Getting started in the 501st

[SilentDan[TX]]

Hopefully I'm progressing in the right direction. The cummerbund and pouches are very fiddly.<br />

 

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[retrofire[501st]]

Looking good! You're moving along just fine. You'll want to bring the right pouch over just about to the edge of the bund ribbing and bring those drop boxes up to about 1-1.5 inches from your belt. You are well on your way to approval just need to tighten a few things up.

[SilentDan[TX]]

I've attached my pouches with Velcro, so I've just repositioned then for the moment. Is this looking any closer?

[retrofire[501st]]

Much better. Now bring the top left pouch over equal with the stitching. It's a tad crooked. It's a little easier if you lay your bund flat on a bed or table to adjust them as it's easier to align. That Shadow Scout is looking good! Can't wait to see it all together. Keep up the great work.

[SilentDan[TX]]

Tried for repositioning. It needs to go through the washing machine to get the chalk that marked the rib lines off.

 

[retrofire[501st]]

Nice! Like the suspenders as well. Thays a good way to go. I don't know about washing it though. I'd be concerned about it bunching. I haven't washed my bund I just air it out after troops. Maybe Chef can help with advice here.

[SilentDan[TX]]

Opened the visor up a little more.

[retrofire[501st]]

That looks good right there and I wouldn't tinker with it much more. What lens did you decide to go with? I've been searching for a mirrored one to replace the dark green one that came in my kit. I think it makes it that much more cooler:)

 

 

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[SilentDan[TX]]

I'm using the Trooperbay one. It's just a thin mirrored film, so I just need to stick it on to the green lens that came with the kit.

 

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[retrofire[501st]]

Yeah I got that too but I was a little concerned with adding an extra layer of tint to an already dark lens. I though about evening troops and bonking into things because I couldn't see:)

[DarkSith87[TX]]

Looks great i'm also doing a shadow scout myself but will still have my General Weir Shadow Scout too, good luck

 

 

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[SilentDan[TX]]

The original lens I have does not seem very dark, and the silver film doesn't make things too much worse. The other option would be to get a clear safety face mask shield.

 

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[retrofire[501st]]

Good point. I was thinking of something like a replacement lens for ski goggles or bmx. That silver reflection really sets the bucket off so dark or not I'm still going to do it:)

[SilentDan[TX]]

Straight from the manufacturer, putting the tank on the back resulted in a noticeable gap. I've ground the straight line to make more of a curve to match the back. How precise does the tank have to attach? It can be squeezed down closer.

[retrofire[501st]]

No worries! That should be fine. You should see the gaps on the scouts in ROTJ😀. Check the CRL as I believe that you'll need two rivets here one on the bottom and another on the top through the tank topper. On my white armor I created a tab out of scrap ABS and inserted it through the back of the armor for the upper rivet to connect to. It made the tank connection much stronger. Once I got the top topper installed I gently pushed down on the tank and drilled through both pieces then inserted the rivet. That tank isn't going anywhere.

 

 

 

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[SilentDan[TX]]

I checked the CRL, and the shadow scout doesn't mention rivets for basic approval. I initially had to glued on with a significant gap, almost 1cm at the top, but my local garrison thought that was too much. My finger tips hurt for days after pulling it off. Good to know I'm going in the right direction.

[retrofire[501st]]

HI Dan. Goodness that had to be miserable as well as painful. I'm sorry you had to do that. You are absolutely right about the tank rivets. It's only if you are going for Specialist that a rivet is required for the tank.

[SilentDan[TX]]

Finally got around to finishing my bucket. Used a lot of hot melt glue to get the lense in.

 

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[SilentDan[TX]]

I managed to get approved. I'm now TX-64687!

 

Thanks for all the advise!

[kaabous[TX]]

Hi Dan, congrats on getting approval!

 

I am just getting my SC build going and I'd be curious to hear any tips you have on assembling the helmet.

[SilentDan[TX]]

Thanks Kaabous.

The helmet wasn't so bad to assemble.

I first riveted the visor to the faceplate just to hold it in position. I made small drill holes in the center of the indent just in case I was off, with the bolt position. I then glued the sides and top on, one at a time to get both items in place.

The back of the helmet was just glue and magnets. The top lined up nicely to the back. There is a bit of a gap where the back does not perfectly contact the top.

The faceplate and the helmet lined up at the hinge position, but the jawline needed to be trimmed to match the helmet.

The visor just needed a bit of a hot water bath to soften it, and a lot of hot melt glue to hold it in place.

Hope this helps.

[kaabous[TX]]

Thanks Dan. Was it the right side (when wearing) jaw line that needed trimming? Mine was about 1/2" longer than the left.

 

Did you move the guide holes for mounting the faceplate? They seem like they are a bit too far forward on mine, but I'm not sure there is room to move them much.

 

I'll definitely use the tip on warming the visor when I get to that step.

[SilentDan[TX]]

Yes, on my helmet, the right jaw line was the longer side.

 

No, I did not move the guide holes for mounting the faceplate. Everything (aside from the right jaw line) lined up when I tested the fit of the faceplate to the helmet. When in the closed position, there is a gap of approximately 1/4" between the faceplate and the matching contours on the helmet. This allows for the faceplate to open, something that I don't think would be possible if the faceplate mated perfectly to the contours on the helmet.

[Force Crush[TX]]

Where did you bought that visor?

[SilentDan[TX]]

I got the Biker Scout Mirrored Lens Material from Trooperbay.