Digz Graavz

Working on the TD. I cut the pipe too short. The paint is drying on the new one. I'm using UK's guide on it.

Bud - I read your thread like 3 times to make sure I glued the back of the shins right. Thanks for making that mistake for me or I may not have been as careful.

Or maybe not... I'm out of clamps and magnets LOL! Guess I'll be gluing in the morning instead.

The last of the cover strips are clamped and drying!!!!! Oh, and hopefully these wrists are trimmed enough for Centurion. Yes I have re-glued/clamped that one cover strip. Time for dinner. Maybe I will tackle the shoulder strips tonight too.

Somehow I cut my TD pipe too short, so the new one is painted and drying in the garage. I guess I need to find a new project for tonight. Maybe the shoulders, or ammo boxes...

Wow! Great to hear you getting out. While many are not vets, a lot of people struggle with anxiety, crowds, social interaction, etc. I am dealing with my own mental illness and have found that talking about it is a great thing, and that the acceptance socially now is incredible. Thanks for your inspiration.

Ah, but being exceptionally sneaky, I E6000ed the crap out of the fabric so really the rivets are ornamental Rob (twosolitudes) walked me through his errors on Saturday and I came up with that idea shortly after.

TD is cut to the right length, and sprayed with grey Krylon. That didn't take long Hmmm....there's gotta be ONE more quick task tonight....

Split rivets are in and painted white. Holster is attached. Last thigh front strip is gluing. Not sure how much more I will get to tonight. TD needs trimming to get to the right size and needs painting. Maybe I'll run into the garage and do that while it's unseasonably warm.

Sniper knee question: What do you think of putting another strap of ABS behind the bottom portion of the knee, kind of like a horseshoe shape, to help with the shape and attaching? Assuming it's not visible, it should be approvable no? I'll put up a pic of my idea later... Just brainstorming during lunchtime at work.

Lol thanks but I confirmed. I am slowly learning.

Holster time. Copied and pasted from Bud's build: "The holes are 15mm from the bottom edge of the belt, 120mm apart, 20 mm from the ammo belt plastic piece."

One thigh now drying. Other needed a minor repair thanks to me working while tired and I trimmed the wrong side so the ABS paste is setting before a final sand. It's going to be fine. Line 20 snaps are done for the belt. Only had to move one by about 1/8". I think it sits at a good height.

So...Heading to bed soon. Left shin cover strip is solid. Right shin is clamped and gluing now. Do I dare try to tackle to sniper knee? I will research it tonight and tackle it freshly rested tomorrow morning. I hope to get the belt done tomorrow as well. ROb showed me a good method of doing the snaps. I also want functional ammo cases on my belt so I'll rig up some kind of magnetic system for them. Oh - and I may even get to the thermal detonator tomorrow. It's been too cold here to use the spray paint.

Twosolitudes (Rob) just left. It's nice to talk shop and get confirmation/quick answers. I'm setting snaps while glue dries. Fingers crossed I'll be done in a week or 2.

Here's the blaster. Lens on the counter, real Sterling trigger, functional selector switch.

Saturday morning. The cover strips are pretty much done on the arms. Still a little bit of sanding to do, and one of the strips isn't stuck too well on one edge. I have clamped the front strip to the left shin. I'll let it set and work on the back strips for both shins this afternoon. Unlike Bud, I will make sure to put them on the right way the first time

Thanks for the tip. I haven't tried fitting the legs yet. I'm pretty fortunate to be 5'9" and 175lbs. Kind of the right size for off-the-shelf trooping, other than my oversized cranium apparently. Looks like there will be a mini armor-party at my place on the 9th. Thanks again to the community for helping out. I look forward to repaying this to all the future troopers.

Got a few cover strips on. 1 more on a forearm and 1 bicep to go for the arms. I'll have them wrapped up by tomorrow night. I'll do the legs on Sat/Sun. I also glued the buttons onto the chest plate and attached the plastic to the belt. I'm picking up the split rivets and Line 20 snaps tomorrow morning as well. If all goes well I'll have the belt and all over strips done by Monday, then it's strapping time!

OK - Time to get at 'er. I'm taking a mental health day today, and plan to spend it on my armour. I'm going to glue some cover strips and hopefully get my belt and gloves done too. I've cleaned up and relocated my work station (my wife wanted the dining room back LOL) so I am now in the family room. I'm going to put Solo on the screen to start and get to work. Wish me luck, and watch for posts! Thanks again to everyone for your support. I'm already planning to make a build guide for future troopers with all the questions that I had and advice from all the mistakes I have made and will inevitably make moving forward!

Yeah. I'm fortunate enough to have made friends with Twosolitudes (Rob) who only lives about 10 minutes from me. He showed me his kit, let me try on the helmet, all before I had even gotten my stuff. He showed me that you had to put it on sideways. I don't think I'll be able to get it on with my headset, so looks like I will take the plunge and shave some off.

Thanks. Yeah, there are SO many images. I've seen others who went 20mm on the arms and got Centurion as well, so... I'll work on centering it better. It's not really a build until you've ripped off some E6000, right? Also - Is it common to trim a larger opening in the bucket? Mine's SUPER tight going on since the S Trim went on. Hopefully I have enough S trim if I do enlarge it.

So, I did my first cover strip for the right forearm, at 15mm as per directions/consensus. Here's what it looks like. Is there too much showing? Should I go to 20mm? I'm after Centurion so I want to get it all right. Thanks!

ROFL to whoever changed my post to read "slave Leia". Nicely done! FYI original was a stolen quote from Patrick Rothfuss "The Name of the Wind" when Kvothe enters the archives for the first time after having his ban lifted.

Thank you sir! I hadn't seen firm on the thighs other than to have them match up vertically with the strips on the lower legs.