ZeroRoom

Well done guys - a huge congratulations for all you've contributed. The best thing is you are all members known for good interesting posts that contribute information and aid in everyone's learning. I know I read everything any of you guys post

Tray, the max number of images per post was upgraded to 100 a few weeks back. Did you need more than that? PS - did you get those B&W FISD logos I posted for you?

That's a fair question but that's definitely velcro in the pic. Perhaps they just riveted the fronts after velcro on both ends didn't hold. They've obviously left the velcro at the back for ease of adjustment. I imagine that while the suits went on tour the people in them didn't so they would have needed to easily fit different folks. Of course they might have used Velcro and the rivets appeared between the tour and the exhibition for hardiness.

I haven't seen any PVC or vinyl that will retain shape from heating (it melts completely at very low temperatures - ask anyone who ever dropped their cigarette on their PVC pants!) but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Also I've never seen any that doesn't have some woven fabric base (especially if it needs stretch). I have seen a ribbed vinyl fabric (used to have a top made out of it) but it was still stitched and wadded when it was manufactured. The only other thing I can think of that would come off the shelf as such would be a rubber vinyl or some such but I don't know where it would have come from or what it would have been for... EDIT: by the way - I agree that is Velcro fuzz not fraying...

No way is that carpet underlay (although I can see the similarity) that is stitched vinyl for sure. I've worked with a lot of VInyl and pleather in the day. It may have some type of wadding to sort of 'quilt' the ribs. Also it is possible for vinyl to fray. More specifically some types of vinyl have a woven base with a plastic fabrication screened over it. The woven base underlay can fray in threads sometimes. If you've ever seen very old pleather jacket get that sort of peel effect in worn areas you'll know what I mean.

Our thoughts are with you Mark. My deepest condolences. Rest and recover mate - we'll be here when you're ready

Also not many people CAN put their lid on straight. Turning it sideways and then twisting it back to the front is how they did it on set back in 76 anyway.

Great work! The Popsicle stick rifling groove rails was a great idea - you should post up a tute on that, it looks very effective

I've solved the problem with downloading the pumpkin templates! I'm so sorry we dangled them in front of everyone only to deny you the ability to actually download them - but they will be fully accessible now, so go for it!

End Cap done. I actually thought the BBC plans were pretty good on the end cap until I got on to this. Turns out they're way off! (Well depending on how you define way...) Literally one thing left and we're done! (I am gonna miss this thread when it's over though ) -----------

Hey Locitus, you got me thinking - check this out: http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php

Brilliant! I do love your helmet cam vids

Great tutorial Tim! I was just mulling over this one myself - I like your technique. What made you decide to make them removable with Velcro? (as opposed to just permanent with glue)

Mmmmm - can someone else with basic member status give it a shot - there may be a permissions issue with attachments or just with your account - I'll need to know the difference!

That's weird? Here it is again: HalloweenStencils.zip Can you download this one?

The laser wattage is completely adjustable depending on the material you're cutting (plastic, paper, wood etc). Alas I didn't pay attention to the exact setting for these thicknesses of plastic when the operator set them but I can certainly ask him. It also has a specific software program to turn the vector lines into cutting lines so I don't know what impact that would have on a DIY job - but as you say people do build their own 3-D printers and CNC machines so it's possible. John Garrett here on the boards has been building a CNC machine - we should see what he thinks. Man it would be cool to own one of these!

That would be awesome Brian! Well guys I did a little experiment and got some parts laser cut using the templates. Check out all the rainbow coloured goodness! Hasbro would be proud! The reason for all these wacky colours is that I lecture one day a week at the university here and a friend of mine runs their laser cutter and let me use it for free. It just meant I had to rely on whatever scrap plastics were lying around in the thicknesses I needed, so the colours of the parts are different depending on the thickness of that part. The laser cutter is great - it will run right off the PDF files of the templates and basically cuts sheets of plastic like an inkjet printer prints paper. Here it is in action: The cutting laser looks pretty Star Wars doesn't it? When it's done you just pop the parts out: (it looks like wood in this photo but that's actually the protective paper on this piece of plastic) Here's some of the parts that are already in black plastic. I had both styles of trigger done: You can see here how well the no-functional trigger fits into a resin grip casting - no glue here just a perfect fit: You can also see what an accuracy of fitting the laser cutter gives you in the parts you cut yourself. If the folding stock was open it would sit like this: And look at the level of detail it will cut: (excuse dirty fingernails!) rear sight assembly test: What's even cooler is that the laser cutter doesn't just cut it engraves too! Which meant I was able to get that waffle texture on the relevant parts. It's a little hard to see in the photos but you can get a decent idea: Selector Switch: Stock Clip: The laser cutter cuts very sharp edges so some pieces like the trigger will need sanding down to give that bevelled curve, but other than that it's good to go without you having to do much of anything! Plus you get an accuracy you'd be hard pressed to achieve by hand. I'm loving it!

Yikes! How far away from canon do you have to get before it actually stops being a Stormtrooper?

Update time! Being seriously hampered by computer issues at the moment - but I've gotten her to stay alive long enough to post up the work on the magazine. I was hoping to be done on the exterior by now but of course Murphy's law applies times ten when it comes to technology... We're almost there guys - don't fizzle out on the feedback now!

No worries! Unquestioned loyalty remember?

Ok tell him he should be good to go. I've authenticated his membership so he won't need the email. He should be fine now.

I'll look into it. I have to admit I've never investigated the authentication emails before as they are automated but Paul will know so I'll give him a heads up. The system thinks it has sent the mail, but since it had the incorrect email address funkster wouldn't have gotten it. I'll see if there's a way to send one manually, otherwise he might have to go through the registration process again...

Why? Well because davej has been a great guy and a huge help on my new sterling templates thread and he's a fellow Aussie! Since Paul passed the info on via PM I don't know if it came with conditions of secrecy or not... Personally I don't care about the secrecy and don't see any reason not to post the info (hence my original post before I edited it) but on second thought as Rick said Dave may have been inundated with PM's asking for the brand and I honestly don't know how he feels about revealing it. I don't see why he wouldn't, but then Troopermaster must have had his reasons for keeping mum so Dave may too. I'll reinstate the post if Dave says it's cool, but I respect the dude and would rather see how he feels about it first. Anyone who saw the unedited post in the gap gets lucky I suppose...

Great painting tips Vern. The wife got a bizarre urge to fix our disaster of a garden today - sweat inducing work but at least it gave me an excuse to pop by Bunnings, so I picked up some of that hammered black spray paint thanks for the tip Sean.

Edited because I should have checked with davej before blabbing this information....