Insidi0us1's First Build (ATA TK armor)

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Got my armor and after a few days of staring at the armor and worrying about messing it up, I decided it has to get done and I can always buy replacement parts if need be. This is the first armor I've ever built for anything, but thankfully I'm pretty handy at building things (when you own a house you get crafty, plus lots of building, modding, and repairing computers and R/C cars creates a sort of talent). And after this I plan to do clone armor, so the armor building won't stop here. But enough with that... ON TO THE BUILD!

 

So I got a set of ATA armor from someone that decided to sell theirs. It was untouched and had not even come out of the original shipping box. So a scratch build it is. It didn't come with a helmet, so I contacted ATA Works and got a helmet ordered, shipped, and delivered. Also found it was missing the TD center piece, so ordering that from ATA Works. Thankfully won't need that last piece right away and can get started on the build.

 

[Snaps[TK]]

Good luck with your build...we're all here to help

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking forward to the build

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Thanks! Hoping to get it done well and properly, as I'm going to try and make it to Centurion status eventually. One step at a time though, with 501st approval in my sights. Got a bit more done marking lines on the helmet (measure twice, cut once). In a bit I'll be cutting it and then seeing how everything lines up to do final trims before bolting it together.

 

I followed a few guides and noticed Panda Trooper mentioned he cut the face's upper trim about 1.25" above the eyes, so I followed that with mine and marked it in pencil (this way I could erase and remark should my measuring be wrong when I rechecked it):

 

I followed the markings that both Panda Trooper and Gazmosis had shown in their guides to make an approximation on where to mark my helmet, seeing as they both were building an ATA helmet as well. Looks like most people with ATA helmets mark the brow cut on the cap almost right inline with the edge that follows around the back of the cap and is what the traps are aligned to.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Insidi0us1

[gazmosis[501st]]

as you are looking at the face, hold off trimming the bumpy stuff on the left side of the face. The left side (again while looking at the helmet) is a little scarce on overlap near the bottom. You need that overlap to rivet to. the wrinkly stuff on the face will be hidden.

[VGTrooper[TK]]

as you are looking at the face, hold off trimming the bumpy stuff on the left side of the face. The left side (again while looking at the helmet) is a little scarce on overlap near the bottom. You need that overlap to rivet to. the wrinkly stuff on the face will be hidden.

Yeah I noticed in your guide that you didn't cut it completely and instead measured where the face sat first. I kept note of that in my line marking as I don't want the gap even if the ear covers it. I'd know it was there and it would bug me lol. So instead I marked the upper part of the line (from the brow down to about half-way) and stopped where it was already trimmed back a bit.

[gazmosis[501st]]

Looking forward to another sweet bucket!

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Hey, I'm still alive lol! Life got busy with wedding planning and such, but time to get back to building the armor. Before I start cutting though, I do want to ask what others are using to cut the ABS plastic of the helmet/armor? What specific tools or any recommendations? I've heard of the score/snap method, but I don't trust myself with dragging an exacto and keeping a straight line. And I tried a dremel with a plastic cutting disc, but it has the tendency to melt the plastic at the cut line (and there is the fear of slipping and making a crazy cut). I'm trying to find some good scissors, but not sure what works best.

[The5thHorseman[501st]]

I think most who don't use the score&snap method use Lexan Scissors. Amazon has a set with both straight and curved but you might be able to find them locally too.

http://www.amazon.com/Dynamite-Body-Scissors-Curved-Straight/dp/B0006O4Z6A/

Edited February 18, 2015 by The5thHorseman

[I'm Batman[501st]]

They're the ones. Probably about $5.00 for a single pair from your local hobby/craft store too.

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Awesome thanks! I have a few hobby shops nearby, I'm going to check them today. Last night I found some scissors by Fiskars that are meant for cutting heavy duty media (layers of paper, layers of fabric, thick fabric, etc). They seem to cut ok, but the height and thickness of the scissors will likely make cutting harder the further I get into the parts. Here's a link to them on Amazon:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Amplify-170620-1001-Crafting-Scissors/dp/B00TNK1BEM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424272545&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=fiskars+razor+edge+amplify

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Utilized the Fiskar scissors I found to do some cutting. They actually work ok. They cut through the material nice and easy, but angles and curves are tough, which is where the smaller lexan scissors will be best. I need to get a set of those. I got the mask and cap parts cut for now, and then moved on to the eyes on the mask. Making progress!

