Eisch IAT WIP

[Eisch Rau]

Here we go.

I have begun acquiring needed materials for the IAT build. This WIP is more for those who will need in the future. For now, I will use it to show my progress and get tips/tricks from my peers.

This is for the Imperial Army Trooper(v1 and v2), hopefully for lvl 2 approval.

So far, I have collected the following items:

The jumpsuit is an Original Dutch Army Coverall Air Force Mechanic. I have ordered a second one to use for sewing the required pockets and a hat (yes, it’s extra work, but I am also learning how to sew for the benefit of my family).

jumpsuit- MilitarSurplusStore (Etsy) April 2023

Luke Waterproof Snow Winter Boot. These are recommended by previous IAT builders in their forum posts. Need to buy the Montana Gold Olive green to spray them

boots- Totes(Amazon) April 2023

Both the gloves and belt I got from my local surplus store in Southern California. Gloves are basic police ones that I will either spray with the Montana or try and dye. (Recommendations on the gloves is highly welcomed). The belt I will spray with the Montana and remove the extra snaps, if needed for approval.

Items not seen:

Patches- I ordered the patches from a kind individual on Facebook in the Galactic Denizen group. I will keep him anonymous just in case. April 2023

H harness- I bought Polypropylene Webbing, 10 yrds, to make the harness. Harness material- Strapworks (Amazon) April 2023

Helmet- Since I am wanting to build more, I decided to order part of the AT-DP helmet from Imperial Surplus. I have a Mando kit from him and love the quality.  Since it’s Vacuum Form, it will be lightweight. Excited for this part. Helmet- Imperial Surplus (website) April 2023

[Jankes[PR-CMD]]

Nice beginning, keep going!

[Eisch Rau]

Question: does anyone have recommendations for a tutorial on sewing imperial hats?

[Eisch Rau]

Recently got the patches in the mail. One step closer! 
On a side note, the duplicate jumpsuit I ordered was a darker green than the current one. It’s my mistake for not noticing it on the vendors offering. Going to some fabric stores to see if I can either find the exact color, or bleach both suits and re-dye them. 
 

For the builders that have worked on a budget, I need some advise for direction: 

better to bleach and re-dye both, find matching fabric color, or exchange for jumpsuit with same color? This is to see 4 pockets, make the collar, and make the imperial hat. Pictures of the new jumpsuit to come.

[Eisch Rau]

This is the accidental alternative jumpsuit. It’s hugs the body more and already has the breast pockets. 

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

On 5/2/2023 at 11:07 AM, Eisch Rau said:

Question: does anyone have recommendations for a tutorial on sewing imperial hats?

There is an old tutorial out there thats been around longer than I have.

These are not the easiest thing to make, and they take practice to look right. Mine is old and has no interior interfacing so its floppy as hell.  Interfacing inside makes it stand up correctly. 

I have never had success with removing color and dying. You would want to use a color remover , not bleach. Bleach damages the fibers. 

Put the two side by side in the sun and post a pic and let us see what you have. 

[Eisch Rau]

19 hours ago, Blackwatch said:

There is an old tutorial out there thats been around longer than I have.

These are not the easiest thing to make, and they take practice to look right. Mine is old and has no interior interfacing so its floppy as hell.  Interfacing inside makes it stand up correctly. 

I have never had success with removing color and dying. You would want to use a color remover , not bleach. Bleach damages the fibers. 

Put the two side by side in the sun and post a pic and let us see what you have. 

Thank you for the advice on the hat. Here are the suits side-by-side. I can see how using the color remover could help get the color from the left suit to match the right. It would be an experiment though, since I’ve only used color remover once before.

I also included the material for the H-harness. It blends more to the left than right. 
It baffles me how prominent the color difference can be when you get Olive Green.

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

ollive green is a technical term more than a color. 

Rememeber on the H harness the back is not straight up and down, it angles so that the strap follows the contour of your shoulder.  The backside narrows towards the pistol belt. 

