Thxboy Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Lol, you'll laugh. I live in San Jose, California. ;-) Sent from the Death Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chex Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 A heat gun can be your best friend when doing the toes. Also, the dog bone neeeds to be a little longer. If you look at photos of screen used boots, they come down and overlap onto the sole just a tad, enough to cover up the 1/2 toe strip that goes around the boot. You could even go about an inch higher on the tubes if you like. Looking good tho. Boots can be a pain in the butt, but it's a nice feeling building them yourself and having them turn out great. Do you plan on doing the lancer mods on the soles? Also, I've been curious how that type of boot will turn out, so I'll be keeping an eye on this build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 5, 2014 Author Share Posted December 5, 2014 A heat gun can be your best friend when doing the toes. Also, the dog bone neeeds to be a little longer. If you look at photos of screen used boots, they come down and overlap onto the sole just a tad, enough to cover up the 1/2 toe strip that goes around the boot. You could even go about an inch higher on the tubes if you like. Looking good tho. Boots can be a pain in the butt, but it's a nice feeling building them yourself and having them turn out great. Do you plan on doing the lancer mods on the soles? Also, I've been curious how that type of boot will turn out, so I'll be keeping an eye on this build. That's for the guidance Chex! I'm asking Mrs. Vader for her to let santa know I need a heat gun this Christmas. I've been needing one for years and I don't know why I've been putting it off. What I really need is a bigger garage! I made templates for the dog bone and tubes to scale in Illustrator so Ive already made the adjustment you recommended on the dog bone. Also added about an inch in the tubes and per previous recommendations I actually added two inches on the side to create more space for velcro overlap on the back. Stretching is going good. I'm taking it slow but the fireplace trick worked well and I didn't set my lace on fire. 😃 One thing is that the boots are soft so I've put a plastic soda bottle in to hold the shape of the uppers while I'm stretching the vinyl. I was hoping to do the Lancer mod to the soles. Some have advised me to do the sole mod before I finish the vinyl but I really want to get the main work done before I tackle that. I know it's likely foolish by I'll go slow On the soles and use very sharp tools. Sent from the Death Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01Hawk Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 In regards to heat guns... I just had to remove a full vinyl wrap from my work car. I bought a Wagner HT1000 Heat Gun from Lowes for $18 and used it for about 4 hrs straight and it worked just fine with 2 heat settings. I figured being so cheap it would surely die from being on non stop but it was just fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 ----UPDATE------ Started to get to work on the armor! Exciting! Started with the chest. Did a test fit real quick out of the box. This is with ZERO trimming done and the shoulder straps are edge to edge. No overlap. Be kind, remember I'm a Vader sized guy (6'3 and 230 lbs). I'm not sure there is any further trimming required. Thoughts? Sanded and rounded the soft corners. Left side is done, right side was next. Started to make a L bracket (per Pandas tutorial) for the tank topper. I used some clamps on some leftover ABS I had from my buddy's TK in the works (than you AM for making huge armor that need lots of trimming) and put the heat from my blow dryer on it. Next I sanded the edges on my tank and glued to the base. Decided to put the round cap centered after much discussion. No one sees to have an opinion about where it should be located (screen used is all over the place?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 While I'm waiting for glue to dry, may as well start on the knees. First I started by cutting up some extra ABS to make backing for where the riveted straps will attach to the knees. Then glued and clamped to both side if my knees (yes I know there upside down) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Well geez, there goes all my glue and my clamps. What to do...what to do....... I got it! Shoulder bells! I guess a small pot of Play-doh makes about the right radius.... Looks good to me! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 ----UPDATE---- Ok. More glue drying and a appalling lack of clamps so I have more "busy" work to do. TD --- hmmmmm how do I clamp this? Hey I gotta idea! Hot glue gun is free! Get some greeblies all glued up. and now thats done. Guess I'll go ahead and sand some more corners out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Easy big fella. Know what you want to do BEFORE you start gluing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 ------ UPDATE ------ And we have a finished TD! No Wampas were harmed in the making of this explosive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubonos Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Man watching you makes me want to build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenicioKristylz Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 nice start Sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubonos Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Just had to replace a cap on mine. A youngling tore one of my end caps almost completely off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
23Vince23 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Nice Work Chris, Started my Shadow Scout also... Followed alot of the same stuff you mentioned, Just finished my boots and now on to the other soft armor parts. Cant wait to see Vader in Scout Armor ! haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 Nice Work Chris, Started my Shadow Scout also... Followed alot of the same stuff you mentioned, Just finished my boots and now on to the other soft armor parts. Cant wait to see Vader in Scout Armor ! haha Thanks Vince! I look forward to us trooping together as scouts buddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 -----UPDATE---- Received my MG-42 Hyperfirm!!!! Let's just call it what is is. A BFG. I asked for it to be unweathered so I could do it myself. Shipping an transaction was fast. John was fast to communicate. This is my second Hyperfirm piece and I love the work these guys do. The pull is gorgeous. I plan on trying to find a nice scope for it and using this as my sniper rifle ala-battlefront style. More to come! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 ------update------ Got a lot done today! Most of my strapping is now complete. I followed the Lancer spec to the letter. Only thing I want to fix is the shoulder bridges. I used 1-3/8" which I believe is acceptable but I like the look of 1" better. Will try and find some good stock. I have to get some 1/2"elastic to finish the knees and tomorrow I tackle my belt. I painted the tank, applied decals etc. Please feel free to comment! Shoulders. Forearms Biceps BFG!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Ok guys. So I'm kinda concerned. I received a PM from CB on 11/19 that my bucket and soft parts had shipped. He quoted the delivery date as appx 4 weeks. I've asked repeatedly for tracking numbers and he's produced nothing. Now my latest PM's are being answered with "I'm on vacation" and now no response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarlson101 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I'm in the same boat. I haven't sent any PM since Dec, but my stuff shipped 11/22. Maybe they send stuff from Bolivia to California by Pony Express? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 I'm in the same boat. I haven't sent any PM since Dec, but my stuff shipped 11/22. Maybe they send stuff from Bolivia to California by Pony Express? lol! That must be it. I've had stuff shipped from Argentina and other countries in South America and I've had no problems tracking once they've come into US customs. The things that's frustrating is the lack of communication. Waiting 10 days for a PM is not ok. Sent from the Death Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 --- update ---- Got the knees done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 ----update------ Finished my belt today! There was a lot of steps but it was easier than I thought it was going to be. I pretty much followed Panda's tutorial on this to the letter. I didn't attache the upper belt boxes via Pandas method since I am a big guy (38" waist) but I think I will heat gun the sides a bit to round them off. They are flaring a bit. I installed snaps for the hanging belt boxes and velcro to attach the belt in the back. Only thing left to do is add the single rivet(s) and I should be good to go! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 -----more updates------ Made me a bund tonight! So, question. The CRL states 6 ribs but the 2015 Lancer spec clearly states 6 stitch limes equaling 5 raised areas. I went the Lancer route. Is the CRL wrong? Will this cause me any trouble with my GML? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thxboy Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Added cod and strap to the bund. Based on good advice I'm going to add a bridge on the shoulder straps,so I can drop the chest a bit lower. Maybe an inch front and back. Still have to iron the heat bond on the cod which hopefully will stiffen it up,and prevent camel toe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubonos Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Looking good as always brother. You may find you need to shorten a strap here and there. In some areas I honestly put rivets in holding nothing at all so the rivet is seen but the straps are adjustable still. In the close to a year I've been in costume I've had to shorten my elastic once and van see replacement needed in a few months. Granted I troop often and troop hard. I like to get active more than just stand in one spot posing for pics all day. That and I want natural weathering on my armor and not painted scuffs and grime. All our scouts in my garrison are so shiny and I want to look like I've been to endor! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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