bartonajb

Thanks for taking the time to look over those Tony. As much as it will pain me to ruin the canon of my kit I’m thinking that even one strap in the middle could pull the chest down about a cm or so. You can see here how it sits currently but how it could come down. And it’s effect on the front view Daniel, thanks for the perspective on TK movement expectations. I guess I’ll give up considering downward dogs and sun salutations in suit [emoji12] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any more helpful? If nothing else this got me to clean the bathroom mirror! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Appreciate the help. Here are some photos which were a bit tough to take solo but hopefully helpful. Looking foreword. Looking down Bending forward I think that if I were to lengthen the shoulder straps I would also have to change out my chest to abdomen bracket loops to be longer. Current ones are a little under an inch with to movement of the chest on abdomen. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks guys! Got a fitting question for you. As I have been trying my torso on frequently I notice that the chest cuts into the front of my neck whenever I look down or bent past 20 degrees or so at the waist. Standing strait with head forward is fine.I cut the return off the upper chest which helped some but I’m thinking of cutting it down a little bit more. I’m 5’8 so on the shorter side. I’m just curious how much range of motion for neck and waist flexion one should expect before I start cutting away. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Finally I have made progress enough to actually feel like it’s worth posting on. With my left thigh I applied and removed my front cover strip four times and couldn’t get my edges tight enough to be satisfactory. I eventually had to accept the gap at the bottom and filled it in with ABS paste as Daniel suggested. I put the inner strip on first for a backing for the paste. I had already trimmed the right top to align before seeing MrSnrubs advice. I just cut it to match the same profile. For the thigh ammo plate I cut down the height to about 4mm from each box. For the length I only trimmed off the minimum of rough edge and that length worked out well. I used my TD to mark the corner profile. I put it in a hot water bath to make a nice curve easier to work with while attaching. I found a saucepan I had about the same circumference as the thigh bottom and boiled it for about a minute. Remove with tongs and hold in position wearing gloves to cool in place. Drilled rivet hole 10 mm in and down from back top corner of belt and aligned about 1/4 inch from back edge of thigh. Attached with tube rivets. I also slightly trimmed back the lower margin of the cover strip because it seemed like it would fit best slightly angled up and abutting the strip. Then applied glue and clamped. Final result I have also made good progress on the shins (last step!!!) but I’ll post that later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your buttons for the belt will look like this Just need to cut each one out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was thinking about that if this does not work. I’m glad you mentioned that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Progress has been exceedingly slow. I have found the thighs to be the most frustrating step for me so far. I have been working on the left one for the last week as that required the least material removal at the top. I don’t have big thighs so had to remove a decent amount of material from the back for a reasonable fit. I think this made the curve at the front fairly steep as I had a hard time clamping both sides with the cover strip st the same time. The gap kept opening up on one side or the other so I elected to attach the strip to one side at a time. This made it easier to attach the other half however after spending 72 hours getting that one front cover strip on I ended up with a disagreeable gap at the bottom when the clamps and magnets came off. Sooooo... off came the strip. I sanded down the inner edge of the halves a bit and I’m hoping it’s going to fit tighter together now. Guess we will see in 24-36 hours. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cool, good to know. I think I might go for it. I feel like a bobble head in my lid right now. I’m using the screen accurate foam RS sends with it but I think I’m going to trade it out for a hard hat liner. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m curious how the Velcro liner is working out in your lid. I’m thinking of copying your idea because I like the idea of being able to easily attach and adjust things like the electronics etc. have you tried that stuff out yet? Feel like things are going to hold? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m gonna need a little guidance here. The thighs have been rough trimmed and fronts have each been cut 10mm from the raised edge in anticipation of a 20mm cover strip. They each have uneven top margins, right much more than left as you can see. I have penciled a line to trim to an even profile. This should be good? I don’t have massive thighs so they are going to need to lose more material on the back. My big question is how snug should these be? Most pictures I have looked at show that they seem pretty close fitting. I saw another recommendation for leaving a thumb width between suit and armor all around. Want to make sure I do this right the first time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Daniel and Tony for the feedback. The 2 inch strap was already glued to bicep so I just had to tape the strap into forearm. Here are the revised arms with before and after comparison of reduced size biceps and forearms. Before... After... Before... After... Thanks for all the help so far everyone! