It's here It's here!

[radude210]

So my AP armor just came in today and its fantastic!!!!! I got AP to assemble it and i have done nothing else, let me know what you think. I don't have proper gloves or pants or boots and i know my ab plate is a bit out to the side and the upper arm pieces arn't quite right, annnd my thigh pieces need to be held up better, and that one thigh is coming apart a bit and i think the knee thing is on the wrong side . Am i missing anything else? I want to be sure i look best i can. Just got excited to have it so i threw it on however i could fit it! Maybe tomorrow i will actually try to make it look proper Any tips on if i need to trim at all or not?(hope not!!!!)

 

 

 

 

[TK-8224[501st]]

It looks like you are missing handplates and knee ammo.

[TK-7060]

Here's what I see (Not trying to be mean, just some tips on where to go next. ):

1. You need to smoothen the edges of the biceps and forarms. They point out and aren't smooth at all.

If you leave them like that, you'll get some really hurtful armour kisses, and to be honest, it doesn't look good.

2. Have the ab-plate and bqackplate adjusted so it gets snug fit to your body. Make sure it comes up beneath you chest plate.

3. Is your thighs fastened by velcro in front? If that's the case, I suggest glueing the thighs together front and back.. They should be large enough so you can slide your foot in. Use Stukatroopers build as a refrence on how to do that.

4. You habe the right thigh on you left leg and opposite.

5. You need to get hold of an ammo strip for the right leg.

6. The kneeplate shin seems to be on the wrong leg. It should be on the left. Just switch the two shins.

7. You will need some hand plates.

 

You have correctly coloured ab buttons, which is very good, and the helmet looks very good as well.

You seems to have some work in front of you, but that's the fun in the TK-business.

 

Good luck.

[Smitty]

Yup you got alot of work ahead of ya, but as stated, thats armor for you.

 

You have yourself a mighty fine kit thats gonna be the envy of your garrison for sure when its finished.

 

Didnt it feel great to suit up for the first time? :headphone:

[Daetrin[Admin]]

I think for what you paid you got an awful lot done for you. Yes, there is some work left but about 90% is there already. Can't wait to see updated pix when you've got it completed.

[Tiepilot1138[TK]]

I can't wait for that feeling myself. Soon it will be ours... soon...

[kiyotei[TK]]

I think the other guys have covered it. You must remove the velcro and glue the fronts of your thighs, shins. If you can glue the forearms and still get them on, do it. Once you glue the thigh fronts you'll be able to properly attach the ammo packs that are currently missing. I had no idea you could get AP to build your armor. I have AP and love it. Its a great kit.

[ThayNerd[TK]]

I can't really suggest anything that hasn't been said already. Great looking suit you'll be done in no time!

[radude210]

yeah i know about the handplates and ammo thing.... the reason they arn't on is just because i really did just take it out of the box and put it on and missed a few things But i do have them! Also, how would you suggest i have the back and ab plate hug my body a bit better?

[TK-1287]

It appears as if your thighs are on the wrong legs too

[radude210]

haha whoops lots of those little things were just me throwing it on due to excitement and not taking much care is seeing where or how they are fitting. (first time ever suiting up)

[TK-7828]

haha whoops lots of those little things were just me throwing it on due to excitement and not taking much care is seeing where or how they are fitting. (first time ever suiting up)

 

Man i love AP's armor, You are a lucky and happy man

[radude210]

Man i love AP's armor, You are a lucky and happy man

 

Don't forget broke But totally worth it. (Any advice on making ab and back fit me a little more snug?)

[littledragon88[TK]]

Don't forget broke But totally worth it. (Any advice on making ab and back fit me a little more snug?)

 

When you make the straps that goes over your shoulder and which are connected to both the ab and back, make sure to make those straps adjustable. I have adjustable straps, which makes it possible for me to adjust the height in which the ab and back is positioned. I'd say that high ab/back is preffered, as it also raises up the groin and the areas around the hips, which improves mobility.

 

Here's my armor. And I have my ab raised up pretty high.

[radude210]

Yeah, i have a fantastic set of heavy duty suspenders made just for the job! Maybe after i (hopefully) get the thigh's glued shut this weekend I'll suit up again and raise the ab and back. I'm a little short on the clamp side of things though, so i was thinking of using some kind of brace (like a thick chunk of wood) for bonding the thigh pieces together to extend the reach of the little clamps i have. They're pretty small so they only fit on the ends. Would this work okay? I tried a test chunk of wood and there is still a little gap where it has a bit of a lip up near the top but the middle is good and the gap is pretty minimal. Any way to get around that?

 

By the way plastic weld and e6000 are pretty impossible to find here, I even checked if a hardware store could order some in but nope! I did however find this at walmart, so i picked it up because i know i can use it for something else if not this.

 

http://www.weldbondusa.com/

 

Do you think its good for the job or should i hold out for something better? (it sounded kinda watery when i shook it)

[littledragon88[TK]]

I've never used ABS cement or any of those welding-stuff. I used E6000 on all of my parts, and I got it off eBay.

E6000 is like gel, and it does not drip or "flow", like many 'watery' types of glues...which is why I prefer it.

One of the down-sides with the E6000 though, is the curing time. My parts used a couple of days to fully cure.

[radude210]

Yeah, i've heard e6000 is very good... but i don't really want to pay more shipping and stuff than i have to. So if anyone knows if the stuff i have will do the trick i'll dive in head first! Tonight when i get home (at work now) i'll maybe try it out on a couple small chunks of extra ABS i got with my kit. But, input is always welcomed I'm greener than my helmet lenses at this The more info and tips i can get the better off i'll be!

 

(PS you guys are great, without this site i would have never gotten to the point i'm at now.... THANKS!)

[rapstertee]

You have yourself a mighty fine kit thats gonna be the envy of your garrison for sure when its finished.

 

Looking good - I love my AP but - I have a confession:

 

I'm the only AP wearer for miles around. I know of only one other guy in AP and I just feel inferior compared to all the FX / RT / SDS /TM guys around. It feels like I'm less shiny, off-white, and the AP's screen-style 'innaccuracies' make me stand out at troops, so it looks lik eI'm in the cheaper-looking suit.

[radude210]

haha, cheaper "looking" maybe.

[radude210]

So i raised my ab/back and its much better and tighter BUT i am too skinny!!!! here is my issue

 

 

 

 

and if i tuck the back under the ab it stresses the plastic and i doubt it'd stay but this is what it looks like...

 

 

 

So should i trim my back or adjust it to be a little more loose so they just kinda meet nicely (but would be a bit clunky?) I don't know, help!

[littledragon88[TK]]

Hi, I had the same issue..I'm pretty slim when it comes to the adominal area... My back armor also overlaps the ab-armor like on your pictures. But you could try to:

 

1) use a heat gun, and CAREFULLY try to shape the back/ab so it gets more 'rounded'.

2) trim off a bit of the lower back piece, so it didn't 'stick' out that much.

 

I'll try to upload a picture of my armor tonight when I get back from lecture..

[rapstertee]

I had the EXACT same problem withthe ab plate, so this is that I did:

 

I used a heat gun on the inside, making viertical strokes to soften the plastic - about 5 or 6 inches from the side edge, then once it was pliable, bend it gently in and i dipped it into a basin of cold water to cool it down. It might take a few attempts - and don't get too close with the heat, ok?

 

The finished result is you're looking for a smooth, even curve, where the very sides of the ab plate are parallel with each other. Imagine a U shape - where the bottom of the U is the front of your abs.

 

Looking at your backplate, you could then probably afford to trim an inch off each side, before you hinge the front to the back. But don't cut anything until the ab plate is perfect. I'd suggest getting a roll of masking tape and having someone tape the pieces together with you in it, so you can see how it'll go tgether.

[radude210]

Hmmm, well i don't have a heat gun and it makes me really nervous to think i could disfigure this beautiful piece of plastic with one mistake. I could look into it though, because i bet that's pretty well my only option for a perfect fit.

[littledragon88[TK]]

.."Listen to rapstertee you should".

 

A heat gun might be a smart investment, as it could be used to heat-form other parts of the AP armor.

 

The plastic will NOT be deformed at once, if you keep the heat gun at a distance from the plastic, and distribute the heat...it'll take some time before the plastic gets soft enough.

 

If you're careful with the heating, it would not be any problem at all. Just remember to heat up slowly, and avoid concentrating the heat (or else it'll warp), and take your time. When heating the plastic, it should be heated so it's just soft enough to be formed by bending it with your hands.

[synaptyx]

Looking good - I love my AP but - I have a confession:

 

I'm the only AP wearer for miles around. I know of only one other guy in AP and I just feel inferior compared to all the FX / RT / SDS /TM guys around. It feels like I'm less shiny, off-white, and the AP's screen-style 'innaccuracies' make me stand out at troops, so it looks lik eI'm in the cheaper-looking suit.

I'd be all over checking 'em out. MY SDS has some of these 'imperfections,' but not all. I didn't discover the delights of AP 'til well after I bought my SDS. Good chouce of kit, mate.