Pyrates AP Build and Journey to The 501st

[Pyrates[TK]]

I was able to head to an armor party this past weekend. It was great, I was able to get all my parts sized, it's pretty much just gluing and strapping I need to do...The sort of sad thing is, all of the "extra" material Mark added I ended up trimming off. We were joking about the fact that I didn't need the Kidney piece as the additions to the ab plate could almost wrap around me completely . . .

Lucky little...(just joking) - that is great news. I however will find out tomorrow what is being kept - I just have to pack a pair of shorts. Edited February 13, 2016 by Pyrates

[Jinsei[TK]]

Yeah, it was a shock with how much had to come off. There was another trooper there who just got an updated AP kit as well. He is much larger then me and he even needed to trim some off the ab/kidney. I had to trim a bunch off the thighs, and shins as well. I took a bunch of pictures, just haven't had time to update my build thread. The arms weren't so bad.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Jinsei

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

How's the build coming along? 

[Pyrates[TK]]

Progress has been slow, wee man has gotten Scarlet fever. Got stuff sized up and forearms assembled. Botched my decals for my helmet. Several pieces of my cover strip material were scratched beyond repair and or did not have a square side to measure from making them bow out in the middle (weren't straight) so I have had to order more cover strip ABS from Trooper Bay as well as Helmet decal spray to try and salvage my air bubbled stickers. Plus some decal templates if I can't fix them, and my E-11 scope decals too.

 

So basically going a whole lot of going nowhere fast but taking in stride

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

Dude, just hand paint it. You'll thank yourself in the long run. My son came down with the Coxsackie virus last week. I had to leave work Thursday to help the wife take care of him and my daughter. He just wanted to lay on her most of the weekend. Poor guy looks like he has chicken pox all over but luckily he's doing better now and starting to heal. 

[Brattie[TK]]

It's great to hear things are progressing Pyrates.. Reading that you are moving forward no matter how slow or fast is a big help. I'm glad you made it to an Armor party. Having people that know I am sure helps. I couldn't believe the information I received just meeting some of the 501st guys and talking to them at Collectors Con so I can only imagine how much of a help it was!

 

Keep posting progress!!! 

 

Hope your little one gets well soon!!!

Edited February 16, 2016 by Brattie

[Pyrates[TK]]

Dude, just hand paint it. You'll thank yourself in the long run. My son came down with the Coxsackie virus last week. I had to leave work Thursday to help the wife take care of him and my daughter. He just wanted to lay on her most of the weekend. Poor guy looks like he has chicken pox all over but luckily he's doing better now and starting to heal.

Oh brother, that's rough! Glad the little man is on the mend.

 

I will be taking your advice on painting mate as I don't believe I'll be able to salvage the decals anyhow.

[Pyrates[TK]]

It's great to hear things are progressing Pyrates.. Reading that you are moving forward no matter how slow or fast is a big help. I'm glad you made it to an Armor party. Having people that know I am sure helps. I couldn't believe the information I received just meeting some of the 501st guys and talking to them at Collectors Con so I can only imagine how much of a help it was!

 

Keep posting progress!!!

Thanks Angie!

 

The armor party was great! Got a chance to discuss my EH blaster with the crew and showed my mini-foundry for casting parts in the hope that we can start to cast 100% aluminum E-11 blasters out of pop cans that are approvable and troop worthy (hit the ground and only come out of it with more battle damage rather than itty bitty pieces) which would give us Canadian troopers more access to blaster props.

I also learned a tremendous amount of info on armor bites.

[Brattie[TK]]

Thanks Angie!

 

The armor party was great! Got a chance to discuss my EH blaster with the crew and showed my mini-foundry for casting parts in the hope that we can start to cast 100% aluminum E-11 blasters out of pop cans that are approvable and troop worthy (hit the ground and only come out of it with more battle damage rather than itty bitty pieces) which would give us Canadian troopers more access to blaster props.

I also learned a tremendous amount of info on armor bites.

That's so great and I love that idea of the new Blaster and ability within Canada.. now we need to get Heavy Blaster Rifles going too!! so dream big my friend! Chuckles

[Sentry71[TK]]

I second the paint. Just take your time with it, get good brushes, and remember - you can always go back and paint over it again if needed. <br><br>

Hope your little one - and Airborne's - get well really soon!

[Pyrates[TK]]

I second the paint. Just take your time with it, get good brushes, and remember - you can always go back and paint over it again if needed. <br><br>

Hope your little one - and Airborne's - get well really soon!

Cheers mate - appreciate it!

[Pyrates[TK]]

Time to lift the spirits

 

http://youtu.be/p3y0e17on4s

 

It's my jam

[TK 2759[501st]]

Hope all is well with the little one. Slow progress is still progress! Take your time to get it right, instead of going quick and making 101 mistakes. You're doing a great job so far! No worries mate!

[Pyrates[TK]]

Hope all is well with the little one. Slow progress is still progress! Take your time to get it right, instead of going quick and making 101 mistakes. You're doing a great job so far! No worries mate!

Cheers Captain!

[starsaber25[Admin]]

Hey Aaron. I've come to this party late but you are doing an awesome job. Your helmet is looking great! Nice job with the teeth. I'm with the other guys...paint the helmet. Get the stencils from trooperbay. Unless your emperor like my emperor got tired of seeing money get sent to poway California all the time.

[Pyrates[TK]]

Hey Aaron. I've come to this party late but you are doing an awesome job. Your helmet is looking great! Nice job with the teeth. I'm with the other guys...paint the helmet. Get the stencils from trooperbay. Unless your emperor like my emperor got tired of seeing money get sent to poway California all the time.

Late...naw

 

Everyone is always welcome, support and opinions even more so.

 

Many thanks and stencils are en route!

[Pyrates[TK]]

Ktisssst!(opening a beer)

 

Right then, lets talk Thermal Detonators (wish we could have actually see these bad boys in action in the movies - think about it - simple pull,pop, and drop in the trash compactor in cell block six and game over The Empire wins wahoo eat that Luke ) Instead maybe I'll try this sweet heart the next time I go fly fishing.

 

Back on solid ground again, the TD according to the CRL has to be approximately 7.5" - it's now time to take some measurements, do some adding, subtracting, and confirm measurements again taking in consideration approximate thickness of end caps. Here we go...

 

 

Edited February 17, 2016 by Pyrates

[Pyrates[TK]]

 

Test fitting one cap on and checking the measurement

 

 

 

Then I marked the location of the cap on the pipe with a pencil to use painters tape to tape off the cap area (don't want the paint to scrap out from the cap and allow easier assembly)

 

[Pyrates[TK]]

So I forgot to add the other 1/8" for the thickness, made the adjustments accordingly, then cut using a larger diameter pipe cutter. Measure twice - cut once just saved my butt!

 

 

 

 

[Pyrates[TK]]

 

 

[Pyrates[TK]]

To everyone, please do not follow my measurements and markings as the pencil mark pictures were taken before correcting.

[Pyrates[TK]]

The next portion of the TD build section I would like to dedicate to my fellow recruit "Brattie"-Angie - Cheers!

 

Remember that wire I reminded you to get  lol? You're going to be using it for something else as well - just need a pair of wire/side cutters

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pyrates[TK]]

[Pyrates[TK]]

Time for paint

 

I let it dry for 24 hours, then painted a second coat which I then let sit for 48 hours.

[Pyrates[TK]]

2nd Dry fit with caps on to ensure TD plate is center and square. Loaded the TD plate with E-6000 approximately 3/8" of the edge so I wouldn't have to scrap and touch up paint later.