TFU TK Build 85421

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

With the warmer weather coming up and cabin fever well set in I thought it was time to break open a box and get to work cutting up some ABS.

 

This build was going to be a TFU Commander but since there has been work on the CRL for a standard TFU Stormtrooper I thought I'd start here then convert it to a Commander later.

 

I've had a couple of ATA helmets sitting around for some time so I'll use one of those and also have a set of RS armor which was part payment of a commission build.

 

First up tape the outside ready for some satin black, I like the interior dark, helps stop light reflections inside the helmet so  people have no chance seeing your eyes.

 

 

Now let's see if I remember how to do this, let's tackle the helmet first, everyone loves ears  

 

Get the basic trimming out of the way and start aligning.

 

ATA helmets are a bit of work to get sitting just right, the right side is a little shorter and the backplate higher so it takes some wiggling.

 

I normally throw a couple of screws in to get everything sitting right.

 

On to everyone's favorites, ears. Rough trim done and adjusting to suit.

 

 

Getting the angle just right, we know how these DO's love their angled ears  

 

Happy with that, time for some screws

 

I won't bore you with the other side, brow trim fitted.

 

I like to run a pencil inside the lenses and teeth, helps as a guide when trimming.

 

Small file bit on the dremel, then files and sandpaper 

 

 

First light coat of paint on the teeth, I find if you go too thick it can craze.

 

Mic tips are painted, forgot to take a photo of those and that's about it for today, I'm just easing into this build, still getting over some medical issues and ongoing problems but should get there in the end.

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Popcorn time everyone

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

A little more paint today, another coat of grey on the teeth, then some black on the ears

 

On to the vocoder

 

Paint those screws before I forget again

 

Left for a few hours then on to the grey on the ears

 

Once the grey has dried I'll be able to finish the black strip across the ear (TFU detail)

 

Will leave to dry today then I will apply the decals, I would love to paint but my hands are still not that good, was hard enough doing the ears.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Final paint detail to the ears

 

Making mesh piece for behind the teeth

 

Mic tips painted and once dry mesh added

 

Have most of the pieces for the TD so will start on that.

 

Trial fit end caps, need a little heat

 

Getting size right

 

Going for the "game version" TD so cut a piece of poly pipe.

 

Adding some tape to get sizing right

 

Then trim

 

Just adding some glue to the panel and then wait for screws to arrive then can fit the brackets I made earlier.

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Back to cold wet weather again  so not much more achieved.

 

Had some old yellowed hand plates so applied some screen printing ink, have used before and it works well, just need to put in the over around 60C for a short time to help set the ink

 

I put pieces of cardboard inside so the gloves lay flat, applied black silicon as I find that works best and is easy to peel any excess away.

 

 

Basic fan setup, elastic looped and velcro added to hold battery box, velcro added to blower fan so you can adjust direction, also added some screen mesh on the open fan side, nothing worse than getting a goatee hair stuck in the fan, on/off switch bracket made, will just E6000 in place when I add the internal velcro.

 

I'm cheap with helmet padding, just use soft yellow foam, round thin piece for the top of the head and 2 blocks of foam which go either side of the head, adding velcro allows you to remove them for cleaning.

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Thought I'd tackle the smaller ab button plate as there needs to be 5 buttons not 4 like most other versions of armor.

 

So first work out the length of plate, then button spacing and drill

 

Drill wood with larger holes than needed

 

Make a plate identical to the first plate, this will house the rivets (which happen to be the right size). Added a washer behind to help hold them out a little more.

 

Test the two pieces fit

 

Heat up your ABS sheet

 

Align and press together

 

Let cool down then separate

 

Trim to size

 

Check for fit

 

5th button is now one button higher than larger ab button plate.

 

Next to fill the area behind, may do the same method, use blocks of wood the same size as the original molded area, heat some ABS, mold then trim to match and add some ABS paste to fill any seams then sand and polish.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Ok this one was a little easier, cut wood to size needed

 

Heat plastic and push down

 

Trim to match curve of ab and molded area

 

Happy with how it's looking

 

Next glue then add the ABS paste

 

Did someone say TFU upgrade kits 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Nice modifications Glen this will be fantastic when it's finished.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Thanks Andrew.

