Hesikaya

Here's the end result of the backs of the thighs. I think they turned out pretty well. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

I could stick my whole hand in the space between the return edge and my leg so I took the time to thin the thighs a little more. Now I have this abrupt change between the two sides on the back. If I removed all the back side return edge I could just cut along the lower line. If I go a little crazy I leave the upper line and fold over the material to reconstruct the return edge. Just pondering how much that'll bite when I walk before I decide which line to cut at. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

Had a little trouble with my gloves. I have Nomex flight gloves and the flexible handguards. I cleaned them with alcohol and used 60 grit sandpaper on the bottoms then adhered them with e6000. They Didn't last one fitting. Do I need to more aggressively sand the bottoms? Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

Finally got back to the vocoder and frown. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

I thought it was going to be momentous. Putting everything on as a final fitment check before determining the length of the chest to back connection. But now it's just another day scratching my already balding nugget. Aided by my wife I donned my armor. She helped tape up the top chest to back area and figured an inch and a quarter looked good eyeballing the gap between them. I started walking about and was clanking along like the tin man after a good rain. My wife threatened to get me an oil can. Pieces rubbed together smacking with every short stride and could feel the bottoms of the back of the thighs rubbing behind my knee. What I thought was a good fit when checking the thighs alone now seems to be too big. Which means I'm going to have to trim a bit more off the backs. That's going to be ok I guess since I wasn't 100% happy with the rear cover strips. I rotated the thighs out a little more and that helped the alignment in the rear but I noticed ample gap still at the top and bottom. It also seems to me my back is too low and chest too high since I can't hardly look down at all and the neck line of my chest armor is hitting me in the throat. Not sure how to address that at this point either. I'm all ears and open to suggestions. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

Thanks for the suggestion Rob. I managed to find a couple more rivets and got back in action. Belt is done but once I removed my clamps I discovered they are all the slightest bit crooked. Do I need to reattach these button Caps or do I just suppress my OCD? Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

The buttons have been installed. And belt is coming along. Just realized I am 2 rivets short to complete the belt drop boxes. Although I seem to recall CAP rivets being mentioned by someone in another thread so it's possible I may be able to finish the belt up. The backs of the thighs are also setting as I type this. I'm getting so close. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

I was about to mount these when I noticed the upper left corner of the larger plate it a touch rounded. Then I noticed none of them are really square. Should I square them up a little more first? Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

Obligatory "I've gotta put this stuff on to make me feel good" Photo. Don't mind the angle, it was taken by a 4 year old I still need to trim the thighs. That's the same as everywhere else though with about a half inch gap right? I tore apart my shins and reassembled them differently after looking at several posts, EIB and Centurian applications where it looked like the inside of the left shin had the lesser degree up angle of the two "right" sides of the shins. This came about after having a downturn on the inside section and slight up bending of the knee plate when I tried to force the knee plate to match what was there. And lastly I've strapped these together.

Thought I'd post this up just for fun. I was rummaging around hoping to find the blaster in my profile pic to see if it was the correct type to modify into something for my costume when I found the TD's I made for my kids. It struck me how adorably small they are. Ah- hem, so I thought I'd do a comparison shot with the helmets I built them. Then It became apparent that I didn't get the brackets right on them. [emoji2] Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

I used the brackets that came in the kit. I was thinking I would redo them and make my own later. I know I saw a great tutorial on how to make them from scratch but lost it. [emoji17] Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

Thank you gmrhodes. I must commend you on your ability to search the forums. I don't know how you do it. I never seem to come up with the on the money results you do. With the sniper knee dilemma bothering me I decided to put it down and focus my efforts elsewhere for the moment. I completed my TD. And have assembled my forearms and biceps. They just need a fine tuning to remove the pinch points and remaining wrist side return edge. Sent from my sorrosuub C1 comm link device using Tapatalk

And this is the moment I start wondering how well I eye balled these shins. Two of the stickers we're attached to the same shin so I spent a bit of time looking at them. When test fitting the sniper knee it doesn't fit up to the left side without bulging up in the front and dipping down on the inner side. To get it snug in the front I really have to press it down hard and I fear they'll tear or come unglued. Now I wonder, did I assemble the shins incorrectly? Or is there something else I'm missing? Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Does anyone have a goto for ABS sheets to buy for the additional cover strips? I'm looking around the internet finding Polycarbonate sheets, ABS Styrene, etc. What kind am I looking for? I don't think I have enough extra in my kit to make the internal cover strips or all the supports for the brackets.

My Shins have their front cover strips applied. This was my first experience trying to use E6000. I've learned that it's very slippery at first and getting pieces to stay put is like a mud wrestling match. I've definitely allowed quite a few gobs of glue to escape in the process and I need to clean that up. I managed to get that 10mm gap at the bottom down to 5mm which makes me happy but I also really want some input from the community. I still need to even up the sides so it'll be a very short distance from the bottom of the cover strip to the lower edge of the shin when that's through. That being said, should I do anything about it? And if so, what? Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Thanks, that’s just what I was looking for.

If I was to place some support in there what should I use to make it? I have the excess trimmings still but it's all pretty thin stuff.

Suddenly I feel like I'm moving forward. I started installing the cover strips on the shins this morning after trimming the backs. This is my first foray into applying cover strips. Crossing my fingers that I didn't go too far when I trimmed the backs. Just waiting for tomorrow so I can take all the clamps off and check out what I did. After that I worked on the thermal detonator and installed the Mr.NoStripes brackets. My concern is with the screws for the brackets and how much they are still protruding right now. Is this a normal amount or do I need to counter sink them and add a doubler behind them to increase support?

Good point Daniel, Thanks for that. I had forgotten the handguards will be attached. I will look at bringing the wrist gap down a bit more then.

TKSpartan I see what you mean about the vocoder but can you elaborate on what you mean on trimming more on the frown?

I think these forearms are just about ready to have cover strips installed. I am planning to even out the bottom of the right where the black line is to clean that up. I am still contemplating making the 1/8 inch adjustment to the wrist side of the right forearm but the tops are the same measurement. The wrist side should have plenty of room to slide your gloved hand and suited up arm though right?

I've been working on my Anovos helmet most recently. I painted the frown, insides of the Hovi tips, cleaned the return edge around the eyes. I haven't put the frown mesh back in yet as I wanted to see if anyone noted anything I should fix first. I do have two concerns. First, the brow strip doesn't go all the way to the back of the traps on either side. Would this be a concern later when I applied for EIB or centurion? Second the distance of the blue tube stripes are a little more than a pencils width. They look ok to me but I'm thinking I'll have to remove and repaint them. They look like they are stickers to me. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

After posting in the new member section the most fabulous idea was presented to me of posting a build thread to make asking questions and getting help easier. An amazing idea! Thanks Troy and Frank! Here it goes. I've trimmed the legs and arms for the front and not to bring up any drama swapped Shins back and forth several times after I realized one had two number labels and another none. That said I'm fairly confident these are mated to the correct partners. I am concerned about my measurement mishap where I made theis curve on the Left shin (pictured on right side). The gap is about 10MM. Once I have the front cuts sanded (Apparently a metal ruler didn't help me keep the line non-jagged either) should I place a piece of cast off material back there with an inner shim to assure it's strength? The cover strip looks like it will cover the gap but there's not much to hang on to on the left side .

Astyanax, Thank you for this great tutorial. Back in 2017 I built two foam troopers for my little guys 8 and 5. I took what I learned from that in 2018 and adapted it to make a Darth Vader kit for the older one and mixed and matched pieces for the younger. They will be different things this year Jawa and a GONK droid but all that I learned from your post was a big help to make them super cool foam troopers.