ukswrath[Staff] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looking good though you can always use a cotton swab and some thinner (no acetone) to soften the edges a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted September 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looking good though you can always use a cotton swab and some thinner (no acetone) to soften the edges a bit. Thanks for your feedback Tony! Yes, I'll go back and make the circles sharper. My overall approach on the build is to try to get the basics done on an initial pass and then take the time to really nail the detail. For me, I gotta keep building so that I don't lose momentum and get frustrated. Same reason why I will go back and trim the cover strips on the shins and other pieces I've already completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68Brick[TK] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looking good! Nice clean build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted September 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Question on the thighs. I haven't done the outer cover strips yet. I realized that the front parts are showing different widths - one is about 3cm and the other about 4cm. Should I make these be equal at 3cm? I want to check before taking the inner strips off and doing some more trimming to the front. I used E6000 so it should be doable with a bit of elbow grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 The thighs should be 20mm/2cm wide total. Granted, you can give yourself a bit more room if your legs need, just try to use a 20mm cover strip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted September 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 The thighs should be 20mm/2cm wide total. Granted, you can give yourself a bit more room if your legs need, just try to use a 20mm cover strip. OK, I think getting my thighs to fit shouldn't be a problem with the 20mm cover strips. I'll redo it and get it right. Thx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 You can go 25mm rears if needed just always aim for the front of every piece to be as accurate as you can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Little tip, if you're having a difficult time utilizing space the front thigh return edge doesn't have to be just outside the cover strip width, yes it looks cleaner but a couple MM on each side won't make much of a difference visually. With that said, in the back try to keep the 20mm cover strip width if possible, just evenly allow for more thigh return edge material if needed. When in doubt, test fit and post some pics before final gluing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 I started on my AM2.0 thighs this past weekend and they are HUGE! Much larger than my MTK both in height and width. I was able to perfectly do 20mm in the front and have more than enough overlap for the rears. Obviously, fit them the best for you and definitely give yourself a few mm on the front if needed. There are a few AM2.0 builds here where guys have needed to do it and it doesn't look bad at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted September 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 I started on my AM2.0 thighs this past weekend and they are HUGE! Much larger than my MTK both in height and width. I was able to perfectly do 20mm in the front and have more than enough overlap for the rears. Obviously, fit them the best for you and definitely give yourself a few mm on the front if needed. There are a few AM2.0 builds here where guys have needed to do it and it doesn't look bad at all. Redid the inside strips for the thighs, no issue fitting into them now...also looks much cleaner. Haven't done the front strips yet...will post new pics once that's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 If you're feeling adventurous since you haven't done the front cover strip yet, you should look into doing the ANH style notches on top of the thighs. I have to trim mine height wise so I'll be doing that this weekend. It's not necessary in the least for approval but I like the way it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 Shins are done...velcro in the back, strips in the front. Not sure if I did this right though...I followed this topic http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/28321-sure-fire-am-20-shin-identification/ and put the 45 degree edge on the out side, 20 degree on the inside. Does this look correct? If this all seems OK, I will attach the sniper plate on the left shin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 Trim any cover strip material extending past the edge of the armor, chamfer any cover edge corners, and I'd personally trim the upper return edge back a bit before it digs a hole in your legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 I have to do my shins this weekend too. How much do you recommend trimming off the upper return edge? Leave like 1/8" inch all the way around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 It's up to the individual Jason, everyone's legs are different. Install your boots and/or underarmor clothing, walk around for a while, then remove (trim) anything that's chaffing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Hope I'm doing this right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 Found this 40 gallon wheeled plastic tote at my local Walmart for $24. All my TK gear fits nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Very nice! Great job. Have you attempted to glue the shoulder plate down around the corner? I know it's not easy but it would make it look much cleaner. So I tried to get the shoulder cover corners closer to the chest plate using a heat gun. One side came out nice but the other side I think I got it too hot and flattened out some of the ridge detail. Thoughts? Good side Not so good side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Hey Victor well, um, do you want the good news or the not so good news first? Placement is good, could stand to be a couple notches forward however, the melted strip will need to be repaired or replaced. If you don't mind me asking why did you heat it? Edited October 6, 2015 by ukswrath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Hey Victor well, um, do you want the good news or the not so good news first? Placement is good, could stand to be a couple notches forward however, the melted strip will need to be repaired or replaced. If you don't mind me asking why did you heat it? I used the heat gun to expedite the process of bending the shoulder cover. It worked fine on one side but a few extra seconds on the other side melted the plastic. I figured it would need replacement...all part of the learnings as I go through the build. Where can I get replacement shoulder covers...didn't see any on Trooperbay.? Edited October 6, 2015 by hondutrooper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Contact the same contact you ordered your armor from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I used the heat gun to expedite the process of bending the shoulder cover. It worked fine on one side but a few extra seconds on the other side melted the plastic. I figured it would need replacement...all part of the learnings as I go through the build. Where can I get replacement shoulder covers...didn't see any on Trooperbay.? Yea not the first time I melted plastic accident. Lessons learned. I'd contact the armor mfg for another set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondutrooper[TK] Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Here's my first time wearing most of the pieces together. Forgot to put the arms on ;( Missing the belt and holster (ordered from Trooperbay), TD, and boots (TK boots requested but not in stock) Please provide feedback on my progress so I can continue to work on improvements. Does the length of the chest and ab plates look right? Cod piece is obviously not hanging right, will need to adjust the strapping. The shoulder bells and biceps were attached with black 1" webbing - should this be elastic instead for better mobility? Shoulder bell length look OK? Should I shorten the thighs and/or cod piece? Note that the thighs are missing the front cover strips which I will install once I have a better fit. Does this make my butt look big? Do I need to trim a bit from kidney or butt plate? Side view. I need to trim the midsection - do I trim from the ab plate or from the kidney plate? Shoulder bell length look OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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