jamo[501st] Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Hey everyone, I had my big brown box delivered this morning. Yay! Obligatory box photos below: Supplies are ready to go: This will be my first ever TK armour build - ANH-S (NB: in future I will be considering a HWT conversion). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magni[TK] Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Good choice on the HWT! And welcome to the FISD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Always nice to see a fellow MTK trooper. I remember opening my box and wondering how he fit everything in there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illusionz_09[TK] Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Since this is your first build, be careful with that Zap a Gap lol. It seals really strong, so if you mess up you have a tiny window to "fix" it... Good Luck! i look forward to seeing your build come together. Have fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 True enough about Zap a gap. Only use it if you are 100% sure that you don't ever plan on making a change. Trooperbay makes it look ridiculously easy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Thanks guys, caution acknowledged - I'm planning on using the E6000 extensively for cover strips. If I find that I build my confidence during the build the zap-a-gap might get used for other things later on. I'm also going with the wire system from Mr No Stripes for the torso parts. Edited January 12, 2016 by jamo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) First task complete - taking inventory: I'm planning on carrying out the build in the following sequence: Torso: ab plate, chest plate, kidney plate & butt plateAmmo belt, TD, drop boxes and holsterThighs: thigh guards and thigh beltShins: shin guards, knee ammo pack and sniper plateArms: biceps, forearms and shoulder bells - then attach shoulder bells to the torsoHelmet Handguards Does this sound like a good plan? Edited January 13, 2016 by jamo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 That sounds fine. You'll just be removing a little extra flashing on the torso sections so you can get a feel for the plastic. I'd say knock out arms before legs though. And remember, measure everything a few times before cutting. Make sure it fits before you cut also! If you need room, you can always give more space but try to do so in the rear. If you have any questions, that's what we are here for. You can PM me as well if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 That sounds fine. You'll just be removing a little extra flashing on the torso sections so you can get a feel for the plastic. I'd say knock out arms before legs though. And remember, measure everything a few times before cutting. Make sure it fits before you cut also! If you need room, you can always give more space but try to do so in the rear. If you have any questions, that's what we are here for. You can PM me as well if needed. Thanks Jason. Will change the arms and legs in the build sequence. I'm definitely taking my time where trimming areas that affect the overall fit - i'm a skinny guy so in the end I think there will be quite a bit coming off, but I am going to trim less at first and, if needed, then trim some more until it feels right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 Just follow some of the pinned build threads for inspiration and you should be fine. Have a great weekend trimming all the excess flashing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Time to post some more progress. Pics from the trimming process: back plate back plate edge Inside view - kidney and butt Chest Chest edge Ab plate Ab edge Cod area inner biceps inner bicep edges outer biceps shoulder bells shoulder bell edge These are all the initial trims - each edge needs to be adjusted to the required size, which I am basing from here: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/20366-size-of-return-edges-on-the-chest-ab-and-kidney-plates/ That trimming was last weekend, and this weekend I spent time reducing the edges down on the back plate, kidney plate and butt plate in preparation of fitting the brackets and elastic from Mr No Stripes. The completed pics are below: Also, as can bee seen from the first pic of the strapping system, I glued on the 2" wide white elastic at the top of the plate that will connect with the top of the chest plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesnarles Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Very cool, always good to see original brackets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Glad to see you left yourself the extra meat to use the OG strapping method. You're doing great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I should also add that I felt I needed to leave some extra room for the L & R sides at the kidney to butt plate connection, so moved the brackets here inwards by some, in case I need to trim the sides down even further. As this is a first build, this aspect to fitting the armour is a difficult one for me, and I've found it a little hard to ascertain from photos. I'm hoping to meet up with the local garrison soon to get the required help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Very cool, always good to see original brackets Thanks Scott, I've always liked the look of the brackets and read favourable comments on them, so went for it. And sourcing from Mr No Stripes meant that the brackets are nice and consistent in size and shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Forgot to post up these extra pics whilst I made my