Altair

I've cleaned up the chamber for the inner bolt, using an exacto knife around the edges to give more depth (thanks Steve!). I've also thinned out and adjusted the angle of the bolt (thanks Tino!) With some left over aluminum that I used for the scope rail, I cut and bent (at a 90 degree angle) a bracket to mount the counter. This seems to be pretty stable. To mount the folding stock, I added screws to the pivot points And also added another screw to lock in the other end This still had some very slight movement (side to side), so I made the screw thicker using some electrical tape and added a layer of black heat shrink to prevent it from ever coming undone. On the magazine holder, I put a large screw down the middle to help mount it to the barrel. I also put some "pins" in to mount the magazine For added strength and stability, I've added screws and pins to the handle too.... Also made my mark on the handle, even though it will be hidden I think I'll just pin everything! Here is most parts mounted now for a test fit... nothing is glued as this point, only pins and screws holding it together

Bit more work on the doopys Using a plastic tube for the inner bolt, I drilled a hole to secure the cocking handle using a bolt, nut and washer. The diameter of the plastic tubing was increased at the end to prevent it rattling around inside Here it is inside...

Just got my 501st approval email.... TK 11157 reporting in! Thanks to all the troopers here who not only gave me good advice throughout this build but also to everyone who helped indirectly by posting detailed info on this forum to make the process easier. Troopers helping troopers A special thanks also goes out to my fellow Redback members for their help too. Looking forward to many troops in the future.

TK 11157 requesting access http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=18594

Leather punch for the win Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats mate Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks everyone! Still waiting for the email of approval to drop into my inbox Better get back to finishing my E11 doopys build now! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well folks, today was photo day! A big thank you goes to Redback Garrison members Cyclops, MammaSith and BigMac. Join the empire! Doooo iiiit! *shakes fist* You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel. Application has been submitted Now I wait for approval...

A few more upgrades! I've installed an Aker amp + ICOMM + mp3 player in the chest armour with velcro. Also I got an awesome fan bracket from Echo Fits perfectly in the MTK bucket and the fans make one hell of a difference! So good!

Belt buttons glued on and the ends of my cover strips have been trimmed/sanded! Quick clean up with novus and I'll be ready to take some pics for approval Also picked up some thinner elastic - 1/8" wide - to redo my bands for the back of the shoulder straps

Home stretch now! Buttons glued on.. Shoulder straps glued on.. I found it easy to put the backs of two chairs together and hang the chest/back pieces to get the alignment right Done I did have a little CA glue run under the tape on the left strap (right side in pic), its not overly noticeable On to closing in the drop boxes, I initially thought of using magnets to accomplish this.... I embedded magnets inside an ABS sandwich The magnets work against the chicago screw Whilst this did work to enclose the drop boxes (and I was going to put in another magnet and strip of metal at the bottom for a stronger close) I felt that simple velcro would be better So I whipped up a spacer And glued on some velcro I think the velcro is better as it doesn't just come apart, you have to tear it apart

Thanks Tony. I checked and my elastic loops are 5/16" so will have to make up some new ones using thinner elastic. Easy fix

Finally finished my strapping on the arms I ended up putting in an elastic strap to connect the shoulder bell and bicep. This will prevent the bicep popping out the end of the shoulder bell, not that I have this problem. To connect the top shoulder bell strap to the shoulder straps, I cut a plate from elastic and sewed on nylon webbing to thicken/strengthen it for the snaps Then I sewed this onto the shoulder straps Before gluing on my plastic shoulder straps, I made up some spacers to sit underneath the straps. This will give a better bond to the armor instead of just gluing on the ridge The spaces have a wedge shape to them so they sit more flush To keep the straps down in the back I made some white elastic bands Now time to finish off the belt! To ensure the belt is secure and prevent minimal sagging, I put some female snaps on my belt that sit under the ammo packs And installed the male snaps on the ab armour plate I also connected the holster to the belt using chicago screws A few more finishing touches! I painted the heads of the rivets white Things left to do: - Glue shoulder straps to chest plate - Glue 3 x square buttons on belt - Glue 2 x button panels to AB plate - Enclose drop boxes with velcro/magnets - Trim/sand ends of cover strips I will be finished this weekend and ready to submit for approval

