My First Build - another CfO ROTJ TK Down-Under

[Trooper 666[TK]]

OK, Time to get this build Thread Started...

A few aknowledgements first, Sskunky (Mark) from Cast from Original for the amazing kit. great detail and service. despite everything else going on for him atm, he managed to a Kit out around Christmas. can't show my Appreciation enough Mate...

A few threads i have been Following, Mainly those by Disco (Stuart) K@nne (Chris) and Kaito Trooper. your struggles and insights have been invaluable.

AND finally, Everyone here for the support and guidance. all comments are welcomed, everything WILL be taken constructively... 

 

so first pics, the boots, before and After painting the soles white. These are the 'new' Boots by TK boots. really nice finish and comfortable, and sizing and advice from them was great (important for me, as i have specialised orthotics. we got the sizing right and everything fits really well and comfortably)

 

 

 

This Pic also shows the paint i used. Thanks to Disco (Stuart) from Redback Garrison for his advice on this point.

 

Next Up, the unpacked Big Brown Box in all it's Glory...

 

so after letting my nerves and excitement settle down (it took a few days...) I started to trim the helmet.

 

(ignore the line on the brow, that was a cutting line on the protective film. it has since been removed...)

After reviewing the other guys threads and seeing what the general comments were, took out a tiny bit more, just enough to make the lines look smooth and straight-ish. the teeth are also now a bit more even, but by no means perfect.

 

which brings us to Today, 6/1/2016. did some test glueing on some scraps of ABS, just to get a feel on how best to apply/use the E6000. once that was set, tested and i knew what i was doing, (and more test fitting, marking and adjusting) I have glued the face into the bucket.

 

 

 

 

excuse the paper over the brow, the magnets i have are really strong, but really old and a bit rough on the edges. the paper is there to try and prevent any scratches and damage.

time to kick back with a beer, let time do it's thing with the E6000 and continue trimming other parts.

 

(as a footnote, I am thinking about centurion, but will be happy to just get a pass to start with...)

 

Cheers, Luke

[shadan[TK]]

Always good to see fellow Aussies here, as new as I am...

[sskunky]

Looking good so far mate. <br><br>

Thanks for your kind words. You were great to deal with too. <br><br>

Any advice you know where I am. <br><br>

[Disco]

Great job mate - another CFO ROTJ in the Aussie ranks! - My advice - aim for Centurion with every process. It is far easier to do it as you go rather than upgrade later. you won't regret it.

[Trooper 666[TK]]

Hey everyone, Just a quick update, not much achieved recently, as been down with Pneumonia (who the hell gets Pneumonia in the Australian Summer??? well, I am in Melbourne after all...)

pics up over the weekend of the little i have done.

 

another quick question in relation to the Joins on shins/thighs/forearms/Biceps... does the cut edge that can be seen HAVE to line up with the folded/molded edge of the internal piece, or can the join line seen in the middle of it???

 

cheers, 

Luke.

[Disco]

My seams were pretty ordinary - if I had my time again I would make them appear on the visible joins as one nice neat seam. With the thighs and shins you can leave extra at the bag to allow for sizing.

[Tacblue[TK]]

My seams were pretty ordinary - if I had my time again I would make them appear on the visible joins as one nice neat seam. With the thighs and shins you can leave extra at the bag to allow for sizing.

You're lucky. I suspect that Trooper666 is running into the same issues I am as far as seams go. The overlap part is often not straight all the way down it's length, and trying to line the edges up leaves verrrrrry little room inside. My overlap seams will have to be down the center of the molded part of the inner piece, otherwise there's no way I'd be able to fit in it, and I am by NO means a big guy. Those original TKs mught have been tall, but they must have been stick men!

[Disco]

I know! I've got frog legs - one of the only times I'm grateful - my shins are tight at the boot so I was thinking of shims to open it up - arms were fine as were thighs - my cuts which you can see in my build were not great so I would have probably done them differentmy

 

 

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[Trooper 666[TK]]

@Star1687, Yep, same problem. the join is nice through the middle section of the shin, but at the top/bottom sweeps back. but having looked at some source pics (including those in star wars costumes: the original trilogy) RotJ Stormies had similar issues.

 

@Disco - did you ever get it confirmed, outer over inner, or inner over outer for shins/thighs/forearms/biceps???

                and how much of a return do i need on those same pieces. obviously none on front of forearms for centurion, but what about the rest. CRL doesn't say, and nobody has clear pics. any advice? i have left about 5mm on my returns, but happy to make it less so it wont dig in...

 

Also, I've heard of a few TK's spraying the interior of their buckets black/rubber. any thoughts???

[sskunky]

@Star1687, Yep, same problem. the join is nice through the middle section of the shin, but at the top/bottom sweeps back. but having looked at some source pics (including those in star wars costumes: the original trilogy) RotJ Stormies had similar issues.

 

@Disco - did you ever get it confirmed, outer over inner, or inner over outer for shins/thighs/forearms/biceps???

                and how much of a return do i need on those same pieces. obviously none on front of forearms for centurion, but what about the rest. CRL doesn't say, and nobody has clear pics. any advice? i have left about 5mm on my returns, but happy to make it less so it wont dig in...

 

Also, I've heard of a few TK's spraying the interior of their buckets black/rubber. any thoughts???

 

@Star1687, Yep, same problem. the join is nice through the middle section of the shin, but at the top/bottom sweeps back. but having looked at some source pics (including those in star wars costumes: the original trilogy) RotJ Stormies had similar issues.

This is true......

 

@Disco - did you ever get it confirmed, outer over inner, or inner over outer for shins/thighs/forearms/biceps???

                and how much of a return do i need on those same pieces. obviously none on front of forearms for centurion, but what about the rest. CRL doesn't say, and nobody has clear pics. any advice? i have left about 5mm on my returns, but happy to make it less so it wont dig in...

It's officially noted that the outer should overlap the inner so you don't see the join when looking side on but I have seen and posted pics of any which way..... So It should be officially noted that any way is screen accurate. I have found that one of the thighs fits together much better the "wrong" way and looks like it was originally sculpted that way. No returns on the arms and not really much elsewhere. a few mm is fine......

Also, I've heard of a few TK's spraying the interior of their buckets black/rubber. any thoughts???

Not a cannon thing but a personal preference..... I have done it on one or two.....

[K@nne[TK]]

Good to see another CFO ROTJ in the making. You are on the right track mate.

[Trooper 666[TK]]

Thanks for the clarification Mark. it's coming together nicely now i have a much better idea of what I'm doing. Having done a big 2 day convention (wrangling) and seen how a few different troopers have put theirs together, something has just clicked and now it all makes sense!!!

 

only thing holding me back is allowing the glue to set properly.... OOOhhhhh, First world problems

[Trooper 666[TK]]

time for an update (and some pics)

Almost have all parts glued and trimmed, just a few of the smaller parts to do/finish (shoulder straps, knee pad/belt/knee ammo belt/trim around butt&kidney plate)

 

with my build, I have opted to do all joins outer over inner, as sizing seems to fit me quite well with some small pieces of foam for padding in a couple of pieces only... (some pics up in the next couple of days...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some pics of the glueing process..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have taken a step back from the bucket for a while, just not quite focused enough to tackle it atm... mostly trying to get the details painted right and fixing the helmet liner in...

[sskunky]

Coming along nicely.

[Trooper 666[TK]]

So, strapping has commenced, and is now almost complete. nice tight fitting undersuit arrived yesterday (monday), and it feels so good that i've ordered another one.

 

so here are some pics from the start of the strapping weekend, just seeing if everything aligns and fits ok before attaching the strapping.

 

 

and a side on view....

 

it all fits nicely (in my opinion anyway!!!! ) so a few pics up later this week of everything that's done so far.

 

 

[Trooper 666[TK]]

So a quick update (been slack, i know...)

Armour is almost complete (plenty of pics to upload, just been too busy to actually get them on here...)

 

just a few bits of strapping to finish, paint a few buttons and attach the belt and drop boxes and the body armour is all done.

 

NOW to the sad part. My bucket was mishandled by someone i live with, and is damaged beyond repair. Have been in contact with Mark at CFO, and new parts needed are being organised. also getting my E11 at the same time, cut down on shipping costs overall..

 

We're having an armour party tomorrow, so will post a few pics of that up too, possibly be me kitted up (minus the bucket obviously)

 

so until the replacement bucket and blaster arrive, my build will take a bit of a Hiatus. but that's ok, allows me to deal with LIFE!!! lol

[Trooper 666[TK]]

Hi all, been a long time i know but Life has finally slowed enough to allow 5 minutes to do a major update.

while I may not have posted much, I have been quietly working away at my build, receiving my replacement bucket and blaster, and nearly being done

 

so here we go...

 

the box when it arrived (special shout out to Mark at CFO. really quick turn around and he bent over backwards to help)

this was a replacement face plate, back'n'cap, ears AND an E11 RotJ blaster resin replica Kit..

 

so the bucket didn't take too long to assemble (being My second attempt and all)

 

 

 

also painted Ab plate and attached the belt.

 

I have also attached my holster (on the left hand side to allow for magazine to protrude into space instead of my leg) going through reference pics/the movie. not many shots showing TK's with holster's, so I was wondering if anyone can clarify which side the holster should be on??? (easy enough to change sides if needed....)

 

recently finished the bucket, getting some bubble lenses from Fenix (originally for the Tie Pilot helmetet, but they work just as well in a TK, and Don't bugger your vision...!!!! I am also aware i need the black stipes/bars around the ear bumps.

My main concern is with the decals i was ordered from Fenix. they claim to be RotJ accurate, but i believe the front traps are too dark. looking ar ref pics, they should be the same colour grey as rear traps & tears.  any advice?? can anyone recommend Good decals at a decent price i can get ASAP if the ones I have are no good... Cheers

(Mark, the one's i originally received from you were too blue. i was advised by recent TK who applied for centurion to get some from Fenix, but now i have my concerns about them too...lol)

 

 

 

AND finally, here is a pregress pic of trying on the kit (Minus a bucket, was still waiting for it this point) a few changes have since been made, including the addition of the holster, shrinking the size of the bicep armour and adding strapping in the bells to hold them down over the biceps (also a requirement for centurion.) also the assembled blaster to finish off the long, long update.

sorry for the flash glare, but who needs to see my face anyway... lol

 

and the E11

 

 

 

Ok people, have at it. all feedback welcome... 

 

cheers, Luke

[K@nne[TK]]

Good progress mate. Correct me if I am wrong, are your decals brown? On the photos they look so brownish.

[Disco]

Looking great mate - the decals do look dark - it's a funny one with the decals - it seems to depend on which garrison you're and who does the approvals - I know K@nne got approved with CFO decals, yet I had the same ones and got picked up on them. I found some on eBay from somewhere in Sth America but I think he sold out. It's all coming together mate, glad you got your new bucket!

[Trooper 666[TK]]

cheers for the support guys, posted my approval pics today to our GML. now the fun part, waiting to see... lol

some of the pics for everyone to add the 2cents worth - look forward to all feedback.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Trooper 666[TK]]

K@nne, the decals weren't brown, but they were dark. asked our GML about them, and he said if i wasn't happy with them ten that pretty much answered the question. so yeah, got yet ANOTHER set of decals, this time the ESB set from trooper bay. much happier with them.  

 

it also may have been the dodgy lighting in the pic i posted, as they weren't that dark in real life, but they weren't great either...  

 

having had a good look at the pics, i also think they need a bit more padding in the shoulder bells at the bottom to make them push out a bit more. especially as i want to apply for EIB and Centurion. thoughts??

[sskunky]

Looks good. You've done a nice job on the assembly. Good luck.

[Trooper 666[TK]]

thanks Mark. few little fix's i've already noticed, but more for centurion. things like pad out the shoulder bells a touch more.

[Sly11[Admin]]

Looking good mate, hope to see your EIB application soon.

 

 

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[Haso[TK]]

Looks great mate. Looking forward to trooping with you when mine's done.

 

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