 

All the velcro inside is dry so fitted the fan and foam, also made a template for the lenses, marked and cut out, I use a little hot glue just to hold them in place than apply some black silicon around the edges, I like the darker look inside.

 

 

 

 

And fitted. Don't be too concerned if you have small gaps, does help with air flow

 

Time to add the decals, yes I'm going to cheat and not paint, my hands are no longer up to painting fine lines after 2 finger operations and arthritis in a few knuckles.

 

Dave M decals, a little expensive with shipping but a must if you can't paint and want to go L3. 

 

Make sure you have the correct tubes stripes on the right side (or left ) You want the tube stripes falling forward at the front.

 

If you look at the image bellow you can see the front leans forward ie: front \\\\\\\\\\\ back

 

Should be a pencil width from the cheek.

 

As I guide I like to use a piece of masking tape the same size as a pencil

 

Trim to size and apply

 

I like to pull away from the decal as I find it doesn't pull the decals off while removing the top sheet. Repeat on the opposite side.

 

On to the tears and traps, I find it easier to trim the decals down to size and test fit, adding a little tape in places is a good guide. The decals don't fit all helmets perfectly so you may need to trim down slightly, using a permanent marker is a good way to restore any missing black lines you may have to trim off.

 

Any air bubbles just a very impolite person with a pin and push the air out.

 

 

No this is not how the brow trim looks finished, it was pulled down to apply the decal  

 

And helmet is done for the time being, I'll apply some light battle damage/weathering once the armor is complete, I like to do it all at the same time so you get a consistent look.

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Well time for trimming the armor, I did get a little carried away, I know what a mess but you can't stop production to  tidy up .

 

Ok may be I should,  it's a little more tidy now

 

I normally try to keep some of the offcuts from any different armor I work with, never know when you are going to need some ABS paste. I'll cut up into smaller pieces later and keep in zip lock bag and label like others I have saved.

 

Working out trim lines, a ruler with clamps works for me

 

I like to use a cutting disk on the Dremel to trim, I can get pretty straight lines.

 

Use a long sanding block to finish

 

Some 240 grit to smooth any sharp edges, also sand a small area where the E6000 will go, helps adherence 

 

Add some painters tape to bother sides to check for sizing

 

Measure, divide by 2 and trim excess from both pieces

 

Large tabs from shoulder straps removed

 

Make sure all the return edges from the front of the forearms is removed

 

Shins ready for a trial fit for sizing

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Armor trimming all sanded and ready to proceed.

 

First trim and check alignment for kidney and butt plate which need to appear as one piece

 

Inside looks good.

 

Apply some superglue gel and kicker which helps quicken the drying and also expands the glue

 

Waiting for the ABS paste to soften then applying along the join seam

 

Next on to the belt, going to leave this longer than a standard OTTK, the TFU has a longer belt

 

 

Cover button close to the end as well

 

Measure for snap hole

 

And drill

 

Now to bend, I usually just clamp two metal rulers either side and then apply a little pressure on either side and bend

 

Worked well

 

On to some cover strips, remember one side of the ABS sheet is usually gloss, the other not

Score and snap works the best

 

In no time your done

 

Use some coarse sandpaper on the back to roughen, will help the glue adhere to it

 

Using velcro on the back of the shins, draw a line slightly off center as a guide, measure the velcro and carefully cut

 

Apply glue to the velcro side

 

Apply the velcro

 

Then clamp down upside on board to dry

 

Now we fast forward, I got a little carried away and didn't stop to take photos, but you all know how it goes

 

You can never have enough magnets or clamps, painters tape helps too  

 

Hopefully be dry tomorrow to finish the other sides

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Too cold overnight so I will leave all that was glued yesterday another 24hours

 

ABS slurry melting

 

Add the rear velcro cover plates to shins

 

 

 

Snap plates made

 

Add snap plates, left over strips of ABS help to clamp more area of the snap plates and use less clamps and magnets

 

Apply to rest of the armor pieces. Can't add to sides as yet until I work out side rivet placement once the belt is on

 

And also the arms

 

 

[TKSpartan[Staff]]

Amazing Glen ! 

[TK88667[TK]]

Wow... as a new member and only built one set of armor, I’m blown away by the efficiency and precision that is documented here. Nice chronicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

8 hours ago, TKSpartan said:

Amazing Glen ! 

 

6 hours ago, ForeverFan said:

Wow... as a new member and only built one set of armor, I’m blown away by the efficiency and precision that is documented here. Nice chronicle.

Thanks guys, I should really try to document more but I get carried away building, sometimes you just get into a groove and there's no stopping you 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

ABS paste ready to go, apply along the seam, will see how it dries as it may need another coat

 

 

 

Try to get your trim lines as straight as you can, very important on ends that cover strips won't cover

 

Add some painters tape inside to hold together

 

Measure cover strip

 

Mark

 

Trim

 

Glue, clamp and apply magnets

 

Clamps and magnets are usually enough but for difficult areas add more magnets and wrap tape around tightly, should bend the cover strip enough

 

 

Opposite side velcro for the shins, trim the edges as they don't have any hook on them, measure and cut in half

 

Apply glue and add to shin

 

Clamps and magnets once again

 

On to some strapping, don't ever throw out wrong sized or worn elastic straps which have snaps on them, they come in handy to use as a guide for test fitting

 

I like to use adjusters on the strapping from chest to ab section, some times you need to tweak the gap a little

 

I have a template I use to mark the holes, they are the same size on any armor I put together, can always swap out with others elastic straps if you have a failure. Soldering iron works best to make the holes, helps to prevent the snap pulling through

 

Time travel happened once again and strapping was finished before I knew it no photos for that part.

Test fit of belt and measured the sides for the rives and snaps and added behind

 

Side elastic measured and snaps added

 

Snap plates also added inside top of thighs and arm pieces

 

Time to wait for everything to dry again, I guess I best clean up again  

 

 

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Great progress Glen, i'm looking forward to seeing this finished and at the rate you are going, that wont be in the too distant future.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

21 hours ago, Sly11 said:

Great progress Glen, i'm looking forward to seeing this finished and at the rate you are going, that wont be in the too distant future.

Thanks Andrew

 

 

Snaps added to belt, also added one to the center with nylon since there is no middle button cover

 

Button covers applied

 

Drop boxes trimmed, backs and elastic added and glued to belt

 

Shoulder straps test fitted, tape guide to follow and glued in place

 

Strapping applied and tested

 

AB buttons before and after

 

WOW these RS sniper plates are annoying, hopefully the clamps work

 

Harness strapping finished, has home made adjusters on the belt, can be moved along the belt as long as adjust height

 

 

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Boring stuff, cleaning off excess E6000

 

Angle cut belt corners 

 

AB button plates glued

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Sanded the ABS paste on the AB join but needs another coat, will let that set for another day or two.

 

Working on adding the U channel 

 

This took a while but finally done

 

 

[TKSpartan[Staff]]

On 9/25/2020 at 1:28 AM, gmrhodes13 said:

I normally throw a couple of screws in to get everything sitting right.

 

 

Great Tip !!  

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Side rivets added

 

First coat of paint 

 

Belt attached

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

At the slow stage now, little tweaks with strapping and fitment.

 

While test fitting I managed to measure the belt so I could finally add rivets and paint them

 

Sanded the kidney / butt plate seam, had a few small holes in the ABS paste so added a little filler, will fine sand tomorrow and add some touch up paint.

 

Speaking of touch up paint, one thing that is really annoying me is how cream the RS armor is compared to other armor, oh and compared to the U trim

 

Let's see if I can eye color match with some water based acrylics.  Looks good to me, will leave to dry to see how sturdy it will be before applying to the rest of the trim 

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

You are a machine mate, I expect this will be finished very shortly.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Well tired of waiting for post to arrive, yet again the slotted screws are a no show, so I think I'll convert some.

 

Closest we have at local hardware are slotted Phillips

 

Apply some filler

 

Sand and file the slot

 

Add primer

 

Then paint