AgeOfStrife

The ATA cast has the teeth all slightly different sizes. They've been sanded from behind with a Dremel, then filed with needle files (i bought my file sets about 20 years ago), and trimmed with a scalpel, and finally lightly sanded by hand. I might look at opening up the far left tooth a little later on if I get time. Thanks for your comment though, at least I haven't completely ruined them Dan

Not looking to get armour yet. But I do have a good range of clamps including 10 sprung ones and 4 of the trigger ones should I ever go further than just the helmet. Hopefully this pic will be good enough. http://www.ageofstrife.com/download/file.php?id=2988&mode=view Dan

I've made sure I've left extra on the ears so far. Still got a spare pair too. Spent an hour trimming and filling the teeth. I think they're done, but if I need to take a little more off would appreciate the advice. http://www.ageofstrife.com/download/file.php?id=2987&mode=view Dan

Not much progress the past couple of days. Trimmed the cap a little more and fitted the first screws to hold the face plate and cap together. Still need to sand the eyes a little more and file the teeth, but at least it looks like a helmet now. http://www.ageofstrife.com/download/file.php?id=2986&mode=view Also trimmed the ears a little more, but still nowhere near close enough to fit. Going to take them slow and steady, hopefully will have them ready to fit by Sunday. Dan

Started trimming the ABS today, took off the bulk of it with the tin snips and then use the Dremel cutting discs and sanding drums to tidy up the edges. Still need to take a little off on the left side if the cap where it overlaps the face plate as my pencil marks had rubbed off, and the teeth have only been sanded from the back so I can get needle dukes in, but it looks like it'll go together pretty well. I think I've taken enough off the eyes, but the edges could do with a little sandpaper to finish then off. Also started on the ears, I can see these being a pain, good job ATA includes a spare set As to the Trooperbay stripe templates, I'm officially an idiot. Luckily I didn't email yet as I wanted to attach a photo showing the problem, it was at this point I noticed the grey areas that I thought were printed on the background paper are in fact the templates, and the cutout marks are in the wrong place on the paper as the templates had been lifted off the original cut sheet and placed on this smaller piece. So o problems with the templates after all! I do have one question though, I've placed the foam pad inside and tried to put the helmet on, and end up with my eyes level with the frown. Is the foam thicker than usually used, or do i have a big head? Without the foam my eyes are a little above the eye holes. I guess it might fit better with the clamps taken out, will try again once it's all bolted together. I just need to find my other set of clamps before I start drilling holes, I think I know where they are but might need a trip to the local hardware store to get some more. http://www.ageofstrife.com/download/file.php?id=2980&mode=view&d=pic.jpg Dan

Just got another parcel, thus time the foam, chin straps, and tube stripe templates from Trooperbay. Unfortunately the cuts in the template sheet are misprinted so one stripe is down the centre, and the other is printed over the edge, leaving me with only one usable template. I'll drop him an email tonight. Dan

I've got the pics posted on my own server, when I use IMG tags here and submit my edited post either in Tapatalk or using a web browser the IMG tags get removed so they get turned into URL tags. I have no trouble on the phpBB forums I host or on other forums using Tapatalk or a web browser, so can only assume that there's a setting to block IMG tags until a certain number of posts - I have similar settings on my own forums to stop spammers signing up and then posting adverts and links to other sites. As I build I'll add posts and hopefully at some point it will let me embed images. Very impressed with the speed I got this from ATA, I expected it to take a few weeks to arrive but it was in the UK in just a few days after ordering, then got held up in customs till Saturday. I would have had it yesterday but Royal Mail won't deliver parcels immediately that need customs fees paying, but I was able to pick it up this morning. Dan

After lurking here on FISD for a few weeks reading up on which helmet kits were worth buying I finally decided on an ATA Works kit. Today I received a big box, and am really happy with the kit. First an obligatory box shot, and the contents. (Links to pics until I can figure out how to have them display, IMG tag doesn't seem to work...) --------- I've already read lots of build threads, and watched the videos on Trooperbay, and I think I've got everything ready. But before I get started I want to check I haven't missed anything. Looking at the screws I think I've got them sorted out correctly - two large pan head screws with washer and nut that I think are provided instead of rivets to connect the faceplate to the cap, six brass flat head screws with washer and nut that are for the ears, and two resin hovimics with built in thread, washer and nut and separate mesh tips. To cut and sand I've got a heavy duty modeling knife with spare blades similar to an Xacto, various grades of sandpaper, and a Dremel with drill bits, cutting discs and sanding drums. A few threads suggest Fiskar or similar heavy duty scissors, but I have a set of JCB aviation tin snips - left curved, straight, and right curved -that I hope will be suitable, I'll test then on a spare piece of ABS first in case they cause it to crack. Has anyone tried using tin snips? I've also got Humbrol paint Coal Black #55, French Blue #14, Dark Grey #5, and White #22, I'm intending to paint the traps and tears rather than use decals, for the tube stripes I have a Trooperbay standard template set on the way. I'll start trimming the cap and faceplate tomorrow, and probably have a go at a set of ears too. I'll be sure to take pics as I go, and take my time over the build. Any tips along the way will be useful. Dan