Steaditrooper
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Posts posted by Steaditrooper
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11 hours ago, batmanmike said:
Sean-I am far behind you in my AP build, but I will say this thread we very helpful. I learned about the silicon hand glue problem, and to fill my shoulder covers before I install them. THANK YOU! Hope to be close to submission by end of Jan.
r/Mike
Thanks Mike. Be sure to check out wook1138's AP build thread too. Great build and info.
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I spent New Year's morning watching Star Wars, what else? Wow. It's amazing what you see with new eyes. Being immersed in armour for the last month and a bit has really made me notice things that were invisible to me before. Gaps, duct tape, inconsistencies between troopers's armour etc. Having done a couple of troops now I also know things that need changing on my own armour.
New tighter elastic in the shoulders to hold them to the biceps better.
Shorter straps between the biceps and shoulders to keep the bicep from popping out.
More reshaping of my back to chest connection on the right side so it sits even flatter to the armour.
More padding in the helmet to make it sit better and be more comfortable.
Tighter compression pants. Current ones are too baggy. Even after throwing them in the dryer.
New thinner amp in the chest (Aker 1505 is too thick with the belt clip on the back) with access to the volume control while wearing the suit.
Will this ever end? Probably not, and that's ok.
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Wow Greg! Your armour is looking great. You've made huge progress the last few days. My butt flared out more on the right side and I added an extra elastic loop to my brackets. It helped a bit. Putting your snap closer to the end is the way to go. Butt flare on the left is mostly covered by the holster. Your belt looks great. I put the washer on the inside of the dropbox. The rivet has enough flare on the outside to not cause problems. Loads of E6000 is the way to go for sure to join the fronts and backs.
Again, looking great!
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Ha ha! I didn't even need to look at an Aurebesh alphabet to read it. Happy New Year!
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Congrats Andrew and Happy New Year!
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I had my second troop yesterday as well as an event in the morning where I was learning to handle. I would highly recommend this to all troopers. It gave me great insight as what to look for and be aware of while in costume. Things can go wrong really quickly and I was able to help a TK from falling over.
The troop was great. About 3 1/2 hours suited up. Fans in helmet a must for me. One of my drop boxes started coming apart. I has white duct tape in my box so I was able to do a quick field repair. On inspection when I got home I found I hadn't used enough E6000. You can never use too much E6000. Simple fix with lots of glue and a couple clamps. I also know of some more tweaks I need to do to the armour for comfort. I got loads of help and advise from 501st members in the change room while suiting up. Great people, great time.
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Looking good Frank. Good luck!
Thin cotton gloves make life easier. You can get them in bulk packs for little money. As far as dressing goes, it is hard to get suited up on your own. Not impossible but hard. My process is almost identical to Brad's (who's given me loads of pointers and help
). On a troop with the 501st there should be handlers. Part of their job is to help everyone suit up. Also, other costumed members are always willing to help. My garrison is full of really great, friendly and helpful people. Troopers helping troopers!
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Your build is looking great. Good work on your painting.
Common mistake is not enough glue. I certainly did that. Yesterday was my second troop and one of my drop boxes started coming apart. When I got home and pulled it apart I could see why. Hardly any glue. Well, not any more. Ha! I used probably 10x the amount this time.
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7 hours ago, Scimitar said:
Got to spend a little time in the shop today. I sanded both interior sections of the helmets to promote paint adhesion, then masked off the forward part of the helmet (used grocery bags to fill the frown holes) and plastidipped it (spray on). Went pretty smoothly overall. I gave it two good coats and then removed anything that was touching the plastidip (eyes, frown holes, sides) to prevent separation issues once the plastidip cured. I did accidentally stick my finger in the wet paint while removing one bag, but a disposable brush and spraying some plastidip in a small plastic container made a quick touch up possible.
Might be a helpful hint, cut the grocery bags down to size so that they cleanly but firmly fill the frown holes, yet will pull through from the inside of the helmet without getting stuck. I used needle nose pliers to grab the bag ends and pull them out.
Hopefully everyone likes pictures as much as I do:
Nicely done. Good, clean lines around the eyes ad teeth.
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Looking great Greg. Hmm. Here comes that temptation again to rip off my stickers and paint everything. Maybe next week. I have a troop tomorrow.
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The forearms and the biceps should have the same width cover strips. Symmetry. My forearms and biceps are 20mm, front and back. My armour is made by AP. Your armour may be different but no matter the make, symmetry is what is required for EI and Centurion. My thighs and shins are 20mm too. I could have (maybe should have) gone bigger on those but didn't. It would look ok if my arms were 20mm and my thighs were 25mm. It is all about balance and what looks right.
