TrooperTim

A friend and squad mate is about your size. We trimmed her parts smaller and curved some of them (kidney, ab, butt) with boiling water/heat gun to give a better streamline look and fit. As Vern said, it's completely achieveable just to cut the parts smaller and not bend anything.

It looks correct, but I'll have someone chime in and confirm this. I still get confused on which side is which. The AP kit has a complete right shin with the correct inner and outer part but the inner left shin is from a right shin part. A friend of mine received his AP kit about 2 months ago and the parts arrived marked L/R inner/outer. Doesn't look like yours were marked. Here's Stukatrooper's diagram: I looked at this gallery too http://www.whitearmo...leftlegrearjpg/ ... and this thread http://www.whitearmo...ar/#entry200539

Cover strip length depends on the size of the part end to end. The measurement is a little different for everyone. The shoulder bells and forearms are the same. From "The various types of armor and where to find them" thread: http://www.whitearmo...e-to-find-them/ "ANH Derived. Helmet is screen derived but cleaned up with a smooth cap and back. Armor similar to TE2 but with some parts being different. The left inner shin is actually a duplicate of the right outer shin. The arms (Bicep, forearm and shoulders) are the same, there is no unique left and right arm." Here's one link explaining history/comparison. I'll let you read that section of the forums if you want to learn more about the topic. http://www.whitearmo...ed/#entry176872

Derrek's correct. Those measurements are used by most TKs and considered to be fairly accurate. Same measurements that I used to make mine. Cover strips can occasionally vary in width depending on your size. Whatever looks most proportional to your build. http://www.whitearmo...on/#entry270889

There's a lot of great advice here in your thread. I would be repeating their info if I were to answer your questions. Sometimes a project like this can be overwhelming. There's so much to think about and so many options available to you. I've learned to take baby steps and focus on one thing at a time. I built my TK on my own and used this forum as my manual. I had no clue what I was doing and had never come close to doing a project like this before. I didn't contact any 501st until I was approved and started trooping; even though I had lots of troopers around me. This forum and its members are here to help guide you. Even though the 501st map doesn't show anyone near Aspen, I would still register on the Mountain Garrison's forum and introduce yourself. Have you done this yet? Maybe there's someone nearby that you don't know about. It's worth asking. http://www.mg501.com/

I'm not sure who handles the CRLs with FISD. Whoever that is, that's the top person to talk to. http://www.whitearmo...ain-of-command/ Was the Field Training Officer renamed to something different? Maybe try Mathias. Unless the CRL is changed, those are the guidelines to follow, as confusing as it might sound.

I've seen this question come up before a couple times and yeah, most references I've looked at the boxes are white. I don't exactly know the reasoning behind it, but I think the decision was made based on the texture files. If the TKs drop boxes were whiter in comparrison to the TKCs in the game, then that's probably why. http://www.whitearmo...es/#entry174808 This post shows the unwrapped textures. http://www.whitearmo..._20#entry175266

You're not too skinny or short to be a trooper. There have been lots of people who take more than an inch off of parts for it to look proportionally correct on them. Don't worry about it. I'm a toothpick and my TK looks fine on me. It's all about sizing the parts correctly to fit YOU. If you need to take an inch off, I'd say trim half an inch off of both. The curve on the kidney plate should match that of your back anatomy. Posting a picture (side view/back view) might help us confirm which is up or down. On some kits the kidney and butt are one piece, but if yours came seperated, there's sometimes a return edge on the kidney and that part is the top. You can also check the "Reference Gallery" link at the top of this forum and compare your kidney plate to that in the films.

Great progress. Wearing it for Halloween would be a good test run.

Lots of great tips in this thread. If there's a table or ledge nearby, I can dress myself without assistance. Being able to do this really helps when you're the only trooper at an event, but that rarely happens. Putting this stuff on takes a lot of practice and everyone does it a little bit differently. This reminds me of an event at a library, just me and another trooper. He went out first as I suited up. I finished getting my armor on and was ready to go when our contact walked by. I asked if our blasters were alright to carry. She said yes. Well, mine was in my armor bin and at the time I didn't know how to pick stuff up in armor. Me: "Do you mind picking that up for me?" as I pointed to my E-11. Her: Blank stare, and walks away ... Guess I'm doing this without a blaster!

