Trevor's TK build CAUTION: question heavy! [*ATA]

[bigtrev503]

Working on my belt all day. Man what a chore! I installed the chicago screws and ab snaps as you see here:

 

 

 

When installing the first female snap I accidentally put it in the wrong way and had to carefully pry it out and flip it over.

 

Next I had to put the male snaps in my ab plate. My snaps didn't come with any hammering tool and my snap tool was too short as you see:

 

 

Remembering how I accidentally put that other snap in and had to pry it out gave me a genius idea! When you clamp the snap it opens into what looks like a flower. I thought if I clamp the snap down partially with nothing between it then pry it apart, I could bend the "petals" together, pull it apart, put it in the hole I made and bend the petals back out. It was a pain, but it worked a beaut!

 

Partially clamped snap:

 

 

 

Also, I got the drop boxes fitted, riveted and are now gluing:

 

along with the rivet covers:

 

 

Whew busy day! Time to drink 

[bigtrev503]

First test fit. I need all the feedback I can get. Shoulder bridges not attached. Gloves are not put together yet. Helmet is at 94% completion. Velcro for calves is in the mail. Holster not attached yet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need every bit of honest feedback so I can pass EIB and centurion easily.

[bigtrev503]

Why do I look so fat?

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking good, I can only see a couple of things due to the photo's being a bit small and my old eyes failing me LOL, looks like you have some excess on your fabric belt, you may have to trim the excess and you could bring your shoulder bells forward a little, you can do this by moving the snaps forward on your shoulder straps. Oh and you don't look fat

[bigtrev503]

I am planning on trimming the fabric belt down. Does my butt plate look like it's in the right position? I'm on vacation now, but I'll take more test fit pictures when I get home

[bigtrev503]

Do I have the shoulder bells on the correct sides? It's hard to tell which goes where. Are the ATA bells identical?

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Butt plate looks fine, I think there was a difference with the bells, but my memory may fail me, I have to give my kit a wipe down later so I will check mine

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

The bells are the same but there is a taper on the center ridge towards the bottom, I asked the DO at the time of my build and was told the tapper should angle backwards. After watching ANH a few more times I see a lot of the troopers wear their bells taper backwards.

[bigtrev503]

Hello, everyone. Allow me a moment to blow the thick layer of dust off this thread. I am going to an armor party this afternoon and will (hopefully) be posting finished pictures today and submission pictures sometime this week!

 

 

I will be uploading some test fittament pictures this evening for critique. AFter I get my TD screws from Paul, I am DONE! You hear that? DONE!!!!!!!!

Edited March 18, 2015 by bigtrev503

[bigtrev503]

First test fit since september 2013! Talk about proctrastinating!! I realize my bells need to be adjusted and my chest pops under. I already recognized those things and are making those adjustments.. Other than that, go ahead and tear into it. I can take it. I need all the feedback I can get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2015 by bigtrev503

[Tusken RTT]

Looks really good!  I think anyone's bells and chest would need adjusting after some of those poses, you will know more after just walking around in regular 'trooping' poses what for sure needs a fix.  Great job on the build! 

[bigtrev503]

Looks really good!  I think anyone's bells and chest would need adjusting after some of those poses, you will know more after just walking around in regular 'trooping' poses what for sure needs a fix.  Great job on the build!

 

Thanks! Anybody see any glaring problems at all?

[bigtrev503]

Got bored. Decided to go crazy and remove the right thumbprint. Heart gun from the outside, oven mitt on the inside. Applying a little heat at a time I merely encouraged the plastic. Never push hard outward, just rest the piece on your hand inside the oven mitt and the gravity will do most of the work.

 

 

After that, I had a heat gun epiphany! I learned the feel for it after that bicep so I applied heat to my but plate and shaped the middle part while pulling the sides in. I hit the ab and kidney plates with it and pulled them closer together. I also closed up the cover strips in the calf backs.

Edited March 19, 2015 by bigtrev503

[bigtrev503]

OK, after test fitting I identified some areas that needed trimming and some snaps that needed moving. Glue is drying and you can expect a series of test fit pictures in the next couple days. While the glue dries on my arm, I did little things. I connected teh thin elastic for the shoulder bridges, as I said in my last post, I heat formed darn near everything to fit better, I moved the straps around in the bells. If I have to add another snap closer in on the elastic shoulder bridge, I will. We'll see how this new configuration looks and feels.

 

After a little sanding, but before any polishing this is the right thumbprint removed

 

 

 

Is this an acceptable amount of gappage for the drop box? Input please.

 

 

Is this an acceptable spacing for rivets and spacing between kidney and ab? Input please.

 

 

By the way, you guys need to get you some of these new 6 inch black series stormtroopers. I got three more coming in the mail. Hasbro is blowing them out for 9.99 shipped on ebay!

 

 

As I said, look forward to another series of test fit pics for inspection before I apply for my TK number and then EIB and then centurion!! Wish me luck!

Edited March 20, 2015 by bigtrev503

[bigtrev503]

Hello? *crickets chirping*

[gazmosis[501st]]

Yes, those rivets look good. Make sure those get a dab of white paint