RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) Dear Friends: For three long months, I have been on a journey of fulfilling a life-long dream -- I was building my own TK. All done with no experience, in between work requirements, family duties, long nights working alone, in consult with old and new friends, and slogging through life struggles. The work ended March 31st. I submitted my application and it was reviewed and approved on April 1st which makes me now an official member of the prestigious Golden Gate Garrison. On April 2nd, my ID#: TK-74259 (or TK-RICKY for those who still remember how to text on their old celphone keypads ) was made official by the 501st Legion. The circle is now complete. The process was made easier with the invaluable help from (now fellow) GGG members like HARIBON72, UKSWRATH, DRUMSTROOPER, DINOIGNACIO, et al. My undying gratitude to these folks who welcomed an outsider into their wings and provided much-needed consultation, tips, advise, and encouragement. Visiting this board and reading how helpful and encouraging TKs before me helped a lot too. I never felt alone in this journey. Being a member of the 501st Legion is one of those rare life experiences wherein you are accepted regardless of who you are or what you are. Inside the armor, you are one with everybody else in pursuit of something bigger than yourself -- "bad guys doing good." With your permission, I wish to share with you (what I should have done from the beginning) my build progress. It is my privilege to have my journey documented and immortalized on FISD. If anybody culls any learning from this, it is my humble honor to be of service. Cheers! Edited April 12, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 It was still very clear to me, during Celebration Anaheim, when the Anovos announcement of a TK kit being available, at an absurdly yet enabling price. The dream of being a TK was within reach. Of course I pre-ordered. Less than a year hence, the big box arrived at my home. My sweet, customary unboxing pictures. Life's simple joys indeed. 01.22.16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) The rest of January was spent with the preliminary trimming, and cautious familiarizing with the parts, how it is built, and how they appeared in the movies. I had very little dependence on the Anovos manual as I was meticulously following the build thread of UKSWRATH's. Primary tools for cutting were a box cutter, exacto knives, metal shears. Primary choice for bonding was CA glue (which will spell out to be disastrous later...). 01.29.16 - TKBoots arrived 01.30.16 Half of my garage was transformed into my workshop. 01.30.16 01.31.16 Yes, blood was shed on this build, a couple of times... Though my bucket sheds no tear for me... Edited April 4, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 FEBRUARY part 1, Pre-shingate... With confidence building, and what extra time I have, work on the armor was full steam ahead. I was actually building this thing together... 02.05.16 I met DRUMSTROOPER in the parking lot of a Walmart, of all places (we were both on an unscheduled toy run, apparently). We chatted, we got to know each other, I learned that he was a member of the Golden Gate Garrison, he learned that I was in the process of building my kit. Two kindred spirits, of similar passion, destined to become friends. It never gets any cooler than that. Here's TK-11654 helping me with my build at my workshop. A very very nice person indeed! It was DRUMSTROOPER who noticed something's missing in my bucket... 02.06.16 Forearms were the very first parts to be constructed. Using CA glue. 02.07.16 -- Working through Super Bowl Sunday... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 FEBRUARY part 2, Pre-shingate Mid-month, the build progresses quite nicely.. 02.14.16 (Happy Valentine's! Not. ) Commiting front of thighs (used CA glue) Oh... look at my shiny, beautiful looking shin... Followed Anovos' instructions with 24/25 ® and 27/28 (L). Back then, I kinda sensed that something's not right here, I have a pair of shins that's very different form each other -- one thin, one fat. My beautiful shiny shins. The last time they will look like this... Unbeknownst to me at this time, these shins will be the bane of my build. My TK's kryptonite! Even had the confidence to slap on the sniper knee! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) FEBRUARY part 3, Post-Shingate 02.19.16 -- The SHINANIGANs begin. So on this date, I came to know that there might have been a mislabeling of shin parts. Much debate has been made on this issue. Experts and experts have clashed heads on this matter. At the end of the day, I made decision on which expert opinion to follow, based on how the parts will fit and look on me. Either way, my thoughts of a smooth-sailing build was gone. On this day, I needed a bit of a different kind of help... The biggest blunder was I used CA glue to connect front of my shins. Now in my panic, I had to remove it using Goof-Off. What I didn't realize was the tendency of "melted" CA glue run-off, breakage happened when strips were removed. Disaster indeed! 02.20.16 -- The rescue work continues... Switched legs. 28/25 (L) I see sanding, probably some ABS paste, and Novus in your future... Edited April 4, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) FEBRUARY part 4, With a little help from my (new) friends... 02.21.16 -- A rare experience and privilege for me: being in the company of Golden Gate Garrison members. At the workshop of master-builder HARIBON72... Things can only get better indeed! My very first time fitting the armor. Could not have done this properly on my own... A day for making snaps. Thoughts of strapping is coming into play... DRUMSTROOPER prepping the ab buttons for painting That day was never replicated, but it was a very good day indeed. Cheers to these kind souls! 02.25.16 - The work continues at home 02.26.16 02.27.16 - Straightening things out... Edited April 4, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 FEBRUARY part 5, Close of month progress So for Anovos owners like me, it is common knowledge that the belt that came with the kit was nothing but a POS. Notwithstanding the flimsy belt cloth, they had to strengthen the hold on the holster by installing 4 Chicago screws which we came to know only works for ANH Hero builds. Long story short, I did my very best to follow the quick-fix of UKSWRATH's. More improv will happen much later.. 02.28.16 The donor site. Cut a bit too big. But it's ok. 02.29.16 - Shopping for shoulder strapping 02.29.16 - Delivery from Trooperbay: Latex handguards and brackets 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haribon72[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 I need to get a haircut before our armor sessions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 I need to get a haircut before our armor sessions. You better, Walter. I take a lot of selfies and/or stolen moments pictures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 MARCH Part 1, Now let's talk Starpping -- Snaps or Brackets? Let's do both! 03.01.16 03.04.16 All gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 (edited) MARCH Part 2, Belt of Contention Not wanting to continue with a flimsy belt, but not enough courage (yet) to do a major overhaul using a TKittel Belt, I decided to do something about this belt. It may not be the best solution (I did it on gut instinct, with no research), but it kinda worked. in the end, I lost a good amount of slack and gained a bit of rigidity. 