Tenaz's Death Trooper Build

[DoggyDoc[CMD-DCA]]

Looks good. Maybe we can get the converse shoes in as an optional accessory.  😂

[Chaos[CMD-DCA]]

1 hour ago, DoggyDoc said:

Looks good. Maybe we can get the converse shoes in as an optional accessory.  😂

😅🤣😆😂

[Tenaz[TX]]

Made a big push last night and was able to get just about everything on that I have (helmet still is a wip). Getting everything on made issues be known which was good, sop now i'll go and adjust;

• chest to back connections need to be extended as they keep popping off
• shoulder strap was connected wrong so the whole chest is sitting crooked (hate not seeing these things before taking the pictures)
• shoulders easily pop off while getting dressed using just velcro, so may switch these connections to snaps
• forearms need a good amount of padding to keep from moving around
• lower back plate needs better strapping to keep it in the corect position 
• cod piece attached too low on belt
• may want to add a connecting strap between cod and butt plate to keep the butt plate down and in place (any better options here?)
• butt plate seems too long, so need to detemrine if trimming is needed or it needs to be moved up under the belt
• still need to add greeblies throughout kit

Obviously still have a good amount of work to do here, but please call out anything you are seeing so I don't miss something.

 

[DoggyDoc[CMD-DCA]]

4 hours ago, Tenaz said:

may want to add a connecting strap between cod and butt plate to keep the butt plate down and in place (any better options here?)

I use a cod strap to connect my cod and butt plates.

You may try to raise your back plate up a bit if your butt plate is too low (after the cod strap is installed). This will pull the butt up under the belt slightly and help to hold it in place 

 

All in all it is looking good.  There is a lot of adjusting in the early stages. 

[Chaos[CMD-DCA]]

7 hours ago, Tenaz said:

Made a big push last night and was able to get just about everything on that I have (helmet still is a wip). Getting everything on made issues be known which was good, sop now i'll go and adjust;

• chest to back connections need to be extended as they keep popping off
• shoulder strap was connected wrong so the whole chest is sitting crooked (hate not seeing these things before taking the pictures)

1. If you can, you might want to think about taking some thickness out of the shoulder buckles, they look really thick. Not really a CRL issue, but it is an "appearance" issue.

• shoulders easily pop off while getting dressed using just velcro, so may switch these connections to snaps

1. You might want to consider going with the strapping used by a lot of us which mimics the Shoretrooper shoulder bicep connections. There are several tutorials on here about that. 

• forearms need a good amount of padding to keep from moving around

1. Padding works well, but it also creates less airflow and during the warmer months it does get hot on your forearms. One technique is most of the gloves people use, have cuffs that get pushed up under the forearms. a piece of well placed velcro on the glove cuffs and the forearm end helps keep the forearms from twisting.

• lower back plate needs better strapping to keep it in the correct position

1. I have a strapping tutorial somewhere in the threads, it might help give you ideas as to how to fix this. My lower back plate and abdomen plate are in a harness set up and the bottoms of each are secured to the top of my belt with velcro strips. My posterior plate and cod plate are attached the same way but to the bottom of my belt. Position the pieces so they sit correctly, make a mark and put velcro strips on the bottom edge of your belt and on your posterior plate and cod plate, then connect a strap to both. This is a CRL requirement: "A black elastic strap, approximately 1" to 1.25" (25-32mm) wide, is to be used to connect the cod and butt plates between the legs" These suggestions will help with your issues you listed below

• cod piece attached too low on belt
• may want to add a connecting strap between cod and butt plate to keep the butt plate down and in place (any better options here?)
• butt plate seems too long, so need to detemrine if trimming is needed or it needs to be moved up under the belt
• still need to add greeblies throughout kit

Obviously still have a good amount of work to do here, but please call out anything you are seeing so I don't miss something.

Looking good so far!

 

 

 

[Tenaz[TX]]

Thank you @DoggyDoc and @Chaos! I appreciate all the detail you have provided here! For the connection between the cod and butt plate, I cant believe I missed that...smh - well, that will definitely do it lol

I'm going to take everything you guys have said, make sure I'm not missing any other lines in the CRLs (other than the things I know I'm still missing), and get to tweaking.

Also, overall, I'm following the "Big Pete's" guide on how to assemble and strap this, being that it is from 850, so I figured that was the best place to work off of, but I will do a deep dive into the other strapping tutorials mentioned above

[chip nyc]

hey! its Chip from Bronx. You are looking good. Im about 6 months behind you...still fixing my undersuit. Pls post the link to Big Petes for strapping.  

thanks. see you soon.

 

[Tenaz[TX]]

Hey Chip! good to hear from you. Once you get the flight suit situated, the rest should flow for you. Here's the link to the strapping video, but this is a part of a larger playlist of videos from him that walk you through just about everything for the 850 kit, so be sure to check those out to help get you started as well. As I pointed out above, there are some things that need tweaking that alter a bit from the video, but its still a good place to start imo.

 

[Tenaz[TX]]

I was able to get just about all the adjustments on the armor made so that this all fits and sits right. Of course I didn't get any pictures, but I'll try for some this weekend. In the meantime, I started the paint work on the helmet. I tackled the flat black pieces, and now was moving on to the gloss black. I was going to go simple with this, and just use a basic gloss black paint, but after talking to a buddy of mine in another garrison, I'm going to do the 2k clear approach. I will spray the helmet down with a black primer, and then hit it with some passes of the 2k...and hope for the best 😬

 

 

[Tenaz[TX]]

Helmet progress update: I was convinced to go the 2k clear approach with this, and I’m so happy I did. Flat black duplicolor primer, topped off with the 2k clear. That’s it! And the shine is crazy! I need to wet sand it all a bit to fix some surface issue that came up in the application but I’m very excited about the end product with this!

[Tenaz[TX]]

Another update for May the 4th today. Made a lot of modifications based on my last kit up and all the guidance I received. Everything seems just about right, but  i would really appreciate some additional insights to know what still needs to be fixed.

Here are my thoughts and that I know is outstanding still;

- still to add - sniper knee, rear thermal detonator, and forearm rockets (and obviously helmet)

-I trimmed my gauntlets rather than adding foam, and went a little too tight. They work, and I think will be approvable, but really limit my flexibility.

-chest and back connections under the arms have been secured with elastic and clips, but thinking I will add a cover strip to keep them from popping open / to cover any separation.

-need to tighten up the ab plate so chest sits a little more comfortable.

- not liking how thick the shoulder straps are. I found a better replacement that I will be ordering, but may be an upgrade down the line.

[DoggyDoc[CMD-DCA]]

Hi Anthony,

 

Looks like everything is coming along nicely.  Just a few dressing adjustments to make in my opinion.

With your forearms,  the ladder detail should be more towards your elbow with the cut out at the top portion of the forearm accommodating the bend of your elbow.  Your cutout is more to the back and will be uncomfortable when bending.

Your Biceps could also come down slightly

Reference for fore arms and biceps.  Note how the top of the forearm cuts down in the front to accommodate the bend in the elbow.

With your belt, the 2 pouches in the front should be symmetrical on either side of the buckle

Finally, when you put your thermal detonator on, you are going to have to either move the kidney piece up or the belt down slightly to prevent the pouch from hitting it

[Tenaz[TX]]

This is great feedback @DoggyDoc! I will work on these adjustments. The forearms is the most intestine as I thought they were positioned right, but as you suspected they are quite difficult to move with as is. Would love for it to be as simple as a solution as I had them on wrong lol

[DoggyDoc[CMD-DCA]]

1 minute ago, Tenaz said:

Would love for it to be as simple as a solution as I had them on wrong lol

It is this simple.   You just need to rotate them so the ladder detail area is in line with your elbow. 

[Tenaz[TX]]

3 minutes ago, DoggyDoc said:

It is this simple.   You just need to rotate them so the ladder detail area is in line with your elbow. 

Perfect! Thanks again!

[Tenaz[TX]]

Sanded down the orange peel and imperfections on the 2k coat I did in the helmet. Wet sanded it with 3000 and then 5000. Polished it up which ScractX, and was really impressed with the results. Just need to remove the tape to hit the dark grey areas, and then do some detail / greeblie work!

[PiotrRasputin[501st]]

5 minutes ago, Tenaz said:

Sanded down the orange peel and imperfections on the 2k coat I did in the helmet. Wet sanded it with 3000 and then 5000. Polished it up which ScractX, and was really impressed with the results. Just need to remove the tape to hit the dark grey areas, and then do some detail / greeblie work!

This is really encouraging to see! I'm getting the "orange peel" look on my helmet at the moment too. I just got 800, 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper at the store yesterday. I'll be wet sanding it on Sunday before attempting another paint job. 

Great work!

[Tenaz[TX]]

52 minutes ago, PiotrRasputin said:

This is really encouraging to see! I'm getting the "orange peel" look on my helmet at the moment too. I just got 800, 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper at the store yesterday. I'll be wet sanding it on Sunday before attempting another paint job. 

Great work!

Thank you! If you used the spray max 2k and you got orange peel, I would go straight to 3000 so you don’t burn through the clear coat. My buddy who has a Din and several other kits sent me this video on how to approach the issue. Although it’s done on a car, the process is the same (although I didn’t wax it lol)

 

[andyman97[TX]]

Looks great, nice work Tony!  Can't wait to see the final suit up pics and that approval!  Good luck!

[Tenaz[TX]]

Got fully suited up and took my app pictures tonight! Just submitted, but will be making upgrades shortly, so please let me know anything you see or suggestions for improvement down the line.

 

[andyman97[TX]]

Fantastic! Good luck with approval!

[Tenaz[TX]]

2 hours ago, andyman97 said:

Fantastic! Good luck with approval!

Thanks Andy! And big thank you for all the support!

[DoggyDoc[CMD-DCA]]

Looking great Anthony. Should be a slam dunk for basic approval 

[Tenaz[TX]]

21 hours ago, DoggyDoc said:

Looking great Anthony. Should be a slam dunk for basic approval 

Thank you!! And thank you for all the guidance and assistance here as well!

[Tenaz[TX]]

This has been approved! TX-26103 reporting in!