Raintrooper Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 More Progress!! I’ve been slowly chipping away at this build, and I’ve been slacking a little on taking pics as I go. I’m in the home stretch, with just the strapping and snapping left to finish.How does everything look so far? SO excited to get this done and start trooping!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tehcaveman Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Looking great!! Clamshell strapping FTW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTrooper[TK] Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Almost there, you'll be sweating it out on a troop in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aicire Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Great work! I've been following your progress on IG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Great work! I've been following your progress on IG! Thanks Ericia! I see your kit is coming along nicely as well! Yeah, I've been on IG quite a bit lately.. Ugh! I've run into a snag.. After gluing the front and inner cover strips on my calves, the backs are way too wide open, causing a lot of tension keeping the closed . I tried heavy duty velcro to close them, but they either popped open or tore the velcro off completely. Looks like I need to heat bend them closed with boiling water or a heat gun. I think I might try the hook and strap closure method once I've got them closing on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looking great!! Clamshell strapping FTW!! Thanks Manny! Going screen accurate on all the strapping! FTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tehcaveman Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Sweet !! Trooperbay sells the strapping for the helmet with the padding if you need it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tehcaveman Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 [quote name="RainTrooper" Ugh! I've run into a snag.. After gluing the front and inner cover strips on my calves, the backs are way too wide open, causing a lot of tension keeping the closed . I tried heavy duty velcro to close them, but they either popped open or tore the velcro off completely. Looks like I need to heat bend them closed with boiling water or a heat gun. I think I might try the hook and strap closure method once I've got them closing on their own. Avoid Velcro.. I had that setup on my previous armor and I'm so happy with the "bra hook" closure.. So much cleaner and easier to maintain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Avoid Velcro.. I had that setup on my previous armor and I'm so happy with the "bra hook" closure.. So much cleaner and easier to maintain Yeah, I'll definitely be going with the bra hook closure. But first, closing these calves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Torso and thigh fitting! Taped at the shoulders, now working on the white elastic at the shoulders. How's it looking so far? Is it common for the chin of the helmet to bump against the top of the chest quite a bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The5thHorseman[TK] Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 It looks really great so far! Don't mess the arms strapping and you'll be perfect. Your belt could sit a bit higher on your abdominale plate though, should be right under the ab buttons or slightly covering them; and the drop boxe and your left seems not perfectly aligned with the end of the ammo belt: Is it common for the chin of the helmet to bump against the top of the chest quite a bit? All the time! That's why you cannot bend the head down when in armor, you have to lean forward if you want to look down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tehcaveman Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Thighs look great.. never thought I'd be saying that to another man lol..my helmet bumps all the time so don't stress that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoekoner[TK] Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Thighs look great.. never thought I'd be saying that to another man lol..my helmet bumps all the time so don't stress that Lol just the other day manny told me my thighs were great too! Your armor is coming along great cant wait to see you out on troops! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsteele[TK] Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Looking good Jason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Batman[501st] Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Yeah, I'll definitely be going with the bra hook closure. But first, closing these calves! How did you go? I had the same problem. After glueing the fronts, I forced mine closed, taped them nice and tight, then gave them a boiling water bath in the kitchen sink for 20 minutes or so. Worked out great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DroidHunter Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 I take it the boiling water did not affect the glue from the front cover strips and sniper plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Thanks guys! I'm in the home-stretch! I finished all the arm straps & snaps, now all that's left are the shoulder bridges and the thigh ammo pack. More photos coming soon! How did you go? I had the same problem. After glueing the fronts, I forced mine closed, taped them nice and tight, then gave them a boiling water bath in the kitchen sink for 20 minutes or so. Worked out great. I tried the boiling water method, but I don't think I left them in long enough.. I filled a 5 gallon bucket using big pots of boiling water, and tied the calves closed with webbing. They closed up a little, but not all the way. Also, I learned I was using the wrong velcro before, so I got the 'Industrial Strength' velcro and they now stay closed nicely! I take it the boiling water did not affect the glue from the front cover strips and sniper plate? No, boiling water won't melt, soften, or affect E6000 at all. I wondered the same thing at first, but no problems. Cover strips and sniper plate in tact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsteele[TK] Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 I tried the boiling water method, but I don't think I left them in long enough.. I filled a 5 gallon bucket using big pots of boiling water, and tied the calves closed with webbing. They closed up a little, but not all the way. Also, I learned I was using the wrong velcro before, so I got the 'Industrial Strength' velcro and they now stay closed nicely! Ah excellent! When I saw your shins on Saturday, I didn't think they had too much resistance to prevent closure with the industrial velcro. Glad you were able to find the right velcro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Thanks Ron! I'm just a day or two away from approval pics! Gluing shoulder bridges down and doing the elastic hold-downs in the back, then painting all the screws and rivets white... THEN DONE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 So here it is! My first full test fit! I still need to paint the rivets, and attach the forearms to the biceps with elastic. Not the best picture, but how does it look fit-wise? Many more detailed, well lit photos coming soon! First base approval pics, then EIB!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tehcaveman Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Shoulders look a bit off to me.. Other than that great fit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxsteele[TK] Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) So here it is! My first full test fit! I still need to paint the rivets, and attach the forearms to the biceps with elastic. Not the best picture, but how does it look fit-wise? Many more detailed, well lit photos coming soon! First base approval pics, then EIB!! One word - Jealous! Looking sharp man. Looking forward to seeing the side and back shots! One thing I'm noticing - the tops of your finishing strips for your thighs. I believe they should be rounded off to follow the curve of the top of the thighs? Edited April 12, 2014 by maxsteele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Shoulders look a bit off to me.. Other than that great fit!! Thanks Caveman! Yeah, the shoulders slipped back a little bit before the picture. Need to figure a way to prevent them from falling toward the back of my shoulders. Any easy fixes or is that just a common problem? One word - Jealous! Looking sharp man. Looking forward to seeing the side and back shots! One thing I'm noticing - the tops of your finishing strips for your thighs. I believe they should be rounded off to follow the curve of the top of the thighs? Ha! Thanks Ron. You'll get there soon! I'm not sure about the top of the thigh cover strips. I've seen them rounded and squared. I'll look more into it. Just from walking around the house, I can tell I'm going to need to sand a few places here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The5thHorseman[TK] Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Top of the thighs are squared: However, the top of the thighs back cover strips are usually adapted to the armor curves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted April 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 (edited) Awesome. Thanks Germain! I might trim the thigh back strips a bit then. Edited April 17, 2014 by RainTrooper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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