Slacker

It's because the internet gives people an anonomous way to lash out at those that offend them, and a lot of them are easily offended. In fact, they just wait to be offended, and Christmas is a great excuse for them to act out. Perhaps their family didn't care much for them as a child, and they are angry. I am a Christian, and celebrate Christmas - it's not offensive if I tell someone Merry Christmas, it's a joyous time for Christians. So, don't allow them to offend you - by being offended, you have given them power, so cheer up -- It's Christmas after all! Merry Christmas

I bought the iComm system with the Aker amp. It's really easy - plug and play, nothing to set. Adds some static to the background when you talk and has about 8 different static bursts when your done talking. It has push to talk OR voice activated (I can't decide which I like better) and is small and light. The ROM/FX is a great card too, so whichever you choose will be a good choice. No one device will do everything that you are asking though, you still need an amplifier like the Aker as far as I know.

Good advice. Building your armor will yield no instant gratification. You may get to the point you are tired of working on it even, and want to give up. Trust me when I say all the effort and hard work are worth it in the end. For a quick fix on scissors, try using those kitchen scissors used to cut meat with- I ended up using those, they were pretty heavy duty. Trim stuff as close as possible to the photos and sand the rest. Here's a tip- take something round (like a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll filled with something to make it hard) and wrap the sandpaper around that. Using a round item to hold the paper makes sanding curves much easier, it did for me.

You can just snip off the loops without doing what I did, I'm just a cheap bastard and wanted to get every inch I could out of it! On the longer brackets, I just did it by eyeball, but about 1 to 1 1/8 inches tall I'd say.

As I just (almost) finished a VT build, I can feel your pain Frosty. You have 2 of the most helpful guys posting right now- both did wonders for me! As RogueTrooper said, start with the forearm and bicep parts. Trim the shoulder bell too, it was easy. Follow the tutorials these guys posted and you will be on your way in no time! Expect to spend a month doing this, and that is working on it a little every day. Once you get going though, it's hard to stop, so be ready! FYI, I trimmed out the parts for the 02 Canister first, as they are hard to mess up and give you a feel for working with the ABS.

I'm just trying to give back, and happy to have something to help other troopers. Without this forum I would have been struggling to even trim my armor! As to questions: My elastic bands are sewn into a loop. I made the strip of elastic about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and then sewed the ends together. Then, I just flipped it inside out. I then slipped it over the bracket and bolted the bracket on. So you want your elastic to be a sewn loop like this: For placement, I studied photos of others posted here on the forum and mimic ed them. This was the most helpful photo from Troopermaster ( http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=13182&st=60&p=164156&hl=dscf1104&fromsearch=1entry164156 ): If you don't want to make them, Stukatrooper sells them pre-made with instructions: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=12511&st=0 I've added these photos to the post with the tutorial to keep it in one place.

