Batphobic Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Hello friends, Will be building an ANH TK (or maybe TD). Unboxed the first piece today -- an ATA helmet. **ready for some n00b questions?** 1. Why two sets if ears? In case I mess up? 2. Is there any wisdom as to where I should draw my cut lines? I've seen tons of pictures of cut lines on these boards but is it just a matter of eyeballing how that translates to my helmet? Thanks all. Will be a long slow journey and I appreciate your feedback along the way!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolo[TK] Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 1- One set is hero and the other is stunt. Hero ones have 3 bumbs and Stunt ears have 4 bumbs. 2- Check out Scootch's build thread. It helped me alot. Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raintrooper Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 ATA sends two sets of whichever ears you request, stunt or hero, just in case you screw up on your first try. They are the trickiest part of the helmet by far. I followed this thread to the letter. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/14806-how-to-assembling-ata-abs-helmet-1/ Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 1- One set is hero and the other is stunt. Hero ones have 3 bumbs and Stunt ears have 4 bumbs. 2- Check out Scootch's build thread. It helped me alot. Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk Thanks Tolo -- I counted the bumps -- turns out I have two sets of Stunt ears -- good news in case I mess up! Re: Scootch... I don't suppose you have the thread link handy? I did a search and found him and scrolled through his topics and am not seeing it. Much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 ATA sends two sets of whichever ears you request, stunt or hero, just in case you screw up on your first try. They are the trickiest part of the helmet by far. I followed this thread to the letter. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/14806-how-to-assembling-ata-abs-helmet-1/ Good luck! Thanks RainTrooper! Guessing ATA has enuf experience with newbs contacting him for a second set of ears. And yeah -- will definitely keep Pandatrooper's build thread open as I go through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Good luck with the build, there are lots of build threads you can follow on the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DroidHunter Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 When you trim the cap/back of the helmet, be very conservative. The ATA helmet is on the smaller side (you will probably have to put it on sideways and twist when it is fully built) but it is a good looking helmet. Myself and a number of others have recently completed threads on putting it together so check 'em out. If you trim right up to the mold line, you will have troubles putting it together. Don't worry about the unfinished look of the edges as they will be under the ears. Follow Panda's thread and look to some of the other recent builds for advice. There are many of us who cane help you out with questions. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawgee Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Here is the link for Pandatrooper ATA helmet build, and good luck! http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/14806-how-to-assembling-ata-abs-helmet-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks! The GA garrison has a mentor program and a mentor (Ground Pounder... Brian) will be coming over to help me get started. Will post pics. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Alright. Drew my first cut lines. Doing the eyes first. What do you think? Drew the lines where it looked like the mold had natural lines. Looking down on left eye from above: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Here's the same eye (left) looking up at it from below: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The5thHorseman[TK] Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Looks good to me. Though i've never built an ATA so maybe someone who have actually built one could confirm that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuteman Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I built an ATA and this looks good to me. Do it If you´re not happy with the result you can sand it to your specs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Cool thanks. Here goes! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Will need some filing and sanding but... that wasn't as bad as I was worried it would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Looking good, when you start on the teeth try to make the corners of the teeth quite square, gives a meaner look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) OK, so I know I'm documenting this in more detail than is probably healthy... but that's just me. Maybe someone coming behind me will appreciate it. We'll see if I can keep it up. Waiting on file set to arrive from Amazon to do the teeth. So I did the edges of the face. I thought I'd use tape simply to provide a straight line to cut by: (in this picture I cut to the left of the tape) For the bottom I did do a light pencil line: I've decided the way I like to work with the material is to press really hard in order to create a good first groove because when the first pass is light it was hard to stay in that original groove. BUT I also work hard to just keep the blade steady and only attempt to move millimeters at a time so as to avoid slipping and slicing through a part I don't want scratched. Used some nasty ol' wire cutters for the "snap & break" lines. Worked, but probably could use some nice quality scissors or something: And... the face with trimmed edges complete: Edited January 27, 2014 by Batphobic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Sometimes you are better off leaving some material especially at the base near the ears as one side seems to meet up nicely but the other has a small gap, in saying that the s trim and base of the ear should cover this so don't panic when you first put the pieces together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Looking good, when you start on the teeth try to make the corners of the teeth quite square, gives a meaner look Thanks Glen - yeah - I prefer the sharp lines. This is not going to be a "hospitality" trooper haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Sometimes you are better off leaving some material especially at the base near the ears as one side seems to meet up nicely but the other has a small gap, in saying that the s trim and base of the ear should cover this so don't panic when you first put the pieces together Yikes. Ok. I think (hope) I just cut pretty much where PandaTrooper cut his... hoping I didn't cut too much off for it to fit together well. I'll go back and take a second look at PandaTrooper's. I need to slow down and post pictures of my drawn cut lines first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Alright - seeking feedback on the s-curve. I looked closely at PandaTrooper's ATA helmet build and tried to mirror it. Look ok? Here's PandaTrooper's: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The5thHorseman[TK] Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 If you like the Low-brow style for the helmets try to leave some more material at the bottom for the rivet to go through. Make some tests fitting once cut and if you don't need the extra material at the bottom you could always remove it then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Techne[TK] Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 That looks reasonably good. I agree with 5th horseman--test fit it. Cut some off, a little to the outside of your line and see how well it matches up with the face. Then cut down some more, to the line or whereever seems appropriate. You want to make sure there's enough overlap to bolt your ears through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted January 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Thanks Chris and Germain -- that's exactly what I did. I followed your new line, Germain (thanks for that!), fit the pieces together, and then trimmed a little more. Will post pictures later tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batphobic Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Alright - had to step away from it for a couple days. End of the world in Atlanta recently and all that jazz. Working on the teeth: Goes without saying that I need to take a lot more off right? Mainly in the top and bottom of the cut out portion: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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