Mark's Studio Creations ROTJ Build

[TheSharpe]

Thanks for the armor party, it was super helpful. Going through my Studio Creations (Allegedly Trimmed) kit, and I have questions!

What should the size be on the edge of my belt? Mine seems excessively large. 

My belt also seems to have an extended edge on the bottom

 

My Thermal Detonator Tubing that came with the kit is an open ended tube. I am unsure if there is really enough material here for the E6000 to bond the caps on here well. Additionally as this is an actual piece of curved tubing which means that the caps will not sit flush but will be at some part of an angle due to the way the ribbing is cut into.




Again, this is supposedly a trimmed kit, but my ammo boxes have this return/raised edge along the top that I think needs to be cut. apologies for the bad photos it was VERY difficult to get a clear picture of this.

I could also use some guidance on my strapping cuts. My armor set is wildly inconsistent, which surprised me. Some of the pieces have shorter "indents" on one side then the other, and at least one piece of the armor has a gradual climb out of the indent that will likely need to be cut into. This part scares me because once it's cut there is no going back.

Please ignore my inability to mark a straight line and assume that I will cut them straighter than I marked them.

Ammo Boxes

 

Knee Trim Lines

 

Bicep Trim Line

Elbow Trim Lines

Reviewing these photos before I submit the post makes me think some additional trimming may be needed on some of these pieces, I would very much welcome any advice about that.

I've been lurking on this Forums without being registered since 2019, it's surreal to see my own build photos on these forums now.

[Dart]

HI! Yes, they're sold mostly trimmed, but there's always a little bit of sanding and cutting. Totally normal.

Definitely trim down any of the return edges that stick up. Give all the edges some sanding with a sanding sponge to neaten them up, and make sure you round the corners just a little bit.

As far as the hose, what you can do is get some water bottle caps (or something similar) that mostly fit in the ends of the tubes. Figure out the center of the end caps, glue the tops of the bottle caps onto the end caps and then take your E6000, spread a good amount round the grippy/ridgey sides of the bottle cap and stick them in the end of the tube. That should do it.

for your belt, you wanna leave a decent amount at the ends to give you some purchase for the rivet (one per side). The belt should be as tall/thick as the boxes, so anything extra can be carefully trimmed off.

That one strapping indent on one of your hip boxes is a bit soft, but as long as you cut the slot to 1.5", it won't matter for approval. The biceps should be about a 2" slot, the forearms around 1" and knees about 1/2" or 3/4".

You can check out what an approved scout looks like by visiting the CRL page: https://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:TB_Scout_trooper

Please let us know if you have any other questions!

[TheSharpe]

1 hour ago, Dart said:

Definitely trim down any of the return edges that stick up. Give all the edges some sanding with a sanding sponge to neaten them up, and make sure you round the corners just a little bit.

Do all the corners on all the pieces need to be rounded? I only see a reference on the CRL to the Shoulder Bells.

 

1 hour ago, Dart said:

for your belt, you wanna leave a decent amount at the ends to give you some purchase for the rivet (one per side). The belt should be as tall/thick as the boxes, so anything extra can be carefully trimmed off

The belt is nearly flush at the top, I bought a pair of the fancy curved scissors to use to do some more trimming. I used Aviation Tin Snips for my TK kit from Anovos, but that was much larger longer cuts.

 

1 hour ago, Dart said:

That one strapping indent on one of your hip boxes is a bit soft, but as long as you cut the slot to 1.5", it won't matter for approval. The biceps should be about a 2" slot, the forearms around 1" and knees about 1/2" or 3/4".

The line markings are likely off, or that might be the one part that I ran into the slightly warped indentation. I have measure my marks and they are either right at the size or just under it. 

I plan to measure the length again before I cut and remark. The only one I measured and marked proper length for was the Biceps because the bicep on mine has no markings or indentations for where to cut (I've heard other kits do). 

One other question - the codpiece on the CRL has a clip on the strap. I bought my soft goods from Imperial Boots, and like my Studio Creations kit, I got no instructions with them. What does the Codpiece attach to? Do I place a clip on the back of the Cumberbund or is it meant to clip inside the armor? I assume it doesn't really matter because either way it will be hidden, but I would like to know what the intention is (and what might be most comfortable). 

