justjoseph63

The original 50 "Stunt" helmets were made of HDPE and then painted, and the original 6 "Hero" helmets (for close-up shots) were made of the less springy white ABS. If you like that look I believe RS is the only one making them in the original HDPE. (Link here). Here are some comparison pics for ya'. Stunt bucket (HDPE) Hero buckets (ABS

Hi Christopher, and congrats on your BBB day! Yes, there is a ton of information here, but what I would suggest at this point is to look at some of the build threads here in this section. As Daniel mentioned, starting with the bicep/forearms will give you a feel of working with ABS before you progress to the more difficult pieces. It's also a VERY good idea to start your own build thread in that section. Having the ability to post photos will help a LOT, especially when you have questions/issues. You can also ask as many questions (no matter how small) as you like. We will be here to help every step of the way. Hopefully you have all your supplies in place, which will make things go smoother, (trust me). If there is anything you can't find information on, just ask!

Looks GREAT!

Hi Steve, and thanks for the pics! Unfortunately, as per the CRL for Level 2 any shims must sit flush, (completely level, not overlapped). If you don't feel comfortable doing this, I would strongly suggest getting in touch with my buddy Gary jr. (whistle nut) in the Makaze Squad. The guy is a genius when it comes to all things white armor and I'm sure he will be happy to help you out. I can contact him if you like, just let me know! The green rectangle shows what the seam should look like Side view

Ask away!

H Just don't get the best of you, mi amigo... we are here to help every step of the way. You did the perfect thing by starting a build thread and posting photos so just keep that momentum up and ask all the questions you need to. By the way, the bicep with the "thumbprint" should actually go on the left side.

Not sure what you mean.. can you post a pic? Thanks!

Hi Steve, and THANKS for your submission for EI! Before we can "move along" there are a few issues we need you to address and a couple of photos. 1. As per the CRL for Level 2, "...the rim of the mic and inside is white or painted white". The rim is spot-on, but the interior needs a coat or two of white paint. Easy fix! 2. It may be the angle of the photo, but for Level 2 any shims must sit flush with the kidney. The right side looks good, but the left side appears as if it's sticking out (not flush). Can you provide a close-up detail photo of this area for us? (No need to suit up). 3. One last thing, can you add a close-up of the rear of the TD showing the screw type? Many thanks, and I look forward to seeing the results, trooper!

If it were me, I would go ahead and remove a lot more of the "scoop" at the top of the forearm and all the return edge at the top of the biceps (it sits under the shoulder bell and is not seen anyway). BUT, it's important to do this before final fitting/gluing. Otherwise the pieces may be too loose afterward. Like Glen said, they can cause "armor bite". Reference image Reference image

My pleasure, Ashe, and glad you found it helpful!

Pressure? Me? (Well, perhaps a little). I look at it this way.. Theoretically, HWTs are deployed directly onto front lines, where (unlike a TK stationed on a ship) we are exposed to lots of enemy fire from all manner of weapons. Having that extra weathering (battle damage) is part of what makes us unique (along with being able to carry BFGs, lol) which is why the CRLs require it at Expert Infantry level and above. Otherwise, you kinda' look like a first-time HWT that just stepped off of the transport ship.

It was my pleasure seeing this awesome Hero build, Laura, and I look forward to seeing your submission for Centurion!

Looking great, Caleb, and NICE job on those shims!

Once you get your Basic 501st approval, you will then need to apply for Legion access here on the FISD in this thread. After that, have a look at the Visual Checklist here to make sure you are ready for EI and then post up your submission here using the Photo checklist. Looking forward to seeing your results, Andreas! If you have any questions or concerns, always feel free to contact one of us in the D.O. department.

Way to go, Ken! Welcome to the Legion, Trooper! (I'm looking forward to that EI submission now) .

My pleasure, brother!

PM sent.