Ok, this is how I made my own brackets. I must say I got my inspiration from the ones "Stukatrooper" sells. I just didn't have the time to wait for them as I was ready NOW. First, I went to WalMart and bought the 3 pack of wire whisks. I used 1 to make my kit, my wife took one from me, and I have 1 left over for the next set of armor. In the first pic, you can see the packaged whisk, then how I pulled the collar up so I could snip off the longest section of wire possible, and lastly the cut wire (I've made one bracket from this piece already). To make these, I used a pair of needle nose pliers. These are a cheap pair, it doesn't take much. You want a set that are a little rounded outside. The next step- take the wire from the end. Don't try to trim the wire to length, you don't need to. Just use the long section to do this. Grab the end of the wire and wrap it around the pliers tip as shown. It will leave you with a round "screw hole" end. Next, grab the wire further forward- use the edge of the pliers to make the bend square, just pull the wire up until you get the angle at 90 degrees. This bend is the side of the bracket- I didn't really measure for the distance from the hole to the bend, that is something you can just guess at. Each of my brackets is probably a little different from the other, but it doesn't matter in the end. Next, just grab the wire and fold it again to make the next 90 degree angle. For the length of the bracket end, use a piece of your elastic. It should be about the same width- if it's a little more it won't harm anything, but try to get it fairly close. These will work even if they aren't perfect, and they are hand made: Follow the same procedure for the other side. I use the width of the pliers as my measurement for the height and it worked great. For the longer brackets, I just extended them out and made all 3 the same, which was about 1 inch. Once you get the rounded screw hole done, snip the wire with wire snips. After you are finished making the bracket, you can easily tweak it to make it straight. I used the screw I was going to attach it with to size the holes properly, as seen below. In fact, I had to make my brackets bend inward a bit to make them fit exactly right- it takes a little time to get the knack of it, but once you do get the hang of it you can make a bracket quickly. Here is a shot of the finished bracket next to a ruler. When I installed the brackets I set them in place on the armor and marked the holes with a pencil before I drilled. Each bracket was different, but the holes were drilled for each one, and if it was a little off you can easily adjust the bracket with pliers. ADDED: My elastic bands are sewn into a loop. I made the strip of elastic about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and then sewed the ends together. Then, I just flipped it inside out. I then slipped it over the bracket and bolted the bracket on. So you want your elastic to be a sewn loop like this: For placement, I studied photos of others posted here on the forum and mimic ed them. This was the most helpful photo from Troopermaster ( http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=13182&st=60&p=164156&hl=dscf1104&fromsearch=1entry164156 ): If you don't want to make them, Stukatrooper sells them pre-made with instructions: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=12511&st=0 Hope I get across how to make this with this post.

I can do that. I'll do a photo shoot of making a bracket, it's easy.

Worked on finishing up my armor this weekend. There is a lot of small things to do to complete it and get everything comfortable. I plan to wear it next weekend, I'll post some pics. Still don't have my hand plates, probably will use the flexible ones but I'm about tapped out spending money on this project. I need a blaster too, and figure I'll do a pipe build or buy one built. No pics for this post, didn't have anybody to take them!

FYI, I've used almost 2 yards of 2" black elastic and 2 yards of 3/4" black elastic (with the mistakes, etc). That was the one thing I never could find in the threads, so hope that helps on your trip. I used more 2" than some probably because I used it to make a belt and garters to hold up my thigh parts. It's very comfortable, I got the idea from this thread (except I bought a 2" buckle set for it: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=293

Frosty, I considered straps and snap plates as they would probably be easier to do than these brackets. But once I got it all together and did a test fit, I'm happy I chose this method. Something about how the chest plate fits to the ab plate, it just looks and feels right. I'm hoping for a final test fit by next weekend, I've pretty much wore myself out doing what I did this weekend. I've been at it 20 days now, working almost every day at least a little, and some days more than others. The next set I do will be much easier I bet, as there was a lot of learning involved, and time wasted trying differnt things.

Working on strapping and brackets this weekend. I looked and looked for Piano wire locally, and it just doesn't exist (unless you buy Piano strings, which are expensive). Well, I found an alternative for spooled piano wire that is cheap and easy to get- a wire whisk. They are made from Piano wire and available at any WalMart! Pics of my brackets attached with elastic:

Man, that is it, but mine will be white. Thanks Roguetrooper, great help- AGAIN.

Thanks, I'll adjust that stuff this weekend. Question- the shoulder bell has a strap that runs around the arm. I see a few shots of bicep parts with a hook added, but some look like they don't have a hook. Do all have a hook and I just don't see it? And hey, I LIKE GAFFERS TAPE. I plan on making a suit from it next.

Ok, I did the first full test fitting last night. I don't have all the strapping done yet, just wanted an idea of how cool it was going to look. I was right, it's totally cool. I need to lower the bicep strap, add the strap for the forearm part. I don't see how I would ever get a glove/handplate combo through the left wrist opening. I wish my forearm armor parts were the same on both sides even though these are based on original parts. I really hate using rubber gloves, they are cheap looking. I know, screen accurate- my wife even said rubber gloves? I'm going to search for some piano wire now to make accurate brackets for the cod/chest plate parts. I haven't cut the butt section from the kidney plate yet, but i won't have enough return edge for the original style brackets when I do. I think I may just do snap plates for that part. So far I guess I don't have any questions. When I get everything to the point it's feeling right, I'll post pics for critique.