CoolHandLAZ

So I'm back to working on the shins/calves. I glued the cover strip (half) onto the back piece. The issue I'm having is that when I line up the bottom by the feet, the top part is misaligned, and vice-versa. After looking at the CRL and other photos, I've seen it different ways. Which side should I be lining up? Should I trim the bottom and line up the top? The top after the bottom is aligned The bottom after the top is aligned (excuse the mess lol) Thanks!

Cool thanks for the pictures. Yeah I've been using Joseph's return edge thread but I didn't see a post specifically about the ab piece so I figured I'd ask just to be sure.

Hi all, Back at it. I'll have an update with the shin progress later but while that stuff dries, I was going to start getting things together to work on the abs/cod. My question is...should any return edges be removed for this? I'm assuming not since most of the threads I've seen keep the edge, but I figured I'd ask. Thanks!

Right on. I'll give that a go!

Ohhhhh okay gotcha that makes sense. I don't have an extra plastic piece there yet (just the cover strip) but I'll go ahead and give that a shot next time I get the chance to work on armor. Thanks!

Okay awesome this definitely helps! Another question, when you mentioned that you used an extra piece of plastic for support, where exactly did you put it? I might just be missing something. Thanks!

Took longer than I expected to get back to you but here we are! Thanks again for your help!

Copy that! I'll post them later today when I get a chance. Thanks!

This is a good idea I'll have to look into it! You're talking about photos of mine correct?

So I got around to the sniper knee today and encountered a problem that hopefully y'all could give me advice with. I tried clamping the center of the sniper knee to the front of the shin, but when I got that to sit perfectly flush, the sides stuck way out. When I tried to conform them, I felt like I would break them if I kept bending. The second attempt I tried clamping the edges first, but when I did that, the center stuck way out. (This photo is when I had the center clamped) What would be the proper course of action to have both the center of the sniper knee as well as the corners, sit flush against the top of the shin? Thanks!

Moving right along I finally completed the sizing on the shins/calves and got all the pieces to align. Then I went ahead and glued the inner cover strip on both the left and right legs (front), and taped and magnet-ed it like crazy. Also (I forgot to mention this in my previous update), the numbering on the Anovos shins/calves was different then what the instruction manual said, so I went ahead and looked at source photos, plus photos of approved 501st TK's to make sure I had the correct set up. Big thumbs up to Tony for mentioning that in his build thread. After a day of drying, I went ahead and attached the outer strip for each leg. Next came the assembly of the hook straps that I will be using to close the back side/calves after the front side dries. Following the guide from @ukswrath , bra hooks were sewn onto pieces of elastic which were folded over on the ends to create extra support. I made six. Three for each leg. Coming up next will be attaching the sniper knee to the left shin, then attaching the "false" cover strip on the back of both legs, followed by assembling the hook system to close up the calves. Slowly but surely, it's coming together!

Okay cool that makes sense thanks! I also realized that I needed to trim off a tad more return edge off the "knee" part of the shin pieces. Actually I would say that it's more from the original cut line than the actual return edge. Hopefully that will help more with the fitting.

It's been a few weeks but I'm finally back at it! Started working on the shins. Removed the remaining return edges from the ankle areas. After that I began sizing the left shin and got it to where I like it. I have a question concerning the alignment. When I put the two halves together, I made sure the ankle part was perfectly lined up. But then the top of the shins (on the front and back) were both uneven. I know that the sniper knee will cover the front part but I still would like it to be lined up (front and back). What would be the desired method of making this happen? Should I trim off the top? Thanks!

Right on. We're in tough times. I use forum searching and researching to keep me feeling like I'm making progress until I can work on it again! Thank you for writing that up! Your thread plus @kman's thread both were very informative and got me to my decision. I'm so excited to get the blaster! It looks so great!

Unfortunately due to life things, I haven't been able to work on my armor for a few weeks. But in the meantime, I figured it'd be best to start sourcing the remaining pieces I need. Picked up a neck seal from Trooperbay, which looks and fits great! I dig the velcro a lot. Also after a ton of back and forth on my part, I went ahead and placed an order for a @Hellhounds blaster! I'm super stoked about this. Really love the review from @MaskedVengeance. It helped a lot as well as other great reviews from troopers. I plan on still constructing my Doopydoos kit in the future for a display piece/backup blaster. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my other thread. Knowing myself and hearing horror stories about blasters breaking, I decided to air on the side of caution and grab the rubber one Lately I've been researching helmet mods on the forum and wow there are a lot of different cool ways to configure the inside of the helmet! I'm for sure going to black out the inside. Still have to acquire some padding for sure. Then I'll decide if I'm going to cut out the visor and stick the lenses on or just screw the long strip on. I have fans from @ukswrath (his com system looks amazing as well) . I don't have a com system yet but it seems like the Aker/Icomm system is very popular. Lots of great reviews and opinions on here. Anyways, that's the update from me! Hope y'all are staying cool!

Ended up going with Trooperbay and it’s great! I dig the Velcro since it’s adjustable. 2 thumbs up!

Caleb did a review on it and it looks really nice. And thanks again for the info on all the parts and your recommendations! I'm going to think about everything and take into account all the things we're talking about with durability, accuracy and cost. I appreciate it!

Ive been looking at the Hellhounds rubber blaster and it looks super nice. Plus the durability. I keep jumping around haha. Just trying to find out as much info as possible.

Copy that! I definitely have a lot to consider haha. Good thing I have time to decide since I'm still building my armor

Absolutely! Definitely will keep that in mind

Thanks for this info Joseph! This gives me lots to consider. My biggest concern overall about the Doopydoos kit is dropping and breaking it (or it breaking in transit and whatnot). I'm a careful person but sometimes I get a little "in my head" about things breaking. I do have the Doopydoos full resin kit already, but if I had to pick the mods that would protect the blaster the most (ie. areas that are prone to breaking), which would you recommend? I do like the aluminum replacements parts that you linked to. Off the bat I was already thinking the folding stock as that seems a little on the fragile side with the resin. I want to make it as accurate as possible, but also factoring cost vs. cost of a rubber blaster. And I've heard great things about Tino's kit so I'll check that out as well! Cheers!

Cool cool thanks for the info! I spoke with @TheRascalKing as well and he also recommended the rubber blaster. I'm planning on trooping a bunch when I get approved down the line so this seems like the best choice. Mostly I was trying to weigh the cost of the rubber (Centurion approved out of the box) vs the cost of the parts to mod the Doopydoos + build time to make it Centurion approvable. I'm very back and forth about it lol. Appreciate it!

Hi all! So I'm trying to decide between going for a rubber blaster or completing a Doopydoos full resin kit (which I already have acquired) for trooping. I've been searching for Centurion requirements for the E11 but I couldn't find any specific thread. I'm assuming I should just look at the reference pics and make it look exactly like that. Anyyyyways, so I know one of the mods I’d have to make is to replace the magazine. Many people here have suggested Gazmosis, but I guess he's not making them anymore. Any other recommended vendors? Is the Doopydoos pretty solid right out of the box (other than the mag, the D-ring, and the rail)? I've been reading build threads but it seems everyone has their own way . This is great but a tad overwhelming. Definitely can use some advice. I'm just trying to weigh my options and see the costs of the resin vs a rubber. I have minimal experience with blaster building Thanks!!

Great thanks! I'll look into all of this.

Hi all! So I've been researching a bunch on TK neck seals and per Joseph's thread, I was able to see all the vetted vendors of neck seals. I wanted to do research on all of the seals before I buy one. Darman's and Geeky Pink have many glowing reviews but I haven't been able to find a ton of info on Trooperbay's neck seal. I assume they are good because they are on the vetted vendor's list but I figured I'd ask around here. What do you guys think? Thanks! Luke