A Slightly Disheveled Medium and a Pristine Big Brown Box Arrived Today - Dark's RT-Mod ANH Hero (and Stunt) Build Thread

[AFMedic]

Needed a question answered re protocol and remembered to check on your approval. WOW, what a build and what great documentation. You'll be helping folks for years with it. Well done. Congratulations. You've really added to the body of TK build knowledge.

[usaeatt2]

Geez, I go on vacation for a couple weeks and when I come back, you're Trooper of the Month.  Nice work, Tim.  Well deserved!!!

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Thank you, gentlemen!! 

 

As it turns out, I'm basically EIB ready but Centurion is going to have to wait a little bit, with the recent resolution to "The great notch debate of 2014."

 

I will probably be firmly entrenched in the Star Garrison before I begin making any of the required alterations for my Centurion submission.

[Dougal[501st]]

That is too bad Tim. Your threads are a pleasure to read and will be used by many cadets for many years to come. Myself included... I have a long wait for my RT-Mod kit so hopefully by the time my kit arrives I have another thread of yours to help me with my builds!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AsBlondeAsLuke[TK]]

Thank you, gentlemen!! 

 

As it turns out, I'm basically EIB ready but Centurion is going to have to wait a little bit, with the recent resolution to "The great notch debate of 2014."

 

I will probably be firmly entrenched in the Star Garrison before I begin making any of the required alterations for my Centurion submission.

Tim, what's the issue with the notch?

[Darth Aloha[Admin]]

Tim, what's the issue with the notch?

 

I bets its going to look super weird in his RT. 

I also think we can (at least I intend to) make a case for Tim not to do the notch given the timing of his build and the newness of the requirement. We've waived such things in the past for armor that was built right before a CRL change. 

 

-Eric

[I'm Batman[501st]]

I bets its going to look super weird in his RT. 

I also think we can (at least I intend to) make a case for Tim not to do the notch given the timing of his build and the newness of the requirement. We've waived such things in the past for armor that was built right before a CRL change. 

 

-Eric

 

If that's the case, do you make an allowance for anyone who has started a build thread prior to the requirement coming in? (Although I don't think Tim's build thread is the place this should be getting discussed )

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Tim, what's the issue with the notch?

Diana, the issue is that I have to learn a new skill - creating and playing with ABS paste. At the location where the newly required notch is supposed to go, I have a split rivet. As a result, I've got to remove four split rivets, fill the holes with ABS paste, re drill the holes, and redo the split rivets. It isn't something I relish doing, and I'll have to take a good look at the impacts on my armor once I get it back and figure it all out before delving in to get it done.

 

If I find that, as Eric put it, "it's going to look super weird" in my RT then I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

 

In the meantime, it is the standard for Centurion, so I intend to meet it.

 

More to follow.

[Dougal[501st]]

Good luck Tim! I can only hope that Rob updates his kits or someone like yourself posts an awesome how-to thread. Looks to be a very difficult task.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dougal[501st]]

Good luck Tim! I can only hope that Rob updates his kits or someone like yourself posts an awesome how-to thread. Looks to be a very difficult task.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[cm325i]

In the meantime, it is the standard for Centurion, so I intend to meet it.

 

More to follow.

 

Your dedication is inspiring!

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Your dedication is inspiring!

Thank you, and thank you for the assist

 

Carl, it isn't anywhere near that difficult to build it that way from the start. Modifying to meet it is far more troublesome, as I outlined earlier. I'll explain it in my standard fashion though, once I get my armor back and get to the work required.

[millenium1]

Awesomely awesome, i did not expect anything less Trooper   

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Awesomely awesome, i did not expect anything less Trooper

Thank you Ricky! Your TD is going to be equally awesome. Can't wait til you get those digits! Coming soon, eh?!?

Edited October 24, 2014 by Dark CMF

[Artshot]

Hi

I was just checking to see if there was any progression on the changes you were thinking of doing to bring your armour up to Centurion ?

 

I only ask as I will hopefully receive my RT-Mod armour in august and I was hoping to go fro Centurion out of the box.......easier said than done at the moment as I am still compiling my shopping list.......it's a long list.

 

Cheers

Art

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Thanks for checking in, Art!

 

Oddly enough, I plan to update the thread tomorrow, with some electronics and S-Trim installations that I did tonight.

 

The S-Trim is, of course, one of the Centurion requirements.

 

As for the notch, that should be along within the next month or so. I'll be hosting an Armor Party and plan to do that work then. My new goal is to have my Centurion completed before a big annual event for the Star Garrison in March.

 

More to follow soon!

Edited January 15, 2015 by Dark CMF

[Artshot]

Thanks for the update.

