AM build: My second test fitting[*AM]

[bm459]

So, I've got all the pieces trimmed and most of the straps and snaps in place. It's starting to come together. I still have to attach the shoulder strips, glue on the front thigh cover strips, put a bend in and assemble the belt and put the little belt around the right thigh.

 

I put the pieces I've got on and took a couple of pictures:

 

 

After I took those pictures, I installed some elastic straps under the shoulder bells (I hope that will keep them more aligned) and installed some snaps in the thighs so that I can attach a garter. My thighs are sitting really and I'm worried that a simple elastic strap won't be strong enough to keep them in place while I'm walking. Any suggestions on how I can improve the fit here? I think they're trimmed alright; there's not much space in there, I think they might actually have been sized too small and my muscles might be pushing the thighs down.

 

Another problem I'm having is with the butt and back. The butt seems to be pulling oddly upwards and out while the back piece seems to be tilting towards the front. Here, check it out:

I've got straps attaching the abs plate to the back, but it doesn't seem to be working out very well. I'd appreciate any help on this, too.

 

Finally, I can't seem to keep the sniper plate on top of the thigh piece. I'm hoping once I adjust the thighs higher that this problem will go away, but the thighs are always slipping over the sniper plate. Any suggestions on how to remedy this?

Here's a closer picture of the problem:

 

I'd appreciate any feedback I can get. I'm hoping to get the kit together good enough to take it for a spin on Halloween. Once I've spent more than 20 minutes in my full suit, I'm hoping I'll have enough of a feel for it to know where I need to adjust, figure out what's working, etc.

 

Thanks.

Edited October 28, 2010 by bm459

[Debater2nd[TK]]

A belt with definitely help with the butt plate issue, I think. Try tightening up the back straps as well. It almost looks like the back and butt plate are overlapping as well, which could also cause the problem. You could try resizing one of them, or adjusting the height as well to alleviate the problem.

 

The thighs definately need to come up some, which will help with the sniper plate issue. Personally, I riveted my straps on the inside of the ab under the belt, and again on the inside of the thigh clamshell with reinforced straps and clips for detaching them if needed, and mine have held together quite well. If the thighs still aren't fitting right (as in too tight), you may need to shim them to get more room.

 

I assume this is an ESB build?

 

Looking good so far...you're getting close!

[pandatrooper[TK]]

Hi Dan, it's looking like a good test fitting. Here's what I would suggest. It all starts with a solid foundation.

 

Torso: just make it functional and solid. If you're using velcro (and not doing elastics / rivets on the left or leaving it for later) make sure you have fuzzy velcro on the edge of the ab and the edge of the kidney. Then have a really wide piece of hook velcro (an easy way to make this wide is apply 2 strips of 2" industrial velcro a 4" wide strip of plastic, running the length of the seam). If you do this on both sides, it will be solid for Halloween. Worry about accuracy later.

 

Kidney: Judging by that side picture, it looks like your kidney is too long for your torso. I would cut 1.5" off the lower edge.

 

Butt plate: male sure you're using 2 or 3 elastic straps included with the AM kit to secure the butt plate to the kidney. Use the shorter / wide ones. You might be using ones that are too long causing that butt to go out of alignment.

 

Thighs: It's hard to tell if they are too small at the top, but if you built them too small, you might need to take them apart at the back, apply an inner shim and spread the top an inch or so, glue the shim, then hide the back with a cover strip.

 

I agree that they are also too low. Take a wide / tall belt, throw some 1.5" wide elastic over that to make garters, and connect the ends inside the thighs a couple inches from the top. You should try and get some of the black showing in the thigh / cod area, and a similar amount in the knee, but really it's what works for you. You need to raise them a good 3-4 inches.

 

I like to use V shape garters myself (I believe Mighty tank is selling some). but you can make something at home that will do for now.

 

Thigh / knee plate. Pull your thighs up. They are hanging way too low.

 

Shoulders: Not sure of this this what you mean, but run a strap from the inside of the shoulder bell to the top of the bicep. You can also add the one that wraps around the bicep, connecting the bell edges. This will prevent it from spinning.

[bm459]

Thanks for the feedback. I really, really appreciate it.

 

I'm going to try to make some more adjustments tonight.

 

If I get anywhere today, I'll post some more pictures.

 

I'm starting to get really excited... things are really coming together and I appreciate all the help I've had along the way

[bm459]

Well, no pictures from today, but I adjusted my suspenders, installed some garter straps to keep the thighs higher and installed some straps to hold the shoulders and biceps in line and it feels much, much more comfortable already. (As an added bonus, I find the upper body armor much easier to put on now that the shoulders, biceps and upper armor pieces are connected by straps.)

 

I didn't have time to adjust the kidney piece yet and I want to replace my side straps on my torso with the velcro strips that were recommended. I think that'll improve things even further.

 

With the straps holding the thighs up higher, everything seems to fit better. I'm still not sure if they're too small... they seem to be going up about as high as I could make them, but I'm wondering if I opened them wider if they could come even further. I intentionally left excess material in the back of the thighs so that I could let them out if needed.

 

Any idea how to (safely) remove E6000 glue? Not sure if I'm going to need to, but I'm thinking about it.

[Femtrooper Julie[501st]]

E6000 is great, it has some give and is flexible. You can carefully use a razor and then it will sort of rub off once you get it open. Great start!

[peterAP2]

Dan,

 

How tall are you? I'm building my AM kit but the chest piece on mine sits a bit lower.. which also in turn makes my upper back overlap considerably over the kidneys... =\