shwarzwald Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thats good to hear. If anyone else has feedback let 'er rip. Also made progress on the other thigh. Would like to point out airbornes suggestion about foam worked out pretty decently. Pretty much it brought the thigh flush with the front of my leg and all but stopped all armor bite in the back. Heck I could even walk like a normalish human. Just waiting on coverstrips now. Might hesitantly dip my feet into the strapping side soon. Also need to read up on how to adjust abs shapes using water. ( Butt needs to curve a bit more, may widen shoulder bells to bring them in more, and left thigh is wigging out in the back.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spliedt729 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Looking good so far to me your making fast progress, trooperbay has a kit for the strapping and it comes with everything you would need. I don't know if you looked into that yet. Just an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Oh I have snaps, webbing, and most what I need. Just wasn't ready to commit into fitting it until everything was good and perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Ok so quick question for the peanut gallery. What is your preferred snap placement? Female snaps on armor and male snaps on straps or male snaps on armor and female on the straps? Is one better than the other? So far as I've seen it could be either or? I'll prep all the straps in the mean time, but I would like a second opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I put the female on the armor and male on the elastic/nylon. There's probably a million and one threads about strapping systems on FISD so I recommend you take a look. Don't reinvent the wheel. Make sure you leave return edges so you can put the machine screws to replicate the original strapping method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 You do know I do read an excessive amount of threads right? The reason I asked that was because some had it one way some had it the other. Though I will take your method into account since it was the one most generally used. Also someone did mention leaving the return edges before so I have done so to make sure it can pass PO later. Also did you have any feedback on my armor as it currently stands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Yeah, it really starts to come together when you do the strapping. That's where you'll need us to critique fitment. Have a friend take lots of photos for you. Have you started putting the cover strips on the pieces? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Currently someone in my local garrison is sending me more coverstrips so I can continue. With the amount I have I could only do maybe the forearms. Also the shim for the kidney plate is finished. Now I just need it to curve more inwards. Also need to fill the gap in with abs paste once I get it curved correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 Still waiting for shims, so I got the female snaps put onto the armor until I ran out. Hopefully tomorrow I can pick up more plus more webbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMonkey Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Looking good. The strapping system and final fitting was one of the hardest parts for me, so good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Amazing work . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 While you wait for finishing strips, you still have some flashing to remove, especially on the bottom of the butt plate. I'd use a hobby iron to fold that return edge on the top of the butt plate down so it's not pointing up. Finish cutting out your shoulder bell and get your knee ammo pack and belt taken care of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Yep I was waiting to get some feedback on those before I removed more material. The butt plate was some concern because I wasn't sure how much of a return edge was acceptable. The knee pack and belt are next up on the list though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 The return edge on the bottom half is up to you. Just leave enough on the top to add the machine screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sand_dorn Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Keep on building your armor man, great work so far... nothing more to said in addition to the good advice AirborneTrooper already gives you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD42115 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Looking great, nice progress. Almost there.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Alright sweet. Once the e6000 drys for the snaps I'll trim the top of the butt plate. Getting very close to being able to start on fitting. Once the extra coverstrips come in I can push to finish the thighs (probably will widen the back to make front look better), forearms( just needs coverstrips), and possibly shins if I have enough material left over. (Though I do have new shins on order from wtf. May combine them to make a good fit.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Ok so before I get crazy and start cutting more straps and putting the snaps on I would like some clarification on the butt plate before I trim this and have a gap that needs adjustment. Now should I trim the top where I have the arrows pointed or should I attempt to heat and flatten it to match the rest so I can keep the extra material for length? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchy Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Haven't seen a topic in a while that was so pic heavy. You're making really good progress on the armor. Looking forward to see the end result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 Ok so while I try to find a way to bend that part down on the butt plate I worked more on the strapping. So smart old me forgot to make holes in the female snaps that are on the armor, so the male snap snaps but feels weak. I may go back to each one and cut out a hole or something. Right now I'm trying to find the sweet spot of how far I want the chest piece to sit up and and low I can get away with have the back plate hang. Also I get the feeling I'm gonna have to put some meat on my mannequin Mr.Bones. He looks a little funny with the armor on. ( Also gotta bring the shoulders in more.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Trooper Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 I heated up a nail and stuck it through the nylon webbing. Put the snaps through that and hammer them together like the instructions say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 I have a soldering iron so when it gets to that point I'll find it. College is getting into full swing now and I'm getting pressed for time. However I'll try to keep working and a manageable rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwarzwald Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 Ok so tried something new out. I attempted to create silicone handplates. I would have to sadly say it wasn't exactly successful. But let it be known I am trying to keep progress going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMonkey Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 justjoseph sells the latex handplates over on FISD for a reasonable price. I bought a B grade pair from him for even cheaper. Another route you could look into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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