Vexus's AP Build Thread. Road to the 501st

[Sentry71[TK]]

You will find a way around this. No worries to be had. We got your back.

 

I had talked with ukswrath about cover strip sizes. His advice was to make them proportional to each other, and to the armor.

The recommended sizes for strips is 15 / 20 / 25mm (for forearm and bicep / thigh and front shin / back shin). Mine were 18 / 22 / 27mm.

 

For example, you could try doing 20 on the front of the forearm, and use a larger strip on the back. As a bigger trooper, that may make more sense and still look appropriate for the size. If in doubt, mock it up with tape, take some pics of it on your arm, and ask for feedback. You can probably even contact ukswrath or Sly11 directly for their opinions on how it would affect Centurion (if at all).

 

Hope that helps and doesn't muddy the waters too much more.

[Pretzel]

Hello everyone,

 

I took a breath, and well I got other stuff done, and will post pics of my progress. In the meantime, I punched some words into google and found this. Is this a good step by step process for shimming?

 

http://www.tonybarnett.plus.com/shims.html

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

For the back of the shins  yes. I would do something much more permanent for the kidney. 

[Pretzel]

Alright! Negative vibes are gone. Put my armor aside, started to peel off my inner cover strips already applied to my biceps and forearms, and will be ready to return and shim as needed. (Thank God for E6000)  In the meantime, I worked on some other stuff to get the ball rolling in the right direction again. 

 

 

Re-did my TD. It was actually a half an inch too large, this is now exactly 7.50 inches now. 

 

 

My belt is constructed, I just need to add the drop boxes. 

 

 

Helmet is 100% done. I can now troop in this bucket. Pads installed and fans. These fans feel like little AC units. It is amazing. Time to get this done! Thanks for the support and help as always everyone. 

[gatetrooper[TK]]

Glad to see you out of the doldrums! <br>

I'm not there yet, but looking ahead to the strapping system... Sounds like you are going with nylon soft snap plates. I'm going to use snap plates as well, but trying to decide whether to go with ABS snap plates or nylon. What made you settle on the nylon route?

[Pretzel]

Glad to see you out of the doldrums! <br>

I'm not there yet, but looking ahead to the strapping system... Sounds like you are going with nylon soft snap plates. I'm going to use snap plates as well, but trying to decide whether to go with ABS snap plates or nylon. What made you settle on the nylon route?

No wrong way to do this. But for me. Easier to work with and more accessible for me.

 

Nylon will wear over time. (a long time) That is why a lot of guys go with ABS. But for me.. Just easier to work with and will be less stressful on the armor imo.

 

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

[Pretzel]

Small Update. Was busy this weekend, but decided to finish up the canvas belt and do some painting. 

 

 

 

Thoughts ? 

[Pyrates[TK]]

That's stellar news mate - those little breaks help! Now Git'r'done

[Pyrates[TK]]

The only thing I see that needs attention is the button cap is missing on the left hand side - other than that your looking frosty!

[Pretzel]

The only thing I see that needs attention is the button cap is missing on the left hand side - other than that your looking frosty!

 

Oh yeah, I have those. lol Just need to glue em on yet.  

[Sentry71[TK]]

Belt looks awesome!

 

Pyrates already pointed out the cap issue, but your alignment looks spot on.

Keep it up!

[Pretzel]

Hey guys. So I am back at it. Started to dip my toes into fixing my legs to get the front cover strips to about 20mm. I glued the inner front cover strips first, and will shim once that I know exactly how much I need. So here are some pictures of my progress.

 

 

 

That went okay, just have to wait for them to dry. So, I decided to glue the shoulder straps!

 

 

I then got even more adventurous and decided to begin drilling holes into my ab and kidney plates. I decided to strengthen the inside of the ends for the rivets on the left side.

 

 

NO GAP! (I heard that is a good thing)

 

 

Oh and re-painted the ab buttons to the french blue.

 

 

That is it for now. I also created a helmet stand from a paper towel holder from target. It works

 

 

Thoughts? Criticism? Thanks for stopping by!

Edited May 21, 2016 by Razgriz

[Pyrates[TK]]

Beautiful work mate and looking frosty!

[spyder918]

Lookin good buddy!

[Sentry71[TK]]

The only recommendation from these pics, is the smaller button plate. You may want to look into trimming that down a bit more, as it shouldn't overhang the small indentation is sits on top of. A small accuracy thing that may or may not get pointed out later.

 

Keep it up!

[Pretzel]

The only recommendation from these pics, is the smaller button plate. You may want to look into trimming that down a bit more, as it shouldn't overhang the small indentation is sits on top of. A small accuracy thing that may or may not get pointed out later.

