LoveMonkey

Congrats! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's hard to see on the thighs until I can see what the look like on you. They might be fine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm working a weekend shift right now, so I never get to work on it over the weekend. I think I have about 2 weeks left. I need to finish the weathering with a garrison member (my GML wants him to help me with the small details), finish the strapping system, and the belt. I also had to order new green lenses from Trooperbay because I cut mine wrong. It's so close to being done I can hardly stand it.

So while at Comic Con I worked with fellow garrison members on my internal strapping system and weathering. Neither is completely done but progress was made. After Comic Con, I went back with a damp rag and worked off a lot of the paint we put on, attempting to recreate that classic Sandtrooper look. I think it looks great. My GML is going to have me work with another member to get the final touches done. Here’s to being done in the next few weeks for Halloween! Does anyone have any suggestions to keep the paint from rubbing off? I noticed that there were streaks in the paint where the armor rubbed against each other while being transported in my bin and I don't want it to come off after a few months after all of this hard work.

I agree with Terry's verdict. You need to pick one and go for it due to the minor differences in the ab section, helmet paint details, sniper plate, etc. It also matters when you buy the other accessories as a TK needs a holster where a TD doesn't and a TD needs a pauldron and pouchs and a TK doesn't. I'm on my first build and went straight to a TD because I love the look. The differences between the two are small but important during the construction phase. Most of the work will end up being the same.

Ok, so here is my verdict on whether this is a good buy or not ---- it depends. Here is this picture. -------- The snap on the right (black) is a stecksstore. The silver one on the left is a Dritz snap you can find at Joanns or Walmart. You'll notice the stecksstore snap post is much longer. When you place the snap in small material, such as nylon webbing, you get this. ---------- The post does not bend down far enough to allow the female part of the snap to connect because the post is sitting flush with the lip. This does not happen with the Dritz snap because of the shorter post. I think the stecksstore snaps are a great deal - if you have a thick material you are placing them in so the post sits correctly inside the snap base. I ended up having to buy Dritz snaps because it would not sit right in the small, thin webbing and because I don't have the tools to shorten the post. If you can shorten the post, these will work. Hopefully this explanation helps.

Looking good so far! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Salt Lake Comic Con was this weekend. Part of the 501st booth was an armor station where people could watch armor being built and then ask questions. My armor was featured at this station. I would love to say I'm ready for approval but as per the norm, I encountered several more setbacks in the strapping system and weathering. Needless to say I'm hoping to be ready in time for Halloween so I don't let my kids down. I was able to finally attached the left ear. I removed on screw at a time and redrilled a new hole, which was fairly close to the original factory setting. It seems to sit pretty flush, which you can see below. Here is the big question I have. When I went to attached the bottom seal, I noticed that the ears are off at an angle. When I put the bucket on, it goes on snug. It was suggested that I left the side of the bucket so it sits flush with the ear and gives me more room to put on. I'm not sure if I should trim just on the sides with the ear or if I should go all the way around. I also don't know how much I should trim. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The kit comes with fairly good decals. I used them on my bucket Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm just about to finish my AM build and it is going to fit amazingly! BTW, I'm 6'4" and 220 lbs Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tony, what do you think about that left ear? Any suggestions to make the screws sit flush? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So, I made progress since my last update in three areas: strapping system, bucket, and weathering. The strapping system is pretty straight forward. I made new snap plates and installed them now that I purchased the correct size snaps. They are gluing and since I already post pictures of that, no need to repeat. Second, the bucket. After trying to mount the left ear starting at the bottom and it not working at all, I decided to start with the top two screws. I was able to make the top two screws fit for the most part and it seemed pretty flush. I then pushed the bottom down and held it in place while my wife screwed in the base screw at the bottom. Here is what it looks like from a side profile: What I’m concerned about is that after pushing the ear flush and holding it for my wife to place the final screw, the top screws are now at an angle, which you can see in the pictures below. They stick out from the ear enough that I notice it when compared with the right ear. They are also at an angle inside the bucket. The general public might not notice but I do and it bothers me. The only thought I’ve had so far to remedy this would be to remove one of the top screws, drill the hole a little bit bigger, replace the screw, and then repeat with the other top screw. By making the holes a little bigger might help them sit flush. And when I say bigger, I might just go back in with a ⅛” drill bit and go through all the holes at the same time, thus helping them all line up correctly. However, before I do anything and before I attached the nuts on the inside of the bucket I thought I would ask for your advice. Also, I worked some more on the weathering. I used mineral spirits to strip some of the burnt umber away and then added some lighter brown, yellow, tan, and gray. I know that you can still see some of the brush strokes in these pictures. I did not have as much time as I wanted to work on weathering today after trying the fix the bucket but I wanted to play around with the new colors I had purchased and see what effect I could get. This is the result. Was mostly just trying to get the basic color scheme to be more accurate to what I need it to be. Anyways, there you have it. More progress. Since I did not meet my Comic Con deadline, my new deadline is the end of the month, 09/30/2015. To Be Completed: 1. Finish Helmet Assembly ---Faceplate Assembly ---Inner Padding ---Seals, Green Lenses, etc. 2. Thighs ---Attach ammo boxes 3. Minor trimming on chest and back attachment 4. Canvas belt and ammo belt attachment 5. Internal Strapping System 6. Weathering