[Chopper]

1 hour ago, TheSharpe said:

Do all the corners on all the pieces need to be rounded? I only see a reference on the CRL to the Shoulder Bells.

No they do not.

1 hour ago, TheSharpe said:

One other question - the codpiece on the CRL has a clip on the strap. I bought my soft goods from Imperial Boots, and like my Studio Creations kit, I got no instructions with them. What does the Codpiece attach to? Do I place a clip on the back of the Cumberbund or is it meant to clip inside the armor? I assume it doesn't really matter because either way it will be hidden, but I would like to know what the intention is (and what might be most comfortable). 

The imperial boots cod's that I've seen attach with a strap around your waist. This is atypical for most scouts, where it is attached to the flak vest, but that's the way they do it.

The crotch strap on the cod is typically attached to the back of your flight suit or flak vest.

[TheSharpe]

57 minutes ago, Chopper said:

The imperial boots cod's that I've seen attach with a strap around your waist. This is atypical for most scouts, where it is attached to the flak vest, but that's the way they do it.

This is interesting because we ordered a second set of soft goods from some etsy sellers and that is how they came, with an elastic belt and the cod piece attaching to the front and back of the elastic belt. 

Mine came just like the picture except it has a piece of velcro at the top of the codpiece and is missing the clip, which is fine I have a box of various sized clips I can use for this.

EDIT: The cod piece does not have the velcro, the Cumberbund has the velcro on the top. I am now unsure where to attach the Codpiece in the front, and I think the answer to the cod piece in the back is either the flight suit or the flak vest. 

Edited April 15 by TheSharpe
Updating notes about the velcro placement

[TheSharpe]

First, sad day, these Imperial Boots I have had for several years for my Scout Trooper will not pass Level 2. Very disappointed about this. Will have to see about acquiring some new boots soon.

 

Second:

I cut all the trim pieces I had marked, being careful to measure the length, and now I have to do the belt and hoping these look correct:

 

Onto the codpiece. Where does the FRONT attach? I know now that the back strap gets a buckle and goes into the jacket (ideally). Where does the front go? Velcro to the Cumberbund, is my best guess at this point, or sewn on. (I hope not, despite what Mickey said in his video about the cosplay the sewing is the worst most troublesome part). My codpiece is identical on both sides so no idea what to do with this really as far as attachment goes.

 

Finally the cumberbund has a piece of velcro on it. My BEST guess is that the expectation is that I will put a matching piece of Velcro on the jumpsuit to attach this to to help it stay in place. But I am wondering now if the Velcro goes out and it attaches to the armor, instead?

 

 

[Chopper]

I suggest that you focus primarily on getting basic clearance and worry about the Level 2 stuff once you're approved.

For most scouts the cod is attached to the flak vest or flight suit with velcro.

The velcro on the bund should attach to the flak vest. This keeps it from sagging.

[TheSharpe]

4 hours ago, Chopper said:

I suggest that you focus primarily on getting basic clearance and worry about the Level 2 stuff once you're approved.

For most scouts the cod is attached to the flak vest or flight suit with velcro.

The velcro on the bund should attach to the flak vest. This keeps it from sagging

The extra velcro on the jacket/vest is for the chest piece to attach to, so it will hold in place better?

[Chopper]

Yes. And for the bund.

[TheSharpe]

2 minutes ago, Chopper said:

Yes. And for the bund.

I just found a single piece of velcro on my jacket, presumably for the bund.

I will look at adding the rest for the chest piece.

[Chopper]

Any additions of that nature are totally optional.

Other tips are here: 

 

[TheSharpe]

35 minutes ago, Chopper said:

Any additions of that nature are totally optional.

Other tips are here: 

 

Yes, I read through this thread and also asked about this at the Armor Party last Saturday. I have a unapproved TK kit right now and I am not a fan of the way it slips and slides around on me right now, I would like a little extra security to keep things in place.