TK Monkus

Does anyone have a recommendation where I can purchase a stencil for the tube stripes on the side? Thanks, M

Here is the result of the cutting. Thanks, M

It is time to start working on the bucket! Given most of the body is completed I am going to start working on the head and try to get this completed. I am following the RS videos, which have been great, but I have a question. On the left side the last "tooth hole" is not really pronounced at all like the others. on the right side I can see where it goes. I have marked where I think it should be but just want to make sure that looks correct before I make any cuts. I have also marked the eyes. Question: Is the left side tooth hole in the correct position or should it move? Left Side Right Side Thanks, M

I glued in the strap on my shoulder bell and am very pleased with how it came out. I think the gap between the shoulder and chest/back is also acceptable for centurion? I realize I have some tweaks to still do on the body (butt plate, need to taper in the sides, alter the strap on one arm) and need to add my ab buttons and shoulder straps, but this being the first time I really had a fully strapped kit up was very exciting! See pics below and please let me know any thoughts on the shoulders. Thanks, M

Thanks Mario. So it looks like the proportion of shoulder bell to bicep really just depends per trooper. Thanks, M

Thanks Andrew!

It has been way to long since I have done any work, but I was at a friends house last night and he graciously helped me with getting my shoulder bells properly sized. I do have some questions so see pics and questions below. Looking at screen grabs the length of the bell coming down the bicep varies. In the shot below is a good example. Trooper on the left has more bicep showing, trooper on the right has less. Since I have an RS suit I know one side is longer than the other. I would really like to avoid trimming the length of the bell. I think I have them both looking good while keeping the gap between the shoulder and the body at a minimum. Questions: I am going to need to alter my forearm strapping, but should the bottom of the bicep be sitting just above the crook of my elbow? Is the length of the bell compared to the bicep ok? Is it more personal preference? I figured if I can get the shoulder bell/bicep connection set I can then alter the bicep/forearm strapping. I plan to add the little hook into the bicep for the shoulder bell strap to hold onto. Just a note. In the pics below I am wearing a semi baggy black t-shirt so it is kind of sticking through at the chest gaps, those are not odd cuts in the shoulder bell. Thanks, M

Thank you Caleb. I will look out for an email as I am sure you guys will be fairly inundated with emails for the time being. Thanks, M

I just saw an update from Hellhounds Instagram page. See below pics of the post if anyone here doesn't have an insta. Looks like he is back and very apologetic. I will probably reach out to him and keep my order. Thanks, M

I have the shoulder strapping in place and I think I am ready to size my shoulder bells. There is actually not as much as I thought that needs to come off the front and back although I am wondering if I need to shorten the bell? It comes really far down my bicep and I think my bicep is in the correct place. See pics with red lines around where I think I would cut. Thanks, M

I have almost all the strapping in place now. The last piece is the shoulder straps. I am wondering if the back and chest plate need to be a certain distance apart or if it is ok if they are closer as that seems to give me a better overall fit. The back plate sits more snug against my back and it pulls the armor up more where it should be. In the reference photos I have looked at it seems the back plate sits a little lower on the back, but not sure if it is really just to size. See some pics below for reference. I know the butt plate is overlapping the thighs. That will be one of the next issues I try and deal with. Also a reason I want the torso armor to sit higher, it pulls it up more. Question: Is the small space between the chest and back plate ok or does that need to be a certain distance? In the RS video he says about 3/4", but if I have that much space the armor seems to sit a bit to low. Mine in the pics is about 1/2" Thanks, M

Thank you Mario, I will continue on with the strapping. The last piece I have are the shoulder straps. I do have a question about the space between the chest and back plate, but see below. Thanks, M

I have been saving my shoulder bell final fitting until I had most of the upper body complete so I could properly size without having too much(if any) gap. I think I need to trim off a good amount still and this is about where I think it should go. The top up near my shoulder actually seems to be ok, so I am thinking of starting just above where my hand is in the picture (sorry for the odd placement). It would give the bell more of a curve, but I think would take it in to about where it should just match up with where the chest is. The back looks ok to me also so wasn't thinking of trimming there, but should I to keep everything even? In the pics I am wearing a sweatshirt under, not sure if that makes any difference. Question: I need to trim my shoulder bells some more to get them fitted properly and think I need to cut about where the red line is to keep no gap on the front, but don't really want to trim the back. Do I need to trim the back so all is even? Thanks, M

I got the snaps on and went with the nylon. The elastic had to much give and would leave a gap. I decided to only have 2 at the moment but made it so I can make one more snap to add in the middle if needed. I hammered down the rivets and painted the other side of them. I also finished up my belt and my TD. The lighting makes the belt look way more white than it is. It matches the rest of the armor, although the fabric belt itself is a little more white. It feels like things are really coming together! Thanks, M

Thanks Ray, that is very helpful!