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Under the cover strip does not matter. They do not need to butt up. You may want to put a cover strip on the inside to help reenforce the join though. Symmetry on the outside is what matters for approval. Make the cover strips on the outside the same, front and back. As close to the raised edge as possible. That's what matters.
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Hello Jennifer and welcome to FISD! You and your son will find all sorts of great info here. Don't be shy. Ask many questions. We are here to help you two succeed! Start your build thread.
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Welcome to FISD! Ask many questions and get all the help you need here.
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You look great! Congrats on your first troop!
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3 hours ago, wook1138 said:
Thanks! I just ran out and bought some 1" elastic. It has been -30°C to -40°C here for a few days - so leaving the house for supplies has become a nuisance - but... you know... for the Empire. I should be building snowtrooper armour. I guess I shouldn't complain, it has warmed up to -25 today.
Ha ha! Really cold in Toronto too. The thought of a Snowtrooper has crossed my mind several times. Seems appropriate. Grate White North indeed. That 1" elastic should help, I think. I don'y know why I didn't have that problem. Perhaps my girth? Um... Darn you Christmas goodies!
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Welcome back to FISD! I have an AP kit and would be happy to help in any way. Start your build thread and ask questions. We are here to help.
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Congrats Adi! It is the holidays for a lot of FISD admins. Have patience. It will happen. It is amazing you are the first FOTK in your region. Good for you! Many will follow. There always needs to be a first. You set the example.
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Hello Steven and welcome! I too was nervous about my build but once you get into it you will find there is little to be afraid of. With all the help and advise you will get here you are sure to succeed. Start your build thread and ask lots of questions. We are all here to help you.
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Hi Aaron. Welcome to FISD! It's great to see another trooper from the Great White North. I can see a few things that might need adjustment. I'm in Toronto and have free time until the end of January. If you'd like help we could meet up and go over what you have and what needs to be done. Beauty eh!
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This armour looks great! I'm sure you'll get EIB then Centurion!
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Yesterday I glued the cover strap back on my chest plate and glued in the new elastic. I went to take a couple pics with my phone and got a message that my memory was full. I spent an hour deleting pics in order to gain more room.
So, two things today.
First, I took the clamps off the chest to back strap. I re-curved the strap and it sits way better. Pics to follow.
Lots of glue to clean up. That's ok. I used way too much but I know it isn't going to budge. Clean up is simple with E6000. I also found out that E6000 is different in Canada for some reason. It is way less stinky. Don't know why but it's true. I have never had a problem with fumes during my build. I took precautions but found they were not needed after the first few times I used it. Anyway...
Second thing. My S-Trim arrived from Trooperbay! Sweet.
It was way harder to put on than I expected. I should have waited for it to warm up a bit but I was too excited. It's -27C (-16F) in Toronto today and it sat in the mailbox overnight. Now I have everything I need for my Centurion application.
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Cover strip as close as possible to this edge.
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Hello Mike.
Back in 1976 when this little film was shooting, the actors playing the Stormtroopers were all around 5'10" and 165lbs. The suits were quite 'skinny' for lack of a better word. The arm cover strips were 15mm, Thighs 20mm, Shins 20mm and calf closures 25mm. This works for a slim build. With my build I found this would not be possible. I was told that for Centurion the cover strips needed to match, not be canon. My arm cover strips are 20mm front and back. This was important. The same width front and back. The narrower and closer to canon the better. At 20mm my arms just fit, albeit a little snug. If you need to go larger with the cover strip, that's ok.
From what I've learned here, try to get your cover strips as close to the raised edge as possible. You may need to trim some off the back of your arms and create a gap below your front cover strip in order to make this work. Understand?
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AP ANH Stunt Build
in ANH Build Threads
Posted
Ok. I got at it a little. One thing that wasn't on my ever growing list was to install inner cover strips on the shins. The amount I stress the shins opening them up every time I put them on had me worried.
Glued in place with ample E6000.
Shoulder bells.
Before.
After. Wider elastic (1") and tighter.
If you look closely at the top edges of the bell you can see some discolouration. This is from my compression top. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser really helps clean this up. I was told about not keeping my black things against the white armour while not in use. If it sits in my armour bin for any amount of time, I put it in a white plastic bag. Gloves, neck seal, balaclava or under suit.