TX AM Armor Build

[Tekket[501st]]

hey guys I'm having trouble deciding exactly where to attach the armor straps to the chest plate Eg: how far down and at what angle. do they usually jut out on the AM at the edges , because if they have to sit flat and perfectly glued all around they seem to be too far back to me .

can someone please help

[Tekket[501st]]

Time for an update

At this point I will upload a lot of pics and will edit the update with explanations when I get the time, sorry guys and please feel free to ask any questions

thanks steve

 

 

[trooper[501st]]

Nice work mate its coming along very nicely. Cant wait till you finish so we can get out and troop together.

[toddo[TX]]

Looking good.

[Tekket[501st]]

Guys could you give me some advice please

 

 

hey guys I'm having trouble deciding exactly where to attach the armor straps to the chest plate Eg: how far down and at what angle. do they usually jut out on the AM at the edges , because if they have to sit flat and perfectly glued all around they seem to be too far back to me .

can someone please help

 

when joining the AB and kidney Armor how much room should I have inside the armor, when touching at the back I have about 1 and a half inches of room at the front and about 1/2 an inch at each side is this too loose do i need to cut before i join and if so cut from the AB or the kidney or half from each?

 

 

Also when the back of the armor is all joined together it is too long should I cut the back plate, the kidney or the butt plate , id prefer to cut the back as i have an idea about recreating the return edge and if it didnt work out it is probably the best part to leave with a straight edge ( having said that a straight edge on the kidney would probably be hidden by the belt ............what are your thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

If anyone is interested what do you think about my Jawa eyes

 

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Eyes look good, but I am steering clear of the photo above it...I did not need to know if you were a boxers or briefs kinda of key...I apparently could not resist. Back is usually easiest to cut because it has the straightest lines, but be careful about automatically cutting the same amount along the entire edge, sometimes, due to the curves, can lead to it not lining up properly. I recommend taping off where you are cutting and then overlaying the back or butt piece to it to see how they line up

[JeepGrrl[501st]]

hey guys I'm having trouble deciding exactly where to attach the armor straps to the chest plate Eg: how far down and at what angle. do they usually jut out on the AM at the edges , because if they have to sit flat and perfectly glued all around they seem to be too far back to me .

 

Well, um, you guys certainly seem to have some interesting armor parties

 

For the chest straps, are you talking about the straps at the top that attach to the back, or ones inside the front that hold the chest down to the ab?

[Tekket[501st]]

The straps on the outside, the ribbed ones that are seen

 

Private armor party with Mrs Tekket lol.................she took the pics as I couldnt see ....................where is my black suit I do wish it would arrive lol.........I think I will take that pic down, its just with shorts or trousers on you can't get it positioned correctly

 

Sorry guys and girls

[JeepGrrl[501st]]

Lol dude I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself

 

So you're talking about the shoulder bridges? Mine are probably not a good example, they're kind of weirdly set because I had to heat the top pieces of my chest to open it up. Let me dig out my man's TK chest (also AM) and take a pic, unless someone else beats me to it

[JeepGrrl[501st]]

Ok so forgive me for posting white armor on here but his shoulders are just better than mine. He did put heat on his to shape them to the contours of the chest. He prefers the heat gun because he's hardcore, but I like the boiling water method because it's way easier to control. One guy brought a chest to an armor party and I actually teared up a bit for him when I saw - he had put way too much heat on it and the bumps had flattened into a mess.

 

I hope these pictures help (and address your question). Also make sure you have your back on when you attach the bridges - they follow the line from chest to back, they don't just run parallel to each other.

 

 

 

 

[Tekket[501st]]

Thanks for the pics , very helpful

[Griffin-X[501st]]

My chest/back parts are done this way. This mirrors my TK setup and is the preferred method at FISD. But, I used Gorrilla Glue to secure the straps on the front. I have elastic on the underside which allow it to open and close as I put it on. Plus, I don't need any straps to hold the "clam shell" front/back together.

 

 

 

[izzi[TX]]

So many different ways of rigging armor! Love it.

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

I prefer the boil method as well. I did this on many parts of my armor instead of the heat gun, pretty much anything that would fit in my larger pot.

[Master Tej]

I'm guessing the boil method is where a pot of boiling water heats up the armor to the appropriate bendability? But do you put it in the water, or use the steam?

 

- Master Tej -

[Tekket[501st]]

Adding up some more pictures cut down hard hat inner is for scootches bucket

The scootch and Arakyel side by side

Some goodies I have acquired .........If anyone is interested in the binders PM me and I will head you in the right direction

Also some progress shots

And my Jawa

 

Defininately ABS Glue was the best for the shoulder straps as was a heat gun .......just be careful ...Thanks Peter only thing with ABS glue is you are only allowed to bring in 100ml at a time into Australia through Amazon who had the lowest price and the cheap shipping was quick .........probably wouldn't need more than 100ml anyhow

 

The Blaster needs a little work, a tiny bit dodgy but I was sort of glad a few bits wheren't glued well etc as i am wanting to update it with electronics, counter etc so now I dont have to worry about how I will pull it apart

 

[splinter[TX]]

Steve, your build is certainly progressing well. Did you have to take much off the chest plate and shoulder straps?

[Tekket[501st]]

Only cut the shoulder straps on the chest plate so far (not the ribbed ones) the ones built into the chest plate, cut off 6.5cm or 2.5 inches , I tried to use the boiling water technique but couldnt get the angle i wanted where the ribbed strap meets the chest so resorted to the heat gun, the one i have isnt too over the top, an ozito variable from just about nothing to damn hot $39 at Bunnings, ozito are great 3 year warranty and a fraction of the cost of others I got my ozito dremel from there too same price ...... but ozito is exclusive to bunnings in australia

[Master Tej]

Is that E-11 a de-milled Sterling?

 

- Master Tej -

[izzi[TX]]

Looking pretty good so far! Remember when you're done, you need to send everything to me for the "10 year Trooping Safety Inspection."

[trooper[501st]]

Looking good Steve.

[vader rocks[501st]]

Your build is looking awesome, keep it going and you'll be there in no time

[Tekket[501st]]

hey guys I,ve joined the AB, Kidney and butt with snaps , side rivets and elastic but when I put it all on I'm having real trouble with the butt wanting to ride outward when i walk and flip over the kidney I'm not sure what is best to do here both the butt and kidney have big return edges so i wondered is that the cause, should I trim them out where the elastic flows through so they sit against two flat surfaces or should i just lengthen those straps slightly or I was even thinking should I make those straps from non stretchable Eg: Webbing or industrial velcro sewn to webbing ..............................any ideas would be greatly appreciated thanks

 

Steve

 

PS: thanks for all the positive comments

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

So, I will tell you what I did, though every trooper handles this a little different. I took some 2 in wide canvas strapping and cut it in to a strip the length of the flat section of the kidney plate, before it starts curving round your sides. I put snaps every inch or so along the top and bottom of the strap, this would be on the long sides of the strapping. I then put snap plates on both the kidney and butt plate in line with the snaps on the canvas strap. When connected it gives me a bit of flex, but holds the pieces properly apart. Not sure if you can imagine it without a pic. I really need to get my armor out and snap a pic of this as it's been asked a few times.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

...and he can shoot a Rancor left-handed. Just look at his banner!