maj_hassel

Although I've been on these forums for quite some time, I changed my call sign and think my old posts have been deleted. So, I thought it might be good to re-introduce myself. My name's Geoff and I go under the nickname "Maj. Hassel" (formerly Maj. Hangover). I have a complete (weathered, modded, etc) AP sandtrooper kit. On troops I carry my Hyperfirms Lewis gun, which usually doubles as a cane by the end of my troops. I'm not yet deployed because my pack, although complete, isn't fully assembled because of storage purposes (I live in a fairly small apartment with my g/f and there's only so much room for my SW stuff. Here's my armor/gun: Here's my pack, so far: (the mortar tube, dish and side bar are in another corner - the pack won't sit on the shelf when they're attached) In addition to a TD, I also have other completed armor: AP TK kit; a TE TIE pilot; a snowtrooper; Imp. Officer. Under construction are: Biker kit (for my g/f -- only really need to make the boots); a tusken raider; and ROTJ Boba. Hopefully, I'll get motivated and finish up my gear. Cheers!

I'm looking for the vacuformed dome with the dimple on top which is supposed to sit on top of the hamburger stackers and connect to the intake manifold. Anyone know where to get one of these? I know someone--TK1536--was making them at one time. Have all of the runs ended or are there a few still floating out there? Thanks in advance for any leads.

My first troop as a TD -- Wizard World Chicago -- WOOT!!

Thanks for the feedback!! Here's one more pic I made and then I'm done.

I picked up a can of white rain and tried to use it over the parts I had already sprayed. It did lower the gloss a little, but not enough for my tastes. I'm going to clean and re-weather a thigh piece and just use the White Rain to fix the paint. If it looks really good I'll re-do the whole kit. I took a damp paper towel and, with a little pressure, wiped off an area of one of my thighs. That's the great thing about hairspray and tempera paint, it comes off nice and clean--yet stays on when you need it to. I did take a bunch of pictures and did a little Photoshop on one of them...

The paint is secured with hairspray, and I'm storing the kit in a canvas laundry bag, so the high parts (belt boxes, shoulders,etc.) will eventually rub off. The problem with the hairspray method is that is tends to give a gloss finish to the weathering. This kit will probably go through several different weatherings before I find one I really like and seal it on there. But I actually enjoy weathering so I'd hate to miss out on all of that fun. I suppose I could have put a little more time into the weathering but I, mistakenly, thought there was an event today that I wanted to troop as a TD but that's not until the 9th; this was kind of a rushed job. As for the backpack, I need a intake manifold. I also need to get the little tubes that go on the side of the upper box but am unsure what size pvc pip to use, but that's a question for a different post.

I've had an AP kit I was going to use to make a TD for over a year and a half and I only recently have started putting it together. I had already cut the pieces out and weathered some of them. Later on, I taped some pieces together, tried it on, got discouraged, grumbled and moped about how it was way too small for me and shelved the project. I recently picked up a clean, pre-assembled, AP kit and, after some adjustments, it fit really well (I have lost 15 pounds since I first got the kit). Inspired, I decided to start work in earnest again on my TD. I've been working on it for the last week or two when I could, and today I had my final test-fitting! Here are some pics: You can see that it's been a while since I've worked with this kit; the weathering has rubbed off the chest piece and the edges of the helmet from being handled; most pieces haven't even been weathered yet. Unfortunately, there were a couple of screw-ups: I glued the knee-plate a little low and need to pry it loose and re-position it. I also, when I was originally cutting out the parts, over-trimmed the bottom lip of the chest plate. Oh well, not much I can do about it now--anyone have a spare sitting around? I should have this kit finished--minus some helmet wiring--within the next couple of days. Then I'll be able to add TD to my list of designations! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I finished weathering the kit. I wasn't really going for a "straight from Tatooine" look or, "...this is the exact weathering pattern of the third sandtrooper on the left in scene four" look either. I just wanted it to look like it's been out in the field for a long time on some really crappy assignments. I even left a little carbon scoring in from it's previous paint job. Here's how it came out: I haven't sealed the paint job yet (I use hairspray), and the belts still wet so I'm not trying it on until tomorrow. I'm going to use the standard pouches for my 501st submission, but for trooping purposes I'm going to use a pouch I customized which is great because it can hold quite a bit--all you need for those long troops

