuts don't get filled in the process.  And if you need to punch it up just a tad more, you might be able to dry brush a slightly darker black into those areas for contrast...like "shadow weathering".  Can't wait for the next post!!!  Inspiring work, Tim!

     

     

  7. A Small, Slightly Beat-up, Brown Box Arrived Recently. Doopydoos Full Resin ANH E-11 Build.

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    C'mon, C'mon!! <running in tight circles, waving my arms over my head>  Thanks for your continued service, Tim!  :salute:   For anyone who hasn't done it, you should check Tim's profile to see all the places he has suffered.  Funny, I worked night shift maintenance (where all the real work gets done) for almost my whole 8 years in the Air Force...the Army guys used to piss me off in Korea - just getting to sleep and they would start PT and singing in the parking lot at 5AM! :blink:

  8. Neck seal, zip or Velcro

    in Boots, Soft Parts, and other Accessories

    Posted

    I have the same question.  I read sometimes velcro comes undone when removing the helmet (like during a break).  The zipper might be more difficult, but it's probably more secure.  Anybody experience this?  Seems like the older neckseals used zippers, but the newer ones use velcro.  And it's good to know you can achieve higher levels with a velcro neckseal - Thanks Todd!

  9. A Small, Slightly Beat-up, Brown Box Arrived Recently. Doopydoos Full Resin ANH E-11 Build.

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    Beautiful build!  Loving all the OCD details.  I've got it too...takes forever to finish things, but when they're done, theyre done right!!  It takes some "professional ergonomics" not to shoot those little pin shards across the room.  I was shocked to see all the little pieces in a neat pile on your towel!  Reminds me of replacing the F-16 throttle assembly while I was in the Air Force - there's a bunch of TINY , non-magnetic hardware and a spring under huge tension.  All this had to be removed and replaced while sitting in the cockpit leaning to the left at a ridiculous angle - almost upside down.  We used to go to the tool crib and get as many white rags as we could find.  Then carpeted the whole area around the throttle with the rags and hoped like hell if anything dropped or popped out, it landed on the rags...  Finding and reaching small hardware under the ejection seat is nearly impossible and those magnetic wands don't work on non-magnetic hardware.  Saw many ejection seats removed by the "egress" crew for exactly this reason.  Can't have conductive metal objects floating around in a cockpit loaded with electronics!!!  Thanks for the trip down memory lane!  Did I mention I'm enjoying your awesome build?

    • Like 1

  11. One piece hero lens

    in Hard Armor (General Discussion)

    Posted

    Anybody else have a different picture of a one piece lens?  I'm waiting on AP armor.  Once I have it, I was considering making an aluminum "buck" or "form" for a one piece AP lens.  I figure it would offer more attachment options and/or each side could be extended to reach the ear screws.  The problem with a one piece lens is that it would likely only fit one type of helmet well.  Slight differences in eye spacing/angle/shape would probably cause fitment problems with different types of helmets.  But, as Todd pointed out, it would be a nice option for armor makers to offer...

  13. One piece hero lens

    in Hard Armor (General Discussion)

    Posted

    I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of a one piece hero lens somewhere.  Maybe in a book or from an archive or prop site?  I've literally searched for days...FISD, RPF, starwarshelmets and searched every combination I can think of on Bing and Google.  If you have this photo or know where I can find it, please post?  Thanks.

    Hoosier Trooper

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Welcome, Luke!

     

    Where in Indiana?  I'm in Valparaiso and I'm suffering through the same "good luck waiting this one out" for a set of AP armor, although it seems my wait will only be a few more weeks.  You can burn through some serious time with all the information here!!!  While waiting, I've been reading, educating myself, saving pictures I know I'll need soon and "following" threads that will come in handy later.  I've also been amassing some of the materials and bits I'll need so I can get straight to work when the armor arrives.  Haven't had a whole lot of contact since I'm also new, but those who I have talked to seem genuinely nice and more than willing to help.

    FNG from Northwest Indiana

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Hello and welcome aboard

    Thanks!  This truly is a global organization!  Perth, Australia!  I came EXTREMELY close to buying a Mad Max replica car there...The car was used in Last V8 II.  I couldn't pull together the shipping costs and the owner wouldn't budge on the $35,000 price tag.  Lost out over a couple thousand $.  Still wish we could have made a deal...

    FNG from Northwest Indiana

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Welcome Aaron!!

     

    Where exactly in NWI are you? I happen to live in Crown Point. Trimmed just means there is no leftover plastic from the vacu forming process. You will still have to trim it down to fit you. There is a con coming up in Chicago, C2E2 April 25-27. You should come on out and have some fun & meet more members.

    Hi Matt.  Thanks for the warm welcome.  I'm in Valparaiso.  Sounds like it's pointless to pay for trimming when I'll still have more to trim.  And gaining experience with leftover plastic might lead to a better result with trimming that counts.  Thanks for the invite - my wife and I may take you up on that.  I was at a "World of Wheels" car show a few years ago and remember watching people walking into a Con across the street...

    FNG from Northwest Indiana

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Hello all,

     

    I've wanted to join the 501st for quite a while, but due to other projects, haven't had time until now.  So, I've taken the first step and have a question, but thought I'd write my obligatory introduction first...

     

    My name is Aaron and I'm a controls engineer for a major industrial gas company.  Prior to that, I was in the U.S. Air Force for 8 years and worked on F-16 and F-117 (fighter jet) avionics systems.  I have an extensive background with fabrication, TIG welding and can build just about anything.  Right now, I'm building an extensively modified 1930 ford truck with a '56 hemi - NOT a rat rod...this is a full blown show car with several ultra rare parts.  My wife is a pharmacist, plays piano prfessionally, does upohlstery and has a wedding design business on the side.  We stay pretty busy, to say the least.  My wife owns a 1961 Sunbeam (little red British convertible like the one Maxwell Smart drove on the old TV show "Get Smart").  You've probably guessed by now that we don't have kids...  We've both lived all over the world and we like to travel.  Between the two of us, we've been on every continent in the world except for Antarctica.  We're both into Sci-Fi and attended San Diego Comic Con last year.  I'm hoping to join, then contribute to the 501st with some of my experience.

     

    I'm 5'4" and interested in a TK costume.  I hope to achieve Centurion level (If that's even possible after trimming my armor to fit).  After hours of browsing, it seems the way to go for me is to start with the AP armor kit.  I contacted AP and as luck would have it, they just finished a run and can ship in 3 weeks or less.  Here's my question:  I'm pretty busy with work right now, but I still have my weekends.  Is it worth the extra $250 to purchase an AP trimmed kit?  I figure they make it and have probably trimmed A LOT of armor.  On the other hand, I figure I'll be trimming even more to get the correct fit and I'm guessing I'll do a better job on something I own (I'm just an unknown customer to them).  Will the trimmed kit save me any time and how accurate is AP trimming?

     

    Thanks in advance for any responses!

×
×
  • Create New...