Brattie

I know tell me about it! I was horrified to see it this morning as well.. but you know what.. with my bucket on it all looks green.. and green is a good spring color!

It sure is falling into place.. now I have stuff to work on!! I sure don't need more excitement in my life.. but wow..

Heh, no worries.

Hahah A-Aron - the mason bit thing was for helping to manually create tapers for your ears to help the screws set deeper.. if you are creating friction then you are superman.. as I said.. you should not use a drill.. hand turns only and gently! Also.. here's what I got on todays shopping trip!!!! That's red and black fabric for putting over the bucket padding.. I think they are going to be red.. the ones that were supplied anyway.. the ones I have from the military are grey.. but I think the red will work nice and can spray adhesive it all together.. Oh.. but look.. is that 2 Visors??? Under $30 you say.. well lucky me.. hahhaha.. I jumped on a mess up by AG.. hehehehe.. I know also that Ken wants some.. sooo I have extra to play with now.. here's how dark they are.. Even with back lighting you can only make out the silhouette of my face sorta.. Laugh. And I can see through it fine.. like wearing sun glasses.

~ Peers in to check on A-Aron ~ I have 3 parts for you - laughs - First Part: Your thread is dropping towards the bottom of the list. Next part: I'll never understand why guys call each other and sometimes even females "buddy, dude, homey" etc. Last Part: hope all is going well with your build stuff.. hurry up and get more done as I'm slowly catching up!

okay.. I wanted to go a little further into discussion on the "Ear Screw Taper" Listen up good guys.. if you are going to do this here is what I have found... Be Careful as some drill bits to Catch which will cause the drill bit to Bite at the plastic and could take out a chunk. ****I DO NOT RECOMMEND STEEL OR WOOD DRILL BITS AS THEY TEND TO BITE!!!****** I found a MASONRY drill bit works best.. The tip should look like this: It will SLOWLY take little bits away from the plastic. I can't stress it enough.. if you wish to try this.. use MASONRY DRILL Bits and do it by hand.. DO NOT use a drill!! With a little pressure and good support you should find that the MASONRY drill bit will take little bits away in a very controlled manner. Lastly.. with all things.. if you are taking away material you should replace some in order to prevent weakness. With that I am suggesting that you reinforce the ear holes on the back side. I am going to drill a hole in some scrap plastic and glue to the back of the ear to give the holes extra support. Here is a diagram of what I am considering to reinforce the ears on my Bucket after having the screw holes tapered. The addition of more plastic to the back side of the ear will give it more stability for wear and tear down the road. Hope this helps

Hiya Mark, Anytime.. you're awesome so any time you need something.. just let me know. Thank you for the tips on your mounting technique. I plan on having a back up ability but I am going to create mounts within the bucket for screwing lenses to the faceplate. I want to give the bucket a non-toy / non-plastic look. This is the reason I am also going to paint the inside of the bucket black. That AWESOME.. and it is awesomely comfy too.. foam you put in for me will be utilized. I am going to Michael's to get some fabric spray glue and some black fabric and I'm going to create little pads with them and put them pretty much where they were before.. but Velcro'd in. That way I can clean them. You are right about the ear screws.. trying to get them flat is a chore. Laugh. The tapering does help a little bit, but as you are removing material from an area where there could be stress I would think placing some reinforcement behind them is a good idea. That's what I plan on doing anyway. For those just joining my now Build thread and not just a research and chat thread.. Welcome.. I noticed I have a few more followers now. Welcome aboard the brattie Train! Next stop.. 501st approval!

Did I paint what? Oh.. lol no. Mark did.

Hahah Eric! @hugh yes. Gently turning a bit by hand

Not a big deal.. they did ask for the address and I said omg.. I don't know.. I just drive there.. you know.. go this way.. then turn right.. and the buildings there up the driveway kinda thing. The old guy laughed and the young guy entering the info said "yeah we don't really need it" then laughed. I was like.. well I'll call him if you want.. leave it to my boss to send me on this wild goose chase eh.. then I rolled my eyes and smiled at them.. and they handed over the order number and said they'd call and let me know when to swing buy for it. I thanked them and left... shrugs. easy as making Rey bread. sometimes it helps being strawberry blonde. Laughs

@ Mark These aren't perfect yet but I'm gently and VERY slowly working at them.. but I already have it gently seated down a little more flush.. Making sure I don't taper too much as I want to ensure I maintain the strength. But I might end up re-inforcing the underside anyway.

Alright.. I just got in from AG and ordered the This one.. Company :Torok Woodworking - Laugh I hope it's dark enough. They didn't have any to look at only the cateloge so I am flying by the seat of my armor here.. sighs.. fingers crossed it will work or it's a waste of money. Will know within the next day or two.

I plan on going either tomorrow or Thursday.. so PM me the address for if I need it. LOL

- peeks in and waves - Keep on going!

FYI - I deleted the thread on FB - It didn't seem helpful and don't want to annoy anyone with posting on there.

