new TE2 build - sort of[*TE]

[Heatshock[501st]]

well after a long 3 weeks - armour finally arrived. Oh its been in the UK for abt a week - but customs have been sittin on their hands (and my armour!) for that additional week. After that - I had to pay an additional $50 handling (bungling?) fee by my local courier. I so love living in the UK

 

but on to the good stuff. As some of u may know - I picked up Nate's (TK9135) armour a few weeks ago. and tbh - I think he was (as we all are in this hobby) his own worse critic.

 

unfortunately - I am unable to just 'use' a set of armour, and have set abt rebuilding and trimmin it to me.

 

Whole of last nite spent slowly pulling at plastic and slicing on E6000 witha hobby knife. Biceps and thighs un-picked so far. some initial bicep gluing.

 

will post up some picks once I get some bits which arent all clamped together.

 

thanks to Nate and Tony for a fine set of armour. Very excited abt build, but as usual with these sort of things; its arrived at the start of a double shift weekend for me

 

later guys and wish me luck!

[Guest TK-2416]

Congrats mate on getting yourself a nice piece of armor! Have fun putting it together!

 

Post pics!

[Heatshock[501st]]

David - you have no idea how much I have trawled over the build up this last day - loads of piccies, and very helpful

[Guest TK-2416]

Great if the thread could help you out!

[Heatshock[501st]]

right - so should have known better, but far too excited and been workin away at the armour re-jig rather than catching up on sleep

 

Nate had far bigger thighs then me

 

E6000 is strong stuff, but its possible to take it down with a small crew driver, a sharp blade and some careful pullin

 

hmm not sure if I can use that bit again, will flatten it again with some weights and see

 

and this is my new thigh piece:

 

previous owner was goign for TD, so I have replaced sniper plate as well:

 

and worked on the biceps (I skipped the tear down part, but more sharp implements had hard graft involved again)

 

think its goign well far. any1 noticing any major faults pls let me know

 

Nate

[ThayNerd[TK]]

Looking good so far.

[Guest TK-2416]

Yep - looking good!! Thanks for sharing - good luck!

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Its nice to see your progress Nathan, im itching to start the build on mine here too..

 

What size joining strips are you using on the various parts, are you using the 15mm on the arms, 20 on the legs or wider?

 

From the pic of your bicep they look a little wider?

[Heatshock[501st]]

hey mark - are u talking abt the joining strips on the outside overlyin the join seams? those are 25mm on both thighs and biceps.

 

if u are talking abt the raised strip on the armour itself - best example is my bicep part - its 35mm, which is wider than the overlying joining strip, but it wouldnt have fit my bicep otherwise

 

I do make sure that at least one side if overlying correct eg on the thighs - on the front, and on the bicep peice - the bit that lies on the outside. So the pick above of the bicep is the part facing my body, the outfacing part has the raised part completely covered by a joining strip. see below -

 

are there many of use buildig a TE2 in UK atm? will pm my mobile number in case of need to confer mate

 

I am also glad that I had my FX as my 1st build as well, feel a lot more ale to tackle this project.

 

Nate

[Billhag]

Nate

I'm in the process of putting a sandie together, just taking it

nice and slowwwly

 

 

As mark said, normally you would use 20mm finishing strips for the legs and 15mm

for the arms.

What tutorial are you following or are you just playing it by ear?

Peter's (stukatrooper) AP and T M ones are brilliant mate, he takes you through it

step by step, and if you've built armour before you can feel in the gaps for the things

that aren't shown.On top of that you'll see some stuff that you didn't even think of before

I definitely recommend it mate

[Heatshock[501st]]

ooo interesting

 

I bought armour 2nd hand and thougt the overlying strips were the set that came with the kit

 

will it be a clearnace issue?

 

I have seen stuka's builds - but only saw a AP and TM

 

just checked as well - all overlying strips are 25mm in both upper and lower limbs.

 

ta for heads up

Nate

[firebladejedi[TK]]

When i build my armour i am going to use whatever size joining strips are needed so that the armour fits me, my AP suit was tight and the normal size strips.

 

If i am able to use the recognised sizes then all well and good, if not im going costum.

 

If thats the case i will also make the rear closer the largest trying to keep the front as close to the 15, 20 and 25 sizing as mostyl people veiw you from the front and the back is not so important.

 

Is this is clear as mud?

