Kim's ATA Build

[Rezori[TK]]

Hey guys!

I have a build thread over on my garrison forums but figured it'd be good to have one here as well to keep me on track. Been pouring over Diana's build thread, and the HOW TO: modifying Armour for Women and started trimming my own kit last week. I'm lucky my husband (Geoff) knows how to do everything, so after talking with him about me being terrified to start cutting (seriously, it was haunting my dreams), he went through the process with me and I felt much better. Got together with a friend who is doing an AP kit and our TK master builder and did initial trimming  - it is MUCH simpler and not scary at all once you get going. Anyhow, hopefully I don't get too 'typey' and make this a TLDR thread.

 

A bit about myself:

I'm 5'5" and 127lbs. Geoff got me this ATA kit for my birthday (had our Vader deliver it at my party and say "TK-17771, why aren't you at your post?" SO. AWESOME.) I currently have a Darth Nihilus build (my first and only other build). I've always liked the look of stormtroopers with their cute little frowns, and i'm addicted to 'funny stormtrooper' pictures that are all around the internet. It wasn't until my first comicon where I REALLY needed to get one for myself. Being a sith lord is great and awesome, however you can't really be silly and fun. I'm very much in the thought that you should act like your character. I imagine Nihilus is a 'stand around quietly and look scary' kinda guy, so that's how I act when I wear him. While I was being dark and broody, garrison mates in their TKs were walking around chatting with people and generally being hilarious and adorable. SOLD. Anyhow, onto the fun stuff!

 

Trimming is coming along nicely, it's easy to do and fun! Dremel-ing the plastic smells so good... I came home to that smell yesterday as Geoff was helping me out. He sure knows what I love! Definitely recommend wearing gloves for trimming though... at least three times when i was cutting and it DEFINITELY saved me from some deep and painful cuts!

 

Details:

-Nomex Flight gloves ordered & shipped, should arrive next week.

-Boots should arrive next week (TKBoots.com - size 7, i'm usually a 8.5 women's)

-Doopy-Doo e-11 Hasbro conversion kit ordered, no clue when that will arrive.

-using my Underarmour compression clothes that I already have for Darth Nihilus.

-Checking out Darman's Neckseals. I was going to make my own out of a neoprene laptop case but i'm not sure how well that will turn out...

-Balaklava, im going to check out a local store next week.

-Belt & Holster will be done by my lovely garrison-mate Berserker.

 

I've been borrowing a garrison-mate's TK for a bit now, and it fits me fairly well as we are around the same height. Here I am getting washed by some firemen, teehee... :3

and helping out too at a charity carwash.

 

As you can see it fits fairly well but is a little big in some places. Before trimming my chest & back I compared his to mine, and the ATA looks much smaller! I'm really excited as I think it will fit fairly well with minimal alterations!

 

His AM on the left, my untrimmed ATA is on the right.

 

Edited August 1, 2014 by Rezori

[Rezori[TK]]

One thing with the shins - I measured and cut the flashing off the shins and when I went to hold them together it had a significant wow in it. I'm assuming you just glue and cram them together so they close in the back more naturally/screen accurately. I figured I'd post these here for future TK builders that had a moment of panic like I did before rational thought took over.

 

Holding it normally - gap city!

 

Pinching it together - phew.

 

So far the only thing that looks like it will need big alterations are the forearms. They are absurdly huge on me! Will need to figure out something to fix that.

 

Edited August 1, 2014 by Rezori

[maxsteele[TK]]

Any fitting of pieces is pretty simple to do once you understand the technique.

 

The forearms and biceps take a 15mm cover strip for the front-facing cover strips, which means  you will always cut them to be 7.5mm on one side and 7.5mm on the other.  Once that is complete, you can tape the two pieces together, then wrap it around your forearm / bicep until it fits the way you want it to.  Find the mid-point across from the cut in the front, mark the top and bottom, then cut the extra of each piece off.  Now you have a place to put the other cover strip and the pieces fit to your arms.

 

The shins and thighs should be 20mm for the front cover strip (10mm on each side).  Then the same as the biceps / forearms - wrap them around your legs, get them to a comfortable fit, make sure the thighs and shins follow the conical shape of your legs so the bottoms are brought in more than the tops, then find your back lines, mark, cut, and put in the cover strips.

 

I used 15mm for the back cover strips on the forearms and biceps, and 25mm cover strips for the backs of the shins and thighs.  I completely closed my thighs, and used industrial velcro for the shin closures, open side facing inward.

Edited August 1, 2014 by maxsteele

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Coming along nicely

[SHEisaBlast]

Your build is motivating me to get my helmet done to get to the suit. So jealous of your wash down shot, now that is a honest's day work for a TK.

[Grimez]

Put foam inserts into the forearms, mine are big on me as well. That should close the space.

[Rezori[TK]]

Thanks guys!

 

I've been following the measurements provided on the extra plastic that came with the kit. and leaving a bit extra for the return edge so it's a bit more accurate.

 

Any and all tips are appreciated!

 

And I don't think foam alone will help with these forearms lol! I think we are going to try heat gunning & making a new return edge. I will probably end up stuffing them with foam too - I want to make sure they are proportional to the rest of the build still for sure.

 

About to paint the insides of the untrimmed bucket - wish me luck!

Edited August 2, 2014 by Rezori

[zoekoner[TK]]

Looking good there