New members first build

[BrianD]

So, this will be my first attempt and I am hoping to take my time and do it right. This forum has already been very helpful reading through all the threads. Looking forward to picking all your brains for the correct info I will need to finish this thing. 

Anyway, I began with the helmet which was a 3 piece helmet. I cut out the teeth and painted them. The top and back piece were giving me a hard time trying to line them up properly to clamp down so I hot glued on some magnets to use to hold them in place while the E6000 dried. Worked like a charm and the hot glue was really easy to remove. 

 

 

 

 

I used Testors model paints to paint the gray areas and I outlined them with black. I am waiting for my stencils to arrive to paint the blue tube stripes and the black lines in the tears and rear helmet traps. 

 

 

 

 

I started working on the forearms last night. I removed the front return edge and filed it down and installed the first cover strip (I also removed the tip of my middle finger while trimming it in half!). 

 

 

That's where I am at now. I'd love to hear any feedback, criticism, advice etc. that any of you more advanced builders may have. I have never built anything quite like this before. I used to build a lot of models as a kid but that was a looong time ago! LOL!

 

Thanks in advance,

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Looking good Brian. The Vcoder on the front of the helmet could stand to be a bit more defined. Here's a reference photo...

 

 

Regarding the forearms, have you performed a test fit? Can you trim them down any?

 

Edit: Welcome to the FISD by the way 

[BrianD]

Thank you! I will add some definition to the vocoder tonight. I did test fit the arms. The back will need to be trimmed a bit but not much. Are you referring to the front leading edge? If so, yes I can afford to trim a little more off of it. Does it need to be thinner at the edge then it currently is?

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Thank you! I will add some definition to the vocoder tonight. I did test fit the arms. The back will need to be trimmed a bit but not much. Are you referring to the front leading edge? If so, yes I can afford to trim a little more off of it. Does it need to be thinner at the edge then it currently is?

 

Forearm, I was referring to the diameter. How much room is there between the armor and your skin?

[BrianD]

They actually fit pretty well. They could probably be trimmed just a tad, but I'm a bigger guy (5'10", 240 lbs). I planned on making them as tight fitting as possible for me to still be able to fit my hand through. Is there a better way to fit them?

[pattrooper]

looks good so far..and cutting yourself is part of the initiation..welcome.

[ukswrath[Staff]]

They actually fit pretty well. They could probably be trimmed just a tad, but I'm a bigger guy (5'10", 240 lbs). I planned on making them as tight fitting as possible for me to still be able to fit my hand through. Is there a better way to fit them?

 

Sounds good. Don't make them too tight, your body needs room to breath. Keep up the good work.

[BrianD]

Thanks guys. I will continue to update this thread and ask questions as I progress. I still have lots of questions about the rivets and strapping required when I get to the chest and back armor. I'm hoping to build this to at least the basic level of 501st approval if not higher. 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

looking good, a few adjustments and you should be ready

[BrianD]

Question... should the bicep armor have the return edges removed as well? I am thinking I should trim it off since I may need to open it up a bit with a cover strip. Maybe only 1/4-1/2 inch or so. Does it matter for approval?

[Tolo[TK]]

Question... should the bicep armor have the return edges removed as well? I am thinking I should trim it off since I may need to open it up a bit with a cover strip. Maybe only 1/4-1/2 inch or so. Does it matter for approval?

If you want to remove remove it. The original ones don't have it.

 

 

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[BrianD]

Thank you!

 

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[BrianD]

Getting ready to finish the helmet assembly. I was hoping you guys could take a look and let me know if the alignment looks ok. Mostly concerned with the white gap between the top of the eyes and the black brow trim. Don't want it too big. I plan on installing the ears with only 2 screws so I will likely use a rivet to close up the sides that will be hidden by the ears once they are on.

 

 

 

 

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Once you install the centering rivet or screw, than the ears, it should squish down. The ear once installed will also cover the seam and any imperfections. The top section nearest the brow seal will bulge out at bit, this is normal. 

[BrianD]

Can anyone tell me if this ear gap is acceptable or should I trim it down some more?

 

 

[Tolo[TK]]

It's more than acceptable. But, if you gently sand the rear part, you can make it flush.

 

But, it's not an obligation

 

 

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[ukswrath[Staff]]

Perfectly exceptable as Eric stated 

[BrianD]

Thank you guys for the fast response. I need to still do the teeth screen, lenses, mic tips and stripes and then I need a good comfortable liner (recommendations gladly accepted!) and then the helmet should be pretty close to finished! Here it is as it sits now. Please let me know if there is anything else you see that needs to be tweaked.

 

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

From what I can see it looks good to me

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Back to the ears, a little clarification, the shape and even the gaps are acceptable however, they could stand to be a bit thinner. Here's a couple reference photos. Sorry for the delay on this, I passed out last night before I could elaborate.

 

Edit: Yours are in no way a deal breaker. My above comment is my OCD speaking

 

[BrianD]

Thanks. I tend to get a little OCD on these types of things too. After messing with the ears for a couple hours I finally got fed up and put them on. I'll likely end up pulling them and working them down a little more.

 

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[BrianD]

Got a little more done and I had a few questions. I have trimmed out and glued all the arm armor. I have not fit it yet so it may still need to be trimmed some. I also got the screen in behind the teeth and got the stencils in to do the stripes. I was wondering which color should be used for the tube stripes. I have Testors brand paint. I got both the French Blue and the Blue Angel Blue. I am going for the stunt version now since I ended up using all 3 screws in the ears. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last (for now), does this liner look like it would fit and be comfortable in the helmet? I found it on Ebay. I am looking for something a bit more sturdy than the regular hard hat liner or plain foam. 

 

 

[Toddahhhh[TK]]

Build is looking awesome, have had my kit for a week, too scared to start it. Since it's fresh in your mind, do you have any links to the better build threads? I'm trying to learn as much as possible before putting scissors to ABS.

[BrianD]

I have just been going through the builds here and watching the build threads on YouTube from Trooper Bay and a few others. I did very little cutting so far. I'd rather have to trim stuff down after it's close to finished to fit then to cut too much off in the beginning.

 

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[Toddahhhh[TK]]

Perfect, thank you!