Modding a Rubies

[MadMango]

This was posted in the wrong thread before, copied here, hoping the other will be deleted.

 

I'll preface this by saying that I have wanted a TK Armor set for several years.  I did the research back in 2011 but didn't pull the trigger. Life interrupted and I met someone, got married, and had a child (7th counting hers and mine from previous marriages, regular Brady Bunch!). He's 3 now.  Low and behold my wife decides to surprise me with a Rubies Supreme set a few days before this Halloween.  I didn't have the heart to ask her to return it, knowing her, she saved for it for a long time and probably has been sitting on it since Spring. I'm trying to make the best of it, and have already purchased an Efx bucket. My intent is to make a RotJ armor. There are some great related topics on the forums, too bad all the photos are gone. I figure at worst, this is a great learning curve for me, and maybe down the line I'll get a proper armor kit. I'm hoping the photos come through and aren't too large.

 

Question:

I wasn't planning on trying to make this pass 501st standards, but now I'm thinking I'll give it a go. Is it possible?

How important are return edges for 501st approval?

 

My mods so far have included chopping a lot of material away to get the calves, thighs, and forearms to fit a little better.  I think I'm taking 2-inches out of the thighs and 1.5-inches from the forearms and calves! My wife bought the XL size which is good I suppose, the chest fits perfect. I'm 5'10", 210lb, 34 waist and 50 chest, and a 7-7/8 hat size... finding things that fit are an issue.

 

I am using some 2-part epoxy, it's what I'm familiar with, and what I had on hand.  It didn't play nice with some ABS strips, but looked good until pressure was applied to the snaps. The whole snap and backing came right off. I'm using black ABS, I figure no one will see it. I switched over to using nylon webbing for the snap backing. The epoxy seems to like it better as well.

 

I can't find any details on the shoulder straps, as far as how many "bars" overlap the chest plate.  Four or five looks good to me, but would like an "official" number or distance.

 

Thanks!

[Mcott65[TK]]

Four or five was exactly what I was told when I ask that question. Good luck with your build

[Darth Aloha[Admin]]

The user Toddo is the man you want to talk to.

 

Send him a PM here... he went Expert Infantry with his Rubies TK and can tell you about his trials doing so.

 

-Eric

[MadMango]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

[Darth Aloha[Admin]]

Check these out:

 

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/25990-toddos-rotj-rubies-mod/

 

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/25993-tk-6647-requesting-rotj-eib-statusrub5th/

 

-Eric

[Jinsei[TK]]

It's great that it is totally do-able for you to turn this into approvable armor. Good luck with the build!!

Edited November 13, 2015 by Jinsei

[MadMango]

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  No real progress on the armor, waiting for some more 1" black strapping and snaps. I did get around to adding an elastic crotch strap, much nicer than the nylon strap I had initially used.

 

I also managed to replace the lenses on my MFX helmet with #4 welding shades, and some extra padding to keep it all in place.  I like it much better.

 

Detail to show the color difference.

Edited November 29, 2015 by MadMango