Brattie

Yeah.. by moving the button closer to the attachment point of the front armor that would provide the structure to prevent it from being pulled out.. however.. my larger chest requires the front armor to be lower than yours.. so then the attachment would be too far forward. I'll have to find a more solid way of mounting them but as I don't wear my TK armor that often it's not a rush to fix.. I plan on taking my time..

Did you glue the velcro or sew it to the strap? Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

best way to describe it. Under my bridges is a strap that connects the back and front armor together. It's made of thick strap material. This item has snaps on it to also connect the strap for my bells. Due to the weight of the bells, it gets pulled out from under the bridges by between half and one inch. It looks horrible. Currently to counter the pull of the bells I have a black elastic that runs from the center of each of the bridge straps and thus keeps them from being pulled out. However this causes 2 things.. 1) something sitting on the back of my neck 2) the armor to not sit down all the way. The black strap from side to side to hold the bridge straps in while under the load of the bells was only a temporary fix for Fan Expo. I am researching a way to utilize a Solid metal / or metal like item that has a little bend to it but will not flex sideways like normal strapping. This would ensure that it doesn't slip out from under the bridges and not be visible. So I'm going to find some type of metal and figure out how to connect it all. Another person i know used a tin like material.. this is being considered.

I have a few ideas to fix the issue. I am considering figuring out a way to mount a hard connection to the bridges for the shoulder bells.. this would take away the need for the straps and prevent movement. I have seen another utilize a Tin like metal on theirs and it seemed to work well for them. I will be looking at a similar metal rigid support for my bridges before I continue with any Heavy Weapons modifications. Also I'm scouting in a new direction for my 3rd build but this build is planned to be a very slow process. Hopefully I'll have some Birthday money come my way in a couple months.

yeah.. I keep going back in my head to Scott's AP set and the tin under the bridges.. was a solid connection and wow can he move around when trooping.

hahha waiting for access approval for that one!

I am considering figuring out another option for hanging my shoulder bells.. as they hang on the snap fabric which keeps the front and back together.. it tends to pull the strap out from under the bridges.. an elastic was placed across the back of the armor to pull these back in and counter-balance the weight of the bells.. this worked.. however it caused the upper armor to sit up slightly from my shoulders and only in a very small way. This makes my bucket sit on the armor very very VERY slightly.. which reduces further the ability to move my head even a little when standing straight up.. if I turn or bend I have no issue. It's going to take some more fiddling with it to make everything fit right. I don't have a long neck like many of the guys.. and I'm not a giraffe like a couple I know.. lol.. so having a neck that I would say is average size leads to slight issues like this. If my chest plate and back were wider.. and not as small as it's continually pointed out.. this would also prevent rubbing on the bridges. I'll just have to play some more.. that's all.. and if that doesn't work.. I'll just go Sandy. I'm also looking at a possible Biker Scout build in my future. Not sure where to get good build info, costing etc on that one.

Hey it's the Married Meshie one.. OMG you are so lucky we were going to crash your wedding!!! Congrats buddy!

Hey Brad! LTNS.. I miss Fan Expo because it was so great to see everyone every day!

you mean this one?

Above: TK March at Fan Expo.. I'm the trooper leaning out talking to the Officer.. Fan Failure at TK Photo caused a rain storm of sweat in my bucket which fogged up my lenses creating visual loss.. I was almost blind.. funny experience.. the Handlers were awesome! Above: One of MANY Harlies at Fan Expo Above: With 2 handlers that were awesome I made my way over to see a friend at the EB Games booth at Fan Expo.. was a blast!

Brattie's log - Page 56 and counting.. still the largest building thread in all of FISD!!! So I am planning some TK work again on my armor. So many little tweaks I'd like to make and I am going to start messing with the bucket. I'm not a giraffe so I don't have a long neck.. this becomes a problem when my bucket sits on my chest armor and bridges. So I want to find a way through adjusting the padding if I can tilt the bucket forward slightly. I can't raise it as then I can't see. I need to sort something out ... anyone have this problem in the past?

