shashachu

It would have no impact on L2/L3; just ensure that the black oval on the shins is still visible when the spats are attached.

Haha all DO reviews get posted in the staff area so that we can sign off on them before posting. I accidentally posted my draft review here instead of the staff area. It was very briefly but I didn't want you or anyone else to get confused if they saw it and then it disappeared.

Hi Ardeshir, Thanks for your application and for the quick fix with the frown paint. CRL and EIB Application Requirements All required photos are now in and, after review, we are pleased to award you another Expert Infantry! On behalf of the DO team and myself, many congratulations! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly In this area we review observations made by your fellow troopers and the DO team. Some observations may lead to suggestions to improve the overall look of your armor. Note that we consider both text (CRL) and pictures (screen caps/reference images) when reviewing submissions Starting with the helmet, Anovos helmets tend to paint the vocoders a little soft compared to screen-used helmets, so if you like you could spend a few minutes sharpening up the shape. Reference Images: Next, we do want the belt to be at the button of the ab buttons, but be careful that your belt is not *too* high. Ideally it is touching or just barely covering the bottom of the ab buttons. Next, it's worth pointing out that ideally the thermal detonator screws would be closer to the end of the clips, and the ends of the clips themselves could be more squared-off. Reference Image: Finally, I noticed that the ends of your ABS belt tend to stick out a bit. It would give you a cleaner look if it wrapped around your body a bit more. This could be accomplished with a hot water bath. Reference Images: Centurion Requirements In this section we prepare you for Centurion. More photos may be requested in the future that allow us to make better decisions on possible adjustments. If there are any areas of concern they will be discussed here. Because Centurion photos show much more detail than EIB, items to pertaining to Centurion might be seen there and not here. We try to point out all that we can from what is seen, but the final accuracy is the responsibility of the trooper. I'm nearly certain this is a dressing issue or maybe even a photo angle issue, but your left dropbox seems to be not quite aligned with the ends of your belt. So for your Centurion application, be sure to double check the positioning when taking your photos. Reference Image: And that's it! Congratulations on your _fourth_ EIB award, and just one small correction and we'll see you at Centurion soon.

Apologies if you briefly saw a post from me here; I accidentally posted my draft review here instead of in the DO area. :facepalm:

Understood. Again, this isn't something we go crazy over, so just do your best.

Hey Ardeshir! Thanks for your patience. It's always a pleasure to see applications from you. One possible area for correction. It could just be the photo, but it appears that you may have a bit of the black frown paint on the gums of the teeth: Like ANH armor, ESB helmets should also be sure not to have any frown paint on the gums. If the paint is indeed on the gums, we'll need to you correct that before moving on with your applications; otherwise if you can post different photos that show otherwise, that would be fine as well. Reference: Thanks!

Hey Shawn, Thanks so much for your patience. Joseph is swamped with doing merch runs, so I'll be taking over this review. You've done a superb job with your build, but there are a couple items which we'd like to see corrected before proceeding with your application. First, the L3 CRL states Canvas belt must be firm / sturdy in appearance. No creasing or sagging  You've done a really nice job with your self-made belt, but I do see some creasing around the edges. It may simply be a matter of ironing out those creases, or maybe just adjusting the way you're wearing the belt. Reference: Next, you've done a great job with the shoulder bell gap on the front, but the rear one is still a bit larger than we'd like to see. There should be a minimal gap between the shoulder armor and the chest/back plates. Ideally there's essentially no gap but we understand that armor kits and troopers' bodies are different, so please do the best that you can. In your case it may just be a matter of trying to even out the gap between the front and rear. Reference Image: Please let us know if you have any questions!

Congrats!

Congrats, Dani!

Hi Dave, Thanks for your application and for the fixes with your belt and forearms. CRL and Centurion Application Requirements All required photos are now in and, after review, we are pleased to welcome you to Centurion! On behalf of the DO team and myself, many congratulations! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly In this area we discuss areas that could benefit from additional improvement. Note that we consider both text (CRL) and pictures (screen caps/reference images) when reviewing submissions Starting from the top, the vocoder paint is nice and clean, but it looks like it could be extended some to better match the shape of the plastic: Reference Image: Moving on, your right shoulder strap seems to want to sit higher than the left. A hot water bath to curve it more should help it stay in place. Reference Image: Next, you appear to have a very slight overlap between the back and kidney plates. Not enough to block you from Centurion, but worth double checking the strapping in that area. It could also just be that your back piece sits away from your body a bit, causing it to look like there's an overlap. Reference Image: Similarly, you appear to have a possible slight overlap between the right side ab and kidney. Ideally these would meet but not overlap. Reference Image: Next, your butt plate could use some adjustment as well. As pointed out, it's sticking out a bit on the right side, something that could be resolved with some heat bending. Next, the back of your right thigh and the butt plate are running into each other some, so you could consider dropping the thighs just a touch to resolve it. Reference Image: Moving along, ideally the gap where the lower rear ridge of your thigh armor meets would be filled, or you could simply back it with a small square of ABS so that the black of your undersuit doesn't show through. Reference Image: Finally, a minor dressing issue. It looks best when your cover strips are aligned, so next time you're getting suited up, just double check the rotation of your shins. Some troopers also add velcro to the front of their boots to keep the shins from rotating or otherwise shifting around. Reference Image: And that's it! Congratulations again from the entire DO team on reaching Centurion!

