johnnyshotfirst’s ANH Stunt TM Armor

[johnnyshotfirst]

It feels like this day would never happen.  After scraping & saving for the better part of 2 years, the big brown box has arrived.  I’ve been an avid researcher on the forums for a long time now, was lucky enough to attend Gazmosis’ Anovos seminar a couple of months ago and attended several meet & greets with the Midwest Garrison.  Can’t say enough on how much these forums and all of you in the 501st have helped me to get to this point.  

So...let’s get building!

 

 

The BIG BROWN BOX arrived and you won’t believe this...the same day, my TK boots which I’ve been on a list for like 16 months, arrived as well...I felt like the force in this build was off to a strong start!  Paul really packs this stuff well, everything arrived intact and ready to go.  TM ABS capped armor is a sight to behold.

 

 

 

Fortunately, I live close to Chills and he was kind enough to help me out with laying out all the pieces, marking the entire kit and getting some trimming started.  To have an experienced hand for those first couple of cuts was extremely helpful.  Plus...bonus! Got to see the much lauded Death Star room….very cool.

 

 

 

Lots more pics to follow....December will be a tough month to get stuff done with a house full of kids and a wife that's due with another in February.   Just really happy to finally have my TK build thread off and running.

[68Brick[TK]]

3 pairs of scissors! Now you're just showing off.

 

Nice Start!

[johnnyshotfirst]

Ha! definitely a 'group' effort on supplies

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

You are definitely in good hands there, Johnny, and a big congrats on Big Brown Box day!  You have two great influences there, (Chris and Steve) so we are expecting to see your EIB and Centurion applications as soon as you can!  All the best on your build..

[Chills[TK]]

All that beautiful TM armor, just waiting to be trimmed.

 

I'll be watching this build thread very closely. 

 

Next time I have a few free hours you can come by and we'll continue the work.

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Heck there's not even any furniture, this hobby is expensive. lol

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

Heck there's not even any furniture, this hobby is expensive. lol

If I didn't have the wife and kids I would eat ramen and sit in camping chairs for the trade off for a while! I used to do that for car parts!

[johnnyshotfirst]

I knew it'd be difficult to get building done this month, but I was able to squeeze in some more trimming last night. I have to say, holding the armor, it's such a complete blast to work on. I'm sure some of you have experienced the following, when I first started holding the ab plate, I kinda freaked out thinking something was wrong, even going so far as to msg Paul to check if everything was okay. Asymmetrical armor is really quite amazing...seeing the differences in the sculpt and all. Really enjoying this

 

 

 

 

 

And that lovely TM ab plate

 

 

I'll be researching strapping every free second I get this weekend...if anyone has any suggestions on great TM builds, let me know!

Cheers,

Johnny

Edited December 12, 2015 by johnnyshotfirst

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

Nice butt! Coming along nicely and that is some beautiful armor. I love the screen used look and all the "imperfections". One day I'll get myself a bumpy helmet even if its only for display. 

[NoVATie[Admin]]

Mark did a great write-up for his TM build.

 

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32061-fbjs-anh-hero-build-tm/

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Looking good Johnny 

[johnnyshotfirst]

Mark did a great write-up for his TM build.

 

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/32061-fbjs-anh-hero-build-tm/

Thanks a bunch AC

[Bubzebub]

So excited to see this.  Let me know when I should show up with my Dremel.

[johnnyshotfirst]

Long overdue update, boy, the holidays can really keep ya busy.  So, I jumped ahead to cutting eyes and teeth since I'll be getting some bucket build help this weekend. Really excited to be able to get some help on 

the ears, kinda dreading that part.   Let's fire up that trusty dremel!

 

 

Got right to work on the eyes and hit the back of the teeth on the big ones enough to get in there with a file and open them up. 

 

 

 

 

Got a bit nervous with the dremel on the teeth, so moved on to drillng start holes and opening them up with a xacto and file.  Tougher than I thought and really slow going.  I'm nervous as hell

to take to much off.

 

 

Also, used the xacto to get in those corners on the eyes. 

 

 

Would really appreciate any feedback on these next pics.  Think I have this one 'tooth' to where it should be.  Let me know what you all think

 

 

 

 

Let me know what you all think! 

Edited January 13, 2016 by johnnyshotfirst

[johnnyshotfirst]

Now that I see the pics, looks like the right side of that tooth could use some more off of it. 

Edited January 13, 2016 by johnnyshotfirst

[Locitus[Admin]]

Good start so far! Using pencil lines like a pro, and keeping those teeth nice and square like they should be.

[68Brick[TK]]

That tooth looks great. The bottom right edge of it could be squared up a little. A very little.

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

Looking good! You still have some more room on the eyes to take off past your pencil markings. 

[johnnyshotfirst]

 

Got some more teeth work done, feeling good about them so far. Still haven't attacked the eyes. Thanks so much for all the advice!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Great job Johnny. 

[johnnyshotfirst]

Great job Johnny. 

Thanks brotha

[johnnyshotfirst]

So worked for a couple hours tonight and feeling really good about the frown

 

 

So, my next research & question is the eyes. How much return on the edge is the norm. I see some super accurate builds leave a bunch of return which matches what you see in the pinned posts of screen shots. Then some builds I've seen look like they take off all return on the edge of the eye 'socket' and go for that idealized smooth look. Imagining it's just sorta what you want and both are acceptable

Here's where I'm at, still need to take off a bunch in the eye corners and trying to decide on how to leave around the eye overall. With being 2mm I'm not really screen accurate at this point completely anyways

 

 

 

Cheers,

Johnny

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited January 15, 2016 by johnnyshotfirst

[Locitus[Admin]]

You leave as much as you want around your eyes.

[johnnyshotfirst]

Happy days...got in a bunch of work over the weekend, woohoo!  So, I'm really fortunate in living in the area of a very well established killer bucket builder

and this weekend we were able to get together.  I can't really say enough nice things about Gaz for a beginner like myself.  I attended a workshop with him

at the end of last year and it was a blast.  So first thing when I walked in, he was like, "Hell yeah...you gotta open those eyes up my friend!"  and I commenced

to dremel'n my timid attempt at the eyes.    And then we moved on to hacking at those pesky ears.

 

 

While I was hacking at the ears, we also started trimming the bucket and getting things lined up there, getting the brow tight and stuff like that.

 

 

 

Those damn ears...I was so appreciative to have help on these...we must've spent a couple hours on these things.  Gaz is a total perfectionist and they looked killer when we finally got 'em on.

 

 

Very happy to have this part of the build done...there's nothing like having your own stormie bucket

 

 

Big thanks to Gazmosis, a true gentleman! 

Edited January 19, 2016 by johnnyshotfirst

[johnnyshotfirst]

I'm hoping to get some more work done in my workshop this weekend, that is if my latest addition to the Empire can bake a little longer

Edited January 23, 2016 by johnnyshotfirst