[Eisch Rau]

Would the darker green be better for approval or the lighter?

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

My opinion would be the darker green if you are doing the regular Imperial Army Trooper.

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

the darker green shade is what we have been using. 

[Eisch Rau]

Update on build: 

almost done collecting the needed materials. In SoCal, we had a PropSwap put on by TrooperBay. Several of the west coast armor vendors were here with their products. I got my helmet from Imperial Surplus. 
I enjoy his pulls and have a full Mando kit from him. Since it’s an AT-DP helmet, I will fill in the two lines on the top and the one in the back. 
 

Other than that, I just need the pouches, hooks and strap slides for the harness, goggles and communication box for the helmet. 
 

For those of you reading this: does anyone know a vendor that sells the com box or the 3d files of one?

 

And for kicks and giggles, here is a Storm Trooper missing a shot:

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

My IAT had a file from thingiverse however its not very accurate. The CRL Model made his own in the time honored tradition, you can see it in TrooperPX's build thread. 

[Eisch Rau]

More parts have come in! Received the following items: MELORDY 10 Pcs Metal Swivel Lobster Clasp Claw Push Gate Snap Hooks for DIY Crafts Keychain Purse Handbag Making (Gunmetal, 2 inch) https://a.co/d/5Pr6YE0

Shapenty 2 Inch Black Plastic Tri-Glide Slides Button Adjustable Webbing Triglides Slider Buckle for Belt Backpack and Bags, 8PCS https://a.co/d/gFlAm04  

And some cans of Montana Gold:Olive Green from Joanns online. However, I talked to John Rodriguez(@alphaignition) and was recommended Blick. It’s a chain here in Southern California that has Montana in shop and ships as well. I never realized how hard it is to find a physical store that carries a decent amount of Montana.

I will start painting all the parts(excluding the helmet) this weekend. Once that’s done, the next big hurdle is sewing. Will have an update soon.

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

Very nice!

[Eisch Rau]

Build Update: 

Painted H harness parts, boots and gloves. Had a nice hot weekend during Father’s Day, so safe to say painting conditions were ideal. Everything seem to turn out well. 

However, the paint feels gritty to the touch. I have had this same result with Montana Gold consistently. 
Has everyone else had the same thing happen? Is this okay for trooping/approval, or do I need to take a high grit sandpaper to it?

along with painting, I did a suit test with the belt.

As you can see, I need to remove the buttons on the breast pockets and add pockets to the legs. I have an exact copy of this jumpsuit so I can remove the breast pockets and attach them to the legs. The suit seals up via buttons rather than Velcro. They are covered(evident of the photos above). 

Just wanting to confirm my thought process on modifications is correct. Thanks for your help.

 

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

that paint IS gritty. its the right color but I dont like MG.  Its also expensive and hard to find. So, yeah.

 

if the other coverall matches carve it up to make new pockets for the legs and a new flap for the chest, because you dont want to undersize the leg pockets. Remmember that you want the leg pockets stuffed for L2 approval (which you want) so you want a bigger pocket. 

Once you have it all together tromp through some mud and weather the boots. The grit will hold the mud.  

 

 

[Eisch Rau]

Pouch hunting has proven to be a true scavenger hunt. All the surplus shops in the area don’t have the needed molle pouches. With that said, I want to make sure the following ones would work, since the URL states that similar sized molle pouches can work.

CondorHandcuff Pouch https://a.co/d/4Gfg5DW

Using 2 of these for the front.

 

Tacticon P1 P2 P3 BattlePouch | Universal Pistol Mag Pouch | Combat Veteran Owned Company | Molle Single Double Triple Pistol Magazine Holster for Ammo | Tactical Bag Accessories Holder https://a.co/d/4WhA37e

Tactical Molle Phone Pouch EDC Cellphone Holder Smartphone Organizer Bag with US Flag Patch & Molle Key Ring (Army Green) https://a.co/d/1lbkH9l

This last one concerns me the most for approval. It’s a more modern molle pouch. Thoughts? 

