heartstopper85

Must be my screen I see that difference when looking at PC compared to phone Side bar if anyone is able to pick up that 4 pack in interested in buying that person dinner lol Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

If you didn't tell me you were working with foam I would have never known and guessed it was a fiberglass kit. Awesome job this is a fun read through!

Seems like black series toy should be enough Ref material to warrant a "live action" version of the costume. The 501st has used Hot toys and other types of toys and other media to develop CRLs. This shouldn't be too hard of one to do imo. Just TFA trooper with a black pauldron and unique paint scheme and unlike Captain Cardinal we actually have a shot of the boots.

Side notes: After trying different rigging methods with the cod and butt plate I ended up going with Velcro attached to 2 - 2 in nylon straps. Those attach right to the Velcro on the inside of the ab plate. The weight of the abs hasn't presented any issues. Obviously the more sure area you have for Velcro the better. The bucket lenses had to be swapped from bubble lenses to flat lenses; trooper needs glasses to see, the flat shield also improve vision IMO and I have made a similar mod in my own bucket. Lesson learned: We had sized the chest and back without the ab piece to start and had no issues, this was a mistake because you should always size your ab first than size your chest back to the ab. Luckily using the great people on the First Order Facebook page I was able to buy a sheet of ABS and make what I call "wings" that Velcro to the back and the chest on the sides. As you can see from the above pics its not even noticeable. For the holster I had some issues with it sitting flush against the leg. I ended up shimming the Chicago screw with scrap abs to adjust. If you are using CA glue your stuck with the height you have so take your time and adjust till your shims pull the holster flush. I think I ended up with an extra shim maybe from scrap ABS on the top side. Also always be careful on return edge, I had to modify a bit for the size of this trooper to get some movement. In the end though we ended up coming with a different process for kitting up. Flexibility and movement is always going to be bit restricted in this kit, not sure what other mods I could think of to improve arm movement Also fun before I even started there was a huge crack in the ab. I backed with scrap abs and filled with bondo and sanded smooth. I'm a bit concerned about this in the long term but luckily using over the counter paint should mean it will be a simple fix. (sand, paint, clear, wet sand) Would be more heartbreaking if automotive paints were used. Overall I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed working with montana brand paints. I had worked with them on my shoretrooper and now this kit and it was a great process. As I have said before just use the Montana primer before anything else and let that cure well than make sure you wet sand the primer smooth with 2k to 3k. Small painting tip though have a clean towel with you when painting and wipe your nozzle clean after each stop to prevent runs. And always check on the weather. I got this done by having my parts and paint stored indoors before I started and curing indoors. The weather was usually right around 55 F each day but that's really the lowest temp you can pull off. If there is anything I can do to help or provide feedback feel free to ask. Would love to see more First Order troopers this year!

It's a TDK bucket; glad to see my finishing work is being compared to Anovos or maybe I'm not I feel like I'm waiting for approval on this like it's my own probably because I've spent so much time this past year working on it lol. Thanks for all the good comments and feedback

Oh yeah agree but for basic approval just adding that. Truly disappointing for time they spent working on this Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Forearms are same as kb uses now just use bar magnets and trim to size Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Lol not that beautiful but I guess when you make a fantasy in your head it's hard to not see the rocks under the beautiful ocean Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Did you see KB was offering the bucket; moded an old tfa mold. Saw on Vonreg build; let the person making Pyre know as well. Ya'll should hit each other up if you haven't. Will be joining yall in my vonreg soon

Did you see KB is offering the bucket. Saw it on the Vonreg build group on FB and remembered I had saw someone doing a pyre Not a big fan of toon style mostly because I have a stubborn belief that if Lucasfilm put Pyre on screen in a live action movie how would he look. But oh well I'm pressing on with my Vonreg build and looking forward to seeing this build as well! Gold Chrome is awesome!

Good luck trooper! Just remember success in your base coat starts with solid prep work. I would strongly advise sanding your primer all the way to 3000 the Phasma's do it and I actually learned this trick from local Phasma. If your primer looks great in theory everything else should look good as well.

Congrats!

The KB if you make it flush enough and trim it right you almost done notice the seam. I'm prob gonna touch up the one I'm working on now with abs paste. The KB kit is shockingly very similar to what I'm seeing from Anovos they must have been both thinking the same things

if anyone receives and wants to sell pm me. I got off the run to go with a worse maker that still has yet to ship fully Wishing the best for everyone on this run looked like they had a lot pulled from pictures floating around

I love both of these the variants with cogs seems like a bit much but who am I kidding ill glady get both

Avoid. Refuses to refund people. Has yet to send out a full kit. Trying to get more people on run to supposedly pay refunds Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Add MIMIC to this list for FOTK

That sucks remember when I pre order at last celebration glad I got off. No way I'd have it for this celebration Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Yep you can just use the JB weld. Id add some shims behind for structure. Should be easy enough to blend in with paint. This kit is all about filling seams. Keep pressing you got this

Late to party any updates?

Well this should be done soon. Thanks to Calvin and myself... troopers helping troopers. Was fun to take on another build at times, though I could have done without the PMs at Midnight or 3am about progress and random questions If anyone is interested in Montana brand paints do yourself a favor and start with Montana Primer. Rustoleum continues to be a source of all my issue because it just doesn't cure well. The montana brand paints cost more but they cure better. You do have to use a Clear gloss laquer from Montana to get the shine but it works and looks pretty well. Will try to update with pics, if you have been on the First Order Facebook page you have been following the build. Was glad to work as a team, Calvin did all the assembly and I did all the paint work and Sebastian paid us in beer and pizza.

The horror continues; Mimic comes back from the dead posts some pics of the last parts and claims to be able to cast all parts in a day and ship by Christmas. Same song same dance. I ask about timeline of kit and get told my refund should be here by end of month. So I guess if that happens gonna give up on a TFA build and wait for those new red troopers I keep hearing rumors about. I do have a flametrooper to work on as well but no motivation to do that right now. I also have a Vonreg bucket no armorers yet but maybe KB. I'm really hoping KB keeps getting back on his feet. Not the best looking armor but it's good enough and at least he has been getting stuff out. Damn shame I actually do like how Mimic's kit looks and everytime I see a pic I'm impressed at the craftsmanship. Just not a great business person. He is trying to get more people to jump on the run to fund refunds but I would say stay away until he ships a full kit out than make a judgement based on reviews of the product and make your own educated guess what might happen. I did get half of my armor in and that half is pretty awesome, I might use it and my Jim TLJ parts to scrap together a TFA approval. Just need to adjust the TD and I have a new cod shoulder bells yoke and all that stuff that's different

First order armor with a OT TK nice; Hope JJ is looking at this for ideas!

Vonreg is supposed to be an unused concept from episode 9 prob saying too much on a thread about a set armor from a movie on 2015 that won't be ready by 2019 Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Gotcha I might be a buyer if someone gets one in and needs to get rid of it. Hearing rumors about a new red trooper for 9 so that might steal my interest away