Skypig[TK] Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) And so it begins. The BBB has been sitting in my living room for the past week since I've been out of town. But, when I walked in the door, this is what awaited me. Like a surgeon doing delicate brain surgery, I opened the box to reveal.... It's like Christmas, but a million times better. What the hell have I got myself into? Now AM says he has redesigned his chest to be more screen accurate. Thoughts? I'm 6'2", 225 lbs. I don't think I'll be using any shims on this. In fact, I'll will wind up doing a lot of trimming. Trooper Gear was fantastic to work with. I ordered the kit in March and received it last Friday. During the wait he sent multiple emails explaining how he was improving his armor and apologizing for the delay. Stand bye. Edited June 21, 2015 by Skypig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMonkey[501st] Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Congrats and good luck. I'm starting my AM kit as well, so I'll be following your build closely Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Like the many before me, I'll be starting with the biceps. Is it "wrong" to take off the return edge before I start to trim them to size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 So, I started by making a faint pencil mark on the return edge so I didn't over do it with the dremel. Some flying bits of molten plastic and a little sandpaper later... I then played around with the two halves test fitting them on my arm. I held the pieces together with blue masking tape. After I was satisfied with the fit, I made a pencil mark on the top and bottom of both halves, clamped down my ruler, and.........cut. (sometimes my audacity amazes myself). I butted the two halves together, taped them together, and amazingly they still fit my arm. Finally cut a 15mm finish strip, and e6000'd it to half of the bicep. I'm going to let that cure, then join the two halves together. Once I know this turns out ok, I'll finish up the right bicep. I think my progress will start to pick up as I gain confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artshot Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Excellant, another AM 2.0 build By the time I can start building mine I am hoping all the other AM 2.0 builders have been there and done that first Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 (edited) Finished up the arms Bought some Lexan scissors. I like using these more than the dremel. No flying molten plastic shards. Edited June 28, 2015 by Skypig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 Well, I have more pictures, but, Tapatalk is being difficult. I'll try again later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Ok, I got the pictures uploaded to Photobucket, so let's continue. With the lexan scissors and some sandpaper I made quick work of the return edges. I then test fitted it on my arm. And then marked where I was going to cut. Connected the dots, clamped, scored and snapped. Test fitted again before gluing on the cover strip. So, I got a little daring. I tried out the ABS glue that came with the kit. I like it. I'm not patient enough for e6000. I'm just making sure everything fits, before I glue. I measured my cover strip, then marked the center line. Applied a very thin layer of glue, and clamped it on the arm. 30 minutes later I glued on the other half. Finished left and right arms. I'll probably need to trim back the shoulder bells, but, I'll wait until I have the chest armor put together. Next step, thighs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Got the thighs done today. The right one gave me some issues, but I was able to figure it out. The rear seam just doesn't go exactly down the back of my leg. It's about an inch to the left. I was able to rivet on the battery pack, and started on the shins. I'll post some pictures later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJGreen Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I'm not sure what your ultimate goal is for your suit (EIB or Centurion) but a common detail made about the forearms is to trim the return edges completely around the edges to include the raised square track patterned ridge like so... Things are progressing nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Thanks. Didn't realize that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) First test fitting. The helmet is a RT Hero that doesn't go with the armor. The AM bucket is larger, so my head won't seem so tiny. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited July 26, 2015 by Skypig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 It's done. Wow. I'll post some pics tomorrow. I hope to hear your honest critiques/evals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kredal[TK] Posted August 1, 2015 Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 Hey, looking good! There are a couple of notes that Gazmosis made on my EIB application that might help you. The bottom front corners on the butt plate, and the long extensions on the lower back can come off. Here is his picture of my armor, you can see that you have the same bits untrimmed, since we used the same kit. (: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 I saw that on your build thread, and I plan on doing that. Thanks for the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 (edited) Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited August 1, 2015 by Skypig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astyanax Posted August 1, 2015 Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 (edited) Okay, let me take a stab at this. I do not have any armor yet, but I have been doing tons and tons of reading and research. It looks really good to me, nice even coverage. I would have maybe two ridiculously small suggestions: 1. The belt could stand to be maybe a half-inch or so higher in front, so that it almost begins to cover the button panel on the ab plate. 2. The thighs could maybe be lowered a half-inch, so that the coverage above them and below them is a little more even. They're almost touching the cod, yet the left knee diamond isn't overlappting them at all. A half-inch lower seems to spread out the difference just a touch. Real armor guys, please keep me honest. I could be way wrong, but I think that's correct. These are very, very minor comments; I'm just looking for something to point out and to test my own education! Otherwise, looks like a really nice fitting! Bill Edited August 1, 2015 by Astyanax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 Thanks for your input. Both easily fixed. Anxious to see what others may have to say. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Photos submitted to GML. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 (edited) TK-91101 reporting for duty. http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=18340 Edited August 2, 2015 by Skypig 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kredal[TK] Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astyanax Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Awesome, well done, Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukswrath[Staff] Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) Congrats Michael, great job. EDIT: oops on my part Edited August 4, 2015 by ukswrath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanTX Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Awesome man. Did you get a chance to adjust the rivet placement of the thigh ammo pack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypig[TK] Posted August 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Doing that this weekend. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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