USMC03 TX build

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Ya, a sharp enough blade and you cut through the tape anyway

[First0rder[501st]]

ah, heheh, i guess i have a very steady hand. i can free hand a straight line and or follow a contour with no tape required.

For sanding, i use a small 1.5x3.5" block made from Azex and wrap sand paper around that. I found that using a powered sanding device often burns the edge instead of smoothing it out. But thats my 2 cents. lol

 

Andy

[usmc03[TX]]

Another work session done. I found I'm getting better with the exacto. Today we fine tuned the thighs and added straps.

 

Got the body strap system done and tuned. Started placement of chest and back pieces trimmed, sanded and glued forearms and biceps. Started on TD and trimmed shoulder straps. Need to form them as they are straight.

 

All that's left is final glue of arm parts and build strap system for them. Sniper plate and ammo bandolier is getting attached tomorrow. Belt and holster ready to assemble.

 

Having seen the pros and cons of Velcro, I tried something different with the shin/calve armor. I used earth magnets and will paint them black so they won't be noticed. They work real good

 

 

Going to do some more work Sunday and should be 99% complete then.

 

 

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[First0rder[501st]]

Builds coming out very nice and Love the Magnet idea for the Calves!!! Good one for sure!

 

Andy

[usmc03[TX]]

Builds coming out very nice and Love the Magnet idea for the Calves!!! Good one for sure!

 

Andy

 

Thanks.

 

 

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[Wodaz]

Looking Good!!! Nice and shiny!!!

[usmc03[TX]]

So, tonight competed the arm straps. Needs some minor adjustments but they are done. Still have to shape and install the shoulder straps and complete the main belt.

 

My magnet idea is working, however I used some with the holes in center and they are not strong enough. Shin keeps popping open. Will replace those with solid ones.

 

After all that, all that's left is installing the fans and sound system in the bucket and shining her up.

 

 

 

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[First0rder[501st]]

Wow you made great progress on the build! Nice!!!

 

BTW, what color Silver did you use on the Vocodor? I like that.

 

Andy

[Kylorick[501st]]

Hi Lance , wow your flying with this build since i looked last. Few things that you may be asked to do by your garrison.

Biceps and forearms look big and could be taken in to fit better with 15mm cover strips sat inline with the ridges on front.

Thighs and shins cover strips sat inline with ridges on the front. 20mm strips on front and 25mm on back.

Return edges look big on the bits i can see these can be taken down to 3/4 mm.

Looks like you still have return edge on bottom of shins , this can be taken off as there is no return edge needed there.

Apologies if you've already done some of this as cant see to much on your last lot of pics as your lurking in the shadows very well.

[usmc03[TX]]

Hi Lance , wow your flying with this build since i looked last. Few things that you may be asked to do by your garrison.

Biceps and forearms look big and could be taken in to fit better with 15mm cover strips sat inline with the ridges on front.

Thighs and shins cover strips sat inline with ridges on the front. 20mm strips on front and 25mm on back.

Return edges look big on the bits i can see these can be taken down to 3/4 mm.

Looks like you still have return edge on bottom of shins , this can be taken off as there is no return edge needed there.

Apologies if you've already done some of this as cant see to much on your last lot of pics as your lurking in the shadows very well.

 

I'm prepared to trim a lot off some return edges. Wasn't sure about the shins.

All the strips were made based off Anovos instructions as I couldn't find any other reference at the time. The arms and biceps strips are 1.5cm and even that seems a bit small. I'm going to be trimming the biceps return edges a bit more as that is what is making them look huge and it is interfering with the straps

 

Still have a few more minor things to finish up and should be complete by Friday night.

 

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

Wow you made great progress on the build! Nice!!!

 

BTW, what color Silver did you use on the Vocodor? I like that.

 

Andy

 

Not sure the color. It's an anovos bucket. I'm making changes to it based off UKswrath build. I just got his sound system yesterday and will be installing it Friday morning along with fans.

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

Worked on helmet today. Put fans in and installed the hovi speakers I got from Ukswrath. Try as I might I can't fit all the modules for sound system in helmet. My melon is too big. I'm currently running a battery test on fans to see how long my battery back will last with two fans running.

 

One thing I noticed is, I can't hear anything but the fans when they are on. Even with one. Not that that's a bad thing.

 

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

Here is a link to the video.

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6g9ETTGWq12dk9peHZTMVBXRVE

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

After taking a break, I had an idea on how to get all that stuff into the bucket. It all fits and is comfortable to wear. The dog doesn't know what to think though.

 

Helmet is done. All that's left is main belt, shoulder straps and a final polish.

 

 

Helmet sound test.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6g9ETTGWq12aHlRTGNtYXluQVU

 

 

 

 

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[First0rder[501st]]

The dog doesnt know what to think though.

 

HAHAHA!!! My cat was the same way. She took off booking when she saw me in the suite. lol

Love the Sound system and Fans! Fantastic Look!

 

Andy

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

I'm impressed - with the icomm too. I keep my icomm strapped inside my chest armor with my amp.

[usmc03[TX]]

Got the TD done.

 

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

I got my approval this morning. A few things I will be doing after wearing armor for three hours yesterday: I'm going to paint the TD clips black. Work on a stirrup system for the shins so they don't move and trim the back of thighs/shins at the knee so I can walk. I had no armor bites, just mobility issues. Vader walks really fast and I had a hard time keeping up. My shoulders, well not much I can do. They are wide naturally so I can only shape the bells so much, but have an idea on how to move them in more.

 

Thanks for all the tips and advice. I will be working on my kit continuously to improve it.

[First0rder[501st]]

Congratulations!!! Great Job!!!!

 

Do the TD Clips need to be painted black for basic or Specialist approval? if so will paint mine too.

 

Andy

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

The clips can be black or silver for specialist. The TD itself needs to be all black.

 

Lance, for the shoulders, is the issue that they keep rotating open?

[usmc03[TX]]

The clips can be black or silver for specialist. The TD itself needs to be all black.

 

Lance, for the shoulders, is the issue that they keep rotating open?

 

The shoulders stay in place. It's more wanting to get the gap between them and the chest/back armor closed a bit. Problem is the width of my shoulders.

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

Congratulations!!! Great Job!!!!

 

Do the TD Clips need to be painted black for basic or Specialist approval? if so will paint mine too.

 

Andy

 

I'm just wanting to paint them so they blend in better.

 

 

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[First0rder[501st]]

So super quick on the shoulders. I had the same issue, reference my build, as the shoulders were too far out. When i shortened the Snaps from the bells to the Shoulder straps, i then had an issue with the shoulder straps pulling towards the bells.

 

Solution - I had Custom New Shoulder Straps from Rob Kittell (http://imperialissue.com/) with Plastic inserts.

These are flexible but rigid side to side. So then i was able to pull in the bells and keep everything straight.

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

Rear

[usmc03[TX]]

So super quick on the shoulders. I had the same issue, reference my build, as the shoulders were too far out. When i shortened the Snaps from the bells to the Shoulder straps, i then had an issue with the shoulder straps pulling towards the bells.

 

Solution - I had Custom New Shoulder Straps from Rob Kittell (http://imperialissue.com/) with Plastic inserts.

These are flexible but rigid side to side. So then i was able to pull in the bells and keep everything straight.

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

Rear

 

I saw yours. I think mine is more a width issue. They sit straight and even. I think I may try and heat them up a bit and then pull them in. Will see. Now that I have approval, I'll tinker and see what works.

 

 

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[usmc03[TX]]

Ok, had to add to this. I was having issues with my shins moving around. I saw on FISD a thread about stirrups.

 

So today, I went out got a sewing machine. Yeah, I'm shocked too. Joanne's had them on sale for under $100.

So this old dog learned a new trick. Now, it did take an hour or so to figure out how to thread the damn thing. I think my end product turned out ok. Tried them out and shins don't seem to move. Real test will be next Saturday at a troop.

 

 

The machine:

 

 

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