RAIDER

Awesome! Thanks for the update. Attended an armor party today. Basically sanded for 8 hours, met some troopers that are more than willing to help as well, and finally got going. On a cool note...the biker scouts in attendance were extremely impressed with your armor kit Chef...one even said "jealous." : ) They also didn't seem to think much trimming needed to be done as you did most of it and the armor works well with my size (standard 5'9"/5'10"). I did have a question as I am going to meetup with one this week to keep working on it... Paint. The CRL mentions gloss or semi-gloss. You mentioned satin (which I love the look of yours). The satin should have no approval issues? Also regarding painting, on your site you recommend straps after painting...doing the satin...is it still possible to do that after straps? What about the t-bits and greeblies...do those get painted or are they attached as-is after painting? Final question...the side straps on the chest/back armor...elastic or the thicker textile? We started using the thicker textile to make those straps and then I think I read elastic should be used (either on your site or the CRL). Thanks in advance for the input. Hope to have some update pics after this week.

No problemo... Was just checking the status of the boots, flak jacket, and blaster? Thanks for the help!!!

Chef....check your PMs when you get a sec plz. Other than that...I am attending my first armor party this month so will finally make some good progress on this hopefully!

Here is a sample closeup pic of the inside shoulder "strap" of the armor (I took a couple other shots further out). I'm trying to find the trim lines if any. I'm not really sure how to identify them and determine how much I should trim, if any. My fear being, once I make a trim, I can't get that plastic back lol. Sorry if the pic is poor quality...took it on my phone and had to resize it to upload here. I also notice the bowing out of the plastic at the end which I'm guessing I just need to sand down. Thanks for your help.

Congrats! I would love to see it!

Dremel, snips, and paper purchased. Im going to post pics of some of the armor because I dont see where I should be trimming (and it looks like Im of the body type that most of it should fit me well w minimal trimming).

I looked around for Dremels...lots of options (and similar brands). Corded or cordless? For what I'll be using this for, how much power should I be looking for? Aviation snips ordered. Thanks squad!

Thanks for the responses. I'm picking up the tools I need to do the sanding and trimming today. I suppose I would need to look through the kit again to see if how those are actually supposed to attach (Chef could say for certain). I just assumed everything was strapped and hadn't considered that it could be glued. Is it typical to attach padding on the interior of the armor? As far as where I was thinking of starting...I didn't really know but was eyeing the chest/back simply because it's the largest and most noticeable lol.

So I have had my armor and bucket kits (THANKS CHEF) for about a month and I've just been staring at the box in fear. This weekend, I think I'm going to put my big toe in the water and get this rolling... Keep in mind, I've never done this and probably don't have the tools...so being as specific as possible as to what I need would be super helpful. I'm more of a visual guy so seeing the tools (links) and any pics rocks. Thanks so much!!! A couple starter questions: 1) Is there a piece of the armor I should start w/ first that's easier to make progress on than the rest? 2) I noticed in Chef's tutorial on his website, trimming is listed as step one. Tools rec'd for this? Also...can I use a palm sander (I have one) for the sanding or should I use actual paper and do this by hand? 3) The armor is black, but I've heard that painting the armor is recommended regardless. What type of paint would be best? Does the painting need to occur before I attach any straps/rivets/etc.? That's it for now I think. I'm saving the helmet for last...definitely the most intimidating piece of the bunch...hoping to get help on that one at an armor party soon. P.S. Armor and bucket kit are from Chef as are all soft goods. I already have the suit, bund/pouches, gloves, balaclava...just waiting on boots, flak vest and blaster...all courtesy of Chef as well. He's been a huge help already up to this point.

Hey Chef did you get my PM reply? Thx!

Whew...thx Rob. Info overload...got ur PM. Sorting through what I need to ask first lol.

Thanks for the love. Yes any help on that list Chef would ROCK! I will look for a Shadow Scout at SWW. I am a teacher full-time but I work part-time for the LEGO store at Downtown Disney. I was one of a few chosen to actually work the LEGO mini-build in the shop...so I will be there every weekend either working or spending nights in autograph lines lol.

Awesome! Thx for the warm welcome! I had to dig out the list from an old email account but here is what Jeff (SC) sent me. If it looks good I can start purchasing...if there are other places I should go, let me know and I can head that way. THX!!!: Studio Creations Cost for an BLACK ABS kit with a black helmet (.093 guage glossy plastic) The kit will consist of: - 1 helmet kit - (plastic parts, green tint visor, temple bolts.... but no headliner, no decals) - 1 chest - 1 back - 1 back hump - 2 shoulder pads - 2 biceps - 2 elbows - 2 kneecaps - 2 Thigh boxes - 4 belt boxes - 1 belt buckle - 1 thermal detonator - 1 boot holster - 1 black tank-topper - 2 bicep t-bits - velcro strips - elastic bands - web belts - thermal detonator pipe/endcaps - Zip ties - 4 quickclip buckles (medium) - 1 quickclip buckle (large) - assembly instructions TOOLS NEEDED FOR ASSEMBLY.... You'll need a drill, some drill bits, couple nuts and bolts (or rivets and a rivet gun) , some modelers glue (or hot glue), scissors, razor/x-acto blade, and a sewing machine (you have to sew the velcro strips to the elastic bands, we do not send presewn elastic bands) THE KIT DOES NOT COME WITH... the scout blaster, cummerbund and pouches, black undersuit, black gloves or black boots. LIST OF VENDORS FOR THESE PARTS... CUMMERBUNDS AND POUCHES: Cathy B. He provided me w/ an email for her custom cumberbund and pouches. SCOUT BLASTER: Highly accurate Resin Scout blasters are available as kits from www.polymerarmory.com BLACK JUMPSUIT: These are very wearer specific in size. Flights suits are measured in Chest size, not waist size.: http://www.tedsmilitarysurplus .com/clothacc/fsafblack.html (black flightsuit) GLOVES: Accurate custom made gloves from Dale at vintageleatherproducts@hotmail.com -Or- http://www.jcwhitney.com search for "INSULATED LEATHER MOTORCYCLE GLOVES" -Or- http://ebikerleather.com/ (glove items #BGL2065 or BGL2040 CALF-HIGH BOOTS: http://www.gemplers.com , but really there is no definitive black boot that I can recommend. Alot of people Take Vinyl Cloth, and E6000 Glue and then hand make their own black Scout boots over a pair of existing tennis shoes that have a cool looking rubber sole. AIR FANS AND SPEAKERS: http://www.triktoys.com

Hey all!!! My name is David...from Lakeland, FL. I've been lurking in the forums awhile checking in and out dreaming of the day I could start a build on SHADOW SCOUT. Well...the wifey finally gave me the green light to start my first project! SO EXCITED!!! That being said...also very nervous. I've never worked on a costume of any kind, I'm not very handy/crafty, and I'm pretty much clueless towards techniques to correctly build something like this. I do have an old email (a few years ago) from Jeff at SC with info on the majority of the things I would need to get. It also included info on where to buy them. I was wondering if there was an updated list on where to actually accumulate the materials??? Also...if there is anyone nearby my location with experience willing to assist that would be awesome. Any tips, advice, etc. from anyone would be great as well? I've looked at the 501st requirements for a Shadow Scout and will be sifting through the forums as well hoping to find as much info as I can. Funds are ready...I have the wifey approval...just need the knowledge and some help! Thanks so much!!!