nanotek

Yeah I played the beta but was more interested in the game play, not costumes. I managed to clock about 2 hours total as I was busy with my build.

Made a new speedstrap holster prototype to match reference pic:

Thanks and yep found the extra bit Fixed the missing piece issue highlighted earlier. Went digging through the bag of small miscellaneous parts and found the missing bit. After some sanding, I used some CA glue to attach it. I then got a piece of 4mm ABS, shaped it and smoothed out the edges before gluing to the inside to reinforce the new bit. It was important to shape and smooth the reinforcing bit so that it does not catch on the undersuit.

Last night in the wee hours of obsessing over this build I noticed some thing wrong! Either it is missing or it broke off, but there is a little piece that extends out of the bottom edge of the thigh. Either I will have to find the missing piece OR make myself. Simple enough to do, but a little disappointing to find at this stage. Better now than even further down the track I guess!

More progress this weekend. But also the odd setback. Must. Keep. Grinding. Here is the thermal detonator. Pretty much ready for some priming I reckon: Chest plate with pesky crack gone for good Abdominal section assembled and ready for priming: Left thigh almost ready to go: Right thigh: this is something I stuffed up a little. I angled the sniper plate too far the first time so I pulled it off and had to redo. CA glue made a little bit of a mess but only took an hour to redo and am happy with it now Back plate assembled (mostly) I also spent A LOT of time with a round file redoing some details on my forearms. It took me roughly an hour and a half for each forearm to get the detail I wanted. Because the armour had been scaled down and because of the resin they were lost so. Yaaaay for repetitive strain injury! But it looks clean and crisp now. I sanded my butt plate, cod and shoulder bells as well. Also ammo covers and belt boxes are ready for painting. I also spent time doing some leather work for others and developed a new speed strap holster. I wanted to do a test fitting this weekend but ran out of time. Maybe next weekend 😀 Getting close to the strapping part I reckon then on with the painting 😀

I did a small stress test on the chest piece today to check the fibreglass had reinforced and fixed the crack. Well it appeared again! To fix this I used a method I found useful for repairing similar issues with other 3D printed items. Basically file/Dremel into the crack and then fill that with CA glue. Here's some pics to illustrate: 1. Sand back the surrounding area around the crack 2. Dremel or file the crack. This ensures that enough glue gets into the area to create a stronger bond 3. Full the gap with CA glue Another angle: Once this cures properly I will sand it then fill and sand again.

You did a great job here Chris! Thanks for sharing

So remember how I said I had an equipment malfunction with one of the ammo pouch covers? Armed with a hairdryer and a flat surface I managed to straighten things out. Method: 1. apply heat (pays to wear protective gloves) 2. Use flat surface (like floor) to mold 3. Repeat process for each side, allowing it to cool as you go Results: (before and after)

Some more mods have arrived. These will be mounted on the chest plate along with my aluminium d-rings.

Thanks team. Some more pics Some bits and bobs: Right forearm: Left forearm: Thighs: I have fibreglassed the ribbed inserts in and spread some resin around to smooth out the print lines Biceps Filling in the gaps between the neck and back armour Inside: Also (but not pictured ) I have done the belt boxes and ammo pouch covers. One of them has malfunctioned by warping in the heat today so I'll figure out a strategy for it next week. I'll try and fix it using a hair dryer and patience 😀 I feel like I am coming over the hill now that things are moving along. There's still a ton to do but I think the worst is done now. I have gone through two sets of leather safety gloves now!

Progress update! It's been a very busy weekend 😀 Finally assembled the shins: I had to Dremel and file the ab plate due to resin seepage. It's looking pretty good now apart from some detailing that needs fixing due to the poor quality print. I also FINALLY managed to assemble my thighs. After having to repair all the weaknesses I could finally finish the sanding and could glue the ribbed inserts in Here's a shoulder bell: Cod: Butt: Hand plates: Thermal Detonator and back plate: Back armour with bits to glue on:

Yeah will do. I'm working off Tom's files so the way that the 3D printed rockets are attached are different as there is a platform that they are attached to. I'll detail everything in my build as I am pretty close to that part. It's a slight design challenge but should be resolved easily I imagine.

My E-11D is nearing completion

Nice! I also got the rockets and the shoulder buckles. The rockets are presenting a design challenge for me as the need to sit on top of a plate. The bolt holes are too far apart to bolt to the correct platform. I am planning a strategy to allow for this.

Thanks mate. I appreciate the kind words. I am following your build as well for ideas. Your kit is looking great!

I was considering some sort of rubber matting or similar but realised that some parts I want to slip on so resin it is. I was recommended by a fibreglass guy to use flowcoat which is expensive but adds a nice finish to fibreglass resin. Maybe check that out?

Those pesky thighs! Both of mine broke at some point so feel your pain on that. What kind of coating are you giving the insides? Looking great man!

Using fibreglass resin. My learnings? I probably should have given all of the armour a rough sanding at the beginning using 80grit. I have chosen to use resin to retain flexibility and used fibreglass matting to strengthen where obvious and where I feel it needs it. I'm not sure whether I am doing this the right way or the wrong way, just doing what I think will work well at the end. I am open to advice and learnings from others as well

Here is a pictorial update with some mildly boring narration: Thermal Detonator is coming along nicely, this is just after a coat of resin, so will need to be sanded etc Here is the Back plate with my extension. Due to the resizing of the armour, the bolt holes for the TD do not align So here I have fibreglassed over the holes so that they can be filled and drilled to match the TD. I decided to put a bit of glass here because the holes are only out by a little bit and I may be almost re-drilling over them. Also paranoia about the strength of the print! Do not want TD malfunctions! A boring pic of a freshly resin'd Shin. I have coated the inside as well as I do not want any sharp bits or print lines rubbing/catching on an expensive undersuit I finally felt like it was time to install the neck piece on to the back armour. This was a little tricky as it has two ledges that need to align correctly with the back piece. I basically laid the back armour in my lap, put some CA glue on both areas of contact, and started placing. The medium CA glue is a little forgiving so I could muck around with the placement before holding. I then got some fibreglass and placed on the inside for extra hold. I will be doing another run on this to fully secure I have been reinforcing some other areas where the print is a bit too flimsy for my tastes so here the back armour with inner reinforcing at the bottom I also reinforced the butt plate for obvious reasons but here is the progress on the outside of it Chest plate reinforcing you can hardly see but it's there I have not been able to do much work on the thigh pieces as they have both been broken and held together by some CA glue. Yesterday I decided to strengthen them up so I can continue to work on them. The reason I have not put in the ribbed inserts is because I am working on those separately to keep the detailing. I will glue them in and reinforce further with fibreglass when I am ready

Have you left enough room for the belt between the ab and the cod?

I should mention that ordering anything through AliExpress the shipping time varies (esp if it's free) generally 2-4 weeks. One item I got within 5 days.

I am currently making a few sets of the leather stuff. Slow going at the moment due to my build. If you a definitely not in any hurry I might be able to get one done in a couple of months. I can also provide instructions on how to do it yourself which I plan on doing in a "how to" thread separate from my build. Build looking good

Looking great! Nice job

Here's the torch for the E-11D http://s.aliexpress.com/6jYFzmuY Here's the swivel http://s.aliexpress.com/mumYruEv

Haha. He already blew his own timescale. Thanks for the heads up about this because I feel it's going to be a necessity to keep riding him to get it...