PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Hey all! So, I won't be able to purchase the armor until next year, but I was able to get a bucket kit and get started! I've recently finished a TIE helmet for a build that's nearly done, and that was an absolute nightmare (An unfortunately soft pull and ABS that was far too thick. It was a Tambo Fett kit, who usually does fantastic work.) So I hope this is a little easier as I've at least hand painted a TK bucket before. I have a huge library of screen references and guides, so I think I'm ready! Wish me luck! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwede[TK] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echo327[TK] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Good luck!!! Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaskedVengeance[Staff] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Awesome! There are plenty of ATA resources out there, including a great helmet tutorial by Pandatrooper, which I’m sure you’ve already seen. I’m currently building an ATA kit myself, and look forward to following along with your progress!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKSpartan[Staff] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Good luck with your build, looking forward to see photos of your progress. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 11, 2020 Report Share Posted June 11, 2020 Good luck with the build, looking forward to seeing the progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Getting started! Progress... Face mostly trimmed, may round out some of the more angular teeth! Edited June 18, 2020 by TD_Dusty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwede[TK] Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justjoseph63[Staff] Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 Looks great, Brady! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 Well, it's time to ask for help. I've got several questions here, if anyone can be of help. Of course it's during the ears portion of the build... So I was a bit of a moron with the rivet gun and accidentally created a small "bump" on the underside of the cap where the ear sits so it doesn't sit perfectly right with the faceplate. Not really a big deal, it just makes the ear trimming harder. So for my FIRST question, are these gaps acceptable? I've seen screen-used buckets that have worse gaps, but I want to make sure. I do have extra ears in case I need to redo it, I just hate the idea of doing that. (1) (2) For my SECOND question, is the distance between the ear and the brow acceptable? I wasn't able to get it any closer, try as I might. THIRD question. I trimmed where the trim lines were and even left a little excess, but the right-hand side of the bucket feels like I cut too much off. Will the ear still sit correctly if I trim it right? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 Really the answer will be from your GML (garrison membership liaison) in regards to acceptable gaps, some like little to no gaps. ATA ears are not as defined as most with the trim lines, having 2 pairs is great. To me the gap from top of ear to brow is a little wide, the angle of the ears seem to far forward also. Some really helpful ear tutorials: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 11 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said: Really the answer will be from your GML (garrison membership liaison) in regards to acceptable gaps, some like little to no gaps. ATA ears are not as defined as most with the trim lines, having 2 pairs is great. To me the gap from top of ear to brow is a little wide, the angle of the ears seem to far forward also. Some really helpful ear tutorials: Ah, thank you! I think I got overzealous with the trimming on that ear and trimmed too much away, and also trimmed too much towards the circular part so it unfortunately sits lower than I anticipated. Looks like I'll be trimming a new ear. I was also wondering that since my drill holes will likely be misaligned, is there a fairly simple way to patch holes in ABS? Maybe using spot putty or scrap ABS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 44 minutes ago, TD_Dusty said: Ah, thank you! I think I got overzealous with the trimming on that ear and trimmed too much away, and also trimmed too much towards the circular part so it unfortunately sits lower than I anticipated. Looks like I'll be trimming a new ear. I was also wondering that since my drill holes will likely be misaligned, is there a fairly simple way to patch holes in ABS? Maybe using spot putty or scrap ABS? Depends if the holes are covered or not, you may be ok, if they are covered I wouldn't bother. ABS paste is generally good for filling holes, it can leave pin holes though so you may need to go over it a putty or filler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 Another great ATA helmet build for referring to How to make ABS paste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 (edited) Before I continue on the ears, I’d like to know if I’m being paranoid or something is wrong. The right-hand side of the helmet feels as if the gap is too big between the pieces. I trimmed according to the trim lines as well as following builds like PandaTrooper’s ATA build, but I’d like a second pair of eyes. I’m sure I can cover it with the ear, but the difference in height between the back ridge and the front tube seems a little high. Does this matter? In this image of a screen-used helmet, the gap seems about the same. I’m also concerned that my forehead trap is a little close to the eye but doesn’t overlap it, even though it’s almost perfectly aligned on the other side. Edited June 20, 2020 by TD_Dusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 If you have a look through Pandatroopers thread it shoes some gap, I had some on mine too but what doesn't pull in when riveted/screwed will be covered by the ears, the front of the year will just be wider than the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 So I was worried about the alignment of the forehead trap over the eye, thought I might need to pop a rivet and move a couple things, but according to a few of my screen references it seems to be accurate. Gonna continue with this alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 21, 2020 Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 I have 3 ATA helmets and they are all in slightly different spots, never been an issue for approval. You will notice going though reference images they can be before, on top, or in front of the corner of the eye 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted June 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 That’s one ear! I’m not suuuuper happy with how it sits but the ears have been an absolute nightmare with this bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted June 21, 2020 Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 Ears I found had been the hardest part to the whole build when I started. Your ear does appear to angled a little too much so you may want to tweak it a little. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted July 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2020 Well it’s...Something. I aligned the left ear closer to what it should be and installed the right. Due to fatal errors I made when trimming the cap and face, this is the only way the right ear can sit without showing the gap between the cap and face. So...Is it even acceptable at this point or is it gonna be a display piece? I’ll have everything I learned from this build and more as well as learning from the beyond stupid mistakes I made filed away for when I do my actual build. Thankfully, if this one isn’t acceptable, I didn’t pay full price for the kit. My nerves are shot from the ears and I don’t think I can align them any better than I have them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted July 6, 2020 Report Share Posted July 6, 2020 Looks like your ears are pretty thick still and could be trimmed a little more to close the gaps. Tutorial here https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/29238-my-helmet-ear-tutorial/ Adding a notch to the top section of the ear can help too, as you have the back covering the front you will have a step so if you notch this and trim the front a little more it will sit closer. hat's right!!! It's curved. Keep this in mind when trimming the round portion. This here is another area to consider if you want that super close fit. There are halves that overlap each other. If you want to, you can notch this out once you have decided the final resting spot for your ear. This is exaggerated, but it just shows what I mean. Bottom ear screw looks a little high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PajamaTrooper[501st] Posted July 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) Unfortunately I followed the hole markings on the molds for the ears, so I didn’t realize it was a little high until I installed them. I don’t think I can trim any more than I already have without having to pick up an extra left ear from ATA and cutting my spare for the right. Are thicker ears acceptable or are they just generally frowned upon? Edited July 7, 2020 by TD_Dusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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