DarkTrooper

Celebrating my anniversary with the 501st (joined March 2009) I finally upgraded my FX helmet. HUGE difference. I'm SO happy to not look like a bobble head anymore. I'm still deciding if the old FX will go up for sale.

I placed some of the loop part of velcro where you have your tabs. The velcro would be 'flexible' as opposed to plastic tabs.

yes. I did outside and inside.

I built my ATA and it is a great kit. On my leg pieces I went 7/8 inches on the front and back of the thighs, as well as the front of the shins and 1 inch on the backs of the calves. It all depends on your physical built too. If you have "big" legs you're gonna HAVE TO have wider strips for your legs, arms, etc. Naatsirhc does have a great build thread. I used his as well as missingpieces'.

Wish I could help you. You're like on the border of two garrisons, Golden Gate & Central Cali. Hop on I-80 and head west, quite a few of us are around and in Sacramento. Join our local forum if you haven't already Central California Garrison upcoming troops will be posted up there.

Cool pictures. Tks look good in the snow.

Is it a one time payment or monthly? I couldn't tell by reading that section.

I've used E6000, its great with doopy doos

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is good! Getting er done. I wanna have this build done by the 20th. Our Garrison was invited to a comic book store grand opening and it would be great to have this armor done by then. Last night I painted the helmet. Overall, came out good. A few spots with some overspray. I could buff/polish those spots smooth once I pick up some tack cloths. I sprayed it in the garage then brought it inside to dry in the extra bathroom. I brought in a small portable heater and made a nice little curing/drying "booth" Worked out really well. Finished the mic tips. Used a 12mm socket to bend the ends of the mesh. Mic tips installed and brow trim placed to check my progress. ATA helmet and CAP TX helmet. I had time to prime the TX. Working on two helmets now.

At San Diego Comic Con, I held my keys, wallet & camera all in my helmet. I stuck velcro on the backs of all of em and they all held up throughout the day. I just discovered the blaster holsters with the pockets. I think I'm gonna mod my holster to do that.

Finally, my hyperfirm E-11 is here. I threw it across the living room . . . not a scratch It was a fun day for receiving packages. My CAP TX helmet arrived too, assembled. Gonna say goodbye to the FX version pretty soon.

I'm done with the shoulder and arms. Held in place across the shoulders with 1" elastic. Black nylon webbing connecting the forearms to the biceps. Black elastic at the top of the palms and at the wrists. Comes on like a jacket. CA boots came in this past week and my hyperfirm E-11 is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. **Side note - new TX helmet kit is arriving this week also. I'm looking forward to finally upgrading my FX blackhole trooper helmet. That build will be up here too soon. **

I'll admit I bought one of these awhile ago, this before I joined this forum and was properly informed of certain props and their makers. It a direct resin cast of a MR helmet. Needs work to look decent. It had clumps of resin in the mic tip area. Here's what it looked like before I sold it. Eventually I painted it black to be an alternative to my FX TX lid.

When I joined the 501st I didn't get my first choice of # I listed. IMO, it doesn't matter to me. The important thing is that I got in the 501st. It'd be fine if they issued random #s but it is great that we are able to have a say in the # we're issued.

Wow. If you got the TIME go for it. I've had my ATA (thanks again Terrell )since the week before Halloween and I'm still working on it. Ballpark estimate (armor & tools/materials) I've spent close to $700+. Add an extra $200 for a hyperfirm blaster. Not a cheap hobby . . . but well worth it. If the armor is made of ABS you don't have to paint it, just polish it, but if its HIPS you do.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED: Snap Pliers. Box Cutter. Striaght edge. Pliers. Clamps. Scissors. Lighter. Painter's Tape. 150 & 400 grit Sandpaper. 6 tubes of Plastic Welder Super Glue Gel. 1 can of Rustoleum Plastic Primer. 4 cans of Rustoleum Pro Enamel Gloss White. 1/3rd Yard of 1" WHITE Nylon. 1 Yard of 1" BLACK Nylon. 2/3rds Yard of 2" BLACK Nylon. 1 Yard of 2" BLACK Elastic. 2/3rds Yard of 3/4" BLACK Elastic. 4' pack of Industrial Velcro you can find. 5 packs of Dritz Heavy Duty Snaps/ 35 Snaps(They come in packs of 7) Spare Styrene/ ABS/ Large For Sale sign. 1/8" x 3mm Aluminum Rivets. I got this from TK4488's build. Check out the build & assembly section of this forum, there are other builds and "tool" lists there as well as builds. Hope this helps.

We can't help him Thayne, he's in Pennsylvania. (his location is in the title. . . ) What type of contest is this? Scavenger hunt? Whats the prize?

Made some progress with the thermal detonator while on my lunch break. Still need to paint the main tube, end caps and detail piece. I had some difficulty finding some good pieces of metal for the clips but found some 5" - 7" piping bracing at home depot that I'm gonna use. Thanks RogueTrooper for the detonator pics and measurements. Sure came in handy.

Oustanding job!

This was posted up awhile back on the Special Ops forum. This morning was the first time I've seen this. I'm just sharing this up here. I don't have an opinion whether or not its "gospel" (fact).

My vote is for Hyperfirm.

Happy yet sad. I got a delivery from Hyperfirm. A T-21!!!!! BUT . . . it's not what I ordered. I ordered a E-11 ESB. Well, might as well pose with it before I send it back. Gonna take a lot of pictures & measurements before this goes away. HAHA This thing is SWEET!!!!

Attack of the Clones is on Spike TV right now. I'm not actually watching it again, its just on in the background as I check the forum out (nightly routine). Another annoying thing about the new Trilogy is the way the aliens talk. I guess they got lazy with the new movies and didn't bother to create alien languages and simply gave the various races of aliens accents. i hate watto's accent. What is that supposed to be? middle eastern? And the trade federation's japanese accents. Come to think of it . . . besides the scenes with Jabba and the rest of the Hutts, were any subtitles used in any of the movies? How come Jabba's relatives can talk like humans in the clone wars series but not Jabba? Its all terrible. Could have been worse . . .Mudflaps & Skids from Revenge of the Fallen.

More like go Saints

Sewed up a belt with some white canvas material, just need to attach it to the belt piece and add velcro to the belt. I painted the helmet but have a bit of orange peel going on so I want to buff that stuff smooth. I have one of TM's ESB hand plates trimmed, need to start on the left one. I still haven't attached the shoulder bridges on the chest piece. I wanna wait till I have the TK boots and do a proper test fit with all the piece on. Also need to get a PVC pipe for the back belt cannister. I finally found a member on the 501st forum who had some CA boots for sale. I've been waiting forever for the new TK boots to be back in stock but I'm tired of waiting. PLUS, I ordered a hyperfirm ESB e-11. I can't wait for that thing