belt. Started out with about 0.6m of "pop top" - cotton drill fabric. Measured out 3 x 3" doubled over sections (making 3" wide x 6 layers). (notice the excess on one side - I'll get back to that in a second). Cracked out the wife's sewing machine and off I went stitching an edge to each side. Once stitched I then trimmed the excess from the side - giving a frayed edge look to one of the edges. Final measurement - it comes in over 80mm but under the 83mm max allowed under the CRL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor[TK] Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Just a warning before you get too far with the belt assembly. I did something similar and i had puckering at the rivets at the end of the ammo pouches. I ended up using sign plastic inserts. The plus is it supports the holster and blaster really well. May not be accurate assembly but i had to disassemble to get a clean look. Just FYI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Thanks Joe. I still have one end open and haven't trimmed the belt to length yet. Will try and find something that I can slide through as an insert, maybe a PET type material, or very thin ABS. Ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor[TK] Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Thanks Joe. I still have one end open and haven't trimmed the belt to length yet. Will try and find something that I can slide through as an insert, maybe a PET type material, or very thin ABS. Ideas??I used a moving sale sign bought at Walmart. Thin and very flexible. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32163-trogdors-first-build-mtk/page-6#entry455745 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Back to work on the torso. Trimmed up the top edge of the ab/cod to about 10-12mm and then the bottom edge of the chest plate to 10-12mm. Located and marked the centre bracket location on the chest, and transferred this to the ab/cod. Drilled and then fitted the brackets. Side brackets will go in once the ab/cod is trimmed at the side. So taped it up for the time being. pic on the inside (note the part optic illusion) pic on the outside OK. So, now time to get serious. First fitting to check out how the armour is 'hanging' and what the sides look like (I was expecting a lot of trimming).... Yup ... lots of trimming!!! IMO - the ab/cod has a lot to come off. Normal technique seems to mean it comes back so that the butt line flows upwards and continues. But (no pun intended) the butt plate is looking/feeling big on me. Options: do nothing, or mod the butt plate. I'm thinking the join line, and butt plate edge needs to be like this. Maybe even a little more - help please! Also, I think the butt plate needs some head treatment to make it contour to me a bit better (the side wants to flay out) and also the edges between the kidney and butt are not quite sitting together well enough, some more heat there too I guess. Not sure whether to keep on trucking ahead on my own or sit out and wait until an upcoming build weekend involving members of the local garrison...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I used a moving sale sign bought at Walmart. Thin and very flexible. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32163-trogdors-first-build-mtk/page-6#entry455745 Looks good. No Walmart here in Australia, but the equivalent to your home depot stores (bunnings) should have something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper[501st] Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I think you're on the right track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted April 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 It has quite the hiatus since I last posted - well being busy with work, family, etc certainly does slow down the armour building. But recently I have been hard at it, so here come some pics: Completed 'clam-shell' Left Side rivets inside view of the rivets Right Side Snap Cod rivet Butt plate snaps I've also finished (but not photographed yet): - the shoulder bells (elastic strap around the bicep has been glued in, next to glue is the elastic that connects to the shoulder - you can see these pieces of elastic in the 'clam-sheel' photo) - the biceps, inner piece glued to outer piece for both left and right with cover strips and extra internal strips, just need to make and glue in the 'hook' that hooks onto the shoulder bell elastic - trimmed the forearms ready for glueing the cover strips: here is where I have a questions about sizing as I have skinny forearms and plan to glue in foam to stop the forearms pieces moving around, but how much foam is too much? - trimmed down the ammo belt piece 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sentry71[TK] Posted April 26, 2016 Report Share Posted April 26, 2016 - trimmed the forearms ready for glueing the cover strips: here is where I have a questions about sizing as I have skinny forearms and plan to glue in foam to stop the forearms pieces moving around, but how much foam is too much? When you can't get your arm in, then it is too much. Seriously though, you only need enough to keep the forearm from flopping around. If you connect the bicep to the forearm, then you want the forearm to be able to slide just a bit when you move. This keeps the two relatively close to each other. If not, then you can probably use a bit more foam to keep the forearm in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamo[501st] Posted April 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2016 Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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