iconoclasta_88

Thx Bro... Thats the diagram my drawing is based on... but I thought it was not very accurate, or is it? Thats why I "improved" it in my own version. Saludos...

This is what a I did... http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=5511 It worked great for me. Saludos.

It looks GREAT Nol! Very good job... I specially like the weathering on your bucket, it is amazing!! About the pouches, well, I guess its a matter of being happy with it. I looks great for sure, and if you just move down the shoulder one it would be fine. But since your bucket and pauldron looks like a move along... maybe you could try and get a canvas 4 pocket mp38/40 pouch for your shoulder. I got a set for less than 30 from http://www.ima-usa.com/ it is not 100% screen accurate, but it does look good (even much better for real than the picture on the site). Just my opinion. Saludos.

A little progress: I spend most of last week (most of my "armor time" anyway), thinking about how would I make the strapping system for my armor. I had some very cool references and did lots research on how it was made on the original armors. I came to the conclusion that I didn't want my armor strapped exactly like the movie ones, mainly because of the use of rivets I would like to avoid if possible cause of my lack of riveting experience. Anyway, I will use some rivets for practical and image purposes: 3 rivets on the left side of the body armor, 1 on the left of it; rivets for the knee strip, and probably to fix the plastic belt to the canvas belt. The rest of the system I will attach using E6000 to fix straps to the armor, and industrial strength velcro for closure of straps. And snap buttons to fix the belt to the ab plate. I have come up with this diagram. It is based in some very similar looking diagram I found somewhere, but that was not really accurate nor practical (IMO). At the end, this is based on the picture TM posted here, on Mike H's strapping system as it appears on his site, and on my own experience with armor and straps. What do you think? I will be using 1' black elastic, 2' black elastic and 2' white elastic for the shoulder straps. I alraedy have almost everything I need, except for the snap buttons. So if everybody think this is fine, I most likely will start making it this week. Or does anyone has any idea that might improve this?

THX a lot bro! This is great and will be a lot of help! Saludos.

Blue masking tape is the best! It does not leave any glue residue but still sticks very good to plastic and other materiasl. Love this tape... Saludos.

As promised, here are the updates of the work I did on my armor on the weekend. First, I made the proper corrections on the arms to have them correctly trimmed just like on screen. This involved taking half of the return edge of the elbow end's outer part, and most of the return end on the inner side and both sides of the wrist ends. I have thin arms (maybe too thin), so now my armor arms are a bit to big for me, but will most likely fit alright when I ad some foam on the inside. This is how they look now: Elbow ends Wrist ends And then, re-trimmed the belt and knee belt so to get rid of all the return edge; I also made the corners of the belt round, this is more a pre-trimming. I expect to finish it later cause wanted to ask everyone if this is the correct way to cut the corners? About the knee strip, I have been studying pictures of the move along trooper, and I think he has this strip trimmed in a round edge on the lower part, and a slightly round corner on the upper one. What do you think? Have not trimmed anything yet anyway. And finally, I trimmed all the body armor. Getting rid of most the return edge on lower body parts and leaving it on the upper body parts. With this done, Im researching references, threads and other ppl's opinions and methods to come up with a strapping system that I want and can use for my armor. I have a few pictures and diagrams, and have an idea of how original were most likely put together (from post at the forums from Paul, Mike, Rolf, Seth and others). But I still need to come up with a way I want to do it... That will be my next step. I will probably make a diagram and come to you for opinions before putting it together. Any help or ideas are more than welcome. So thats it for now. If you have any suggestion, or can see anything that should be improved, pls, let me know. Will be much appreciated! Saludos...

Thx man! Hopefully will work on it this weekend and will post some new pictures on Monday. Saludos!!

Congrats Nol! You did an awesome thing... me and my gf were very happy to see you won after such a tight final sprint. Lots of our friends voted for you... Saludos...

WOW... This looks amazing. Always been a fan of medieval ages heroes, weapons and history... Wish I could at least see something like this. Over here in Mexico we used to have the "Middle ages and beer festival". It was just a bunch of people wearing medieval costumes (not armor), drinking beer and eating meat on sticks... and a few shows including a knights battle (the show came from Germany with knights from all around Europe). It was cool, but nothing like this. I will check out your site and facebook picts! This is awesome. Saludos

Congrats bro! Welcome!! Saludos.

Congrats Alex! Bienvenido hermano. Muchas felicidades. Todo el trabajo valio la pena. Saludos.

Congrats Rick! Happy to read this. Saludos.

I think what TM meant by return edge is not exactly that curve trimming on the knee strap... but you are right, the move along trooper seems to have curve trimming on both upper and lower edge of the knee strap. This is a good topic... dont know if it has been discussed to depth before, but know I have read about it somewhere over the forums. Will try and search the topic. In the meantime, what do everybody think, is it more TD to have one curve edge or two? Since the move along trooper is one of the iconic TDs and it looks that his armor has two round edges, would that be the way to go? Or just when trying to replicate this exact trooper? Any opinions? Thx a lot. Saludos.

Yep, I did understand what you said then. I just posted the arm piece to show/ask an example of what a "return edge" was, cause I wasn't sure. So, about the return area in the belt and knee strap: it is clear and I understand completely what you mean. I did this same thing with my FX kit. Cut all the edges and heat it a bit with a blow dryer before bending it to prevent stressing the material. About the arm part... ok, what you suggest is: 1. Get rid of half the return edge of he outer part for the elbow end. 2. Get rid of all the return edge of the inner part for the elbow end. 3. Get rid of all the return edge on outer and inner part for the wrist end. Thats it, isnt it? So, you said original armors had no return edge at all on the wrist end. Were they also trimmed as you recomend at the elbow end? THX a lot for all your help bro. No doubt you are the trooper master! Saludos.

HEHEHE! THX bro... I must admit that it was not just one day. I have been working at nights after work for periods of 1/2 hour or so every night for a week. Trimming one or two parts every night. I am still waiting for the strips to arrive to glue everything together (they come in a different shipment), but I want to have everything ready to glue together when they arrive. Thx for your words and encouragement. Your work and post have inspired me in many different ways to try and make the best I can on this armor! (I love this kit too, already want another one. HEHEHE) Saludos

Thx for your comments bro. I do had the question about how to trim the knee ammo pack, but I will show my research: I still have a bit of a doubt here, but since everyone seems to have the knee belt trimed in that way, and with your advice Im happy I did it that way. Thanks a lot bro. But still, with Kenthork's reference I want to show all you my research on this... The first picture appears both edges round. These other pictures have only the bottom round. These one appears round on both edges too, but different round. What do you think? I think the correct way is to have it just round at the bottom, But there are many pictures where it looks like its rounded both top and bottom. And also, there are many ways to trim it, due to being made by hand. As most details in armor, uniqueness has more to do with mistakes than with actual planning, I guess. By the return you mean the plastic over the edges? Like this: If so, I must clear that the only parts I have trimmed so far are the legs and arms. I just threw the torso for the picture to make it look cooler. Anyway, your comments are a lot of help cause one of the reasons I did not trimmed these parts yet was cause I didnt know how much to trim... Thnk a lot Bro!! Will keep posting as I work on it. Saludos.

Well... I've been kind of reluctant to post a thread about my armor built. I do enjoy a lot posting and reading processes of prop building. But somehow I thought there were more than enough threads on this topic already. Anyway, I am enjoying a lot my built and loving each part of the process, so I guess not posting a thread was just not an option. hehe... I won't spend time detailing the process or describing how I did everything, cause I guess it has been done before and in a much better way for sure. I am merely following what others have done before. This will be more like hey guys, what do you think about my progress, than actually showing everything I am doing. HEHEHE... So. I am working slowly, but trying my best to build a screen accurate TD. Starting with the arms and legs, then going to the torso and finally finishing with the bucket. Im not 100% if I will be able or if Im the right person to make a 100% replica armor of any given trooper, but will try to copy all the best features I like about the Move Along trooper. Hopefully I will finish with a similar looking armor. Will take a bit longer to finish it to what tkes Rolf to do so, but... I will try and work constantly and hopefully fast aswell. No more blah blah blah... here are some pictures... My armor just after being delivered. Opening boxes, like xmas morning!! Putting stuff together after trimming. For trimming the arms and legs I'm using Braksbuddy's measurements posted in his own built thread a few weeks ago. So far, so cool... So, still at some early stage, but I am enjoying and liking it a lot. If anyone can spot anything that should be corrected or improved even now, please let me know. Your opinions and advice are very important for me. THX a lot. Saludos... To be continued.

Cool picts! Looks like you had a great time! Congrats! Saludos!

thx for clearing this, I didn't know for sure and assumed it should be alright. Saludos.

THX pappy! Looks just the same size. Guess will use that to take measurements! Saludos.

THX for your help. I will try and bleach my belt and see how it goes in a couple of weeks. Probably coming back with pictures at that moment. Anyway... so, I guess most ppl answering liked this belt, but still... Since it is not canvas, and it is not accurate, would it be acceptable for deployment standards? It is still itching the back of my head (is that a correct expression in English aswell? HEHE). THX a lot. Saludos

Good to hear everything is great! And thx for your response. I will have to check later on the weekend my helmet and see how the pull came out and maybe ask some more questions by then (and probably post a reference picture). Thx a lot bro Happy weekend.

I think they look kindof right, and should be no problem for Legion TD or TK designation. But I must agree on the fact that they are not that similar to the screen used boots. They still need the correct u-shaped elastics and the leather patterns are not right. All around they look alright for tks and tds, but might not be good enough for deployment either here or at the FISD. Look nice for sure anyway. Saludos...

This last couple of days the 4 or 3 ab plate buttons issue has been around, and since it is now official that only 3 buttons will be acceptable for deployment, I want to bring this topic to the table. I know I have read somewhere in this forums about TD and TK buttons being different size. Even think I saw a comparison shot, but now I cant find the thread or the picture. Anyway, here is this one I just put together. I am building a new TD armor, and wish to make it 3 buttons since the beginning, but as long as I can see and remember, the buttons stripe in TE2 kit is not accurate for TDs. Is it? I think I will need larger buttons. But I wonder, does anyone knows or can think of a good source (material, part, maker, etc) for these. And my second and more important question, is there any agreement on how wide should the button diameter must be? Finally, whenever I find the correct buttons, either making or purchasing them, I guess I will just place them on the top of the base on the Ab plate, and not with a second layer as if I was putting the strip that comes with the kit. Everybody agrees on this? I will try and research a bit more, but think this would be a cool and interesting topic for the forum and who better than the brotherhood of the MEPD to discuss and research this. Thx a lot. Saludos.