[Heatshock[501st]]

cheers mark - aye nice concise british answer

 

I noticed a similar question was asked a while back, but no answer was forthcoming at the time either

 

I mean the bicep is mostly hidden under the shoulder bell anyway. 25mm aint all that far off the 20mm on the lower limbs and will prob keep it as is. will have to think abt biceps and forearms.

 

will i need to consult UKG GML to seek local guidance you think guys ?

 

Nate

[firebladejedi[TK]]

ooo interesting

 

I bought armour 2nd hand and thougt the overlying strips were the set that came with the kit

 

will it be a clearnace issue?

 

just checked as well - all overlying strips are 25mm in both upper and lower limbs.

 

ta for heads up

Nate

 

 

Yep they are the parts that came with the kit but i think guns gives you the strips for you to cut down to size as and when needed. If you use the inch and thinner i dont think it will affect your clearance as long as it looks correct, were just a bit fussy here.... and try to be helpful

[Heatshock[501st]]

ah cool as long as thats it. learn something new everyday. I am sure taht will come in useful when I get round to a TM build

I guess it cant be an issue cos the kit can be modified to fit larger blokes too

 

 

now to those powers-that-be - would width of overlying stripes be an issue for obtaining elite either?

 

Nate

[stukatrooper]

the strips for the arms are sized at about 15mm so they dont overpower the look of the arms as they are a smaller in diameter than the legs.Thats how i see it anyway,there is no set in stone measuement for any of the strips.Its all about proportions.

 

Small diametre small strips ,legs are larger so larger width strips for the legs.I have always used about a 15mm for the arms and 25mm for the legs,any larger and they will look on the heavy side and spoil the overall look in my view.

[Heatshock[501st]]

roger that oh grand guru Stuka!

 

nice to know for a future build

 

kinda decided. thighs and shins are already 25mm. bicep parts are pretty small and mostly under shoulder bells. the smallnes gonna make pullin off hte parts a bit more difficult. gonna try and leave em if I can.

 

gonna try to fix forearms - but will see how that goes 1st.

 

ta for all the input fellas

 

Nate

[Runnriottt]

Glad the armor is in good hands... Hands that have what it takes to get it right.

[Heatshock[501st]]

rofl hey Nate - glad u approve

you did most of the hard work anyways mate.

 

I am just makin it look right on me

 

Nate

[Heatshock[501st]]

TE2 draws 1st blood!!!

 

lol never a good idea to work with sharp implements when tired. using exacto knife to remove some E6000, slipped, drove fresh blade onto the fleshy bit below the little finger and out the side of the palm. blood everywhere. got converned when I could see the fat protruding out of the wound. 4am walk into ER for some tissue glue and steri-strips. *sigh*

 

Nate

[stukatrooper]

You got to bleed for your art mate.Always have some super glue handy that way theres only a short pit stop then on with the trimming.

 

I bet we all have a story to tell on that score.

 

[Billhag]

Nate

Be careful mate, slow down or you'll end up bloody killing yourself

 

If you haven't finished all the dirty work yet, a safer way that works brilliantly is to

put the parts in the freezer and you just use a screwdriver to start them off and

then they just pop apart. I tried this on some AP thighs and it worked a dream mate.

 

Please, please, please!!,...take it easy,...d'ya hear?!!!!

[ThayNerd[TK]]

Be careful with the exacto knife, it can be pretty mean when you are tired or aren't paying attention.

[Heatshock[501st]]

aye guys - I know wot u mean.

anyways with injured hand - have to slow down.

I usually love exactos - very ncie precise tool. in fact for smaller jobs - like on my Rubies TB rehaul -used it far more then my dremel.

 

stuka - aye I heard that superglue i still used by special forces as a quick wound closer.

 

in reality Billy - I was takin out the frustration I had for missing out on the BARC lid to u mate ;P

i like the idea of freezer though. Have spent he majority of today doin minor clean up , pullin odd bits of E6000 off with wife chastising me in the backgrd. (oh yeah, the toilet also looked like someone had slaughered a chicken in it this morning)

 

worse thing was - sister in AE last nite is the wife of a good friend of mine; and she was saying "wtf are u doin DIY at 4 am in the morning?? its not ur stupid dressing up stuff again was it?" *sigh* no one understands me!!!?

 

more updates... soon rofl

[psychotropic]

ouch be careful man. i always wear a glove on the hand im not using to cut when i use a razor. there have been quite a few times i would have gotten cut if i hadnt been wearing it.