I have started and almost completed the Paint Ball Jawa Mask with fans. Just need to work out some padding. On the TK front.. I messed around with my gear a little during the Post Fan Expo plastic clean up process before packing it away again. I need to figure out a few things with the electrical in my bucket to ensure we don't have any failures again. overall the gear is working well, just need to continue to tweak it. Also, now that I've lost a bit of weight due to the massive amount of trooping and sweating the pounds off I need to adjust my gear slightly.

Through my eyes.... So I did it.. I completed the longest 4 days of my life being with all my 501st brothers and sisters!! So what was it like??? I am in horrific pain but I'd do it again in a minute.. My feet and legs may hurt but that is nothing i am sure to the pain of struggling with illness or having to watch a loved one struggle. We did it for a great cause. All the funds we raised are going to Make-a-wish. As for the event... I had no idea what I was in for as I had never been involved in something so massive in my whole life nor had I gone to a show of this size before. Was I overwhelmed? A deer in the headlights probably doesn't even come close to covering it. Preparation was key for much of it. Being sure I had what I needed and knowing where I needed to be and what I needed to do. Having someone that had experience helped with that as well! Thanks Steve (Squeaky) . Lists also helped! Lots of lists! Checking of lists and being sure I had it all. The Garrison made sure I was prepared as well through threads and information about activities I'd be involved with during the Expo. On top of that I had the help of some great friends and members of my local Garrison as well as others visiting from abroad. I met so many people and it will take me a while to remember all of their names or who belonged to which names. I have to admit it was funny that I could call out Chris or Christine and a few people would answer. Need to sort that out somehow some day! Laughs. All of us were there doing such amazing things through the whole weekend. We were pushing ourselves and our bodies to the limits but always staying to the safe side of what our bodies could handle. Both physically and mentally. I understand over heating now completely!. I was dripping constantly!. Did I push hard.. yes.. here's basically what I did.. Day 1 - get settled and suit up into my Jawa. The show opener was a blast and I was involved with the show opener at the front door of the other building after a long march. It was fun, though crazy hot. I was having a blast with one of the universities and really getting into character. We even made the news! It was awesome! After my first time doing some booth work I was truly settling in and felt content with all of my Garrison around for support. There were so many people!! Each day the fans grew and grew.. I didn't know they could get that many people into one space! Was I tired.. definetly, but I was able to feed off the smiles and energy of all those around me. the Fans were great at cheering and their fun comments and reactions. I slowly learned how to best interact through Jawa-nese with them. It made it even more exciting and I would feel energized again. This I must warn you is addictive. Most of the time my body was ready to take a break but I was still going.. Laughs. Looking back I laugh at the fact that this was one of 2 days that I actually got to eat lunch. Day 2 - I suited up early again and had some fun. We had the Denzie march which took a while but was a blast. I managed to get back to get a quick 15 minute watering and washroom break before heading back up for the Droid event we were doing. Again I was having fun and we made it on TV again! That lasted a few more hours and then I was hurrying back to the room to gear up into my TK. By this time my body was starting to feel the use of muscles I had not used in a while. I was sore and stiff but troopered... laugh... through the fun of the blaster range and posing for pictures around the booth.. I have to say I was glad that I was washing my underarmor often and hoping that I'd return in the morning to a dry Jawa robe. It was getting funky so antibacterial lysol fabric mist truly saved my life! Gold bond took on the funk of my rubber jawa boots! Laugh. Day 3 - Chaos doesn't describe the amount of fans all around us!!! Handlers were all over us and as long as you listened to their direction and guidence all went well. Things went a little off course for me this day. It started with me suiting up early to "work out the kinks" of my stormtrooper armor and making a few tweaks.. then heading up for a HUGE march through the streets and buildings. IT WAS SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!! We walked at a quick pace which was interesting as I tried to keep up. My legs were going as fast as they could in gear. People were taking pictures.. There were so many of us.. and wow.. how nice a little breeze feels in TK armor!! I never get that in my Jawa! I won't mention the morons that thought it was a good idea to try and cut through our ranks as we marched. Like people in white plastic can see and move fast.. .. shakes head.. The March paused at a "half way" point so to speak when we had an inspection. It was at this point that my Bucket fans decided they wanted to take a little vacation!! Lets just say it was a rain storm inside my bucket. I advised a handler that I was fogging up, had no fans and was okay to continue with help and from that second onward I had one of them close by watching out for me and providing any extra help I required. This included extra help on escalators. I swear by the end of the 4 days I was almost a pro at it! By the time the march was over I had a handler help me back to the room to change. He even warned people that I was pretty much blind as we were walking and the people around us were nice enough to stay out of my way. It was funny to me as I knew I was in good hands. I still have to trouble-shoot what the heck happened to the fans in my bucket.. it could have been moisture or a wiring short. After that I changed for my daily duties and then switched into my Jawa for the group photo which included another fun long march and moving around the crowds. To say I was tired by the end of Saturday would not do Saturday justice! Day 4 - This was suppose to be a slow day! There was a ladies picture and some fun around our booth, followed by some more trooping around the building. I spent the longest time in my gear this day and managed to join in yet another trek which took a few hours going to one of the other buildings and moving around with a good friend. With some switching of the schedules I managed to stay in character other than a couple breaks for almost the whole day. I did take a little break.. not much.. to get some pizza with friends then helped Vader back to our booth. Chuckles. So what have I learned? I learned how great it is to work with an amazing group of people doing good things. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when you push yourself and just how much fun it can be. That a little pain is nothing when looking at the big picture. Lastly, I learned how great it feels to see people smile, enjoy your presence, and forget about all the crap of life and just have fun.

