Sly11

My apologies to Chris for derailing your thread, lets get back to you.

I am really loving these SLA prints, thanks for the share.

And what do you do with those said TK belt???

I have helped several troopers by making a second layer reinforcing for their shoulder bridges, it quite simple and has proved to be very effective as a repair or making the addition before it cracks or breaks. In this instance it was RS armour that had cracked almost through. I used 1mm thick HIPS on this set, first I worked out the right amount of curvature, then used a hot water bath to create that curve. Then i marked in pencil the amount of room I had to create the overlap behind the chest plate. This makes sure the weak point is well and truly strengthened. You can use a heat iron or even the edge of a standard domestic iron to heat along that line and create the step so it all fits seamlessly together. I create a slight bend then quickly press it in behind the chest plate and bridge to get it just right. The piece of HIPS i make sure is slightly wider and longer than is required. (only a few millimeters to help with minor alignment adjustments. I then use CA glue and a kicker to glue it on, Set the piece in place with the CA glue, use a jell type so it doesn't run onto your armour or simply cover the surrounding area in painters tape to protect from any potential runs. Clam in place and hit with Zip kicker for an instant bond. Once set, all you need do is sand down any of the overhanging HIPS till flush with the bridge and you are done. Almost invisible at close inspection. Hope this helps. In this case I did both to make sure the other side didn't crack.

Cool, thank you for the share Zach

Welcome aboard Zach, more FO goodness on the way I see. I’m excited for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love the way you work through and problem solve Dave, this is a great thread, keep up the stellar work.

You look great Nada Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ive got to mention how clean and tidy I think this build is Shaun, lots to be proud of. The but plate is a common issue members have. It may sit a little different once you have your belt on so try that before making any adjustments to is. Failing that, you can try shortening the connecting straps a tiny bit to see if it helps pull the ends in. Lastly if you need it to flex a little more you can remove more or the return edge. Almost there mate

Wow this is coming along nicely considering your current family situation. Great progress, keep it up.

Welcome aboard Wade! Make sure you start a build thread so members can follow along and offer advice. Also post plenty of photos as you go, these will make it easier for members to see what possible problems are and offer fast solutions. Good luck on your journey, you are going to love it.

Looks like you are well underway Chris, and you are in good hands. Welcome to FISD, I am looking forward to your BBB (Big Brown Box) photos rolling in.

Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to FISD Erina. Not only do we have page after page of very good information, we also have many members eager and ready to help answer all of your questions. We offer the right advice and have many experts who have built several different sets of armour, so you will never be alone on your journey to becoming a Stormtrooper.

To answer your question, Armory shop seems to be pretty good from all accounts I have heard.

Photobucket is having issues atm and are working to rectify the problem. Some images will return for those that have paid accounts. Once they have that sorted then we can look again at what needs fixing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great work Nada. You could still shorten those straps connecting the But plate I think, perhaps also if the crotch strap is tight, making a longer one so it doesn't pull the but plate under so much might also alleviate the problem. Your front alignment is looking much better You might also consider sanding the sharp corners round I have circled in red and reducing or removing the lower return edge of the But plate. Its going to be more comfortable, the return isn't necessary there and it will help the plate to flex a little more.

Some great ABS goodness right there and those trim lines look like a solid starting point.

Wow this has really come along nicely. Once you have finished the armour, don’t forget to extend the paint on the ends of the frown to a point. It’s one element Anovos just didn’t get quite right in the helmets and there are loads of screen references available here on the forums. I’m I a phone atm, so can’t get to the reference image I want to post right now. Keep up the stellar work. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

While we may have a few members that can help you with Snowie info, this detachment is entirely about Imperial Storm troopers and First Order Stormtroopers and mainly the shiny white versions. There are pros and cons to both OT and FO TK costumes, but both are very difficult to bend over in lol. The OT TK undersuit is simply black compression gear so the ability to cool down when there is a breeze absolutely exist. In an FO set of armour built accurately with rubber gaskets does not allow for that airflow so definitely is a hotter costume to wear. There are fabric gaskets available which are more breathable but still hot. Range of motion differs in both but this also comes down to how you trim the armour to fit your body type and build. Negotiating stairs in OT armour is very difficult for some but easier for others again due to how its fitted and how long your limbs are. FO TK's tend to walk a very specific way due to the armour and gaskets so mobility is affected differently. Many of the OT armour kits available have parts that have screen lineage so originals were cast from parts of the genuine armour many years ago. For OT the average height of the actors was between 5'9" - 5'11" so much of the armour fits that range up to and over 6'. As armour can be trimmed to fit we have plenty of troopers shorter than 5'9" that have very successfully made armour fit them very well. Im aiming to use the word armour more than 10 times here The construction of an OT kit is vastly different than constructing and FO kit, the later involving much more work, sanding and final painting so more expensive to build overall. Jimmi is one of the makers of FO armour, but there are more, KB for example (Kevin Brice) Hope this small amount of info gets you researching further and helps get you a little bit closer in your decision making process. Good luck on your journey Junos

Excellent! Keep up the great work. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congratulations! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to FISD Katie, looking forward to seeing your build thread once your armour arrives.

Hi Alan and welcome to FISD If you are looking to get into armour in the short term, Anovos probably inst going to be able to supply. We have many members here on the forums who have been waiting up to 3 years to receive kits from that supplier, which in my opinion is far too long. There are other makers who can however deliver in relatively short periods of time and have proven their reliability. The First Order design was aimed at having a relatively uniform size across troopers hence the gaskets fitted to the armour. You cant tell if the person within is thin or solid so it could be considered forgiving in that aspect. There is considerable difference in the adjust-ability, sizing and finish as mentioned by Mark (ABS80) but don't let that dissuade you at this stage. My key message is, please do plenty of research (you are in the right place for that) and ask plenty of questions so the advice continues to flow. Good luck on your quest to becoming a Stormtrooper.

I agree with Frank on the shin trimming. From the bottom, mark with an HB or B2 pencil so you can see youtr trim line. Follow the contour shape of the shin. I use my finger and hold the pencil in such a fashion that I scribe a reasonably even new line to trim to. In the image below it's approx 10mm of material to remove. Also as Frank mentions, better to start with small amounts of removal that larger so as to avoid making a mistake you can not correct. I would then either use Lexan scissors or a Deremel with the sanding drum attachment to remove the material to just before the line then sand paper the edge smooth and try it on with you thigh armour to see if they sit better and allow good range of motion. Hope this image better illustrates my explanation