03.05.16 Saw this at Michael's and thought "what the heck!" I eventually ended up inserting two of the material... 03.09.16 03.10.16 I installed some velcro on the upper holster strap to (hopefully) help the Chicago screws carry the load. Notice that I also moved the soft side of the velcro to make sure it is in line with both ends of the holster starps. Edited April 5, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 (edited) MARCH Part 3, it's all about the details... 03.06.16 Saying goodbye to the stock Anovos TD screws 03.08.16 03.13.16 -- Prepping the shoulder strap 03.14.16 03.17.16 03.18.16 Belt support Edited April 5, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 MARCH PART 4 More details. More details. 03.21.16 I loosely followed Haribon72's creation of clip. I really needed this one as I've had issues with my biceps and how it fits. 03.24.16 Another Haribon72 lead that I followed. Fabricated "Walter's Holder" which effectively keeps the right kidney and ab from moving up and down. They're really kept in place! Strapping them all together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) MARCH part 5 -- A Bucketful of Improvements 03.26.16 - 03.27.16 Shedding no tear for Anovos: Rather than waiting for Anovos' reply on how they will resolve my tearless bucket, I just went ahead and purchased decals from Trooperbay. Worked well, I think... Now, let's clean those frown oversprays. Cleaned with alcohol, paint touch-up using Humbrol #40 Applied textured paint inside the bucket. Fixed the visors a bit, the frown mesh, installed old school foam padding... A little bit of polishing, and it's pretty done. POST-APPROVAL IMPROVEMENTS: 04.02.16 -- A friend gave me some 6/32 screws for the bucket ears. 04.06.16 - With replacement screws installed. Edited April 9, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 THE HOME STRETCH - Weak knees? Weakness! It's the thighs and the knees that scare me the most in this build. For some reasons, I'm perplexed with properly measuring them and simply messing it beyond repair. 03.25.16: Summoned up all my strength and courage. With a whole lot of help from the wife, got the thighs to work... I committed the sniper knee to the "proper leg" (harkens back to the "shinanigans" issue of the shin-gate) 03.29.16: And installed "Walter's Pill Box" for the thigh ammo pack But as I confidently proceeded with my shins, and installed velcro-closure inside (on the left leg), I realized I did it right over left when it should have been left over right (so the opening of the closure faces inwards, not outward where everybody can see it). And I used CA glue! At this point, I practically hated my shin parts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 LATE NIGHT EMERGENCY SURGERY AT WALTER'S WORKSHOP... 03.30.16: Haribon72, sensing my frustrations with the shins, offered a bit of his work-week late-evening time. At this point, I stepped aside and allowed the master-builder improve the mistakes I've done to the shins and allowed him to proceed with the fix. This was a 3-hour emergency surgery that lasted til about almost 1am... He even spotted some crooked ABS strip install. Eventually corrected it! At home, about almost 2am. Shins turned out as best as it could be. Beautiful! At that point, the build was practically done!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 FINAL TOUCHES: 03.31.16 -- Two more things left to do before the submission: Install the ab buttons, remove the remaining plastic cover, and do a bit of polishing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) Like a (would-be) Trooper on a crazy, unstoppable mission... 03.31.16: Did a late-night pictorial (again, thanks to the wife) and submitted the application at about 2am. By April 1st I got the confirmation receipt from the Golden Gate Garrison and by the day's end, received my approval. On April 2, the Legion confirmed my TK-ID. This is certainly one of my sweetest experiences of achieving something. For sure this build is not done as a lot of improvements have yet to be implemented. But imagine this... A SMALL TROOPER MAKING IT TO THE BIG LEAGUES OF THE 501st LEGION! I'm sending positive vibes to my TK contemporaries who were in the same journey and to those who have yet to complete theirs. TK-74259 (TK-RICKY) will always be here in case I have something to share with you. Cheers my brothers and sisters in armor!!! Edited April 11, 2016 by RickyBoyBlue 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quebec162 Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Congrats! Very nice. I hope to do the same later this year. I'm sufficiently intimidated by the process already. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schubertrr[501st] Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Great write up. Thanks for posting. Very encouraging to read the journey of a fellow newbie...well, now you're on the other side of the line, so congrats! I'll catch up, eventually! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyBoyBlue[TK] Posted April 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Congrats! Very nice. I hope to do the same later this year. I'm sufficiently intimidated by the process already. Hey David, as any newbie who started on this thing, I guess intimidation is really part of the beginning process. Embrace it as most of us did. I know I did. Take confidence in the fact that a lot of kind people are in this board who are ever so willing to lend any would-be-Trooper a hand. That got me through everything. Good luck on your build, and don't be a stranger bud! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayen_s[TK] Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Congratulation Ricky on the completed armor. I notice that we have similar height. Do you have to trim more from the suggested trim line on Anovos armor? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLight[TK] Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Ricky,<br><br> This is an awesome build and even better build thread! I love the troopers helping troopers vibe throughout. Now get out there and do some trooping while helping others with their kits. You certainly are worthy of joining the ranks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK 22686 Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Congrats! Very nice. I hope to do the same later this year. I'm sufficiently intimidated by the process already. I was pretty intimidated at first when I opened up the box as well. A great place to start is the Thermal Detonator. You have an easy piece to glue so you get practice with E6000 and it's a pretty simple assembly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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