TheBlooperTrooper

1. Wizard World Comic Con Day 2, Cleveland Ohio, March 18, 2017 We even made the local news! http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/cleveland-wizard-world-comic-con-in-full-swing/423615703 First officially suited up troop! Made a mistake and kitted up fully right before walking out without installing the battery to my helmet fans. Thankfully another trooper was on hand to help out, with another to document my rookie troop moment! Facing some fearsome adversaries!

Will edit this first post to hold a tally of all my troops! 1. Wizard World Comic Con Day 2, Cleveland Ohio, March 18, 2017 - 4 hours 2. Wizard World Comic Con Day 3, Cleveland Ohio, March 19, 2017 - 4 hours Unofficial Troop 1, Buckeye First Robotics Competition Regional Day 2, Cleveland Ohio, March 31, 2017 - 2.5 hours 3. Pinewood Derby Competition at the MAPS Air Museum, North Canton Ohio, April 29, 2017 - 3 hours 4. Akron Rubber Ducks Star Wars Night, Akron Ohio, May 4, 2017 - 3 hours 5. Carol and John's Comic Shop - Free comic book day midnight release, Cleveland Ohio, May 5, 2017 - 2.5 hours 6. Comic Heaven - Free comic book day, Willoughby Ohio, May 6, 2017 - 3 hours 7. YMCA Movie Night - North Canton Ohio, May 19, 2017 - 2.5 hours 8. Oddmall, Canton Ohio, May 20, 2017 - 3.5 hours 9. Cleveland Indians Star Wars Night, Cleveland Ohio, May 26, 2017 - 6 hours 10. Lake County Captains Star Wars Night, Willowick Ohio, June 3, 2017 - 4 hours 11. Lake Erie Crushers Star Wars Night, Avon Ohio, June 10, 2017 - 4 hours 12. NSO Pops John Williams Concert, Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 23, 2017 - 2.5 hours 13. New Philadelphia Parade, New Philadelphia Ohio, June 30, 2017 - 2 hours 14. Orange Community Center, Orange Ohio, July 16, 2017 - 2.5 hours 15. Barnes and Noble Pop Culture Fest, Woodmere Ohio, July 29, 2017 - 3 hours 16. WEPLcon, Willowick Ohio, August 5, 2017 - 3 hours 17. Summerfest, Lyndhurst Ohio, August 6, 2017 - 2 hours 18. Cantina Night, Cleveland Ohio, October 7, 2017 - 2 hours 19. Oddmall Toledo Day 2, Toledo Ohio, October 15, 2017 - 4 hours 20. Toledo Zoo Pumpkin Path Day 2, Toledo Ohio, October 22, 2017 - 4 hours 21. Toledo Walleyes Star Wars Night, Toledo Ohio, December 9, 2017 - 3.5 hours - photos to be added 22. The Last Jedi Movie Premiere, Mentor Ohio, December 15, 2017 - 2.5 hours - photos to be added 23. The Last Jedi Movie Premiere Day 2, Mentor Ohio, December 16, 2017 - 2.5 hours - photos to be added 24. Rise of Skywalker Movie Premiere, Mentor Ohio, December 20, 2020 - 3 hours - photos to be added 25. Fan Film Troop, Ravenna Ohio, July 31, 2020 - 3 hours - photos to be added 26. Tall Timbers Campground, Port Clinton Ohio, September 5, 2020 - 2.5 hours - photos to be added 27. Crocker Park Kids Fest, Cleveland Ohio, June 13, 2021 - 4 hours - photos to be added 28. Step Into Autism Family Day and Resource Fair, Akron Ohio, June 19, 2021 - 3 hours- photos to be added

My first troop is coming up this Saturday and Sunday at a convention. I DEFINITELY plan to use a few of these, thanks for sharing them!

After about 5 months of having my kit, I'm finally approved! I'm officially the Ohio Garrison's youngest member, and among the youngest in the Legion. I'm aiming to upgrade my kit from basic to EIB very soon, and then Centurion if all goes well. My first troop is in a week at Wizard Con in downtown Cleveland. Using an AM 2.0 kit, AM 4.0 helmet, Hyperfirm E-11, Trooperbay belt, and TK Boots. Huge thanks to all those here who helped me out here, at troops, and on Facebook to help finish my kit!

Hello! TK-82898 requesting 501st Status! Cameron K. http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=23877 Thanks!

Got the official email today, I'm 501st approved! TK-82898 is ready to serve!

I got the email from my GML late last night, my kit was approved! He said I could expect an email from the 501st confirming it in a day or so.

Thanks!

Nice! Good luck on yours! Watching my email like a hawk for the confirmation / alteration email!