 

Looking forward to seeing your changes and how it all works out, from the standard of your build, I expect you will pass with no problems

[Sly11[Admin]]

Glad that you are moving towards the mods for Centurion Tim, as Art says, you won't have any problems achieving that milestone.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Okay, as I alluded to earlier (MUCH earlier) this morning, last night I set about the task of installing my recently received Echo Fan Mount System and the S-Trim that was generously donated to me by fellow FISD great guy, and Star Garrison member cm325i.

 

Let's dive right in, shall we?

This is how the bottom, back of the bucket looked when last we checked in on it.  This fan did an "okay" job for me.  Were I living in my native land of Chicago, this would probably have been fully sufficient for me, but since I am (and expect to remain for eternity) a resident of the southern portion of the United States, it just wasn't keeping my bucket clear of lens fogging or providing enough circulation.  As a result, I upgraded to one of Echo's fan kits - available here:  http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/24372-fs-helmet-fan-system-echos/

 

So to start, I removed my previous fan from the helmet and set out my supplies, and I can't lie...  It was truly cathartic to be working on the TK again.  

 

Here is the fan kit, one fan at each end of the bracket, each with an individual battery box and switch so that they can be independently operated.  My bracket is personalized, which is not a standard kit.  The personalization is available as an optional service.

 

Here, I have placed the Velcro strip for the back of the helmet on the foam, and gathered my sticky-back Velcro to complete my task.

 

A quick test fit with the back Velcro attached, this way I could determine where else it would be prudent to apply the Velcro for the most secure installation.

 

In this picture.  You can see that I placed the hook Velcro just outside of the battery wires on the foam backing.

 

After that, I put the loop Velcro pieces on the hook pieces, to ensure that when I put it in the helmet, they will be lined up properly without lining the full interior of the helmet with the "fuzzy" Velcro.  

 

Remove the backings from the loop pieces for installation, and install it!

 

Next, the battery boxes have to be placed.  You can see in this picture that I have put the hook Velcro on the back of both battery boxes.  The one on the right has had the Velcro in the center cutouts cut at the sides, and pushed into the box, to prevent the batteries from getting sticky.

 

Here, both battery boxes have been prepared for installation, which will proceed in the same manner as the mounting bracket.

 

Put the loop Velcro pieces on the hook Velcro pieces.

 

Then install the batteries in a location that won't interfere with your ability to wear the helmet.  I did a test fitting with painter's tape prior to installing the Velcro.  Once the bracket is installed and the batteries put in place and connected, you are ready to operate the system.  If you look just "below" and behind each battery, you can see the switches for the fans.  One on each side, to independently run them.  

 

A good look at the personalization on the bracket.  Echo does a very nice job with this kit, and I do highly recommend it, if you're in the market for fans.  

 

Up next, S-Trim installation...

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

As promised, moving on to the S-Trim installation.

 

This process is really very simple - for the most part.  LoL.  The S-Trim is a little more stubborn about being put in place than I expected.  Perhaps others will not have the same experience, but I am certain that it is very snugly installed on my helmet.

 

To start, as with the fan, I removed the old neck trim from the helmet.

 

Here you can see both pieces of trim, the original inside of the S-Trim.  The S-Trim is actually longer than the "regular" flat trim, which is a good thing - so it will have to be trimmed.

 

After fighting it into place around the perimeter of the neck opening, I am left with the overlap at the vocoder.  I put the trim opening in front, because the bottom of the vocoder is far less likely to be visible to the viewing public than the back of the helmet is.  This also allows the black color of the vocoder to provide some "cover" for the possibility of a gap in the trim.  If the opening were in the back, the gap would reveal the white of the helmet instead of the black vocoder.

 

Installation completed, looking at the face of the helmet.

 

Current view into the bucket with S-Trim in place.

 

One other alteration that I did make was to put a bit of Velcro on the back of the very end of the fan bracket to attempt to keep the fans pulled as close as possible to the bucket.  I've never felt that I have a particularly large melon, but this does make it more difficult to get the thing on and off of my head.  LoL

Up next (within the next few weeks or so, I suppose) I'll be installing the Environmental Amplification System which will allow me to hear outside of the helmet much better.  That's not normally a HUGE issue, but with the fans running - especially both of them at once - it can get a bit difficult to hear what's going on out there.

 

Thanks for checking in!!

Edited January 27, 2015 by Dark CMF

[Vette11]

All I can say Tim is WOW. I can only hope I do as good as this when my armor arrives and I begin. My armor has been ordered, I am just waiting for it to ship. I am so excited I almost can't stand it.

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

All I can say Tim is WOW. I can only hope I do as good as this when my armor arrives and I begin. My armor has been ordered, I am just waiting for it to ship. I am so excited I almost can't stand it.

