OW's NE build: ANH Stunt

[Locitus[Admin]]

Not upside down, but way too low down the cheek tubes. About a pencil width from the face is a good distance.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

I did a test fitting this weekend at Con. I need to do a lot of work to get it to fit right, and I got a lot of good feedback from local TKs who were able to see it and we played with it to figure out what was wrong.

 

First: What we thought was a fully trimmed kit, or had built in shims for folks.... not entrirely accurate. I am going to have to do a LOT of trimming, sanding and work to trim down edges and returns. Getting rid of the excess plastic will help it sit on me much better.

 

Second: My trap muscles were making the kit push up too far on the chest, which had a net effect on... everything: Chest, back, kidney, butt, ab. I am going to heat gun part of the chest armor where the shoulder strap plastic attaches and tweak the angle a bit so that it fits better (more up, vs. in, if that makes sense.) We will then add more angle to the shoulder straps, and glue the shoulder straps back farther if needed. Based on refrence pics, I had glued the straps with the heavy line, and then 5 if the thin lines before the end of the chest strap plastic. I might need to move it farther up. What works for skinny people might not work on me.

 

We popped off the shoulder strap (yet again, thank you all for forcing this CA-loving ex-clone to learn to love the E-6000!!!!!) and the whole thing settled out better. That's when we saw that we have to heat gun things a bit because the strap section of the chest top was really digging into my traps (shoulders).

 

Third: I need to tweak the 4 straps on the chest-ab section. It is pulling things a bit wonky. E-6000 to the rescue.

Fourth: I will need to trim the legs for more mobility.

 

Fifth: I need to adjust the strap for the shoulder bells so they sit all wonky.

 

Obviously, this is very much a work in progress. Once I kitted up, I was swarmed by a pack of garrison-mates, all offering advice. We poked, prodded, pulled and played with it as we could, but until I get on the belt sander and heat gun, it isn't going to be perfect. If you spot anything else wrong, I'm all ears.

 

 

On to the pics:

 

 

 

 

Looks like I need to pull the kidney closer to the back plate:

 

 

Pulling the kidney up should pull up the sagging butt plate:

 

 

I am also going to trim the forearms quite a bit, both to make them skinnier, and possibly shorter, and it looks like the belt popped off the snap on the chest plate, making it sag:

 

 

Fixing the strap situation should pull up the chest and ab, which will fix the popping belt box issue. Yes, the ab/chest of wonky and getting pulled wrong. We will fix that.

 

 

 

Forearms need trimming to fit more snugly. There was a solid inch in between my arm and the plastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good news: ScottM's decals will fit this kit. If you have an NE and need decals, contact Scott.

 

 

 

I am close. I have a date with a belt sander and a heat gun. I have a lot of tweaking to do to get it to fit and look correctly. But for being a fat-an impolite person (er... linebacker build... er....fat in the stomach area and having a bulkier midsection and upper body).... I have a kit that should work for me once I work it correctly.

 

I'm sure that there are other things that could be tweaked and improved, but until I get to the belt sander and heat gun, it's tough for me to look for other issues. But I'm excited that I am this close. I almost look like a proper Stormtrooper.

[Minuteman]

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!!!

 

Sorry for that upside down mistake.... never handled those idealized decals.

But please show me an ANH screengrab with tubestripes that low and I´ll get you a beer at CEII if you are there.

[Minuteman]

And Bill:

If you fix the points already mentioned you WILL look like a proper Stormtrooper.

Keep it up!

[Obey Wann[501st]]

I'll be adding a pauldron and pouches for non-canon events.

 

Here is my first op-test, just trying to fit the pauldron strap through the existing straps on the pouch. I think it might be too high. If so, any recommendations on how to make a solution?

 

 

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Here is fix #1. I added a strap to the pouch to drop it a bit lower.

 

[Obey Wann[501st]]

OK, here is my next run through after a lot of tweaks. I think there are still some spots that I can/should trim, and it definitely needs more trimming for mobility.

 

I glued the shoulder straps on right after these were taken, and I forgot the TD. I also see that the shoulder strap was too loose, I can tighten that up easily.

 

I'm open to any feedback to get this thing approveable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It ain't pretty, but the belt stays in place now:

 

 

I think I fixed the front, I think it looks much better than it did before (from the front.) From the back, it's a mess, but I had to do a lot of work to get it lined up right.

 

 

The back still looks wonky... should I pull the kidney piece up higher? Seems like my butt is sagging with the kidney.

Edited June 8, 2013 by Obey Wann

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking good, just a couple of things, your side shims seem to be pulling out at the tops you may need some more stronger strapping across the sides, also you could bring your thighs up a little higher and rotate them backwards would give you a little more knee room. Also the buttons don't seem to be the right colors, you may need to check them. The belt seems a little tight, could be the reason why your back plate and butt plate are being pushed out. Trying to get everything to sit right is a pain but once you have it all the work was all worth while

[BananoPower22[TK]]

nice to see the pouches are in good hands! 

[Obey Wann[501st]]

I did a troop with ScottM today, he helped me kit up and we double checked everything. It should be really, really close now.

 

 

 

Looking good, just a couple of things, your side shims seem to be pulling out at the tops you may need some more stronger strapping across the sides, also you could bring your thighs up a little higher and rotate them backwards would give you a little more knee room. Also the buttons don't seem to be the right colors, you may need to check them. The belt seems a little tight, could be the reason why your back plate and butt plate are being pushed out. Trying to get everything to sit right is a pain but once you have it all the work was all worth while

 

Thanks for the feedback! I trimmed part of the side today on the kidney... it was excess, and I think you're right, the belt was too tight in those pics. We're debating if I need to trim some of the rest from the ab section. I cut off that extra front vertical line on the kidney. I am debating trimming the ab plate in a vertical line going from where the chest stops down to where the belt stops:

 

 

 

 

I used the standard Testors paint colors, not sure why they look off, but I can snap a pic of the ones I used if needed for approval.
 

 

nice to see the pouches are in good hands! 

 

They came in extra handy today, as one of my Chicago screws (screw posts) came off on my holster, and I couldn't find it while kitting up. I was going to just go clean TK, but after the holster went kaput, I put on the side pouches. They worked great!!! Many thanks for those, I love them!

 

Scott took a couple of pics of me, he should post them up tomorrow. It's funny, but I'm still not used to how I look as a TK. I kept seeing myself in reflections and I still couldn't believe it was me. Heh. That and it has been years since I wore a full armored kit. Kinda forgot what that was like. Most of my recent costumes have been open faced soft goods ones (X-Wing Pilot, Imperial Navy Trooper, Hoth/Endor Troopers... so it was odd, but good to be back in full kit again.

And speaking of full kit, the 2-fan kits by Evilboy rock. It was fairly warm at the troop, mid-70s to mid-80s by the end. I never felt like I was overheating and I didn't fog up. I'll call that a win!

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Here is my kit as it stands today. I am going to replaced my lost Chicago screw (post screw) for the holster, and I think I'm ready for approval.

 

Paint colors are standard Testors colors.

 

 

 

I can't do a full HWT, since I don't have a backpack yet, so my approval pics will be of a sterile kit... I will just do this for informal troops, which is 95% of the events around here.

 

The goal is simply 501st approval. I can't even think about EIB until I can get a new blaster. Please LMK if you see anything that would keep me from getting approved.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Obey Wann

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking good but I would still suggest to bring your thighs up just looks too snug at your knees, you could move your TD clips to closer to the end caps. That being said it should not hold you up for basic approval, good luck hope to hear some good news soon

[BananoPower22[TK]]

I have a HWT backpack back at home, if you need one just lmk brother

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Give me a month or two to save up for it. ;-)  I spent all of my excess cash (and the wife's patience) getting this finished.  That, and I live in an RV... I'll have to see if a friend/family member could store it for me in between troops.

 

What are the approximate dimensions for it? Depending on how I rearrange things, I might be able to fit it. We bought this rig specifically because of the large storage on the left rear... I *might* be able to fit it... depending.

 

 

 

Looking good but I would still suggest to bring your thighs up just looks too snug at your knees, you could move your TD clips to closer to the end caps. That being said it should not hold you up for basic approval, good luck hope to hear some good news soon

 

Thanks!

 

I'll try to tighten up the straps that I have to pull up the thighs a bit. I'd also like to trim some of the back of the calves and thighs... I can't go up and down stairs yet.

 

I'll peek into the TD clips, see what I can do. Thanks!

 

I'm going to try and kit up tonight for approval pics. Time go git'r'done.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

So here it is... complete with smoke from the Black Forest fire in the background...










Adjusted the shoulder bells:








The neckseal didn't tuck in right, I'll fix that in the future, and make sure that the straps fall correctly.







Green lenses from Kevin Christley and the best helmet pad ever from Darth Hair, Fan by Evilboy:

[MightyTank[501st]]

Looking good! I would trim about an inch from the top of the thighs to make them a bit more comfortable and give you mobility. Great work!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Looking good! I would trim about an inch from the top of the thighs to make them a bit more comfortable and give you mobility. Great work!

 

Thanks! I'll give that a shot.

 

I'm also looking into replacing he shoulder bells. I think there is too much gap, and they just feel small now. I cut off about an inch... regretting that decision. And I think I need a strap from the cod to the butt. Or I need to heatgun the cod and pull it in a bit, because it looks like it's floating out too far.

[Locitus[Admin]]

 And I think I need a strap from the cod to the butt.

Yes you do.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

These are easy fixes, I can add the strap tonight. I emailed tupperwaretk, just waiting on a response for the bells. Anything else?

[Locitus[Admin]]

Tighten up the whole torso. You wear it too loose and it hangs all over the place.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Tighten up the whole torso. You wear it too loose and it hangs all over the place.

 

Can do.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

New shoulder bells shipped today, I tightened up the back, and added a butt to cod strap. I'll get fresh pics tonight.

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Here are some pics from last night. LMK... I can tighten up the cod-butt plate strap, and sorry about the belt slipping under the butt plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Obey Wann[501st]]

Just got approved.

 

     

[silentsamurai]

Just got approved.

 

     

 

 

 

YEAAAAHHHHHH! i knew it wouldn't be much longer. Congrats sir! I should have my NE done in 1.5 to 2 months. Depending how mad i get at it ha. Cheers.