gazmosis

Thanks for the update, Phil. Like I mentioned before, it is totally optional to install the frown screen. A balaclava provides a good cover for the face but even one of those is optional. It is up to the costume owner as to the level he/ she wants to hide their face. As for the back plate overlap, everyone's back raises up when you lift your arms. The full, right side pic holding the DLT-19 shows an overlap of at least an inch. This goes beyond a "slight" overlap.

Smooches!

What happened to the leading edge of the magazine?? Why is it wavy?

For your application you would be better off getting a scrap piece of actual abs. You can pre-bend it prior to installation then install it flush with the existing kidney sides for a much cleaner result.

glen speaks the truth. Open the eyes a bit more. Incredible job on that first ear!!!

Hey Dimo!!!! The TK Commander is a costume that doesn't come across these pages too often. It's always a pleasure to see someone take the TK to another level like this. It also gives me, the DO, a chance to brush up and re-familiarize myself with the aspecst of the different costumes and work with the our leaders and further update the CRLs. I will be proposing a few, however minor, changes to the TKC CRL. Anyway, when you remove the blue paint, the TK Commander is a blend of TK aspects from all 3 original trilogy stormtrooper costumes. The blaster is ESB, the helmet, rubber gloves/handplates, and waist belt (without the center rivet cover) are ANH, the remainder of the armor is ROTJ all the way. The overlap joint construction, the "U" trim on the torso parts, the fused butt/kidney, the "no flat spot on the ends" shoulder bridges, the rounded corners on the shoulder bells, no visible bicep straps (possible CRL change here) upside down ab button plate,I could go on but you get the main idea, With ad ons like a fifth button on the vertical button plate, all buttons are black, removal of the center rivet cover on the waist belt, a few strageically placed belt rivets, no holster, some light weathering, and.......oh yes....the blue paint scheme....you have the TK Commander. In researching this costume in comic book appearances, I found that a blue pauldron and sandtrooper like backpack were also seen. Enough history. Let's look at your armor Dimo! CRL and EIB Application Requirements: Your initial application lacked several photos and there were specific details that needed to be seen that were in pictures that weren't very clear. After suggestions from fellow troopers and a PM, several pics were added as well as some updated changes to the costume that differ from the original pictures. The waist belt in the top pics was too wide and did not clearly show the material in which it was made. Unlike the ANH belt which is 3 inches wide and made from layered materials with twill/denim on the outer most layer, the TKC belt is much less wide(around 2 1/2 inches) and should be made from a material that looks like course weave nylon webbing. This upgrade was done!!! Also, I needed to be certain that the shoulder bridges has no flat spots on the ends. They did on the back side and this was trimmed down.Thank you for working with me to get this done, Dimo!!! There is only one more thing that needs to be done before I pass you. As it is pictured above, your full suit armor pictures do not represent EIB qualifying armor with the wider belt. Please suit back up and take a cool action shot with your complete EIB armor for the EIB archives. Other-Armor Fit/Assembly: I wanted to compliment you on your weathering job. This can be something either overdone and un-natural, or not done enough. I would say that you nailed it!! Jason mentioned one thing that I would agree on and that is your biceps could be dropped a bit to eliminate some of the gap between your biceps and forearms. Centurion Suggestions: As you know, Centurion is about getting armor as close to accurate as we can get. Although the TKC was never seen in the films, its armor must be supportive of something close to screen accurate because of the armor it was derived from. as a result, the FX armor your armor is made from (aside from the helmet) cannot qualify for Centurion. Should you decide to upgrade, there are things on your current armor that will need to be changed to get you to Centurion level. First are your boots. They need to be a "TK Boots" style or painted Chelsea Boot that have no seams in the front. Second, you will need to change your Thermal Detonator to a ROTJ type like this one:The ribbed panel has much larger "ribs" and the center of the round portion is raised rather than indented. The belt clips are also closer to the center rather than the ends. The only change I would consider doing on your helmet is to the trapezoids above the eyes. I would make the upper corners a little rounder. Here is your helmet:Here is what I am referring to: Thank you again for all your work on this armor, Dimo!!! Please get us that pic with you suited up showing your upgrades so I can upgrade your EIB badge!!!!!

Dimo, could you please post a close up of the belt? The belt material is specific to this costume and I need to verify that it is the correct material.

It is going to be difficult to find replacement ears for this type of helmet. Contact the guys at "AM" or Armor Master. They used to build suits with that helmet and might still have replacements or the molds to make you a set.

The frown screen was something invented by the 501st to make the costume wearer's face less visible to the public. It has never been a requirement to have this installed in a helmet. This should answer any questions regarding belt to button plate placements.

