Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 Name: Shawn Williams Future Garrison/Squad: Florida Garrison/Parjai Squad Armor Maker: AM 4.5 (Dave's Darkside Depot) Helmet Maker: AM 4.5 (Dave's Darkside Depot) Cloth Belt Maker: Self made Neck Seal Maker: Darman's Props Boot Maker: Imperial Boots Blaster Maker: Awaiting blaster from Quest Design Canada Height: 6' 3" Weight: 205 lbs TK Type: ANH Stunt Received Help From: TKSpartan, Gmrhodes13, LTM Front: Back: I realized after the fact that it needed to be arms down. Also, my handler didn't have the shins completely closed. They will close with no gap. I am having difficulty with the TD brackets I purchased from Dave at DDD. They will not allow the TD to go any further down on the belt. Is it acceptable to place the TD bracket between the belt velcro? Left Side: Right Side: AB Plates: Helmet: Interior Strapping: Quote
LTM[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 Can you post pictures of the TD, show the clips and possible to include a ruler next to clip? Curious to see if it was folded incorrectly or if there is another issue not letting you push it further down. Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Author Report Posted August 21, 2020 25 minutes ago, LTM said: Can you post pictures of the TD, show the clips and possible to include a ruler next to clip? Curious to see if it was folded incorrectly or if there is another issue not letting you push it further down. I'll do that this evening. The bend in the clip is pinched instead of rounded to allow for the two layers of the belt. I've compared the clips to the ones that Ukswrath makes and there is a noticable difference there. I purchased a bench clamp and I am going to try to do a little work on them, first trying it out on the remaining clip from the first set. 2 Quote
MaskedVengeance[Staff] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 What Lou is getting at, in case it wasn’t clear, is that the TD appears to be riding a bit high on the belt. I’d be happy to send you measurements of my Ukswrath clips if they’d be helpful to you.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Author Report Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) 34 minutes ago, MaskedVengeance said: What Lou is getting at, in case it wasn’t clear, is that the TD appears to be riding a bit high on the belt. I’d be happy to send you measurements of my Ukswrath clips if they’d be helpful to you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I understand what Lou is saying. I'm merely explaining why it is riding high on the belt. It's an issue with the TD clips I purchased that will not allow the belt to fit into the top of the clips where the bend is. I just have to figure out how to reshape them without breaking them, as I've already broken one trying to do so, or fork out another $40 to get some that are made correctly. I can't seem to locally source the 1/16" thick aluminum flat metal. Since I can't take a photo until later, I scratched out this diagram to better explain what the issue is. Edited August 21, 2020 by Firedog Added image 1 Quote
MaskedVengeance[Staff] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 Gotcha gotcha. Weird that the clip you tried to widen broke. It’s almost as if it may not have been metal. I’m totally with you on not wanting to shell out more, or being able to source the proper metal for DIY. Keep up the great work overcoming every challenge! You got this!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Author Report Posted August 21, 2020 Yeah, they are aluminum, but the bend is so tight there that it created a stress fracture when I gently pried it. I'm going to try a different method this time by placing it over a rounded object, likely a large shaft screwdriver, and tapping it to attempt get the shape I need. Quote
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 Nice work trooper, nothing glaring I can see that would hold you up for basic approval 1 Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Author Report Posted August 21, 2020 6 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said: Nice work trooper, nothing glaring I can see that would hold you up for basic approval Thanks Glen, just a few minor things to work on for EIB/Centurion I believe. I've submitted my application on the 501st website and emailed the Florida Garrison GML with my photos. I have my fingers crossed for basic approval soon. 1 Quote
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted August 21, 2020 Report Posted August 21, 2020 3 minutes ago, Firedog said: Thanks Glen, just a few minor things to work on for EIB/Centurion I believe. I've submitted my application on the 501st website and emailed the Florida Garrison GML with my photos. I have my fingers crossed for basic approval soon. Good luck, hope you hear back soon, nothing worse than waiting and stalking your inbox. For EIB/Centurion Black lines on helmet are a little large in places but that's really up to the DO's to call You could trim a little more off you ab plates (mainly smaller one) Trim a little off your TD clips so your TD can come down more. Also watch the gaps at the top of the rear of your calves, perhaps a piece of ABS behind glued on one side. You have a really nice build and I don't think you will have too many problems. Good luck with approval Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 21, 2020 Author Report Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) Thanks, these are the decals. I do plan to hand paint them eventually, but need a little practice steadying my hand. The calves are a dressing issue as it was my wife’s first time dressing me and I missed that particular in my instructions. Edited August 21, 2020 by Firedog 2 Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 22, 2020 Author Report Posted August 22, 2020 (edited) Ok, update on progress. Here are the photos of the TD and brackets as they were. Here is what happened when I tried to rework one off of the first set. I picked up a small table vice from Harbor Freight this morning and beat a little more space into them over the shaft of a screwdriver. I do believe this weakened them slightly and will likely be only a temporary fix until I receive or make replacements. I did email Dave with photos of the brackets I received in hopes that he will help me out. Regardless, here is the end result. And...on the belt... I also re-evaluated the backs of the calves and realized that even though they do close to no gap at the top, the velcro strip is so narrow that it doesn't always hold them tight. So, on Glen's advice, I glued some strips on the inside that were originally cut off the shins to hopefully make the gap less noticeable should it occur. I'll eventually transition to a magnet system once I am more comfortable with the process. Additionally, on the advice of Glen and Mario, I reduced the size of the small ab plate just a little more. I believe this is about as small as I can safely make it. I do also have a whole set of replacement decals if it comes to the point I need to do something with the thicker black lines on the traps. I could possibly trim part of the decal to make it thinner. Anyway...I sit in nervous anticipation for an email from the GML. ***Update*** I reached out to Dave and he’s taking care of the brackets. I can’t recommend him enough when it comes to delivering a quality product with great communication and customer service! Edited August 22, 2020 by Firedog 3 Quote
TKSpartan[Staff] Posted August 22, 2020 Report Posted August 22, 2020 Great Work Shawn, your TD and ab buttons plate looks really better now. Quote
Firedog[TK] Posted August 22, 2020 Author Report Posted August 22, 2020 Shout out to Dave for pointing out in something that I had missed in a DM. I had the small 45 degree angles on the front bottom of my butt plates prior to cutting the notch and forgot to re-trim them afterward. I’ll work on doing that and heating a slight return on them over the weekend. Quote
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