Retrofire's Shadow Scout Build

[retrofire[501st]]

FINALLY! I've taken my first steps to a darker world. I was able to buy a set of built armor from a member and I'm reworking some parts due to differences in size (he was tall and I'm a pipsqueak). Luckily there is very little I have to rework as this was an excellent build to begin with. All I really have to do is replace the knees, resize the belt assembly/thigh boxes, and resize the boots and holster assembly.

 

 

I also got a new bucket from some guy named Chef. I heard that his stuff was pretty good so I decided to give him a go:) Actually, I'm really stoked to finally add a Chef bucket to my collection. Now we just need to encourage him to keep working on the Storm Commando!

 

Here's the lid as received:

 

 

I just stopped by Jo-Ann today to purchase some black nylon for the belt assembly and getting to work tonight. I'll be posting up pics of the mods I'm making and asking for any advice. Looking forward to earning my TX designation and more to come. Thanks for welcoming me to SpecOps!

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Nice! That's how I got my scout armor as well.

[retrofire[501st]]

Thanks Steve. Yeah I just sent an email to SC to see if I can pick up a pair of new knees. I'm also going to go over to Chef's site and see if he has a tutorial for building the lid. I want to make sure I do it right as It's too nice to hack away at.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Looking good Peter, glad to see you moving forward on this project!

[retrofire[501st]]

Thanks Grif! We finally got settled here in the Dune Sea and it's time to work some armor. Its a beautiful set I just have to mod it to fit my pipsqueak frame. I just ordered a new set of knees from Jeff and I think that's all I really have to replace. The rest is just some trimming and rework of the strapping again to fit my frame. The bund is beautiful and fits well I can just tuck The overlap under my vest.

 

The Chef lid is a bit intimidating as I've never build a lid from parts and I don't want to screw it up. I need to some some research on adhesives and what type of Bondo to use so any advice there would be appreciated.

 

More pics to come on this build.

[retrofire[501st]]

New knees ordered from SC! Now onto the holster and belt modifications. Wheeeeee! I'z gonna be a shadow scout!

[retrofire[501st]]

Just got an email from Jeff at SC and my new knees are on the way. I worked today on the chest and back removing the velcro patches on the inside of the armor. I also disassembled the belt and and drop boxes. My plan is to install a new belt from black nylon and velcro as I did on my biker scout. Once I get the disassemble done I'll perform a proper fit check and adjustments if necessary. I'm focusing on the armor at the moment getting it sized so I can get it prepped for prime and paint so I haven't been able to get to my Chef helmet yet. I'll be posting some more pictures soon so stay tuned.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Just got an email from Jeff at SC and my new knees are on the way. I worked today on the chest and back removing the velcro patches on the inside of the armor. I also disassembled the belt and and drop boxes. My plan is to install a new belt from black nylon and velcro as I did on my biker scout. Once I get the disassemble done I'll perform a proper fit check and adjustments if necessary. I'm focusing on the armor at the moment getting it sized so I can get it prepped for prime and paint so I haven't been able to get to my Chef helmet yet. I'll be posting some more pictures soon so stay tuned.

 

You will be a fine Shadow Scout in no time...!

[retrofire[501st]]

 

You will be a fine Shadow Scout in no time...!

Thanks Jim! I feel horrible tearing this beautiful armor down. Feel like I stole your girlfriend or something.

[Sall]

Hi Retrofire,

 

I followed chef's tutorial very simple to follow its a good one :-)

[retrofire[501st]]

Thanks Sall! I'll drop by his site and give that a read through.

[retrofire[501st]]

Tonight I worked on the belt assembly. I created two snap plates for the forward drop box belts and glued them in with some plastic weld cement.

 

 

Using 1.5" black cotton I made a set of four belts for attaching the thigh boxes to the belt. There will be a snap on one end and I'll sew velcro hook on the other end. Inside the thigh boxes I'll stick lengths of loop velcro that will make them adjustable for proper fitment. I also cut the two lengths of the 0.5" elastic for the knees to prepare for my run at Specialist.

 

 

At the top of the picture is the set of new knees that I received from SC. Using spare ABS I glued strips to the inside top of the knees where the 0.5" elastic will be attached. Adding shims to this area will add strength when riveting the 0.5" elastic to the tops of the knees. The ABS is thin here and this will help keep it from cracking.

 

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Looking good, Peter.

[retrofire[501st]]

Quick question. Does a red stripe and white dot need to painted on the tank topper like the TB version or does the entire piece remain black?

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Quick question. Does a red stripe and white dot need to painted on the tank topper like the TB version or does the entire piece remain black?

 

All black brother...no stripes on the tank topper.

[retrofire[501st]]

Thanks Grif! I'll give it a coat of gloss black and call it good.

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Theater the ticket!

[jcalus]

Looking good.

I had the same question about the red stripe. Thanks for asking, now I had an answer too.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

 

[retrofire[501st]]

Thanks a lot for compliment Jon. It's required for the TB (Biker Scout) so I wanted to check. Actully I was hoping that the red strip was permitted as that would be a touch of color on the tank but that's ok. I plan on doing the armor in satin and setting all the greeblies off with a coat of gloss so it should have some good contrast.

 

Tonight I started to tackle my helmet but cutting out the visor section. I first drilled a series of holes using a 1/2" drillbit

 

 

This will make trimming out the plastic a touch easier. I can use a bigger pair of snips for this portion then switch to the smaller scissors to clean up the remaining plastic before I sand it smooth. Here's the rough cut with the snips.

 

 

So from here it's the final trimming and sanding for the visor. More to come on this really nice helmet.

[furiosa[TX]]

Any news of your build?! ...I'm curious?!

[retrofire[501st]]

Any news of your build?! ...I'm curious?!

Sorry! I've been off working my son's magma scout and upgrading my current biker scout to level two so I haven't been working this as much as I want to. Thanks for the reminder though! I'm going to get back on this by the end of the week. Thanks for the knock on the skull

[furiosa[TX]]

Ahwww I know what you mean. Too much work to do, and too less time.

[retrofire[501st]]

Ok thanks to our resident shadow siren Furiosa nudging me I got back on this. I started assembly of my Chef bucket last night. I glued in the alignment tabs for the main bucket halves and I'll be putting them together tonight with my plastic epoxy. The faceplate and visor are giving me some issues so I could use a few pointers there. Mostly in the area of how deep the faceplate should be from the visor.

[furiosa[TX]]

h

Ok thanks to our resident shadow siren Furiosa nudging me I got back on this. I started assembly of my Chef bucket last night.

 

ahhhahaha ... :laugh1: :laugh1: ...well the shadows need to team up, so I´m giving you guys some fire.

Is it the first scout helmet you are assembilng?! ...I have to get my guy in here, he assembled my chef helmet also. I assume he could give you some tricks and advises, I´m sure. I know he had some troubles in the beginning assembling the chef helmet, but as you can see on mine he did pretty well. He´s also in the Pathfinders detachment known as Johnny Trash. You can ask him for advises there too, if you like.

[retrofire[501st]]

I was having trouble until I saw this and then it clicked.

 

The visor cants in rather than sit square like my Altmanns scout bucket. That was throwing me off. Thanks for the mugshot Chef! Ok it's on now!