Too Much Garlic

I wouldn't go with ATA.

Yeah, had the thought... but then again... too much hassle. I'm having trouble figuring out how to trim the round part, as I've been told that the cut isn't straight across in an even width when viewing them from the top, but more angled, so that it is wider at one end (part meeting face) than at the other (part meeting back) - is that correct.

So, in order to prevent doing more mistakes, do anyone have some pointers on trimming the ears. When doing the AP ears a few years back I cut off too much but it was **** difficult trimming them and getting clean lines instead of ragged. Over the years I gathered the info that it was best to trim with a knife or a pair of scissors just short of the actual trimming line and then sand the rest. But... there's no indication where to trim to on the RSProps ears from what I can see and I'm just a little peeved to really dig in and end up screwing things up.

FX is an old fan sculpted helmet - highly inaccurate and to be honest, quite outdated and not really worth the money. eFX is a licensed company selling idealized helmets.

Yeah, maybe I'm just too used to things being neat and tight and fiberglass. LOL. I have some leftover pieces of ABS from trimming I can glue onto the inside of the face in case I need to take the hole back another 1-2 mm on his left side to make it flush before putting the ears on. However, putting the ears on will certainly stop the piece from feeling so flimsy. I remember that from the AP helmet I had - even though I screwed up those ears all to **** when trying to trim them a bit more accurate than they were... it still was a much more sturdy helmet with the ears on.

Well, glad to hear your suggestions on doing new holes slightly furhter back. I did it just now before coming back to read those, thinking that it couldn't hurt at this point. Was just worried I had to do the new holes too far back, so the ears don't cover the further forward holes. It's not exactly tight, but it is okay if I do the higher brow version, then the gap is barely seen. Can't get it done flush now, as the new holes prevent that. Could maybe have gone back an extra mm on one side, but maybe it gets tighter when screwing on the ears? Hopefully it won't pull the gap wider. ****... I hate vac-formed pieces.

I can stick my finger in between the pieces no problem and run it all the way across, so it's bad. I just don't understand why as I made the assembly where it supposedly should, from what I've been able to see.

I have an RS kit. Have trimmed it partly. Not looking forward to the ears as I usually screw up those and there aren't any clear lines indicating where they really should be trimmed to, like it's faintly possible to see on the face and back piece. One thing however. I drilled out the rivet holes on the face and the back and assembled the piece, putting the brow trim on... but something's horribly wrong and I'm afraid I may have screwed up badly. There's a huge cap between the brow trim and the face - nearly 4-5 mm. I just don't understand, as I drilled the holes right in the center of the round markings on the two pieces. I HATE ASSEMBLING VAC-FORMED HELMETS... GRRRRRRRR. Should I make new holes slightly further back, ignoring the original placement of the holes, or what? Is that even possible? With fiberglass it would have been an easy fix - heck, it would probably have been a one-piece for the whole face and back, eliminating the whole "my crappy assembly skills" issue. I knew I should have opted for an assembled one, so at least I would have prevented mauling one of these kits with my trimming and assembly skills. Grr... what do I do... sell it for cheap to someone who'll know how to fix it and then buy an assembled version... I don't know. All I know is I hate trimming and assembling vac-formed helmets.

Yeah, don't think it can be put better than that. .)

Honestly, I would prefer the exact to the original owned armor, not reworked back to how it's supposedly was - that sorta puts it down a bit towards the previous reverse engineered ANH armor from RotJ. I wouldn't fret over it and I don't think you need to either. It's just making molds that incorporate the interpretation of accurate bend to the parts that may have flattened over time. It's a cool project... but as you say... any modification diminishes the accuracy to the original it came from. Seriously man, feel happy and proud as **** of the armor you now have. It's awesome as all ****.

The reasoning was to offer casts of the armor exactly as it is now, not how they were. They are reworking everything for a new version of casts, as far as I know.

Well, what I meant was that it was a replica of an ANH suit, not a reverse engineered to ANH specs from an RotJ suit. And the trimming between the two types is vastly different. The SDS recast already available reverse engineered ANH fan made armor. Would be interesting to see a comparison between the RSProps vs original - I'm sure the differences between those would be less than with the reverse engineered stuff, seeing as the SiMan suit IS an original ANH. Also... isn't the warped parts issue on the original SiMan costume due to how it was stored over the years and therefore not something to do with how it was vac-formed.

Looking good there Rolf. Yeah the cod to the butt are a bit too long and there do not pull up the butt enough, it will be fixed Isn't that just because we've been conditioned to the reverse engineered RotJ to ANH armor for years? This is real ANH armor where the pieces fit snugly as they were sculpted and not having the huge gaps between the pieces like the RotJ stuff does.

The fact that all those institutions are in shock speaks volumes about her actions. It's bordering on abuse soon. Honestly, I think you are handling this incredibly well and in the best way possible. You have my admiration and respect!

Oh man, so sorry to hear about this. I really thought she had gotten some sense knocked into her head by now. A real **** shame she cannot see what it is doing to her kid - she clearly doesn't have his best interest in heart, but only does this for selfish reasons. Keep going strong.

Awesome build and great attention to detail! .)

In case you aren't aware, the RPF got hacked and the whole site transferred to a thief in Russia holding it for ransom, who has set up the site as phishing site for your login information. This is the notice currently displayed on the REAL RPF!!! Updated by Montagar

Good luck man! .)

Cool. Yup, mine was awesome with great company, great food and nice presents. Got myself a new pillow. Really medium soft too. Really nice progress. I haven't even gotten up off my *** to buy scissors to start trimming my helmet... I'm so slow.

Hope you had a nice X-Mas and some time to relax.

Sweet. I believe I've seen those around here, but thanks for the link, just in case. Can't wait to see more progress Rolf! .)

Looking for proper scissors as well for the trimming of my own helmet. Could you say what kind of scissors, brand, you bought?

Will follow this with great interest.

Loads of trooper goodness. One for you and one for your kid... when he gets big enough? .)

YAY, you're finally getting the suits. Looking forward to your build thread. RS Props is the name of the armor.