New AM Armor Build [*AM]

[Vader Rocks]

Hello everyone. Well, my armor arrived about a week and a half ago, but I wanted to do all my research before even touching it. I had an approintment set up with a member of my local garrison to get me started on the right path, but unfortunately, I had to cancel due to a family emergency. So tonight, with the help of these forums (thanks pandatrooper and silverBoyd), I've decided to jump right in and see what I could do. I've only worked on the biceps tonight, but I believe it's true what everyone is saying, once you get started, your confidence level gets a boost. But before I go too far, I wanted to get some opinions to make sure i'm starting off right, so here I go.

 

Here are pics of the biceps i've done tonight using the butt connection method. They seem a little big at this point and I know I can adjust them down, but they're tight when trying to the reach to my head. I think it may be due to the return on the bottom, i've removed the top to what I thought was decent but wasn't sure if lowers could be removed and still be accurate or not. I thought I read on a post (that I can't find now) that it's ok remove to top because they'd be covered by the bells but lowers should be left. Any thoughts or input??

 

Thanks everyone,

Jim

[Vader Rocks]

Sorry, picture file size is too big. I'll have to figure out how to resize for posts and post em later.

[27555[501st]]

Upload them to a photobucket or similar site, and link the url, I found that way much easier.

[Vader Rocks]

Here are the photos as previously mentioned.

 

 

 

 

[tkrestonva[TK]]

You can keep all, some, or none of the return and still be accurate. The return edges on the screen used suits were generally all over the place, with the notable exceptions of the ankles and wrists. So trim to suit your comfort, mobility, and personal aesthetic.

[Vader Rocks]

Thanks Brian, was hoping to hear that. Bottom return edges are digging into my arm pretty good and I think are the cause of the awkward fit.

[captsafe66[Admin]]

Yea, definitely fit for comfort so you are not getting multiple armor bites while Trooping. Fit the bicep and forearm at the same time to check for pinching, try a typical Blaster pose.

[tkrestonva[TK]]

You need to ensure you can perform some basic movements as well. When I fit new troopers' forearm and bicep arm armor, I run them through a handful of functional check scenarios to check for comfort and mobility.

 

- Put on your helmet

- Take off your helmet

- Hold your blaster (in various poses)

- Drink a beer

- Eat a sandwich

 

Etc, etc, etc.

[jnnfr72[TK]]

Jim,

Listen to Brian. He is wise beyond his years.

 

Lemme know of you need help with steps 4 and 5.

I'm pretty awesome at those two. Have fun! Get gluing!

Jenny

 

 

You need to ensure you can perform some basic movements as well. When I fit new troopers' forearm and bicep arm armor, I run them through a handful of functional check scenarios to check for comfort and mobility.

 

- Put on your helmet

- Take off your helmet

- Hold your blaster (in various poses)

- Drink a beer

- Eat a sandwich

 

Etc, etc, etc.

[silverBoyd[501st]]

I had to take off all of the return edge off of the bicep. More at the bottom than at the tops. I also found that using a heating gun or a hair dryer (very carefully) I was able to form the bottoms to be more circular rather than oval. That way when you put them on the proper way you can bend better. Just heat up, squeeze to shape and then place in a bucket or sink full of cold water to help with the cooling of the plastic. Ask any questions about the armor...we're all here to help

[Vader Rocks]

Well not a very productive evening. Got the rest of the return edges cleaned off the biceps and took down the return edges on the forearms. Kind of went down hill from there, got frustrated trying to figure the best way to measure and cut the forearms (measure twice and cut once right). I have the edge trimmed on the outside pieces and butt connection shims taped in place, but can't seem to accurately measure the inner pieces for trimming. How does everyone go about holding them in place on your arm for marking your cut lines? Mine keep sliding around so there is no accuracy to lines I try to make. I try to set them so I can slide my hand in and I know they're supposed to follow the angle of the forearm, but I just can't get em right.

[theisaac]

grab a friend and have them tape them while you fold the top over the bottom. I dont know how I would have got my AM arm parts done without a spotter.

 

Isaac

[silverBoyd[501st]]

yeah....for the thighs and forearms I had my wife help me. Those pieces are tough to do by yourself

[jnnfr72[TK]]

I still had to use foam padding on the inside of the forearms, because by the time i made them big enough for my hands to fit thru, they were so big that they kept falling down when I put them on. My air conditioner foam stuff has an adhesive on one side and is nice and squishy on the other side. It works great for padding, and it keeps my forearms in place. I messed up at first when I had on my gloves and tried to put the forarms on over them. The hand guards got messed up. Then, I read that you tuck the gloves into the forearms after you have the forearms on. Ooops, I'm rambling now!

[Vader Rocks]

Had my wife place inner piece over my arm while i held the outer to my arm and did the whole slide my hand in and out. Think we got some good markings at the wrist, but similar situation to Jenny, the top at the inner bend if my arm it got so big it just didn't look right. Wasn't sure if the cut should be straight up the arm and leave quite a gap or if an angle needs to be taken to make it form fitting. I know strapping can be used to keep it from sliding around my arm. I think I'm gonna have to consult with a local member about heating bicep and forearm to make for a better fit.

[theisaac]

I cut mine to go at an angle but I have popeye forearms. I left enough room at the wrist to get my hand through if I fold my thumb in pretty tight but they fit well and dont move around too much and I have enough room to still bend my arms to take off my helmet. Do what feels comfortable and add foam if you need to. Just avoid a big gap at the elbow.

[Vader Rocks]

Been a while, but got back to the build this afternoon. Got the forearms and biceps fit and trimmed, now it's time to take off the tape and glue em together.

[Femtrooper Julie[501st]]

Looks like a great start trooper! Welcome to FISD!

[Vader Rocks]

Aaaaand, we're setting. Think i might have screwed up a little bit though. Center of pieces not holding tight to inner strip, magnets I picked up apparently aren't strong enough. Hopefully they'll hold tighter together when assembling outer cover strips and using stronger magnets. Tried posting more pics but it says file is too big. I've resized them before to work but it's not working this time.

[Vader Rocks]

 

 

 

 

Figured it out, uploaded to photobucket.

[Vader Rocks]

I've got my shins taped up, i'm pretty sure on the correct sides after going through the AM shin thread. I havent trimmed any of the the pieces and they seem like they'll fit perfect after I add velcro to secure the back. Is this normal or do they have to be trimmed to add front cover strip. I've already done butt-connections on biceps and forearms so i'm assuming the whole armor has to be done the same way. Also, do all of the return edges on the shims get trimmed off or just trim for comfort??

 

 

 

 

 

[GnrlGrievous]

I would recommend trimming the front of the shins (also thighs) and butt joining them also, since you are going for a ANH look. It depends on how close you want to be to screen accurate.

 

I think you will like how it looks with forearms and biceps.

[tkrestonva[TK]]

I agree with Frank. Trim and butt join the fronts. It's a much better look.

 

As for the return edges, trim to suit your individual comfort, mobility, and aesthestic.

[Vader Rocks]

Not much progress made recently on my build, but thought i'd share some of my new goodies with you all.

 

 

Blaster, not sure of the maker, but I got the thumbs up from a local garrison member before making the purchase.

 

 

New bucket arrived today. CAP purchased from FISD member, thanks again Joey.

[Vader Rocks]

Hey all, got back to my build today. Working on thighs and shins, I went with the overlap method of assembly. I cut a 23mm cover strip to add to the front of the thigh, but not sure that it looks right. When the cover stip is added, the overlap is wider than the cover strip is (not sure if that make sense to anyone). Should the cover strip be made the width of the overlap??