welshchris77's Anovos build

[welshchris77[TK]]

Ok so got all my parts pre trimmed and have been test fitting the thighs and shins, I have heard that Anovos may have got the numbers mixed up on the shin parts, I seem to have got mine lined up fairly good but not sure if the 'look right',

Any input would be appreciated.

I think I may have got a bit tight at the ankle 

Something I might have to fix!

Im 6'1" tall by the way 

 

[welshchris77[TK]]

Also the bottom of my Shins are barely covering the top of my boots!

[gazmosis[501st]]

Boy you're tall!

[welshchris77[TK]]

Boy you're tall!

Really?, I thought 6'.1 was about average, maybe my legs are just long 

[dejango[TK]]

I think your legs are just long. Shins do look a bit high but it doesn't look bad per say. I say go with it

 

 

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[DarkTrooper[TK]]

Wow, I didn't know the left thigh would end up having that much of a narrow taper at the top. 

[welshchris77[TK]]

Wow, I didn't know the left thigh would end up having that much of a narrow taper at the top. 

Do you mean at the top front edge of the left thigh where the two pieces join?

Its looks very different from the right thigh, not sure if its just my kit or they are all like this.

Maybe the cover strip will make it look different when its on.

[sylverbard[TK]]

Well...if you can leave like 5mm space covered by cover strips it'll expand them a little...

[welshchris77[TK]]

Well...if you can leave like 5mm space covered by cover strips it'll expand them a little...

Thanks Mark, yes I have done this and actually gained an extra 10mm, disaster averted 

[welshchris77[TK]]

Pretty much finished the left forearm today, tidied up the edges by cutting a small strip of abs, glueing it inside with home made abs paste and dabbing it onto the outside with a toothpick then sanding when dried for strength, got some novus 1-2-3 polish on order for any scratches and areas that need to be polished too.

[welshchris77[TK]]

Test fitting the Torso

 

Ab and chest plate are fitting well, not much of an overlap but enough to get by, also looks like I won't have shim either, giving up cakes, sweets and beer has really paid off!.

Being 6'1 I seem to be having the same trouble as other 'tall' troopers with a huge gap between my kidney plate and back plate.

To remedy this I have given the upper sections of the back a good old 'hot water bath' to take away that sharp bend and gain me a few inches which seems to have sorted the problem 

 

And the before and after pics!

 

Made a huge difference!

[welshchris77[TK]]

Took two 'hot water baths' by the way to achieve the shape I needed!

oh yeah and the socks and sandals are not imperial issue either by the way 

[kman[TK]]

Well done! My effort to do the same was not quite as effective. The f$%*ing return edge split so I'm going to have to reinforce it somehow.

 

3 steps forward, 2 steps back...

[ScaryGuy[TK]]

Nice modding! Makes a huge difference. How long do you put it in the hot water before bending it? I think I have to mod my butt plate too, it's a bit wide for me.

[welshchris77[TK]]

Well done! My effort to do the same was not quite as effective. The f$%*ing return edge split so I'm going to have to reinforce it somehow.

 

3 steps forward, 2 steps back...

reinforce your return edges with some small strips of abs but don't use E6000, use abs paste as glue and hold it for a few minutes or clamp for more permanence and also if you need to re-heat it again.

[welshchris77[TK]]

Nice modding! Makes a huge difference. How long do you put it in the hot water before bending it? I think I have to mod my butt plate too, it's a bit wide for me.

Thanks, as the plastic is reasonably thick in this area it can take quite a lot of heat to re-form it, I had the pan on the smallest ring on my hob so the heat wouldn't rise up the sides to damage the piece, I kept the water permanently boiling and left it in for 2-3 minutes or as long as is needed to get the plastic really hot, I did it twice to get the shape I wanted, the plastic was hot to touch when bending but not so hot that I couldn't tolerate it for a few seconds, you can use gloves but I prefer not to as I can 'feel' the piece better, it cools quick, I also had the cold tap running in the sink and one I got the shape quickly held it under the cold water but still applying pressure so it wouldn't 'spring' back to its original shape, once its cold it will stay put!

[welshchris77[TK]]

Nice modding! Makes a huge difference. How long do you put it in the hot water before bending it? I think I have to mod my butt plate too, it's a bit wide for me.

Be careful with the butt plate if using hot water as it is a lot thinner than other pieces!

[welshchris77[TK]]

Got the Snipper knee plate and ammo pack done over the last few days also, does anyone know if the ammo pack on the thigh is meant to be angled slightly up? it looks like this on some armor, not sure what the verdict is on this 

 

 

 

And here is the ammo pack position I mentioned

 

Straight:-

 

Or angled up ?:-

 

Straight:-

 

Or up?:-

 

 

[welshchris77[TK]]

Thermal detonator completed also, didn't have any of the correct shape screws and couldn't be bothered to mail away for them so got some 'hex' head bolts, ground and sanded them down and added a 'slot' with a dremel cutting wheel.

Bolted them from the inside with flat waters, sprung washers and nuts.

 

I know some have shortened the length of their TD's and I didn't but could always pop of the caps at a latter date and sand the ends down a bit if needed 

 

Edited February 29, 2016 by welshchris77

[hupspring[TK]]

On my thigh ammo pack I have it more or less straight so that there is some space between the bottom of the cover strip and the ammo pack. But I've also seen pictures of the ammo pack angled up slightly so there is no gap between it and the cover strip. Not sure if there is a right or wrong way in this case.

 

I'm going to follow your lead on the back plate with the water bath - I'm 6'0" and have a small gap between the back and kidney, and the tops of the back are not comfortable as they are now.

[kman[TK]]

Ukswrath just did the thigh ammo pack in his thread. On his, he angled it up slightly (like the screen-used armor photos he also posted).

 

I angled mine up so it ends right at the bottom of the cover strip, and none of the "ridge" part is showing.

 

The only issue with cutting down your TD later is you'll have to drill new holes, too, since the metal straps are right against the end caps and will be forced to move once you cut it down.

 

Not sure I follow about hex head bolts... did you actually round off a hexagonal bolt?!? Got a before pic? Cuz that's niiiice work, if you did that by hand.

Edited February 29, 2016 by kman

[ScaryGuy[TK]]

Be careful with the butt plate if using hot water as it is a lot thinner than other pieces!

Thanks for the advice. I'll test the hot water method with some scrap abs first. Ukswrath has posted his ammo pack installation. He has it close to the cover strip. I think I would prefer that too.

[welshchris77[TK]]

On my thigh ammo pack I have it more or less straight so that there is some space between the bottom of the cover strip and the ammo pack. But I've also seen pictures of the ammo pack angled up slightly so there is no gap between it and the cover strip. Not sure if there is a right or wrong way in this case.

 

I'm going to follow your lead on the back plate with the water bath - I'm 6'0" and have a small gap between the back and kidney, and the tops of the back are not comfortable as they are now.

From a distance 'straight' looks better I think, but angled looks better closeup when its touching the cover strip, I want to put a small dap of E6000 under it to stop it slipping down when trooping but will leave it for now as I'm undecided.

 

Be careful with the hot water bath you don't split the return edge, I think mine didn't split because I got the plastic very hot before trying to bend it and also because I could 'feel' it better without gloves and didn't push it against any hard surfaces but be warned it will be 'hot'!, I didn't burn myself though, just use caution or do as ukwrath has mentioned and trim/tapper the return edge before you begin 

[welshchris77[TK]]

Ukswrath just did the thigh ammo pack in his thread. On his, he angled it up slightly (like the screen-used armor photos he also posted).

 

I angled mine up so it ends right at the bottom of the cover strip, and none of the "ridge" part is showing.

 

The only issue with cutting down your TD later is you'll have to drill new holes, too, since the metal straps are right against the end caps and will be forced to move once you cut it down.

 

Not sure I follow about hex head bolts... did you actually round off a hexagonal bolt?!? Got a before pic? Cuz that's niiiice work, if you did that by hand.

I will check out how ukwrath did it but I think 'angled' is possibly more screen accurate.

I realize I would need to drill new holes for the TD if I cut it down but they would be hidden by the bracket so thats not a problem, only I would know they are there 

Yes I rounded off a hexagonal bolt by the way, its actually quite easy if you have a drill and a bench grinder (or could possible use a belt sander), you start off with a longer bolt than what you need, chuck it up into the drill, hold it against the side of the bench grinding disk but start up the drill and let the bolt head spin before you start pushing it against the grinder, needs to be held quite steady though, if you don't it will 'bounce' not grind it round evenly, the bolt head can be tilted to round off the edges and any lettering and then hold it against some sand paper and start up the drill again to polish it smooth with different grits. Finish by marking the slot with a pencil and carefully use a thin dremel cutting disk to make the slot and use the disk to also trim the bolt down to the required size, this also cuts away any possible damaged thread caused by the drill.

A pressure sensitive trigger is also useful on your drill for this job so you can control the speed the bolt head spins at.

 

I can post some pics tomorrow if anyone is interested, its actually easier then it sounds and only took maybe 10 mins or less, Hex bolts are very cheap so if you mess one up just make another, I used a similar technique when I made brass capacitors for my 'all brass' power cylinders on my sterling E11 as I don't have a lathe.

Edited February 29, 2016 by welshchris77

[welshchris77[TK]]

Thanks for the advice. I'll test the hot water method with some scrap abs first. Ukswrath has posted his ammo pack installation. He has it close to the cover strip. I think I would prefer that too.

Try it with thick and thin offcuts and you will notice how much hotter you will need to get the thicker ones before bending them