Sentry71

Great work on minimizing gaps on the ears. Can't wait to see how you do on the Hero.

Jorge, that is one suit to be VERY proud of. You look awesome in it, and I'm glad to see it come together so well.

The second set of pics works well. That gap is barely there. I think you are ready to move on.

I am assuming this is the butt plate you have a photo of? I can't really tell. There are a few ways to flatten the wrinkles, though you may find that once everything is together, no one will know they are there except you. If you plan to flatten them, you can either do a hot water bath, and press them flat with a piece of wood or other flat object - or you can try a hobby iron with a cloth cover, and keep it moving. Another option is a heat gun - but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AGAINST IT - as the heat gun can overheat and warp your suit beyond repair in the blink of an eye. So, don't use that unless you have experience.

You have the list of "required" no return areas already. Some also do no return at the bottom of the biceps and shoulder bells, others do. Your best bet is to check out any screen references you can find (there's a nice gallery on this site) to see what you want to do.

Congrats, Kalani. Onward!!

I get an error when trying to view the links. Anyone else have that issue?

Helmet looks awesome so far!

Yep, try for 2 or 3 inch wide. Removing the top of the thigh back will help with bending, though if you are trying to sit, you will also need to take off a little at the top front of the thigh, most likely. Consider also taking a bit out of the back of the knee, if needed, to add mobility for things like stairs.

I went ahead and applied for EIB immediately, since the armor was built to that standard before my first troop. I am waiting, like you, to get to Centurion eventually. For now, the journey is more about trooping and enjoying the results of the hard work that was put into it

I'm late to the party... my cycle apparently needed gas. Awesome news about the weight drop - and having to go back to the original notch! All your hard work and ingenuity removed for the sake of Centurion. That is so cool to see, though. Keep up the awesome work!

According to that image, the answer is yes. You better post pics of that sniper knee, or poor ComradeDave is gonna pass out from anticipation.

You need to be happy with your helmet... if that means decals, go for it. Personally, I did just that - hand painted everything except the tube stripes, and used the decals instead.

Awesome!

I used wood screws on mine, and it worked just fine. Make sure your pilot hole is small enough for the threads to grip, but let the shaft through.

Definitely keep an eye out for RS threads in this forum. I'm sure other RS users have had to address similar issues, so they would be a good source for how to deal with RS-specific wonkiness.

You will do a great job. Just like Mark said, use lots of reference photos. There are several threads in this forum that will keep you on target. If there is ever a question, post it here (with pics if possible) and we will make sure you get an answer.

Looks good!! Will you be able to put the same size cover strip on both the bicep and the forearm? The forearm strip area seems a little wide compared to the bicep cover strip - but that could be due to the photo angle. Overall, it looks like the armor fits you very well. Keep it up.

Just the smaller one. The larger one looks good as is.

The only recommendation from these pics, is the smaller button plate. You may want to look into trimming that down a bit more, as it shouldn't overhang the small indentation is sits on top of. A small accuracy thing that may or may not get pointed out later. Keep it up!

Looks like you have all the right tools, and then some. The usually recommended order is to start with forearms and biceps, so that you get a feel for how the ABS reacts as you cut. I would recommend not doing any torso work until a little later. This is your build, however, and if you want to jump into the torso, just be sure to measure and recheck before cutting. Much easier to remove more, than to add it back on. Your work on the Thermal Det looks great!

The first cut is always the most nerve wracking. Your thoughts on fit and trim are spot on. You want things loose enough that flexing isn't difficult. 1/2" of space is a great overall target to shoot for. Loose forearms can be addressed with foam inserts, if really needed. Personally, I remove all the bottom return from my biceps. You may want to leave a little - that is your call. (LOL - just saw your signature quote. Love it. )

Congrats, Josh! Great to see another one complete.

Belt looks awesome! Pyrates already pointed out the cap issue, but your alignment looks spot on. Keep it up!

Can be flush, but not necessary. In this case, close is good enough.