Nathanzx10r

Well... My plan is to go back to AZ again. But for now Cloud City gets me back. When I started in the 501st... We just started the Cloud City Squad, so we have history lol.

Almost forgot my action shot LOL..... This is my mother who I moved from AZ to OR to be with during her cancer treatment. She got the drop on me... The force is unusually strong with her.

Thanks man, I will play around with it to see what I can make work. It is still going to be a WIP, with or without basic approval.

Thanks man! I sure hope so... Thanks for your support! It means the world to me!

OK, took some new pictures today... They are not perfect, but better. I cant get rid of the damn cod crunchies... I don't know if it was made with not enough padding material, but I have the cod pretty much pulled out all the way in the front and I am still getting them. So, I am either going to have to bust open the cod and put in some more material or something to get rid of them. Also, I am going to take my vest down to get the sleeves adjusted, this is work that I just cant do. However, I am going to submit these pictures to my GML for basic approval. If I am approved great, if not...It is what it is. I am still going to work on the suit, trying to work out the bugs and try to come up with a more secure way to wear all this stuff.... For me it all just feels loose and like it is going to fall apart on me walking down the road. Anyway, here ya go.....

Ok... Took a 24 hour breather. So many soft parts and sewing was driving me crazy lol. I had a failure on my bridge I built, so I beefed it up using rivets and cotton webbing strapping for strength vs. elastic. Here is the new version which I am liking better with the webbing.

OK.... I have made the adjustments and it is still not working out for me. I guess its just my body type that is making things look so far off in my eyes. With my OCD, anything not spot on doesn't work for me. So I am just going to sell off this stuff and focus on my Vader.

OK... I added a little more to the cod strap to try and help with the cod crunchies LOL. I also redid the belt so the straps come a bit further back towards my TD in the rear. Even with the sleeves not being 100% perfect at this point, I think I am going to do a suit up tomorrow for some approval pictures for my GML. The other stuff I can work out later.

Thanks Retro.... Yeah, I have to get the arms trimmed up a bit on my vest first. That's why they are sitting lower then I wanted because the sleeves would cover them up if I put them higher.

Thanks Chopper. Yeah, Cod Crunchies piss me off 🤣. I didn't extending the strap any because I wanted to see where it sat in full suit-up first. So I will go ahead and extend it just a tad. The strapping on the belt webbing will be fixed also along with the cotton webbing for the boxes. Now that I know the closure point on the belt, I know where the need to be mounted.

Ok.... So the time has come for my first suit up in Armor in over 20 years since the early days of the 501st. I remember it being a lot easier to get into armor, but hey... Time will do that to a guy lol. I found quite a few things I want to address before submitting for basic. My sleeve length is too long... It is preventing the bicept peice from sitting where I want them. So I will take a inch or two off the sleeves. My pouches need to come up a tad and I think I will add velcro to the back of them to keep my pouches positioned properly. Even with the bracket I made, I am not happy with the amount of boot droop I am getting, so I will address that. Overall, I think it was a pretty good first suit up but I will need to add fans to the helmet because I'm old, fat, and get hot quickly lol. Also, having a helper to suit up is needed for me at this point, so no being a lone trooper for me. If anyone else spots any issues not associated with what I mentioned above, please point them out to me. upload upload images image hosting upload

Ok... Got around to triming the holsters size and redrilling new mounting point. I also used the rest of my license plate and made a bridge connecting the top rivets. The bridge is covered in velcro that will attach to the leg of my flighsuit to support the weight, thus keeping the boot in shape.

I notice that most people mount the holster about an inch from the top of the boot. Should I do that or mount it to the top as you've shown?

I was going to start working on my boots today, but I have a question. If I mount the holster on my right boot perfectly center... the holsters mounting holes seem to be way to far back and forward, like it is way to large.. I will post some pictures for you to view to see if there is an issue that needs to be addressed before I poke holes in my boots.

Yeah.... I just finally got the last part I was waiting on a couple days ago. I ordered all this stuff 5 months ago, so It has been a long time in the marking.

I will start finishing up the final parts and do a full suit up to see what is needed. As basic approval doesn't mention sleeve length... That little voice in my head isn't going to let me get away with it. It would eat on me until I get it right.

Yeah, I was thinking of doing that in the section between my legs so it is not visible at all....If needed of course.

I will also do a full suit up and pictures before any mods are done... I want all your opinions before I do any modifications

I would like too... But right now I'm just focusing on basic but building to lancer spec. I did a test fit just a few mins ago and I have like 4" hanging below the bells... So that will be addressed asap. I also got the strap attached on the vest, both front and back but I'm going to have to extend the strap because I can't fight ewoks with a wedgie lol.

Got around to do some more sewing.... I heard ballers attach the cod to the vest, so I wanna be a baller too lol. The strap on the cod isnt long enough to reach back to the vest though.... So I guess I will sew the velcro patch it attaches to above the butt flap on my flight suit. I'm also going to have to take the vest to get the arms hemed up... The sleeves are way long.

OK, thanks Spike for the idea... Got it looking better. Cut the hose in half and placed a smaller hose inside it.

Thanks Spike... I will do a little tweaking and I am sure it will be just fine! I would like to keep the closed part there, I figured it was to slide on the belt. So maybe I will just drill a hole in the center to have access to attach a zip tie.

Finished up the belt this morning....Did I mention how much I hate sewing LOL One part of the kit I wasn't really thrilled with was the TD, sorry Spike, so I will have to redo it. I have never seen a TD on a kit that had a closed back before like this (at least in the WIP's and Lancer submissions I have studied). I am going to have to basically cut the back of it off to replace the grey hose with a longer one and properly attach it with the zip tie. As it is now, the hose portion is way too short and not properly attached because you really cant with the cover on the back. This is causing the hose to bend out away from the TD in the opposite direction then you want it to.

I ordered my soft parts from him, I was very happy with the service he provided. The parts are well made and he was always available to answer my questions. He delivered 2 months from date ordered. How long ago did you order?

OK... Got some time to sew up the side straps for the chest and back armor and attach the shoulders. I am happy to say that it does snug the armor up to where it looks a lot better. I was pretty worried there for a bit about having such a large frame.