As long as you cut the armor along the lines it will fit. I have the same dimensions--give or take five pounds--and my AP kit fits pretty good. Remember, we're a few inches taller than the stormtroopers in the movie so a little latitude is needed when scrutinizing how "screen-accurate" you look. Unlike the FX kits, the real suits' back plates didn't overlap the kidney plates; my seam could be a little tighter, but I'll live. You could probably lower your back plate a little bit. mine sits a little lower and still hugs the countour of my back. Here are some test-fitting pics I took this morning: You might want to raise the butt-plate a little bit. I know, mine looks a little but like I'm getting an "armor-wedgie" but I wanted decent seams across the back. If you want to see how I put my kit together LMK and I'll post pics. I hope I helped a little, Good luck!!

I sure could've used this info when I was trimming off the excess ABS when I first got my kit. No worries really, one side's under a pauldron and the other side is behind a ammo pouch. But still.... [This is a disturbing example of the mindset of someone who needs to attend a Canon Obsessives Anonymous meeting.]

I ran a search but didn't come up with anything, but it looks like, according to a photo in The Making of Star Wars book that at least some of the sandtroopers had shoulder straps. It doesn't look like the straps were the molded type the TK's had; they look like flat plastic. I'm not going to post a close-up since I'm guessing all of you own the book, but you should look at the guy with the hat, standing next to the dewback. His straps look like they connect to the back plate. So, am I way off in guessing that there might be someone selling a run of flat shoulder straps? P.S. I'm sure this topic's been covered; I usually am pretty late on the scene with most things. BTW, I just heard of this sci-fi show called Star Trek--it looks pretty cool!!

Well, you can add me to the list. LMK when the you generate enough interest to warrant a bulk order. If that time never comes I'm willing to pay for an individual order. Thanks again!

You should probably just start an new topic with the interest thread like you had planned. That way it will get more attention, as opposed to being buried at the end of this thread. I can wait, I'll definitely take one either way, but I'm sure it would be easier for you to do a bulk ordering/mailing as opposed to on a per-person basis. Thank you, BTW, for taking the time and trouble to make these available to us in the US.

I'd buy one. Any way to get ne if the interest thread is unsuccessful?

As it happens, the fates were with me and the bucket matches the armor really well. It's not an exact match, but not different enough so that anyone would notice unless you asked them to. Many thanks 4510!!

Thanks for all of the advice! I had no idea that the bucket's not really supposed to match the armor. That certainly takes some of the weight off. I'm thinking (hoping, actually) that the difference in shades won't be too far apart and I can just leave it. The only reason I'm apprehensive to paint anything (I've painted several buckets and armor, just not with Rustoleum) is that the weather in Chicago's a bit inconsistent lately and it's pretty humid. With Rustoleum, how easy is it to clean off scuff marks? I'm sorry that you had to let your armor go; I hope the money helps with . I can't wait to try it on.

I thought of painting the helmet white. The only problem there is that I live in the city of Chicago and spray-paint is illegal to sell within city limits. This is some bureaucrat's flash of genius to stop graffitti; most kids use markers to tag last time I checked. What preparations would I need to the helmet before painting? Do I have to buy new decals? Please say no.

I just recently bought a AP kit (no helmet) and the seller had painted it white (Rustoleum Professional paint). I'm concerned that the color won't match the AP bucket I already own. What would be the best method to take the paint off? If I use a solvent--I'm guessing I'll have to--will it screw up the finish of the ABS? Will it damage or discolor the plastic? I obviously won't know if this will be necessary until I see the kit and the bucket together. I hope it's avoidable. Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated. Thx.

Thanks for the tips! I'll give the old hairdryer another go.

While I love my AP kit to pieces (no pun intended), I'm having a bit of trouble with the narrowness of the shoulder bells. I've tried using a hairdryer but they always seem to retain their shape. Any suggestions? Also, is it me or do the shoulder bells seem a little small? It might be my build--I'm 6'--but it don't think so. Maybe I got an odd pull. To what degree are the AP shoulders ANH-screen-accurate? Are there any alternatives out there that might be more accurate? How close are the FX? Thanks in advance for any advice given.