Thank you, Dustin. You'll be just fine when your kit arrives. We won't let you fail, and your local folks in the FLG are very helpful, too!!

 

Ah, the excitement... Yes, that excitement will grow still when the big brown box day arrives. Then, then you'll stare at the parts for a few days, deciding whether or not you can cut them. . How much wait are you looking at?

Edited February 13, 2015 by Dark CMF

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

So, about that Centurion level work that I said I'd get to...

 

Updates coming very soon. At the moment, my armor is in a few more pieces than usual, but my kidney plate has notches on both sides. There are no split rivets on the pieces of the left side, because I've still got to learn/apply/clean up the ABS paste, and re-assemble it but it is done otherwise.

 

I'll also be attempting a slight alteration to my original strapping system which will hopefully bring my chest plate down a little bit lower over my abdominal plate.

 

Then, of course, there's the painting. But... much work done tonight, many pictures taken, by the end of the weekend, there should be a story to tell here. Thanks for checking in.

 

Again, more to follow!

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Before I get to the Centurion upgrades, it dawned on me that I hadn't posted the installation of the Environmental Audio System (EAS) sold by Skyminer (http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/25695-environmental-audio-system-hear-outside-your-helmet/page-4#entry387782) in the helmet yet, so I'll do that first.  

 

Here, you see the components of the EAS laid out and ready for installation.  L to R, the speakers, the EAS board, and the battery box.  Above it are the instructions and the bag.  

 

Here is my first test fit for the system.  I have placed the battery box in the left side of the crown of the helmet, and the EAS in the right side of the crown.  The mic array wires are visible beneath the EAS board.  I did not mock up or test the speaker placement until they were installed and functional so I could work to eliminate any feedback that I may have experienced.

 

The components of the system are being installed using black industrial strength peel and stick Velcro.  Here, I have both pieces on the back of the battery box, so that I can ensure that the two pieces line up for installation.

 

Here, the main components have been installed.  You can see the battery boxes for my Echo fans (previously installed above) are positioned to keep the back padding tightly in place.

 

In this picture, I have pulled the microphones up so that they can be routed to the appropriate areas of the helmet.  You can see the right-side speaker (green circle) is initially installed in between the lens and the fan battery box.

 

Clearly here both speakers are installed in front of the batteries.  At this point in time, I grabbed a hold of what equates to an "air-sickness bag" and prepared for the next step.

 

That is, indeed, a 5/16" drill bit.  I cannot even begin to tell you the dread/nausea associated with drilling the holes in the bucket for the mic installation.  It was easily far worse than trying to make the first cut on the armor.  So horrible.

 

I said a quick prayer, and started to drill (slowly) the hole for the right side microphone.

 

Mission complete, and I kept my dinner down.    If you look at the padding just behind the lens on the right hand side, you'll see the wire for the microphone.  It is the silver wire with a red end near the lens.  The same wire is visible on the left, but not quite as much.

 

Here's a look at the outside of the helmet, behind the brow trim.  Microphone installed.

 

Brow trim put back in place, concealing the microphone.

 

Left side microphone in place.  Upon testing the system at this point in time, I discovered that I was getting a pretty fair amount of feedback so I set about finding ways to reduce/mitigate it.

 

First, I took an EVA foam floor mat that you'd put in your home gym or your garage, and cut the end off of one of the trim pieces.

 

I then cut that piece in half, giving me two identical pieces, one for each microphone.

 

I cut a channel for the wiring (cuts going "up") and a circular shape for the microphone into both pieces of the foam.

 

So I was left with two of these.  I placed one around each of the microphones and ran the wiring down that channel.  As my lens covers the area of the installation, this foam isolated the microphones from the rest of the inside of the helmet enough to substantially reduce the feedback I was receiving, but I was still getting it intermittently.

 

My next move to eliminate the feedback was to switch the batteries and the speakers location.  This provided a little more distance between the speakers and the microphones, and placed a small, but very effective physical barrier in between the two, shielding the speaker noise from the microphones just enough to all but eliminate the feedback.  Adjusting the volume until the tiniest amount of feedback is present before  I put the helmet on removes it completely when I am wearing it.

 

Left side speaker location.

 

Right side speaker location.  You can again see the microphone location, by looking at the red wire above the back of the lens.

 

That's my EAS installation.  I cannot begin to describe how highly I recommend this system.  It really is a game changer when you're trooping.  Thanks for checking it out!

Centurion upgrades will be the next update to the thread.  Coming very soon - notches!!  (No, not nachos... I'm fresh out of those.)

[Tolo[TK]]

Man, you have b@ll$ to make a hole like that in your bucket lol. I want to get one of these system. I'm just not sure it will fit in my AP with my big nugget.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk