David G AM 4.5 ANH Stunt Build Thread

[Iron TK[TK]]

Torso Assembly Continued

Progress-to-date on torso including belt, shoulder bells and bridges, rivets and more

 

Key resources consulted:

• AJ's AM ANH Stunt build (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/40831-ajs-of-am-20-build/)
• LTM's AM TK ANH Stunt build (LTM's AM TK ANH build)
• TK-32568 EIB Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46507-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-am-892/)
• TK-32568 Centurion Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46815-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-centurion-status-am-432/)
• Andrew H, TK-14023, who has helped directly with advice and fittings and material components.

Picture of arms with trimmed shoulder bells:

• 

Pictures of torso progress:

• Han snap:
• Drop box:
• Holster assembly:
• Abdomen, belt, and cod:
• Shoulder bridges and elastic:
• Painted and affixed ab plates:
• Rivets:

Items for this that remain to be done:

• Snap attachment for shoulder bells
• Non-functional rivet in cod
• Remove butt tab and reinstall snaps
• Finalize strapping
• First fitting!

[Chemi[Staff]]

8 hours ago, David G said:

 

Items for this that remain to be done:

• Snap attachment for shoulder bells
• Non-functional rivet in cod
• Remove butt tab and reinstall snaps
• Finalize strapping
• First fitting!

You got it David!!!. Everything looks shiny and taking care of the details...

Waiting for the photos of your first fitting...

[LTM[TK]]

Looks great! Looking forward to the fitting. Really nice job on the ab button painting. 

 

Make sure you walk around and go up a step or two, this will show you some pinch points. Indicate those pinch points in posting the pics and we can help with solutions. I had a hard time removing some of the return as I think it makes the armor look "less thick", but being mobile is necessary for troops. 

[Iron TK[TK]]

Torso Assembly Continued-Continued

Progress-to-date and changes made with torso assembly and improved pictures

 

Additions and changes:

• Non-functional rivet in cod installed
• Removed AM butt tab and reinstalled poppers
• (Mostly) finalized strapping
• First informal fitting

Items for this that remain to be done:

• Snap attachment for shoulder bells; pictures of shoulder straps show new version with Tandy Line 24 snaps and I doubled the thickness. Will mark for shoulder bell snaps at next fitting.

Key resources consulted:

• AJ's AM ANH Stunt build (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/40831-ajs-of-am-20-build/)
• LTM's AM TK ANH Stunt build (LTM's AM TK ANH build)
• TK-32568 EIB Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46507-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-am-892/)
• TK-32568 Centurion Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46815-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-centurion-status-am-432/)
• Andrew H, TK-14023, who has helped directly with advice and fittings and material components.

Chest and back plates

• Strapping and shoulder bridges:
• Collar reinforcement:
• Edge reinforcement:
• Back strapping:

Ab and cod

• Ab-cod with button plates and belt snaps:
• Button plates close up:

Ab and cod-kidney-butt closures

• Rivets, left side:
• Han snap, right side inner:
• Han snap, right side outer:
• Kidney-butt strapping:
• Left tab:
• Right tab:
• Right slot:
• Left slot:

Cod and butt closures

• Overview:
• Brass rivet, outside:
• Brass rivet inside:
• Poppers, outside (tab removed):
• Poppers, inside (tab removed):

First test fit!

 

 

Coming soon: can't skip leg day!

[LTM[TK]]

Looking good trooper! 

[TKSpartan[Staff]]

@ticopowell  look at this Ab / kidney connection   

[Blast 'Em!]

Nice work David, looking really clean! For reinforcing the edges of your chest piece, what kind of tape are you using (looks like drywall tape to me)? I'm planning on lining the neck and sides with ABS strips, like you, but I haven't seen anyone use tape like that before and I like the idea.

[Iron TK[TK]]

On 7/2/2020 at 12:39 PM, Blast 'Em! said:

Nice work David, looking really clean! For reinforcing the edges of your chest piece, what kind of tape are you using (looks like drywall tape to me)? I'm planning on lining the neck and sides with ABS strips, like you, but I haven't seen anyone use tape like that before and I like the idea.

Shane, you are correct. Based on advice from TK-14023 who is helping me with my build, I bought 2" self-stick dry wall fiberglass tape. For the entire chest plate edge, I fortified the ABS with 1/2-1" of tape and then used E6000 to keep that in place and remain flexible. On top of that, I used ABS scrap cut to shape to reinforce the neck. The front collar was the first place a crack started to form, so I used the opportunity to do the whole plate.

[Iron TK[TK]]

Never Skip Leg Day

Progress-to-date on legs, both thighs and greaves

 

Key resources consulted:

• AJ's AM ANH Stunt build (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/40831-ajs-of-am-20-build/)
• LTM's AM TK ANH Stunt build (LTM's AM TK ANH build)
• TK-32568 EIB Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46507-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-am-892/)
• TK-32568 Centurion Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46815-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-centurion-status-am-432/)
• Crowdsourced suggestions in the AM Armor's Costuming Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/840018932822639)
• Andrew H, TK-14023, who has helped directly with advice and fittings and material components. (Thanks TK-14023, you're the best!)

Thighs

• Front trimming in process:
• Back trimming in process:
• Front left thigh, gap filled:
• Back left thigh, back inner cover strip glued:
• Front right thigh, ammo belt attached with ridges centered to cover strip:
• Right side right thigh, ammo belt attached (temporary):
• Left side right thigh, ammo belt attached (temporary):
• Back right thigh, inner strip glued and ammo belt attached (temporary):

Greaves

• Left front greave with sniper plate attached:
• Left side left greave (outside) with sniper plate attached:
• Right side left greave (inside) with sniper plate attached:
• Back left greave:
• Front right greave:
• Left side right greave (inside):
• Right side right greave (outside):
• Back right greave:
• Greave closure detail:

Andrew H and I made so much progress with the thighs that we did some test fittings -- pics in next post!

[Iron TK[TK]]

Impromptu Full Suit Fitting and Assessment

Progress on thighs was so good, Andrew H (TK-14023) and I decided to suit up and take some progress pictures to assess how far we are from submission. There is no neck seal in some of these photos, and as we were doing a thigh fitting and trimming, there is no holster attached.

• Front:
• Back:
• Left side, arms down:
• Left side, arms up:
• Left side, arms up, close up with rivets, no holster:
• Right side, arms down:
• Right side, arms up:
• Right side, arms up, close up of Han snap:
• Action pose:
• 1977 Star Wars card (I always wanted my own Blue Series card):

Items for this that remain to be done:

• Finalize thigh cuts and strapping.
• Glue outer cover strips on thighs.
• Submission photos!

[LTM[TK]]

Sniper knee plate, you can thin the top part to help reduce catching on the thigh. Look at some pad(s) on the front of the calves to push the sniper plate out (this can also effect how the back closes), so placement will be a compromise. Also do the velcro on the front and back of boots to help with rotation. You will love the ease of putting on the shins with those magnets! 

[Iron TK[TK]]

3 minutes ago, LTM said:

Sniper knee plate, you can thin the top part to help reduce catching on the thigh. Look at some pad(s) on the front of the calves to push the sniper plate out (this can also effect how the back closes), so placement will be a compromise. Also do the velcro on the front and back of boots to help with rotation. You will love the ease of putting on the shins with those magnets! 

I realized early on I might need to do some more trimming; velcro and padding are forthcoming with final fitting!

[LTM[TK]]

Walk around for an hour, try stairs up and down, parade rest, quick movement, and last march for 10 minutes in the neighborhood. You will be looking for pinch points that are not easy to find when just in the armor for 10-20 minutes. I found out the hard way during a long parade troop that my cod returns actually created pinch points halfway into the parade and I still have the scars to remember the pain (no way to stop or anyone to help). Moral of that story, watch the returns. Sometimes it gives the appearance of thick armor, but honestly no one really looks at the individual details (they just see STORMTROOPER! Mom, LOOK! STORMTROOPER!!!) 

I also have to use the Han hooks to keep the biceps from rotating if I lift my arms to wave or point the blaster up.

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

6 hours ago, David G said:

I realized early on I might need to do some more trimming; velcro and padding are forthcoming with final fitting!

Even when you think you are done you can find after the first troop or two that areas still need adjustment, event strapping can stretch over time and small adjustments are made from time to time, looking good. 

[Frank75139[501st]]

Looking really good David.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Iron TK[TK]]

7 hours ago, LTM said:

Sniper knee plate, you can thin the top part to help reduce catching on the thigh. Look at some pad(s) on the front of the calves to push the sniper plate out (this can also effect how the back closes), so placement will be a compromise. Also do the velcro on the front and back of boots to help with rotation. You will love the ease of putting on the shins with those magnets! 

I tried a velcro closure and didn't like it. I considered Cricket's system (awesome) but couldn't bring myself to cut holes in the armor. I wussed out.

[Iron TK[TK]]

36 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Even when you think you are done you can find after the first troop or two that areas still need adjustment, event strapping can stretch over time and small adjustments are made from time to time, looking good. 

I should never use the word "final" when talking about the armor. My first troop will let me know where I have the issues. I'm avoiding doing the hooks on the biceps unless necessary.

[Iron TK[TK]]

35 minutes ago, Frank75139 said:

Looking really good David.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Thanks, Frank! I'm excited to submit soon!

[Iron TK[TK]]

Full Suit Fitting and Initial Submission Photos
Thighs cut and cover strips glued, thigh garter and strapping system finished.

Full fitting -- photos by Andrew H (TK-14023).

Mobility test -- videos also by Andrew H (TK-14023). Excellent test of pinch points and mobility issues, videos not included here.

 

Key resources consulted:

• AJ's AM ANH Stunt build (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/40831-ajs-of-am-20-build/)
• LTM's AM TK ANH Stunt build (LTM's AM TK ANH build)
• TK-32568 EIB Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46507-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-am-892/)
• TK-32568 Centurion Submission (https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/46815-tk-32568-requesting-anh-stunt-centurion-status-am-432/)
• Crowdsourced suggestions in the AM Armor's Costuming Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/840018932822639)
• Andrew H, TK-14023, who has helped directly with advice and fittings and material components and has brought me all the way to this point.

Submission photos:

• Front:
• Back:
• Left:
• Left, arm up:
• Left, rivets close up:
• Right:
• Right side, arm up:
• Right side, close up of Han snap:

Further progress on thighs after submission:

• Right thigh, inner split rivet outside view:
• Right thigh, outer split rivet inside view:
• Right thigh, outer split rivet outside view:
• Right thigh, inner split rivet inside view:
• Left thigh, back, gap sealed:
• Left thigh, front, gap sealed:
• Right thigh, back, gap sealed: