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Hey Henry, how wide are your strips for your forearms? 15mm? Do you find the forearms difficult to slip off and on? Are you skinny or bigger in the forearm area? Sorry for all the questions. I'm a bit indecisive in my own measurements, and things seem rather tight.

I'm working on an AP kit now as well. I'm sizing my forearms to be 15mm also and they seem really tight. I don't think I have very large forearms. I'm not really a big guy. Are your forearms really tight to get in and out of? I'm thinking I might need to remove a lot of the return at the elbow and reshape them. Just comparing since we seem to be working from the same kit. Great thread btw.

Good luck. It looks really great. <br><br> What ended up being your final widths for your cover strips? Also, did you end up needing to remove most of the return edge from the tops of your forearms?

Now that is some sexy looking snap installation. Doubled over the webbing for extra strength and even hit the plate with the heat gun to counter sink the snap. Looks like it's actually been moulded into the plastic. I plan on using webbing for my snap plates, but that does look pretty sweet.

Good points. I was going to make my snap plates with webbing so I'm content that ones I've found will sit flat. Thanks.

That's good. I guess the idea is to really look at them closely when you're done. Don't just simply follow the manufacturers procedure and hammer them together. In regards to the ones I've found, they come with a tool that flares them out in six tabs. I will be sure to squish those even further into place with a bolt like you've shown.

I hear everybody recommend Tandy, and to make sure the snaps are a 5/16" post, and marked as heavy duty, but what defines good snap quality for the purpose of armour building and trooping?<br> I came across some that are made by a company called H.A. Kidd, and seem easy to use, assemble and seems to stay fastened in my tests. They only really come apart when pulled at the angle you'd use to purposely do so. After doing them up and taking them apart repeatedly they don't seem to show any signs of breakage. <br> Does that seem like a good snap?<br> Also, does the colour of any audience facing snaps matter?<br> Thanks!

If you got room for one more that would be awesome. I'm in the middle of doing my best not to mangle a set from AP that I just got a couple weeks ago. Just being able to see a complete set of armour in person would probably help quite a bit.

Thanks for the wisdom. I had my cart before my horse. Cutting the back of the knee would probably add a lof of comfort as well. And this might seem like a silly question, but are there strips on the insides of all seams as well? I'm guessing it'll add extra strength and make assembly easier. I just wasn't sure.

Just so I understand your technique here: you're flexing the joint so that when released it pushes back on the tape, and this pressure keeps the coverstrip firmly in place until the glue dries?

For keeping you side shims in place, maybe a tab system similar to this might help. <br> <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/36960-zv288bots-ap-anh-stunt-build-whoop-whoop/page-11'>http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/36960-zv288bots-ap-anh-stunt-build-whoop-whoop/page-11</a>

I've taped each pair of thigh pieces together and gave them a test drive. <br><br> Even if I hold them as high up as possible, to the point where they're really close to my ...ummm... twig and berries...? The backs of the thighs bite into the areas behind my knees quite a lot, and the idea of climbing stairs is impossible. Walking is more of a forward wobble.<br><br> Needless to say, I've got to take some off the tops of each thigh. <br><br> What's the recommended way to do this? Should I glue the pieces together first and then get chopping? For that matter, should I glue most of this stuff together first and then trim it to fit? I noticed this is what Pandatrooper did with his, but that guy is on a whole other level when it comes to this stuff. Should I follow the existing contour, or try to go for something more specific to my body type? And, is a return edge at the tops of thighs required for higher levels like Centurion?<br><br> Finally, should I get fries or onion rings with my burger?

That's a really good summary of what I have going on right now. Until you have all the pieces of a puzzle in front of you and can begin pushing them around for yourself to fit a proper solution it's pretty difficult to fully grasp what others have going on. Great explanation though, thanks!

Got any details regarding the heat gun you want to share with a noob? Using one of those things makes me nervous about damaging my armour. <br><br> Already looking pretty good btw!

I'm not 100% sure on the function of this tab system... Is its purpose to keep the ab plate lined up with the kidney plate?

Ya know... Taken out of context...

What do you mean exactly by "coated your thigh fix"? Is that paint, or a skim coat of abs paste? Looks really good!<br><br> Disregard, I just saw the thread you linked to. Pretty impressive stuff. Good work.

Thanks for the info Luc. You're right, I guess I meant Pop Expo. Do you know if 501st members still get the joy of paying full price for admission to things like this and Comic Con etc.?

Thanks Luc and Mark. Good to know about the neck too. Seems kind of like an annoying place to have a return edge rubbing on somebody. <br><br> I know the wrist and bottom of the shins don't have returns either. Is there anywhere else? Perhaps the neck of the back plate doesn't?<br><br> If I get this done in time we might get to meet at Fan Expo in Ottawa if you're going to be there Luc. I should be the one dressed like a Stormtrooper...

Can somebody let me know if I took too much of the return off this chest piece, please? Particularly the part near the neck...

The coloured lines on some of the armor in the picture... What's the deal there? Is that a different type of trooper?

Ahhh yeah! That's gotta feel good. Nice work!

That's awesome! The Man In Black is a great choice of name. <br><br> Good on your for helping out the little diabetic critter.

Growing up in an age where everything is mass produced and these little individual quirks and differences don't exist, this is a nice change. It takes some of the pressure off having everything "perfect" and gives us a bit more breathing room. I will be content with the little "imperfections" in my armor once it's complete.

Hey, Paul, the black one is Alice, and the other is Fred. There are four feline rebels on this base, and all of them have Earth human names: Fred, Alice, Genie (who is another black one) and Georgia. Feel free to post pics of your rebels everyone.