fishgoh0nk

I cut away from the cover strip as advised - still too low? Should I cut some more? The rear thigh shim turned out pretty good - there were a few spots that didn't have enough E6000 and yields a flex - I used a thin applicator and added some more underneath, now just waiting to dry. I'll post a new picture of when its ready for ABS pasting. I think i need some help with the calves. The right rear closure just BARELY closes. On a more swollen day, I feel like the closure gap will be about 1-2mm. The cover strip should cover this right? Should I shim? I feel like I should as the upper calve (insider, near knee cap) is kind of tight. If so, I would shim the inner flap?

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I fabricated a return edge for the rear thigh - I don't plan on cutting a semi circle as it does ride high enough for me to bend my knee 90degrees without problem. I plan to do this for the right thigh as well. I'm digging the way the front turned out. I'm going to start the brackets soon on the torso, I started by painting the screws white. Wish me luck!

thanks for sharing!

Oh noes, don't go! These are legit costuming questions! I'm sure the Disney princess forums have all kinds of question and answers revolving around duct tape. I guess I can leave the cod alone for now, I just want to double check before i start removing material. A lot of posts say the removal of material may be necessary if it's for the comfort of the wearer. I think in removing that edge, it would be a lot more comfy, but I'm curious as to how close the posterior and cod will need to be aligned, using the elastic strap. Not sure if anyone could provide pictures as to how the 2 fits underneath the body, only if you're willing to provide those, I don't want to taint the post with anything offensive.

How tall are you Daniel? I feel like a low rider.

Yup! That section I marked would be removed. Yea, I'm not the one to complain as a medium heighted guy. Are you bowed like the maiden head of a ship? I have big thighs, that's a challenge for me, all my pants are toight.

lol there's too much that can be said about that Speaking of the privates - I'm looking to trim my cod. Would this amount be ill advised? I have big thighs, my thighs are not comfortable with this digging in there.

I forgot, I took this picture and forgot to attach it. I hope this would be good reference for anyone else building:

well, as low as it needs to be so i don't get a massive wedgie lol! I'm guessing there is no bending over in trooping... is there?

I kind of agree on the backplate needing to sit a bit lower - if the seams between back, kidney and posterior are to be under .5 inches, I don't know how any of this would fit without massive shimming - the length is entire back to from shoulder to posterior is roughly 30 inches (- 1 or 2 inches for cod to ab strap pull, i bent my shoulders subtract 1 more inch), 27-28 inches, if your back is longer than that you'd need more material to cover. Only time I'm glad I'm under 6 foot...

Ok, so I think it kind of worked - I heated up the kidney plate to be a little more round- BEFORE/AFTER After some tighter tape - I think this might work guys... I'm going take some return off the ab near the hip bone, it's kind of tight there and any little room I can give it so that the posterior to kidney plate isn't that stressed, i'll take it.

I did attempt to force the side posterior to affix to the kidney with tape, but it would just keep popping off the tape on the lower back. I think I have a tall torso, short legs, so when I wear the ab,kidney and back plate higher, causes the cod to dig into where my actual 'cod' is. That leads me to this question - should the cod actually 'support' your junk?

Thanks for the encouragement from all of you! Makes me even more excited knowing that this group is full of spirited, kindhearted and constructive people!

Ah ok, I think i'm understanding. I feel like the kidney plate is a little too tought or tension-ed in a "flat" manner. It's actually pulling the lower back side towards the abs. If i relieve the tension, i think the kidney plate will bow to the rear and fill out the lower back more, giving me room to mount the posterior flatly. Would you concur?

I think if I hot water bath the kidney plate to be a little more 'round' than flat, I'll get a wider side profile allowing for the posterior to actually fit and close up the gap. I can simulate it by pushing against the kidney/ab seems towards my body, bulging out the lower back and abs. This kind of causes the cod to dig into my thighs. I have a good 1.1-1.2 CM return around the cod I think I can take off to get this to work. I think this'll work guys - what do you guys think? I'll wait for feedback before proceeding... Here's the comparison of rounding between the ab and kidney - if I bathe the kidney to be a bit rounder, it would accommodate my larger "round" posterior

I see, maybe I should've used the return edges to create "extra material"... it's a snug, but I don't feel uncomfortable in it. I think I'll be ok with the torso part... My concern is the posterior, it could be that I'm wearing the bottom torso too low, but the posterior seems to angle off my glutes which creates a gap between the middle portion of the kidney plate. I can't get the gap to close without the top rear of the posterior popping out away from body, which would also pull the kidney plate away from body, and in that case, I would need some extra room... side note - i forgot to lift up my arms, but the ab and kidney plate have their side returns removed and are touching.

Ok thanks! I'm guessing there aren't super strict requirements regarding the ab to kidney connection, besides not showing any black - many places indicate that returns should be removed from the sides of the ab as well as the kidney, but I'm wondering, how the riveted connection straps prevent the ab and kidney plates from overlapping upon suit compression? I was under the impression that the returns created a 'wall' that prevented overlap. Are the straps only to prevent separation, not to prevent compression overlap?

Maybe I should've asked for clarification... but I removed the AB return edges from both sides... It's snug at the hips, but I can still close it with no gaps. I'm also wearing 2 layers (had to put on my Sunday suit). There's still some flaring at the top, but much less now.

I posted this question over at Tony's build thread - thought I might as well duplicate it here. "I'm looking to cinch down the ab and kidney as my waist isn't that large- would you recommend trimming (if any at all) to both ab and kidney? I'd like to cinch it up approximately an inch on each side at the top, the lower circumference is good for me as is. I'm planning to cut .5 inch from the tops of the ab and kidney. My ultimate goal is reduce the "pot belly" look and horizontal flaring when viewing from the front. Cinched up with tape. Flaring - Once material removed, I'm planning to give it a hot water bath to reduce the tension The amount I'm looking to remove. "

Hey Tony, excellent guide! I'm looking to cinch down the ab and kidney as my waist isn't that large- would you recommend trimming (if any at all) to both ab and kidney? I'd like to cinch it up approximately an inch on each side at the top, the lower circumference is good for me as is. I'm planning to cut .5 inch from the tops of the ab and kidney. My ultimate goal is reduce the "pot belly" look and horizontal flaring when viewing from the front. Cinched up with tape. Flaring - Once material removed, I'm planning to give it a hot water bath to reduce the tension The amount I'm looking to remove.

Good call you guys - the vinyl has been drying for approximately 5 hours and was really easy to peel off

agreed, currently for the right thigh, the interior shim is 3.5 inches, allowing approximately 1 inch of ABS on each half for e6000 to hold onto. The vinyl shim is a bit softer, now I'm thinking maybe i should go with the parking sign to prevent flexing that could cause the ABS paste to crack... oh goodness, i'm going to feel it off right now lol

oh shoot... now that you mentioned it - i switched from shimming with the parking sign to those blinds i found at the hardware store trash for the right thigh... i think it might be vinyl... I did sand all surfaces with a rough grit before applying... the shim is currently drying, once it cures i'll give it a pull test to see how well it holds. Worse case, i'll switch back to the no parking sign.

Yea, you're probably right - from the consistency and pliability of what I've seen in regards to ABS paste, i feel like method 2 would yield more of a potential to crack. I think I'll use method 1, but have to remember to leave extra room between the scrap piece to fill with ABS paste. 1-1.5mm seem like a good enough gap? I imagine it's like floor tiling, the grout needs enough room to adhere to the tiles, or in this case, the ABS pieces.

lots and lots of E6000? actually the cover strip should be thinner than the flattened/sanded surface of the ABS paste. My major concern is E6000 adhering to ABS paste only... might peel off?