He got legs, he knows how to use 'em.

[matt black]

Finished my AP legs and would love any opinions on fit and finish. I found building these beyond difficult. This is only a quick test fit so I am only holding them up at the tops and wearing grey leggings. Apologies for my buttocks.

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Edited January 26, 2021 by gmrhodes13
link not working, removed gmrhodes13 2021

[TrooperVenger]

Look pretty spiffy to me. Much better than my armour.

[matt black]

Thanks Ricky. Glad to have your opinion mate.

[TrooperVenger]

No probs.

One piece of advice. Are you using a belt and then hanging elastic with snaps on the end to hold up your thighs?

If you are, when you measure, be aware that they'll drop a bit because of the weight. When I did mine, I measured them, stuck on the snaps and when I tried on my armour at the weekend to take pics, the thighs were hanging too low so now I have to re-cut and stick the elastic so it's shorter.

[matt black]

Thanks for the advice. Not looking forward to the strapping process at all. Got a lot more building to do first though.

[SolderMaster]

Might I add to use the "Elastic Belting" from Jo Ann's or similar store. The regular elastic doesn't hold up as well. Other than that, they look great!

[matt black]

Thanks Brian. I was going to use webbing. I did'nt even know you were supposed to use elastic for holding up the thighs.

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

I used belting 2" elastic. then I have a velcro patch on the thigh with a snap plate in the middle.

 

then on the abdomen plate I attached the elastic to the abdomen plate. of course if you wanted to, you could

make a loop with a buckle and make it adjustable.

 

attaching the thighs to the abdomen just under the belt line helps a lot

to keep them up. put the attachments slightly towards the center of your body

so the thigh straps are at a slight angle.

 

each strap has a velcro tip and then a snap and then some more velcro.

the thigh's placement for the snap and the velcro is not exactly at the tip, it's about

2.5-3" down from the top.

 

this holds the thigh up, but allows the tip to push forward slightly as you step though the

walking motion!

 

test fit by using duct tape to hold the elastic to your armor AB, and then thigh.

once you're satisfied with the distance and motion you can simply mark and set up your

straps and snap plates.

 

another thing I learned is that you can use leather to make snap plates very easy.

just make sure that no glue touches the metal of the snap at all!

the leather flexes and is strong! and allows a larger glue surface...

 

when test fitting make sure that you walk, and walk up and down stairs with the AB plate, belt and legs on.

it helps a lot to put the attachment to the thighs not at the direct tip, you'll notice

that walking up and down stairs can be a major challenge if you don't

test those motions during your test fitting.

 

in other words... don't just stand there, walk and bend your knees high up to test the placement of the

snaps and attachments!

Edited March 22, 2011 by TK Bondservnt 2392

[DarthVeach]

Looks great, very well proportioned. Looks like your dog approves too! Is that a Jack Russell?

[john danter]

Walk up stairs?

 

Now your just showing off

 

I struggle int TK tbh

Give me a snowie anyday

 

Your legs, and butt, look cool mate lol

[matt black]

Vern, thank's for all the great tips. I've copied them down so I don't forget them. Chris, Thanks for the kind comments. Yes he is a Jack Russell but he has a bit of Corgi in him so has ears that are far too big for him. He is my world. John, thank's mate for the kind words on the legs and the buns.

[DarthVeach]

Can't wait to see more progress!

 

I have an 8 yr old JRT who still acts like she is a puppy! I know what you mean, she is my best bud!

[matt black]

Fantastic dogs. After the past few months I've had he's all thats kept me going.

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

the only problem that I had when climbing stairs was the fact that my thigh backs opened up.

 

so my next mod for fixing that is to add snaps and position the velcro so that my thighs can expand

 

to allow my leg to be raised with my knee up.

 

movement is key to the fitting process. not just having a tight fit. you don't actually want it

 

so tight and close fitting that you can't move.

 

the thing I like to do is have the power cell thigh plate overlap the shin, and the knee plate to be just at the tip

 

of the V in the thigh.

 

making the shin gap too large on shorter troopers can make stairs impossible to climb.

 

on a troop last year we had to climb stairs to reherse, and a ramp to mount the stage... so walking,

 

and climbing stairs is key to leg fitting!

 

thanks so much john... yeah... it's fun to be able to climb stairs!!

 

your kit looks very well trimmed and laid out!

[TrooperTim]

Nice work. Does one shin fit more snug than the other?

[vecspeed12]

Look pretty spiffy to me. Much better than my armour.

 

 

me too!!

 

i noticed my left shin is tighter than the right. its normal i suppose with AP armor. but yours is looking good.

[Hawkeye[501st]]

Look really great mate!...going about the right way!

Better then mine as well

[matt black]

Thanks you troopers. Great to know I'm doing something right.