Firedog

Today was a good day. I received my E-11 from Quest Design and I couldn't be more pleased. I will likely paint the bolt and install a spring as well as apply some weathering, but for now, I hope as it stands in this state it is enough for EIB. I also finished the install of @ukswrath's TK audio and fan bracket. I also installed a bluetooth receiver for TK chatter. It's a little tight getting this baby on and off. and I may be able to do some tweaking to give more room, but I haven't figured that out yet. Any suggestions on better placement would be welcome. For anyone not familiar with the products he offers, here's a one stop link to all of his products, tutorials, and build threads.

The left forearm is definitely different than the right on this armor.

You could glue a scrap of ABS behind the hole and fill it with ABS paste. Then wet sand it and re-drill to the appropriate size.

I agree. There is no need to use the other set of ears yet. You have plenty of trimming that can be done on the current set to make them fit better.

I would say that your choice of armor could depend on body size. I really like the RS Props armor kits, but I am 6’3” and 200-205 lbs any given week. I chose the AM 4.5 armor from Dave’s Darkside Depot because it is tailored for larger builds. I couldn’t be more pleased with the fact that it can be cut to fit many sizes. That being said, research of the build threads on the various makes is essential. It’s a serious investment and well worth the time beforehand doing the proper research. If you can get a set of armor that doesn’t require a lot of shimming and filling, your build will be a bit less challenging.

That’s awesome! I’m like you and have wanted my own Stormtrooper armor for decades. I was finally able to take my first step with my 19 yo son a month or so ago and it has been a fun ride. My suggestion is to pour over all of the priceless resources and build threads on these forums to guide you in choosing the right armor vendor for you and learn from others’ builds and trial and error experiences. Ask plenty of questions and good luck to you!

I agree. The cap rivets are easier to install in such a tight space vs the split rivets.

On the thigh ammo belt, I believe both the split rivet and single cap rivet are acceptable at all levels. @justjoseph offers the centurion hardware kit, which would be a nice one-stop shop for what you are needing.

I don’t recommend gluing the U-trim of the brow. Once you have the helmet alignment correct, the brow trim will stay put by the compression between the cap and face piece alone.

Shout out to Dave for pointing out in something that I had missed in a DM. I had the small 45 degree angles on the front bottom of my butt plates prior to cutting the notch and forgot to re-trim them afterward. I’ll work on doing that and heating a slight return on them over the weekend.

Looks "screen accurate" to me.

On the Ab/Kidney, I trimmed equal amounts off of each. I ended up trimming some off of the butt plate and even added the notch, which isn't a requirement but does help some with mobility and is generally covered by the belt. The ammo belt looks good, but you may need a bit more radius at the bottom. It's difficult to tell from the photo. Also, don't forget to chamfer the corners of your cover stips.

I really hope to have the opportunity to attend Celebration 2022, as it appears there won't be one next year.

Ok, update on progress. Here are the photos of the TD and brackets as they were. Here is what happened when I tried to rework one off of the first set. I picked up a small table vice from Harbor Freight this morning and beat a little more space into them over the shaft of a screwdriver. I do believe this weakened them slightly and will likely be only a temporary fix until I receive or make replacements. I did email Dave with photos of the brackets I received in hopes that he will help me out. Regardless, here is the end result. And...on the belt... I also re-evaluated the backs of the calves and realized that even though they do close to no gap at the top, the velcro strip is so narrow that it doesn't always hold them tight. So, on Glen's advice, I glued some strips on the inside that were originally cut off the shins to hopefully make the gap less noticeable should it occur. I'll eventually transition to a magnet system once I am more comfortable with the process. Additionally, on the advice of Glen and Mario, I reduced the size of the small ab plate just a little more. I believe this is about as small as I can safely make it. I do also have a whole set of replacement decals if it comes to the point I need to do something with the thicker black lines on the traps. I could possibly trim part of the decal to make it thinner. Anyway...I sit in nervous anticipation for an email from the GML. ***Update*** I reached out to Dave and he’s taking care of the brackets. I can’t recommend him enough when it comes to delivering a quality product with great communication and customer service!

Thanks, these are the decals. I do plan to hand paint them eventually, but need a little practice steadying my hand. The calves are a dressing issue as it was my wife’s first time dressing me and I missed that particular in my instructions.

Thanks Glen, just a few minor things to work on for EIB/Centurion I believe. I've submitted my application on the 501st website and emailed the Florida Garrison GML with my photos. I have my fingers crossed for basic approval soon.

Yeah, they are aluminum, but the bend is so tight there that it created a stress fracture when I gently pried it. I'm going to try a different method this time by placing it over a rounded object, likely a large shaft screwdriver, and tapping it to attempt get the shape I need.

I understand what Lou is saying. I'm merely explaining why it is riding high on the belt. It's an issue with the TD clips I purchased that will not allow the belt to fit into the top of the clips where the bend is. I just have to figure out how to reshape them without breaking them, as I've already broken one trying to do so, or fork out another $40 to get some that are made correctly. I can't seem to locally source the 1/16" thick aluminum flat metal. Since I can't take a photo until later, I scratched out this diagram to better explain what the issue is.

Well, I'm just now seeing this thread after finishing my belt two days ago using the Billhag diagram. I will be re-doing the belt, my most pertinent question is whether the change needs to be made prior to submitting for EIB or can I do it prior to Centurion?

I'll do that this evening. The bend in the clip is pinched instead of rounded to allow for the two layers of the belt. I've compared the clips to the ones that Ukswrath makes and there is a noticable difference there. I purchased a bench clamp and I am going to try to do a little work on them, first trying it out on the remaining clip from the first set.

I’m in Panama City, Parjai territory. Fortunately, I haven’t come across any major challenges that I wasn’t able to find resources for here. Another set of experienced eyes would always be helpful though, not to mention the opportunity to build armor with a fellow fan over a few cold ones.

I would also add that I feel bad for not posting more detailed progress photos on the first build, but I was under a time crunch.... I'll be adding more content to this thread as I begin my son's TK and hopefully will add more details in the process.

Ok, I'm officially jealous! I wish I had a @justjoseph63 nearby.

Thanks for the tips. On the AM armor, I don't have the slot under the bottom of the button plate that other kits have. I could trim a bit more off, but was afraid I would get into the contour of the button due to the pull. Also, after thinking about the TD clips, I may be able to heat them with a propane torch to soften the metal enough to allow me to reshape them. I will try it out on one of the clips from the first set and see how that goes.

Yes, this is a known issue. I bought these TD clips from Dave with my kit and they are pinched so much that they won't fit over the belt. I actually stole the ones from my son's kit because I broke one of the first set trying to adjust them to fit. I'm debating on contacting him for replacements or trying to make my own. Time is of the essence here. Can I place the clip in between the belt layers to allow it to sit in the right spot?