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats on the big day! Don’t worry, I had to do the same thing with BBB[emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A quick question for those of you who have been wearing these things out and about for a while. About how much range of motion should one expect at the elbow? I find that currently I have a little over 90degrees at the elbow. Clearly it’s the inner forearm limiting it any further. I have no return edge there already and I find as I trim in more bit by bit mobility improves. I’m just trying to avoid exposing too much black if I’m striving for range of motion beyond normal. Once I have this decided on I can attach the strap and my fully revised arms will be set ( I hope). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea there’s no way I would dare to put scissors to plastic today. I tried to just zone out on the PlayStation but almost chucked a controller out the window. Settled into brewing an ipa kit I had and watching ROTJ right now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can I grab a quick clarification before I start my thigh trimming? So as far as return edges go I keep reading conflicting opinions. I know they are not required but add to the appearance of thickness. Others have stated that they cut them off for comfort. As a starting point what do most of you leave for upper and lower edges? I’m running on 4 hours sleep from a late shift and just can’t tolerate trying to determine this on my own any more today. Thanks guys! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Only 370 Centurions??? Now you made my want it even more! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right now I just can't afford laying out $160, or more, for a toy space gun just to get a badge. Personally, I know that my armor meets all the specs and I put 30+ hours into modifying a blaster, but right now I have more time than money. If you don’t mind me asking. What’s wrong with your blaster that prevents centurion level? If I’m reading this correctly you built one already? I ask because I just started on my own e-11 build. The question I have been already wondering is to what detail the blaster has to be at to make centurion? Does it go beyond the few details listed in the CRL? Congrats on your build and approval! Andy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m following this closely since I’m about to start on the legs and for some reason find this the most intimidating step so far Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. Still working on re sizing my arms. Just finished the right bicep and have moved onto the left today. You can see the size difference now with the new on the left and the old on the right. I am amazed at how much more material I was able to remove and still have them fit! The difference now is that they fit snug enough to stay on my arm on their own but remain comfortable. I got the drop boxes on today as well and I think the belt assembly is done. I cut two strips of 2 inch white elastic each 10 inches long. Looped over belt and marked a hole 1/2 inch from end. Punched a 1/8 inch hole through, marked the hole on the box while aligning top of box with bottom of belt plastic. Drilled 1/8 hole in back of box and riveted in place. I also marked and cut out around snap location on elastic. Final result. Planning on adding e6000 to glue strap to back of belt once I get a couple of clamps freed up. The mail man was kind to me this morning so I have something else to work on while I wait for glue to dry. Hope to get started on the legs in a couple days. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m happy to report that I finished those belt modifications to improve alignment of the 45s to the canvas and readjusted the buttons Daniel... the size of my biceps and forearms was already nagging me a bit and your observation gave me the kick I needed to resize them. Over the last 24 hours did the right forearm removing close to 3 cm at he elbow and 1.5-2 cm at the wrist. Below is a wrist on shot of the unaltered on the left vs new size on the right. As you can see I can barely get my hand through and sits comfy snug with the glove. Now to start pulling off the other cover strips. So glad I had already taken the initiative to add the inner strips [emoji35] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All of the above sounds good to me! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Too late to leave the caps... the deed has been done Maybe when I glue them back on I’ll place them 1mm closer to the edge off center as a compromise[emoji12] I don’t mind redoing things for perfection. It will bug the crap out of me if I don’t. Plus I’m gonna miss working on this when it’s actually done. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like 5mm cut in would do the trick The e6000 on the caps hasn’t cured yet so something’s telling me they’re coming off tonight. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Appreciate the follow up guys. As far as the belt goes I based the cuts of the 45s from the tk-1650 diagram but didn’t realize that the alignment to belt was more important. Suppose I can’t do much about it now short of a new piece and starting over... good thing it’s not a deal breaker[emoji13] I have the shoulder bridge elastics, just haven’t put on yet. I’m pretty sure my biceps need to come down a bit. They are also a bit oblong and not symmetrically round. I’m going to add bicep resizing to my ever growing list of rainy day tweaks. As for the forearms I’m still a little unsure. I have very narrow wrists compared to my proximal forearms. As they stand I can barely get my gloves hand through. I could downsize them but would have to don gloves after arms are on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk