FN1313

Welcome to the ranks! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Depending on fit too you may find you choose to trim a bit more off the top to fit better, but yeah trim the points and see how things fit before you do that. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nylon is doable, but as Glen mentioned it has no give. Elastic really helps there in making it easier to stretch and work with. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For me. It was definitely more space and more clamps. I was slower to build because I could only glue and clamp so much at a time due to those limitations and I didn’t have space to lay out all my armor at once to work with so it was piece by piece. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your marks look decent, but I’d go less on those and more on feel of how you move in them. You want some gap but not as much so I’d do as Glen mentioned with little bits at a time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your marks look decent, but I’d go less on those and more on feel of how you move in them. You want some gap but not as much so I’d do as Glen mentioned with little bits at a time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your marks look decent, but I’d go less on those and more on feel of how you move in them. You want some gap but not as much so I’d do as Glen mentioned with little bits at a time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice helmet work thus far! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oil method is definitely worth a shot. As mentioned stay away from paint thinners, but I’ve usually done wet sanding with 1500 grit or higher very carefully and then smooth buff and polish. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some recommendations I have. You may want to trim the upper return edge off your thighs to avoid armor bite. It can be no fun. Depending on your height and such you may also need to trim down the thighs a bit. Again this depends a lot on fittings. I’d also highly recommend against attaching thighs to the inner side of abdomen armor for strapping as this can cause the weight of the thighs and such to tug down on your armor leading to discomfort and potentially even unwanted fitting issues. What I and many have done is get a nylon belt and then use strong elastic loops to slide the belt through and hold thighs up via a belt separate from the armor. Some even add heavy duty suspenders too. Here’s my example. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So far as I’m aware the riser for the holster isn’t necessary with DN kits. At least the ones I’ve seen submitted in my garrison it’s not been something I’ve noted as needing adjustment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Tim, First to answer your question. I’d say the height of shins matters and you’ll want them fairly equal, but I’d also in a sense treat them separate. The big thing I mean here is don’t necessarily measure one and then measure the other off it. Definitely size them up to your proportions. Some people surprisingly don’t have the same length of both legs. That being said as you size things remember for shins, trim from the bottom up and not top down (when making them shorter) and thighs trim from top down not bottom up. Second thing, you may need to do some shimming of the armor You can see an extreme example of shimming thighs here https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/47405-thigh-super-shimming-opinions/ It seems a little daunting and takes some work, but it’s not too bad actually and a great process for learning how to work with ABS paste which is also how you can fix cracks later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome back! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Progress is looking great. Sorry I’ve been slower to respond but looks like others have been doing so. All good questions and progress. Keep it up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another thing I’m noticing that has me questioning actual screen suits is the amount of return edge in spaces we know the original suits didn’t have them. Such as the forearms and shoulder bells. Looks more like a replica kit put together for show and tell without exactly the same accuracy. Still look like great replica props, but yeah I doubt the authenticity. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Of course I’m assuming you’ve marked 10mm for on the return edge. If it’s 10mm from the other edge though than that’s right. It just needs to be 10mm from whatever the hard edge will be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’d say it depends on if you plan on further trimming along this edge (marked in red) If you do plan to trim that off, then I think your marks are good. If not then you’d probably need to move them to 10mm from the actual edge of the plastic. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I just have a heavy duty nylon belt from Amazon and then for extra support bought a set of heavy duty suspenders to help hold things up. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BGZ5PLS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello Santana, Lots of information on these forums, but don’t feel too overwhelmed the links provided previously are excellent at getting you going. Whatever you do be sure to research the armors and vendors that are vetted before just buying anything online. There are definitely reasons these resources exist to help make the process easier for everyone. Looking forward to your decision and progress! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Looking good. Luckily the adjustments if needed after wearing aren’t too hard. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sorry for your rough experience with them and the owner. I’ve myself had some scary situations with vendors before too. Not this vendor, but I did have one where the vendor’s business partner attempted to swindle my payment and force the vendor to build a costume for me that he wasn’t paid for. All in all it was a nightmare that I’m glad PayPal backed my purchase to dispute. The sad reality is even in the communities it’s good to be well aware of sketchy actions and transactions from vendors because a vetted vendor can make mistakes or go bad, which is why you see the thread with information about vendors and it’s regularly given attention with changes in the world of vendors. The biggest thing that I see is stormtrooper-costumes/Jedi-robe offer costumes that just won’t get approved without major mods and most people who buy from them are just unaware of the nature of screen accurate costumes and the FISD. If I was to echo this to anyone reading who interacts with users that are curious about buying costumes. The best things I’d say is have them get in contact with GMLs/Detachments before they make any purchases, Sure it may be appealing and all to go through the first google website to pop up, but a little wait to research and ask questions saves a lot of frustration and money. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Will be watching the thread! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It’s definitely doable, just with some shimming and stuff, which is work, but can be done. That being said I’ll mention Dave’s Darkside Depot isn’t always the fastest to respond, especially recently where he’s been busy on a very large run of armor commissions, but he is active and does make great kits. Should you decide to keep working this armor to higher levels of approval we are all here to support and help of course, but my first recommendation to anyone is aim for higher levels if you want them, but remember that most important of anything is basic approval. I’ve seen some members get discouraged when building at higher levels only to mention that they are going to high for basic approval. If that’s really their most important goal, basic approval and membership then they can definitely achieve that and work on higher later. I don’t discourage higher at first though because it’s easier to achieve it by working towards it from the start then later. So either way, whatever gets you to your preferred outcomes. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think I did about 3 times over with a little tiny hole I filled, a length like yours may take a little more time, but the work is definitely paying off as it’s looking much better. Just keep applying thin layers and sanding down until it’s right where you want at which point using something like Novus 1-2-3 can polish it up much better! Keep up the good work! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

When I had a Rubies stormtrooper costume that wasn’t approvable without major mods I had these boots I bought and they worked well enough. https://www.amazon.com/Funtasma-Trooper-12-White-Polyurethane-Medium/dp/B00IK6Q30W/ref=sr_1_5?crid=15G1BQWRW8YHS&keywords=Fantasia+stormtrooper+boots&qid=1690413228&sprefix=fantasia+stormtrooper+boots%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-5 Seems they aren’t as cheap as they used to be though, so it might be worth going with Keeptrooping boots or so. Higher quality and accurate for future armors. I will also agree that where you have a stormtrooper costume, have fun with it and do what you want. As I said I had a Rubies costume first, I just enjoyed it for a while while I worked up saving towards buying my first approvable armor. I got lots of mileage out of my first Rubies costume and only recently sold it to someone who wanted to have it for display. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk