Canterbury Tail

Just looked at it. It's large but could be good. I noticed it's $54 in the US and a horrendous $149 in Canada. That's (with conversion) is over 200% markup. I think I'll pop over the border next weekend and grab one. Cheers again all.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll have a look around and see what I can find here in Canada.

As mentioned in title, how do you store and transport the armour? I was thinking of getting one of those standard tote containers, preferably one with decent wheels and a handle, but can only really find ones that are coolers. if people use this kind of thing, what size (gallons/litres) should I look at getting? I'm asking as I don't have everything together yet (no helmet and boots not made) so am having a hard time judging it.

Well thanks all. I've just order my Altmann's.

Cool. Just watched a video, so it doesn't open fully, just about 45 degrees or so? I may have to order that soon.

Quick question on the Altmann's as I'm getting conflicting information. Does the faceplate lift up on the Altmann's? I'd like a helmet that lifts up at the front, more accurate plus easier well everything.

Which is why I picked up 2 pairs last time I crossed the border. One for screwups.

hey mclaryst, welcome to BS.n. I'm just down the road in Toronto and working on my costume for the first time. I got my armour from Studio Creations and they were super helpful. There is a trade section of the forum, you need 5 posts to be able to see it and it looks like you just hit the 5 posts, so you should be good.

That's what I thought. I'm thinking it may last better this way, and it's easier to repair and replace elastic as it becomes extended.

Has anyone tried, with a Lancer spec knee, not actually riveting the elastic for the top part? I mean put the rivet in (as it has to be there) but using velcro to attach the 1/2 inch elastic at the top instead of attaching it to the rivet. Just thinking of putting on the knees and it seems that would be easier if all the elastic were velcroed so you can place it on rather than having to work it up the leg.

We'll see. Don't know how long this will take, just a little bit at a time while learning new skills a little bit at a time. Hoping sometime in the fall.

No it's not bad, it's just me. The knees will reshape upon wearing I believe, and the tank, well I'll just attach it in the right place and add a very small fractional twist and it'll be fine. So no, I'm not about to get a heat gun out to it, just tension should do the job when everything is affixed. Cheers all.

So I've got my armour from SC and it's a great job. A couple of pieces are minorly warped, the knees are not symmetrical and 'lean' to one side. Similarly with the back tank. It's subtle, but there's a slight twist to them. Does anyone have any experience with trying to correct this sort of issue? Part of me thinks the knees will fix themselves once I've got the straps on and them fitted, and maybe the tank once attached. Anyone got any thoughts about attempting to correct?

Thanks for that Retrofire. I can see the link you posted, but don't have permission for Kayelbe's link. Bookmarked.

Ah. I don't have access to that CRL, possibly because I'm not a 501 member yet. It would be nice for that to be posted outside a 501 only area so those of us just starting could reference it so we're not remaking stuff unnecessarily. But thanks for that bit posted. Seems that external stitching is allowed around the top of the pouch but not on the flap itself or velcro areas. I can work with that.

Looking at Pandatrooper's there I see there are visible stitches around the top hem of the pouch itself. Is this acceptible? I've been able to do everything apart from the top hem so far without visible stitching. Also where is the no-visible stitching requirement? I don't see it in the CRL or the costume standards listed in the thread http://forum.bikersc...showtopic=9143 Is there another set of standards I need to be aware of that I'm not seeing?

Okay heres a question for all of you that made your own boots. I got the Texas Steer boots from K Mart, have cut the soles and popped out the speed lace holders. I'm intending to replace the laces with flatter laces. Now to the question. I'm trying to figure out whether to put laces through the holes left by the speed lace holders. Does anyone do this or do people only lace them up to the regular lace holes? Trying to decide if I need to get some grommets and reinforce the holes for lacing. Not sure how easy it will be to manipulate the top laces once the vinyl goes on.

No I haven't got any armour yet. I'm planning on getting the SC once I have the cash and the exchange rate improves, but for now I'm going to concentrate on my boots and soft armour. I know I can't 100% finish without the holdter, and I may need to adjust the boot height down once I get the knees, but I can make a first pass. I can do a build thread, see how crappy it turns out

So I nipped over the border this morning to Niagara Falls, NY and picked up the boots at K Mart. 2 pairs, in case of screwups. Also grabbed some adhesive, sewing materials and good old Cherry Coke (no idea why they won't sell that in Canada.) So other than the holster (which I won't order under I have more of my soft armour done) I have everything to go for the boots, hopefully start during the week.

Unfortunately not for me once I factor in shipping and duty to Canada. However I can nip over the border to Niagara Falls K Mart.

I'm 5' 8". I should be fine. Good old biker scout sizing.

Just want to check, is this the one that's the go to for us scouts? http://www.kmart.com/red-kap-twill-action-back-coverall/p-041CR004000P?prdNo=16&blockNo=16&blockType=G16 And if so, what size do people get. Since they're coveralls do people go down a size or just get their straight chest measurement? Cheers.

Yeah, no K Mart in Canada that I'm aware of. I notice there is one in Niagara Falls. I may be able to nip over the border for a day and pick some up. Maybe a couple of other things. I was hoping to start with the boots but seems I may need to wait a bit for that due to the sourcing difficulties. I don't want to pick up a pair of near $200 Timberlands and attack them with a Dremel.

I want to make my own. Payless, Walmart etc only seem to have steel toed boots that match the sole colour. The steel toes would be too heavy, especially once you're not able to fully lace up to the top, so I don't think they're a good idea. Tried Payless, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Marks and a load of others over the last week to no avail unfortunately. Was even looking at a pair of used desert combat boots from a surplus store, but they wouldn't have really worked. May need to try further afield.

So, how do the 501st troop in Canada with our incredibly restrictive weapon laws. Technically it seems it's illegal to own or make a replica firearm, or one that could be mistaken for a real one, without the florescent colouring (because no one would think of painting a real gun orange and pretending.) So when it comes to trooping, what can we actually carry in Canada? What can we make and import?