OW's NE build: ANH Stunt

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Thanks. I also just got this advice from a garrison mate:

 

Kiwi white sneaker shoe polish( the skinny bottle with the little round spongy tip that you can find a target.)

 

 

I'll give that a try tonight. The foral paint just gets sucked up like the elastic is a sponge.

[rugbyrat]

I made some progress today. First, the easy bit: I attached the straps for the hand plates and straps for the belt boxes. (It rained a bit while I was working outside tonight)

 

 

I made trim lines for the shoulder straps. I'll go to a friend's shop tomorrow and probably trim these down on the belt sander.

 

Check with someone more experienced than me, but I believe the straps to the ammo boxes must be white.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Thanks, you're right --I had to change those yesterday.

 

I was able to work on it all weekend, made tons of progress. We worked until almost 10 last night, and I didn't get good pics at the end of the night, but here's what I have:

 

An early op-test of the front:

 

 

And the back:

 

 

After I took this, I cleaned up the back plate and lengthened the gap between the butt, kidney and back plates. It looks much better now.

 

Through the copious use of white shoe polish and spray paint, I got the elastic white.

 

 

 

Mandatory shot of glueing cover strips on forearms. I have since had to remove them for trimming and fitting. I was trying to be efficient, but thank God for E-6000!!! Thanks for turning me on to the stuff!!!

 

 

Another test fit:

 

 

Per ScottM's recommendation, I am going to use black nylon strapping to hold the chest and ab together. He said that elastic will stretch too much, and potentially leave a gap betweent eh chest and ab. So I'll be gluing those tonight.

 

On Saturday, I was visted by two new folks who were working on their TX's (and a TK). It's kinda fun doing an armor party in a campground. Granted, our tools were limited, but we all made progress, and we enjoyed the beautiful colorado weather.

 

 

The sun was shining and it was a fantastic day.

 

 

 

 

Then on Sunday, we had a squad armor party at ScottM's place. ScottM helped out with the bucket build. I couldn't have done it without his help.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry for the crappy late night cel phone pic, but I was happy to have finished my belt build. I was foolish and glued on the cover squares first, before riveting the plastic belt to the canvas one, so once again, E-6000 saved my bacon.

 

Other progress:

 

Painted the frown and ear cap rank grey.

Painted my dots on the ab.

Assembled and trimmed the biceps.

Made my snaps for the chest to back and to shoulder bells. (just have to add my snap plates to the bells.)

Trimmed and re-hung the back armor parts.

Trimmed the thighs and calf armor so I can start gluing the front of them.

Painted the aerators black. (Need to paint part of the inside white, and install, then add aerator screen.) I added some JB weld behind the aerators on the inside. It was really, really thin. This will give the aerator screw more to hold onto.

 

All in all, it was a very productive weekend.

 

Question: Should I trim down the shoulder bells?

 

 

 

To-do's before the next get together:

 

Do touch-ups on all painting accomplished so far.

Add straps to the chest/ab

Glue the fronts of the thighs and calf armor

Add black pin stripe around the ear rank paint.

Pray the decals arrive soon.

Fit and finish assembling the forearms

If needed, trim shoulder bells and add snap plates to shoulder bells.

Add strapping to shoulder bells and biceps

Tweak one part of the bucket plastic near the left ear/tube

 

We are going to try and get together on Monday (Memorial Day), possibly sooner. I'm trying to get this done in time for Denver Comic Con on May 31.

 

 

[rugbyrat]

The belt should be raised.  It should lay just underneath the button box on the ab piece.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

The belt should be raised.  It should lay just underneath the button box on the ab piece.

 

Thanks!

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Every little bit adds up in the end, you are going great guns, keep up the good work

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Thanks! It looks like we're getting together tomorrow night, so I need to get those legs gluing when I get home tonight.

I did some research today on painting the bucket... I'll do that this weekend if I don't hear from them about the decals.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Thanks to ScottM, we made a ton of progress on the TK last night. We worked until 9, and I wasn't able to get pics... (too busy working.) I'll try to get pics tonight of it all together while it is still light out.

Thighs and calf armor are glued, trimmed and fitted. I *should* be able to walk up and down stairs now. We fitted the boxes onto both legs and the knee plate, so they are 98% done. Just need to add straps to keep the thighs from wandering and straps to keep the calf armor from moving up from the boots. I had to remove most of the return on the upper thigh so it would fit. I removed some of the return on the upper calf armor so it would fit, but did not have to trim anything on the back. It barely fit my calves as it was, but we made it work. Scott did a bit of heat gun work to get them to bend right for my calves.

