SublimeBW

Before I forget, a BIG thank you to everything that helped me with advice along the way (including my build partner, who is not a part of FISD/501st, just an absolutely solid friend). @gmrhodes13 @Doggydoc @dblcross @TKSpartan & @FN1313, you guys get a special callout for answering multiple questions for me. I trying appreciate it as I hit a real rut when I got into my own head when I dorked up my first set of ears. I am not done yet, I still have the EIB process and my blaster to build, but will likely not make much progress on that until after the holidays.

This is all the fantastic detail stuff I was looking for. I will start looking into it and figure out how to move forward with the EIB approvals (I built with Centurion in mind).

TK 13723 requesting detachment access https://www.501st.com/members/searchresults.php?searchfield=13723&criteria=tkid

After having a crazy busy summer, I have finally had time to submit my photos and received my garrison approval and have my official TKID!

My long awaited neck seal has arrived and I will be taking my approval pictures for my local garrison tomorrow then moving on to the next steps here!

Put on my entire suit! It was magical (my wife didn't tell me my armor parts were twisted and my belt cocked). That said, it is time to do some mobility cuts. Any quick tips on the cuts? Should I try to keep it at a minimum or go for a nice sweeping arc across the back and maximize the movement options?

We knocked out the belt today! I believe that is a wrap (for the armor), minus some tidying up. I will get full suit pictures after the covers on the belt cure. Note: the blaster in the picture is not my blaster kit from Troopacola, it is a less expensive one that I got to fill the void in my holster until I get that kit built. Also, excuse the messy garage.

This is fantastic feedback and will get me over the last hump. Greatly appreciated.

I have my belt mostly assembled, just have to figure out the best placement for snaps. I originally went with a diagram that I saw that listed placing a snap 28mm on the right (up 15mm) and 59mm on the left (up 15mm) but that placement doesn't seem right; the belt would set midway up the front buttons, just under the 3rd button. Looking at the CRL, I am seeing the positioning below the button "box" while I see topics directing me to just under or partway up the first button. Is there an official ruling on proper placement?

My belt has arrived (I ended up switching vendors due to delays with my original vendor). Time to wrap this thing up (pun partially intended).

We completed most of the rigging today (I am waiting on a belt from Amazon for the thigh rigging) and it felt really cool (and tricky) to give everything a test fit at once. Sadly, I grabbed the wrong set of under clothes (with white seems, the set came with both white and black) so have that little annoyance in the picture.

In my test runs of the helmet, I found that if I have my microphone close to the center tooth, it picks me up pretty clearly without grabbing noise from the fan.

Cool. I will add some foam (I have some hanging around the house, I think) and give that a go before messing with finding a bracket insert. Thanks for the feedback about the background noise, I didn't consider that. Maybe it is better to get the armor done (pretty much just waiting on my neck seal and belt from Soulart (excludingmy blaster)) before adding more toys to the helmet. Maybe get a troop in and make a decision.

I started putting attempting to figure out putting the electronics in as well as a test fit and was curious what people do able bobble head. I inserted some padding and I like the fit (where my eyes sit in relation to the lenses) but I definitely suffer from bobble head syndrome. 1. Should I add more padding around the sides or maybe find a hard hat bracket for the interior? 2. I have a power source and the IComm, is it better to store that in the back of the helmet (maybe even out the weight) or on the interior of the chest piece? 3. I noticed it is pretty hard to hear in the helmet. Is a hearing assist module worth the cost? If so, what type of headphones do people use with theirs? Interior view Test fit

Got it. I misunderstood the leaning forward piece. I moved the front 4ish bars to have a bit of a forward lean then added onto the back. Right cheek Left cheek

Cleaned up the teeth/gums a bit, put the mesh in behind the teeth and added the tube stripes. I measured a pencil and traced a line against the helmet with a compass. I believe the positioning is correct. Front facing Right cheek Left cheek

Cool. I figured I would have some more to clean up but figured I would wait to do the final clean up until I knew I had a good "shape" (if that makes sense) as the first time I attempted to paint, I went a little high.

Alright, I think I have my ears looking good and am pretty happy with my vocoder (I still have to touch up the screws). I have mixed feelings about my "teeth" though (don't judge the teeth in the vocoder pictures, that was before I finished painting them). From certain angles, I think it looks good, while other angles make me want to paint higher. Right ear Left ear Vocoder series Teeth series

Awesome tip. I will check out the mineral spirits approach. As for the patching, that is kind of how I felt about it as well. I picked up the Novus plastic polish and will be working on restoring the luster with that.

Worked on my ears and patching the old holes. I think the patching is good but feel that my ears are a bit sloppy. Amazing that I am struggling so much given that I have painted countless miniatures for D&D and Shatterpoint.

Can we call this SBB day? My blaster arrived from @Troopacoola (there was also a stand, but have that set aside). I am looking forward to digging into this build once we wrap up the armor. My agenda today/tomorrow is to paint the ear bumps and v-coder (if anyone has tips on getting a clean v-coder, let me know) as well as start my patch jobs on the extra holes in the helmet.

I like the trim and try idea. I will give that a go tomorrow. Also, thank you for all the feedback you have given thus far. Really helps as a confidence reassurance!

Thanks for the quick reply! Glad to know I have them in good shape. I figured with the gaps in the original, it would be NICE to have them as flat as possible but not necessary. I was telling my build partner that maybe I will order another set and work on getting "perfect" ears at a later point. Also, thanks for the confirmation as to what to cut from the opening. I was thinking that was the area that needed to be cut but I am going at this cautiously given that we are so close to the finish line (I have this and then the belt and then am done (excluding the blaster, which is on its way)).

Finally got back to working on the ears after life got in the way (death in the family, expected, but still sad, then both households getting sick). I THINK we are in good shape though. I would have liked to have zero gap, but am happy with the bit of gap that is present. Assuming we are good, I will start working on patching the old holes this week and then move on to painting. A question regarding the opening/bottom. How much is trimmed away for the S seal? Right side Right side front view Right side rear view Left side Left side front view Left side rear view Frontal view Bottom

Thanks for the recommendations. I will give them a read. Overall positioning (with relation to the trap alignment), do you think we are looking good?