RocketFinch

Welcome to the EIB. Great work. Got to love that TM armor.

I research for about a year and half while I was in college. I knew about the 501st and about FX armor and that was about it at the begining. As I did more research I stumbled across the FISD, it was fairly new then, and spent a lot of time reading posts and using the search function. Through my research I found that if I was going to take the armor plunge that I want something that was screen accurate or looked close. I had narrowed it down to AP or RTMod armor. My first post was a question dealing with armor fitting body types namely skinny and average height. The responses were great and I decided to go with AP armor. While all this research been going on, in the real world I had graduated from college and now had a real job. Bonus time came around and with permission from the Mrs. I order a complete set of AP armor and the misc parts to go with it . (I had it all budgeted out with a spread sheet. ) A few months later the big box came and then it kind of sat for awhile. That was back in June of '07. I work on pieces here and there but it was kind of hard to in our small apt. After moving twice, once to a new apt and then relocating across country for a new job I finally finished my armor in time for Halloween of '08. Fast forward a little while and with some help from some great guys here I was able to go EIB a little while ago.

Congrats!

I ran into the same problem when I was setting up the snap system for my armor. More often than not they wouldn't set right on the plastic tabs that I had cut and drilled for them. After fighting it for a while I found something else that so far has worked OK. Instead of plastic tabs I cut lengths of some of the extra 1 inch elastic that I had. Putting a hole for the snaps was fairly easy and the snap held every time. To glue them on the armor I put a good amount of glue all around the elastic avoiding the metal snaps and then used clamps to hold it down while it dried. I used E6000 and let it set. I put another set of snaps on this ways to reinforce snaps that kept coming unsnapped on my shoulder bells and haven't had a problem with them. bluehickey, It sound like you have all your snaps put together. Maybe if you need more you could give this a try.

All right, I will explain "BlueCow"- It is basically it is a nod to my alma mater Utah State University. Our mascot is a big blue Aggie and a nod to my profession- Quality Assurance for food manufacturing. My experience so far has been in the dairy industry. I have also learn it kind of has a ANH reference that is a bit of a strench. There is the blue milk that Aunt Beru pours for Luke.

Thanks, I really work at it to make it a little less like the toy and more like the screen used blaster. Thanks again for the finishing touch of the D-ring.

Here are the blaster, Helmet and Ab details.

Hey guys, I'm finally ready to apply for Expert Infantry. Between trying to find a job and chasing a 18 month old through the house I think I have everything together. A big thank you needs to go to Paul and Thayne for the last few small parts I needed. The armor is AP. My blaster is a modified hasbro with t-track, d ring, and resin kit. The Ab buttons are a VaderDave set.

Thayne, The D-ring arrived today. Looks great. Now to just get it on my blaster. Thanks a lot.

PMs sent. Thanks armored brothers

I am so close. I just need the correct Hovi-Mix aerators and a D-ring for my blaster and I believe I should be good to go for ANH stunt. Funds are a little tight right now (unemployed and looking for a new job) but I am saving up for set of Stomper's Hovi-mix and just need to find time to put a D-ring on my blaster. It's so close that I can almost taste it. Hopefully I can be EIB by the end of summer.

In looking for a replacement part I came across the name japan solderless connectors/terminals that looked like the part needed. They are pretty cheap but you have to buy them in bulk usually 100s at a time if you just want the connector. I have also seen them used on PC fans that you can get cheap on the big auction site in the sky. The one need for the board is a two pin connection. I hope the information helps

I used a big foam wind screen that I had from another mic lying around. Put it over the mic and taped it closed. With the foam in place the mic sits right on my lips. I only get feedback if I turn the amp way up. I hope that helps.

Thanks for all the advice. I cannibalized an old computer connection that worked. It works great now. I have it set up to go behind my chest armor. With the mic shielded I can turn it almost all the way up without feedback.

Just got mine. It works great. I was working on wiring up some mic options and ended up destroying the "quick board connector" for the mic. Checked at Radio shack for it. They didn't have it. Really don't want to solder the mic to the board. Anyone know of a place to get a replacement part? Thanks in advance Arrow in the picture points to what I am taking about.

TK-8044 requesting 501st access. http://www.501stlegion.org/members/display...hp?userID=10021 Thanks in advance!

Nathan, thank you if you are still collecting names. Sign me up. What a way to start out 2009. There are so many generous and helpful people here at the FISD. It is just awesome. I need to find some way to give back.

Thanks for the ideas. From what I have read around here AP helmets can be thin in some places, like the place I had a problem. I think that I will try the epoxy and see if I can reinforce it. With the mic tips in place I don't think the crack will be noticeable and the epoxy should help with the strength.

Help. Newbie with a problem. I was working on my AP helmet and got a crack in one of the dimples for the mic tips. The plastic was thin in this area to begin with, now this. I am worried about supporting the mic tip. I am afraid if I drill the hole and add the mic tip that it will just tear. Is there anyway to repair and strengthen this area?

Curtis Your armor looks sweet. I just got my box of ANH armor from AP a few weeks ago and I am trying to build up the confidence to start trimming it out. From your photos the score and snap method looks good. Thanks for all the pictures. It make me want to start on my armor. I'm just like you, it is hard having it all there and not being able to wear it. Maybe this weekend I start on it. Thanks Trooperbluecow

Thanks for all the info. The link to the site with the tool list was great. I have worked a little bit with my dremel working on my Hasbro blaster conversion but I think I will get in a little more practices before going to town on my armor. Thanks for all the help. I will try to post the progress.

It's final here! After weeks of waiting I have a big box of White Armor!!! Now where to start. My ANH armor came still in the mold forms and needs to be trimmed out. Anyone have some tricks of the trade? I am starting to assemble some tools. I have a dremel, some hobby-knife blades and some sandpaper. Are these good to have or would some other things work better? I know there is other things I need to pick up like clamps and glue and such but I now focusing on getting the armor out of the mold forms Trooperbluecow

Thanks. Thats good to know

How big of a deal is trimming out armor? I know that RT comes trimmed and AP comes untrimmed. That is another difference between the kits that could be a factor in helping me decide. I have some basic modeling skill but I haven?t worked on anything as big as armor? Both kits sound like good kit. Seth

Hello, I am in the market for some TK armor and have done quite a bit research into the different types of armor kits. I have narrowed my choices down to two that I believe are readily available and I feel really have that Stormtrooper feel. The kits are the AP kit and the RT Mod kit. I was wondering if anyone has experience with these kits and could tell me about their pros and cons and their experiences with these kits. I don?t know if I can ask about specific kits but I was hoping to get some feed back about them before I lay my money down for one. Thanks and I look forward to joining the ranks! Seth