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Is that the same as the 501st access I did with my TK? How can I tell if I have access?

TX-58425 Checking in. Thanks for all the help on this forum. There were some really critical points when things went wrong that the advice on here kept me going. It was about a year and a half of work, a messy basement, a tolerant wife, and a whole lot of TX's in various forums that got me through. So thanks all.

Hey thanks for this. Yes...totally crazy and I learned so much about working with these materials. I don't even know the hours I put in. The fangs nearly broke me but it's the advice I got here that got me over it. The whole thing was a very enjoyable puzzle, and when someone here would give advice, I'd go to the store and start collecting parts that could put that advice into action. I don't think people realize the ownership you get when you build the kit. I know every part of it, every connection, and every reason for that connection or flaw, or fix. Such a great level of confidence. As a mid-life project, it's weird (some people just don't get it) but so positive. Adding constructive weirdness to life is always a good thing. No TX yet (1 month and counting, though it is the busy holiday time) but I do know, that anyone who has seen me in the kit (test fittings/pictures) is just totally blown away by the DT. Heck, I'm blown away. It's a seriously intimidating kit. I stand about 6'6" in it and unlike my TK, I don't need to hide that height. As a kit it looks amazing right now. Pretty confident there are no major issues with CRL because the kit looks so clean right now. Who knows on the small details though...we'll see.

It's been some time, but I'm waiting on approval (hopefully a TX is coming my way), but this is my near complete, pre-submission photo I took...

Thanks. Yeah the fangs nearly broke me. This kit is a big challenge for my skillset but I've been making my way through it and enjoying it, but fangs, the fangs.... Here's hoping this repair hold and looks good once sanded up and painted.

I will not show pictures of my fiberglass work. It is ugly. So ugly. But I still think it is going to work really well. The collar was strong after I added the metal. Since the collar was it's own part, I also used the fiberglass to tie it in to the backplate instead of using just glue. I overdid it with hardener though, so not quite as much epoxy as I wanted. It went solid so quick.

Hmmm. Well that's good to know. The work for this kit is crazy complicated. I had wondered about re-enforcing the collar after the cut. Good to know that there is a tested way to do it. It's a very tight fit with the fangs and the chest plate. The fangs are a big wide so I need to wedge the chestplate in there. When I cut the fangs, I notched one, thinking it would help with the bend, however I removed part of the bottom edge that made contact with the inside edge of the chestplate collar. As a result the fangs/collar pops up from the chestplate because there is no edge to catch anymore. That's the spot I was worrying about. Seems like with tin, and then new fiberglass, that would be fixed. I have an epoxy resin for the fiberglass cloth, is the epoxy to glue the tin in a different type of epoxy? Is there a brand name so I can find it or its equivalent? Also I'm assuming the fiberglass is added in only on the inside correct? FYI this is my foolish attempt to make a bend work...

Well that didn't go too well. Fangs did not want to bend at all. One snapped instead. So cut clean and bonding them back together. It's going to be permanent weakness though. Total pain.

I have and early version of the Plastic Arms Dealer kit. I'm in the build and I have no regrets. One regret, his new kit is even better (V2) wish I had that. Fibreglass is a little daunting, but actually I find it crazy easy to work with and forgiving.

I was thinking about the backplate, because that seems like it could solve a bunch of the issues and the fit would still be good and it doesn't look like it would be odd for the armour. I tried bending the fangs, but they are resin and they don't bend like that easily. I think if i go that route I'll need to notch the bottom edge, and cut the top edge so there is some weakness and give, then just refill.

Okay. Great. It's good to know I'm not about to do something stupid and others have been down this route before.

So I've been working on on lots of bits and pieces, I'm starting to get to fit and I need advice. The back piece, to the chest piece doesn't quite fit me. It needs to be narrower in the chest. Currently, when the collar fangs lay flat against the front like they should, the chest pushes out too far. Here are some shots showing the issue... Here is how it all naturally fits together... But here is how it needs to be narrowed to fit me (narrowed as in the space for my chest, back to front, needs to be less) That's more or less about the width, not concerned with the connection front to back, I can make that work, it's the fangs that concern me. They are up about an inch from the chestplate when the back to front is the right width for me. So something needs to get bent into shape. I can either bend the back piece below the collar and above the backpack, and that would make it fit, or somehow bend the fangs. Not sure if either would work. Anyone have any advice? This is what I'm talking about with it on... fangs aligned but chest/back piece too wide... Chest and back piece right width, but fangs no longer aligned.

I've asked him for advice previously, I'm just not bugging him at the moment. I've been sanding more, and finer, and that seems to be resolving itself, I'm up to 1000 grit now, and it's getting really good.

It is definitely something on top of the fibreglass. It sands off, and it gets sticky when 99% rubbing alcohol is put on it and comes off black. I'm not sure if it is some paint or a release agent like you say. I wonder if I should just use something like paint thinner to really clean it all up.

Thanks I went the dawn route, plus another pass of sandpaper and it seems to clean up and get really even. It all kind of goes that greyish black. there is a surface that seems to come off with sanding. I don't think the parts had any paint because the whole point is the gel coat. I guess it might just be residue. I've never worked with fiberglass before so it's very hard to know if what I'm doing is right or wrong.