justjoseph63

Great looking build, Jaydon, and REALLY nice paintwork!!

I went with the 2 inch, Darrell. I would give you a word of advice, though... Before setting the snaps in the elastic, double over the ends (about half an inch) and either sew or CA glue them together. This gives you a stronger area to attach them, and will prevent them tearing out from lots of fastening/unfastening.

Are you guys kidding about this not being the "real thing"?! I put in a bid of $5000.00 for this original, screen used, completely authentic bucket. I was planning on adding it to my collection, which includes the socks (and sunglasses) that Peter Cushing actually wore on his way to the set of ANH, which only set me back $321.00. Sorely disappointing...

There are countless TKs who have gone with AM armor, Michael, including myself. The quality of mine is great, and have had no problems with it. I did have to replace a few pieces to get to Centurion, but I had the older version, which is perfectly fine to get you approved all the way to EIB.

They come like that so that you can cut them yourself. The way I did it was to use a long (36) inch metal ruler, clamped down firmly on the line you need to cut. Then, using a SHARP razor knife, cut along the line using the ruler as a guide for the blade. Take your time when doing this, and slowly make several shallow cuts rather than one deep one. You can then carefully snap them at the cut line. The approximate sizes for cover strips are: Forearms- 15 mm Biceps- 15mm Thighs (front)- 20 mm Thighs (back)- 20 to 25 mm Shins (front)- 20 mm Shins (back) 25 mm Hope this helps!

Welcome aboard, Wyant! Besides lots and lots of research, one of the things you will need is patience. It will probably take a bit to actually receive your armor, which gives you the opportunity to check out some of the builds and get your supplies and accessories together. I have a friend who could barely use a screwdriver, yet managed to make himself a beautiful set of AM armor. I would suggest starting your own build thread when you get your kit. This way, you can post pictures of your progress, post any questions you may have, and keep everything accessible in one place. Yes, it may seem daunting, but we are here to help!

I had just 1 or 2 issues with the snaps coming off, Jeff, mainly on the butt/kidney connection. A Centurion friend in the Makaze squad showed me this method, so I decided to just switch the majority out. No problems worrying about anything coming unsnapped now.

Duly noted and added, Dan. Thanks!!! The reason I put "Attempted" in the original post is that I am always looking for suggestions/input like yours, which will hopefully make life a bit easier for those starting out.

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Great job Edwin, and congrats on a well deserved honor!

Great find on the belt elastic, Tom! Wish I would have known about that, and am now considering changing a few out for more flexibility. And yes, Tandy snaps ROCK! I sort of "cheaped out" on my first go round, and had to end up replacing them all, which was a pain in the butt-plate. And no, Veronica, I didn't back the elastic with nylon. I would like to, to prevent the problem with the shoulder snaps I mentioned, but I don't have a sewing machine. GREAT idea, though! The only other place I use elastic (1 inch wide black) is for my bicep/forearm connection, which allows for a better range of movement.

I believe the author (Jim Doughty) also recently wrote a riveting article for the National Examiner entitled "Brad Pitt Abducted by Aliens"... What a hack...

The "chrome trooper" is Captain Phasma, a female character from the upcoming film. Ingrid is in the process of building one, which you can follow at http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32972-ladyinwhite-phasma-build/ There are a few makers whose armor you should have no problems getting to fit you, Michael. You should check out http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/.,which will start you in the right direction.

I find it interesting that he put a number of photos of the Thailand Garrison representing the 501st, complete with banners, giant checks, etc. If I didn't know any better, this would be pretty convincing advertising for those hoping to join the 501st who buy into this.

Not sure how others feel about this, Veronica, but I would advise not using elastic on all of your snap connections. For instance, I have found that the white 2 inch wide elastic for my shoulder connection does not hold up well after the wear and tear of repeated fastening/unfastening of the snaps, and have had to replace them twice. I personally would use nylon wherever you can, as it holds up MUCH better. These are photos of my strapping, but note that I used the double snap method on most connections so it never, ever comes apart.

I use clear silicone on a weekly basis, Bill, and while it is strong, it is designed as a sealant, and not an adhesive. Both are removable, but the E-6000 is a glue, and literally thousands of us have used it for our builds. I would (pardon the pun) stick with what is tried and true, and follow Vern's advice about finding a place that you can store it while it dries.

Nice looking armor, Hans! You should have this nailed, but Steve will probably need a pic of the neck seal.

If you are looking for a Halloween or cosplay costume, Evan, this is fine. If you are looking to join the 501st, steer well clear of this, as it will not be acceptable, and don't believe the line in the listing that says "...You can wear it to any Stormtrooper club you wish". Instead, go should check out http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/19329-where-what-and-whom-to-avoid-when-buying/. It mentions re-casts, (which this is), and ebay armor specifically as things to avoid. It also lists the vetted sellers, which I would stick to.

I have purchased 2 from this seller, --------- Great customer service, fast shipping, and a high quality product.

I don't mean to water this thread down, but for the belt, try http://trooperbay.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=canvas+belt , Igor.

Try this link, Fergus.. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/23970-fs-centurion-level-rivet-sets/ You can use the round head bifurcated split rivets for your ammo thigh pack, and Chicago screws to hold the ABS / canvas belt together.

Steve (Gazmosis) had a post a while back that had some excellent suggestions on staying hydrated while trooping. It mentioned things like actually drinking plenty of water the day before, and the time leading up to a troop. Hopefully he will re-post it, as I found it very helpful, and used that method ever since.

Good call on the CA glue, Chris. It certainly has it's uses, but not on a first time build.

This would be a good idea on troops where there are lots of kids, where you will inevitably hear "Can I hold your gun"? without fear of it being dropped.

I for one thoroughly enjoyed building my own, Robert, as I am sure a lot of others have. With all the amazing tutorials available here, it isn't that difficult to end up with a bucket (helmet) you can be quite proud of. I also liked the fact that if anything on it should need repairs, (as things sometimes do), I know exactly how it was assembled, and therefore how to fix it. If you don't feel up to doing it yourself, there are vetted (approved) armorers, such as RT mod and RS Propmasters that do it for you. If you haven't had the chance yet, check out this thread, which should give you a bit more insight. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/