We tweaked my belt and have it almost done. I need to add some plastic and a snap to the ab section to hold the belt in place, and it should be finished. Once again, thanks for the reminder on E-6000 --I had to pop off the center button cover yet again. Mental note to others: Don't put the rivet covers on until much later in the build. We did use CA glue on the calf fronts and on the back of the thighs... they will take a lot of stress, especially the clamshelled calf armor. The E-6000 was popping off when I was fitting the calf armor.

Main things left:

Do touch-ups on all painting accomplished so far to helmet and ab buttons.

Fit and attach ab button strips.

Add straps to the chest / ab to keep them from separating.

Add black pin stripe around the ear rank paint.

Fit and finish assembling the forearms, add velcro so they can clamshell together.

Trim shoulder bells and add snap plates to shoulder bells.

Add strapping to shoulder bells and biceps.

Tweak one part of the bucket plastic near the left ear/tube.

Add decals to the helmet. (Scott's decals should fit this bucket)

Finish painting the interior of the aerators and attach them to helmet.

Add lenses and either hard hat liner or padding to helmet.

Final fit and trim so I can walk up and down stairs and put my bucket on and off. It might sound like a lot, but most of these are relatively easy things that I can do from home, without power tools between now and the weekend. One more solid build day on Monday and it'll be done!!!

Edited May 22, 2013 by Obey Wann

[Obey Wann[501st]]

OK, picture time...

 

Adding in snaps and straps for the chest to ab.

 

 

 

Bucket progress:

 

 

I need to cut out a bit of excess plastic under that left ear:

 

 

 

Completed legs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a nifty trick that ScottM added to keep the knee boxes from shifting too much:

 

 

 

 

Calf armor / grieves:

 

 

Detail shot of what I had to trim of the return to get it to fit. I have very large calves.

 

 

 

 

An op-test of the straps and snaps. I fixed the placement of the snap on the left side after this shot, so it isn't so wonky. E6000 is great for that!!!

 

 

We cut out the box on the ab because it was interfering with how the belt snap will go on. I'm going to glue a new plate in from the back side. Before I do, I'll add a snap to match the snap that we put on the belt. This will keep it from shifting up/down/sideways.

 

It looks like I'll have to adjust the snap plate on the back so that the butt armor sits more level.

 

 

Other progress completed:

 

Touch up painting on the bucket and ab buttons.

Painted the interior of the aerators white.

Added rank stripe to ears.

Trimmed shoulder bells and added snap plates to shoulder bells.

Added strapping to shoulder bells.

 

 

Things left to do:

 

Re-glue the front of the calves with CA, possible add reinforcing strip to the inside.

 

Add side elastic straps to the chest / back

Add black pin stripe around the grey ear bits.

Add strapping to shoulder bells and biceps.

Tweak one part of the bucket plastic near the left ear/tube.

Attach aerators to helmet and attach screen.
 

Add strap to the shoe and calf to keep the calves from riding up.

 

Add strap from ab to thigh to keep them from wandering.

 

Add strap and snaps from cod to butt. (not required, but I have the parts.)

 

Add mesh to the frown.

 

Fit and attach ab button strips. (Monday)

 

Fit and finish assembling the forearms, add velcro so they can clamshell together. (Monday)

 

Add decals to the helmet. (Scott's decals should fit this bucket). (Monday)

 

Add lenses and either hard hat liner or padding to helmet. (Monday)

 

Make the clips for the thermal detonator (Monday. )

 

 

 

 

Question: Should I paint the screen for the aerators? If so, what color? The CRL isn't specific.

 

My goal is just approval initially and EIB later. I have a Hasbro ESB modified blaster, so I will need to wait until I can get a new one. It'll be a while, but I'm considering one of the THB rubber blasters... just gotta wait on funds. I may also need to add shims to the sides for this bit of EIB requirements:

 

• Any gap between the ab and kidney plate shall be no more than 1/2" (12.5mm) wide. Any shims used to achieve this effect should be of a similar material and color as the ab and kidney plate. Shims shall fit flush and seams are allowed .

 

Please LMK if there is anything else I am missing or need to tweak.

[Echo[TK]]

For EIB, you will need to remove the rivets on the sniper plate and glue them instead.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

From what I read on the 501st CRL page, that's just for Centurion. Please LMK if I am mistaken.

 

http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:TK_anh_stunt

 

Thighs
For 501st approval:

• Thigh armor shall be closed in the back.
• The small ammo belt is installed on the bottom of the right thigh.

For level two certification (if applicable):

For level three certification (if applicable):

• The thigh ammo belt shall be connected by brads/split rivets only – but not by standard rivets.
• The bottom corners of the thigh ammo belt shall be rounded off.

 

  Lower Legs
For 501st approval:

• Greaves close in the back. The trapezoid knee plate (sniper knee plate) is affixed to the left greave and may have two visible brads or rivets securing it to the greave.
• The AM greaves (shins) shall be on the proper legs, with a new cover strip. The cover strip edge shall be facing the inside of the leg. Note: There is a manufacturer defect with the AM greaves (shins) that may cause you to wear the them improperly. Please see the Tutorial titled :"AM armor shins: the proper way to assemble and wear", on the whitearmor.net

For level two certification (if applicable):

For level three certification (if applicable):

• Ideally there should be no visible rivets or brads used to secure the sniper plate to the left greave.

 

Edited May 23, 2013 by Obey Wann

[Obey Wann[501st]]

I can paint the rivets white, if needed. That won't be a problem.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

I am now 98% complete.

 

We're just waiting on black vinyl and Scott will make some decals for it. (Still no word on when they will ship decals for the bucket).

I have to fix a bit of strapping issues, I had a blowout on a snap that was on some elastic. I need to reinforce it with some nylon webbing or plastic.

 

 

Completed in the last 5 days:

 

Re-glue the front of the calves with CA.

Added side elastic straps to the chest / back
Painted black stripe around the grey ear bits. (I must suck at applying pinstripe, this was easier for me.)
Added strapping to shoulder bells and biceps.
Cut one part of the bucket plastic near the left ear/tube.
Attached aerators to helmet and attach screen.
Added strap to the shoe and calf to keep the calves from riding up.

Added strap from ab to thigh to keep them from wandering.

Added strap from cod to butt.

Added mesh to the frown.

Fitted and attached ab button strips.

Fitted and finished assembling the forearms, added velcro so they can clamshell together. We had to use the band saw to cut off an inch or so, and had to trim some of the inside so I could move my arms enough to get the bucket on and off.

Added lenses to bucket.

Made the clips for the thermal detonator

 

 

And I got an answer to this question: Should I paint the screen for the aerators? If so, what color? The CRL isn't specific. Answer: Silver.

 

Still to do:

 

Add either hard hat liner or padding to helmet.

Add decals to helmet.

 

I'll try to get progress pics up later today.

 

We had to cut almost an inch off the top of the thighs so I could move, but I should (hopefully) be able to go up and down stairs of needed.) I'll be debuting it at Denver Comic Con this weekend. I might not be able to get submission photos taken until the con, but it will be done by then. Oh yes. It will be done.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Obey Wann

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Ok, progress photos:

 

Here is the snap on the back of the belt. This goes to a snap on the ab and keeps it from wandering:

 

 

 

Looking down the shins... you can see the velcro strap that goes to the soes. This keeps them from moving up:

 

 

Front view of the calves / grieves:

 

 

Gluing in snap plates for the thighs. This goes to parachute buckles and straps that keep the thighs in place and keeps them from wandering:

 

 

Bells and biceps. I ended up cutting / sanding everything below the bottom of the tape line.

 

 

 

 

front armor, now with the straps for the sides and to the thighs. I also ended trimming a lot of the strap at the bottom of the cod, and the back plastic strap off the butt armor:

 

 

 

Back armor. I will move the placement of the straps from the kidney to the butt so that the butt doesn't move forward all wonky:

 

 

 

I had to remove the ears so I could trim a bit more off the back piece at the bottom of the ear:

 

 

 

 

And finally an op-test of the top:

 

 

I need to replace some straps and snaps for the right shoulder bell. Lesson learned: Snaps and elastic do not work. The elastic will stretch out and make the snap pop off. Do not put snaps into elastic. If you have to, cut small squares of nylon to go on the back side of the elastic so it has something relatively rigid to bite and hold onto.

