Lucky Jack

Congrats !!! Well done !!!

Nicely put. I'm considering switching to a fiberglass bucket - my current ABS one has seen a lot of action ! I've never worked with Automotive paints and figured hey.....lemme post this as others (including the poster) might be in the same boat. Rattle cans are easy to find - every tool store has a selection of high quality ones - Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc (for US Scouts) But where do you find automotive paints - I assume auto stores (ie. Napa, etc) ? Are they also rattle can applications ? And the primer....I assume use an automotive type primer too ? Last thing any of us would want to do.....mess up a spiffy new fiberglass bucket with a bad technique !

Slight delay in my order (size was back ordered).....but received my Redkap's yesterday. Took me about 45 minutes to remove the two back pockets and one small side with a $3 seam ripper. Easy as could be and it came out beautifully. Wonderful build quality and the tall sizing fits great for us tree top bikers. Next I'll use one of the spare pieces of fabric from removing the pockets to make the collar flap as Griffin showed above. A+ !!!

Proof that these posts have a looooong shelf life ! I'm a tall guy at 6'4"....yea I know.....don't stand next to Vader....kneel in front Jack.... So these suits become a real challenge. Red Kap comes in a long size so the measurements seem nice and tall / long. Will update once I get it and verify ! As always - great advice Scouts !

Nice job !

Great job so far !!!

Agreed - you can take that ugly duckling and turn it into something pretty decent. I was new to the 501st when I bought my Rubies. I heard everyone's warnings and said "I can do this." Now again, it was my first build. It took me many hours to get that thing into decent shape. What was done ? There are some real good tutorials here on the mods that need to be done (The genuises behind them are all above me in this post) so I won't even try to give that detail. But a short list (again not comprehensive but the things off the top of my head to give you an idea) : - rip out the old lenses - grind down and expand the lens opening - heat and shape that visor and bucket itself using wire (I used 1/8th steel rods) to REALLY narrow the whole helmet. - remove at least the ventilator and replace - dremel out the ear holes and screen them - caulk the visor - sand off don post or rubies logo on the back - replace the fish hook - replace bolts - had to also dremel sand some of the visor and other parts to bring it inline - paint inside and pad as needed - oh yea......hot glue the bejeezes out of the thing !!!!! Now keep in mind it's a small bucket - just did my first troop in it and it looks pretty darn good thanks to the gang here for all their advice and even talking me from jumping off the bridge once from frustration ! However, you can't wear eyeglasses with it - learned that the hard way. Would I do it all again ? Good question.......the amount of labor might have justified a KS helmet kit for @$150. I picked up my Rubies for @ $50 and put in a lot of time. Sure....if I did it again I could do it much faster but As a rookie it will take you time. However, I view it as a badge of honor among the Pathfinders and a right of passage now ! Remember......everyone is here to help !

Great advice all - thanks so much for the feedback ! I think I'm going to try contacts again - it's been a few years since I last wore them. Put sooo much work into my bucket and have it looking pretty darn sharp so not ready to part with it after just 1 troop. Will keep you all posted !

(Hehe - thanks Gary !) Agreed on the blur - odd. My guess is that the pads onthe nose / frames were pressed to hard into my face from the bucket (helmet lense to glasses contact mostly). Probably a bit of eye strain so I'll keep an eye on it (no punn intended !) for the next day or so. They are an older pair of glasses - you eyeglass wearers all know the drawer filled with a few old pair ! The prescription is still current but the frames are small - should fit into the bucket. A few of our troopers were raving about the flex frames so maybe a pair of glasses for trooping is the right idea. I've tried contacts but I'm an eye poker - just kept stabbing my eye with my finger trying to get in the lenses ! Maybe I'll have to try again. Otherwise, perhaps a KS or MLC bucket is a nice alternative option. Thanks gang ! If anyone else has thoughts / experiences / advice feel free to post. Much appreciated !!!

Hey gang......completed my first troop yesterday - the annual NY Fire Dept worked with the Times Square Toys R Us to close the store for 3 hours for the wives and children of fallen firefighters (wow - what a moving experience - will post a brief description today since a lot of the Pathfinders may find it of interest). And my modified Rubies looked as good as she could. Usual mods - 1/8th steel wires to really thin it out, cuts and slices, etc. Problem was after 3 hours the pain of my glasses scrunched to my face was pretty bad. I mean REALLY bad. Had to break out for 5 mins at the half-way point just to try and adjust the glasses. Gotta say - left eye still blurry so must have strained it a bit. So they're an old pair - kinda small and fit fine on the sides - it's just my noggin must be too big so that the lens pushes - munches - crushes them to my face. I've got a decent sized noggin - about 7 1/4 or a bit larger. Not a fan of contacts so that's out. If I have to bite the bullet and need to upgrade to an MLC or KS to fit my head that's fine - Christmas and my 40th are right around the corner is so Mrs. Claus may have an order to place. Biggest issue is don't want to go thru that again ! Thought I'd ping the crowd to see what other tree huggers find themselves crashing into trees with greater frequency due to poor bucket fit and glasses ! Thanks gang.

Those came out nice ! About how long did they take ya if I might ask ?

Wow !!! That is really fantastic looking - Can't wait to see the next pics !

Spiffy boots !!!

Looks sharp !!!

Magnets are a great idea - picked up some today from the local tool store and will give it a run !