Hi Bryan, Happy Monday! Taking a closer look at your new photos, I do think you might have overcorrected the belt position from your EIB pics. As Glen stated, it can be a *slight* overlap of the bottom buttons, but your bottom button of the smaller button panel is completely covered, making it look like there are only 3 buttons. Do you think you could submit a new photo with the belt position slightly adjusted down? You don't need to get completely suited up, just the torso and belt is fine. This is what we're aiming for: Thank you!

Thanks, Dave! I'll be with you as soon as I can. Hope you're having a restful weekend.

Hi Bryan, Nice work on the fixes from your EIB application. After discussing with the DO team, we'd like you to make a few corrections before we move forward with your application. First, you've improved the shoulder bell gap a lot since your EIB app, but the right one is still a bit larger than we'd like to see. It looks like there's room to bring in the strapping, or it could be a simple dressing issue. Reference: Next, a bit of paint cleanup. As mentioned above, your frown paint shouldn't be on the 'gums' of the frown at all. I've indicated the areas I can see, but definitely take a look at the reference photos to see that slightly underpainting the teeth is acceptable. Also, this is something that was visible in your EIB application but I missed it; so I apologize for the oversight. Reference Image: Finally, we'd still liked you to clean up the ab button paint. Similarly to the frown paint, you can err on the side of underpainting the buttons. Reference Image: Both of the paint cleanups should be relatively straightforward - just a bit of careful work with some paint thinner or mineral spirits. Please reach out if we can be of assistance. Have a great weekend! -Sha Sha

Hi Bryan, Thanks for your patience; we were a bit busy with the hullabaloo around EIB #1000. I'll get back to you soon.

On you would be preferable. Take your time.

Hi Dave! Just checking in on your progress here with the updated belt photos. Definitely take any time you need, but I wanted to make sure you weren't waiting on us for anything. The wrist return edge looks great.

Congrats, Will!

Hi @Shimo, it makes the reviews a lot easier for us if you paste direct links to the larger sized images instead of us having to click through on each image to see it larger. Can you update your (and Dani's) applications with the larger photos? You can click into each photo, and right-click and select 'Copy image address' (probably slightly different language on different Browsers) and then paste that URL. For example, for your chest armor image: Thanks!

Thanks for the updated pics! After conferring with the rest of the DO team, we'd like you to remove the remaining bits indicated below: I think at this point it's largely semantics and maybe not even correct to call that 'return edge' but the idea is that we remove all traces of the narrowing of the wrist. Should be a relatively quick fix. Thanks!

@Dani I really like the mods you made to the abdomen to fit your smaller frame. Great job with your build.

Hi Dave! Unless my eyes our deceiving me, it does still look like you have some return edge at the 'hump' of the forearm: It looks like the forearm is curving in a bit at the wrist, when it should be flat. If it helps, here is the photo from my own submission: Your updated photos don't need to be super-duper close up. I'd rather see clear, in-focus photos than extreme closeups. Thanks!

Hey Dave! Mike, who did your original EIB review, is no longer on the DO team, so I'll be doing your Centurion review. You've done some great fixes since your EIB submission, but there are a couple of small fixes that will need to happen before we can proceed with your application. First, the L3 Hero CRL states: The top of the ABS ammo belt should sit at or just above the bottom of the central and vertical abdomen button panels. Your is sitting *just* a bit low. When you check out the reference photos, it's actually ok for the belt to slightly overlap the bottom ab buttons. On my own kit, I added a couple of small strips of velcro to the back of my belt to keep it from sagging. Reference Images: Next, the L3 CRL states: No return edge on the inside of the front of the forearm is allowed. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo, but I do believe you still have some return edge on the wrist side of your forearm. You'll need to make sure there is no ABS slanting inwards. Could you please post updated/clearer photos of both wrists as well? Should be a fairly simple fix with scissors, a sander, or a dremel. Reference Image: Thanks! Sha Sha