So here is what the left ear looks like with no screws and touching the black trim at the brow. I'm not sure how to fix this. It seems like the ear has too much curve in it to sit right. The right ear doesn't have this problem at all. Any suggestions? Only thing I've come up with his to use a heat gun to take some of the curve out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AM will fit you height-wise, I'm 6'4" and 220 lbs and AM fits me well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Should be the right size. I'm 6'4" and 220 and it fits me great. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not that. After putting in the screw at the base, I went to put in the screws on the ears. The factory divets don't line up and the screws go in at a bad angle. It's as if the left ear needs to be taller, because after the base screw is in, the ear isn't tall enough to reach the brow trim. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How do you recommend I secure it if I'm not using the pre-designated holes? And I know I've got to fix some paint, just want to get it secure so if I chip it in the process I won't have to do it twice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I need some serious help. I tried putting the bucket together and I'm struggling to get the left ear screw holes to line up. I've been pushing and squeezing really hard and the E6000 is starting to wear out on that side above the ear, with no luck. I think it is a problem from the manufacturer. Any solutions to this problem would be much appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Should I let the area soak for a few minutes first to soften the paint or just go for it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quick question - I got the mineral spirits to clean up the Testors paint on the faceplate. I attempted the traps myself but they turned out horribly. The mineral spirits isn't doing anything to take off the paint. Do I need something special for Testors paint? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't have a grinder or a Dremel. I think the easiest way to do this will to be buy new Dritz snaps and just make new plates. Heading to the store soon.

Well, like in a game of poker, you have to know when to fold. I think it is time to fold in reaching my goal of being approved this week for Comic Con, which is next week. There is just too much to do and I don’t have the time to do it in. I also had quite a few setbacks since my last time working on Saturday. After some discussion with my GML, I need to lighten and reduce my weathering. I’m not sure if I can use what I have or if I should just remove all the paint and start over. When I get a chance to go back to Michael’s and get some more paint colors I’ll be able to try and see if I can use what I have so far. So there’s a good couple of hours that I spent on weathering that I need to redo. Then, today, I had a garrison member come and try and help me finish the strapping system. We found out that the snaps I ordered online are not right. What I mean is that the post is too long and when you try and flatten it, it is too big and overlaps at the wrong point, not allowing the snap to fully close between the male and female parts. You can see in the picture below in the webbing where the post is right up against the lip of the snap after being bent using snap pliers, and does not allow it to close properly. You can also see the comparison of the black snap I bought and the extra Dritz snap that he had available and the difference in the post size. Be careful ordering from stecksstore, not because they are bad quality, but they may not be the right snap for the nylon webbing material I am using but might be a better fit for a thick piece of leather. I had to remove all the snap plates that I had already installed, thus setting me back a few more hours and I now need to go buy a completely new set of snaps and new webbing as I used all of it to make the snap plates. Due to some issues at home, I was not able to make it to the store in time tonight to buy replacement supplies. I had taken the night off from work to get more work done and now I can’t do anything to make progress tonight. Needless to say I’m quite discouraged tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

Less than a week to go for my Salt Lake Comic Con deadline. After some frustrations with the helmet (which I don’t want to talk about ), I decided to tackle the weathering today. Not all of it is done, but I was able to knock out the forearms, biceps, shoulder bells, and shins. I used pandatrooper’s method, but instead of the two layers, I did just the burnt umber dirt layer. I really like how it turned out and this is some of the most fun I’ve had with this build. Maybe it’s because the end is in sight, but I just love the way it looks. I also started gluing the inside snap plates for my inner strapping system. I plan on rotating the magnets I do have over the weekend so that after I’m off work on Monday night, I will have most of that gluing done. Here is what is left to do: 1. Finish Helmet Assembly ---Faceplate Assembly ---Decals ---Inner Padding ---Seals, Green Lenses, etc. 2. Thighs ---Attach ammo boxes 3. Minor trimming on chest and back attachment 4. Canvas belt and ammo belt attachment 5. Internal Strapping System 6. Weathering ---Thighs ---Chest ---Abs ---Kidney ---Butt ---Back ---Helmet Looking at the list, I feel like I can hit my deadline of this Thursday. Assuming there are no major headaches or problems. Now back to work...

That's what I was thinking, just couldn't make complete sense of the information online. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My wife bought some gum turpentine today to fix my paint mistakes. I've been researching but can't get an answer if it will hurt the plastic. Anyone know? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk