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0KTrooper KB Props TFA Build - My First Ever Build


0KTrooper

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Hello!

 

I am 0KTrooper and I am going to be starting my first ever build. I have already received my armor kit (with a helmet kit) from KB props as well as my gaskets from Geeky Pink. As this is my first build, I will be taking it slow and steady. I want to have a good result and limit mistakes as much as possible. Fortunately for me, my sister who has a degree in commercial art will be assisting me on this build. However, I am sure we are still going to have a ton of questions. I am thinking that the helmet kit is going to be rather challenging due to the amount of detail that will have to go into it. If it becomes too hard for us, I might bail and go for an Anovos helmet. I am always open to any advice from experienced troopers. I already have my first question: in the picture of my armor attached below, you may notice that I received two cod pieces. Is this standard? Any idea why I would have received two or is it simply a mistake? Thank you, and I hope that you will follow along with my build! I'm very excited!

IMG_1042 (1).jpg

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Hello and welcome aboard. If there is any differences in your cods this would be for the TFA and TLJ versions, there are a few things different depending on what version you build.

 

Can't go past @ukswrath FOTK build 

And also @sillyface

 

 

When in doubt head to our gallery sections

https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/gallery/category/20-fotk-reference/

 

Good luck with the build

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Thank you for the info! I've been doing loads of sanding on the bucket trying to remove a seam from the mold that splits in half. By chance does anyone know of a thread of a KB props bucket build, or one of a similar bucket kit like this one? I think this is definitely going to be the most challenging part of the whole build. Possibly too challenging for me to complete. Might have to buy an Anovos bucket instead. However, I have this kit already, and my sister has an uncanny talent when it comes to art and sculpting, so we are going to give it our best shot.

IMG_1046 (1).jpg

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Unfortunately most have gone for for the plastic Anovos helmets as they found the KB helmet needed a lot of work, there are a couple of threads but only a few pictures for the KB helmet, none really working on the issues.

 

 

And a TLJ KB helmet

 

There is also KB Props build group on Facebook which may have some photos of builds

https://www.facebook.com/groups/212554895893880

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  • 5 months later...

**UPDATE**

 

I haven't given up on this build yet! I am a University student, so I got quite busy for a bit, but I am back to building! Before my life got so busy I did a ton of sanding on my helmet. Slowly but surely it began to clean up. A LOT of work to go on it, but progress pics are below. 

 

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I currently dropped the helmet off with my sister who is going to be doing some work on it. In the meantime I have begun the process of trimming my armor. The chest plate is now trimmed and edges are sanded.

 

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**QUESTION**

 

Lastly for this post I have a question. I am now working on trimming the yoke and back pieces, and I am working on getting them to line up correctly for when I begin the process of combining them into one piece. The area of the two pieces that will rest on top of my shoulders seem to be quite bulky when the two pieces are layered on top of each other and don't fit together that nicely right now. Furthermore, the shoulder pieces on the back seem to be jutting into the curved part of the shoulder area on the yoke, thus keeping the yoke from laying flat on the shoulder pieces on the back armor. However, I already trimmed off what I believed was excess material (more than what is shown in the first two photos below). I am worried this will not allow for enough contact to properly glue them together. Do I need to trim back the two areas that jut out from the back further in order to allow a better/flatter connection between the two pieces? Finally, is there a standard diameter for the edge around the armhole (distance from the arm hole to where the armor curves around to the back {marked red on image}). I would appreciate any advice! Thank you in advance!

 

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I've heard a few people say the KB helmets need a lot of work to clean them up, bondo (auto filler) is usually the quickest solution to filling lines or gaps.

 

Reference gallery when ever in doubt ;) 

large.11D0E35D-7167-4DD7-849D-6DB2A6EEE0

 

gallery_18732_81_1192671.png

 

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  • 3 months later...

Big Update!

 

I am pretty bad about keeping my thread updated and organized, but I am still working on my trooper even when I am not posting! I am SLOWLY but surely making progress. I sure am taking my time. I have glued my back and yoke (images to come in a later post when it's further along). This post, however, is about my progress on my helmet kit. I have been putting a TON of time into it. Lots and lots of filling and sanding. The helmet kit was pretty rough when it arrived in the mail, but the small changes I am making sure are starting to stack up. This will be a very image heavy post showing the progress I have made. As shown in the previous posts above there was a large seam line running all the way across the helmet, essentially cutting it in half. Some of the areas that this seam passed by did not line up exactly right. Most of my time went into getting rid of the seam and realigning those areas. Since then I have been fixing small imperfections like little cavities in the surface, as well as cracks. The most challenging part was cutting out the tube stripes which is what this post will mainly feature. The photo below shows what the stripes were originally like. Recessed, but not cut out all the way. There were also some globs of the material used to make the helmet inside some of the slats. 

 

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I started my work by using my dremel with the sanding drum bit on the underside of the tube stripes to get the holes started. 

 

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Once I had them opened up enough I began the long process of using my files to get the inner walls of the slats flat and rectangular all the way around.

 

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Along the way I accidentally filed one of the stripes too far. You can see this in the above image. It is the stripe on the far right. I was able to use filler to fix the issue and continue sanding and filing.

 

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Eventually I reached the point that I was pretty happy with the inner walls of the stripes.

 

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At this point I began to focus on the top edges as they were still looking pretty rough. I used a filler to reinforce these edges, then started sanding to make them look sharp. While I was using this filler I also went over some of the cracks and cavities elsewhere on the helmet. 

 

Before:

 

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After:

 

 

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After sanding over the filler and getting everything to my standards, I decided to spray a small bit of filler primer over some of the tube stripes just to see how it is cleaning up, and I am very happy with what I am seeing!!

 

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I can't wait to get a true layer of primer on there and paint it! I feel like I have just about all the detailing done before being ready to paint. Other than one thing... cutting out the eyes! I got started last night. A small hole was already present, so I filed until until I had a hold big enough to fit my dremel sanding bit inside. I got rid of the majority of material on one side, but stopped using the dremel and switched back to files. I want to be very careful about this.

 

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As you can see I am not done yet on the eyes. A long way to go but it is a start! So that is my update! Hopefully I will be painting before too long and then I will move on to really focusing on the rest of the armor!

 

 

 

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There's definitely some areas which as you have found need some work, this takes up the time, what you do now will be seen in the finished product.

 

When you come to add some spray putty or primer I find adding a very light mist coat of black can help, when you start sanding the paint any high or low spots you will easily see as the black with either remain or be sanded off, old auto painters trick. Blade putty for any scratches or little holes ;) 

 

Keep up the great work.

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There's definitely some areas which as you have found need some work, this takes up the time, what you do now will be seen in the finished product.
 
When you come to add some spray putty or primer I find adding a very light mist coat of black can help, when you start sanding the paint any high or low spots you will easily see as the black with either remain or be sanded off, old auto painters trick. Blade putty for any scratches or little holes  
 
Keep up the great work.

What order would you recommend I do everything in from this point? I feel like I am close to being done with fixing a lot of imperfections, however there are some that remain. I have never used a filler primer until not so I’m not sure how much I can expect the primer to fill imperfections.

From the maker of the helmet, they said at this point to dry sand 220 over the entire surface, use a filler primer, wet sand with 400, then paint. Would you agree with this? Would I need to do more work fixing imperfections that the primer may reveal at some point during that process? When you say sanding the paint, are you referring to sanding the primer and the dusting of black paint you recommended above?

Sorry for all the questions! This is my first time doing a project like this. Thanks in advance!


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2 hours ago, 0KTrooper said:


What order would you recommend I do everything in from this point? I feel like I am close to being done with fixing a lot of imperfections, however there are some that remain. I have never used a filler primer until not so I’m not sure how much I can expect the primer to fill imperfections.

From the maker of the helmet, they said at this point to dry sand 220 over the entire surface, use a filler primer, wet sand with 400, then paint. Would you agree with this? Would I need to do more work fixing imperfections that the primer may reveal at some point during that process? When you say sanding the paint, are you referring to sanding the primer and the dusting of black paint you recommended above?

Sorry for all the questions! This is my first time doing a project like this. Thanks in advance!
 

Everyone has a slightly different way of doing it. When using filler (bondo) I try to sand larger areas with a block (rubber or wood with sandpaper wrapped around) this helps to give a flatter sanding of areas. I scuff the whole area with 240 sandpaper, add filler primer (spray putty) (with black mist coat), let dry for a few days then sand with 240 grit wet and dry sandpaper, I use water with a drop of dish liquid, helps reduce clogging of the sandpaper. Any imperfections I then add some blade putty, allow to dry for a few days then sand again wet with 240 grit. Once happy I give two coats of primer so there's a nice even base, light sand with 600 grit, blow off dust and then you can top coat. 

 

I also use automotive acrylic paint, goes on lighter than enamels, dries quick and you can go a little heavier with the coats which reduce "orange peel" (bumpy appearance), you can also sand and buff acrylic paint. 

 

As I say people use different methods, this is just what works for me.

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32 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Everyone has a slightly different way of doing it. When using filler (bondo) I try to sand larger areas with a block (rubber or wood with sandpaper wrapped around) this helps to give a flatter sanding of areas. I scuff the whole area with 240 sandpaper, add filler primer (spray putty) (with black mist coat), let dry for a few days then sand with 240 grit wet and dry sandpaper, I use water with a drop of dish liquid, helps reduce clogging of the sandpaper. Any imperfections I then add some blade putty, allow to dry for a few days then sand again wet with 240 grit. Once happy I give two coats of primer so there's a nice even base, light sand with 600 grit, blow off dust and then you can top coat. 

 

I also use automotive acrylic paint, goes on lighter than enamels, dries quick and you can go a little heavier with the coats which reduce "orange peel" (bumpy appearance), you can also sand and buff acrylic paint. 

 

As I say people use different methods, this is just what works for me.

Great info! Thank you!

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  • 4 weeks later...

And just like that.... got the eyes cut out and a layer of primer on. The primer revealed a few imperfections that I am working on fixing, but all in all it is in pretty good shape. I love how it is starting to look! Can't wait to get it perfect and to start getting some paint on here!

lyZGErk.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

I decided to take a break from working on the helmet for a while so that I can feel like I am making some actual progress... lol. The helmet has been taking ages, so I recently switched over to my armor for a while and started making some moves. I got my yoke and back piece glued together, created my first batch of ABS paste (I think it was too thick, but it didn't cost me anything but time). I applied the ABS paste to the crack then went through about 5 rounds of filling, sanding, priming, looking for imperfections and repeat. I think it turned out pretty solid! It might be a crazy Idea, but I haven't cut out the arm holes all the way yet. I wanted to see how everything lined up before finishing those off. I feel like the areas on the sides (under the arm pits) line up a bit odd when glued together (maybe because of how the plastic is formed), but I am thinking of ways to trim it all to fit nicely and look right when the chest plate is on.

 

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Once I finished filling in the cracks I decided to jump over to trim and sand the shoulder bells and inner lips. I'm sure I am doing all this in a weird order, but it makes sense to me haha.

 

Trimmed and Sanded:

 

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After this I hopped over to the chest plate and took out the pill holes. Started by sanding from behind then finished off with some needle filing. 

 

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I also used a belt sander to sand the mod piece from behind. Here it is before:

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I finished it up and it is looking pretty nice, but my phone reached max storage. Pics to come later when I clear up some space...

 

My next step is to cut out the hole in the chest and get that piece fit in there!

 

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Question:

I have successfully cut the chest indent mod hole and glued the piece into place. (Pics later) Now it is time for some filler. Is Bondo an acceptable filler to use for this step? I don’t know a lot about which fillers are considered flexible/not flexible or if that even matters for this particular step. Suggestions? Thank you everyone!


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2 hours ago, 0KTrooper said:

Question:

I have successfully cut the chest indent mod hole and glued the piece into place. (Pics later) Now it is time for some filler. Is Bondo an acceptable filler to use for this step? I don’t know a lot about which fillers are considered flexible/not flexible or if that even matters for this particular step. Suggestions? Thank you everyone!
 

Bondo (automotive filler) should be fine, it's what I used on mine, I did try to have as little gaps as possible . Bondo isn't strong so if you do have big gaps you could use something more permanent like JB Weld, that's pretty strong and can still be sanded.

 

KPldMqT.jpg

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Chest indent mod & Question:

 

Here is the sanded indent piece. I used a belt sander to speed up the process.

JzaArfI.jpg?1

 

After it was sanded I drew in the lines of where to cut on the chest. 

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I used a dremel to cut the rectangle out of the armor. My palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy lol. I was scared, but I took my time and did it as carefully as possible and I am happy with how it turned out. There was very little space to fill on either side when it was done.

 

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I then glued from behind using two part epoxy. 

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After allowing the glue to dry I added filler to the crack and sanded. 

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After I was done I added a coat of primer to see how it is looking. 

 

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**QUESTION**

 

If you look closely in the last photo you can see the outline of the filler/piece itself through the primer slightly. Will this go away with more coats of primer and once the actual paint is put on, or does it require more sanding?

 

Thank you everyone!

 

Edited by 0KTrooper
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General rule of thumb is what you see before painting is what you’ll see after. I’d recommend a couple rounds of filler then sand and repeat until you can’t see the outline.


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Agreed, a few more coats primer/filler or glazing putty. I find if you give a light mist of black too before you sand it will show you high and low spots.

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24 minutes ago, FN1313 said:

General rule of thumb is what you see before painting is what you’ll see after. I’d recommend a couple rounds of filler then sand and repeat until you can’t see the outline.


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12 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Agreed, a few more coats primer/filler or glazing putty. I find if you give a light mist of black too before you sand it will show you high and low spots.

Thank you both! 

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  • 2 months later...

Was going through a move over the last month so I didn't get to do too much work, but I still made some progress after getting settled back down. The chest plate, yoke/back, and shoulder bells are nearly completion. Yesterday I put primer on all of the pieces. I am happy with how they look so far as a uniform color, albeit paint has yet to be added. Used a white primer as recommended by other troopers so that if the armor is scratched it won't be too noticeable.

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The one issue I am having trouble addressing is particles (dust, plant matter, bugs, etc) landing on my pieces while in the process of spraying and drying. I am new to the hobby, so all of the tools and supplies I have, I got specifically for this build, so I am pretty primitive when it comes to the methods I have been using. I simply set up a table in my home garage. I don't have access to a fancy paint booth or something along those lines, but if I do not find a solution to this issue, I would not be happy with the finished product due to all the matter landing on my pieces. Any tips on how to solve this issue? I would like to use the cheapest and simplest method possible to get good results, but if I still am having issues I am considering investing in a mobile paint booth (basically just a small tent). Not sure if I'd need an extractor to go along with it. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

 

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You could use some cheap plastic paint sheets to hang over the door/opening, I also setup a box, cut both ends and have a fan inside pointing outside, also tape the sheet around the box, this helps to expel excess spray in the air as well as stop particles and bugs from coming in and using the clear sheets you still have light.

 

I also use acrylic automotive paint which dries quickly so less likely to get anything landing on it while drying, but also with clear coats you can buff/compound any impurities once fully dried.

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