bogan25793 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 (edited) Greetings all! Like many of you I am a first time builder and plan on using this build thread to share my experience and get feedback. After conducting a lot of research and talking to a a bunch of people I decided to go with AM 2.0 to suit my body type (5'10" around 200 pounds). After contacting TG to order a set of AM 2.0 he let me know production would be delayed so he offered NE which would be ready sooner. It is similar to AM and body-appropriate for me. I am writing this thread using Taptalk from a tablet, and having trouble adding photos. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Edited September 7, 2015 by bogan25793 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted September 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 So if anyone can help with some advice on how to post photos from my iPad to the website directly via Safari or using Taptalk we can get this ball rolling. I have tried using Taptalk as suggested in another forum but it is not working. Appreciate any responses here or via PM. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 You need to use a upload service like photobucket to store your photos and then you link them here. FISD only gives so much space to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted September 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Thanks, I have a Photobucket account and can easily post pics to our Garrison forums. My problem, I believe, is that I am using an iPad. I just can't figure out how to link them from the Photobucket app here. I will likely steal a laptop from my kids and use the full website features. Appreciate the patience and advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmosis[501st] Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 You will not be disappointed with this armor. Nice stuff. Your armor is coming from the same chaps who make Armor Master(AM). Although the top half of your armor is different from AM, the legs are the same. I just posted a thread on how to alter the thighs to look more accurate if you desire to go that route.http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32932-am-thigh-re-shaping/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWard Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I am current building a set of NE, with expert guidance, that is coming out great! Here is a link to my progression: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32655-my-first-build-anh-stunt/. This is my first build and I cannot wait to finish and begin trooping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 I had to spend some time away from this hobby at work and then getting sick (not planned). I also added a laptop to my build to avoid any future self-inflicted technology issues. First pic, large brown box, banana for scale: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Pieces and parts: I posted these pics as proof that I purchased a kit and learned how to finally post photos. I'll refrain from sharing every little plastic bit until I work on it. During my down time I painted a set of Chelsea boots white, final result: I read a previous thread here and used acetone to remove the factory finish. I started with Angelus acrylic white leather paint and applied many coats. The rough spots along the welts are from a problem I caused for myself by being too clever. I originally used blue painter's tape on the welts to keep them black, but since I overpainted the tape the paint peeled off of the bottom of the upper. I even scored a line alone the tape edge with a knife but it didn't work. So, I ended up painting the welts white anyways and then painted them black to cover up with a tube of acrylic black paint I picked up locally. After comparing these to pics of TK boots and other finished products, I felt the welts were a bit thin so I cheated the black on the upper just a bit to get the right scale. I plan on using these for basic approval if I can and buying TK boots during the next run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 While out conducting some innocent household shopping, I made a casual detour to a local toy store and scored this gem: Yes, it is the Kylo Ren FX Lightsaber. I was curious as to how it would be rendered, and the effect is pretty cool. The main blade ignites first, as in the trailers, and the cross guard blades ignite simultaneously all with some dramatic sound effects. When on, the blade flickers and hisses a bit. While not a ragged as the images from the trailers, still pretty cool. Now, on to biceps, my first attempt at piecing. After learning the detail about the thumb/spoon print to identify the left inner bicep from the right, I tried to match up the back pieces. This is what I have simply taped together. Left bicep, I added the labels inside: The right bicep is s bit "uneven". The inner seam lines up nicely but the outer seam does not. I believe that after trimming it will work using the cover strip to account for the mismatched size. Has anyone else seen this on a right bicep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWard Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 My NE Bicep... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingnut65[Staff] Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 The offsets seem to be normal. Don't fret it. I had the same concern and took my taped up biceps to a troop to get advice. Everyone I asked just laughed and said to Move Along... They said to align the bottom and don't worry about the top as it will be completely hidden by the shoulder bell. Also, a thought on the returns... Before I cut anything, I found this post on Return Edges: (http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31930-return-edges/). The Gospel According to Gazmosis, in post #3 says that biceps get minimal to no returns. So, trimming the edges to align should have no effect on the returns. If you want to keep a return edge, use a little heat to form a new one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Thanks for the confidence-building advice. I have been working a bit on a few other things until I could get back to the build. First, I have been reading up on ways to make good use of magnets to aid in bonding cover strips. There are a lot of methods on how to prep them, everything from covering them with tape to making small cloth sacks. All good ideas! I decided to use what I had laying around and possibly come up with a new method. I decided to spray them with shellac to provide a thin protective layer to minimize scratching and to eliminate that pesky "magnet dust". I lined up some magnets on a piece of banana colored paper (for scale) and sprayed them with several coats of shellac. I haven't used them yet but the idea seems to be working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogan25793 Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I also realized that I have never cut ABS before. I have watched several build videos and read many, many of your build threads, and I have noticed that most people jump right in with making cuts to their armor. I am not quite so brave, so I decided to start by making a couple of cover strips! I got out my gear and a piece of extra ABS and drew my 15mm line. Then I scored the plastic with my shop knife using my plastic coated straight edge as a guide. I drew the knife twice using "firm" pressure. I snapped it very slowly and it came away cleanly. Worked better than expected!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Instead of doing 2 firm passes, start with several light passes, followed up by a few firm ones. Will make a super crisp line if you're using a ruler as a guide obviously. I'll be following your build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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