Zakkuss Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Hey guys! Figured I'd start up one of these threads even if it is a bit premature seeing as my armor is sitting in a box haha. I've wanted to build a set of armor for the last 10 years or so and I am super excited to finally get going. Once I decided to get serious about joining the 501st I started doing research I and came to the conclusion that I wanted to get my bucket first and go from there. Being nervous about messing up the helmet I decided to purchase a fully finished one so I contacted AP and ordered a finished helmet knowing that there would be a pretty long wait period. I figured the wait would be a perfect time to look at all the different kind of armors and gather info and supplies. Well the wait period got extended a bit longer and after a few weeks and lots of research I realized that I can totally pull off a good a helmet build if I just take my time and look to the great build threads here and at whitearmor.net for help. Figured I could have some fun building my own helmet and eventually when the AP comes I will have two helmets to be proud of! After seeing Scootch's helmet run in The Supply Depot section I contacted him and after learning a bit about the Cap-W armor I ended up purchasing a full Cap-W kit! So that's where I'm at now, just waiting on a few supplies from Trooperbay and the build will be underway. I wanted to make a thread like this because I want to keep track of the build and also I'd like to ask you guys for advice along the way. Blows my mind how cool everyone here is and I can't thank you guys enough for all the stuff I've learned so far reading through your threads! Not much to look at but here's everything minus the helmet sitting in a box waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 12, 2013 Author Share Posted September 12, 2013 I wanted to try some weathering since I have all the supplies for that. I won't be using the hand guards that came with the kit so I decided to practice trimming and weathering on one of those. Turned out pretty okay I think! I used burnt umber acrylic paint. Before After Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRIBBLER Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 @ Zakk - What better way to start your experience with the Legion than to get a kit from one of our finest and most trusted members / armorers here at the MEPD as well as in the So Cal Garrison. Congrats, have fun and good luck, Brother! We'll see you here in the 'Precinct' soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Thank you sir! Long road ahead of me but I am very excited to join the 501st and then try for officer status! Worked on my helmet last night. I got the eyes cut out and started on the teeth. Hopefully I'll have time this weekend to finish her up. Only thing I'm worried about is those dreaded ears haha. I'll take my time though and I think they'll turn out okay. I have all my supplies now from Trooperbay so I just have to find the time to put everything together. Next on my list is setting aside some funds for a pack and pauldron. Hopefully I can get some help from Dirty Boy and Trooper1 on those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRIBBLER Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 @ Zakk - No worries! Everyone is ready to help guide you through your build process, Brother. Take your time! We will be here when you're ready to join the ranks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconoclasta_88 Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 GREAT! You have now started a journey you wont ever want to stop! Good luck with your build. Remember, specially since this is your first build, measure three times cut once. Also, if by any chance you make a mistake, remember real ANH armor was put together in a very careless way, so no real mistakes can be made. Everything is fine as long as you like it. And being it a Sandtrooper, I am sure you will like it. If you need anything, just let us know. Saludos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 Thanks very much for the advice Juan and you're right, now that I've began I don't want to stop working on my kit! I got the helmet mostly put together over the weekend. Still need to file a bit around the teeth, reinforce the the wells for the mic tips and trim the bottom opening a bit more. Can't wait to get that stuff done and start painting! I am so new at this stuff that I don't feel I have any right thinking about SWAT yet but I would really like to eventually apply as the Davin Felth trooper so I am trying my best to trim with that goal in mind. I'm not too disappointed with my work on the ears but I think I can do better so I've talked to Scootch about getting another set. I trimmed them so that they fit good with pressure being applied from the inside and outside of the helmet but when it's just the bottom screw holding the ear against the helmet it doesn't close the gap. I'm going to trim the next set to fit without putting pressure on that part. Here's a few pics of where I'm at on the bucket I also started the biceps and I have them mocked up and ready to glue. I mocked them up how they would be with a 15mm cover strip and they were super tight so I trimmed them for a 20mm cover strip and that seems comfortable. I could get them on with 15mm for sure but they seemed awfully tight. Do you guys see any problems with a 20mm cover strip? I'd just like to make absolutely sure before I glue. I think I will be going with 2 right biceps as well because the left with that more dramatic curve on the inside piece doesn't fit well at all on my arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longboard8 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Zakkuss has guns also. I believe Mike from Trooperbay mentioned multiple widths for biceps being acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchy Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Nice WIP thread, always nice to see one of Scootch's armors come to life! Good luck with the build and enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 Haha, I wouldn't call them guns but I've always been pretty athletic and I work out regularly so I've always had a little thicker build. I put 17mm cover strips on the biceps and they fit great. Tight enough that they don't move around much but I can flex and move and not be restricted. Thanks for the good luck Dutchy! I need all I can get. Finding time to complete this thing has proven difficult. I've been working 12 hour days between both jobs so I've been sneaking in armor building when I can. I haven't spent much time takings pics but I'll share what I have. Got the biceps and forearms completed for now. I'm going to go back later and put a cover strip on the inside for more strength. Also got the split rivets installed on the ab and kidney plate and drilled the hole for the male snap on the upper right of the ab plate. I'm waiting on some snaps with longer posts to work with the thickness of the plastic. The snaps I have didn't feel too sturdy because the post was just long enough to go through the plastic. The longer posts on these new snaps should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 The helmet is coming along as well. I wanted to get as close to the look of the Davin Felth bucket as my skills will allow so nervously I decided I'd try to do the greenish undercoat on the paint and show the damage on the lower front of the helmet that's shown in the archive pics. I have some liquid latex on the way so when it comes I'm going to brush it on in the shape of the damage and spray the white enamel on the whole helmet and then peel the latex away. Hopefully it comes out okay. The only thing bothering me is the paint dried way darker than I anticipated. I used an Army green color because it was the closest match I could find to the HDPE color on the original helmets. I think it's way too dark now that it's finished but I hope once it's completed with the white on top it'll look fine. Here's how she looks right now. Let me know what you think! If I've royally messed this thing up let me know haha! I've got thick skin. Thanks for reading guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Off to a great start brother....looks like you'll be out of the academy and on the front lines in no time. Have fun with the build man...it's addictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 Thank you sir! Hopefully I'll be getting with you in the near future regarding a pack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacta Baby Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Looking sweet bro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted September 30, 2013 Author Share Posted September 30, 2013 Thanks man! Got the helmet sprayed white this weekend. I'm happy with it! I'm working crazy hours all week so It's just going to be sitting but it's probably for the best. It'll have plenty of time to cure. Hopefully next week I can remove the latex for the battle damage and then I'll get going on the detail painting. Also got some trim coming from Seals Direct so the helmet is coming together great. Got the thighs done as well. Slowly but surely. Here's a pic I snapped real quick about 24 hrs after painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffintanker Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Nice paintjob! Great looking lid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 Thanks man! Looking at the dates of my posts make me realize how slow I've been getting this kit constructed haha. Since my last post I completed the thighs( which I'm now worried about) and pulled the latex off the helmet to try and replicate the HDPE showing through on the screen used helmet. I also received my brow trim and S trim from Seals Direct. Brow is looking good but I haven't trimmed the S trim yet. Also, my AP helmet came! It looks pretty awesome! I was thinking of selling the AP once I got it and just keeping my Cap-W but now I'm not sure I could sell it. It just looks so cool haha. I took some quick, crappy pics of both lids this morning so I figured I'd post them up and show you guys the AP and my progress on the Cap. I went ahead removed the inaccurate bottom trim that came on the AP and installed S trim. Other than that it's just like it came from AP. Seeing them next to each other really makes me want to work on the ears of the Cap helmet. I think I should trim the parts that curve around the tubes a bit more. The greenish color underneath will probably show once I trim them but I think I can do some touching up and make it look clean. Do you guys think the ears could use some more trimming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavinFelth Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Great build so far looks great. I too hope to one day acquire a set of my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk5144 Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Do you guys think the ears could use some more trimming? I would leave it as it is. looks good to me. We have a saying in surgery - "the enemy of good is better." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Great looking helmet. Keep ud the good Work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavinFelth Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Where did you order that complete so helmet from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakkuss Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 Thanks guys for the kind words! I trimmed the ears a tad bit on the Cap lid. Doesn't look a whole lot different but I am happy with it. I'll leave it be and start on painting the vocoder, traps, frown, etc when I get a chance. @DavinFelth I sent you a pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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