MTK Build - ANH Stunt

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Have you made sure your ears are high enough up the cheek, do they meet with the top corner of your s trim?

 

I assume you mean the brow trim, near the Trap. If so, yes, I'm starting at that corner.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Sith Lord

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Well, she's screwed together. Bobby - yes, going for screen accuracy, so I might leave the gaps in the ears  . For now, anyway. Will see how I feel later in the build. Here's a few pics:

 

 

Can't remember the thread, but there is a ANH screen shot of a trooper with bigger gaps than this. You're right Bobby. I didn't notice.

 

Still not 100% sure what I'll do at the bottom. I'll see what it lopks like when I put the S-Trim on and go from there.

 

 

You're right James. Not a lot of room in these lids. Quite a bit smaller than the old FX. More to come....

[bzb]

Looks good dude!

 

It's amazing how much this site has ruined my childhood, all while enhancing it.

 

Get to cracking on those teeth sir!

[I'm Batman[501st]]

 

Everything is looking good so far!  As Bobby said, make sure to use the TD pipe for the curve on the thigh ammo belt thingy.  Aswell take a look at some reference shots to get that awesome 45 degree angle on the main ammo belt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hadn't thought about the TD for the ammo belt. It needs to be pre curved does it? I'll try put that in the memory bank for when I'm up to there.

 

 

 

Ah, the bottom curve, you meant Just watched Trooperbay's video on that!

 

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Ok, next uncertaintity - The closing in of the calves/shins. Can't see other build threads that have had the problem so I'll ask away - When I give myself a 20mm or so front coverstrip, below

 

 

And allow an approximate similar cut on the rear, there is just no hope of them lining up

 

 

If I use the elastic and hook method (not velcro) of closing them in, how do I stop them from closing in too far? Glue the front and heat bend them out?

 

 

The other calf is the same. Yes, I've made sure I hae the correct inner/outer calves.

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

Look at post #31

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/19692-meanders-tk-build-ata/page-2

 

That's one of the solutions. The advantage is, with boiling water there's almost no risk to warp the ABS.

[TK-4510[501st]]

Your ankle and boot will provide ample tension and spacing for the shin. Have you tried them on yet?

[bzb]

Also, the cover strip adds some rigidity to the piece, as well. You'll see that it "warps" the piece a bit.

 

BTW - I'd recommend E6000 for the front cover strip. CA glue can get brittle depending on how much you use, and the front may just give away when you're getting the shins over the boots. E6000 has some flexibility when it's dry.

 

I used CA for the majority of the armor. E6000 was used at the sniper plate, front of shins, and the shoulder straps.

[I'm Batman[501st]]

I'll try the boiling water method first. Thanks Germain.

 

No boots yet Mike. Better order some, as I'm getting ready to do some pre and final fittings.

 

Just placed an order with Trooperbay for some E6000 (amongst other things). With all the pros and cons, I've decided to use that and then go over it with ca if need be after I've got EIB and maybe Centurian approval.

[bzb]

The great thing about CA is that it is indeed strong, and with Zip Kicker, amazingly quick. The problem is when you screw something up. See my build thread for a piece I had to fix after ripping the CA apart

 

Honestly, unless you're super skinny in the legs, I'd say assemble the shins. It looks wonky at first, but once the cover strip is on, the rigidity of the cover strip pulls the back of the calves into line. Hard concept to grasp, but just know that I didn't do any heat shaping to my shins, and they turned out fine:

 

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Thanks Bobby. I'll just tape it up for fitting. Plan is to cut everything to approx size, then get a Garrison mate to help me with final fitting before I crack out the glue.

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Good tip on the boiling water, Germain. Forced the shins into position and taped them up nice and tight

 

 

Let soak in the kitchen sink in boiling water for about half an hour. Let cool while still taped up. And, presto! Almost perfect.

 

 

Gave the knee ammo belt the same treatment

 

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Frown cut. Mike tips in

 

 

Buttons painted. It was hard to purposely NOT be perfect. Trying to make them a little uneven and rushed. I would have normally liked to make a mask up for stuff like this, but that wouldn't have been as accurate. Even these are probably too neat....

 

 

Ammo belt curved. Main belt marked. I read somewhere that the belt should be 10mm down and 13m accross or vice versa, but then re-read the CRL's and they say 45degrees. Lucky I didn't cut at my first mark.

 

 

Oh, and this is my little corner of the garage

 

 

I do have the whole other side for my shelvng and tools though

 

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

Looking good so far! I'm glad the boiling water worked for you

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Ok, progress - As expected, once the S-Trim was installed, I had a big gap near the ear, so I cut a little triangle from ABS, glued it in:

 

 

Whipped up some ABS paste with shavings and Acetone.

 

 

In hindsight, I should have mixed it up more to make it more pasty, as it was hard to smooth out. I ended up giving up and just relying on the trusty dremel to smooth it out later

 

 

But it turned out pretty good

 

 

And the end result, I think the helmet is finished

 

Edited March 11, 2014 by Sith Lord

[toybiz[TK]]

Nice recovery on the gap in the cap/back!

 

Keep up the great work!

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Thanks Adam.

 

Onto the thermal detonator. I think I followed most of TK_LEPER's tutorial using 25x1mm aluminium from the local hardware store. Measured, drilled

 

 

Main curve

 

Final bends

 

Absolutely impossible to find flat head drive screws around here, so a bit of putty and a dremel, done.

 

Finished!

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Quick update. Decided to paint the inside of the bucket black. Can't see much detail in there, but I guess that's the idea. Looks heaps better I reckon. The foam blends in, can't see the screw heads, etc....

 

[Haribon72[TK]]

Great build!

[I'm Batman[501st]]

A bit more progress...... Made up some snap plates. Snap through one piece, then a second piece glued to the back, so the actual snap isn't against the armor.

 

And Bam! Rear half snapped:

 

Made up some cloth ones for the shoulder straps. Not sure why. Maybe because it's curved more there:

 

And yes, my nice white strapping is now a bit discoloured, courtesy of:

 

And, finally starting to actually get some armor put together.

 

Gotta go, more work to be done.....

[TK-4510[501st]]

Looking good man! If you don't bleed on it, you didn't work hard enough

[toybiz[TK]]

Looks great Ian. I really need to share my photos of my build too but hoping to be completed by 4-20 for an Anti-Bullying campaign/skit on May 2nd at my son's elementary school. Hoping to find some other local 501st TK that can spare a few hours for the kids.

 

Keep up the awesome job and a box of band-aids near by!

 

Adam

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Thanks Adam!

 

Now for some Sniper Plate help, please. I think there is not much I can do, but as I'll be going for Centruion eventually, I'll run it by everyone. I think the plate needs to line up vertically when looking at the front

 

 

So when I do that, I just can't line it up perfectly on the sides. The two leg halves don't quite lin up either which would be contributing. This picture is taken from a little above horizontal to emphasise the variance in the lining up.

 

 

And a couple of pics from below and above.

 

 

Do you think it will be ok, of any suggestions to make it fit better?

[bzb]

Looks exactly like mine. Nothing lines up right on a stormtrooper!

[meanders[TK]]

This is looking good. Its not a real build until you've bled for it. Just don't get any on the canvas belt; that's a lot harder to clean off