 

Keep it up!

Thanks Sentry. Would you recommend both be trimmed or just a certain one? Which ab button set is a little worrisome? Edited May 22, 2016 by Razgriz

[Sentry71[TK]]

Just the smaller one. The larger one looks good as is.

[Dougal[501st]]

Kit is coming together nicely Preston!

[Pretzel]

So this update is a little boring. Gluing. Clamping. Magnets. Test fitting in between all of that, so here is my fiiine self trying on my abs at a local armor party. 

 

 

Ok, back to business.. 

 

STOP STARING AT MY BUTT! 

 

Ok seriously. Here are my pieces being glued, and some are still curing. 

 

 

If you have been following my thread, I just started gluing parts over again because of my cover strip issue, after some tweaking and heat gun motivation, I was able to make these pieces fit well, and get the cover strips pretty close to the recommended sizes. I began the outer cover strips in the back of the calves, and will be placing velcro soon. 

 

 

I also started the shimming process for my thighs. I cut spare ABS and used a heat gun to form it around my thigh. It fits well, and will glue in this shim soon. I will then be following this thread religiously to make it as close as I can. 

 

 

That is it for now. 

[Pretzel]

Update.
I feel the home stretch. So, here we go. This is what I have done so far. We tackled the thighs with shimming. These are not done yet! But I am pleased with the results so far.

Shimming of the Thighs. 

 

BEFORE

 

 

AFTER

 

Shoulder Bells, Forearms & Biceps

 

 

Calves

Edited June 6, 2016 by Razgriz

[Pretzel]

Another update. Triple Post!? I guess I am boring. lol or doing something right? HOME STRETCH! 

 

Coated my thigh Fix, I am happy with this, all I need to do for my thighs is apply the cover strips and add the ammo pack. 

 

 

Adding Nylon Snap Plates ! 

 

 

My Gloves...

 

A day goes by... added the female strapping. 

 

Edited June 10, 2016 by Razgriz

[pewpewpew[TK]]

What do you mean exactly by "coated your thigh fix"? Is that paint, or a skim coat of abs paste? Looks really good!<br><br>

Disregard, I just saw the thread you linked to. Pretty impressive stuff. Good work.

Edited June 10, 2016 by pewpewpew

[Pretzel]

Another Update. I had a very busy, but productive weekend. I would also like to know that my thoughts are with the troopers in Orlando, FL that may have been affected by the recent shooting... 

 

 

 

This is a fun update, I get to try on the entire armor, and see what tweaks and kinks that I still need to work out. Specifically the Shoulder Bells. I have heated and bent as much as I could, I hope I get some insight from fellow troopers on how to bring the bells in closer together. ( Maybe I am just too big for them )

 

Picture time! 

 

Here is my strapping system. Nothing special.

 

I will need some ideas on how to mount the audio. I have an iComm system, but would prefer not to put it inside the armor itself, but maybe have it draped around my neck via support system. Ideas ? 

 

There she be. Hanging on the glorious Black Plastic Hanger of the Preston household. 

 

 

Time to try it on. Everything Minus the Neckseal and booties. I could use suggestions on how to get dressed with little assistance. lol. You will take note that my Thermal Detonator is off. VERY off, and in the process of fixing how that is mounted. I need to place the cover strips on my thighs as well.. which will be displayed in a bit.

 

 

You can't tell, but I am smiling underneath that frown. 

 

So after the test fit run, and figuring out what I needed to do yet, I went ahead and started gluing the cover strips for the thighs.. I love how they turned out.

 

Always remember: Apoxie Paste, LOTS OF SANDING, PAINT. REPEAT. 

 

 

That is it for now. Almost finished. Maybe submitting photos to my GML this weekend. In the meantime, I am hoping to improve on anything that my eyes may have missed. Thanks! 

Edited June 13, 2016 by Razgriz

[lucnak[TK]]

For your shoulder bells, perhaps moving where they attach to your shoulder straps will help. I would move them a bit closer to your front. Gap seems to be smaller in the back. You could even that out.

 

Another suggestion: not sure if you have foam in your thighs to prevent your sniper plate from locking, but I found that quite helpful. Push the thigh back and the shin forward.

 

Lastly, for dressing, the way I dress is:

• Microphone, balaclava, neckseal
• Garter belt and thighs
• Boots on
• Shins
• Torso w/ belt
• Arms
• Helmet
• Gloves

Hope that's helpful for you!

•  

[Pretzel]

Thanks so much Lucnak! Very helpful, I will give that a try this weekend, and update on how it goes!