iconoclasta_88

THX Guys!! I am too really happy and excited too see this come alive. Now, here are a few pictures of the Bucket. Not all the detailing shows in the pictures due to bad lighting, but it is really awesome. Soon I hope I can work a bit more in the armor and finish it. Saludos.

THX for all your comments my brothers! I am really happy with how this is turning out. Now, I am still saving the bucket for later on, and now I actually have a new idea... Make the bucket into an ESB version. Why? Cause last tuesday I received my HDPE RS bucket. I normally get all my armor and props y kit forms, but this I got it already finished cause that was the only way to get the HDPE version, and I wanted it to have a real full replica armor. Needles to say, the bucket is awesome and I am sure that together with the armor they both will only look better. This is the bucket out of the box. Ill suit up maybe next week again, and take some picts with the new lid. And, about the TM bucket... I am considering maybe make an ESB bucket. Already have a few ANH TDs and TKs, and a ROTJ TK... So... Or should I make it ANH? What do you think? Saludos

Thx for your help and comments! I had my first fitting test today. Have not even started working on my TM bucket so used an older one I built as a set for stun replica a couple years ago. The results are very encouraging I think. Armor is now finished and ready for weathering and detailing. Also need to trim in the proper way the back top on both shins in the Tantive IV style. I am very confident that the armor is probably up to centurion standards as it is, but want to finish it in a replica style before even applying for TK designation. I have only a TD clearance since long ago. So... What do you think? Saludos.

Hehe! No, no real cracks. Just weathering and gaffer's tape. But if it dies crack in the future, I will just repair it with tape. I understand some people might not completely share my likes for the ANH look, and would not go that way. But for me that is the way to go to get the most real armor possible. Good thing is that there is room for everyone in this hobby. Hope it does not hurts too bad. Lol! Saludos.

I am going full replica and inten to troop. I accept anyway that this will be my second armor so it would only be used a couple of times a year and kept in its box the rest of the time in favor o my sandtrooper. Anyway. If used at least one a year I want to look spot on that one time. Going all the way to centurion is not for everyone, going over it is for fewer ones. There is room for everyone for sure. But some of us that won't settle with centurion would like to see a new level stablished for the uber accurate armor. Saludos.

Man! That would be great. I would definitely go for that. I want my armor to look ANH all the way. Gaffer included. Also, weathering and the black marks left by handling blasters. I do think that it is illogical to ask for side and crotch rivets and not for the return edge ones. What make ones more special or accurate than the others. I realize not all armors will stand the pressure or original strapping, even Paul don´t recommend some kinds of plastic he works with for it. But I have a TE2 armor with the screws just for the looks and it does add a lot of character and accuracy to the build! I know this might not come any time soon, but, the FISD should set a higher goal soon, and troopers will follow. Lets just get rid of the FX helmet first. Saludos.

Great! Thx Reza and Paul. I think I will look for fabric paint... Will do some testing before going into the actual armor elastics. Also need to buy the blue paint for the ab buttons. Slowly getting there. Saludos.

More pics???? Here you go... Finished the assembly tonite. All is done and now I'll proceed to weather it and bit it up a little to make it look authentic. This has been and awesome ride so far. I expect it to be even better. Weathering is probably my fav part (always a Sandtrooper). Also, all strapping is done. Waiting on the helmet. Even after having assembled probably 20 buckets, I still feel intimidated by that part. Thx for all your comments and encouraging. And I will take in consideration the suggestions made... This has to top my previous armor in detailing and replicating the ANH style. Saludos.

First fitting test today. Armor feels very cool. And fits like a glove size wise. Just need to adjust s thing here and there, and then off to detailing. What do you think? Saludos.

Thx bro. I will do it. Saludos.

It's been a while since I made any progress, but tonite I had the chance to work a bit on my armor. So it was the turn of the elastics on the body armor and the upper limbs. Armor is starting to look awesome, and fits really good. Better than I thought it would due to my build and height. Also, the more I progress the more I am amazed by the kit Paul put together for this. The armor itself is awesome, but every single elastic, screw, button and loop works and fits just perfectly with the rest of the pieces. Really a piece of art. I do have a question atm, i want to "paint" white the elastics to simulate the white glue used on ANH armor. For that i was thinking of mixing regular white glue with white enamel paint. And brush it over the elastic on the inside of the parts. Do you guys think that would work? Or isthere a better way to do it. Thx for any help. So, here is a picture. Saludos.

Main assembly is done. Now it is time for the strapping and detailing. Body armor is all strapped together in 2 parts, front and back... Need to add the elastics to join them on the ab/kidney and shoulders. Also all the strapping on the limbs, and add the knee belt and plastic bridges on the shoulders. Tried to wear it and it seems that it might fit, just a hit large. But need to finish it further to be more certain. Here a couple of pictures. What do you think? Saludos.

After a very busy week at work, I finally had sometime last night to work on the belt. First of all I have to say that after working on Sandtrooper armor for the last 5 or 6 year, this was a whole new world for me... Drop boxes, holsters and Thermal Detonators is a place I had not been in ages... I thought that, if on top of that I added the original strapping/hardware system, I would be facing a big wall. Big surprise is that, after figuring it out in a few minutes with help of references, TM's build thread and pointers given here, I found that working the original hardware was very easy and logic for most parts. I now can see the great pros on this way of building armor. Really love how everything falls in place no prob. And of course, Paul's experience and work shows in this amazing kit. So.... This is where I am ATM. Added the knee plate: And finished the Stunt Belt. Looking good I think. And now, pretty much what is left for the body armor is adding the knee strap, the shoulder bridges and strapping everything together... Then the helmet, but thats a whole nother thing. What do you think? Saludos.

THX Andy, It was a logic decision for me. After trying to build replicas in the looks for a few years, I thought I needed to go Full replica from the materials, to assembly to looks. And it has been a lot of fun for me!! I think this is not the way for every build for everybody. Fortunately, there is room for everyone in this hobby. Saludos.

Happy to help. Saludos.

Armor is looking awesome! One thing you might not be considering regarding E6000. Chances are you already knew this but... Did you washed the armor parts prior to assembly??? Chemicals are added to the plastic to make the de-moulding easier. That chemicals will prevent the plastic to stick tp the mould, but also, any glue to stick to them. Feels a bit oily on the inside of the armor parts. And there is no way E6000 will completely stick to the plastic with that agent on it. If you think that mught be happening, just wash it with water and dish soap. No big deal... If you indeed have the chemical agent on your kit, dont wait for a week. Go ahead and wash it, and glue them again, tomorrow night they will be done! Another posibility is that you got a bad batch of E6000. I have used it for over 7 years and never did it take longer than 24 hours to work, and I can say that in about 72 hours it is completely cured. Saludos. Juan

Awesome! That is exactly what I needed! Thx a lot Paul!! And Thx Maxim too! I will start working on this soon, but have loads of work from today till friday so probably not going to be able to progress at all till the weekend. Damn job! Saludos.

Thx a lot bro. Will do. Saludos.

So, I tried to finish the belt, but faced a problem, I dont know which hardware goes where... This is my first experience with accurate strapping so I have doubts, even if I thinkI have deduced most of the parts. So... Dark green: bucket rivets Red: Ears screws and knotts Light green: 6 Split rivets for torso side. 1 split rivet for crotch. 1 extra??? Yellow: 2 rivets for knee pack. And the other 6??? Purple:??? Blue:??? I know I will need 3 rivets to fix the plastic belt to the cloth belt. Could they be the yellow ones? Also, rivets to fix the drop boxes to the elastic and the holster to the belt, but, cant figure out which goe where? I guess I will need ro figure this out/get the proper info before moving forward. Paul, hipe you can throw some light over this for me. Thx for your help. Saludos.

Thx Paul. I will attach the knee plate as it is and go from there. I am now trying to tackle the belt... Question about the drop boxs, never thought I would be building something like that hehehe... So, how are they attached to the elastic, is it gkued and riveted, and riveted to the belt too, or is it only glue? Will leave those last. Going to focus on the plastic belt, cloth belt and holster for the next couple of hours or so. saludos.

Thx Paul. Will do. Now that I am starting to make this kit look like an armor, lots of questions as appearing in my mind. Will be asking a lot of them iin the following weeks.... I have been struggling with two ideas, and been trying to let them live in peace together: 501st (Centurion) vs Armor replica. I guess if my armor is a replica, it should be allowed/approved to all 501st standards and levels. But there are so many gray spots in the CRL and... i think I read somewhere that this precise issue was discussed, not really remembering what was the conclusion. Not looking to start a debate here at this thread or time, but that is in my mind atm. THX for all your help. Saludos.

Thx bro!!! Have made some progress during the weekend. Still far from finished but getting there slowly. So far, all the limbs are done, need just to add the knee plate and the thigh ammo pack. Most of the wire brackets and elastics are in place, only need to join the kedney and butt to the back. Next, would be adding all detailing like shoulder bridges, finishing the belt and all the elastics. Have fixed the chestplate to the ab plate and just tried it to see if it would fit, but i think it is a bit too long for me. Might just trim the neck line a bit, or maybe try longer elastics fromthe chest to the ab. What do you guys think would be better? Paul? Also finished the thermal detonator, looks really cool imho. Here are a few pictures, hope you like them... Finally, I am about to glue the knee plate to the shin, but cant find a good reference for how to trim it. I think they are not right, a bit long towards the back, and not sure about the return edge, does anybody have a better reference of real screen used armoror a screen grab that shows how to trim it. Here are two picts of my knee plate... What do you think? Thx for any comments. Saludos. Juan.

Saludos

Have worked on the shins and one thigh. Drilled the holes for the strapping and started detailing / trimming the return edge a bit better. Already tried the thigh and shin, and even if I have not wore them right, I have a feeling they will be just a couple cms too long for me. I am not willing to trim the parts to fit me better on the lenght, so, I will have to live with it. Btw, I am 1.78m high. Read somewhere that was the heigh of the actors playing the sandtroopers, so... Hopefully the armor wil fit right at the end. Still need to trim the return edge and rim on the back of the knees as in ANH armor. I think that will help. Ayway, here is a picture. Saludos.

Sorry to hear that Karin. I guess you must have good reasons to do it. I will miss you for sure... Take care. I'll see you over facebook I guess. Saludos.