whats the best way to attach belt to armor?

[Necron[TK]]

I looking for a good way to attach the belt pieces together and attach to the Ab armor using snap and velcro if needed. I'd like to make it so the belt assembly will be removeable from the Ab armor for easier storage.

[ObiHahn[TK]]

Stay away from velcro, not only for the belt (the only place for velcro on a stormtrooper is for closing the belt, under the detonator).

 

I'd recommend the prop-accurate way of using snaps and rivets:

Rivet the plastic front to the fabric belt, then attach the fabric belt to the armor via 2 snaps.

[TKRobert]

I placed two female snaps in my ab plate with corresponding male snaps on the fabric belt, hidden behind the plastic front section of the belt. As for the belt itself, nice wide strips of velcro in the back. Pretty much like Dennis describes above.

Edited January 9, 2011 by TKRobert

[Necron[TK]]

Stay away from velcro, not only for the belt (the only place for velcro on a stormtrooper is for closing the belt, under the detonator).

 

I'd recommend the prop-accurate way of using snaps and rivets:

Rivet the plastic front to the fabric belt, then attach the fabric belt to the armor via 2 snaps.

 

Won't the rivits show on the plastic piece? If so where is the accurate place to put them?

[TK_LEPER]

The belt buttons should cover them

[ObiHahn[TK]]

The belt buttons should cover them

 

Exactly. Every decent kit should come with three rivet covers for your belt. Small plastic squares with a circle on top.

[troopermaster]

Best to place a rivet roughly 10mm in from each end of your belt and one in the middle, then add the rivet covers.

 

Placement for the snaps is roughly behind the last box section on your ammo belt. I would use some small machine screws or split pins to temporarily attach the ammo belt to your canvas belt then mark up where the snaps should go. It's better to get the snaps fitted before the ammo belt is riveted in place as it could be tricky getting them attached properly.

[Necron[TK]]

My suit is a RT-Mod it doesn't have rivit covers on the ammo belt it's all one piece.

[TKRobert]

My FX was the same way, no button covers, so what I did was instead of using rivets I used the locations where those buttons should be and actually put my male snaps right through those locations then painted them up white.

Edited January 9, 2011 by TKRobert

[tkrestonva[TK]]

If you know someone with an AM kit, they come with six of those button covers (only three are needed). Perhaps someone can provide you with their extras.

 

I have both an AM and RT belt. I used my extra AM covers to complete my ANH-style RT belt.

[zsavk[TK]]

What kind of rivets do you use to attach the ammo belt to the canvas belt? Only rivets I have are pop rivets but It doesnt look like thats right from all the pics Ive been finding. Anyone know what I should be looking for at the hardware store?

[Femtrooper Julie[501st]]

Pop Rivets are fine, when the covers are on, no one will ever see what is under. Is there any other kind of rivet?

[TrooperVenger]

Put snaps on the belt and on the armour. It'll all click in place and sit nicely. Just make sure you have enough snaps on the armour to support the weight. You may need 3 or more if you have a holster and plan to keep your blaster in there.

[Wiggleplum]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I am working on this too... Since I am not going to use a holster, are the snaps on the ab necessary?

 

Thanks

Edited April 7, 2011 by Wiggleplum

[darthyagi]

I tried making it so that my belt was detachable for storage, too. However, I found that there was a problem with the belt actually coming apart. It may be easier for you to just find a way to fold it up when you store it. But I guess that's my "I am sick of doing this" attitude.

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

I use 1/4" screw posts from lowes.

 

you drill out the belt at the proper locations (3)

 

then you place the chicago screw with the screw side facing inwards to the armor.

 

then you drill out your AB plate where the belt meets the AB in those 3 spots.

 

put your canvas belt onto the screw posts and line up and mark the INSIDE of your belt by putting

 

a small amount of white paint on the lip of each screw. after the paint marks the belt in the right locations

 

cut a hole with a box cutter in an X shape at each hole, keep it small. push the screw post body though the plastic belt,

 

the canvas belt, and the AB plate. put the screw part inside and tighten.

 

your belt plastic and canvas will now be attached and be removable.

 

cover the screw post tops with a small square of plastic with rounded corners, and cut out a circle inside each square

 

then make a circle just a bit larger than your hole in the square and glue the square, and the circle together.

 

and then glue the cap you've just made, over the belt's screw post point.