Chopper857

hook system for the shins, this was fun !!! after much research of other builds went for placement of 25 mm from top and bottom and split the difference for the third hole sat the elastic straps back about 5 mm from the edge New Sniper knee plate arrived this time left proud of what i layed out to be trim line and will flush through once set AT last finished those shins

here's a few posts that will catch up on the last week or so. Sniper knee was bothering me to much so asked the question and was able to source a new one, whilst i was waiting carried on with everything else !!! shoulder straps now positioned and glued in place, (thanks to patience of my boy stand in trooper for a while )

Arrrgh !!!!!!!! so near the end think i got over excited and trimmed to much off my sniper knee plates, help!!! is this possible to save would it go through clearance ??????

moving on to shoulder bridges just roughing out a bit gave me enough flex to pull them flat for a traditional score and snap approach then i borrowed a bit of advice from crickets build and added a few spacers in the front depression of the bridge to give me a better glue surface later

ok nearing the finish line stuck my ab buttons on last night , good old magnets

well new shin has arrived . feeling slightly more confident this far into my build here's a short storyboard for shins 1. marked 5 mm return on top of shin and trimmed to that and flushed through base returns 2 made new templates of base sweeps for laying out any re positioning later 3. scored and snapped 2 new cover strips 20 mm front and 25 mm rear 4 scored and snapped on front edge 10mm away from form change 5 joined two halves together with duct tape and sized against my shin centralizing score line across both halves at rear 6 fitted front and rear cover strips now basically back to were i was prior to messing up two weeks ago and not stressing about rear alignment to much

with one eye on EIB and even Centurion managed to source a couple of little upgrades for my bucket once I have gone through base approval.

a little bit of painting done, hands are not as steady as i could of hoped for and then whilst that's drying i finished off my belt

Have now glued in place shoulder bell straps, re measured for placement after feedback form test fit then reduced a bit more also went through the process of attaching shoulder to bicep to foreman in line with screen references and done

ok whilst waiting for my new shin to arrive i have stripped back down everything for a clean up adjust and fit. first off re visited all the screws on the main body strapping system for a countersink and paint job then finally glued in place shoulder elastic and snap

Good luck mate abs or pvc ?? Believe me measure, measure doubt yourself measure again and then cut

Cheers for the words and advice gents, much appreciated

will be using the hook and elastic method to pull them together my right one is sort of ok but on the left looks like i went wonky trimming for size and have a largish gap in the middle between the two sides if i take off much more top and bottom its going to get snug, . but RS have said they will send me a new set to have another crack at it .(cannot fault the team at RS). Also i just cannot seem to get the tops to line up at the rear as well !!! or am i over thinking it !!! just one more thing with the RS shins being identical left and right. The right shin will have a lower edge on the out side of the boot, would you adjust the base of the shins even or would you just re trim the left shin so you also have a longer side on the outside of your boot ?? thanks

Cheers man , yeah the tape was pulling on the shoulder bells, will just pull the strap in a bit and glue in place hopefully that will sort it. Will the bath trick work with PVC ?? Really worried about the bloody shins but the guys at RS are looking at some photos were I had concerns for me, hoping for some helpful hints..

Ok right now for my first real test fit please be aware there is a lot of tape on the go as i am trying to judge for fit and placement so any feedback greatly received. also the shins are currently the bane of my life so that's why they are a bit gappy and wonky

secured the main thigh strap elastics in place will white out as originals later on

added the shoulder bell strap elastics and taped in place the biceps trying to follow original placements

moving towards a test fit i secured the ab closure strap and attached the shoulder elastic straps to the back plate only aiming for a 40 mm gap with the shoulder snap dead center

last bit of drilling added the cod strap (used ukswraths dimensions on this bit)

right now testing out the elastic loops i made earlier used 2 " on the rear plates and 2.5" inch loops on the front then i attached the first set of bifucated rivets on the side then finally joined both halves together

getting brave and having done yet more research laid out and drilled for the side rivets

following the same methodology i laid out and drilled the ab and chest plates

ok moving on the main body parts of the Armour i laid out the rear kidney plate as master and followed this though on to the back and butt plates

whilst in riveting mode I worked on the lower knee ammo box

bit more research to confirm a few things and now ammo boxes in position Ammo boxes and rivets covers on main belt now just need to be glued in place