FuuManTroop's HWT build...the quest for a second costume!

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Hi there FISD! Im back to a build thread, if ya haven't figured that part out just yet . Ive been slowly working on a Heavy Weapons Trooper add on kit for my centurion approved TK armor. The goal here is to finally bestow what I originally wanted to join the Legion in. Currently I am about half way done with my HWT pack, already have my orange pauldron, and have already acquired and painted my MP-40 ammo pouches. I will be focusing more on the pack here, but will also spread the love of whatever else I can try to throw into this thread. Pictures soon to come!

[A Master Builder]

Can't wait to see it, Andrew! aKa Clean Sandy

[magni[TK]]

Great to see another HWT coming!

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Thanks yall. Once i can ohysically get to a computer, ill post some pictures. When i try to do it over my phone it never works out correctly anymore and is a jumbled mess.

[Mutter]

Looking forward to the build! 

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Lets begin!

 

Heres the Bavarian Autosport 16 qt oil change pan i ordered.

 

I ordered my canvas MP-40 Ammo pouches, stuffed em with some foam, and spray painted them black. I did mask off the buttons and the leather straps on the back. I know dying is probably the way to go, but spray painting them was just too hard to pass up

This is the spray paint I used, after they dried, they were nice and black, and any inefficiencies I had on them just gave it a weathered look, so double win

 

Then my pauldron showed up!

 

 

For the backpack, I am utilizing Ukswrath's How To, advice from JustJoseph, Templars build, and various bits from other builds.

 

Ordered the PopIt! tupperware from Tonys build, and here is an initial test fit on the oil pan before I modified the boxes.

 

Found some cups at Goodwill for under $1 for the pair to use for the filter on the bottom right of the backpack.

 

For the radio, I used a cardboard Photo Storage box, per Tonys dimensions, i cut the box down to 2" in thickness, and glued the top onto the box.

 

After the top was glued down, i began coating the cardboard with Matte finish Mod Podge. This helps strengthen and weatherproof the cardboard.

Applies white, but dries clear. I used a foam brush to spread it on. It also gives the box a nice little bit of texture, which i will sand down before assembling the details on the radio.

 

I used $0.88 sticky back floor tiles for most of the detailed features on the boxes. Also used "No Parking" sign styrene for some, and sintra as well.

Heres the radio detail test fit. By the way, mod podge caps make perfect radio dials!

 

And here are the rest of my components so far, again with a rough test fit.

 

Here I am primering and spraying the details grey

And the paint i used

 

Heres a test fit of my "button panel." I used 4 3/4" furniture end caps as my buttons, but may sand down the lengths a hair.

 

 

Thats where I am at so far!

 

 

 

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[magni[TK]]

Looking good. I used the same pan and buttons. Looks like the same pauldron too.I mounted my pouch to pauldron. What you going with?

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Looking at mounting the pouch to my back pack strapping. I did not like how permanent mounting the pouch go the pauldron was, and would like to have the option to wear the paiuldron with my TK

[aliens8us]

Job well done! I ended up using Tupperware from Walmart and Dollar Tree! Found a speaker box that was the perfect dimension for the radio; which I put an iHome speaker and MP3 player for radio chatter. Even though I have a DLT-19, I built the MPTL Rocket Launcher (but I seriously need to rebuild the 'box' with lighter material!

 

 

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[fuumantroop[TK]]

The mod podge definitely helps with the cardboard radio. Its not stiff like an aluminum box but it did help some. I glued the radio details on today, got the cap and bottle cap on top of the filter today as well. Vents are dry from paint, just need to glue them down, but i ran out of super glue. Still need to glue the tupperware tops on and begin getting ready for assembly. Now im debating whether or not i shohld use sheet metal or drywall screws to attach the boxes, or to glue machine screws inside the tupperware lid, and attach them via nuts and washers. Id like the boxes to be removeable in the event i decide to replace any of them.

[magni[TK]]

I went with the nuts and washers too. You bang into a lot of stuff and I trust them more then screws. I also used fender washers to increase strength.

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Alright more progress! Did a quick test fitting on all my components. Thanks to a nice armor party and awesome POWER TOOLS, i was able to neatly trim off the rounded portions of the PVC endcaps for my tube. Nice clean cut and looks as if its one piece!

 

Also the tk ribbed shoulder components came in, and a big thanks to Walts Trooper Factory for supplying them!

 

And here are the shoulder straps

 

 

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[A Master Builder]

Coming Along Andrew! I thought "HWT" stood for (Home Work Trooper)

[magni[TK]]

Nope. It's"Handy With Tools" maybe that's what we carry in the pack. Radio for when we're working and the tube holds the little cardboard cups for water.

[fuumantroop[TK]]

More and more progress for my "clean sandy."

 

Everything is painted. Pictures not shown just yet are of the black panel that goes onto my "wipes" container. It is still drying, along with 4 black sheet metal screws i will use to install them onto the container, along with some super glue.

 

Heres an extremely rough shot of the assembly with the boxes just sitting on my oil pan. Also not pictured YET is my riveted and painted filtration system.

 

After the final components dry overnight, i am hoping to begin getting everything attached. I still need to grab some strapping material to make my straps.

 

 

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[magni[TK]]

Looks good! Don't forget to paint the tube caps white

[fuumantroop[TK]]

They are white actually lol. I still had masking tape on them after painting the tube black

[magni[TK]]

I'm"Moving along" then

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Okay, all the boxes are currently curing onto the oil pan. I used drywall screws, and E6000 to attach them onto the base.

 

Also used drywall screws to attach the wipes container as well. And am just using E6000 to install the radio to the back pack.

 

All thats left to do is attach the filtration cup, attach the tube(the ribbed shoulder strapping is currently curing as well on the pipe), and attach straps to this thing, and its onto submission pictures!

 

Will likely do some weathering to the backpack as well to match the brush on weathering ill have to do for my Centurion app(and yes i intend to earn my badge again lol).

 

See, white end caps

 

Here is my filtration cup as well

 

 

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[magni[TK]]

Hey nice white caps! Your cruising right through this build. Looking awesome!

[zv288bot[TK]]

Wow! That looks amazing. So cool how it all came together with just random (on purpose) parts! Great job!

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Final assembly completed!!

 

And strapping completed! Minus my MP-40 ammo pouch connection on the left side, ill figure that out after my first initial test run. I hope to take my submission photos tomorrow or Thursday. I need to make my drop boxes removable, get some weathering make up for my armor, and also weather the pack

 

Here is how I strapped the backpack. I used machine screws for now, but will probably switch that over to pop rivets tomorrow

 

 

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[fuumantroop[TK]]

Disclaimer, i will be attaching some black eva foam to prevent the pack from scratching up my TK armor

[magni[TK]]

Looking great Andrew! When I wear mine I like it tight on my back. So I picked a school bookbag that had padded shoulder straps and one strap with a buckle that connects the two in the middle.that strap is not seen cause it's under my chest plate.I can run with it on and it doesn't budge. Just a suggestion but I'd really secure those straps with two nuts and bolts and some metal to secure that webbing. There's alot of preasure on them and I'd hate to hear you lost a strap and you drop that awesome pack.

[fuumantroop[TK]]

Ill be replacing the bolts for sure and adding more reinforcement. This was more or less just to get an idea of where to install the bolts. Definitely replacing with rivets and washers. I just don't trust the nuts and bolts enough to keep from coming loose lol. Thank you for your kind words and advice!