JAFO'S FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER BUILD (Jimmiroquai)

[JAFO[TK]]

So in the last couple of weeks - since regaining something resembling free-time - I've achieved a few random tasks. First up was to cut the EVA foam inserts for the two central belt boxes. Whilst many have opted to mask and paint the back of the boxes black I wanted to go for a little more accuracy so cut the boxes where appropriate then sourced the right material to fit in. The EVA 75 is light as a feather and looks great.

This past weekend I decided to venture in to the word of painting!!!!! I was considering a professional auto spray and found someone who was interested. However, on getting back in touch they had got cold feet and backed out. I spoke to a few more  auto shops but, honestly, none showed the love. So I decided rattle cans were the way forward.  

I have trialled a few paints along the way and based on research decided that Rust-Oleum Universal Advanced Formula Gloss White was the way to go. I found only one place in Australia that stocked it and worked with them to hatch a bulk deal.

I thought I would start with something small - the hand plates. So after a good sanding and wash I gave them a go.





OUCH! Something didn't work! Humidity? Solvents from the primer? I've had some great input from other members but safe to say I won't be rushing forward in the painting process and will be taking baby steps to ensure everything goes to plan. I'll sand these plates back soon and give them another go. To be updated!

I cast aside the painting and decided to tackle another big job - creating apertures for the shoulder bell supports. My aim is the centre bar and two side elastics. Having measured and marked up the yoke it was time for some Dremel action. I took it VERY slowly!!!!









I won't be winning any awards for my work any time soon but it turned out well and the the yoke is still intact! I will be adding the centre bar and affixing with Apoxie Sculpt for extra support. The elastic will be glued in place on the yoke but have snaps to attach to the shoulder bell.

Having successfully tackled the yoke I wrapped up my weekend with a solid session of sanding and bathing. The latter refers to the sanded parts and not me!



 I'm hoping to make some more progress this week and look forward to sharing another update soon.

[Cookie Nomster]

Coming along.

[JAFO[TK]]

A cheeky bit of action today. Lots of bits.

 

- Used Apoxie Sculpt to set in place the shoulder bell supports.

 

- Did some wet sanding and respraying of the parts I stuffed first time. Much better outcome this time.

 

- Sprayed some new parts. Look at the shiny codpiece! It'll get even better with a wet sand and second coat.

 

- Used a heat gun to (carefully) shape the greeblies to the forearms, biceps and spats. Worked a charm. Then set in place with E6000.

 

- I sized up some elastic supports for the shoulder bells then stitched on some Velcro. I glued the opposite piece to the bells.

 

There's still PLENTY to do but it's good to see some white pieces. Feels like I might see an FOTK at the end of all this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Looking good Darren

[T K[501st]]

This is coming along well. The FOTK definitely takes a lot longer than a OTTK.   Great job!

[JAFO[TK]]

This is coming along well. The FOTK definitely takes a lot longer than a OTTK. Great job!

It's fair to say I'm probably a LOT slower

[JAFO[TK]]

As summer arrives in Australia I'm determined to keep momentum going. I've achieved a few tasks in the last couple of days...

 

- I used a step bit to drill some holes in the shins to prep for my magnetic closure system. A nerve wracking experience but all turned out well.

 

 

- I filled the inside shin greeblie space with Apoxie Sculpt. Will sand back tomorrow.

 

 

 

- I attached the shin boxes.

 

 

- I attached the thigh greeblies.

 

 

- I measured up and completed a test fitting of the R2Dan holster. There's a little excess screw thread on the inside which I shall Dremel off and sand back.

 

 

 

I wasn't happy with the space around the forearm greeblies so filled with Apoxie Sculpt. Not an essential mod but a detail one.

 

 

 

Finally, with the shin boxes dried I rounded off today with some Bondo action to ensure no seams will be present.

 

 

With all these little jobs getting it done it really feels like the end is in sight despite much sanding, painting, sanding and painting to come.

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Looking great Darren. Loving the magnet idea for the shin closure, looking forward to see how it holds up. 

[JAFO[TK]]

A few more jobs achieved ahead of a busy weekend where no progress is likely to be made.

 

- I sanded back the Bondo on the shin blocks and the Apoxie Sculpt in the inside leg greeblie spaces, and then got on to welding the outside of the shins.

 

- Sanded back the Apoxie Sculpt I used to tidy the forearm greeblies.

 

 

 

- Finished up by using some Apoxie Sculpt to fill the small gaps around the holster join.

 

It has been a good week

 

 

 

[Dynamic1[501st]]

Great work buddy! Your a machine

[BrinkHouse]

Uh oh, four months and no progress!? 

[JAFO[TK]]

Uh oh, four months and no progress!?

Indeed. Very little progress! All the usual excuses sadly but I've also had a lot of international travel to contend with.

 

We're also having the worse run of wet weather - about a month's worth on/off. Can't find the right combo of time/weather to get to the next level.

[JAFO[TK]]

Good to get back in the game over the last couple of days. Great to have some time and good weather!

 

Priming the big pieces one day followed by some Bondo action the next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JAFO[TK]]

A bit of action over the last few days as I make the most of some free time and good weather.

 

Gave a few parts a second coat...

 

 

Sanded back the pieces I had gone over with Bondo...

 

 

 

And set-up a 'pop-up paint shack' to give me an area to work under for a few days. First job was to tackle all the sanded pieces and give them their first coat.

 

 

After allowing sufficient time to dry there will be some wet sanding to do then, hopefully, just one last coat before assembly and test fitting.

 

I can almost smell the end...of that could just be the paint fumes

[ukswrath[Staff]]

I think I just hear the wife  say "What in the H@#$ did you do to my ironing board and lawn furniture" lol

 

Looking good 

[JAFO[TK]]

I think I just hear the wife  say "What in the H@#$ did you do to my ironing board and lawn furniture" lol

 

Looking good 

 

 Everything is getting trashed!

 

I'm trying to get all this painting done before we get the landscapers in for a new backyard.  I have only a week or so to get this done so here's hoping the weather continues to be fine!

[ukswrath[Staff]]

[JAFO[TK]]

A big afternoon of wet sanding yesterday and then the small job of applying some decals to finished pieces today.

 

It's nice to see some black and white together - it's starting to look like a trooper kit!

 

 

[JAFO[TK]]

Good to get a little more work done today and some shiny white goodness to show for it.

 

 

Even managed to get the Trooperbay decals on to the firearms which is another job off the list.

 

 

Looks like a good few days of weather ahead so more painting - and updates - to come!

[JAFO[TK]]

Another day and more progress!

 

A few more completed pieces but also a couple that suffered paint issues so will need a wet sand and respray.

 

It's both a challenging and frustrating process but the reward of a piece turning out well gives the necessary boost to continue.

 

 

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Looking good Darren. Orange peel paint is such a pain but you'll get there. 

[JAFO[TK]]

So, it has been a BIG week and today has been a particularly rewarding day of the build as I get closer to the finish line (seemingly!).

Whilst painting and repainting continued on a few pieces I took time to put the finishing touches to some of the completed kit. Namely, it was time to work on the the pill boxes, vents and holster.

For the various pill boxes and vents - biceps, shins and chest - the main accessory required is gaffer tape. Black is used behind the apertures and I opted to use white tape as the 'fixer'.



The process is simple...cut out a suitable piece of black gaffer to cover the aperture then use a piece of white gaffer to back it and stick to the inside of the armour.







For the chest pill boxes I used a piece of mesh that I sourced from Asia and based on the material used/sold by Tony (Ukswrath) in his lauded bible of the FOTK build.



Once in place I backed the mesh with black gaffer then applied the white gaffer tape to secure.





The chest vent is backed with just gaffer tape per the bicep and shin pill boxes.







With all of the pill boxes and vents taken care of, it was time to take on the holster....

[JAFO[TK]]

When it comes to the holster I have seen some fix it with Torx screws than paint over. I don't believe this to be screen accurate so during the holster install I held it in place with some temporary screws and bonded it to the thigh prior to the painting process. The result was a 'clean' holster ready for the Torx screws to be added.

 

 

R2Dan's holster is a great piece of kit. I opted to add it without the resin wedge so that I can choose to suspend either the F-11D Blaster or SE-44C pistol.

 

Adding the Torx back in to the mix was easy as and I'm very happy with the final result.

 

 

Another job done!

[JAFO[TK]]

Final post for today....SUPER pumped three more pieces are complete.

 

The shin and bicep that were causing me so much paint grief are now done! And the biggest piece - the ab - has come up really nicely. 

 

 

I've added the Trooperbay decals to the ab and, well it's looking all First Order like!

 

 

The final piece to be finished in the painting stakes is the yoke. It's looking really good but there are just a couple of areas I'm not happy with. This will be my task for tomorrow. 

 

BRING...IT...ON!

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Almost there, looking good.