justjoseph63

Not sure if I would depend on a rivet alone to hold your elastic in place, Chris. Even though there is a washer, it's still a tiny one. You may want to think about doing snaps on the sides.

Thanks for clarifying that, Tim. Wyatt is still working on fulfilling all past orders, but it may take a bit of time. Thanks for your patience, Troopers!

You will definitely need the long sleeve shirt, Alex. It should cover your arms all the way to your wrists but not hang loose in any places (like the elbows).

I kinda' went overboard on my HWT bucket. I based it on the "real" TK helmet, (first pic) and incorporated the fans into the "earpieces" and the batteries into the side compartments. The entire inside is lined in craft foam...I wasn't sure if it would take up too much room, but it worked out well. --------- ----------

Roger that.

Not to hijack this thread, but if you have a few pics of those areas (armor only) we can probably eliminate the armor bite, or at least make it a lot more tolerable. Do you still have the return edges on the tops of your thighs?

Please note that there are certain online sellers (including Europe) that are selling FAKE E-6000. The genuine product is clearly marked Made in the USA, and has a batch number on each tube. They do not sell to distributors in China or Hong Kong, so if you try to save a few bucks by ordering from a seller there, it is probably not the real stuff. If you have any doubts, you can contact the manufacturer at www.eclecticproducts.com, and they will let you know where to get it. The fake stuff is absolute garbage.

Where are you getting the armor bites, Frank? 2 common areas are the forearm/bicep connection and the groin, and both are pretty easily remedied.

We are here for ya', brother. Rant away. Many things can curb your enthusiasm about trooping for sure, but sometimes you just have to dig deep and remember why you donned that white armor in the first place. Don't let one (or 2) films get you down... Hopefully Solo will redeem the franchise for you with Ron Howard at the helm.

You can find the one piece compression suits at Trooperbay, Chad: https://trooperbay.com/star-wars-stormtrooper-sandtrooper-black-undersuit Know that there are 2 schools of thought on undersuits, though. Lots of folks prefer the one piece, but when "nature calls" during a troop you can have it a bit of trouble answering it without removing a lot of armor. Many prefer the 2 piece, which not only makes this a bit easier, but if you damage either the top or bottom, they are easily replaced. You can find those at most sporting goods stores, but the (much) less expensive route is Amazon. Whichever brand you choose just make sure that there are no markings (logos) visible. Top: https://www.amazon.com/Lavento-Compression-Performance-Long-sleeve-Pack-Black/dp/B071D3PNH7/ref=sr_1_7?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1523177373&sr=1-7&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=men+compression+shirt+black Bottom: https://www.amazon.com/Saraca-Core-Compression-Leggings-X-Large/dp/B077YTD3VC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1523177272&sr=8-9&keywords=men+compression+pants+black

Luc is spot-on about imgur, Johnson. (imgur.com). You can upload, edit and post photos for free, and it is about 1000 times faster than Photobucket ever was. It's pretty self explanatory, but if you have any problems just PM me.

First, I can recommend that you go to Lowe's or Home Depot to get the acetone. Yes, nail polish remover has acetone in it, but it is not nearly strong enough to melt ABS. Wet sanding is exactly what it sounds like, sanding with wet sandpaper. I would HIGHLY recommend using 3M's silicone sand paper https://www.lowes.com/pd/3M-SandBlaster-Pro-12-Pack-7-in-W-x-4-5-in-L-150-Grit-Commercial-Ultra-Flexible-Sandpaper-Sheet-Sandpaper/1000065611 This product will last danged near forever, and is available in several grits. I did an entire TK build as well as a resin E-11 build and only used 2 sheets.

Another Sha Sha build thread! I know how meticulous you are, sister, so I expect great things from this! If I could make one small suggestion, it would be to list your height in the main post. The reasoning for this is that you have become one of the "in house experts" on making armor fit perfectly on smaller frames, and I'm sure that future FO TKs will appreciate your work. I'm sure this will be just as well built as your OT TK, and I can already see another set of Centurion level armor in your future!

As Brien mentioned, the OT TKs were right at the 5'10 mark, but I have seen Troopers ranging from 5' 4" to 6' 6" and from 100 lbs. to over 300. Some kits are designed for larger Troopers, (like AM) but can be effectively cut down to size. (I am 5'10 / 155 and my AM armor fits perfectly). Whatever size you are, we can help you reach your goal of joining the 501st and get you out there trooping! Just remember that becoming a TK will take some time... consider this a marathon, and not a sprint. "Hurry up and wait" is a phrase we sort of live by, but there are things you can do in the meantime that will help you get prepared for your BBB day. I suggest getting all the supplies you will need in order before your kit arrives. I have a list here that may help: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31404-supply-list-for-your-tk-build/ If you are looking to save some money, you can order a blaster kit from Doopydoos: http://www.doopydoos.com/stormtrooper-e-11-complete-anh-e-11-blaster-kit-offer-2685-p.asp The thing with them is that it may take 6-8 weeks to arrive, and their communication is awful, but you will receive it, and it can be built to Centurion level, especially with one of Tino's (T-Jay) awesome E-11 finishing kits, which will take it way beyond the "next level" of accuracy. https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/28444-fs-completion-sets-for-e-11-resin-kits-with-worldwide-tracked-shipping-and-paypal/ You can also purchase your undersuit, boots and such beforehand. If you need any sources for these just PM me.

I have heard of a few problems with fitting issues from RS, but never broken pieces. The good news is that RS is known for their customer service, and they have been outstanding in the past about replacing things.

Thanks.

Looks good, and even has the bubble lenses, but the brow looks a bit too low, even for a Hero bucket. Below are 2 pics to give you a better idea of where it should sit... one of an EI approved bucket and one from the CRL. An easy fix for sure. Do you have any photos of the side?

Anovos is a decent set of armor, but as mentioned by Brien, though, it is a little on the thin side. The wait times have been up to a year, and because of this and communication problems it has been removed from the "vetted" seller's list that Dan provided the link for. If it's not too late, I would cancel that order. Unfortunately, it would require quite a bit of work to get it up to 501st requirements, and it is definitely a "recast" (copy) of someone else's armor. This is not a good thing. Your best bet would be to save up a bit more money and use on of the sellers suggested on that thread. They are tried and true, are known as reputable vendors, and their kits are 100% approvable when built to our standards. In the eBay listing I noticed this quote from that seller: (on ABS)... and if it cracked or damaged, repairs are difficult, costly, and rarely return the plastic to its original state. Fiberglass, however, is not only more durable than ABS, but repairs to it can also be easily completed by almost anyone. This is simply not true. Unless you have some experience working with fiberglass, repairs are not nearly as easy as working with ABS. Is fiberglass more durable? Yes, in some ways, but a good set of ABS armor will last you you for many, many years, and repairs are pretty easy (and VERY inexpensive). Plus you will have a ton of information here and hundreds of fine folks who may have had the same problems to help you out.

Assuming you are going for ANH Stunt, here are some pics of screen used helmets that may help, Mike. Always feel free to ask questions if you have any.. we are here to help!

A big CONGRATS on your approval, Sean! Always great to see a well built AM kit. I have had one for years, and they truly are built to last. To help keep the sniper knee from wedging underneath the thigh, you can also add a piece of 1 x 1 x 8 inch piece of foam lengthwise inside behind the front seam. This will push it out a bit. If you choose to do this, attach it with Velcro, that way you can remove it for cleaning. Your next step should be to get FISD Trooper status. This will add your number on your profile, and allow you access to other areas here on our site. Here is a link: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/16-501st-trooper-status-requests-include-link-to-your-501st-profile-in-your-request/ Also, as Randy mentioned, I hope you will be submitting for your EI soon. Then onto Centurion!

The 5/16ths size refers to the head diameter, Jon. For the ones I sell, that measurement is also the length of the shank. Sorry to hear about your ebay armor, but believe me you are not alone. I did the exact same thing before I found out about the 501st. What I ended doing is exactly what you are planning. I built the entire kit, then sold it it on eBay as a "Halloween costume... Not 501st approvable". It sold in 2 days for exactly what I paid for it, and I learned a LOT about building a TK! If you have the option to send it back (unopened) and are looking to (hopefully) join the 501st, I would suggest doing so and checking out the armorers in this section: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/ And also these: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/19329-where-what-and-whom-to-avoid-when-buying/ They will cost a bit more of course, but you know that they are approvable, better built, and not re-cast (copied) from a reputable maker. Feel free to ask any questions.. we are here to help!

Welcome, Alan! As mentioned, read through that list and decide which sounds best for you, and feel free to ask any questions if there is a particular armorer that you are interested in.

Congrats on your BBB day, Tony, and GREAT to hear you are headed for Centurion! Yes, as mentioned you should definitely remove all the return edge on the wrist side of the forearms (including the "hump" as seen in photo 1) before fitting/gluing. How much you trim off the other end is up to you. Some like to leave a bit, but below (photo 2) is a detail of screen used forearm/bicep. You are doing the right thing by asking questions here in your thread before proceeding. Keep it up, and remember... this will be a marathon, not a sprint.

Looking sharp, Luc! It may be a bit of a pain, but if you find that the shoulder bells are pulling on the elastic shoulder straps you can replace it with 2 inch wide white nylon. I use 2 (strong) snaps to hold my shoulder bells on, and constantly attaching/unfastening them kept tearing the elastic. I think it's safe to say that we will be seeing an EI badge under your name soon, brother!

I am with the crowd here, Andrew. You should have no problems getting this approved, and hopefully we will be seeing your EI submission here after basic approval! P.S. If you need a piece of mesh for the frown, just PM me and I'll get one in the mail for you (no charge).