defiance7x13

Okay Hopefully this will be the last update before I post completed pictures, after a good polishing and with a good camera. My new best friend And this with be my TD

Almost Done Snap Plates and hand guards Completed Chest and Back Pieces I even have black ties around the shoulder straps like our friends in white Final Touches to the Butt and Kidney Plates Im using the same suspenders that I made for my TK at the moment. They work, so why mess with a good thing? A couple of snap plates for the shoulder bells. Pile O' Armor And if all goes according to plan, I will have the first pair of all black "TK Boots", and for less the $50 bones Now all I need is my holster to get here and I should be 501st passable. And it would be nice to get to participate in some of the upcoming local Christmas events and give back some of the love.

Recycled AM wrist elastic w/velcro for the wrist, Womens hair ties for the middle finger and hot glue for the hold. Tomorrow I will dig out the hand plates from the box and take a picture from inside so you can see. I am a firm believer in recycling as much as the AM kit as possible. So what if my snaps have velcro behind them and of course, Thanks Iz

Bah! I just caught my mistake with the ammo belt. Working on the problem now..... Ive been building! I swear Just not on the suit I really want too I busted out the old heat gun today and made some improvements to my shoulders and biceps. Both now fit my arm, and I am able to flex without fearing seams are going to bust. Tomorrow I will tackle the abs, kidney and butt plates. Anyways here we go The reason for the lack of updates, Ive been taking in my TK. Battle Wound Now on with the good stuff..... Completed and awaiting snap plates Finished with the hand plates My Box is shrinking....... And my Finished pile is growing..... Excellent And Finally started installing finished plates What can I say other than Opps?

I got one of these bad boys on order. Its just like TKittle's white canvas belt (which rocks by the way), but made especially for us TX's

Thanks for the Info Matt. I was thinking about picking up another pair of those White Inner boxes you are talking about. That is what I used on my AM TK and figured I could just painting them gloss black to match the suit.

Awesome Idea, but where did you get your extra set of AM boxes?

I took a few days off and went to vegas for a break from working on the suit, but Im back on it. Here are some new shots. But both calf pieces are completed, sanded and fitted snug. As well as the Left Thigh piece. The right thigh with ammo belt should be finished tonight. Once I am all finished with the build, I will go back and buff and polish everything and get rid of all those smudges and finger prints.

I would be interested in hearing this too. It seems to me, unless you approach everything with a "white glove" while wearing your armor, its going to get weathered over time. And in some cases, wither you like it or not. I have learned that I managed to build my suits to last, and to withstand punishment. (My helmet-less TK and I, managed to survive the pit at a show, and they weren't going easy on me either) But I am quickly learning how fast a TX suit can get banded up vs say a TK suit. I remember when I was worried about getting little scratches and dings on my TK. Ha, those were care-free days, now im over hear sweating the "ooops" 's on my TX during the building phase... I personally dig the weathering over the "NEW AND IMPROVED" shine on any suit personally, no matter what the color or style. You're a solider, you're going to get dirty, you're out to carry out the will of the Empire, not out for a fashion show. Plus I don't think it helps that I have a unnatural love for all things painted flat black.

I used a heat heat gun and a old t-shucks. I basically heat up bicep slowly until it starts to become a little softer and flexible. Then I use my t-shucks and start to roll the bicep inside the t-shucks until I start to see the shape I would like. The t-shirt helps keep from leaving finger print impressions in the sort armor. Then once I get to a point where I like what Im seeing, I quickly run cold water over the bicep causing it to hold its new shape. This process may take a few times, but better safe than sorry. If you rush with the heat gun, you can seriously mess up your armor.

Update time. Biceps and forearms are finished. I still need to heat and "round" the biceps just a bit to fit my arms. I did this same thing on my TK and it was way more comfortable to wear after. I need to be able to flex a little After I got cracking on the shins....

I not sure which kit you are working with, but I was able to learn a lot about building by reading Panda's AM build thread over on the FISD boards. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=10434 That has a lot of good reference material.

In A New Hope, the Stormtroopers armor was at the time made by putting 2 "plates" together and gluing a support "strip" to the inside and the outside of the plates to hold them together. If you look, you will see all the troopers have a "strip" that runs down the center of the leg and arm pieces. When I refer to a "finishing Strip" I'm referring to the strip of abs (in my case) that covers the seam where my armor plates join together on the legs and arms. Before Finishing strips Completed Forearm

They are nomex flight gloves that I got at my local military surplus store, but you can also find them online as well.

Update time. Finished the left forearm last night, and started on the second. Pre-Finishing strip I was told that I had too much room on my TK by the GML. So I made sure that this time around, that I wouldn't have that problem. Cutting the finish strips Final Set And I said I would do a side by side with my efx

So I got started last night after work. Here are some pictures of my progress so far. Thank god I made so many mistakes on my TK, this is going way easier than my first time. And I also promise to take way more pictures this time, but I do apologize in advance for the crappy quality. I decided to use the same style of assembly as I did with my TK, as in, I am using butt joints and covering the seem with a finishing strip, Ive heard talk of a "Specialist title" being worked on for the TX builds. I just hope they might take some cues from the FISD "expert program". But a quick question for everyone.... What are you guys doing for the inner drop boxes? I was thinking about picking up another set of inner drop boxes from Kevin and painting them black to match and fitting them to my suit. Any other suggestions?

I wore my TD around during the day at the Long beach comic con, and didn't have any issues. Even hid my car keys inside of it. Then again it is a much smaller event. I did however leave my blaster and TD behind when I went out to a concert later that night. I didn't want to worry about them occupying my hands while I was trying to drink

With a huge Thanks too my very cool family. This year for my birthday they all pooled together to get me a black AM kit, which I was able to go and picked it up this very evening. I am very excited about starting this new build! My freshly completed TK was started and built in time for the long beach Comic con / Halloween while keeping 501st and ANH cannon in mind (I currently have my application in), but this TX, this is my suit for SD comic con 2011 and beyond..... I can't wait to get started on it. The very idea of getting my hands on a TX suit is what started getting me into all this crazyness that goes with this whole territory, though owning a Storm Commando would be a very close second and still an achievable for the future ....

Check out the price now Elite collectibiles - efx shadow trooper Bastards jumped it up too $319.00! Im so glad I grabbed mine when I did!

I ask this of the AM guys especially, but I guess this goes out to everyone. How are you guys building your kits? Is everyone doing the Standard butt joint and strips like a TK or is anyone using the natural seems that come on the AM cut?

Thanks Iz, Im trying to figure out if I should go with an e-11 or DTL-19 for my first weapon. This would cost less than a hyperfirm e-11 out of the gate. But I want my weapons to be interchangeable between my TK and TX.

How are these guns in person? Ive read that some people say they are a little "soft" in the details. Im having a hard time telling from the pictures on the site, but from those of you who own one or seen one up close. Is it worth the money?