Krisko720’s TLJ FOTK Officer Build

[LTM[TK]]

Can the speaker fit in the magazine (face down)?

[Krisko720]

Can the speaker fit in the magazine (face down)?

I’ve been working on the pistol and haven’t played around with placement too much yet.

 

I’ll take some more pics when I get home later. The speaker isn’t too large in diameter, but the magnet is pretty thick and chunky.

 

I’m going to pick up a battery for the BlastFX so I can play around with the speaker placement. Not sure if enclosing it will muffle it too much or not. Again, if it won’t work I may have to switch to another speaker. Pretty sure the BlastFX is primarily designed to work for the E-11. So I’m wading into uncharted waters.

 

 

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[ukswrath[Staff]]

2 hours ago, Krisko720 said:

I made a post on the First Order Stormtroopers FB group page and Darren ended up putting me in touch with Justin Lee Morrison.

I believe he also makes holsters, but cannot conform this.

Thank you, unfortunately not all FISD FOTK members are also members of the First Order Stormtroopers FB group. Any vendor contact information we can provide for FISD members would be much appreciated.  You can post the info here, thanks again - https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/49132-supply-vendors-list-for-your-fotk-build/

 

 

[Krisko720]

Tiny update. Got the SE-44C ready for some filler primer. Took down the striations with some 120grit paper and my small file for the tiny spaces and then went over that with 120 and 150 grit sponge sanding blocks.

 

Still need to add some putty to a few small areas for filler. But overall the PLA is nice to work with and the wall thickness of the print allows for some work to be done to it. The strands hold together nicely and have only pulled out a couple of spots. But nothing some putty won’t fix.

 

Once I lay down some filler primer I’ll start working my way up in grits until she’s ready to prime and paint.

 

I think these are going to turn out really nice.

 

More to come soon.

 

 

 

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

I hate the prep work with 3D prints but it's worth it in the end. I found using wet and dry sandpaper and water with a little soap detergents really helps.

[Krisko720]

I hate the prep work with 3D prints but it's worth it in the end. I found using wet and dry sandpaper and water with a little soap detergents really helps.

Pretty sure my fingerprints are gone by now.. lol. I’ll try the soap and water. Thanks for the tip!

The detail parts are so time consuming with the file set. The 3D print definitely isn’t perfect but I’m sure it’s miles beyond what was available before 3D printers.


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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

52 minutes ago, Krisko720 said:

Pretty sure my fingerprints are gone by now.. lol. I’ll try the soap and water. Thanks for the tip!
 

Just allows the sandpaper to glide a little easier and doesn't clog as much as dry sanding, I know what you mean about sanding your fingerprints down, here's my fingers after wet sanding my Sithtrooper armor, you don't realise the skin is going until it's too late  

 

 

 

 

[Krisko720]

Just allows the sandpaper to glide a little easier and doesn't clog as much as dry sanding, I know what you mean about sanding your fingerprints down, here's my fingers after wet sanding my Sithtrooper armor, you don't realise the skin is going until it's too late    

 

 

Lol, that’s about where I’m at!

 

I was hoping to get more done by now, but guess what.. still sanding.

 

 

I have managed to make it through the layer of filler primer and was able to clean up most all of the pieces for paint. A few of the parts needed some touch ups with filler primer to even put the surface a bit more. I added some epoxy putty to a couple of spots with larger gaps or where the 3D print strands weren’t completely filling in the voids.

 

I have the SE-44C almost ready for the regular primer stage. Of course this means more sanding between the coats of everything, but at least it’s fine grit and I won’t really be shaping anything else.

 

I have also started sanding and shaping a few of the F-11D parts.

 

And I was even able to find a speaker to replace the one I have. The speaker that comes with the BlastFX is made to mount inside the inner tube of the E-11. I don’t have the room for it on this rifle so I found a speaker that will fit inside the power pack (the box that’s behind the magazine).

 

It has the same specs as the round one I have, although smaller, and even has an enclosure. Found it at a hobby train supply shop online. I’ll post more about this mod once I get it to work.

 

Also looking to install the larger BlastFX screen. Granted the F-11D doesn’t have a display, but the BlastFX screen graphics are just too cool not to have. I’ll probably hide it with a blank off plate for accuracy but will be able to take the plate off to show off the screen if I want to.

 

The E-11’s have this counter screen. If you haven’t seen the BlastFX in action it’s definitely worth the watch on YouTube. Here’s the counter screen.

 

 

Of course each screen (the scope display and the counter display) can be changed to a number of moving graphics.

 

So anyway, I’ll update more once I get some color on the SE-44C!

 

 

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Very nice, I add a 3.5mm jack to my blasters that are wired along with the speaker, normally fit them underneath the barrel at the back behind the handle then your hand covers the wiring, so they aren't seen, allows you to run a cable from the Aker amp down your arm to the blaster, nice and load for conventions. 

[Krisko720]

Very nice, I add a 3.5mm jack to my blasters that are wired along with the speaker, normally fit them underneath the barrel at the back behind the handle then your hand covers the wiring, so they aren't seen, allows you to run a cable from the Aker amp down your arm to the blaster, nice and load for conventions. 

Hmm.. I like this. I didn’t see a 3.5 jack on the BlastFX board but I know there is an option for an external source in the menu. Of course I can always add one if need be.

Thanks for the tip! I wouldn’t mind rocking some blaster sounds on the super loud speaker I have.


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[Sly11[Admin]]

2 hours ago, Krisko720 said:

Hmm.. I like this. I didn’t see a 3.5 jack on the BlastFX board but I know there is an option for an external source in the menu. Of course I can always add one if need be.

Thanks for the tip! I wouldn’t mind rocking some blaster sounds on the super loud speaker I have.


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This is why Glens other nickname is "Q", as in the Q from James Bond, the gadget guy.

[Krisko720]

Hey guys! I haven’t disappeared.. being in the heating and cooling service industry we’ve been quite busy. Summer has been pretty warm here in Colorado! Plus I’ve been waiting on my spare parts from KB Props that I ordered, which finally arrived! 
 

I made a royal mess of my yoke and back piece. So I reordered those.

I also snagged a new updated chest piece (the nipples? weren’t straight on the previous chest).

 

And I got new shins and calves along with the larger more appropriate sized pauldron. 
 

I've been busy trimming, gluing and test fitting. I should have some progress pics up soon! Can’t wait to suit up again, it’s been far too long. 
 

(pic is of my last suit up during a work Zoom meeting/costume contest, I won btw lol)

Edited July 29, 2020 by Krisko720

[Sly11[Admin]]

Great news Chris, everyone can be excused due to the current situation, we are just glad you are safe and well.

Look forward to your updates.

[Krisko720]

Been a while since I’ve posted, but trust me when I say I’ve been diligently working on my armor. It’s been hard finding time to work on everything, but I found a solution.. 

 

I’ve placed some pieces outside on the patio where we hang out after work and sometimes on the weekends. I have told myself to simply pick up a piece of armor and do ‘something’ to it. It’s surprising how much progress you can get from just doing a little bit at a time.

 

Here’s where I am now:

 

After seeing a post from KB Props on this stuff and trying my hand (very poorly) at making ABS paste) I got this stuff. It’s my favorite so far out of e6000, Loc-tite epoxy, and the ABS glue I have. 

 

It’s very slow to set (I give it at least 48 hours). It takes a while for the center of a glued area to cure. This stuff will soften the armor if the piece is large enough. It has only happened in one spot on my calf strip though and is barely noticeable.

 

 

After putting my yoke and back together, I’ve done several test fittings for various things.

 

And then.. this happened.

 

 

Even with the new design, there is still a weak area once the yoke has been flexed enough times. Instead of getting upset, I set off for a solution. Here’s what I came up with and has worked extremely well with the substrate applied.

 

 

 

Because KB kinda forgot about my order of individual pieces, he gave me a new chest piece. The new one is from his current set of armor which is being pulled on his upgraded vacuum table. He’s getting better pulls on the armor leaving a tad more detail as much as probably possible. So the vent is a bit more crisp. So much so that he is not offering the resin chest pieces any longer.

 

The most important update and the one I cared about the most was the chest greeblie alignment. I couldn’t stand them being so uneven on my first chest. I wasn’t ok with having crooked nipples..

 

New piece:

 

Old piece:

 

He has since redone his mold and corrected this. This give me the opportunity to use the chest with all the magnets as my officer chest. I will modify this one more to be used as the permanent pauldron and ammo pouch set. This will allow me to trim out the return edges where the mounts cross and tighten up the gap it was leaving (This pauldron will of course be changed out for my new larger one.)

 

 

 

For those that are curious, this magnet setup was a pain. But I find that it works extremely well. Now that I have a second chest I can make some improvements to this one and keep it as a one piece alternative setup. It’s a toss up which I’ll wear more. You loose a lot of head movement to the left due to the ammo pouch. And the black leather marks up the chin of my helmet pretty good black marks. (But the Officer was my initial attraction to wanting to become a trooper and just looks so damn cool!) I will use the regular chest when I want to rock the shield and riot baton.

 

 

 

 

Next I have been working on my lower leg armor. I got new claves and shins as I wasn’t happy with my last pair.

 

The recessed ring around the ankle for the spat is now extended around the back of the calf which is nice.

 

The only thing I’m unhappy about is the recessed areas for the clip greeblies. I’ll have to get creative somehow and fix this. It seems he modified his molds but never test fit any of the armor after the new pulls. The faint rectangular lines on the inside of the calf have also disappeared. As well as the excess ABS that you can use as a glue strip.

 

 

 

 Almost done trimming the outside mating surfaces. After that I can finally glue these bad boys together.

 

 

 

The biggest thing I’m battling is the shape of the inside points at the top of the armor. KB seems to make his armor adaptable to almost any size trooper. Unfortunately for those of us the exact weight, height, and body type as a real stormtrooper it leaves me having to scale this way back down.

 

I have found the following issue, the calf looses a lot of height. Needing a backing strip to use as the Velcro area anyway, I cut off the outter part of my old right calf and glued it inside the inner part of my new left calf. I’ll use this as my Velcro overlapped area for my closure and use it as a backing for the modification to build this point back up.

 

 

 

 

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[Krisko720]

Almost forgot.. I’ve also been sanding off my fingertips on this little fella. Getting the PLA print lines smoothed away has been quite the chore. But it’s looking good and almost ready for the final coat.

 

So. Much. Sanding.

 

 

 

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Shame KB didn't test all the fitment and alignments, a lot more work but looks like you have it well in hand.

 

Nothing worse than sanding down your finger tips  

 

From my Sithtrooper build

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Nice work so far Chris

 

Looks like you're working past the lack of uniformity between sections, great job. You've definitely got what it takes to make this armor look awesome. Can't wait to see it finished.

[Krisko720]

Nice work so far Chris
 
Looks like you're working past the lack of uniformity between sections, great job. You've definitely got what it takes to make this armor look awesome. Can't wait to see it finished.

Appreciate the kind words! It has been quite a learning experience with this build, especially since it’s my first go at anything like this.

I have definitely learned some useful skills.. too bad that’ll mean having to do another costume in the future (my lady may kill me if I do..) but it is satisfying getting closer to a final suit up. She’s starting to see what the huge pile of parts and all the plastic shavings have been turning into.


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