Vette11's AP Armor Build

[Vette11]

ok, even though I haven't been posting, I have been building,  I just don't seem to have the time to both build and post.  here is some of my latest work.

 um maybe not, I seem to be having an internet problem concerning photobucket.  I will keep trying 

[Vette11]

shins build

[Vette11]

torso and back plates, putting them together.

[Vette11]

building the clamshell, photos are of the 1st go round.  it came out ok but there was too much gap b/w the chest and kidney pieces so I took it apart and redid it (no photos) and it came out a better but still has a minor gap.  I am going to tear it apart for a 3rd time to try and eliminate the gap but am getting fearful the armor will crack if I keep doing this.  whatever I get on the third try will have to suffice.

[Vette11]

[Vette11]

not pictured is the fact that I am using a Velcro enclosure.  I will post photos of it when I can, pb and I are not getting along very well today..

[Vette11]

ok so it has been a while but here are some more photos.  I am finished with the build and making some final adjustments and taking the photos to submit to the Florida GML.  Hopefully I will have the photos submitted this weekend. 

[Vette11]

[Vette11]

[Vette11]

in the second picture, I am getting ready to boil the cover strips to bend them to get them to fit the bottoms of the thighs.  boiling water worked best for me as it gave me the most control to how long or hot to get the plastic.  you  will see more pics of items that were bent the same way coming up soon

[Vette11]

The finished TD.

[Vette11]

the button plates painted and glued on.

[Vette11]

The Dead trooper on the floor is starting to take shape

[Vette11]

on to the belt. drop boxes being glued and riveted in place

[Vette11]

bending the ammo belt, thigh pack and shoulder bridges with boiling water.

[Vette11]

placement of the ammo pack

[Vette11]

holster going into place

[Vette11]

rivet covers have since been added and the holster rivets have been painted.

[Vette11]

thigh ammo pack in place and riveted.

[Vette11]

_{so now I finally reach the stage of gluing in snap plates}

[Vette11]

once all of the plates were in place, it was time for me to start the part of the project I feared most.....the strapping.

[Vette11]

the cod piece

[Vette11]

[Vette11]

In looking at my build so far I just realized that I have posted pics of the finished td but no pics on its build so here they come.

[Vette11]

while glue/paint was drying I built my bucket in spurts.  here are the photos.  the interior has been changed from the foam to a hardhat liner b/c I just could not get the bucket to sit right with the foam inside.