Ruthar

Revisited the boot weathering before heading to bed. I think it's definitely starting to get where I want it - finally wrapping my head around the highs vs. lows thing. What do you guys think?

Took a break from the weathering tonight to work on the internal torso strapping as more snaps arrived today. Just waiting on more glue before doing a test fitting with everything in place. I'll have to put some gaff tape over the backs of the rivets just so they don't mistakenly tear my under suit.

Ok, did a bit of editing with this in mind this afternoon. Put the boot on and removed the 'dirt' where the bending happens most and went heavier along the bottom edges, especially back toward the heel where I feel like most of the weight would be pushed down into the sand/dirt when standing on patrol. Here's what we got.

Well you can always pull the brow trim itself down a little bit to close that gap a touch if you like. My AM 2.0 brow turned out quite low, but I didn't trim anything to get it that way. Must have been how the parts of the back are glued together. Still, I think yours looks great!

Looking great! The bucket came out quite well - I had a hell of a time getting the ears on with my AM 2.0 set, but you look like you had not problems at all.

Here is a better shot of the pair. Trying to go for the 'not too heavy' look in accordance to the scenes in ANH.

Here's a few more things from the evening. I put in pilot holes in the left side of the ab and kidney plate to get ready to install the rivets. I also made the elastic straps and cut out small ABS washers to keep the rivets from scratching the armor. I also took a first crack at weathering. After testing on some scrap ABS I decided to dive into the boots. Here is the first pass. Is it too splotchy do you think? I'm trying to go for a randomness that still flows with the scenes in the film so any and all advice on the matter would be most accepted, especially before I start diving into the full suit. I'm using Pandatrooper's method with acrylic paint and scrubbing and it's super easy to adjust and change along the way which I'm loving, but do let me know what you all think!

Spent some time with some fire this evening to get the bicep hooks crafted. I think I will leave the char just to add a little something to the dirty TD look. You won't even see it but I'll know it's there and that's what's important. Followed this nice little guide on FISD to get it done. All the cover strips for the thighs and shins are gluing now. Just need to get the cover strip and velcro on the rear of the shins and then the leg pieces are ready for strapping. I think I'm going to try weathering the helmet tonight before bed just to see what that process is like. I have plenty of scrap ABS to try it out on first though, so I'll definitely be doing that. More to come in that regard soon!

I have indeed been using the nylon for the snap connections though I haven't been using a soldering tool, just a lighter to singe the ends to prevent fraying. It seems that another trip to Home Depot may be in order. Oh I will definitely have a look into this - the only option I've found so far is tan and I would rather not have to dye it if possible. Painting and dying the boots were enough! I very well may be, though I know you need to build a pack for Police Officer status first which I'm not too keen on doing just yet. Seems a little odd as a requirement considering the trooper I'm replicated doesn't have one, but rules are rules and I'm not one to argue. Perhaps once I'm finished I can think about getting a pack together!

I think they're awesome (though I'm a sucker for a DLT-19). Especially love the shin guards. Curious why we need to protect armor with more armor, but they're cool nonetheless!

This picture just above looks so lonely. Perhaps the game should come out faster so we can liven up his career!

I am indeed building a sandy, specifically the Roadblock Captain "version 2" as identified in this thread over on MEPD. Just need to find a pouch still and then I think I have all the pieces or at least they are all on the way!

Thanks! Certainly means a lot coming from someone with 2 Centurion badges and a SWAT badge! Here's a little more from today so far. Firstly, got my Hyperfirm DLT-19 in the mail. Certainly excited - it looks stunning! After picking up another couple bottles of the trusted E6000, I glued the front of the inside of the shins together. Tomorrow I will cover strip all the leg pieces. I did a test fitting of the upper body parts together before I start to work on the internal strapping (still waiting on the tandy snaps to come in, though). I may have to trim the shoulder bells a bit, but the elastic strap around the biceps may keep them in place better. I will have to see once I get that all in place for certain and with the body suit on instead of a looser fitting shirt.

A bit more progress tonight with various things! Got the thighs fitted and trimmed, waiting for the inside shims to dry: Hit what feels like a milestone after that - finished up my first bottle: The shins are trimmed and ready for gluing but seeing that I'm out that will have to wait until tomorrow: And I started on a little bit of the interior strapping, but it's time for a break now.

Got a little bit more done before the end of the day. Took off the clamps and magnets from the arm pieces - now they are finished with the cover strips and are ready for getting sandy. And some nylon snap plates are currently drying as I wait for the rest of my snaps to come through the mail: Tomorrow I will fit and trim the leg pieces (or at least start it) and continue onward! It's been relatively piecemeal as I work on other things while other pieces dry, but it's all starting to come together slowly but surely.

Had a business trip last Wednesday through Sunday so I had to pry myself away from the build. Fortunately, I was able to get a few things done this afternoon pertaining to the chest and back. Got it fitted and strapped together so I can install straps for the arms and finish the chest up. Next up this evening is trimming the cod piece and test fitting the kidney and butt plates. Some pics! Chest and back fitting: And the internal strapping for the top: For now the nylon snap plates are only held on via painter's tape, but I'll get gluing that in tonight. All my clamps are currently being used as I wait for the cover strips on the forearms and biceps to dry (should be done in a few more hours).

Spent a little more time with the dremel today but now the wait begins. Forearms and biceps are glued, clamped, and magnet(ed) and I added the black mesh behind the teeth while I continue to wait for the glue to finish up. Used the extra ABS pieces from the trimming as interior pieces to hold everything together - once all that is settled I will add the cover strips cut from the extra sheets of ABS Trooper Gear sent with the kit.

I did manage to pick up a dremel and use that for trimming and sanding. It's a little unruly for sanding if you ask me - hard to get straight lines with the round tips, but the cutting is super easy to manage. I used a rather coarse attachment so I will try out a few different grits before going back to hand sanding. Either way, made some progress and am ready for cover strips and glue.

Yeah, the dremel is definitely on the list of things to purchase! Speaking of purchases, which snaps do you all recommend? I've seen the name Tandy thrown around, but just wanted to be sure to get good quality stuff before placing an order.

I went with the AM 2.0 gear from Trooper Gear. Very helpful via email, very reasonable price, and the armor has been rather easy to work with. Just my $0.02 - I contacted a handful of folks on this marvelous list, and I'm sure none of them will disappoint!

Decided to dive in to some return edge removal today. It was definitely very intimidating, but after taking the first bit off it was quite rewarding. Did some sizing of the forearms as well, so I should get to trimming those tomorrow at some point. Still waiting on the earth magnets to arrive, but I hope to be ready for gluing of the arm pieces by the time they get here.

Is this a bit bitter or still more? Managed to get the rest of the helmet painting done tonight as well as install the trim and the aerators. Here are some shots: And of course a very necessary bucket selfie:

Donation happily sent! (ID 44Y35233KW5291904)

Got a few hours to start diving in today, so I figured I would start with what I think is the most iconic part - the bucket! Ran into a few snags, but thanks to a whole lot of research, pictures, build threads, and how-to's I think it's coming along nicely. Still need to get some paint for the gray ears and the black vocoder - are there any alternatives to Humbrol or Testors? It doesn't seem my local craft stores carry either of those. Anyways, here are some shots! Inside I've just taped the lens material for now - I don't want to put those down with permanence until I'm ready to finalize everything. I very nearly gave up with the hard hat assembly, but after taking a breather managed to figure out how to get those in so now I'm waiting for those to dry before continuing onward. It really is a great feeling when things start to come together, especially after having to step away a few times in frustration. Patience certainly pays off here! Comments and/or suggestions are certainly always appreciated!

The Big Brown Box has arrived today! Now it's time to do a full inventory just to be sure I have everything I need and then gather up the tools. Here we go!