All my gear is packed, I’m ready to go I’m standing here outside my door I’m afraid I forgot something, I don’t know why… But the dawn is breaking, it’s early morn’ Squeaky is waiting he’s blown his horn. Already I’m so excited I could die… So Hug me and wave at me, Ask me for pictures of me, Pose like you have never posed before.. ‘Cause I’m a Stormtrooper at Fan Expo, don’t know when I’ll be back from the show, Lord Vader needs me, I have to go… There tons of time to see us troop, Tons of time to take in the whole group, I tell you now it will all mean something… Every space I go, I’ll always be true, Every picture I’m in will be for fun too, When I come back, our success will make us sing!! So Hug me and wave at me, Ask me for pictures of me, Pose like you have never posed before.. ‘Cause I’m a Stormtrooper at Fan Expo, don’t know when I’ll be back from the show, Lord Vader needs me, I have to go… Now the time has come to see you, One more time I’ll take a selfie with you, Then close your eyes and I’ll be on my way… Dream about the days to come, When we are all together and having fun, About the times, we will have to say… So Hug me and wave at me, Ask me for pictures of me, Pose like you have never posed before.. ‘Cause I’m a Stormtrooper at Fan Expo, don’t know when I’ll be back from the show, Lord Vader needs me, I have to go… ‘Cause I’m a Stormtrooper at Fan Expo, don’t know when I’ll be back from the show, Lord Vader needs me, I have to go…

T'was the day before fan expo and things were almost done, tomorrow would be the start of all the star wars fun.

T'was 2 sleeps before fan expo and all through my bin.. I finally found a battery to power the bucket fans within!!!

There are some days I truly have to filter my feelings when posting as I find that I would love to just reach out and force choke some people. There are so many things I'd love to do, and things I'd love to create, aside from winning the lottery I have other obligations in my life. So unfortunately I can't follow all of my dreams. I am very proud of what I have done, and I have a plan that I will slowly move forward with regarding my gear. This plan will take some time. I am proud that I have managed to get together 2 great sets of gear for trooping. I am not Rich. I have other obligations in life other than just building star wars gear. Both sets of my gear has pros and cons.. Example: The TK being so much cooler than the Jawa.. but the Jawa being more comfortable.. I think it all balances out. Yes .. I know I'm a tall Jawa. I have always been open to constructive criticism and listening to different peoples outlooks and thoughts in order to help brainstorm different solutions. My Garrison Mate's mother is an awesome lady that's helped with so much of the sewing aspect of builds and helped with so much brainstorming. That being said I also seem to get a lot of non-constructive criticism and "nit-picking" about stuff. I mentioned it before in this thread and it still continues. Some even question things I have done with my own gear and at times make me feel as if I have done something wrong when I have not done anything wrong. If you are new to building, like I was.. keep your chin up and lean on those close to you that will encourage you and help you through your build. Have thick skin also as there will be others that don't seem to have the ability to offer constructive ideas and input. Firstly, Please remember --> It is my gear. End of story. Secondly, please understand that I'm not here to compete. There is no line in the ground that I am attempting to pee over. I am a lady. I sit to pee. I don't care if my gear is better or worse than others. I have met the required standards in both my builds. Is my gear perfect? Nope.. it isn't, and neither was the gear in the actual movies. If you have gotten this far in this build thread, I would hope that you have realized that I am a person that likes to hang out with good people, have fun, and do stuff for good causes. Other questions that seem to come up... Do I want my gear to look good? yes.. like everyone I want it to look good. Do I care if my gear gets banged up? Nope.. it's a stormtrooper.. I'm sure realistically they'd get a bit banged up. That's my choice. Do I compare my gear to others? Nope.. this is my gear.. it is my own, it is built to fit me and no one else. It is unique in that fashion and there are no others exactly the same. Do I think my gear or myself is above others? no.. again.. not here to compete, or to act like I'm better or my gear is better than others. Do I question every choice I have made for my build and such? yes.. but as it is my build so therefore it is only my place to do so. Do I wish I had loads of money to do more? Yes.. who doesn't? Unfortunately I don't have the cash to build every outfit I want. I'd love to build a Mandalorian, or a TFA Snow Trooper, or my most favorite as of late... a shore trooper. All of that could take me a life time of saving. It's just not in the cards. So what do I want to do? I plan on tweaking and working on my gear for a while.. it really never ends. I plan on enjoying time with good friends and do good things and not fret about all the other crap. It isn't worth it. And so life continues on...

Next research on the list of things I'd like to look at... http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/15272-high-detail-hwt-screens/ http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/38575-hwt-ammo-pouch-attachments/ http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/30034-hwt-backpack-build-part-1/ Items needed: Any armor builder: TK shoulder strap cover or similar, $8+ Amazon.com: Oil Drain (22"x 15"x 4") or similar $17, Amazon > http://www.amazon.co...o Oil Drain Pan CDN--> Amazon.ca - -$16-25 CAN Plastic Container kit $23, Amazon > http://www.amazon.co...Food Saver Set) CDN-> Amazon.ca Containers - $36.99 CAN Hardware store or other: 2' x 2" PVC $4, Lowe's 2" PVC Caps (x2), $3, Lowe's 15"x19" No Parking sign (thick plastic) $6 15"x19" For Sale sign (thin plastic), $5 3-1/2" x 8-1/2" wipes container, $3 #8 x .375" Philips head screws, (x16-20), $2 Bumpers, $3, http://www.lowes.com...=1192421&rpp=32 12oz Valspar Silver Fox spray paint (looks like Slate Blue), or flat light grey should work as well. $5 12oz Rust-Oleum Flat Light Gray Primer spray paint, $4 12oz Rust-Oleum Black Matte spray paint, $6 Rivets 1/6"x1/8" (x8) & Rivet Gun, $20 Hobby or craft store: E6000 clear or white, $4 Art paper, heavy (1/16" thick), black 12"x12", $4 Photo storage box or similar 7-1/2" x 11" x 4-1/4", $4 1-1/2" W x 1-1/2"L Velcro (hook and loop), or similar 8' x 1" black nylon webbing 1" black adjustable buckle Automotive store or other: 1' Radio Antenna (rubber or plastic) with swivel base, $9+. Napa Auto. http://www.napaonlin...5903_0361152922 NapaCanada Other items: 4" x 4" tapered drinking cup $2 1" soda bottle cap 2-1/4" juice dispenser caps x2

I can clear it up... Belt For 501st approval: Belt face is made of plastic (TK ammo belt). The soft belt proper is made of canvas, or material with a canvas covering. Size must be 2.75” (70 mm) to 3.25”(83 mm) wide and not wider than the plastic portion of the belt. The color is be white to off-white. The drop boxes dangle from the sides of the front plastic belt (ammo belt) via white straps and are aligned under the plastic tabs of the ammo belt. For level two certification (if applicable): There shall be three square buttons, one centered in the middle and one on each end of the plastic ammo belt.. For level three certification (if applicable): Drop boxes must have full inner drop boxes to close the back. Flat covers are not allowed. Drop boxes are vertically aligned with the end of the ammo belt with minimal gap between belt and box. The corners of the plastic ammo belt shall be trimmed at a 45 degree angle. Per Centurion level which is what I'll eventually be going for if I stay as a TK.. Drop boxes are vertically aligned with the end of the ammo belt with minimal gap between the belt and box. Hope that helps I'm getting ready for Fan Expo so my posts may be minimal over the next week and a little.

Adjustments Reduced gap Adjusted side Adjusted other side Adjusted belt Aligned drop box Adjusted strapping system Overall better fit but bad hair day.

Good Morning, T minus 6 sleeps and counting... Am I nervous.. it's my first major event with the 501st, my first time working through 2 costumes and going to be switching in and out the whole show.. my first time working the booth, and I still have work to do on my gear.. No.. not nervous.. and not yet panicking either. Today I have to get to a friends to make tweaks.. a couple return edges and a few other adjustments and well.. he has the better tools to do it with... can't have things falling apart when I'm at the show! Then Saturday I race out to another friends place to make a few more harness adjustments for my trooper and a few other adjustments... I tell ya.. there is no time to be nervous .. yet. Chalk up more gas for build items to the next couple days! Laugh. I do have to say that a few orders have arrived over the past couple days.. my Legion Name tags for one.. they are awesome.. a new wooden helmet stand that's totally amazing .. picked this up from a Garrison mate.. as well as an officers hat and a beautiful painting for my room. So it's been productive! I managed to sort out rides to and from FanExpo and I'm going with a more experienced person, so that helps a great deal. I am thinking of working out a strapping system so I can place my Jawa bin which is small onto my GIANT TK bin so I can hook them together when on duel troops like FanExpo will be. Will post pictures of this stuff when I get a chance!

Hey Jason.. thank you and welcome back!

In my post I mentioned I was talking about everything I needed. Not just the Jawa and TK orders, not just the Bins, not just the boots, bandoliers, bags, holsters, under armor, sweaters, shirts, patches, gloves, snips, knives, audio system, hearing assist system, fans.. not just the tools, not just the gas to get to far off stores, not just files, safety glasses, dremel, etc.. everything. I do analytics and tracking all the time and tracked everything down the the penny.. including shipping charges of items. I had nothing that was needed for building stuff.. no soldering iron, flux, solder.. no glues, no velcro, lights, paint for the bins, decals for bins, etc.. I also picked up extras.. 2 blasters.. the R3P0 head.. all the wiring, and items for that.. locks, you name it.. I have built 3 jawa masks and have another with a paintball mask being worked on to try to get more air. I have a detailed massive list on every thing right down to paint, washers and clamps. I planned to be doing some of the build myself. I'm proud of myself for doing so much and getting so far within my current limitations. yes I spent a lot of money, but every item I've purchased I've used or it has been used. It's the true look and cost of the builds so far.. not just the armor / material.