Jump to content

Somatophylax

501st Member[501st]
  • Posts

    255
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Posts posted by Somatophylax

  1. Hi everyone,

     

    I've ready in many posts about how you have to be careful with E6000 because when in contact with metal (i.e. snaps in our case), it can generate heat and deform armor. However, it looks like the majority of you are using E6000, and practically everybody glue the elastic-backed snaps everywhere on your armor.

     

    So my question:  What's your secret?  Painting the back of the snap? Applying a coat of wax on it? Cover it with plastic?  Using glue on the elastic "around" the snap without touching it?  Or nothing maybe!   Is the danger to the armor really there?

     

    Thanks

  2. Exactly. The back part snap will just hang out in between and have space between it and the armor. (Thanks to Spacebrew who taught me that one.)

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

     

    But the 2 pieces of plastic still won't touch each other (so can't be glued properly) because of the space taken by the back of the snap... unless I encase it in one of the plates.

  3. You can also cut small pieces of shim or cover and glue it to the underside (on both sides of the snap but not over it) so the metal part doesn't touch the armor...

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

     

    So basically to "sandwich" the back part of the male snap (the part with the shaft)... right?  

  4. Hi all,

     

    Sorry if it's been discussed before but I can't seem to find the info I need.

     

    The CRL states (for Centurion) that "Squared cut-out sections at the lower left and right corners of the Kidney Armor.". However, I've seen people talking that the AP armor doesn' have the proper sizing/proportions (compared to the ab plate) to have a screen accurate cut-out. I've looked at various Centurion application requests for APs, and it seems that most leave the kidney piece as it is.

     

    So my question... is the 22x22mm cut-out really mandatory when assembling an AP armor?

     

    Thanks.

  5. Ok, I have a doubt on the snaps for the upper shoulder bells.  Most people just glue in elastic bases with a male snap in it.  The tutorial section mentions the possibility of using a plastic plate instead of an elastic.  I thought it would be preferable because glueing a piece of ABS with a male snap inside the shoulder bell would stick better. Here's the image from the tutorial section:

    4594185747_79e5a668e4.jpg

     

    So, I prepared a couple of ABS plates, drilled a hole of the right size to let the snap shaft go in, and installed it.

    009.%20Shoulder%20bell%20snaps_zpsaehqry

     

    But here's my problem. The 'under' part of that plate now has a bump with the back of the snap. Maybe it's just the brand I use, or maybe it's normal. But I wonder how well it will stick now when I glue it.

    009a_zps1r5jhgvs.jpg

     

    Since the shoulder bells hold the arm pieces, I want to make sure it has a secure, solid fit.  So maybe I'll have to use elastics instead. What are your thoughts on that?

     

    Thanks!

  6. Hi again,

     

    I made a whole bunch of strips to complete the biceps and forearms. So here are the forearms with the inner strips glued.  I ran out of clamps (damn!). I guess I'll work on more strips or snaps until tomorrow.  I hope they'll glue ok. One of them kept slipping out of place (even with clamps on) and I had to find a way to hold it there. 

     

    IMG_8316_zpsjrljtr5g.jpg

  7. I wish I had been there.  The medieval group is called VINLAND PRODUCTION. I am a member of that group and we do a lot of medieval events, mostly as vikings.  The pic with Vader and someone else holding a red lightsaber... that 'someone else' is my younger brother. He had such a blast he now intents to join the 501st (probably as Count Dooku).

     

    Cheers!

  8. remember just score using a ruler pressing hard enough, no need to go deep and bend plastic it will break clean with no rough edges, I did tons this way.

     

    Gotcha. The ruler was held down quite well with the tools. But when I got to the middle of it, the cutter blade kind of dug beneath the ruler and so made a curve in the cut. I'll be more careful next time.

     

    Update:  I just did a 2nd pair of bicep strips and they're perfect (I think). So I was much more careful while cutting. Thanks Mark  :smiley-sw013:

                    Note to self:  Do not wear black pants when sanding white ABS  :P

  9. And there... It's official... Armor building has started! One bicep set with the inner strips waiting to dry. I used E6000. Results in 24 hours ;)

     

    I'll need 6 more strips to finish the pair of biceps. So I'll make them and use the best 4 as the outer strips for a better look.

     

    007.20First20assembly_zpslnefkecd.jpg

  10. So here is my first set of ABS strips ever! They didn't end right as I probably did not press hard enough while cutting (or pressed too hard... I don't know). But they'll do fine for the inner joints of the bicep pieces. I smoothed the edges and rounded up the corners with a dremmel.

     

    6A3137B1-D27D-46BC-91E4-5C06BE8FF31A_zps

  11. So... not much progress still on the armor. Honestly, I'm so scared of fitting and glueing the first piece and I'm not sure how to proceed to make the joint strips :(

     

    So in the meantime I decided to try and test the snaps. I never worked with that before. The first ones aren't really a success. The damn shafts are too long and thus hard to hammer down. The first pair I couldn't make them snap. The second (with the fabric) work, after I also used the hammer to snap them together (which I won't be able to do while wearing the armor). I hope it won't cost me a ton of money before I get it right!

     

    004.%20Damn%20snaps_zpsph1pwjcu.jpg

  12. Awesome job!  On your post #59 from May 5th, you posted this pic

     

    2015-04-30%2020.04.02_zpsid6cbye7.jpg

     

    I see that the pieces (easily seen with the one on the left...at the top) don't end up even. One (the outside bicep half) is quite longer than the other and your joint piece is longer too. How did you deal with that? Did you just cut off the outer bicep part to make it even with the inner bicep? Thanks

  13. So... after a couple of days (painfully thinking about starting to work on it), I finally opened the box and verified the content.

     

    So many parts!

    002.%20So%20many%20parts_zps7sqvbs8c.jpg

     

    002a_zpstlb8nvhr.jpg

    002b_zpsyruiurtz.jpg

     

    I decided to tape the articulations and analyze the basic assembly. I was surprised at how the pieces don't necessarily fit perfectly. I will need to either force them into place when I glue them. Or, I'll need to do some trimming. Or both! What are your thoughts on that?

    003.%20Preliminary%20taping_zpsplehsok4.

×
×
  • Create New...