MintImperial

Thank you, gmrhodes13. I’ve got my heating iron and this sink has some great curves on it that I’ve already started to make use of as a buck to work against. Kind of like a 3D french curve set.

So I’ve taken the plunge and started doing exactly what I said I would do here: lowering the kidney plate to shorten it and trim the bottom off instead of the top. Used compasses to scribe the original bottom line. WIP. After cutting and cleaning up, I’ll create a subtle return edge to match the original.

But I suspect it would be easier to lower the kidney plate instead and trim the bottom (including cutting new notches), so that I don’t have to make a new return edge at the top:

So, to do that, would look like this:

Thanks Lord_Potato. In fact, the two photos at the top are exactly that. I’ve aligned the bottom notches on both sides so that the kidney plate sits straight. But the tops do not align as the left side ab plate is too low. I’ve put the 2 sides here for easier reference. If the bottom lines up, the top doesn’t. I wanted to build the top left edge of the ab plate back up to where it should be. But since I’m 5’8”, I’m considering bringing everything else down instead: Lowering the top of the kidney plate and the top right side of the ab plate to match the top left side of the ab plate and create a new top return edge on the kidney plate.

Thank you for that sage piece of advice.

Btw, Glen, congratulations on your FISD Achievement Award.

Thanks Lord_Potato. I haven’t moved any further with it as I’ve been concentrating on my bucket. Yes, I’ve tried matching it up and even measured it. According to the trim lines, I matched the top of the notch on the kidney plate on each side to the corresponding ridge on the ab plate. That way, I know the bottoms are straight. But doing that, the top left edge of the ab plate falls short of the top left of the kidney plate. I was tempted to rebuild the top edge to make it match up, but I’m 5’8”, so I could probably do with making some cuts somewhere anyway. I just don’t know whether it’s safer to cut from the top or the bottom. Either way, I’m going to have to make some new return edge.

I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to drill holes to line up with my ear holes, so I taped my ears into position and drilled through the existing holes. Of course, they match up nicely now, but I ended up drilling out the nice countersunk hollows I’d created earlier. So I created a little reinforcement plate behind each hole, glues in place with ABS paste, which I also used to fill up the holes, ready to start again. That should hold ’em.

OK. So, I’ve trimmed the eyes out quite a bit more. Took the DaveM helmet as the inspiration.

Thank you, CallMeMrTibbles. This will be a stunt build.

The DaveM helmet!

Details are a bit soft on the vocoder. Do these lines look about right for painting?

Here’s where I’m at with ears. I’m happy for them not to be perfect as I prefer something more authentic. Also going for thinner ears. But are they too thin?

God, the ears! Thank you, gmrhodes13, for your crazy fast feedback. For the eyes, did you mean could do with more meat or more trimming?

Here’s where I’ve got my ears. Does the angle look ok? I’m a bit worried about the backside bottom of the right ear. I’ve trimmed three sets now and they’ve all ended up this shape. Is it acceptable?

I’m really just getting started. Would love to get your feedback on my WIP bucket. Have I trimmed my eyes and teeth ok? Do you think I’m ready to start painting the frown yet? Thanks in advance for your words of wisdom.

To start off, here’s the E-11 from Kassaraptor that I’m working on on the side.

Hi folks. I’m just getting started. Though I feel like I’ve been trimming ears for a decade or so.

Thank you so much, TKSpartan. If I understood correctly, Lord-Potato trimmed the kidney on the top left. My concern comes from if I trim the kidney top, that it will hang crooked or not line up under the back plate as I suspect the left would then be lower than the right. (Don’t have access to the suit right now, so I can’t measure it.) I wonder if it’s not better to trim the AB PLATE top right side instead to match the lower left, then trim the BOTTOM (both sides) of the kidney plate and make new notches and return edge on the kidney bottom. I’m a little short for a stormtrooper (5’8”), so I can probably benefit from shortening somewhere anyway.

Hi brothers & sisters. This is my first build. I chose WTF as I’m 5’8” and fairly lightly built. But I’m having some problems with lining up my ab and kidney plates. I trimmed to the natural lines but, on the left side, the top of the ab plate is too low. Did I over trim and do I need to shim? Right side is fine.

Hi all. This is my first post. And my first build. ANH Stunt TK; hoping for Centurion right out of the gate but even if I make it, I just don’t see myself getting into the first 500. Congrats to all the 497 so far.