Would it be possibly to mount a swivel base into a Hyperfirm E-11 for a camera? Seems like it would hold it quite well while also keeping the profile minimal regardless of if a camera is attached. Also, that's a Blue's Jersey! STL Blues for life! Edit: What about adding some sort of minimalistic switch / button in the trigger area to trigger the taking of the photo?

Update on progress February 26: I do believe it's have FINISHED! (For basic approval) After a few long months, I have met all the requirements for basic. For the following photos: I know I need to adjust the strapping on the arms a bit to be more even, mainly the right forearm. For the helmet, I cannot lower it. I have a giraffe neck and it's brushing the top of my head. On the bright side, giraffe trooper! EDIT: I've officially submitted to my GML and filled out the signup form on the 501st website. Forgot to mention that last night! I'd like to thank the following: Stratcat, who gave me advice from the very first troop I helped with up to today on the final steps of the process, NavajoBro, whose AM 2.0 guide was instrumental in the building of my kit, Scott (FISD name unknown), from my local garrison, who was my initial contact with the 501st in person, who gave me some very foundational tips on building my kit, and lastly, my dad. Without him this entire process would've easily taken twice if not three times as long. He helped me get familiar with all the necessary tools for the first time ever, guiding me through the process and also learning a great deal about it himself. Pics for the build still at http://imgur.com/a/vnNxfwith the submission photos at EDIT: I've officially submitted to my GML and filled out the signup form on the 501st website. Forgot to mention that last night!

Update on progress February 26: Tonight, we did what I hope is the final glueups / riveting for basic approval! We started by fixing the inner belt with parachute clips to make the height of the thighs fully adjustable if needed. We then lined up the sniper knee plate on the shin and glued it up as well. We rounded out the evening by gluing on the final cover strip on the outside rear of the left thigh, trimming the right thigh ammo belt, and riveting it in place. I had some very patient but precise help from Stratcat (He has gone above and beyond in helping me with this.) on placing the belt. I'm satisfied with the result, but left the rivets unpainted out of both running out of steam and not being completely sure if they were placed correctly. If everyone's happy with all these improvements, and the rest of the armor holds up, I submit for basic approval tomorrow! Pics updated at http://imgur.com/a/vnNxfwith highlights below: Knee plate! I know I need a side view, but I'll leave that to tomorrow when the clamps aren't in the way quite as much. What I hope is my last cover strip! Right thigh! Used Stratcat's advice and Ukswrath instructions to set the thigh pieces with some minor bending / adjustment with a heat gun. On the right side of the photo, I'm concerned about how much of the belt is poking away from the thigh piece. If I were to remove that side's rivet and pull it in / bend it in, I'd have to trim a little bit more off of that end, which worries me slightly. Input appreciated!

Likewise on the tips. Thankfully I have a very handy dad who has helped me through this entire process!

Thanks! Your build looks like knocked it out of the park!

When you say 6 x 6 c m measurement, is that of the vertical length of the belt? Mine is about 6-6.1 cm tall. For the rivet, I saw on another build it was about a cm from the top and a cm from the side. Lastly, for the curve, just for clarification, you measured halfway on the height and made a mark there, and did the same distance from the bottom to the side to get the curve right? I got the rounded edge variant. Had to email TK Armor about it, as my kit came without a thigh belt entirely. He pre-bent it into a rough shape. Hopefully will get to it tonight! Installed / glued on the sniper knee plate and adjusted the height on the thighs with the inner belt to sit better. Thanks!

Update on progress February 24: Tonight, we added the outer cover strip to the rear seam of the right thigh, did a mockup test fit of the left shin sniper knee plate, and padded the helmet. For the thigh, it was just a matter of glue and magnets. The magnets are fragmenting quite easily, even when wrapped up. We have enough to finish the build, just not enough to do two parts at once. For the knee plate, we just tried aligning it to the shin. It works moderately well, but is difficult to place exactly. If anyone's got any tips on it, lemme know! Lastly, for the helmet I used the pads recommended above by Stratcat. After some trial and error, we managed to fit it well. Pics updated at http://imgur.com/a/vnNxfwith highlights below: Rear thigh piece. I think it's pretty good as is. Going to use E6000 to allow for a EIB and then Centurion certification if possible. Padded up! Tried experimenting with Ukswrath helmet fans, but didn't have much success. The bracket proved to get in the way a little too much, so we took the bracket off, leaving the fans, wires, and buttons. Looking into possible rewiring the fans to allow for full adjustment of the cords to keep it out of the way and give room for a battery. At the moment, I'm currently using someting like this: https://www.amazon.com/Ohio-State-University-Portable-Charger/dp/B00L4K1AMM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1488001990&sr=8-9&keywords=mobile+phone+charger+2600mah Different color, but same total power. I have a bigger power brick, but it doesn't quite fit the helmet. Any tips for the helmet wiring / battery?

