mightymadman

So its been a while since I last posted!! Between being away for work for a month, and being ill for the rest of the time, I haven't done anything to my kit for about a month and a half now Today I managed to find some time, and have started on the strapping system. I decided not to start anything larger that needs more time, as I have a few days booked off work in a week or so, I'm going to tackle some of the larger tasks then. I figured making some of the straps etc would be a good start and ease me back into creating my TK!! I got this picture from the Anovos TK building group on facebook (Referenced in the first post) I don't remember who posted it (any help guys?), but have found it quite useful! Between this, and the pictures in my first post, I think I have a pretty good idea where to put the poppers, and feel pretty confident about what I am doing. While I am not following these exactly, I am going to take some inspiration. Today I ordered a bracket set from Mr. NoStripes (http://mrnostripes.bigcartel.com/). I wanted to use the brackets to connect up the front and back sections right away, so that If I ever want to go for centurion status I can, without making massive alterations. I also like the idea of being fairly screen accurate from the start, just because I think its kind of cool!! Whilst I wait for my bracket set from Mr. Nostripes, I have started on my popper strapping that I will use elsewhere Here I have gone for a kind of popper/velcro hybrid. This is mostly because I want to use as much of the Anovos supplied velcro strapping as possible, but at the same time I would like the extra security of the poppers. I have read many threads on this forum about the pros and cons of velcro and poppers, and while it seems to me that poppers are a better choice, I figured why not use the bits that I already have, instead of spending more money on nylon webbing etc!! Using an old soldering iron I don't mind ruining, I melted a hole in the Anovos strapping, inserted popper parts, and attached them properly using a pair of snap setting pliers. Everyone seems to say that the snap setting tool and a hammer is a better option, but I don't have anywhere I can hammer things! I live in a one bed flat on the first floor, i don't even have a garden I can go to, plus british weather being what it is it has been chucking it down today!! Yes my hands hurt a little now, but I think they have come out pretty well! I also made the shoulder straps, and set the snaps in those too. I picked up some 2" wide white elastic from Ebay, cut it in to 8" strips, and have attached snaps to both ends, and one in the middle too, as shown. The middle snap is slightly offset from the centre, I followed the measurements on ukswrath's thread here. I decided to go for two snaps each end for extra security here, the last thing I want is the chest and back sections coming apart mid troop!! it might be overkill, but hey, better safe than sorry eh!! Thats pretty much it for this evening, more updates to follow. It wont be as far apart now, I have a bit more time I can devote to the project now that I'm not travelling here and there for work, so keep your eyes peeled, things should start happening a bit faster now!!

So, I've finally managed to find some time, and I have cut out quite a few pieces now!! I'm using the 'score and snap' method as recommended by quite a few others, Its worked quite well so far I think, took me a while to get used to it though, and its very slow progress!! I think thats mostly because I'm terrified of ripping the armour, so I'm going over the score lines a good 3 or 4 times before I even contemplate the snapping part. Some parts have been harder than others to snap, the slightly more complicated shapes especially, which is where the lexan scissors came in handy! Some parts are thinner than others too, most notably so far is the butt plate. That was THIN! I've seen in other threads some people saying all of the armour seems pretty thin, but I have found it alright so far, it seems pretty sturdy. Im not sure if thats just because I have no experience of other armours. So here is what I've managed so far: So I've still got the shoulder bells to cut out, and the kidney plate, but I'm getting there right? Well, thats it for now, hopefully I will have some more time soon to cut out the last few pieces, then I'm going to neaten it all up and tape some bits together, I'm dying to try it on even if it wont fit properly!!

Hi! So, after many months of waiting and researching, my Anovos kit finally arrived!! I have been excitedly waiting since September last year, but also terrified as I have never attempted anything like this before! So today I took the plunge, and started working on the main body pieces. I have done a few bits to the bucket already, but being the excited fool I was I have forgotten to take any photos of the process! I will post a pic of it in its almost complete state at the end of this... Oh yea, and here is the obligatory BBB photo everyone posts!! Useful threads So, I have been following a few threads, as I'm sure others have been too. Most notably is UKSWRATH's build thread: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/35086-ukswraths-anovos-tk-build/ And this one, which has some helpful tips from all over the place: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/35142-anovos-tk-discussion-forum/ I have also watched a few videos on YouTube, the more you learn beforehand the better right?! This one is Trooperbay's build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmcZ8J_ZECA&feature=youtu.be And this one is TK-1636 build videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeDunMes3e0wQn8_ns-ma4g Tools So, I found the supply list sticky early on, which has loads of great info on which tools to use and pretty much everything that you will need! http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31404-supply-list-for-your-tk-build/ It's incredibly detailed, with everything that the community has recommended across multiple threads, all compiled in to one! Some of the parts listed are included in the BBB from Anovos, which is a great start! Im not sure if I will use their strapping system provided yet, but its there and ready to go which is super useful! Not everything listed is as easy to acquire in the UK as it seems to be in the US, so I haven't stuck to the list 100%, but its still very useful. Some of the parts require a bit of shopping around, E6000 for example is a bit harder to get in the UK from what I've seen, but maybe I was looking in all the wrong places. The snaps they recommend I have also found quite hard to get here. The ones that are recommended are the 'Tandy Line 24 Snaps', which are apparently really easy to get hold of the in US, but I couldn't find them anywhere in the UK. I ended up ordering some from Europe via Ebay, they aren't Tandy snaps, but they seem pretty good and are the best I could afford!! Helmet So I started with the bucket, as I felt more confident doing this than trimming out the rest of the armour. In my haste I completely forgot to take any photos of the process, but here is what I did to it: Remove the hard hat liner, all the sticky velcro holding it in, visor, frown mesh and S-trim, then coat the inside with 3 layers of black plastidip Trim the excess flashing from the eyes Remove ear pieces and drill hole for EAS, then replace Build and install Velleman MK136 Super Stereo Ear Electronic Kit (Stereo amp kit for the EAS) https://www.quasarelectronics.co.uk/Item/velleman-mk136-super-stereo-ear-kit Attach mic for ROMfx Wire everything up Install helmet padding instead of hard hat liner I bought a ROMfx to use as my voice changer, I really like the idea of having one as it makes you sound like a trooper! If I look like one, I want to sound like one too, to complete the look! http://www.romfx.com/ Its an amazing piece of kit, I highly recommend it, nice and easy to use plus it sounds awesome! I still need to cut the lens in half, and attach them separately tot he eyes. I don't like how it rests on my nose at the moment, and I personally think the two separate lenses looks a lot neater inside the bucket too. Here are a few pics: Armour Whilst I wait for the last couple of bits to finish the bucket, I'm going to start on the mammoth task of trimming the armour. I want to get all the pieces trimmed and sanded first, then I will concentrate on fitting and gluing the pieces afterwards. I will be following UKSWRATH's thread for this (link at the beginning), as I think all of his pictures and little notes are incredibly helpful! I don't have a lot of faith in the pure Velcro system that Anovos has supplied for the strapping, so I need to decide on whether I want to go snaps, or the screen accurate bracket method. I'm not sure if I'm 100% confident in my abilities to use the bracket system, and think I may end up breaking some of the return edges. I think I will go for the snaps method, as I like the way it looks, and also like the way it all breaks down if I need it too. I've found this website very informative for the snaps system, it has lots of pictures too which helps! http://www.tonybarnett.plus.com/snaps.html These pictures were on the 'Anovos Stormtrooper Kit Building Group' Facebook page too (https://www.facebook.com/groups/838545079553903/) which I think are very useful: if anyone could link me to the original thread these are from, I would be very grateful. I think they're very useful pictures, and would like to read any comments etc that go with them, as well as thank 'Billhag TK-1650' for creating them! I haven't had much time to start on the armour yet, but have successfully trimmed three pieces so far. Not much in the grand scheme of things I know, but I don't want to rush anything, I'm still a beginner! There isn't really much else to write about the Armour, more photos and updates to come though!! Belt Whilst I quite like the Anovos supplied belt, it does feel a little flimsy, and the fact it can't be used for a stunt TK is quite off putting. I think I might take the plunge and get another one from somewhere else (Suggestions anyone?), rather than try to mod the one that I have. I can use the drop boxes and holster etc from this one as far as I'm aware, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it! Well, that about sums it up so far for me, there will be plenty of updates coming though! Hopefully someone will have a browse through here, and comment on my progress as it happens, because lets face it, I could use all the help I can get!! To anyone that has read my monster first post, thank you, I cant wait to get more done and share my progress!!