That's really cool of you, Bobby!

Nice work trooper!!

I don't know if your goal is for further accuracy, but I would at the least get the white "U" channel trim for the edges of your torso parts. I still would honestly tone down the scratches. It looks too predictable to be battle wear. Nice build all together and congratulations on your approval!!!

You are a master of the heat iron!!!!! Well played!

PLEASE make back/kidney adjustment and repost photos

I'd open up those teeth a little more. Outstanding balance to that helmet! Well built!

Keep in mind, Terry, that the only issue I mentioned that affected EIB was your side gaps. The other items mentioned are improvement suggestions for comfort and overall appearance. I applaud your determination to make your goal. I also applaud the fact that you would rather change your appearance from the inside instead of the outside. You keep on your quest and return when you arrive at it. We will be here. As for the wide variety of side gaps seen on screen......I have yet to see them.

Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!

Hey Terry! You have a nice build here. BFA isn't an armor that is shown too often. It looks nice! Let's take a look at your armor! CRL and EIB Application Requirements: First in regards to your application, there is a few shots from the required photos list that are missing. I need to see a shot of the back of your helmet, your thermal detonator close-up, and aside from you holding it and in your holster, we have no shots of your blaster. In looking over your armor for the characteristics that qualify for EIB, there is only one thing that stands in your way: your side gaps between your ab and kidney. They need to be 1/2 inch or less. Pictures may be deceiving but they seem excessive (more than 1 inch). If you take a pic WITH YOUR ARMOR ON and a ruler next to the gap and show that it is 1/2 or less, my mind will be changed. Other-Armor Fit/ Assembly: Your fellow troopers have chimed in with their observations and suggestions. I love to see people so involved in helping each other. AWESOME!!! Anyway, the first thing I wanted to discuss is a possible adjustment with your thighs. They seem very tubular to me and this throws off your front appearance of your armor. The human thigh is very conical; wider at the top than at the knee. Your thigh armor should be the same. I'd bet that if you squeezed the thigh halves together, you would have overlap that could be trimmed away behind the knee that would contribute to both comfort and an improved look. Your paint work on your helmet is wonderful. The outline of your traps and tears BOARDER LINES on being wide but it's not distracting to me. I still do need to see that rear shot of your helmet, though. There was a concern regarding the excessive width of your belt. I think this is a deception. I will stand on my soapbox and beg our TK belt makers to build your belts at 3 inches rather than 3 1/4. this would solve every ones problems. But I think that this case here is a combination of a 1/4 too wide belt and a slightly enthusiastic corner trimming on your waist belt. Either way, it's not worrying me that much. Another concern that came up was the gap in your helmet's "S" trim. this also doesn't concern me. What does is that unless it's glued down, you will have problems with it falling off. I would replace it just to save yourself the headache of having to deal with and potentially losing it as I have seen done before. The stuff is readily available and cheap. We all need to remember that not all armor fits everyone the same. Although your forearms appear to be the correct length, they are over- rotating on you. The curve at the elbow side of your forearm should be at the inside of your elbow bend. In the p[osition it is sitting on you in the pic, that is a recipe for a nasty armor bite. You could either install a little foam on the inside or a strap that connects the bicep and forearm like the originals had to hold everything in position. Centurion Suggestions: Like I said before, you have a really nice build and are not too far away from a Centurion application as your details show you are headed. Your side gaps are the main concern, here. For Centurion. any side gap should be close if not completely eliminated all together leaving just a seam line. The only other thing I see (provided the submission pics you still need to provide don;t show anything) is the clips on your thermal detonator need to be moved closer to the end caps like here:It will also give you a chance to install the black, slot head screws if you haven't already done so, Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Hey Brenton! It's good to see you here. I know the adventures you have had in building your armor. You have come a long way and you should be proud of your accomplishment. Thank you for your EIB application. Let's look at your armor! CRL and EIB Application Requirements: All required submission pictures have been posted and your armor meets the requirements for EIB! With that I would like to congratulate and welcome you to EIB!!!!! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly: Here is where your armor is looked at from an improvement pint of view. We all want to see you on the Centurion podium looking your best to serve your Empire. Your fellow troopers have made a lot of suggestions so far that you have begun to follow up on. First I want to discuss your side shims. I will touch on a different aspect of them in the "Centurion Suggestion" area. In your front shot, the sides seems to flare out a lot. Your shims seem to be about 2 1/2 inches wide (which still blows me away that a 175 Lb. guy would need shims that large) Anyway, when shims start getting that large, you need to put a little bend on them to conform to your body shape or they will flare out like that. If you curve them, you might shorten them up a bit as well and allow you to trim a little of them away. Another things that shows in your front shot is your thighs are looking a little tubular. Human thighs are very conical; wide at the top tapering down to the knee. Your thigh armor should be the same. I am certain that if you squeezed your thigh halves in the back, you would have quite a bit of overlap behind your knee. This would go along way to a more comfortable fit/mobility and a slenderized look to your armor. Next is the should bell gap. You could just re position them for your Centurion shot (if you apply) or, in looking at your back shot, they almost look like they could be interchanged. Try switching your right for your left and see if that reduces that gap a bit. I know that shoulder bells are not set in stone as to which is right and left, but in some cases (like RS Props) one definitely works better for the left than the right. I think it was Jason that mentioned the rank bars on your ears. As long as you have it the same on both sides of your helmet and they are not on the front bumps, I am fine with the way they are. Centurion Suggestions: There is a little bit of work that needs to be done before you apply. Going back to your shims, they should really be re-positioned and blended to look more like they are one piece with your kidney. This diagram may help explain how to go about this improvement: Next, your shoulder elastic is 1/8 inch and should be 1/4 inch. This is an easy switchout. The next adjustment has to do with your vertical button plate. Both button plates should not exceed the stage they sit on. Although this pic is of a screen used suit, it is a little extreme in my opinion but the message is clear. This will also give you a chance to reduce the size of the buttons as well. The paint should not exceed the molded button edge. This is an easy adjustment. Just dampen a brush with thinner and massage the paint edge until it is removed. Mineral spirit based paint thinner will not harm your armor. I know you are going to upgrade the thermal detonator screws with slotted ones. Good choice. I also know that you were concerned about the length of your TD. According to your measurement, it is only 1/8 inch too long. Remember that the AP thermal detonator is about 1/4 inch less in diameter than the screen used ones so it appears longer even if it's the same length. What I would like to see you concern yourself with more is moving the clips closer to the end caps as seen here: Lastly, the charging handle on your blaster should be resting within the charging channel not above it. Take this slow and one step at a time to get it right. Congratulations on EIB again!!!!

There is a little visual deception here. According to your measurement, you are only 1/8 inch long which is no big deal. You need to remember that the AP thermal detonator is a smaller diameter than the screen used one by almost 1/4 inch. Yours will look longer for this reason. What I would concern myself with is getting your clips properly positioned to the end caps with close to no gap.

Still waiting

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/22604-expert-infantry-application-photo-checklist/ Start here. If you have new armor, that armor must be EIB approved before moving onto Centurion.

Every year our 4th of July parade is known as the Bartlett death march for good reason

You have them positioned correctly for the arms they are supposed to go on. RS parts are a custom fit dream. Once you have removed the desired amount of return edge from the wrist and elbow sides (ALL return edge should be removed from the wrist side), Work on getting your cover strip ridge around 15 mm wide when the halves are placed together. Once you have that seam straight, tape it heavily and get a helper. put the forearm on. Have your helper squeeze the halves together. You will have overlap on the underside of your forearm. Release the squeeze until it is comfortable near your elbow and until you can get your hand out with little effort. When you are at this point, have your helper mark on both overlapping parts at the wrist and the elbow. Take off the forearm and connect the dots and this will be your seam line for the underside. This method is repeatable for the thighs and shins. The biceps have no raised seam line. You will need to fit them from the front and the back evenly.

Hey Jonathan! Thank you for your application for EIB. Nice work choosing the Hero approach. Well done massaging out those extra teeth from the ATA face plate. Let's take a look at your armor! CRL and EIB Application Requirements: All required submission photos (and then some) posted. Your armor meets all the requirements for EIB. With that I would like to congratulate and welcome you to EIB!!!!!! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly: there are few things here to discuss which is GREAT!!! there is only one minor adjustment that I'd like to see you make if possible. Here is a screen used thermal detonator:I can't put my finger on it, but it might be a combination of enthusiatic trimming of the control panel, the detonator pipe being a little too long and your clips lacking a liitle width. The clips should be 1-1 1/8" wide. As in this pic, the side gaps between the end caps and the control panel should be about 1/2 inch.but the change I 'd like to see if you can do is to take the rounded curve off the top of the clips. These clips were flat across the top at the control panel. Look at you installing soft velcro on the clips to protect your armor. Nice!!! There was some discussion regarding your frown. After jumping back and forth a number of times between your helmet and reference shots, I think it is fine like it is. I don't see the angle you left at the wrist of the left forearm too often. It's nott distracting or in anyway affects the appearance of your armor so it's fine. Centurion Suggestions: Make sure you include all shots on the checklist. Also, make sure to re-take the shot of your right side with your belt tightened up. Pull that seam shut as much as you can. Congratulations again!!!!