Zinfer

Ordered the template. I am growing apprenensive on ordering anything anymore. Still waiting on PVC coverstrip plastics, still waiting on undersuit some 2 months after I've ordered and requested. Getting ridiculous.

Thank you for that gmr! Great info. I tried the toothpick method and it just wasn't working for me. Great solution initially but then it starts running later. So I wiped it down for another attempt. I am going to attempt an order for those templates, IF the US Mail can handle the burden. I'm not real clear though on this 'TE' derived or Old FX discrimination. I guess the TE is the Most Popular. Too many Acronyms. :S

I just started them over. Do any templates exist for these?

Well I put on some shorter elastics loops from chest to abdomen. Test fitted the torso again. Man do I ever need to lose weight. A good 30 pounds. snap is so far away on the right. But I don't want to alter the design where it's something I can't just easily remove after a thousand bike rides. So, I'm (for right now) happy with the elastics. On to some toothpick work with the abdo button plates later tonight. Make them a little rounder and a little tighter.

That'd be an extremely large hole punch.

Oh, I have to completely trim to size yet. For the buttons themselves, I wish I could have thought of a simple template method but I came up with a blank. So, I'll just have to make them a bit more round with toothpicks. If you suggest I start over again, I'll have to run out and pick up a Filbert.

Ugh! More Painting. This time the buttonplates. I'll have to take a toothpick to this after drying, clean it up a bit. I guess some tricky trimming on the main plate as the symmetry is off. Kind of a cut and fit step I guess.

Oh I got it Joseph. It's the snap that mounts inside that secures the right shoulder strap to the front plate. The plastic snap. I was kinda surprised as I'd originally used CA, but this time around I used E6000. On a different note, I was informed that my PVC cover strip material was shipped before Christmas. I'm at the mercy of the USPS at this point. Already have a package stuck in Spring Gardens, NY for a month (my under suit). The mail is really bad here in the States, but man they got this bill thing down, just keep rolling in with those with no problem.

Right shoulder snap came unglued from the plastic.

Shoulder bells installed. Well I can wrap a few things up with replacements of the elastic chest to abdomen loops to 1" or less sewn. But after that, I'm kind of at a stand still until I can get some PVC coverstrip material from RS. You guys have been so kind, generous and a wealth of information. Thanks for all of that and for helping me out. 4 emails to RS over the past couple months. At this stage just give me a price and I'll BUY the friggen 1/4 sheet. Not going to mix ABS with PVC. I've come this far and not going to screw up my build at this point. Maybe I can come up with a Doopy Doo but I'm pretty much at a standstill at this point.

Thinking about 3/4" from the snap to the edge of the bell. I'll take a closer look in a bit. My eyes aren't the greatest when I first wake up.

Oh of all the... I am so stupid. I bit them off. Came right off and snapped in place. Thank you Daniel.

BTW, that black matter under my nail is from closing up the lid of black satin Humbrol paint last night.

Well here's what shipped from RS. These are 'supposed' to snap together. So there's no trick like using a pair of pliers to snap them together? Man, what the heck now. Each part has it's own special set of issues.

Has anyone ever experienced the shoulder strap snaps being unable to snap to the shoulder bell straps? Must be something I'm missing. Very, very hard to get it to snap together.

Working around the arms and legs still,.

Also broke out the E6000 and getting the shoulder straps set, glued and clamped in place over night. Need to get set to installing the shoulder bells. I am really not sure how long to make the straps that adhere to the bells.

Over Christmas I finally feel I've finished the painting process of the helmet. This had to be the most difficult portion of the entire build. I hope it meets or exceeds inspection. Although, I have gotten pretty proficient at mineral spirits and paint removal... After reviewing the Ohio Garrisons' youtube however I found that most use 15 tubestripes. So I added 2 more just to comply with and more match my brother Troopers I put my black mark on the 2nd rib of the ear, to the center. I could change that to the very rear, but I'm not sure it means anything anyways. But the point is, I finally finished (I think and hope) the helmet painting. Hand painted. No decals.

Merry Christmas to all you Troopers out there. I hope to meet you someday soon. You've all been so helpful and inspirational to me and I appreciate all you Fighting 501st members. Vaders Fist. I hope to one day join your ranks as a member of the 501st. Thank you.

Finished the gray. Now starting on the dreaded pinstriping. Definitely going to have to give this a good Novus #1 treatment to get rid of all the spots after painting. Little tiny black spots from where I've removed the old paint to start fresh. DeSpotify

Thank you Daniel.

Woops my bad. This is the other side. Seems like that first larger should be just a little larger though. My question remains though is it just a matter of preference on using the 4th smaller rib as a demarcation of where it should sit?

Is this an inaccuracy from RS Propmasters? there is no fatter tab. They are supposed to be 100% movie accurate.

While the helmet is drying tonight I started in out in the cade of applying the shoulder straps. Then tied the elastics into a knot for the shoulder pvc straps and trimmed the excess. One more thing to do on this is setting the button strap for the right side of the rear kidney to the right codpiece. Questioning (as this was never covered in the RS Tuts) the placement of the Shoulder plastic straps . I know I need to set the snaps for the shoulder bells yet (kinda need a maniquin at this point). But am I correct that it's 4 ridges that get glued to the chest plate (Not including the larger lead ridge)?

Boots finally arrived. I'm surprised how well they fit. Size 11.