Darth Emphatic

Looks like a clean. Too bad it's not powerful enough. I am sure whatever you replace it with will look just as slick.

I e-6000'd a snap plate center front of my armor and the back of my belt front has the other half the snap. This makes sure it always stays centered and at the right height (at least in the front).

Nice on the custom paint color. As for weather, I have been fortunate enough to not have to worry about it, but it doesn't mean my paint jobs have ever come out that great. Looking forward to your work.

Best to paint after you get it all sized correctly. As you reshape or trim, you'll end up showing the white underneath and chipping edges. Much cleaner to paint after. Good luck, man.

Going black is the way to go. If money is no object (when is that ever the case), an auto shop can add an awesome black gloss coat to armor. I did this with a bucket and it was beautiful. Then I ruined the bucket :|

Plastidip is some fun stuff, but I always have a heck of time getting the coats even.

I love the weathering, dude!

Agree with getting a curved lenses to begin with, but boiling can sometime have more even results than a heat gun.

Welcome to spec ops. You are on your way. Just from what I can see in that one photo, I would suggest adding some padding to the pockets to help them hold their shape. That may be a part the work you already planned, but I wanted to throw it out there.

Looking awesome. How big of a printer will you have access to?

Do you have other plans for the trigger once you get it moving? Just wondering, as it could be a risky edit. From what I have seen in the past, a nail can be run through the frame where the trigger enters the body and then through the triggers hinge point and into the opposite side, without poking through. There are other ways to do it, but this is one way I've seen.

Agree, looking good so far. I used a liner in my very first bucket, but didn't like it. I ripped it out for foam and use foam in all my other buckets now (blackhole, scout, gunner, etc.). As for the chest riding up, it's a common problem. I run two straps from my chest armor that snap to my ab armor to keep it down.

Yep, Yep, to each their own. That is why it is nice we have the options with an EU costume - troopers can go with the combo they like, within the CRL's, of course.

Ah, I miss the days of an almost equal exchange rate...

Not to my knowledge. I've never seen it come up on the IOC forums.

This is pretty much how mine is setup, except, as Kev was talking about, I use dark lenses and a gloss black grill.

Since this has been revived, wondering if this has moved at all, Chris? One of those projects that would be so amazing to see in person.

Hey Jared, welcome back. Not to be discouraging, but your best bet might be to save up and by the kit. You can go the pepakura route, but with little experience, it will require a lot of trial and error to get it right. Applying that to every piece of armor is a mother. I am speaking from experience here. We have troopers on here much more skilled than I that could really help you along, but I am just adding up all the time and material required to do every armor piece and do it right and don't know how much you'd be saving in the long run. You can start with smaller purchases now, that might be more in the right range, such as the blaster kit, boots, undersuit, gloves, etc. Then, once that tax return comes in...

Sad news, but necessities come first. Hope all gets back in line sometime in the future,

Love it! I am thinking, at celebration, just bring all your molds and a table, we'll get some plastic, and, you know, do a few runs

First time I've looked at the bucket. Makes me sad, lol, but considering it was just sitting in a box in my garage, I am glad to see it go to a good 501st use.

Awesome. Congrats!

Pictures! Can't wait to see the progress

Nice paint job! Looking nice and shiny!

Great rifle! I need to get me one of those at some point.