Zon

Me and my impatience is gonna be my undoing. I gave up with the proweld and used E6000 for everything. It worked though because everything is glued and pretty much fitted!! Woo-Hoo!! The shoulder bells are too small and don't sit against my shoulders. I'm guessing I'm gonna have to cut them and use shims (which I don't really want to do) or heat them and reshape them so they're bigger. Any thoughts on the best way to do that?

When you guys are using the proweld do you use the little brush that comes in the container? I tried to use it and it's not holding anything together. I'm making sure the two pieces are touching and holding them together for about a minute. Is there better way to apply it?

Got it. I'll probably be back in a day or two when I run into another issue. Good to know you guys are here though!

I agree that the finishing strips add a lot to the armor. I could put those on once I have everything sized and glued though right?

I think I'm getting there... I was thinking that I needed to have the pieces cut and fitted to me before I glued ANY of them. What I should do is glue the fronts, make them look good, and any size adjustments I need to make, make on the back side of the armor. The finishing strip is the small additional strip of ABS you use to cover the joint that makes it ANH accurate? If I didn't use that strip is the pro weld gonna leave the joints looking unfinished?

Okay forgive me if I'm being a little slow here... I've been to Stukatroopers site a number of times and once everything is cut to fit I know how to glue everything together from his descriptions and pics. I get how to make the pieces shorter in regards to length, I'm unclear on how to cut the pieces so that they fit in terms of large or small enough to fit around my arms legs. Everything came in halves so if I understand what I should do is take one half of the calf piece, as best as I can, locate the center (leaving room for padding) as it is on my leg and cut on that line, and repeat for the other half. Use that method for the quads, biceps, forearm, etc...

I'm having a hard time knowing how much to cut off of pieces (arms and legs). Is the best way to put the two pieces on and take away little by little until it seems to fit or is there a better way?

Without question, Sandtrooper. I know I don't need either one of those things or the drop boxes. I started with those to get a feel for cutting and trimming so when I got to the important parts I wouldn't screw up. This is my first attempt at anything like this. I'm not really a do-it-yourself kind of person, so practice, patience and advice is how I plan on doing this.

Glad I checked back today because I probably would have trimmed everything according to the "guides" on the armor. Luckily I started with things that wouldn't need adjusting (shoulder straps, the details on the ab section...) I've already come pretty close to cutting off at least two fingers, that's when I know I've been working too long. I haven't tried that score and snap method. I've been cutting with snips, using a dremmel to get close to the lines and then sanding. Thanks for those links! I had seen Stukatroopers site before but it was while I was starting my armor search so I didn't really have context for what I was seeing. Now, for better or worse, I know what I got myself into.

I completely understand about taking time. I stared trimming and sanding today and got what seemed to be a small amount of work done in a lot of time. Walking away is something that I will have to get used to doing. I'm the kind of person that once I start something I want to finish it, so it'll be a challenge. Once I get everything cut and sanded I'll head out to the hobby shop, get the glue, paint, and straps. I figure if I don't have that stuff now it'll force me to spread out my work. I appreciate your advice. I'm sure I'll be talking to you soon when I run into problems.. Aaron

Sweet.

Thanks! I figured a Dremmel would be a pretty good tool for the job, but would really want to stay away from edges with it. Is proweld better or the same thing as ABS glue? And what grade sandpaper should I use?

I just got my AP armor today. I really don't want to screw this up. What's best to use to cut and trim the pieces?

Thanks MiDri! I decided to go with AP (for my first set..) because it is a little sturdier. Although I really like TE2 I think I need more experience working with armor before working on the HIPS of TE2. I'm really excited for my armor to get here and start work on it. I think I know how much work I have to look forward to but we'll see. Again, thanks everyone.

Okay, you're crazy. Funny, but crazy. Basically you're saying that the AP will hold up over time?

I've found AP for around $800. I'm still going back and forth between AP and TE2 right now.

I'm gonna try to do most of the work myself. Still, I'm not the handiest person around. With all the resources here and online tutorials I figure I can stumble through making the backpack and blaster. I'm just worried about messing up with the armor. I know I could probably spend more money to have someone else do it but I'm betting that it'll be more worth it in the end if I do as much of the work as I can. When I say around $1000 I'm talking about the basic armor, body suit, gloves, boots, and the means to attach and wear everything.

Thank you, thank you!! You guys rock. I appreciate all the advice.

Blindly buying something on eBay is exactly what led me here. I first looked at Rubies (yikes!) then I started looking for kits and I quickly realized I needed help. I have seen armor up close. I actually work at Disneys Hollywood Studios and I always see the 501st backstage during star wars weekends. At first, I don't think I need it to be screen accurate but I also don't want something that strays too far from accurate. As for Stormtrooper or Sandtrooper at first I just wanted a costume and start trooping, but after seeing what's possible I honestly would have to say Sandtrooper. What's the difference between deployed and being elite?

I'm 5'10" 170 with at 32" waist. My budget is as much as my wife will let me get away with. Actually I'm hoping to be up an functioning around $1000. I know that might be difficult. Less would be better. I can always add to it later.

I guess everyone was right about you guys knowing whats what! With all these options, which direction would be best for me to go? I figure it's a matter of money, time, and how accurate I want my armor to be. Knowing that this'll be my first armor and I do plan on trooping in it I figure I'd need something that is durable and not through the roof in terms of initial cost. Basically, is there a better armor to start out in?

Hey everyone. I am brand new, don't even have armor...YET. As I was looking into the best place to get info on armor and everything I would need MEPD continually surfaced as the best place to get advice and help on putting together my outfit (and doing it right). Any suggestions you guys have will be welcome! Thanks!

I am SUPER new and am hoping to get some armor. The more I read the more confused I got. One common thing was that everyone said the MEPD was the best place to get answers. I was hoping someone could explain the main differences between the TE2 and FX armor. Help me MEPD, you're my only hope