Jeditid

Cheers for the heads up Clint, I'll look at that issue with rivets, I've learned the hard way myself with that, so do tend to use washers under the rivets now - that helps stopping things pulling through but good tip though. I'm with you regarding attaching the belt, Velcro and or glue is a good bet, and yes to have it all joined behind the pouch makes sense and you can hide a multitude of sins Getting closer - wont have my gaskets for 2 weeks - so will make up as much of the calves, forearms and thighs as I can and then properly join when I have them, dont want it too tight or too loose. Need to sort attaching the shoulder bells and have them sitting at the right height with that "ledge" and then I can tidy up and remake the harness straps as I know it all works and then I can prime and paint the chest and back piece along with the rest . Closer each day

I'm planning on making the join for the rubber belt at the side and hide it all behind the pouch loop, possibly with snaps on elastic or just using snaps to clip together - haven't worked that out yet. It could also be riveted to the rear of the waist band as that's hidden under the tank bracket. At the front I think I will be using rivets to hold the front boxes on to the belt and also put them through the waist band too. That way it's all connected and less fussy to kit up with. Once complete the Ab plate and waist band will almost be as one piece then and easier to handle.

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so now seeing these photos I'm going to take about an inch off the ab plate top so the chest sits directly above the curve on the ab plate - with no gaps. That means it'll move up slightly so will need to make the same adjustment on the tank holder at the rear and drop it down again. Then may need to thin down the lower belt too and move it up. Think I'm also going to join the ab and belt with a couple of bits of elastic so they are as one and wont slide around. You wont see this when it's all on with an undersuit and the rest of the belt.

So got the harness sorted tonight and it fits like a dream. Comfy on the shoulders and all the weight is on the straps not the armour. So with the backplate done I'm going to leave this front and back plate connected. The chest flaps will hide any of the pinch clips that may show and so now it's time to sort out the arms and legs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I had another go yesterday and still dont have the pinch clips I ordered for the shoulder straps. So tried everything on and attached the backplate first and just lifted it over my head. Worked a treat !! so am seriously considering keeping the front and back plate attached now. It's so much more solid and dont want to split it if I dont have to. I have enough room I think to pull the straps tight still, but we'll see when I get that sorted. Also it sat really nice on my back and the weight wasnt too bad. I've also finished (apart from 2 buckles) the back plate with the black matting and straps and I started putting the forearms together too. So again a few more evenings this week and I'll post some more photos for progress. So happy the backplate is done and the tanks are fitted - I think the rest is reasonably straight forward now.

Yes I should have the pinch clips arriving today and I've got 2" webbing and some shoulder padding to go around it. I also added the two bolts to the back plate last night to see if that would hold the tanks on its own - and yes it does, so by the time we also have the waist band it'll be solid. I've just started putting filler on the shoulder joints - where I lengthened them, so once that's done I can cut them from the back plate. That just leaves the straps to be attached via bolts to the back plate and then joined to the waistband and it'll sit lovely. The weight sits perfectly on the tank rest on the waist and the shoulder straps just pull it to vertical and stop it strangling you. Felt really comfy just sat on the waist band the other night - so with the shoulder straps it'll be fine. Off to see my seamstress tonight who's going to make the gaskets and sew and integrate them direct to my one piece undersuit so one less thing to worry about. I can then go about sizing all the arms and thighs correctly to ensure there's a snug fit around them. I do think that the tanks, connecting them and making it comfy and strong on the suit is key to it all. But it's great using Clint's build and Rob - Deadman's build as reference has helped. Hopefully my work on the tanks helped them - I think the MLC kit is undersize if I am honest - interestingly they look size according to the Disney Die cast model I have - whereas mine were sized with the Anaheim and Disney suits as best we could. So they are bit - but once in armour I think will look really great. Anyway - onwards and upwards and looking forward to a weekend of building

That looks great, I messaged the guy who made your tanks when I was building mine to make the point about that rear tube not coming all the way down. He got shitty with me, so left him too it. Now mine are done I'm happy with sizes and have started all the brackets now. Should have a fill fitting for tanks with ab and waist band by end of the weekend Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Test fitted the tanks tonight. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

So extended the shoulders to allow the neck to come down. Plus made the rear tank bracket and finished the tanks this weekend. Also started on the harness for it all. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Hey Clint, good work again, just a question - have you thought that when you add straps to hold the back plate and tanks together this may alter how the suit sits on your back. I'm going to start make the reinforcing back plate tonight and mock up the tank holding bar that sits on the ab plate. Of all the things I think this may be the key to it all. The rest is reasonably straight forward. Did you do anything about the neck scoop ? did you extend / reshape the should bridges at all. I still think I'm going to need to do this.

Loving the recent posts about the shoulder bells, I've just started trimming the whole kit as my backpack and flamethrower are done. So Clint, you are definitely my tutorial Luckily although only 5'10" I'm quite broad and think this may be the first trooper that may benefit from this - I need the extra strength to carry the tanks and the thrower as it's bloody heavy. As Jsin will also testify too ! lol I just wanna be at home now - trimming !!

So I'm called these 95% done now, just waiting on flex wrap for hose, have pneumatic hose already and then pipe collars to attach below the tanks. Then I can start on my armour and work out the tank attachment. http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57a3199041634/DSC_0676.JPG http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57a319a20c750/DSC_0669.JPG http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57a319b0d3ecb/DSC_0671.JPG http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57a319bee8ac0/DSC_0674.JPG http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57a319cd5a692/DSC_0675.JPG Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Loving this build thread and it's going to one I am following for sure as my armour arrives next week and 90% done on the Flamethrower and Tanks now. Did notice one thing - the thighs are glued and did think that maybe they we're velcro'd on the suits on the inner seam. This may allow some adjustment for troopers - but I'll have a look myself when the armour arrives. Good point on the flamethrower though - where you added the nails to hold the handle I'd not noticed that was black either ! brilliant some else missed stuff like me love it though and keep up the good work - for info I managed to get a quick release for the other end of the hose where it joins the tanks as this is what the actual piece is on the suit. cheap as chips and looks the nuts

By the end of next week I should have the tanks complete and flamethrower completed so should be able to post some stuff up for you to look over. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Just a quick note, there's another smaller cylinder / tank behind the 3 main tanks in the back pack. It has small hoses that join from there down to the overflow piece at the bottom of the tanks and in between the two main tanks. It can be seen in the visual dictionary photos if the kit. Depends whether you want to add that in to the basic Crl or not or have that as an addition. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

DSC_0635 by jeditid1973, on Flickr

DSC_0636 by jeditid1973, on Flickr

So armour ordered today from Kevin Brice. Flamethrower currently in construction, from Kevin Merritt, I also have TFA boots and gloves. And the tanks are closer still. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

For either really. Just wondered how flexible these things are and if connected to the armour then it becomes part of the armour instead of part of the undersuit. So a bit like the elastics in a TK. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Can they be connected via snaps / poppers to the armour? Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Once it's strapped on and attached to the suit I reckon it'll be ok. The bar at the Base of the back of the suit will take the weight mostly. Cheers though Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

So the weight of the tanks is now 5kg, and theres the rear "expansion tanks" and the bottom piping and final "drain off" section to do, a bit of final finishing and spraying etc and I'll be done. So I reckon 2/3 weeks hopefully. The tanks are 700mm - 28" from top bar to bottom pipe so should fit nicely. Let me know your thoughts guys - please as this is my first ever scratch built anything - so enjoying it so far ! DSC_0414 by jeditid1973, on Flickr DSC_0415 by jeditid1973, on Flickr