TK Monkus

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

Thanks Joseph. I will make sure the back is lined up. Not sure if I will be adding mobility cuts, but that was the picture of it taped up and it wasn’t perfect as I was just trying to get a sizing feel. I am going to leave as is for now and not trim it down per Glen’s suggestion and probably add in some foam. M Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! I think I’ll glue on the front cover strip, with an inside cover strip as well, and leave the back open for now and move on to the left thigh. M Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Glen. I am using E6000 so I can remove if need be. Is your foam only on the inside thigh? M Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you both. See below some pics with the undersuit on. One set of pics I have it as is, and the other I have it taped to about where the fit feels best. When I have it taped, I think I could go a little less as I can feel it kind of pushing against my leg towards the top when my leg is flexed. It seems like a middle ground between these two may be best and then as @gmrhodes13 said add some foam inside. As is currently: With the back taped to a more tight fit: Thanks, M

Hey Guys I made my sizing cuts on the back and as expected there is still a lot of room inside, so I need to size it down a bit more. I taped up where I should size to and it makes the thigh look pretty skinny. I am a skinny guy so maybe that will just be the look as I know I need to size it to myself but just wanted to see if I need to leave it a bit wider. I know I could potentially add foam inside if I needed to, but would ideally like to try and avoid that. I have seen a few reference pics that have somewhat skinny thighs as well. I can take a couple pics wearing it as is and then taped down to "proper" size with my undersuit if that would be helpful? Question: Is the top of the back supposed to sit right under your butt and the bottom of the front just above the knee? I was trying to look at some pics but with the black undersuit it makes it a little difficult. After first sizing cuts (you can see the marks in red where I need to size down to) Taped to better fit size Thanks, M

I cut the front to pretty much where it will be. There is a little room in case any needs to be taken off and I am also going to probably clean the edges up a little. The back I have not cut anything. You can kind of see there are two marks on the left side, that is from test fitting by myself and marking about where the edges were. I divided the distance in two and that is the middle number. The top and bottom are the dimensions from the RS build videos. They seem to almost match up. I will probably cut about 5mm inside my test fit markings and see how the fit is. See pics below. Any input is welcome. Thanks, M

Thanks Mario! I will make the front cut then do another test fit and post some pics before making any cuts on the back. May take a little off the back as I know a good amount will need to come off anyhow just to have straight edge when fitting. M

Right Thigh I trimmed out my 20mm cover strips and trimmed out most of the return edge on both ends of my right thigh. I did leave a little, as you can see in the picture below, just in case and I can trim it away if need be. I have been watching the RS build videos which make everything seem so easy and then I come and look in other build threads and what not and feel like it just bogs me down with info, so I am going to try and follow RS mostly while still posting pics here and asking for advice. Also referencing the RS suit pics and screen grabs from the movie. I marked my cut lines, see below, as described in the RS video. I have marked the front so it would leave about 15mm on each side and given I have a 20 mm cover strip would leave about a 5mm gap on each side of the ridge. I will probably end up trimming that down a bit more but want to give myself some wiggle room on that first cut. I do have a question on the back side. He had said the inner thigh was 35cm around the top scoop and then to measure from the flat ridge on the bottom at 50mm around the raised part at the knee. I started at my proposed cut line from the front, and you can see in the picture below where those marks are and they do not line up. All of these cuts seem to be vertical cuts and not slanted at all. Same on the outer thigh. He had given a measurement of 29cm around the top scoop and to measure to 45mm around the raised part at the knee. Should I just cut to the bigger part, the top scoop measurement, and then size that to myself? I am going to size this to myself after these cuts but will use these measurements as my starting point. I know there are cetain parts of the thigh that need to line up and it seems like my front will be ok, but just want to make sure the back is alright also. Cuts will hopefully be made tomorrow. return edge trimmed down front right thigh marked back right thigh marked Thanks! M

Thanks everyone! Was hoping to get these glued up, but I will take your advice and hold off until I have the rest of it to compare to. I will also take your advice @gmrhodes13 and probably be adding at least a little bit of foam to the forearms, but that will be at the very end. Since I am following the RS build videos it's on to the thighs! M

Thank you, wooo! If I did how would I go about this? Would I just taper a cut down from the elbow? I feel like I don’t have much room to cut from the outer piece and would need to make any cuts on the inner scoop piece, but the left side is already a getting a little wonky. Also if I did it that way wouldn’t it be crooked? Thanks, M Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk