DreadPirateRobert's Armor Build (help needed)

[DreadPirateRoberts]

So this is my first legit armor build. Previously I (badly) built a stormtrooper helmet with a lot of help, and I modified a set of armor I received. This will be my first time actually building a real set of full armor. I'm very scared to cut something and mess it up really bad.

 

I'm on the left.

 

 

Anyway. On to the Armor. I spent months researching what pieces would be best for me. I've ordered everything except the Vest, cummerbund and boots. I think I will try to build the boots on my own. I was going to try to sew the cummerbund and vest, but after talking to some more experienced seamstresses, I might end up buying them. They told me if they were going to help me they need a very specific pattern, which I haven't been able to find. So I still need some help with that if anyone has any pointers.

 

I decided to buy SC armor and a KS helmet. I was so excited when it came, and surprised at how small it was (my last set of Armor was a HAVOC trooper, which was giant)

 

 

I don't have the E6000 glue right now (ordered some from amazon, 10 for about $8 shipped, best deal I could find) so there are a few things I can't do. I have most the other tools I need except a dremel.

 

So after a few hours of unwrapping and washing and figuring out what is what, I finished this

 

 

Which honestly I am pretty dang proud of. I'm generally not the most handy guy (I'm a lot better with computers than tools), and getting these on (mostly) straight was pretty awesome for me. I used the painters tape trick for the rank stripes.

 

I then put velcro on everywhere the instructions told me to. My problem right now is that the straps that are supposed to go certain places don't fit.

 

Am I supposed to cut the holes bigger? I don't have a dremel, but I guess I would need one for this. These are the straps that came with the kit, and they all have this problem. I guess I could go out and get thinner straps all around.

 

More to come as I do more. Tomorrow I will probably break out the sewing machine for the elastic and such.

[Guest SUP_Ronin]

I'll be in a similar boat as you, soon. I'd be patient and make sure you have the right answers before you go accidentally cutting up the wrong thing. I do lots of different projects, and if I've learned one lesson, it's do your homework and be patient. It's too much of an investment to muck it up. Keep posting pics as you go. I think it would be really helpful for new guys working on their sets. Good luck and have fun.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Thanks! One of the things I have noticed on this board (unless I am missing something) is that there arent a lot of resources or tutorials for new people. It seems like a lot of people come from a world of many projects like this, and dont really talk about how to do the easy stuff.

 

Like panda troopers build thread, it shows a lot of cool advanced techniques, but after reading it 20 times I still have no idea how to put together this armor

[Southscout]

Hey there! Don't worry, that's why we're here

 

For a cummerbund pattern, you can check this: http://wallofshemp.freeservers.com/501st/scout/LT_cummerbund_Pattern.jpg .

 

There are some sellers for the soft parts on these boards, like here: http://forum.bikerscout.net/index.php?showtopic=5086 and here: http://forum.bikerscout.net/index.php?showtopic=9694

 

As for the elastic, some people widen the hole a bit, others just push the elastic through. It all comes down to how it looks in the end and if you're happy or not with it.

 

As for the rest of parts, just post pics here and ask for advice and someone will be picking it up

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Hey thanks for the info!

 

I showed the bund pattern to my mom (my "expert seamstress") and she said the pattern was too little information for her I guess. She is used to patterns and stuff I guess.

[Southscout]

Hey thanks for the info!

 

I showed the bund pattern to my mom (my "expert seamstress") and she said the pattern was too little information for her I guess. She is used to patterns and stuff I guess.

Oooh, she's picky

 

I have a short how-to here: http://forum.bikerscout.net/index.php?showtopic=10334&hl=&fromsearch=1 if you think you can convince her. Basically it's a big pillow with velcro on it

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Yeah, I think she just isn't very confident, which is crazy. She used to sew all our halloween costumes. Be it a lion or a wizard, we always had awesome homemade costumes.

 

I will show her that, thanks! Have any patterns or ideas for the vest? Thats the hardest part for me right now.

[Southscout]

The vest is notorious since there are no real patterns...

 

She can use for instance a t-shirt pattern and modify accordingly however. But wait with that until you have your undersuit and your biceps armor, since those are needed to get the correct measurements.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Cool, I will ask her about that. Thanks!

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Aight. I made a little progress today.

 

When I woke up (at 5pm because I work nights), I had these guys waiting for me.

 

These are the ones that are on eBay that everyone seems to like(SA I think?)

 

Anyway that was pretty cool. Now all I have left to obtain is: The Vest, The Cummerbund, and The Boots. I finally convinced my mom to at least attempt the cummerbund. She refuses to even touch the vest though, so I guess I will have to find someone else. The boots I'm going to try on my own, although that is the last thing I'm going to do (don't want to have too much going on at once I guess.)

 

Anyways my E6000 glue also came. I only have 2 clamps, so I am somewhat limited on how fast I can glue. It sets overnight, correct? Here is me attaching the tank topper

 

 

I do have one question. How are you supposed to rivet the tank? There is a hole in the topper but it doesn't cover the plastic that's jutting out. Do I put two rivets in? Do I not rivet the tank topper? Also I have 1/8" aluminum rivets. I've had issues with rivets before, is that what most people use?

 

[Jancelot]

Looking good! You should give the E6000 24 hours to fully cure.

 

Yes, a rivet with a washer goes in the top part. I'm doing SC as well and following Pandatrooper's tutorial. He has steps on how to add a lip to the top of the backplate so the rivet has somewhere to attach.

 

Here's a couple shots of mine:

 

 

 

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Hmm. I'm not sure I have any Abs laying around, is there another material I can use for that?

[Jancelot]

Check out this thread for some sources on extra plastic. You can get strips from Trooperbay.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Alright, time for probably one of the worst necro posts ever. Nine whole years (almost).

Over the last nine years I worked on the scout, I wore it to some cons, I've gone to armor parties, and it's sat in a box for many months to years between all of that.

I've decided to really get back into it. My life is finally stable and I expect to stay where I am (Indianapolis) for the foreseeable future. 

I had soft parts, but they don't fit now (and one broke last time I wore it), so I ordered a full set of new ones from KriptonTop on etsy. In the meantime, I wanted to get the armor right. 

Overview:

Me wearing it:

Pics of armor:

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a while since I've been deep in this, but I've been trying to refamiliarize myself over the last couple of weeks. I'm not going for level 2, I just want to join the 501st after a decade. Here's how I understand what I need, let me know if y'all see it differently. 

Helmet:

I believe this is acceptable. Detail pictures below:

 

Ears are open with black paint behind it:

 

Shoulder Armor: I believe I need elastic around the bottom.

 

Upper Arm Armor: I believe this is good

Forearm: I believe this is good as well

Gloves: I believe these are good

Chest and Back Armor: Here's what bothers me. The side connection, I originally had 2" white synthetic stuff. At the time I believe the CRL read white cotton webbing, so I replaced it with what's in the picture, but it seems... weird. Not a fan. 

The shoulder bridges: I'm not sure if these are good. I wasn't happy with them last time I messed with them, but they don't seem so bad now? Not sure.

Everything else is, I think, good. 

Side connection:

The gap here is because of how I'm mounting the tank. It's only noticeable at the exact angle pretty much. 

Belt: This has always been a huge issue for me. Part of it is how I had a pretty small overlap. It would fall off a lot when I troop. Doesn't help that I'm a big guy.

The drop boxes have also always been a struggle. I've tried a bunch of different ways of securing them and it's always been not great. The back connection especially is horrible. I also know the strap shouldn't be off white. I remember it was a huge pain to find 1.5" white webbing at my local JoAnns so after like 5 trips I just bought off white to figure it out. 

Thermal det: I don't think this was in the CRL when I built this? "On either end of hose is a black drill-style belt clip used to attach detonator to main belt." Besides that, I think I'm good.

Knee Armor, Boots, Holster: Should be good

Getting the elastic through the holes here always caused problems:

Blaster: Should be good, definitely not Level 2

 

So that's everything. Let me know what y'all think, if you have any suggestions, anything I should read up on, etc. It's been a long time, and I want to be done with this so I can go on to my next costume which I'll hopefully finish in less than 10 years. I've actually already started (it's a death trooper, just have the helmet so far).

[Chopper]

GML dependent, but as far as basic clearance goes, I think you'll make the minimum cut for basic clearance, provided that you do some adjustments first. I'd also encourage you to replace some parts as well --

• Correct, you need elastic to secure the shoulder armor
• White webbing is all you need to join the chest and back armor -- cotton or synthetic or elastic is fine.
• Bridge covers look fine.
• If you want to use off white straps on the drop boxes, then you will also need to use off-white pouches and side straps. Check strapworks or Amazon if you're looking for pure white webbing.
• If your belt is falling down, then you can help secure it with some velcro on your cod, though that'll have to wait until you get your new soft goods in hand to do so.
• The rear webbing on your belt should connect with a single rivet on each side -- you have two. You'll need to drill them out and fill with abs paste...or get a new belt.
• You can get the black belt clips for the det tubing here: https://www.theclip.com/store/metal-belt-clip-661
• Consider replacing that snout greeblie and rotator bolts, plus the black border area looks scratched
  • https://www.amazon.com/Fibre-Metal-Honeywell-FM4001-Quick-Lok-Adapter/dp/B002BUMS8Y/ref=psdc_7491811011_t1_B015MG1SMK
  • https://www.studiocreations.com/howto/bikerscout/forsale_bike_replacementparts.html