DJMatrix's ANH TK Stunt Build for my FiL

[djmatrix09[TK]]

Hey Troopers,

 

Drew here from the Carolina Garrison. My wife and I pitched a crazy Christmas present for her dad, to my MiL and she gave us the green light. The idea is he opens the bucket on Christmas morning, and I get cracking on final fit and assembly of the kit.

 

I pulled together the bill of material, and since it's a surprise, we have to build it in a certain way. James (my FiL) is a smart dude, and if we pull measurements he'll know we're up to something. So I'm starting with the bucket, then working my way through rough trim and paint where possible. I'll be working in their garage over Christmas (in Florida), so it's not my home Turf. I need to get as much done, with my tools in Charleston.

 

So the plan will be to get as much done ahead of time, and source all the consumables and other kit items to have a successful submission to the GML team in the Florida Garrison. I'll also take some time and help my MiL with kitting up/down my FiL (I have a checklist which I'll print out).

 

Here are the kit details:

Armor and Helmet: Intergalactic Supply

Hovi: Ukswrath

Lens, Tube Stripes, S-Trim: Trooperbay

Neck Seal: Darman

Belt: Homemade canvas w/vinyl insert

Holster: Darman

Gloves: Nomex

Boots: Crow Props

Blaster: Quest Design

 

Cheers,

Drew

 

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

First up, the bucket build.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Next up, ab button plates, hand plates, and TD. The TD caps were smallish, but thankfully I have a router attachment for my Dremel so I could sand down the edges with some precision.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Ok, TD sub assembly is finished, all except the clips which are waiting in Florida.

Also... The blood sacrifice has been made. Ouch.

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looks like the gap between your endcap and control panel is a little too wide

 

It's not a build if you haven't bled on it  

 

[djmatrix09[TK]]

Looks like the gap between your endcap and control panel is a little too wide

 
It's not a build if you haven't bled on it  
 

Yeah, I was looking at that. I think I pulled an old reference with a 7.5+ length. I'll trim a bit off. Good catch.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Okay, shoulder bells, sniper knee, sniper shim and belt boxes trimmed and final sanded.

Body armors are rough trimmed, and had to stop because my arms were killing me from the Lexan scissors. I will say, the mould lines on this Intergalactic Supply kit are fantastic. I rough out a line with my pencil along the line, keeping a bit of material for sacrificial sanding, and it's coming together super easy.

The last picture is my bagged small greeblies for belt assembly. I fixed the TD, per the comment and reference above, and it looks great now. The Ab buttons are all painted and ready for some E6000, once we land in The Sunshine State for the Holiday.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Ok, final trim and sand on body armors, and greaves. I'll save the longitudinal trim and join for when I can pull measurements off of my FiL in person. Coming along nicely.

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Great progress, keep it up

[djmatrix09[TK]]

Great progress, keep it up

Thanks! It's all coming back to me. Been a long time since I built mine. Thankfully, because my GML tours of duty, I've pretty much got Basic approval requirements memorized.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Good progress today. Got all the armor major components final end trimmed (saving longitudinal joins for later).

I also got out my soldering iron and fabricated all of the polypropelene snap attachments. Made a few doubles for the shoulder bridges, too.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

It's a game of sorting for my little helper, CKOR-4993 (Kylo Ren, Galactic Academy). Aka, my son, working with me on Pop-Pop's Stormtrooper armor snaps.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Belt, ammo pack and shoulder bridges are where I like them. I need to check my list and see where I'm at. I'm feeling really close to being done with this part of the build.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Got the left side rivets installed and the right single snap (along with connector male snaps).

Boiling water now for the Han Hooks.

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Many incorporate the snaps with the side rivets, but snap plates will also work, although the closer to the edges you have the snap plates the better, you may find the sides bow out with a large gap between the snap plates as you use a lot more elastic so more stretch.

 

 

If you find the the elastic too long and stretchy adding some abs tabs can help keep the sides from overlapping. 

 

 

[djmatrix09[TK]]

The Belt boxes are assembled, along with the Han Hooks and I painted the side rivets this morning. I can't wait for my FiL to open up this kit. Only a few more days!

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

For my next trick... I need to fit ALL of that, into the BBB for delivery to my FiL in Florida.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Mission accomplished. Now on to measuring for final assembly! My FiL was totally stunned, and we chatted about the 501st Legion and Stormtrooper kits throughout the movies for about an hour afterwards. He's 100% thrilled.

More to come!

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[revlimiter[Staff]]

Fantastic!!! That's the happy stormtrooper smile.

[djmatrix09[TK]]

Progress from this afternoon. Not only did we pull measurements from my FiL, but I went ahead and glued the shoulder bridges along with the snap plates to the body armors and shoulder bells.

Once I've got the thighs, biceps and forearms assembled, I'll locate those snap plates.

The TD is final assembled, and the screws painted black. I've gotta say, those TD Clips from Ukswrath are awesome.

Currently balancing time with the family and assembling this kit. I forgot how fun it is! Adding the excitement of my FiL and his curiosity about the 501st Legion, this is really an enjoyable build.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Assembled half of the biceps, ran out of clamps (you know the drill).

Installed butt male snaps and split rivet and elastic strap with female snap.

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[Sly11[Admin]]

Great progress Andrew

[djmatrix09[TK]]

Small setback this morning. I noticed a mould ridge on one of the lengthwise portions of the right bicep. With the cover strip, it was preventing intimate contact with the joining surface. It's okay, though; there was added room for comfort in the bicep. I trimmed about 3mm off the edge. Just sets me back a cure cycle.

But hey, what's a TK build without some hang ups? Charging forward...

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Ok, photo dump inbound! Lots of progress over the last 24hrs. As always, clamps and magnets are the limiting resource.

We got the straps dialed in for the body armors, along with the shoulder bridges.

Calves assembled, along with the sniper knee (and shin to kick it out a bit).

Han Hooks installed along with the elastic strap on the shoulder bells.

Forearms trimmed and half of the cover strips glued and curing as I type this.

As you can tell, both of us are pretty excited.

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[djmatrix09[TK]]

Homemade canvas belt (with vinyl insert) complete, Locktite curing on Chicago Screws. Belt boxes located to edge of belt, and holster attached.

Thigh belt harness sewn, along with 2" elastic straps for mounting thighs when kitting up.

The end is approaching rapidly! Once I get the thighs complete, the greaves strapped, and last bits installed, we'll suit him up and check for fitment. Final tweaks, and rubbing off pencil marks and rogue E6000, and we'll have another Trooper in our midst!!!

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