New Attempt at ANH Stunt build

[bartonajb]

Progress has been exceedingly slow. I have found the thighs to be the most frustrating step for me so far. I have been working on the left one for the last week as that required the least material removal at the top.

I don’t have big thighs so had to remove a decent amount of material from the back for a reasonable fit. I think this made the curve at the front fairly steep as I had a hard time clamping both sides with the cover strip st the same time. The gap kept opening up on one side or the other so I elected to attach the strip to one side at a time.

This made it easier to attach the other half however after spending 72 hours getting that one front cover strip on I ended up with a disagreeable gap at the bottom when the clamps and magnets came off.


Sooooo... off came the strip. I sanded down the inner edge of the halves a bit and I’m hoping it’s going to fit tighter together now. Guess we will see in 24-36 hours.


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[TheSwede[TK]]

You can fix that gap with some ABS on the inside and then ABS paste on the outside  

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

”Removed”

Edited February 3, 2018 by TheSwede
Double post

[bartonajb]

I was thinking about that if this does not work. I’m glad you mentioned that.


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[MrSnrub[501st]]

with the right leg align at the top! the ammo box will cover up the mis-alignment at the bottom.

[bartonajb]

Finally I have made progress enough to actually feel like it’s worth posting on. With my left thigh I applied and removed my front cover strip four times and couldn’t get my edges tight enough to be satisfactory. I eventually had to accept the gap at the bottom and filled it in with ABS paste as Daniel suggested. I put the inner strip on first for a backing for the paste. I had already trimmed the right top to align before seeing MrSnrubs advice. I just cut it to match the same profile. For the thigh ammo plate I cut down the height to about 4mm from each box.
For the length I only trimmed off the minimum of rough edge and that length worked out well. I used my TD to mark the corner profile.
I put it in a hot water bath to make a nice curve easier to work with while attaching. I found a saucepan I had about the same circumference as the thigh bottom and boiled it for about a minute.



Remove with tongs and hold in position wearing gloves to cool in place.
Drilled rivet hole 10 mm in and down from back top corner of belt and aligned about 1/4 inch from back edge of thigh.



Attached with tube rivets. I also slightly trimmed back the lower margin of the cover strip because it seemed like it would fit best slightly angled up and abutting the strip. Then applied glue and clamped.


Final result

I have also made good progress on the shins (last step!!!) but I’ll post that later.


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[ukswrath[Staff]]

Nice work Andrew 

[TheSwede[TK]]

It’s all coming together 

[bartonajb]

Thanks guys! Got a fitting question for you. As I have been trying my torso on frequently I notice that the chest cuts into the front of my neck whenever I look down or bent past 20 degrees or so at the waist. Standing strait with head forward is fine.I cut the return off the upper chest which helped some but I’m thinking of cutting it down a little bit more. I’m 5’8 so on the shorter side. I’m just curious how much range of motion for neck and waist flexion one should expect before I start cutting away.


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[TheSwede[TK]]

Mobility and TK-armor doesn’t go well together so by the sounds if it you got it as good as it gets...you could always trim some more at the neck for more comfort but as you say standing strait is fine I would leave it for now, can always come back and trim more after a troop or two....walking and putting on/removing the helmet on your own is a good reference point to have 

[lucnak[TK]]

I think that altering your shoulder straps may be a better idea than removing ABS at the neck and modifying the shape of the chest plate. Though this could lower your chest plate too much over the ab plate. But yes, mobility is not the greatest in these plastic spaceman costumes!

Edited February 23, 2018 by lucnak

[ukswrath[Staff]]

1 hour ago, lucnak said:

I think that altering your shoulder straps may be a better idea that removing ABS at the neck and modifying the shape of the chest plate. Though this could lower your chest plate too much over the ab plate. But yes, mobility is not the greatest in these plastic spaceman costumes!

Good point Luc. With some troopers it's fine adjustments here and there that are needed. Andrew can you post a few photos so we can see what exactly is going on. 

[bartonajb]

Appreciate the help. Here are some photos which were a bit tough to take solo but hopefully helpful.
Looking foreword.


Looking down

Bending forward

I think that if I were to lengthen the shoulder straps I would also have to change out my chest to abdomen bracket loops to be longer. Current ones are a little under an inch with to movement of the chest on abdomen.




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[ukswrath[Staff]]

Possible to get a full length photo?

[bartonajb]

Any more helpful?




If nothing else this got me to clean the bathroom mirror!


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[ukswrath[Staff]]

Good news, you have plenty of room to work with and it appears you've done everything correctly. If it really bothers you may need to add a couple additional connecting straps from the Ab to Chest to pull the chest down over the Ab further increasing the space between your neck and armor. As much as a fine job you did with the canon brackets, your situation may call for additional help.   

[bartonajb]

Thanks for taking the time to look over those Tony. As much as it will pain me to ruin the canon of my kit I’m thinking that even one strap in the middle could pull the chest down about a cm or so. You can see here how it sits currently but how it could come down.


And it’s effect on the front view


Daniel, thanks for the perspective on TK movement expectations. I guess I’ll give up considering downward dogs and sun salutations in suit


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[TheSwede[TK]]

It looks good and like Tony said you don`t really need to fix anything unless it bugs you, and...as you say it will pain you to alter the canon strapping  I say leave it as it is, you have the mobility needed and as I said earlier, you can alwas change it at a later date after some "test-runs"  

 

[lucnak[TK]]

Totally your call, but yeah, it looks like you could adjust this for some comfort!

[bartonajb]

Sound advice... I’ll give it a try as is but at least have a good idea how to fix it if I really have to. Now my next challenge is to explain to my wife when she gets home from work what I just did to her sewing machine trying to sew my thigh garter straps...


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[TheSwede[TK]]

11 minutes ago, bartonajb said:

what I just did to her sewing machine

Tell her there can`t be victory without sacrifice  (not sure that would help though)

[lucnak[TK]]

30 minutes ago, TheSwede said:

Tell her there can`t be victory without sacrifice  (not sure that would help though)

Be wary not to become the sacrifice!

[TheSwede[TK]]

1 hour ago, lucnak said:

Be wary not to become the sacrifice!

I am an Imperial Stormtrooper and I would not hesitate to sacrifice myself in order to save my brother  (play Imperial march for effect)

[bartonajb]

Yea that settles it. I’m going to do the honorable thing and tell her the kids were screwing with it


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[Frank75139[501st]]

Yea that settles it. I’m going to do the honorable thing and tell her the kids were screwing with it


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Obviously someone broke into the house and tried to sew a shirt for themselves


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