DStep

Yeah I left more on at first, just to make sure there was plenty for strength. I've got it trimmed down now.

OK got it, thanks Daryl! I’ll clean that up too.

I’ve got the knee plate trimmed and test fitted. I think it’s ready for some glue. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OK thanks for all the help guys! Here’s the shoulder tabs on the back. I guess it does look like I need to trim to those lines. Yeah I think I’m going to remove all of the return edge on the neckline of the chest. I’ll try the next test fit with the neck seal on also. I’ll make sure to wear my full undersuit on the next test fit. I adjusted the taller brackets on the chest. They were pointing towards the back of the armor (because of the angle of the return edge) and I ended up bending them until they were pointed up (up against the inside of the chest). It made a big difference in lowering the chest down to the ab. Time for a test fit and I think this will help bring the neckline on the back piece up higher. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OK thanks Ben, I adjusted those return edges. Hey Rat, yeah I’ve been scared to try a heat gun, so I’ve been playing around with hot water baths. Here are pics of the body with a test fit. I think cleaning up the return edges came out nice. OK, so here are my questions: 1) This fit feels great at the bottom, but I notice the chest sits pretty high. The neck line is pretty snug against my throat, but it’s not uncomfortable. I’ve trimmed it back to about 1/8” return edge. I’m not sure if I should remove all off it. 2) I also noticed that there’s just a small gap between the shoulder tabs on the chest and back. Should I drop the front and back lower to allow more room for the length of the shoulder straps? There’s also a formed crease across the shoulder tabs on the back piece (I’ll post a pic soon). I wasn’t sure if that was a trim line, so I left it and it makes the shoulder tab longer. 3) In general, the armor feels pretty big/roomy right now. I’m 5’7”, 165lbs...about a 32 waist. Should I trim more off on the kidney and the ab, where they connect? This would bring it in tighter, but I’m thinking it would throw off the notch that I still need to cut out at the bottom front of the kidney. I think I’m at a point where this part of the build will help determine the placement of the shoulder bells and thighs, so I’ll wait until I get some feedback. Thank you all for the help so far!

Here’s the front & back of the body with the brackets installed. I noticed the return edges on the kidney and posterior flare out. Should I heat them and bend them to clean up the seams? I’m also wondering about the snap that will go on the right side of the ab plate. Isn’t the chest supposed to cover the snap? I’m not sure about installing the snap. Any help is appreciated. Thanks! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Made a little more progress...the biceps and shins are trimmed/cleaned up and the inner front cover strips are on. I also have the body trimmed and ready for the brackets. I'll post pictures of that soon.

OK great, thanks for the tips! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OK glad to know it'll dry glossy. I wasn't sure if I would need to polish it after. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sweet, thanks Rat...and the picture is a great reference! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey thank you very much for the link! I'll definitely go through it before I jump in and try. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the good eye and the encouragement! I did clean up the return edge and started gluing the front cover strip. I plan to do one more resizing before I finish with the back cover strip. I'll also post pics to make sure I get the taper and vertical alignment right of the back cover strip, before I glue it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Rat! Yeah once I get the front cover strips on, I'll get a final fit and taper the thighs. BTW, was there a thread that explains how to make ABS paste? I have a few nicks from trimming that I want to fill. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I made some progress on the forearms and thighs...got them trimmed & sanded and glued the front, inner cover strips. Let me know if you see anything to correct here. I have the calves ready next. Also, I’m almost done trimming & sanding the chest, ab, back, kidney and posterior pieces. They should be ready for mounting the brackets soon. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nice work on the build! Looks like your armor will be completely screen accurate. I’m thinking about going the easy route on the calves and using velcro. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Dam I was afraid that would be the case. I already felt like I was pregnant trying to sit down...had my arm on the chair to support me as I leaned back into the chair lol Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I’ve roughly trimmed and test fitted the arms and legs and I have a question on the thighs. My first test fit leaves a 20mm cover strip in the back and is able to leave the same space on both sides of the cover strip, where the ridge of the thigh drops down, just like the front cover strip. At this size, the bottom of the thigh is just below the top of my knee cap and there is some room around the knee. However, the meat of my thigh is real snug in the armor (I can still butt the center of the inner and outer thighs, so you can ignore the gap in the picture). I also noticed that when I sit down, the top of the thighs already run against my hip bone. Does this sizing sound right? It feels like it should sit higher above my knee, so I would have size it larger...but then I would need to trim the top of the thigh, so it wouldn’t bump onto my hip when I sit. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OK I’m trying to identify the correct parts for the arms and legs. Can someone confirm that I’ve marked them correctly? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you guys for all the help! I did contact them and am posting my WIP build on their forum also. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My BBB came yesterday and I'm super excited. Just got everything laid out. Life's been busy, so I won't be able to work on this often, but I plan on knocking a lot out when I do. The goal is to build this to Centurion level. I'll be sure to ask plenty of questions. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Congrats Rat! If you work on it during the weekends, I'd like to come over and help or take notes at the least. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Steve, thanks for the additional info.! I didn’t know about applying for EIB, before Centurion. Yes, a few others here have convinced me to build up to Centurion out of the box. I’ve been trying to read up on as much as I can for now, so I know that there’s a lot to learn. Once my armor arrives, I’ll keep in close contact with both my Garrison and here to help guide me. In the meantime, I’ve been slowly collecting parts and tools. I’m pretty close to having everything I need to start! Thanks again for your help! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OK great, thanks Dan! Really appreciate it!

I’ve been doing a ton of research, while I wait for the BBB day and I have a basic question about becoming a member. It sounds like I need to go through my local Garrison to get my armor approved for membership into the 501st and I’ll get my TK ID assigned. I can then request approval for Centurion status through applying here, on FISD. Do I have that correct? For some reason I thought both membership and applying for Centurion status were done at the same time. Sorry for the basic question, I just want to make sure I understand the process. Thanks!