justjoseph63

Wow, A.J., just WOW! Phenomenal job on that build, sir, and you should have no problems at all passing basic. After seeing that armor, I am really hoping that you will be aiming for the higher levels once you get approved. While you wait, here are a few small items that would make it look even better for when you apply for level 2. Your biceps could stand to come up a skosh, especially the left one. Right now, it looks as if it's about to pop out from under your shoulder bell. (Arrow). If possible, the ABS belt should ride higher. You may have to tighten up the elastic strap that holds your chest/back together, but that would help eliminate the overlap over the kidney.

Do you mean brands of nylon, Tina? There are a ton of companies that make both that and elastic. As Frank mentioned, you can get it at Michaels or even Joanne fabrics, but you can also get it on eBay. As for Velcro, there are "knock-off" brands but Velcro makes the best. I would try to get the Industrial Strength, which is available at Lowe's/Home Depot.

Nice job, Siu Kau, and thanks for your submission (GREAT photos, btw)!! One of us will be with you shortly.

Thanks, Mathijs! Looks like you have plenty of troops in this awesome set of armor, sir, but we need one last thing... (I promise). As per the CRL for level 2, you TD screw heads are the correct type, but they need to be re-painted black. An easy fix before we can get going. (GREAT quality on those photos)!!

Ouch.

Hi Mathijs, and thank you for your submission. Unfortunately you are missing quite a lot of required photos. A complete list of them can be found here: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/22604-expert-infantry-application-photo-checklist/ Please post those up so that we can get started. Thanks!!

Not to worry, sir, and never think that you are wasting our time!

It looks as if there is some trimming in your near future... As it sits now, the neck is really close and it will cut into you. You can either scoop it out a bit more, or better yet wait to see how far the bottom of the chest plate overlaps the ab plate and lower it as needed. This will probably entail removing an inch or more from the bottom of the chest plate, but is 100% acceptable at all levels. This will also help it lay flatter against the ab.

I guess they deleted the scenes where he took the time to remove the return edges from the bottoms of the chest and back plate. Before anyone says it, yes, I have entirely too much time on my hands this morning.

I posted that almost 4 years ago, lol, and since then I now have a Hero set of armor to wear it with. For canon ("official") troops, it is not recommended that you wear it, but for regular trooping it should be just fine.

Hi, Sven, and thank you for your submission! One of us will be with you shortly, but in the meantime can you post up a photo of your ab details? Thanks!

Looking pretty good overall, Devon. Even though you are not aiming for the higher levels, moving your shoulder bells up would improve the look a lot. Ideally, the tops of the bells should touch (or nearly touch) the shoulder straps. This is a pretty simple adjustment and will bring them closer to your chest plate which would reduce the gaps. If you do decide to do this, I would switch the shoulder bells. No biggie, but they are on the wrong sides.

Great call Glen, and thanks for posting that. It should be bumped up as needed for the next few weeks.

I would go with Chicago screws. I use them on my Stunt and Hero belts and have never had any sort of problems. Great idea of reinforcing the holes, though!!! Here are some sceen used belt pics that may help. The one is missing the covers, but shows where the rivets are:

As long as your holster is of the heavy leather weight (8 oz. as opposed to 4) you can use a boot stretch spray on the inside and then stuff the opening (while not in use) with something non-porous to make it stay open wider.. I have one of Steve's (Gaz) and an Anovos one (surprisingly thick) that I did this to and now I don't have to fumble quite so much when re-holstering.

Just as Q suggested, I would try your armorer first. Most can/will supply these, but if yours doesn't Trooperbay also sells them: https://trooperbay.com/white-abs-plastic-shoulder-straps

Ditto on the AM armor... it's tuff stuff!

Done.

Looks like you are moving right along, John! One small detail I could suggest is to keep an eye on the nylon in the cod connection, as it has a way of tearing out of a connection this small with repeated use. If you have an extra rivet, at some point in the future you should think about folding over the nylon at the end and re-attaching it for better strength. If you need an extra rivet, just PM me know and I'll get one to you (no charge).

Your work so far has been incredible, Lorelei! I wish everyone would pay as much attention to details as you have. Your ABS belt placement is spot on, and I am blown away with that posterior/kidney connection.... genius! As for the ear placement, (lol), you know my feelings on that. If you can cangle them (I have the feeling you will find a way) I would do it. I haven't seen a knee plate mounted so tightly against a calf like that in a long time. GREAT work! You might want to trim down the top some, though.

It's about time, John!! LOL. I know you work crazy hours, but am glad to see that you are ready to get started... Walt makes a great kit, and I'm sure you will be more than happy with it. My words of advice at this point would be: 1. Study some of the build threads, especially the WTF ones. 2. Have all of your build supplies in place before diving in. I can't stress this enough. 3. Measure twice (or better yet 3 times) before cutting. 4. If you are unsure about something, post a photo before cutting or final fitting/gluing. 5. Ask as many questions as you like, no matter how small. We were all in your shoes boots at one time and are here for ya'. 6. Don't forget # 4.

Thank you for posting the close up ab-button photos, but there is a little confusion. In your main photos, the buttons on your 4 button plate are painted in the correct sequence with the blue button on the bottom, as seen in the reference image below. On the close-up photos you posted the blue button is now on the top, the plate itself is smaller, and the blue paint looks lighter. Did you repaint the gray buttons on the large plate? They look a lot wider now. At this point, we need you to take a new photo of the ab plate and include new close-up photos of the ab button plates with the correct sequence. Thanks!

If you are going to use pliers or channel locks to tighten it, be sure to do that at least an inch or so below the bend at the top. Otherwise that can snap,

Nice job!! When you get ready to attach the rivets this may help:

That came out fantastic, Mark! If I could make a small suggestion, it would be to see if you can tighten up the space inside the clip, which will help keep it securely on your belt. A lot of us also use white Velcro on the back (the fuzzy side), which will keep the clip from scratching your armor. Keep up the great work!!