 

[VGTrooper[TK]]

More work done today. I was fearing cutting the eyes because I didn't want to screw them up, but at least those have trim line guides to work with. The teeth are even more daunting as its more of an eye-ball deal where you have to just dive in and trim until you like it. Of course, always start with the trim a little at a time, because you can always trim more but you can't put it back on. So I used the dremel with a sanding bit to grind the bumps a until they were opened up, but not to the full opening size. I used a hobby knife to trim/scrape the general shape of each opening until I was happy with it.

 

 

Then I proceeded to sand and smooth the openings. I found a nice set of small diamond tip bits of various sizes that work really well in small areas like these. Can't remember who makes them, but I believe I found them at Lowes. BTW, I highly recommend a rotary flex shaft if you are using a dremel, as it makes angling/holding the bit way easier. I'll probably open up the teeth a bit more, but I stopped for now to give myself, and the dremel, a break.

 

 

Did some sanding/smoothing work on the eyes as well.

 

Edited February 20, 2015 by Insidi0us1

[Canadianguy]

Great progress Patrick. Looking good! Continue to post your progress.

[russellr2d2[TK]]

I think you should open up the teeth some more. Most here seem to like completely square corners in the teeth but I went with small radius corners and flat tops n' sides. You are on your way to a great bucket

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tolo[TK]]

I'm will second the teeth opening.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

[Sly11[Admin]]

Square up the corners of the teeth a little, and agree with the others with opening them up a tad more. looking good so far.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Thanks for everyone! Yeah I did a bit more grinding on the teeth and opened them up more. Not sure if I'm going to stick with the rounded corners or square them up more, but I'm happy so far.

 

[Tolo[TK]]

You still have more to remove.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

[russellr2d2[TK]]

Yea just a teeny bit more. Remove all the "flange" or flair at the edges of the holes. Just a little more. No gums. I have ATA too. Your doing the right thing not hacking away at it (like I did with the left side). You can always take off more but you cannot put it back on.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Its been awhile since the last update, but the armor build kept going. On to the updated pics!

 

Got all the armor pieces cut and trimmed (in this picture the arm/leg pieces were not fully trimmed, but I just finished doing that, so they are now ready to go as well). Just need to glue all the strips, straps, and snaps into place.

 

Finished trimming the teeth on the helmet as well, or at least finished to my liking. I can always go back and trim more if it bugs me, but I'm happy with it right now.

 

And I got the face and lid portions mounted together. Tried trimming some ears to start that process, but I think I messed them up. Hurray for ATA including a 2nd pair! Also going to try and remount the face to the lid on the right side (left side when looking at it) because the cheek area doesn't line up well, and so makes mounting that ear a hard task. All I know is that I WILL make it work and be done this week. Personal deadline for 501st submission is set for April 3rd (which is also when my under suit arrives).

Edited March 30, 2015 by Insidi0us1

[charlesnarles]

Looks nice! Fyi I riveted my brow lower than I wanted, so I trimmed the forehead away to fix it. This left me with weird temple traps that were not as tall as they should be. Not sure if that affects EIB/centurion, but the Moral: temporarily secure it first and reassemble it if you're not 100% happy with it, instead of cutting anything like I did.

[Mutter]

Looking good so far!

[VGTrooper[TK]]

Sorry for the delay in updates, but here's some pictures during the rest of the armor build...

 

 

I messed up the tube stripes and had to some paint remove to clear it off the best I could. My fiancée is better at painting details and so she was able to fix it for me. (this was after the paint mask was remove and I applied the paint remover to clean it up)

 

This side didn't come out great either, but with some light picking and light dabs of paint remover I was able to clear it up. (this is right after the paint mask was removed)

 

The paint was fixed up at the hotel Friday night of Star Wars Celebration so I could troop on Saturday.

[VGTrooper[TK]]

And here are pictures after trooping on Saturday of Star Wars Celebration (I think a chest plate snap had unsnapped which is why it looks off center lol).

 

 

 

Also, I submitted for approval last week (a couple days after SWCA) 

 

Edited April 30, 2015 by Insidi0us1