edlitmus

Thanks for the clarification, and it was great meeting you at Dragon Con! My wife will be relieved I don't have to redo her belt. :-D

While talking to Daetrin at Dragon Con he mentioned that the stunt style ANH trooper should only have the 2 lower rivets/snaps on the belt for the holster. I was wondering how strict that guideline is, as I built my wife's suit before I heard about that and assumed that 4 rivets/snaps was the way to go. Once I finish my belt (and build a replacement thermal det *cough*Dragon Con*cough*) I'd like to try and get our EIB status and that is the only hold up on her suit I think.

Ha! I guess that solves that mystery...

I recently tried my hand at using Meltonian Leather Spray stuff. Same problem, after 3 coats and a week of cure time it cracked the first time tried walking in them. I even prepped the leather and lightly sanded it with super fine grit sand paper. How are the rest of you dying your black boots white?

The helmet arrived the other day (thanks 4510! you do amazing work!) and I got it painted! I also managed to finish the upper arms. I'm getting the shin pieces going and trimming the big pieces later today. Once I get all the pieces trimmed and the edges sanded, I will move on to paint. One question, what are everyone's thought on using primer or not? I know there have been some issues with paint flaking off, would primer help? Or is the flaking due to using the wrong paint? I'm planing on using Rustoleum Professional for the whole suit and giving it a nice long cure time. If anyone has thoughts on the primer vs no primer and flaking problems, please chime in!

Here's a recent pic of me in my armor: Here are some comparison shots of my thigh pieces side by side with a TE2 thigh piece (full set of pics in this Flickr set): Obviously I could trim more to get the look closer to the TE2, but I'd be taking too much off at this point. I really wish I had just trimmed them more like the TE2 to begin with, but I didn't know any better when I first got the FX suit.

Yeah, that's a good one. I am pretty much following every build thread I can to get ideas and advice. This suit is much trickier than anything I have done to date. I want to be sure to get it right!

Congrats! I'm glad to see another TE2 build, the more the merrier!

Not too much progress to report as I have been busy all weekend trooping for a fan film, but I did manage to get the left thigh trimmed and the front glued: I will have to shim the back a bit, but I am going to wait until I have more done elsewhere before I get to that. I can't believe how skinny those actors must have been. There is no way I could fit into this suit. (sniff...) Ah, well. I can live vicariously through my wife.

I have trimmed my thighs to look more accurate, and it does help the look quite a bit.

Yes, sir! I am paying close attention to those lines, I think those are the real secret to the proper look.

Okay! As soon as I got off work I started working on the smaller pieces; handbacks, forearms and upper arms. First a word of caution: wear gloves when trimming armor, or this might happen to you: That circular scar used to not be there. It hurt. A lot. Okay, enough about that... Handbacks: Marked: Scored: Ready to be sanded: The upper arms were a little tricky. The one on the left in the next pic is easy to see where to trim, but the other is a little bit tricky, so I had to do it by eye: The same thing happens with the forearm pieces, one side is easy to see where to trim, the other not so much. Tomorrow I start on the calves and thighs!

Awesome info guys! I will be sure to take care when I get started.

No sooner had I unpacked the armor to bask in its glory then I realized: I have no idea how to trim this stuff. I am used to ABS, not HIPS! Oh noes! What to do? Ask the man himself, naturally! Q: Should I use a utility knife or can I use a dremel? Mr. X: "I use both - however, I'm very old school and the majority of my serious trimming is done with a good old Xacto knife (and plenty of sharp blades)." And: Mr. X: "Also, sandpaper, sandpaper, sandpaper. I usually start out smooth the edges with a 100 grit. Then finish up with 250 or 300. I've never had to use primer to paint the body armor but you can if you wish. The Rustoleum Professional Glossy White has become my favorite paint. TE recommended that or KRYLON Fusion." Sweet! Now I know. And knowing is half the battle! Yo Joe! (Sorry, I'm always a bit goofy in the morning...) Trimming begins this evening. I'm thinking of starting on smaller pieces first (hand back, thermal det, etc). See you then!

I came home to a beautiful sight today! This is a set for my wife (who can fit into it. I alas have to loose a few... I will try and post pics of my progress as I go, and I will keep a Flickr set of the pics updated here: TE2 Armor Set This is going to be fun, if a bit nerve wracking! Thanks Mr. X!!!!