Trogdor

Thanks. Based on that I did another coat this evening and just dripped it on. Hopefully that will do it as I'm getting sick of sanding and I am really wanting a TK number. I also did the first coat on the other thigh and started the finishing work on the neck seal. Todo list Helmet padding Neck seal paint thighs Thigh cover strips Thigh ammo pack Paint ab side rivets Adjust strapping for fit Fix anything you guys see

To all those considering using apoxie sculpt on armor seams, DONT. It cracks and will eventually fall out of the seam. It does hold fast to the surface of armor though so you will have to sand a lot to remove it. Second thigh has been sanded clean and rebuilt glue is drying. I started test fitting the elastics for that arms and discovered I should not have moved the shoulder snap plates as I did previously. The problem wasn't that the elastic was too short but that the chest to ab elastic was too long (doing nothing). So I remade the elastics for the ab to chest and then, when the arms are snapped in, the shoulder elastic gets pulled out the sides as they are not under tension. So I moved the snap plates back, the photos below are before moving them back. Thank goodness for e6000! Any advice on ABS paste? For some reason this batch seems to for lots of tiny bubbles when drying (not during application though as I kind of paint it on). I have sanded them out as best I could and hope the paint will hide them as they feel smooth to the touch. On to the photos, all feedback will be taken constructively... Some photos: Turns out there is some truth to metal + e6000 + abs = heat This is what it looked like removing a snap plate from the back, you can see I used tape. Line at the top is pencil so I could measure how much to move the snap. It also helped put it back where is was. The results of the belt fix, please forgive the photo quality My 3rd attempt at the knee plate Shin back with velcro and the correct size cover strip, Thank you Germain. I really did use the abs paste Armor pile picture, but it shows that arm strapping Updated test fitting shots

Thank you for the tip. I had already started working on the fix when I say this though. If mine suffer a similar fate I will go to velcro. You have basically said enough, she was testing the limits of the elastic.

Interested based on price.

I have bunches of tandy snaps and nylon webbing if you need it for the strapping. Also I'm in FL let me know if I can do anything else.

I may be wrong but it appears you may not have done your "Han snap" yet. Sorry I can't post pictures from my iPad, it's the male snap on the upper right corner of the ab plate. <br><br> From CRL <br> "A single male snap on the top right corner of the ab plate is present".<br><br> Your build is coming along nicely.

Not much to update yet. Did some work on the arm strapping following Tony's recent TK build modifying it slightly with a snap on one side of each elastic for more portability.<br><br> Also I decided to take Adam's advice and drop the chest plate down some. I didn't want to remake the elastics so I popped off the snap plates and moved them to give me the extra room with out wasting materials (except e6000).<br><br> Belt is going to wait a bit after all. Seems the cause of the issue is I made the elastic too short trying to keep the top edge of the drop box in contact with the plastic belt plate. So the fix is separate the inner and out boxes drill out the rivet with the same 1/8 bit I used to drill the holes. Re-cut elastic and re-assemble.<br><br> Given my style I will probably rebuild a belt with plastic internal reinforcement but I am not putting off the hard work any more... Abs paste on the thighs up next as the glue should be dry.

Good catch I missed that but now can't unsee it. Looking at it the drop box elastics seem to be causing it between the snaps and the rivets. I'll see what I can do. Worst case I'll have to pull the rivet covers and drill out the rivets.<br><br> On another note I did get the cracked Apoxie sculpt removed and re-cut and glued the shim. Looks like abs paste will wait till next week (Tuesday) to make sure the e6000 is good and dry. Plenty of time to rework the belt.

Adam, Thank you for the tip. I'll pin the shoulder bell elastics to the shoulder bridge elastic and see what happens. I'll move the snap plate as I am not sure I want to remake the elastics until I get all the pieces together. <br><br> Your awesome eib photos and your build thread have been a huge help.

Ok so the release of battlefront has slowed the progress a bit. I will get back on it this weekend though. I have the rivets from echo in so no more excuses.<br><br> Thanks for the feedback Tony.

I am still building right now as well. If you have questions ask. As Tony and JC said there are lots of great build threads out there. I know it can be overwhelming but go slow and you'll learn as you go. Don't forget it's just plastic and it's supposed to be fun.<br><br> I know you are building ESB but remember to look at the ANH stunt builds threads too. There are some differences but it gives you more threads to look at.<br><br> Good luck and I'll help if I can

Good luck. Looks great.

Had a good idea to make the "keeper" elastic on the shoulder straps. Simple just make a correct sized loop of elastic (overlapping the shoulder elastic) and sew on to the strap joining the 2 ends. I also had my wife mark the shoulder bell elastics so I can sew on the snaps. So I asked her to grab a couple of photos with the belt on for good measure. Front Right Arm up Back Left Arm up What do you think? Remember I am building for the higher levels so better to get the issues worked out early. I did notice I need to fix the velcro on the belt so the end is more secured, however my wife pointed out the thermal detonator will do that too. Thats how you know the process has gone on to long when your wife is giving armor advice...

I'm still building and not approved but that's what I did. My only change was to use a dritz backer as my line 24s have too long a post and had a tendency to bend.

I haven't had any luck posting from my iPad either. You get the awesome line break strings "<br>" and it messes up the html embedding when I paste from photo bucket. No problem when on my computers though pc or mac: IE, chrome and safari work fine. iPad or iPhone = broke.

Belt rivet covers on still have to sew the Velcro. Gluing cover strips. This has to be my least favorite part. Only a couple more to go. Interior strapping on the body is done. Not pretty but it seems to work. I didn't upload the pictures of the thighs torn apart and Apoxie sculpt sanded off. It's amazing how it sticks not on the seam and when you decide your taking it off. Dusty mess sanding.. Getting closer I'll start a checklist after the blasted thighs are back together. Why is is the posts from the iPad get all jacked up?

I followed toybiz's example. Look to see if you damaged the springs that normally grab the male snap. May have been damaged in assembly?

Sorry for the lack of updates. Some to come this weekend. I made some good progress on the belt and some sort of progress on the knee plate. I will have to redo the thighs as the apoxie sculpt doesn't behave as I expected. Thanks again to those following, commenting and sharing info.

I am doing the same thing on the thighs. Wish I just went with abs paste to begin with. The one seam cracked while I was sanding. Also while feathering the edges it seems to crack off when it gets too thin. Misery loves company... Congrats on the photo submition! I'll be another couple weeks behind you.

I avoided trimming the face plate (top, bottom, sides) until I made sure what the placement was on the cap&back. Seemed to be higher risk on the side of the face plate vs the forehead/brow. I also did the testing with the brow trim in place, I think that's how I saw it on the helmet assembly videos from tk4510.<br> I'm no expert, I'm still building myself, but looks decent so far though a little rounded right side (of picture) teeth.

Tony, you do everything: build, electronics, and deployment officer. now I know you also stockpile of rivets.

Thanks Tony! No luck locally. I ordered from echo.

Congrats! Hope to join you soon.

Thigh shims are glued in and drying. I realized I don't have attachment rivets for thigh ammo pack, is there any locally sourcable options? I have already checked Home Depot and lowes part bins, no joy.<br><br> I am sanding and deburing the coverstrips. Given the number of magnets I have it will take awhile... Is blue painters tape enough to hold them while drying? I already have inner cover strips so the joining and straightening is done. I just have to get them on flat.

True! I cut the 20mm strips last night. I'm traveling so the progress will stop for a bit. im excited to finish up.