willeywonka

I also used a blow dryer to heat up the decals when I placed them to help prevent bubbles.

Thanks! Mark was kind enough to include instructions with the armor letting me know to leave 1/8” aroundthe larger button plate. After cutting to size and sanding the edges and glue surfaces I placed them and used painters tape to hold them in place. I also used a scrap of ABS behind the larger button plate since there was a void space just to give the glue more surface area.

Thanks! This is very helpful. Any thoughts on the epoxy paste I found? I don't want to get something that will hurt the plastic.

I'm not one to say I'm the expert by any means and will certainly abide by the general consensus, but I definitely think the image looks like it is cut above the ridge. You can clearly see the ridge in the other rear-thigh trimlines on both troopers, but on the one I am referring to I can't see it. Here is a another image (far less clear) that I used as well. The trooper on the left again seems to have about the same amount as I do trimmed away from his right thigh. It just seems to me that if these were sign off on for the big screen then it could still be considered for approval. Just my humble opinion. Again, I will do what I need to do to be approved. Yeah, I think I should be fine to fix the cover strip width and may not even need to shim the back...we'll see *fingers crossed*. If I do need to go the route of filling seams and repairing the lower trimline, what do you recommend? I found this on Amazon and it seems like it may do the trick. https://www.amazon.com/Protective-Coating-080115-Epoxy-Paste/dp/B000LNOJW6/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1520610441&sr=8-2&keywords=protective+coating+epoxy+paste+white&dpID=51HEUdwObSL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch Thank you to you both for your time and feedback. I am not trying to be insubordinate, just presenting my evidence and opinion. I have definitely learned to take my time even more than I have been haha. I have been somewhat rushing because my wife teaches first grade and her students are pretty excited about getting to meet a real stormtrooper

Welp...that's not what I was hoping to hear haha. Thanks for your feedback though. When you say you're not sure it will be approved do you mean even for basic approval or just for centurion level? I am thinking I may be able to get it fixed if I trim the front to the proper measurements and use a shim in the back to make up for the missing material. As far as your concern regarding the trimming on the lower back of the thigh, I actually spent a lot of time researching that and found a lot of information saying it varied based n the stormtrooper. Some didn't trim at all, some barely trimmed it and some trimmed it a lot. I am going for a bit more mobility so I trimmed a decent amount away. There are screen images I based it on. Here is one example: The trooper on the left seems to have as much (or more) trimmed away than I do. The trooper on the right also has some trimmed away, but not as much as the one on the left.

Alright everyone I need some help. I think I goofed up pretty bad and am hoping you can give me some advice on how best to proceed, or at the very least console me and talk me off the proverbial ledge haha. In short, I think I have backed myself into a corner with my thigh trimming. After doing my initial rough trimming I somehow got it into my head (no clue how) that the front ridges on the thighs, shins, etc. should not be trimmed any further and began trimming substantial sections away from the back of my right thigh to give me a good fit. While I do have it trimmed down to where it fits nicely now, I have realized that I was supposed to remove more from the front ridges in order to have the proper size cover strip for my butt join. However, I can't trim anymore from the front because of how much I have already trimmed from the back. Here are some pictures. Would this front cover strip work? I know it is pretty wide (about 1.5" or 40mm). I guess I could make it a thinner cover strip but then a pretty significant portion of the ridges would stick out and I have heard that is discouraged. I was going for centurion, and still hope to if there is a way to salvage this. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! In other news, I have placed my ab buttons and I think they turned out pretty well.

What's up everybody! It's been awhile so I figured I'd provide an update on my progress so far. I went and got some much needed supplies over the weekend and was able to get a decent amount taken care of. It's funny how the more things you buy to help with the build the more you realize you need... Anyway, I finished trimming out leg and thigh pieces and the ab/codpiece (as well as forearms but they aren't pictured). I went ahead and spray painted the interior of my helmet flat black since I heard it helps reduce the ability for others to see into your helmet through your lenses. Plus, it just looks rather awesome. I also placed my lenses and am almost done painting. Just one more ear rank bar to paint and it'll be done! Still need to place some padding and hopefully run some fans eventually, but overall I'm pleased. Please let me know your thoughts so far! I also ordered my boots from Imperial Boots so they should be here in a few weeks. Now I am running out of things to do before I have to start armor assembly. It's slightly terrifying haha.

So I feel like an idiot asking this...but I have already filled up my attachment allotment. Does anyone have suggestions for the best option of adding more photos?

Okay thanks I'll give that a shot. And I see what you're saying for sure. I have just always been somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to symmetry but it really is no big deal. I'm 100% satisfied with the overall look and quality of the armor.

As Red Leader would say, "Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface." In other words, no, the blade just slipped and gave it a pretty good superficial cut/gouge. Thanks!

Also, I was going to start trimming my forearm pieces last night and realized that it looks like they are all for one arm instead of a set for left and right. There is no “mirror image” for them like there are for the quad and shin pieces. I emailed Mark at AP and he said this is how they are supposed to be. Btw, shoutout to Mark. He has been awesome to work with. My question for whoever is reading this is, won't they look somewhat unsymmetrical on one arm due to the fact that they are going to be the same shape on both arms?

Greetings everyone! Monday (2.26.18) was BBB Day for me. I got all the feels when my text notification came in letting me know the package was delivered. I drove like a madman leaving work and immediately tore into this glorious box of goodness. First thing I did because it seemed like a good confidence booster (and because who doesn't want to try on a stormtrooper helmet for the first time?) was construct the helmet. I ordered it pre-trimmed so it went together fairly quickly. I still have some painting to do and need to place the lenses, but overall I'm happy with it so far! From there I started trimming... I was a bit nervous but, as we all know, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. I made my first boo boo as well on the breastplate and wanted to cry. Anyone have any suggestions for this? I have read some good things about novus? Here is the rest of my progress so far: Any feedback is appreciated. Can't wait to make more progress. This weekend I'll go out and gather supplies.

Thanks! I appreciate the heads up on sizing.

Thanks for this info. Turns out finding boots has become one of the more trying parts of this process haha. Glad to have a well-vetted option.

I didn't either at first, but it is there. If you click the option to zoom in you can see it. Tricky little devils angling it just right in the picture. Pretty sneaky.

Thanks daryldoak. I'll check them out. I had read good things about TK Boots but received an email reply from them that they are tentatively closing.

Gotcha. Then I'll consider them a no-go. And yeah, I thought the same thing haha. What boots would you recommend for Centurion?

Hello all! I recently ordered my TK armor from AP and am now in the process of working out all the other details and nuances that will go into this build. While researching boots I came across this option that, surprisingly enough, is sold via Wal-Mart. It looks like the manufacturer is Pleaser Shoes. https://www.walmart.com/ip/TROOPER-12-1-Flat-Inch-Heel-Pointed-Toe-Men-s-Boot/115629685?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=5780&adid=22222222228045512533&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=95409564170&wl4=pla-217979465810&wl5=9010522&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=114221082&wl11=online&wl12=115629685&wl13=&veh=sem 1'' Flat heel Pointed toe Pull-on Chelsea boot Available in Sizes: Small (size 8-9), Medium (size 10-11), Large (size 12-13) and XL (size 14) Item Includes: Pair of Boots Material: Polyurethane Item Dimensions: 1" Heel Care Instructions: Spot Clean Does anyone have any idea if these would work for 501st approval? I am hoping to go for centurion level as I have heard doing so from the outset of your build is not too much extra work. Any thoughts would be most appreciated! Thanks.