Artshot

Hey Jamie Thanks for the insight, I will if I can get away with it, just reduce the return edge size rather than remove it entirely.

Since I am now thinking of the next steps in assembling my armour, I have a couple of questions for those that might be reading this (I really hope somebody is) 1) How high should the biceps be on the arm ?, are the scoops into the armpit ? 2) Is it acceptable to remove the return edge from the bottom of the biceps, in case I need to reduce there height ? 2a) Or is removing the return edge at the top of the biceps preferred ? 3) Should the width of the bottom of the bicep be the same as the top of the forearm, to keep the tapering look ? As always, any advice is greatly appreciated.

This image conjured up a very feudal japan picture to me, banners and troops lined up by units.

Every time I hit a moment of panic about what to cut next, I wander over to your build and have a read of the relevant parts and cut with confidence..tonight, the return edges of my forearm get a trim.

Yup, it's a bit snug and there's a couple of sharp edges where the two halves join, I will be reducing it down to just a couple of mm and sanding away any sharp edges. I expect to bleed again before it's finished

So, after getting carried away with cutting, I decided to do some more today, I made a few adjustments to my left forearm, mainly removing the overlap and improving the fit, I am actually pretty happy with how it's turned out, just need to trim the wrist end and reduce the elbow end return edge, before I apply the inner the outer cover strips. Anyway, on with some photos......oh, and my armour drew blood today by slicing the end of my finger on the trimmed edge. Any and all comments are welcome.

I did it, I went and made my first cuts.....luckily my hand shaking did not matter when cutting. May I present, my left forearm. The forearm is snug on my arm, however I will be reducing the elbow return edge slightly, I will also be reducing the wrist edge by a few mm to allow the armour to move forward slightly and increase mobility at my elbow. Will be removing the overlap when I figure out the cover strip position. Quick question on the positioning of the cover strips, do they run parallel to the dimple raised area ?

After staring at the forearms for a few hours. I decided to contact the maker of my armour, check twice, measure thrice, cut once. Troopergear confirmed that the more pronounced "scoop" is for the right arm, which when looking at the pieces and doing test fits before trimming, makes senses as the elbow ends fit together better this way, whatever shortening of the arms I need to do, will come off the wrist end. Day 2 of the official beginning of my build, still not cut anything

Hey Bryan I had to soak the front sight in WD40 overnight, then had to tap it out with a piece of cloth padding and wooden dowel against it, I did not want to mark it as I removed it, it took a lot of persuasion but I figured it had been in there a very long time.

Hey Josh Thanks for that, I kept trying them on either arm, then figured I better ask somebody who has been there and done that Did you reduce the wrist end of your forearm against the elbow end to create a more shaped fit ?

Okay then, here we go! I have sorted the armour into smaller boxes, along with a box full of supplies to put it all together, there's a few bits & pieces currently ordered but not delivered yet to add to the stockpile. But it's time to start. First up are the forearms, however here's a quick question, Right has 12 & Left has 11 dimples ?, typically in all my piles of printed pages, I cannot find confirmation. Oh, and to all the other AM 2 builders out there, how do you tell which other forearm piece is which. Yup, off to a great start

Having hit a wall and lost a little enthusiasm to finish my build, reading through this guide has got me inspired to get the job done. Congratulations to all who contributed, excellent work.

Hey Kevin I got my boots from Amazon £19.99 Chelsea boots, I have deglazed them so far and given them a very light buffing with sandpaper, just enough to remove any sticky residue, they need a bit more work before I am ready to whiten them. I have a Doopy blaster in the middle of a build, plus lots of pieces to mod it, T-Jay does a great kit to improve a resin blaster. I also have a Sterling to mod with real scope and counter. Everything went on hold until I got my armor and now everything is on hold again, until my vacation is over. In the meanwhile I have been stockpiling building materials.

Since I will be going to this years San Diego Comic Con, alas not as a member of the 501st, hopefully that will be next year. I was just wondering if there are any approved vendors at the show ?, it sure would be easier picking up all those bits & pieces (neck seal, holster etc) I still need from overseas, while I am overseas, having just had a dance with UK customs over my armor. I admit I do not get to the area where the 501st is set up and cannot remember. Thanks Art

I decided in my infinite wisdom to not buy any of the webbing, tape, glue or anything else for my build (have the boots though) before I received my armour. I figured this would stop me rushing in and getting carried away without thinking things through, I would use this time to assess where I am going to start, read more builds and generally plan ahead. Lets hope this is my only stupid mistake........Amazon is sooooo slow

Many thanks. Even though I will not be starting my build (AM 2.0) till after San Diego Comic Con, I could not resist trying to size a few pieces, whilst I won't have to shim my kidney/ab (hoorah!)I think my legs and forearms will need a bit of trimming for comfort. If you see an annoying Brit at Comic Con asking all the TK's questions about there armour and there builds, that will be me Thanks Again Art

Another AM 2.0 build Another thread to follow before I can start my build

Excellant, another AM 2.0 build By the time I can start building mine I am hoping all the other AM 2.0 builders have been there and done that first Art

Evening All As one of those who is about to begin a build, I have my kit but will not be starting till the end of July. I was looking for a guide to which pieces have return edges ?, I plan on building to Centurion standard. I know I saw something somewhere on this site, but I cannot find it. Thanks in advance. Art

As a fellow AM builder, when you did your forearms, did you reduce the width in gradual strips ? I have been looking at mine and trying to see how much I need to trim from the width, it's nice to have extra, but it sure gets in the way when trying to get a fit. I can see my build as being very very slow.

Welcome to my build. Since going to see Star Wars at the cinema as a 9 year old, I have always been fascinated by the Stormtroopers, the clean lines of there armour, the identical look and unlimited numbers, to me at the time, they were unstoppable, yeh we know better now, but boy were they cool to a 9 year old. My interest in Stormtroopers was re-ignited a few years ago at San Diego Comic Con, there was something about watching the Legion of troopers marching past, that made that 9 year old me wake up and start thinking....... So, fast forward from 1977 and let me present to you, my ANH Stunt Build. After a battle of wills with UK customs and the Post Office, let me present my Brown Box of Stormtroopery Goodness. I always wanted a Brown Box Day, got to admit, it was a great feeling. So, with extreme caution and trepidation, I opened the box to be greeted with. It was like armour Tetris, never has such a small box contained so much. After removing all the packing wrap and of course marvelling at each piece's quality, I assembled everything in a "knee bone, connected to the thigh bone" sort of way. I think I may have just stood and looked at everything laid out for a lot longer than I want to admit. Somewhere inside my head I can hear the sound of a small 9 year old me shouting "About Time".

Day 10 -

Another day, another update (I can tell you have all been on the edge of your seats waiting) Day 9 - So so close, well after calling Parcelforce yesterday, I was informed I was a little to eager to pay the customs charges on my Brown Box of Stormtroopery Goodness and would have to wait till this morning, sometime after 8am to pay............so at 8am on the dot, I called and handed over the ransom, I call it a ransom as I think charging people more money (20% of the value) for items bought for private use and not resale is a disgrace. Anyway, as of 8:15am this morning I was told I will be the happy father of a bouncing Brown Box (hopefully not really bouncing)......of course I had to pay extra for a Saturday delivery as they only deliver Mon to Fri......when I am at work......sigh. Standby for the next (hopefully last) thrilling instalment of "One day my box will come"

Here we go, the next thrilling instalment of "The Brown Box Cometh........Slowly" Day 8 - UK Customs have released my box into the wild (with a customs charge), it should be arriving at a depot near..ish me soon. Happy Happy, Joy Joy

Hot off the press....... My Brown Box of armour is still in UK customs......sigh I called Parcelforce (UK courier company who handle post unless it's specifically being dealt with by a courier), was told it can take upto a month..... However I decided to go direct to UK Customs, after a quick check my box is in a queue of items handed to them on the 15th and should be looked at in the next few days.......sigh (the month is only if the item needs examining and contains moving parts) I am beginning to think it would have been easier to pick it up over there (I am going to SDCC) assemble it, then wear it home.......sigh Stay tuned for the next thrilling instalment. Sigh....