I went out and got a heat gun and boy is that what I needed! I played around with some scrap ABS and can see how this can be very dangerous. I would be wary right now to use this to shape bigger pieces, but can also see how over time and if you are comfortable this is an amazing tool to have. I was able to get all the ripples out which I am very happy about. See pic below for the result. Before: After: Thanks, M

Think I will try 3 and like you said with E6000 I can always make changes. Thanks! Thanks!

Thanks Mario, good to know!

Thank you Glen. Looks like its time to invest in a heat gun. Is there any specifics I should look for on it, or will any heat gun work for this? I am looking at not trying to spend to much but want to make sure whatever I get is sufficient. Here is the one I am looking at which says it can bend PVC. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wagner-Furno-300-Heat-Gun-0503059/206723935 Thanks, M

Thank you Mario. Do you find having a nylon strap there instead of an elastic is better? M

Hey Guys, It has been a little bit. I tried to straighten out the top of my butt plate but still haven't gotten it. I am going to go to the store and try and get two pieces of wood as Glen suggested, but the hot water baths have not really helped on that. In the meantime, I think I am going to alter the way I attach the kidney and ab piece and would like to know if what I am thinking would be acceptable. I think it should be, but would rather get confirmation before. Instead of attaching the 3 pieces of elastic to the rivets, I am going to add a snap to each end (about where the red circle is in the pic) and secure with snaps. This way I can continue on in my build. I feel I have been stuck in a mental block trying to "size" the ab, kidney, butt, and chest to fit a bit tighter and so have just not been making any headway. If I add these as snaps, I can finish the build, and then if needed can detach it and contour it more with a hot water both or what not. The rivets would end up being purely for show as I know they need to be there. Thoughts? Question: I have tried the hot water bath to straighten out the top of the butt plate but seems I may need something more. I will get an area where I like it, then dunk in another area to straighten and it seems the previous one goes back to where it was. Has anyone else found that hot water is not enough for this type of situation? I would like to use snaps for the ab, kidney attachment instead of securing with the rivets. Has anyone had any issues doing this? Thanks, M

Thanks Mario!

While waiting for my belt pieces to dry, I took a shot at giving my butt plate a hot water bath. There is definitely improvement, but there are also some other issues now. I used the biggest pot I had and basically did each side individually. I would dunk for 30sec then hold to shape while I washed under cold water. I did each side about 4 times. There are now "ripples" in the top of the but plate return edge from the bending. The butt plate definitely sits closer now, but when attached to the kidney it pulls it back out a little bit. It definitely looks better than before, but don't know if it is quite right yet. I also still think the ab and chest need to come in a bit tighter, but if I bathe the kidney, maybe when attaching them that will pull it in enough? See questions and pics below. Questions: Should I trim the top return edge down to deal with the "ripples" or should I just leave them? Or is there a better way to deal with this? Should I do a hot water bath on the kidney to bring those sides in a little bit? Should I bathe the butt plate a few more times to bring it in even more? Do I need to give the ab and chest a hot water bath to make it a bit more form fitting? It feels like I am so close to completing the main body of the armor. Butt Plate "Ripples" You can see the difference as the edges used to meet up. Test Fit Test fit with side snaps un done to show how close the butt plate sits without being snapped Thanks, M

Thanks Mario. Hows this look? I moved the buttons over a bit and the line is where I would cut. I would then cut a new notch as well. The button isn't exactly centered, but it is further away from the box. This would be the only way to also cut off the edge so there isn't as much of an "overhang" while I am wearing it. Right side Left Side Thanks, M

Yep. It's on with E-6000 so shouldn't be to much trouble to move it. I will wait to see what they say, but can do as you say. Move it over a little and trim a little. Thanks, M