Thank you, thank you, thank you! Especially to Tony for his wonderfully detailed build thread, to Walter for his feedback and insight into helping with my thighs and my incessant PM's and to all those who rooted me on!
When I set out to build this armor, I thought there was no way I would go beyond basic approval. Thanks to the encouragement of others and a simple thought one day of "Why not me?" I decided to go for it. So for those reading this that are on the fence, it IS doable for even first time builders. You CAN do it!
Man, what a great night!