TK Monkus

It has been a bit since I made any progress, but I recently taped everything up after making some cuts to my butt plate to see how the sizing all looks and did a test fit. @gmrhodes13 suggested early on that I wait to glue the cover strips on my forearms until I had the rest of everything ready so I could see how it all looks together. Well everything isn't necessarily ready, but I think this gives a pretty good idea of what it will look like. I think the forearms sizing looks good so I am going to start gluing the inner cover strips, then the outer. I don't think they look to skinny or fat. I realize the placement may be slightly off, but fine tuning can come later. I still need to size and cut my shoulder bells, but also wanted to wait until I had most of this done so I could size and make sure there was no gap between the chest and the bell. Below is a pic with everything I have so far taped on. Any pointers about anything are greatly appreciated. Everything does not meet up perfectly and there is major overlap in some sections, i.e. kidney and front ab. Questions: Do the forearms look ok compared to the rest of the armor (sizing)? The edges of the butt fan out as you can see in the pic, will that be fixed with strapping or is that a sizing issue? I will try and add the thigh ammo belt and size my shoulder bells next. Thanks, M

Darn! The width is just the angle in the picture but you are correct on the strip, it is not central I will remove and re position them. Thanks for the heads up. As for the butt plate I will only clean up that top area and leave a good amount. It may also be worth noting I plan to use the double snap method which not sure if that well help protect from cracking a little more than the brackets. Thanks, M

I think most of my torso armor has been cut for me, which is great, but the butt plate I think needs a bit more. See pics below and my markings as to where I think I will cut. I have been looking at @justjoseph63 thread on return edges and while I do have a bit more than what he recommends on the other pieces, I would like to see if I can keep those on. I will do a test fit at some point after I think I have things where I want them and can see what kind of input I get. For now I will start with the butt plate. The snaps were already in when I got it, also appreciative for that. Butt Plate cut marks Bottom/side Top Thank you, M

I forgot to post a pic of the finished back cover strips on my thighs, see below. Again, I think I will be adding mobility cuts back there. Thanks, M

Thanks Glen! Will do.

Hey Guys, It has been a little while since I was able to make any progress, but I finally got the thighs all glued up and drying and I have a question about the shins before I put the back cover strip on. Question: Do I need to trim the bottom and "round" it out because of that overlap on the ankle side? See pics for better understanding, red mark is where I would cut. This is just the Left shin pictured but it is the same issue in the right. If you need more or different pics let me know and I can take them. Drying Thighs Ankle end of L shin Thanks, M

I trimmed my thighs down again and they fit a lot better! I will trim the top edges off the back where the red lines are in the pics below and then I think my thighs will be done, minus the ammo belt on the right side. Please let me know if you see anything else that should be done to them, otherwise back cover strips will go on. I will also be adding interior cover strips. Nothing was done to the shins, I just have them on for reference. Front back Left Right Thanks, M

Thank you Joseph! M

I have a couple questions before doing the, hopefully, last sizing cuts on the backs of the thighs. I have three different color markings on the pics. Red is where the cut would be based on how I sized it on my leg. Yellow is where I would actually like to cut, it is the opposite side of where I marked so assume the distance would be equal, I just drew rough lines. The green circle at the top is where I am wondering if anything needs to stay. For instance on the left thigh top right side, does that little notch/ridge need to stay or can I cut that as seen by the yellow line? If I cut on the yellow lines as I would like, it would also help center the rear seam which is why I have not marked equal cuts on both sides. Really the main question is does anything in those green circles need to stay there which would make me alter where the cut lines go. Assume the yellow line is the cut line. Left thigh there is that ridge on the top right side. Right thigh there is that "bump" on the top right side that would be sized down because I would even out that top "scoop". Left Thigh Right Thigh Thank you, M

Thanks Jospeh. Yes, in those pictures one side was bigger as I hadn't adjusted it yet. I think I am going to adjust and trim both sides a little more to make them fit better and will probably land somewhere in the middle of what the two sides look like in those pics. They will both be the same when done. I will post up some pics. Thanks, M

The front cover strips are on the shins! Legs are almost complete. The shins seem to fit very nicely so I think I will add the back cover strip and call them done, minus the strapping and sniper plate. After adding the front cover strips the alignment of the top came a lot closer. Once the strapping is in place they should be able to sit even. I also think I will be adding mobility cuts to both the shins and thighs, but will probably do that once they are totally complete. I did another test fit and have a few questions. Questions: I sized my left thigh to be more of a tight fit and eliminate some gaps and would like some opinions on if it looks to "skinny"? I feel like the right has to much of a gap in the back and sides...(I marked with an "L" which is the one I sized down in the pics since they were taken in a mirror so look opposite) maybe it needs to be somewhere in between the two? From the side view, do the "v's" need to line up? (marked with a red line in the pics) Looking at screen grabs from the movies it looks like sometimes they do, and others they don't. If they did need to, my fix would probably be to add foam to the back of the thigh right above where my knee bends. Lastly, this may be a question for later, but do my thighs need to be sitting higher? Should there be a bigger gap at the knee between the shin and thigh? Any other insights welcome! Front cover strips on shins Shin fitting Test fit with thighs and cod Thanks as always, M

I added the interior covers strips to my shins. I also evened out the front ankle side so there are no points on both. I will need to do the same to the back but will do that after I put on the front cover strips. I decided which shin will be left and right. I removed a little more from the left one and think it fits better. I also removed a bit more from my left thigh and will do another tape up test fit after the front cover strips are on the shins. Question: If it all fits well, should I add the rear cover strips to everything or is it worth leaving those off until the whole kit is complete if anything needs to be adjusted? Only reason I would like to do them now is to save time. Since it takes 24hours to dry I could have those drying while starting to work on the torso pieces. Pics: Both shins interior covers strips drying Left Shin Right Shin Thanks, M

Thanks Glen. May try the elastic w/velcro method. Will see how it all goes when finished.