Good luck with your troop! I invite almost every new recruit I talk with to be a spotter/handler at an event before they finish their costume. You'll provide another set of eyes and ears, take pictures, help to build friendships with the squad mates you'll be trooping with regularly (Let a trooper know if his cod strap isn't snapped), and you'll see how everyone interacts with each other during the event. I still get anxious every time I suit up for a troop. Once you get out there, nerves will settle down and you'll get into it. Having a mic hooked up is very beneficial but not always required. Body language plays a HUGE role too.

You posted a similar topic earlier and have received answers to this question from several people. http://www.whitearmo...or-small-people I suggest you read your thread again. Did you send Phil a message about who offers 3/4 kits? http://www.whitearmo...2-funkytrigger/ Continue reading the threads in this subforum http://www.whitearmo...ead-this-first/

I have a pouch that velcros inside my thigh. There's enough room for me to reach in and grab it when I need something. I store trading cards, keys/badges, cash/card.

The points you made are very true. Thousands of people have built a TK. Learning from those before you has never been easier. There is a finish; but all the fun is in the journey. Good luck with the build Kevin!

Why am I'm not surprised they're sold out of the "Deluxe" adult costume. I do admit, I like the whole skull cap stich looking thing. Your death trooper looks way better Steve.

Is putting the chest and back on like a t-shirt easier than other methods? Have you tried it this way? Go to 7:38 in the video. Adjust the straps to where it fits well, then have the back snap to the chest.------------

Correct. Although on my armor, I do have a small return on the top of my forearms. http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:FISD_CRL

Congratulations trooper!

When I built my AP I just followed the mold lines - they will show how much to trim off. Run a pencil in that groove so you can better see where to cut. I kept a small return on mine. If I remember correctly, the shoulder bells are identical so it wouldn't matter which way you put them on. When in doubt, watch the film and look at screenshots. http://www.whitearmo...=20#entry206498

Here's one of my favorites. Not sure if something similar has been posted on the forum. I used this tutorial to strap my armor together. http://www.tonybarne....com/snaps.html

I'm not an expert with the Incinerator, but looks good to me. I really dig the candle on the flamethrower!!!

I'm not sure how Keith has his setup, but this is what mine look like. I have soft velcro on the inside of the shin and rough velcro sewn to the boot straps. The velcro travels almost the height of the shin, keeping it pushed down and stationary. These two parts literally become one piece. I have foam placed on both boots to keep the sniper plate forward and prevent it from going into the thigh, but also because I'm skinny and want all the parts to fit snug. You don't really need foam on your right shin, and if you do I recommend placing it in the back. That will move the shin backward and prevent it from hitting the boxes on the right thigh. I've done 100+ troops (and many bar/club adventures) and my TK boots are still going strong. I've never done any repairs or touch ups on them. If you need to repaint or touch up I recommend Nu-Life leather/vinyl spray paint. Also, and I'm sure you've done this, loose all return edges on the bottom of the shin. You want as little as possible rubbing up against the boots. --------

For the butt plate, I compared my stuff to the film and EIB threads to see if I was cutting it right. Well, I did that for all the parts. If you're talking about seperating the butt from the kidney, you can use a box cutter or rotary tool like a dremel. Be very careful with box cutters. The "sniper" plate on the left shin is glued on. You can connect the "ammo" boxes on the right thigh by brads/split rivets. I acutally used pop rivets then glued button thumb tacks where the holes were, to mimic the appearance of brads.

Death Star employee of the week. Trooper has talent.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here; but I don't see that affecting Centurion. If you have to cut the ab/cod to make the armor fit correctly and line everything up to better mimic the originals - do it. Test to make sure the canvas belt covers everything before you commit.