I believe it's a Purolator #A54855. I think Fram makes a similar/identical part #CA7600. If you get one be sure that when you cut the base off (i.e. w/ a Dremel) you're in a well-ventilated area. Bad fumes. Very stinky. BTW: Can anyone give me advice on what else I need to make this complete? [*]I know I need straps, but is there another long black piece that goes along the left side of the pack? [/*:m:3p7vuciu] [*]What about those little tube pieces? I'm trying to make the pack with the filter on the top left corner (sergeant?). Are those pieces needed to make it accurate? [/*:m:3p7vuciu] [*] Does anyone have a measurement for how long the grey bottles are supposed to be? [/*:m:3p7vuciu]

I was painting some parts today (TS rig mostly) and, as I looked at some of the other parts I had lying around, I thought I'd put my pack components together and see what I had going so far. I got pretty thrilled when I saw the pieces in one place so I thought I'd fire off a few pics and share them. (Now take into account that nothing is really attached to anything and some items, like the bottles, need to be trimmed to a more correct length) Here's all of the parts I have so far: Here's some of the upper pieces: ...and some of the lower pieces: Here's a brief rundown on the components: [*] The scoop assembly is made up of wooden doweling + a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a tip I fabricated out of craft foam + an Altoids gum container[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] [*] Two kitty-litter trays (top box has a speaker mounted in the top which is connected to a Hyperdine soundboard)[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] [*] An auto air filter[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] [*] Two Lysol wipe bottles[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] [*] Two Tupperware dessert cups and a meat keeper[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] [*] An Alvin Ice Tube cut lengthwise and rivited to fit inside detonator caps[/*:m:kuyy6kcy] The only parts I bought from a maker were the radio box faceplate (TE) and the radar dish which I got off eBay. Take into mind that I am not going for 100% screen accurate, just something that looks pretty close. This way it will have more of a personal touch to it. Oh, and let me apologize to all of you sandies out there for how freakin' CLEAN everything is.

I don't know if anyone's tried this or not but what I'm doing is mounting the speaker (my hyperdine board will be in there as well) in the top box of my backpack. That way, the sound will, hopefully, sound like it's coming out by my helmet as opposed to somewhere near my hip. I have several long cable extensions but I'm not sure where I'll have them join up--probably someplace I can reach like near one of my hip pouches. I might also mount the amp board down there as well for easy volume control. That way I won't snag or yank anything loose when I take off my pack. It's still in the concept phase so later on I'll post what I finally end up with.

Thanks for the compliments! Since those pictures were taken I've done more work on my AP helmets. When I first built them, in my ignorance, I made the faceplate go too far into the dome. This made gave the helmets a "squished" look which you can see in the previous pictures. Ugh. Fortunately, I've since rectified the problem and I'm much happier with their appearance. BTW: The pouch is actually a Swedish MP40 pouch, if I remember right. Inside were four compartments for magazines but I cut out two of the dividers to turn it into two large compartments; it's great for holding all of your necessities.

The tips I have are attached to a small block of wood which is held to the mask by a wood screw (be sure to use a washer to avoid the screw pulling through your mask accidentally). If you pre-drill and thread the hole you can push the screw through the hole in your mask and then twist the mic tip--with the block inside it--onto the screw. Voila! TIPS: Remember to black out one end of the block with a marker so the wood can't be seen through the tip's screen. If the block is a little loose inside the mic tip you can use some electical tape to snug the fit. You want it to be a really tight fit. If you can't find any spare wood cut a piece from your girlfriend/wife's favorite piece of furniture; she'll understand. I hope this helps. I'm sure there are other methods you could use as well.

When I first got my FX kit I ended up cutting the thighs down so much they looked ridiculous in the back with just a tiny notch remaining of what was originally the arch in the back of the knee. I managed to track down an old pair of the pre-barrel thighs from a supplier which were so box stained he didn't want to sell them. They cleaned up pretty good and they made my FX kit much more acceptable. But, since seeing those pictures of the AP kit fully built, I realized I need to get off my butt and finish mine. I should probably start running some laps so I can get the thing to fit as well. Here's some of my AP kit in what I call the, "..it's only a flesh-wound..." pose. Thanks TD1654 for the inspiration!