Thank you very much! That is much needed validation haha. I will be cleaning up the points of the shins as well as the backs of the thighs which also need some evening out. Thanks, M

I cut up the other shin and think I may need to take a little bit more off, but it works overall! I did a test fit with my boots and undersuit and the one I just trimmed does move a little bit, again may size it down a little more. I also put on my thighs and taped everything up and the thighs seem to move a lot when I walk. I didn't try putting any padding inside so maybe that will help, which I plan on doing, but the other thing was I couldn't really walk up steps. Is that normal? I may end up adding mobility cuts to both the thighs and shins. See pics below for a reference. I think looks wise everything seems to be symmetrical which was one of the things I was waiting for to do final back cover strips on thighs and shins. I added my ab/cod piece also just for reference which has had nothing done to it yet. See pics below. ( the pic of the back of the shins may have my thighs looking odd, but that is because I am looking over my shoulder to get the picture in the mirror.) Question: Do the shins just sit on the top of the boots? There is no strapping on them correct? Shins Shins and thighs Shins Thighs and ab/cod Thanks, M

Thanks Joseph. I will definitely add a rear cover strip.

Thank you Scott that is helpful. Can I put those in a bath with the front cover strips on or would those need to be off?

After looking at the RS suit, it looks like there is an overlap. I know the cover strip is only attached to one side so technically overlaps, but it also looks like there is part of the armor that also overlaps? It also looks like the top of the shin is pretty hacked up similar to the thigh, but looks like it was not aligned perfectly before that? Thanks, M

Shins Next up is the shins. I have done one so far, but know that both sides are identical. I marked up the front to have about 12mm on each side as it seems the middle of the shin is a lot thinner so that gave the cover strip enough space to be right on the edge in the middle. I cut the back to the sizes that RS mention in their build videos, which is 50mm on the top and then about 15cm around the ankle side. I think I may need to take it in a little more, but I know on the back of the shin the cover strip is only glued to one side so maybe the extra space is ok. I have also removed all return edges on the bottom ankle side and trimmed in the return edges at the top knee side. See pics and a couple questions below. Questions: The top of the back doesn't really line up as you can see in one of the pictures below. Is this normal? I can kind of pull the one side up to match, but it pulls the front as well and makes it lose it's shape a little bit. Should I leave it a little bigger than I need so that when I actually put them on the side without the cover strip can overlap or should they be butt joined when strapped up? Front marked up Back marked up Front after cuts Back after cuts-you can see the top doesn't align. Top knee side Bottom ankle side Thanks, M

Glued on the front cover strip and trimmed a bit more off the back and think it as around the same fit as the right now. I will do a test fit with both once this dries. Left front thigh Thanks, M

Glued on the inner cover strip to the front of my left thigh. I still need to size it down but will do that once I have the front cover strip on. I will also round out the top and bottom points after this inner strip dries and before I put on the outer strip. Thanks, M

I trimmed down the left thigh to almost where I think it needs to be. I measured my right and got about 49 1/2 cm around the bottom knee area. I then measured to 49 1/2cm on the left and marked that on each side and made my cuts. I think it could be taken in a little bit more, but will see what you guys here think. The front is ready for it's cover strip, at least I think so. The back is where I will trim down a bit. I will trim it in a little on each side, but know I need to keep that small "step" on the inner piece so will come as close to that as I can and take any more from the outer piece. See pics below. I am basing my idea that I need to take it in on how my right one fits and it seems to have a bit more room than the right. Any thoughts are welcome and appreciated. Back markings Front-cover strip ready? Back Fitting pics with undersuit With both thighs on Thank you, M

Left Thigh I trimmed out the return edges on my left thigh, not completely. I left a little on both top and bottom as that is how I had it on the right. I know it is suggested to lose all edges, but I would like to try and keep some for the look. I have also marked the front ridge section. I have it marked to 15mm on each side which like the right, I will probably end up trimming down a little bit more but it gives me a cushion. I am not sure if you can see it in the picture, but on the bottom knee side of the outer piece I am going to cut that a little wider, at an angle, to possibly have that to glue under the inner piece. Would that work? I will size the back after making these cuts. If anyone sees anything that should be different please let me know, I plan to make these cuts tomorrow. Knee side return edges Thigh side return edges Front cut lines Thanks, M

I glued on the front cover strip. I will leave the back open for sizing if I need to size it down for the aesthetic. Fit wise I think it will work with adding a piece of foam to the inside. On to the left thigh. Question: For the left thigh, can I just measure both sides of this right thigh and cut to those same measurements? Inner cover strip Outer cover strip Thanks, M

I trimmed off about 2mm on each side of the front as it looked like I had a bit to much of the edge showing with the cover strip on. Then I glued on an inner cover strip for more stability. I will glue the outer strip tomorrow. Is it ok to glue the outer while the inner hasn't fully cured for 24 hours, or should I just let it sit for the full 24? After trimming a little bit more off the sides Inner cover strip glued on Thanks, M