husky68

I've got my box of PLA plastic and taken the time to lay it all out and cut away some of the supports. Thankfully from one of the links mentioned previously I found a build instruction PDF that helps both to identify and walk through the process of assembly. Although some of my parts are slightly different the guide will be enough to get started. I'll return to my TK build, blaster not required for membership, but will try to test Methylene Chloride for smoothing and welding on junk pieces soon.

Had a great armor party with some local garrison members. Made my first cover strips and even small cuts to the armor. I will put a trench ( gap ) of roughly 5mm in front and 10mm in back of each forearm. This gives my hands enough room to fit and still keeps a fairly snug but comfortable fit. To add strength I will likely fill the trench with a smaller strip between the gap and the inner and outer cover strips, should stand up to trooping. Haven't decided how to make up the difference in length of the two forearm pieces but will start glueing this week. Starting with inside strips then posting pictures before outer cover strips.

The 14 strips of abs should be enough and I get the trench idea. Likely all pieces will need a trench except biceps but should be able to keep the centurion sized cover strips. Might even put pieces inside the trench to strengthen them if cutting and leaves narrow strips. Hopeful to have left overs for paste and future repairs.

Thanks Q, missed this in my search.

For the Thermal Detonator the AP kit comes with a black ABS which is the correct diameter but will need to be cut and painted grey. This brought me back to paints and what is available here in Japan. There are several brands found in Yodobashi Camera hobby section but a common one is Tamiya. I found a conversion chart matching the following: Humbrol #21 Black Gloss -> Tamiya x-1 Gloss Black Humbrol #15 Midnight Blue -> Tamiya x-3 Gloss Blue royal Gloss Humbrol #14 French Blue -> Tamiya x-4 Gloss Blue Humbrol #5 Dark Admiral Grey -> ????????????

Got a delivery today of Methylene Chloride ( dichloro methane ), also known as ジクロロメタン, which is to PLA as acetone is to ABS. So this should serve both to smooth out parts and chemically weld them together. Of course tests will be done on scraps before anything is applied to the good parts.

Thanks Brian, the AP kit has identical arms including thumb print on both biceps and it appears 11 dimples on both forearms. As it is not specific in the CRL and other AP kits have made centurion this should be fine. I appreciate the offer to skype/facetime and will apologize now if I abuse it. he he

So next will be the arms, which appears both sides are identical and should not matter which I put together. The biceps taped together flush are big enough for me to extend and flex my arm. The only issue is they dig into my armpit when my arm is fully bend, I think I have seen others trim the top and will look around for suggested lines. The forearms are going to be an issue. First the edges don't want to line up, curve of the two parts different and need to be taped up well to keep them together. With the edges butted together it is near impossible to get my hand through the end. Most of the return edge has been removed, maybe just a slight bit more but not likely it would be enough. The fit is also tight up the whole forearm, possibly uncomfortable for any extended period of time. So I added a slight gap, about 3mm, in the front and 10mm in the back, still snug on the forearm but hand wiggles through with a little more ease. not great but better. One of the more annoying parts of trying to fit is the corners are still sharp and bent inward. It catch on my under suit which feels like it will tear it or me open. There is an armor party on the 16th I hope to attend and may hold off on any cuts or cover strips till then.

Thanks Mark, All the trim work is fine and no complaints there, many AP kits at centurion level with similar ears. Certainly lots of variations in both movie used and 501st members. I’m just thinking of how to tweak the ears for my own preference and look.

I can see how the holes would be covered, especially since the new holes would not be too far off the existing ones. Just nervous to be putting holes in the armor, plus need to buy a drill. Its like when wearing new shoes trying to avoid that first scuff.

The ABS strips are all roughly 5cm x 70cm and there is 14 of them. Seems more than enough for cover strips and some shims although will be careful to waste as little as possible. Decided maybe I should start with the usual first step and assemble the helmet. I think the eye and teeth trimming is excellent although the ears might sit better with a bit more tweaking. Would like to hear opinions on left ear if too low and the angle of both could be better but not sure I can make the adjustment as holes are already drilled.

More exciting than waking up to see a light snow falling in Tokyo was when in the afternoon the much anticipated BBB arrived. Likely everyone here knows the excitement like a kid on Christmas day. But I felt like both the kid hoping for a new bike and the dad dreading the task of putting it together. I started the careful process of unpacking each item, inspecting it and putting them on the floor. You will notice this is as mentioned is a trimmed set, with the exception of the calves which I asked for extra space. It looks like all the trim lines were followed nice and clean. A quick change to the undersuit to give some pieces a try and things don't seem right. I am not a small guy at 5'10" and about 210lbs but hoped that my calves would be the only issue with normal trim lines. As I tried on pieces I started to worry that parts were not big enough. First the calves seem impossible to close even with extra outside of the visible trim line. Then the forearms seem like they might close but it would be super tight fit. The waist seemed fine since that had been cut to measurements along with the included belt. This put me into a panic and I stopped taking pictures and put everything back in the BBB, needing both to calm myself and given limit living space could not leave plastic all over the place. It may be just an over reaction, things might be fine and there was plenty of ABS strips included that at worst makes shims possible. This kit looks great and Mark from AP had great communication and effort to get the BBB to me in Japan. I'm sure he followed the trim lines and left some extra in the shins as requested. If this kit was untrimmed I would have had to a lot of work and likely needed to go outside of the normal trim lines. I won't give up, I'll work the problems out and with support from those here on FISD and local garrison members I will get my white armor dreams fulfilled.

Also from a comment and internet search I just found this site with what looks to be accurate files from Raymond Herbert (Rayabear from above thingiverse). https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-star-wars-storm-trooper-blastech-e-11-blaster-rifle-by-blaster-master-72283 Might have to show some appreciation and use the support me function of this website at the end of my project.

A bit late in the printing, but I found this thread today which does have some files to consider for possible improved accuracy.

A friend is being generous with his time and 3D printer ( prusa ) and will be printing an ANH E-11 Blaster for me. Files are all from the internet and the end result may or may not be worthy of higher levels. It will be printed in PLA and using Dichloromethane to smooth and weld pieces together Rayabear original source of files. There is some details lacking, noteably the knarl on grip, that can be replaced with other posts on the same website. In the comments he mentions refining the models but did not upload those improvements. Slic3r had some issues with faces and sometimes needed to go with an alternate source. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:957801 alternate source ( basically same files ) https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2460290 Blaster grip with knarling https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1924136 This is the box of printed parts, only scope and power rails remain to be painted. The spring I will make with a hanger or look for other suitable alternatives.