Ahhhh, the smell of a giant box full of ABS Stormtroopery goodness. Nothing like it to strike fear in the hearts of new builders, lol, but not to worry, Donzie.. we are here to help! MTK makes a great kit so you have a good starting point, and hopefully you have all your supplies in place, which will make your build a lot easier. Now that you have your build thread, you can (and are encouraged to) ask as many questions as you like as well as post photos of your progress (we LOVE photos). Speaking of which, it looks like you have the pic-posting down to a science so you are one step ahead of the game (this will come in especially handy when you have an issue). Another thing I suggest to new builders is to take.... your... time. Consider this a marathon and not a sprint. Rushing leads to mistakes. Trust me. Hopefully you will consider taking your build past Basic 501st approval to Expert Infantry level, and then onto Centurion! It's not quite as hard as you may think, and this is MUCH easier to do during your build rather than after. Again, always feel free to hit us up if you have a question or issue. It's kinda' what we do best here.

Congrats to Laura (TK 17144) of the Dutch garrison on her recent EI level badge! Only 27 spots left, folks....

Hi Laura, and thank you for your EI submission for ANH Hero! In the following review I will be going over items pertaining to your current submission, as well as those that will be required for Centurion level should you choose to apply. (And you should)! CRL and EIB Application Requirements: All required submission photos have been posted and I am very pleased to announce your armor displays all the necessary elements to qualify for Heavy Weapons Trooper Expert Infantry. On behalf of Sha Sha, Mario and myself, Congratulations! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly: In this section we review observations made by your fellow troopers and ourselves. Some observations may lead to suggestions to improve the overall look of your armor. Note that we consider both text (CRL) and pictures (screen caps/reference images) when reviewing submissions. First, fantastic job on this TM kit, and always exciting to see an awesome set of Hero armor ! Also, thanks for the updated photos/fixes and adding that new D-ring!! There are a few areas below that could use some tweaking, but in looking at the rest of your build I have complete faith that you can jump on these and make this Hero armor look spectacular! Although the screen used buckets certainly had more than a few gaps under the ears (part of their charm), some trimming and tightening could make these less apparent. Reference image In looking at the screen used references, you can also see that the tops (and lower sections) were quite a bit thinner. Trimming them down a bit could allow you eliminate some of those gaps as well. Reference images Not a deal-breaker, but if you feel up to it we are also suggesting that you trim down the ends of the TD clips. Reference image For closer screen accuracy, squaring off the ab-button plates would give a much better appearance. Reference image Centurion Requirements In this section we prepare you for Centurion. More photos may be requested in the future that allow us to make better decisions on possible adjustments. If there are any areas of concern they will be discussed here. Because Centurion photos show much more detail than those for Expert Infantry, items to pertaining to Centurion might be seen there and not here. We try to point out all that we can from what is seen, but the final accuracy is the responsibility of the trooper. While not specifically mentioned in the CRL, the interior sides of the Hovi-tips should be black. Note that the rear portion inside stays white, and having some white on the rim would help. Easy fix with some black paint! Also note that the screens in most of these tips are painted black, but doing that particular part is only a suggestion. Reference images As stated in the CRL, "Ab button paint shall not extend beyond the bottom of the actual raised button". Without a close-up shot of these it's a bit difficult to tell, but note in the reference image below that some of the white is seen at the bases. If the paint does go all all the way to the bottoms, some (non acetone) paint remover, a toothpick and a few rags would tighten these up nicely! Reference image A pretty quick fix here: The outside edge of the drop boxes need to line up with the rear edge of the ABS belt. A dab of E-6000 under the rear strap should hold it in place. Reference images And that's it! Again, great job on this armor, trooper... just a few items to work on, and then I honestly hope to see your Centurion submission soon! .

These are the last two you needed, Brett. One of us will be with you shortly!

That's the thing... long wait times and communication is basically non-existent, but they always come through.... eventually.

Welcome, Brit! Always great to hear that a new Capt. Phasma is in the works! Since you are doing the TLJ baton, I assume you will be doing the TLJ Phasma? If so, here is a link to the CRL that will help: https://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:TK_TFA_captain_phasma_TLJ, but always feel free to ask any questions you may have!

If you PM any you couldn't fit on there to me (full size) I can edit them and add them to your post.

Along with the painter's tape and wood slats as shown above, another thing you can do to ease the pressure off of the outside cover strips is to add interior cover strips. They don't have to look good, as they will not be seen. Adding these creates a stronger seam, and I highly suggest using these in the inside fronts of the calves as those areas get a lot of flexing from opening and closing them when you suit up.