 

We ended up putting the forearms on the band saw at about the bottom of the blue tape line. It was the only way I could move my wrists to hold a blaster or put my bucket on / off.

 

I'll also adjust the biceps so they ride much higher.

 

I am getting much, much closer to finished.

 

[SaturnGypsy[TK]]

Looking good!

[Minuteman]

Looking nice Bill!

I would recommend to shorten the strap of the drop boxes, cause they need to sit right beyond the belt, with almost no space in between.

 

And while I see your helmet:

Would you mind posting some pictures from different angles of the helmet, like the typical, front, sides, back shots?

Would be awesome to see an (almost) finished NE helmet in all his details ( You would be the first one to do this and I heard that Eric would be pretty happy about it )

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Looking nice Bill!

I would recommend to shorten the strap of the drop boxes, cause they need to sit right beyond the belt, with almost no space in between.

 

And while I see your helmet:

Would you mind posting some pictures from different angles of the helmet, like the typical, front, sides, back shots?

Would be awesome to see an (almost) finished NE helmet in all his details ( You would be the first one to do this and I heard that Eric would be pretty happy about it )

 

 

I can definitely fix the drop box height. Easy fix thanks to E-6000. Are they positioned OK, or do I need to move them more to the outside?

 

I'll grab a fresh batch of helmet pics tonight from all sides. Glad to help the cause.

 

Please LMK if there are any other issues. The goal is eventually EIB, but I can't do that until I get a new blaster.

[Darth Aloha[Admin]]

The drop box outside edge should line up with the end of the belt (hopefully that makes sense) 

 

It's tough to make any more recommendations until you get your strapping done.

 

-Eric

[Obey Wann[501st]]

The drop box outside edge should line up with the end of the belt (hopefully that makes sense) 

 

Mahalo!

 

I made a quick drawing, is it better at option A or B?

 

 

ED: It looks more like A:

 

 

Edited May 28, 2013 by Obey Wann

[Minuteman]

+1 for option A

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Would you mind posting some pictures from different angles of the helmet, like the typical, front, sides, back shots?

Would be awesome to see an (almost) finished NE helmet in all his details ( You would be the first one to do this and I heard that Eric would be pretty happy about it )

 

Here you go. Scott will get me decals tomorrow, still no word from tupperwaretk on when they will have decals available:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I absolutely love the helmet liner, I got it from a local, Darth Hair... he makes them for X-Wing pilots, but it fit in here pretty well. It is a custom made soft closed cel foam. With the ear cups, it fits snugly, but not tight. very nice!!!

 

I went with lenses from Kevin Christley, he has a F/S thread on here somewhere. I hit them with a bit of heat gun and E-6000'd them in. I need to clean up some excess spillover, but that's easy to do.

 

It's not perfect. There are many like it, but this bucket is mine.  

[Clamps[TK]]

Neat padding solution. One piece of feedback is that the tube stripes seem quite low, they really should only be about a pencil width away from the head.

 

Good luck with the remainder of the build!

[Minuteman]

Thank you Bill!

 

Yeah, cause you get new decals, I would suggest to remove your tubestripes and position them new.

Also yours are upside down. The first time somebody told me that, I couldn´t belive it, but yes - the tubestripes got a specific inner and outer side.

Have a look here: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/22497-howto-align-tube-stipes-on-your-helmet/

 

Overall this helmet is a big step foward, looking at the old AM.

But the dome seems much too round for me (If that makes sense to you) and the 3-piece construction with this nasty gap is simply unnecessary. I got no clue why they kept this 3-piece build... otherwise would be an absoloutely awesome  helmet.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Vielen Danke! Seriously, many thanks, I missed that thread. (sorry if the spelling is bad, my German is very rusty.)

 

All I can say is that this is my helmet... it may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Obey Wann

[Scott M.[TK]]

Wow.

 

No the tube stripes are NOT upside down, becasue they are symmetrical.  (I know, it is my file that is used on the tube stripes). These are the same ones sent with EVERY MC/T TK and sandy bucket sold, as well as all the ATA's!!!

 

And, sure you can pic A photo or screen cap from the film, and decide that the stripes are too low, and I will post another one showing they are too high.

 

Sorry to come off so harsh, but this is the type of "help" that is less than productive, especially when presented as a "must have" vs. a possible, helpful suggestion!!!