Almost there! Just a few little things to finish off. Han hooks are now glued into the biceps I made up some straps with 50mm elastic and velcro ends to connect the forearms and biceps Also made some white 50mm wide elastic straps for the shoulders Painted up my AB buttons with humbrol grey (#5) and french blue (#14). I was going to use a stencil and make these neat... but decided to go with sloppy freehand to get a more accurate look And now a quick test fit! Note: I still have to glue in my shoulder straps, finish the shoulder strap snapping, also add straps to the shoulder bells, etc

Thanks guys. @toybiz - There is a bit of flex as the straps are elastic and there are other TK builds in our garrison that utilise the same method. I'm not sure how much flex is needed but figure if there is an issue I can make up some single snap straps later on and don't have to replace the snap plates Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tonight I added a single male snap on the top right corner of the ab plate (for centurion) Then I decided to start gluing in some snap plates Here is the back assembly All snapped in

Yep, except the cod rivet

Small update, I've added strapping to the thighs. I made loops out of 50mm high density elastic and put the snap/velcro combo on the end These then hang of a belt Now for some split rivets, just what every Centurion needs A single split rivet on the lower tab (cod) of the ab armour Three 8mm split rivets down the left side of the ab armour, equally spaced and about 10mm from the edge Then the same for the left side of the kidney plate

Yeah, there was about an inch at the top. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got the ammo pack attached to the right thigh this afternoon I had a wine bottle cooler that was about the right size and clamped on the ammo pack. I used pieces of wood in between the boxes so the bend in the plastic was not so sharp between the ammo boxes. I applied heat using a heat gun, being careful not to melt the plastic. Here is the result. To attach the ammo pack I used 7mm double capped rivets. Simply drill a hole, slot it through, put the other cap on, and smack it with a hammer I positioned the rivets in the upper corners and fastened to the ridge on the bottom of the thigh The middle box lines up with the cover strip To finish off I painted the rivet heads white

I've started assembling the belt now. Holes drilled and corners of the plastic ammo belt trimmed at a 45 degree angle (1/2 inch). To attach the ammo pack to the canvas belt I decided to use chicago screws (3.5mm). This way I can remove it and wash the canvas belt if it gets dirty. To attach my drop boxes, I sewed up some straps to loop around the belt using 1inch wide high density elastic. To ensure that the drop boxes are vertically aligned with the end of the ammo belt, I had to cut a notch into the side of the straps to work around the screws on the belt. I sealed this edge with a flame to prevent fraying. Belt starting to come together now Drop boxes have minimal gap between belt and box. (looks a bit yellow in the pic due to bad lighting) I've only attached the drop boxes to the straps with 1 x fastener but might add another (or maybe some velcro?) to keep it straight on the strap... What have others done here? I believe there was only one rivet on the originals?

Getting there, slowly but surely Tonight I glued on the sniper knee plate to the left shin, aligned with the ridges on the shin. It went on fairly straight. Do you think the return edge on the plate needs to be a little thinner?

It's been a month since my last update ... so had to get back into it this weekend. Big thanks to fellow Redback Garrison members (Cyclops and Sly) for helping size up my shins + thighs and also check over the work I've done thus far And now some more progress pics! For the front of the thighs I used 20mm cover strips Here are both thigh pieces, not enclosed in the back... yet For the rear cover strips, I was planning to use 25mm cover strips, but turned out I needed a little extra room so had to make these 35mm I also glued some cover strips on the inside for extra strength To accommodate the ridges, these were heated up and bent them into shape Inside strips have also been added to the shins! Continued with 35mm cover strips on the back of the shins for consistency. Then added some velcro to close the back of the shins. I made sure that the velcro'd side of the cover strip is on the side of the leg! A quick test fit :eyebrows:

Yep, that zap-a-gap is quick stuff. The guy at the hobby store told me I didn't need the zip-kicker but I purchased it anyway..... Haven't used it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As Andrew said, the humidity is a killer and wearing chem gloves would be uncomfortable. So...... I did a little bit of work today on my ABS set of hand guards. I thought I would be different and instead of attaching them directly to my nomex gloves with velcro, I made up some wrist straps for them to be attached to 50mm webbing and the loop velcro, hot-glued and stitched together, then super glued into the hand plate. For the wrist strap I used 50mm elastic, attached the hook velcro, and added a wrist and palm strap using 25mm elastic Here it is fitted Then the hand guard just sticks on top Give me 5!