 

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

i have the cuff pouches all over my rigs, and the pistol pouch , while the right shape, is a bit small since its a pistol pouch.  Try this one in instead:

https://tacticalgear.com/condor-triple-m4-mag-pouch-od-green?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=bingads&ft=e3f7bec5-8df6-438f-88ce-592a9bedc97a&msclkid=7b17c10b94221e8ec806a5ad794090e5&utm_content=condor#/22497/848/1&dl=b&catr=1

 

your GML may approve the keyring puch but Im not keen on it for L2 aproval and we want everyone L2 approved.  something similar to a SAW pouch would be perfect.

https://tacticalgear.com/condor-triple-m4-mag-pouch-od-green?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=bingads&ft=e3f7bec5-8df6-438f-88ce-592a9bedc97a&msclkid=7b17c10b94221e8ec806a5ad794090e5&utm_content=condor#/22497/848/1&dl=b&catr=1

 

You shoiuld be painting all the pouches and belt the same color anyway so it will all match color wise. 

 

[Eisch Rau]

31 minutes ago, Blackwatch said:

i have the cuff pouches all over my rigs, and the pistol pouch , while the right shape, is a bit small since its a pistol pouch.  Try this one in instead:

https://tacticalgear.com/condor-triple-m4-mag-pouch-od-green?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=bingads&ft=e3f7bec5-8df6-438f-88ce-592a9bedc97a&msclkid=7b17c10b94221e8ec806a5ad794090e5&utm_content=condor#/22497/848/1&dl=b&catr=1

 

your GML may approve the keyring puch but Im not keen on it for L2 aproval and we want everyone L2 approved.  something similar to a SAW pouch would be perfect.

https://tacticalgear.com/condor-triple-m4-mag-pouch-od-green?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=bingads&ft=e3f7bec5-8df6-438f-88ce-592a9bedc97a&msclkid=7b17c10b94221e8ec806a5ad794090e5&utm_content=condor#/22497/848/1&dl=b&catr=1

 

You shoiuld be painting all the pouches and belt the same color anyway so it will all match color wise. 

 

To make sure I understand, club entry is based on GML approval but the L2 approval is done by someone else? Or is is also done by GML? I’m shooting for L2 off the bat.

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

On 7/6/2023 at 12:14 PM, Eisch Rau said:

To make sure I understand, club entry is based on GML approval but the L2 approval is done by someone else? Or is is also done by GML? I’m shooting for L2 off the bat.

GML's do basic/L1 approval through the garrison/outpost.

DCA's do L2/L3 approval through the detachment.

You'd get approved initially by the GMLs and then post up in the Specialist forum with the appropriate pictures to request L2 approval from the detachment. All L2/L3 approvals are only detachment honors and aren't recognized by garrisons/outposts.

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

Thanks Ryan

my work schedule prevents me from getting into the forums nearly as much as I used to. 

Ryan is correct, and when you submit for specialist application, you are going to submit more, and more detailed photos. Basic approval is just that, the basic four pics front back left right. for Specialist aplication Im going to want all of those, plus closeups of the pouchs, glove backs, helmet and an action shot that will go onto the trading card images.  

[Eisch Rau]

Pouches have finally been collected. The magazine holder and large pouch will be on the back, and only look different in color when right next to the front pouches. 
 

[Eisch Rau]

Helmet update: having some issues and very unsure if it’s even close to approval.

Base is an AT-DP from Imperial Surplus. I have filled it in with Bondo putty, spray painted, primer filler, acrylic paint, primer filler and spray painted again while sanding in between. Still have these imperfections though. 

[Blackwatch[CMD-DCA]]

I think your spray can is too close when  you are making passes.  Sand it back some and spray at a further distance.  Make sure to fill your pouches with foam or rags so they appear full. No one wants a flat pouch.