Thanks Eric.. I'll have a look at that one when I get to AG today. Thanks for the instructions Dave.. will be very helpful when I get to that point... What Posts/screws should I get? Where? Flush at the top, air-gap at the bottom right?

@ Eric - Hey.. what "posts" did you use for mounting your lenses? where did you get them? I like your system and have a few ideas on how to mount the posts to the face plate.

Thanks Dan.. I'll wear a hoodie to cut down on light and take a mirror I guess I hear ya Eric.. I wish I just knew the exact product to buy.. someone has to have something that they can say "THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE TO BUY" kinda thing so I can just go and say "I need.. yadda yadda yadda" and then know it's the right one for all the work I need to do on it. This half arsed bantha fodder nerf-herd guessing drives me nuts.

Okay.. I found an Acklands Grainger near me in Mississauga. here's what they have via website that I can go check out... Option 1 - FACE SHIELD ACETATE DRK GR 15-1/2X9 Option 2 - VISOR GR-8X15.5IN-P/CARBONATE .040M Option 3 - VISOR POLYCARBON 8X15-1/2IN GRN These are all around the 20 to 30 mark.

Alrighty.. lets make some notes on some things here guys... I am trying to locate all the threads over the past zillion I've been reading on the best of "how to" for items and why. The Brow Hole The Hole at the brow was recommended in a thread I read a while back and I made a note of it in my journal. I will do all I can to protect and ensure nothing happens to my gear.. that being said.. there is nothing wrong with my bucket. It is awesome, however I am going to do all precautionary items and preventative items possible to ensure my armor is safe and stays that way for many years to come. If that means a very small adjustment to the brow ends.. then so be it. Better safe now than sorry later Follow link to TrooperBay discussing the hole. https://youtu.be/pG0saH3WmA0?t=2m22s The Taper I will post a close up of the taper as soon as I get home. The screws on the bucket sit out slightly (which is normal for all screws in any material). It was again mentioned a while ago about using a drill bit (WITH NO DRILL ATTACHED just had to stress that point) to gently manipulate the ear holes to help the screws sit more flush. It's a visual thing and I'm SUPER picky about everything representing the builders great work and my own efforts and modifications in the best possible way. Bucket Foam Lastly, there was foam with the bucket when it arrived. (Thanks Mark.. great stuff!!) This large circular piece that is oh so awesome. I plan on using it as well as similar stuff as I move forward but I also have my military pads that I'll work in to ensure the bucket won't move much on my head but still allow Air Flow. Also had foam on the inside of the ears covering the bolts.. I liked this idea and have held onto the foam.. I am going to try and figure out a velcro way to remount the ear foam however as I know I'll need access to those bolts now and then. I also have to figure out a way to paint the inside of the bucket and cover the foam. I plan on finding some black material for the bucket foam so it'll match the interior of my bucket when it's complete. So everything is coming out for personal modifications. Advice A wise Trooper once said "Keep the bucket simple" (look Ken.. I'm quoting you ). I plan on listening as much as I can to those words while still achieving some of the items I would like for comfort and practicality. Lens Now I just need to find the darker lenses. Thank you all for the posts about lenses.. but if you could be very specific on where in CANADA I can get these that would be more beneficial. As I am now very concerned with the "Get #3 shade, Get #5 shade, Get #4 shade" stuff that I have very little clue about. All this shade talk is making me feel like a very confused stormtroopin' nerf-herder. Please keep it simple.. what do I need to buy, where do I get it in CANADA that I can actually go and pick it up. USD rates are too expensive and I don't want to drive 500 miles to get it. Crappy Tire, Lowes.ca, Home Depot.ca, Princess Auto. All in my range of places. Providing product numbers to the exact item best for this project will get you a hug! Last Words so.. Build is on pause while I do some more research on the best ways to mount lenses and pick up some black material to cover the awesome foam. Some say Tape, some say velcro.. I like Eric's way with the screws and posts.. gives it a more "real feel" to it. So for now.. my bucket sits.. wrapped in a soft sweater in my Armor Transport locked away until I have what I need to continue modifications.

Sure thing mark. I tapered them so I could get the screw heads flat and more flush. The bucket looks awesome

Looking for lens replacements: This one or This one ????

hiya, I have read numerous threads that recommend putting a very small rounded edge at the end of the brow to help ensure that the pressure of the brow won't cause any issues and actually sits better. Those that I know are currently in their builds are also doing the small rounded hole. I haven't heard of any actual cracking issues but I'm not taking a chance. You can't even see it really.

Alrighty.. well.. I have news... my build... has ... officially........ STARTED!!!!!!!! So.. Working on my bucket.. first step.. the small hole to prevent pressure cracking for the brow.. OMG can you say nervous!! laugh - but it's done .. can barely see it with the brow but it does it's job. This is a zoomed in picture.. use the black line for reference. Step 2 Tapering screw holes on the ears to make the screws more flush... I may have to do a little more on this one.. but.. I think that's enough for now.. And.. Voila.. phase one of many complete.. Laugh