HSM76

Got to put working on the torso aside because of several reasons, one of those was utter frustration. So I started working on the legs yesterday, cut the left leg parts, removed parts of the return edges and started gluing the right applied an inner cover strip on the front. I used left over cuts from the legs for that. Unfortunately I had not enough magnets, so I had to stop at these two parts.

I got to reworking the kidney today, I marked the point where the new return edge should start with tape, the pencil mark was a guideline for the cut, but I left a bit more to bend and cut a little further from the tape. I used a heat iron for rebuilding the first return edge. To hold against I used a steel strait edge clamped to the work surface and, to even out bumps in some places I used the head of a hammer. I think the result is rather okay looking after just heat bending the abs. As a last step today I closed the gaps at the corners with abs paste. IT will be a bit of work to get the edge and corners clean, but the next steps will be rebuilding the other side of the kidney and balancing out the sides of the but plate so it will be level with the notches in the kidney plate.

I hope that I get to resizing the kidney plate tomorrow. This will get interesting. They cutting is not the challenge, but I plan to add a slight return edge back at the sides and the notches. I am a little bit terrified right now...

You mean like this?

I have bent in the butt, kidney and ab plate a lille an did a first fit of the torso in total. Some of the return edges definitely need to be trimmed. The Fotos show that the overlap of the kidney is up to the notch, so over 20mm on each side. I still have enough room in it. So this indeed has to go. The sides of the ab plate seem to be okay as they are. The alignment of the plates is a bit of, the tape shifted a bit while it was applied. But I think it looks quite okay for a painters tape fit. I think the lower corners of the chest need to be bent in a little.

Since I didn't get to building in the last few days here some pics of my E11. When I finally get the BlastFX kit, it will be upgraded with sound and light and I will use the big Eagle Hengstler 400 for that, which already gut gutted. The basis is a real Sterling casing, real M38 and real Hengstler. The cylinders are made by PlayfulWolfCub.

Here are some pics of the right leg thigh and calf. The thigh needs some heat treatment, as it is it is snug on the sides but some room in the front or back depending on how I pull it. To have it comfortable it needs a more rounded shape instead of the oblong it has now. Front: Back: Top front looking in: (In other notes, yes I am trying to start a new style with paisley under garment for Stormtroopers)

Did some test fitting with the right thigh this evening, it seems there needs to be some cutting to do. From this test they thighs will not be as conical as the original ones, but if I keep the conical shape I think they will either get in the way between the legs, or stand out to much on the sides.

Okay, a little time and a little excursion: Duct Tape Dummie :-) A little might be an understatement, more work than I thought. But I think it will help a great deal with fitting.

I'm a bit on a hiatus right now building wise. The arms are fully glued and the E6000 residue is removed. Did a bit of work on the right thigh to get an estimate of how much to remove to get a good fit.

I think more of: cut in little strips, measure in between and check fit more often.

That's the plan, a little a a time, don't want to cut to much. I don't want any problems with missing material. I just wanted a first estimate at how much space is on both sides.

Still reviewing the threads concerning sizing down the waistline (Diana's & Chricket's build threads) A first rough estimate of how much has to go can be seen in this pencil mark: A bit of that can come of the abdomen plate, but I think the whole part containing the notch has to go. So I will need to redo the notch and cut the but plate a bit to get it to align with the notch. But the current work is coming along nicely, I think. The left forearm is done too: The shoulder bells are cut to specs given by RS: and the E6000 in the right arm is setting: Maybe I did go a bit overboard with the clamps? But I thought, the more, the merrier, the magnets might feel alone.

Added the cover strips to the left upper arm. For cleaning the E6000 a tongue depressor cut to a point has been a nice tool. I had to redo the left forearm because apparently I did not use enough glue. The right arm is cut and waiting for the clamps and magnets to be freed from the left forearm. Left bicep: In spite of what I wrote earlier, I started to look into fitting the torso and my fears were confirmed. At 185cm height and 75kg I have a waist of 78cm. So the abdomen, kidney and butt plates will need some severe reshaping. Right now it would look as if I am wearing a barrel around my waist.

I redid the tubes stripes on the helmet: Right now I am still working on the arms, left upper arm is glued, both cover strips are on: Had to fight a bit with the E6000, let's see how it came out. Only time will tell. Lower arm has the first cover strip, in the front glued, but I ran out of magnets.... I cut the parts for the right arm, in the main areas. There should not be to much work until I can glue those parts, but first the magnets have to be freed.

Next step: Arms I have decided to work my way from the outside go the inside. For now I started with the left arm. While rough fitting the peaces I noticed, I have to widen the shoulder bell(s) as it is, the left bell will not fit over the upper arm pieces. Here some pictures after cutting the left forearm:

Hi Marc, Yes you are right I got one of your DVS Systems, will install them in the Helmet in the next few days.

That was indeed my ultimate goal :-) New tube stripe stencils ordered. This time more accurate ones.

And on it goes, here some pics of the assembled bucket:

Damn it.... Here are pictures of the sides of the faceplate

Hi all, in late June I started my Stunt build of the RS armour, I am not that far until now. I have cut a few pieces and decided to really start with the Bucket. Here I am rather far. those picks are a few days old, the helmet is assembled, but I have no current picks. Will post them this evening or tomorrow.