Update on progess February 22: Tonight I had a few setbacks, but nothing major. I did some cleanup work on the torso to fix it. Also, my iComm, aker speaker, and two headsets all arrived today, so I spent some time with that. Hoping to get back on course tomorrow!

Great to hear! Will hopefully finish fixing the thighs tonight and glue on the shin sniper knee plate. After that, the only components left to do will be the thigh ammo belt and the padding / wiring of the helmet. I'm close!

Update on progress February 22: Tonight my dad and I tested the belt out with the webbing connections on the torso and redid the rear strips on the thighs. For the belt test, I wore the torso armor, connected the belt via the snaps, secured it around the back with velcro, and then added the finished thermal detonator hanging between the belt and the armor. It all worked quite well I'm happy to report! For the thighs, we took off both the inner and outer cover strips on both legs. We did some trial and error fitting and testing, and wound up removing 2 cm off of each thigh piece (4 cm total per leg - 8 cm in total). the resulting fit is much more snug, with about a finger's width of space between my leg and the thigh at the absolute most. Tested with the shins to ensure a good fit. Will need to redo the inner belt connection, as where the thighs sit isn't quite right on our first attempt. Aiming to add a sort of parachute buckle to the inner belt to ease this adjustment process in the future. Pics updated at http://imgur.com/a/vnNxfwith highlights below: Thermal detonator / back part of the belt. Doesn't quite cover the butt plate / kidney seam, but otherwise sits / works fine. Do I need to put the detonator clips between the two velcro pieces, or keep it like it is, behind both? No boots with this, but the thigh and shin seem to line up much better overall. Note that this is still not completely trimmed, but is about 75-80% of what we did, with the difference being 1 or 2 cm.

Proud to say my belt is trimmed to spec! Thanks for the details on the thigh ammo belt, I'll be sure to use the heck outta it when I get going on the pack ammo belt. The rivets I bought on here from JustJoseph are about 6.8-7 mm or so in diameter, so I'll be using those once I adjust the thighs themselves.

From what I see my belt will need some minor reshaping, as right now it's in a rough, blocky U shape. For the rivets, would split rivets be workable in place of cap rivets? If not, would cap rivets like these work? https://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather-Double-Rivets-1371-12/dp/B003AU2KZK Thanks! EDIT: Should the screws on the thermal detonator be painted black? I have replacements that aren't if need be, but just wanna be sure.

I'd like to think they are not short height-wise, as they reach from just below my torso piece down to just above my knee. This angle was more meant to show the freedom-of-movement aspect. I don't have a photo of both the thighs and shins on simultaneously, but the fact that the thighs were wide was a concern of mine. If all goes well, I'll be able to submit for basic certification with them as-is. After I submit, I'l be removing equal portions from the rear seams of both halves of each thigh piece to allow them to be made to be much more form fitting. I'll try and get a thigh and shin picture ASAP. Appreciate the input!

Also if anyone has any tips on the thigh ammo belt that's my next task! Also also, does anyone have an recommended amazon helmet pads? I was told to look up ACH helmet padding, but there is a multitude of options. Looking to mostly lock in the sides of my head, as height wise it works with no padding at all. Thanks!

Update on progress February 21: Tonight we added elastic to the front inside seam of the shins as reinforcement, adjusted the belt to sit higher on the torso, added snap plates to the torso to connect to the belt, glued silicone handgaurds to rubber gloves, and lastly added a D-Ring to the E-11 Hyperfirm I have. For the belt, the final result is about 2-3 mm away from the ab buttons. If need be, this can be adjusted higher, as we just set the snap plates in with webbing. The rivets were replaced on the belt, and had their cover squares replaced as well. The process by which the D-Ring was added is what my dad is officially referring to as "Pimp the killstick." Looking into possibly adding some sort of actual scope and / or glass or some clear material to simulate a scope instead of using just stickers. Pics updated at http://imgur.com/a/vnNxfwith highlights below: Belt adjusted. After this photo, we evened out the belt and set the snap plates. As said, it sits about 2-3 mm off of the ab buttons. Reinforced the shin pieces with elastic on the inside. Hopefully the sniper knee plate will be added in the coming days. D-Ring added!

Much appreciated! Any tips on the thigh ammo belt and the sniper knee plate? I'm not quite sure if my knees should extend above the shin pieces, or if they should lie right behind the tops of the shins. From what I can see, it looks like just above, with the sniper knee plate covering the left shin. Thanks!