Hi Sven, Thanks for your application and for the frown paint fix! CRL and EIB Application Requirements All required photos are now in and, after review, we are pleased to welcome you to Expert Infantry rank. On behalf of the DO team and myself, many congratulations! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly In this area we review observations made by your fellow troopers and the DO team. Some observations may lead to suggestions to improve the overall look of your armor. Note that we consider both text (CRL) and pictures (screen caps/reference images) when reviewing submissions Starting from the top, as was already mentioned, the bordering paint on the traps and tears of your helmet is a bit thick. You could address this by carefully painting over some of the black border with gray paint. Reference Images: Next, your vocoder paint could be cleaned up a bit to make it more symmetric. Reference Image: Moving along, you have a bit of a gap between your kidney and back. It's not so large as to block Centurion, but I'd take a look at the strapping and see if you can reduce it. Reference Image: Moving on to your arms, as was already mentioned, bringing your forearms up will even out the black gaps, giving you a more polished look and ensuring your forearms aren't running in to your hand plates. Reference Image: The ends of the TD clips should ideally be square off, not rounded, and the screws should be closer to the end. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning. Reference Image: Next, the outer buttons on your belt is quite far away from the edge of the belt. I'm unsure if perhaps your belt is a little long, or maybe the button could be moved out. Reference Image: Next, your butt plate is sticking out a bit. Ideally it should sit right below the kidney. You might need to add or adjust some strapping to keep it in place. Reference Image: One of the rivets holding on your ammo knee pack is a bit close to the corner of the ammo pack. Ideally it would be moved in a bit. Reference Image: Moving on, there is a slight gap between the bottom ridge of the rear of your thighs. It would look cleaner if this gap was filled, or even just backed with a small square of white ABS. Reference Image: Moving into the sniper knee, on the screen-used suits, they were trimmed more angularly, while yours is more curved. Reference Image: Centurion Requirements In this section we prepare you for Centurion. More photos may be requested in the future that allow us to make better decisions on possible adjustments. If there are any areas of concern they will be discussed here. Because Centurion photos show much more detail than EIB, items to pertaining to Centurion might be seen there and not here. We try to point out all that we can from what is seen, but the final accuracy is the responsibility of the trooper. Starting at the top, the L3 CRL states: Ear screws shall be slotted, flat topped, countersunk and painted white. Your lower ear screws are sticking out a bit, so they would need to be carefully countersunk. Reference Image: Next, the L3 CRL states: There should be a minimal gap between the shoulder armor and the chest/back plates. Your shoulder bell gap is a bit bigger than we like to see. You should be able to shorten the strapping holding the shoulder bells on to bring them closer. You can also trim off all of the lower return edge on your shoulder bells. Reference Images: Next, the L3 CRL states: The top of the ABS ammo belt should sit at or just above the bottom of the central and vertical abdomen button panels. Your belt it sitting just a little too low. On my own kit I added two small strips of velcro to the belt to keep it from sagging. As you can see in the reference pics, even having the belt slightly overlap the lower buttons is ok. Reference Image: Continuing on, the L3 CRL states: Ab button paint shall not extend beyond the bottom of the actual raised button. Your ab button paint it a bit too large so you'd have to remove some of the paint. You can even make the paint slightly smaller than the button. I've also indicated where you can square off the ab button panels, but that is not a Centurion blocker. Reference Image: Next, two areas where you'd have to make some additions: Ideally there no gap between the abdomen and kidney armor. Abdominal and Kidney Plate align horizontally at top. A single visible seam line is present. Three rivets, approximately 5/16"(8mm) diameter, are present on the left side of the abdomen armor. Note: The original rivets used for the TK armor were bifurcated rivets or split rivets. Rivets are equally spaced along the depth of the armor and about 10mm from the edge. The heads are rounded or domed. Note: Paperclip brads are not considered to have a domed head. Rivets are painted white. In addition to aligning the ab and kidney armor as well as eliminating that last little gap between the ab and kidney, you would need to add the 3 white rivets on the left side. I've roughly indicated where they should go in the image. Also note that they do not have to be functional. Reference Images: The L3 CRL states: A single male snap on the top right corner of the ab plate is present. This is also called the 'Han snap' because it's visible on screen in the detention block scene when Han removes his helmet. You would need to add this snap on your armor for Centurion. Reference Image: Moving on to the belt, the L3 CRL states: Drop boxes are vertically aligned with the end of the ammo belt with minimal gap between belt and box. Yours are hanging a bit low as well as not quite aligned with the end of the belt. Many of us add a bit of glue to the white elastic holding the drop boxes on in order to keep them in place. Reference Image: The L3 CRL further states: The corners of the plastic ammo belt shall be trimmed at a 45 degree angle that that meets the outer edge of the cloth belt. It's a little hard to see, but I don't think your corners quite meet in the right place. You might be able to trim them to end at the correct place, or you could also try trimming back some of the fraying on your belt so it's not so wide. Reference Image: Finally, the L3 CRL states: Hand guards shall be latex or latex-like, solid white or painted white, and affixed to rubber gloves with no visible strapping or stitching. I'm fairly certain your hand plates are ABS, so they would need to be replaced with flexible ones. There are a few sellers here on FISD selling Centurion-approvable handplates. And that's it! There are a number of changes that you'll need to make to your armor in order to reach Centurion, but I do hope we see your application there soon. In the meantime, please accept our heartfelt congratulations on reaching the rank of EIB!

Great looking build, Will! One of us should be with you soon.

Hi @Welshtudor75 just wanted to be sure you saw my comment - we'll need you to embed all the photos inside of the post.