djmatrix09

My helmet fans came in from Henry's Helmet Fans. I ran to Lowe's to get some plastic electrical conduit and some velcro tabs. Totally awesome rig, I can't wait to install it. Tricky part is, I have a GIANT noggin so I need to figure out where they go without slicing off the tip of my nose each time I put my bucket on. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Cleaned up the ears, and now I'm working the thermal detonator. After trimming the control panel and caps, I noticed I received two different sized caps. Walt had recently redesigned his caps to fit the pipe better, and this kit happened to have one of each, smaller and larger. In the pic you can see the little guy nested into the larger one. Sent him a PM, WTF is pretty awesome about their communications, he sent me a sent of hovi screens asap when they weren't included. Not worried. It'll give me a chance to breathe, take a break and get to my honey-do list.

Okay, so I was chatting with my CO about the ear gaps and he recommended I speak with our GML regarding the ear gaps. Jason was super informative, and I've decided to try trimming the round ear caps to suck up the gap a little more. We also talked about the eyes and the return flange. Now some photos have extra material, and some don't. It may be a matter of more peripheral vision if I disassemble and fox, but I've got a pass if I don't. Thanks again to the Carolina Jasons! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Ok, going to start in on the TD. As you can see, I have a couple of options. On the left, are Walt's pulls. On the right are from a TD kit another member was selling (I bought it for the clips). Walt's since upgraded his TD caps, so these ones might fit a bit snug. I'll have to sand the tube a bit to get them on. I read in another build thread to drill a hole under the plate, to relieve internal pressure during assembly. So once I've got things trimmed up I'll locate the plate and drill the hole. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Could you try uploading a couple of pictures of your helmet build again? Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

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Whoohoo! Such a sense of accomplishment, getting this bucket finished. I'll probably take a quick break, and regroup with my local Garrison at an armor party, before I even touch the armor pieces. Thanks for watching, I'll be back soon. And thanks so much for the encouragement along the way... you guys rock! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

That's me! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Gah! I wish I had done that. I'm going to clean up the lines with more grey tomorrow. All in all, I'm really happy with how the paint went on. I'm having to remember back to my younger years painting models, and how this paint flows, how to hold the brush, etc. The vocoder came out great, and I'm happy with the lines for the most part. At one point, my nerves got the best of me and I dropped the brush. Devastating to the front right trap. But I'll recover tomorrow. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Got a little crafty with it! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I admit the right ear is a bit thick. The way it came together it needs a little more material there. My first attempt trimmed too much away, so I erred on the side of too much, rather than too little. Thanks for the tips! Hey, do you happen to have a picture of the rear trap details? Thanks for watching! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Now, I'd like to say that's a lot of masking. However, after my wife and I painted BB-8, that's really pegged my maximum tolerance for taping a prop piece! What you see here is two coats each of gloss white on the hovi tips, and fasteners, plus all of the gloss grey. I was lucky enough to find all the Testors versions of the paint recommended in the "new recruits" section of FISD. Does anyone have tips for painting the black lines around the details, and the vertical lines inside them? Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

It's such a relief to finally have this bad boy assembled. I trimmed more around the ears, drilled up through the precarious Y at the bottom of the ears, and got the S-Trim trimmed out. Working on the lenses now, my plan is to use three tnuts and epoxy putty to mount them. More later this afternoon! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Matt just posted a Kyberlight mod on FB. Check "The Blockade Runner Supply". Incredible! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I hate the left ear. I hate the right ear. This was very difficult, I must say! But having trimmed, cut, sanded, repeat I finally got the left ear on! Very happy with it. It's true, they sit differently, and are NOT symmetrical. But it turned out great. I'll get the right ear mounted tomorrow. It sits more vertically than the left, and there's a bit more material there. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Finally got the ears trimmed out. Gave my pound of flesh, with my first cut. To the chagrin of my wife, I wasn't wearing my cut proof gloves. Lesson learned. I gave up trying to make them symmetrical, after watching some videos and reading some other build logs; so... I focused on sucking up the gaps. Hey, they weren't perfect in the movies, we're they? Pictures once I've got the holes drilled, and assembled. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Okay, assembled the mask to the cap & back. Now I'm working the ears. Thankfully, Walt provided two pairs. This is really testing my patience! All the build videos make it look so easy. Yeesh... Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Rough trim on the ears. I just got my rivet gun from Home Depot, and I'll finish these up once the Rivets are in, and the bucket is assembled. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Progress for tonight was getting the cap trimmed in the front, and installing the black trim. I will say, that corner near the trap is pretty crazy. A YouTube assembly video suggested a hole punch to relieve the stress at the corner, so I picked up one at the grocery store for $2. Worked like a charm! The rare earth magnets shown are pretty weak, so I'll use some clamps in the eye holes to hold it in position before I drill the holes for the Rivets. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Thanks! Yeah, I'm aiming for the Centurion requirements in the CRL. I've got all the parts to make it happen. The biggest hurdle will be the blaster spec. A while back I did a Rubies mod (see pic in OP), though I doubt that will fly. In time, I might spring for a level 3 blaster. But yeah, the helmet and armor I'm going for Centurion early on so I don't have to rework it. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

With some encouragement from our Garrison's CO, silverBoyd, I was able to muster the courage to Dremel the backside of the frown. Used my needle file set to clean up the holes. Next, I've got to read up on how to align the cap and back in order to trim the flash. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Okay, build day 1... I've been watching numerous bucket build videos, and started by lining out my cut and trim lines. As you can see, I cut out the eyes this evening. I'll admit, I was a bit timid cutting into this pristine material, but it turned out pretty good (left some material for finishing): Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Curious which binoculars you cannabalised. Also, where can I print that reticle from? Do you have the file? Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Curious what you're going to use for the reticle. I was looking at my build, and thinking that would be a cool little detail to add. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Wow, looking good. I remember that top track on the blaster being a pain because it's on the seam. Also the depth of the material is really thin. I had to fill with gap filler, and seal. Total pain. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk