[*DONE* TD 21027 requesting deployment]

Congrats man! And yeah Photobucket is such an important part of forums like this. I really hope they get their Sh*t figured out. 

[TD build, hoping for basic approval]

Nice! looks good.

 

 That's one of the nice things about being a sandy, little scuffs and mistakes are totally unnoticeable when you're dirty!

[Crookknight's Rogue One Jedha Patrol Sandtrooper Backpack Build Thread]

Dude holy crap this looks so awesome. Are you modeling in zbrush or blender or what? And I'm assuming your reference is a hot toys or sideshow collectibles? Super impressed with your work though. You could totally sell those files on thingiverse or shapeways for a pretty penny. I know I'd pay for sure! 

[Boots won't fit under armor]

I did exactly what Scott did but on the back of the shin. My boots are too short and it keeps them down as well. Good luck!

[Move a long replica suit]

This is incredible! Killer work Rolf, you have an incredibly keen eye!

[13066's First Sand trooper build]

This thread on the FISD might have some more info for you - https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/38921-anovos-anh-thigh-shim-help/

 

It seems ABS slurry is an option with a couple layered strips like that dude ^ tried, but there was also talk that an extra large cover strip might be an easier option. I'm not sure about approval standards though on those two options. I'm sure they're workable

[TD build, hoping for basic approval]

From my understanding, you technically do not, but I think it would add a lot to the look if you did. 

 

From the CRL on basic approval - 

Quote

 

For 501st approval:

• All Sandtrooper armor parts are weathered.
  • See the Sandtrooper weathering page for more information.
• Left side Abdomen Armor has a minimum of three, and maximum of four painted white buttons.
• Right side Abdomen Armor is a blank square and does not contain buttons like the Stormtrooper.

 

From the CRL on level 2 approval - 

Quote

• Armor side gaps are closed or nearly closed.
  • No more than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) gap on either side.
  • This is done by adding a shim (or shims) of a similar type and color of material as the Abdomen and Back Armor.
  • Shims fit flush and may have seams, though ideally they will be seamless to the Abdomen and/or Back Armor, resulting in a single seam between the two rather than extra seams where the shims are joined.
• Rivets on the left side of the Abdomen / Kidney Armor:
  • A total of (6) rivets with three on the abdomen and three on the kidney.
  • Rivets are equally spaced out along the depth of the armor and about 10mm from the edge.
• One snap on the top right hand side of the Abdomen Armor:
  • Back of male side of snap shows on outside of Abdomen Armor.
• Visible fasteners under lower Codpiece center area include one split rivet or brad in the front.
  • Fasteners need not be functional.

 

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

If no one minds, I'm going to resurrect this thread and share some of the finishing of my kit. Life has been insane in the last year, but I have found time here and there to get the armor to a "phase 1".

 

I unfortunately didn't take any pictures of the weathering process (I know, I know, the heart and soul of the MEPD), but what I used was a couple different shades of brown acrylic paint sponged completely over each armor piece in a thin layer. Once it was dry to the touch, I took a rough damp rag and using a circular motion rubbed off the majority of the paint, especially on the raised areas. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Diamond knee plate source?]

I can also vouch for trooperbay. There's another place called toschetraders but I haven't ever purchased from them

[My first build, a ninjabenben story.]

You're killing it man!!

[Das Stebo New Build WIP]

Looks awesome man!!

[*DONE* TD-12169 Requesting Deployment]

Looks awesome man! That helmet is beautiful! The paint "chipping" was masterfully done

[E-11 on the cheap DIY]

That looks awesome man!! The video you put together is stellar! Lots of TLC went into that I can tell. I think it's a great how to for people not ready to jump into a doopydoo's resin build but want something a little more handmade than a hyperfirm. Great work Damon!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Next up on my list was some modifications I needed to make to my armor. Getting the sizing right has been tricky and I'm sure will be an ongoing process. (part of the reason I'm using the velcro at the beginning so that I have room to adjust the sizing as needed.)

The first thing I realized I needed to fix was the return edge on the forearms. In ANH there was no return edge on the sandtroopers. (correct me if I'm wrong on that). This actually turned out to be a HUGE help with my arm flexibility. The return edge would catch on my elbow as I bent it in certain positions, and it could either really hurt or crack the armor if I wasn't careful. So getting rid of it is a double-plus!

NOTE- these photos may seem out of order, since me removing this return edge is from the armor I'm doing for a friend in tandem with my own, but I took off my return edges as well.

Also just so everyone knows, I AM moving forward with the snap system, and as soon as I feel comfortable replacing the dreaded velcro, I will. Here is the beginning of my snap plate collection. (those snap buggers are surprisingly expensive!!)

The next mod I wanted to fix was how painful the calves can be when they dig into the back of your knee! I opted to go the route of cutting a notch out of the back of the armor (which I have heard was done on some of the screen used suits) to give my knee a little more room to move.

I tried to use the heat gun on it at first to bend it back and that was bad idea...

So after I mangled it, I cut off just the TOP return edge, to see if that would work...

That turned out to not be enough to fix the pinching, so I went ahead and did the full notch, this did the trick for both shins.

Another uncomfortable thing about the shins I found was the way that my boots (admittedly a little too short) would push up the calf amor as I walked. To fix this, I wanted a system to keep the calves as far down on the boots as possible. This is what that solution looked like for me.

Those pics are a little hard to make out, but what I did was I used the velcro/elastic piece from the hand guards as a connection to pull the shin down, and attach via snap to the boot itself. Here's some more pics to clear that up.

First I sewed on a male snap to the loop on the top rear of my boot.

Then I sewed a female snap on the elastic end of the hand guard velcro piece. (which snaps onto the boot)

This is what they look like mounted on the inside rear of the calf pieces. I found the velcro to be better than the snap system because you have more granular control of how tight you want it to pull depending on where you arrange the velcro.

Then when you are putting on the shin pieces, you can reach in and pull the elastic snap down, and attach it to your boot! So when you move around, the shin armor will always settle back into place.

I am aware that having tall enough boots might fix this problem, but even so, it will at least give you more space between your calf and thigh for your leg to bend, so maybe it will come in handy for someone else!

The last change I made that I'll post about here was the shoulder straps. I noticed that the gap between my shoulder bells and my chest piece was far too wide to match the suits used in ANH, so to fix this I tightened up my shoulder bell elastic by shortening it. This succeeded in pulling the shoulder bells in closer, but it also caused the shoulder straps to fold out and look super wonky. My idea to fix this was to create much firmer, sturdier shoulder straps. (At the cost of not being stretchy.)

To start, I grabbed some 2 inch white elastic, which was better than the inch and a half I had before, and I got some plastic grid reinforcement from hobby lobby to stiffen it up. (the grid has been cut to size)

Then I measured out the correct distance of my snaps for the shoulders...

and placed the plastic grid inside my doubled over elastic shoulder strap.

Then I popped in my snaps where they belong...

And then I sewed in my snap that connects to the shoulder bells. (sorry this picture doesn't show the snap).

This is a comparison of my old shoulder strap with my new one. The reason for the second set of snaps is to add another layer of rigidity to the straps while the shoulder bells hang on them. I don't want them to swivel in the wrong direction at all.

Here you can see that the bells sit in a much more natural position, without warping the shoulder straps at all.

Next up, Thigh adjustments!!

PS- I also decided to try and "make" my own latex hand guards by using the plastic ones ANOVOS provided. I have started putting the first few of MANY coats of liquid latex inside the hand guards used as a mold. We'll see....

[Need Advise on Helmet]

Profile gauge! Genius! Where did you buy yours from Diane?

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

They're just some chelsea boots I found that were a lot cheaper than TK boots, hence they are a little short, but I think I can make them work! If not I'll just save up my pennies for the better ones.

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been back at it after finishing school, so I'll post my progress in a couple series posts.

Quick note - I am still definitely going to be doing the snap system in the end, but for starters I'm going to go with the velcro for most of it so I can get sizing really dialed in.

After getting all my edges cleaned up nicely, I wiped down the inside of all my armor with clorox wipes to remove any leftover mold release that would keep the velcro from sticking to the inside.

Installing the knee boxes was fairly straightforward I just centered the middle box with the cover strip and put a dollop of E6000 near the rivets to hold it in place.

The one problem that I could have potentially had was the vague ANOVOS instructions on this part. It seems to indicate that it is the right leg on one of the diagrams, and then says it's the left in the other. I get the feeling that these instructions were quickly thrown together seeing as how there are quite a few errors.

Speaking of ANOVOS mistakes, I moved on to the kidney piece next, and this is what they have to say -

20 cm from the edge is twice what it should be. Here I marked where ANOVOS says to rivet, and then the correct placement.

Getting the strapping ready for the kidney piece. I now know that I need to place symmetrical rivets on the ab plate to join these pieces, but for now I'll start with the ANOVOS velcro way. I made sure to melt any frayed edges I cut/drilled into the straps.

Finished with velcro on kidney plate -

Next I installed the snaps I would need for my belt (according to ANOVOS placement, which as you will see later left me with a fairly saggy belt)

Also on the ab plate I wanted to get my 3 button sandy thingy installed, and I decided it would be easy enough to make with the scraps I had laying around! All I needed was a dime, and I used some white caulk to give it the "vac-formed" look by softening the edges.

Shoulder straps! Doubled up elastic with some (crappily) sewed on snaps did the trick. I used some of the ANOVOS strapping for this part, I just cut off the chest to back part of the "T" shape.

Here's the laid out internal strapping with the velcro

And my first suit up test!!! Thanks to my wonderful fiancee, without whom I would be unable to get it all on. Haha

Saggy belt

I'm a happy camper!!! I've waited such a long time to wear this white armor!!! (Soon to be dirty!)

Next post I'll talk about some of my initial feelings wearing the armor (mostly pinching), and what needs to be adjusted and changed, and I'll post photos of the progress that I have so far on that. Also I'll post the little rig I made for keeping the shin armor down as low as possible over your boots!

Thanks for reading and helping everyone!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Alright you guys have swayed me. Haha I will start out with the snap strapping system, i'll just have to measure twice for sure. Haha. And Chris thank you SO MUCH for those diagrams!!! They will be infinitely helpful I'm sure of it! Can't wait to get back at it!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Sorry for the lack of updates, I should have a little more progress made this coming week.

Jason that's a good point, but I beleive they just need to be visible, not necessarily functional right? So technically you could go PO or SWAT with velcro strapping I would assume? And good luck Damon!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Thanks Damon!! And I am planning on using the Anovos provided strapping, especially because it's so adjustable with the velcro, that way I can get the sizing dialed in before I plan on using a more permanent strapping system. One thing about the Anovos strapping to note though, is that they say for the split rivets on the side to place them 20 mm from the edges, and it should be 10, so when you get to that part, take a moment to search online for the correct placement. Good luck!!!

[Sandwatcher's TD Build Attempt 2.]

I love the weathering!! It looks so gritty!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Thanks everyone! And thank you Jason!! I had no idea, that sounds awesome though! I almost want to try it just for the sake of trying!

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

So very true. Haha. Out of curiosity, do you know of a thread that shows how to make ABS slurry/paste? I wouldn't even know where to start

[New to MEPD, starting ANOVOS build]

Thanks everyone!

Calf pieces!!

The calf piece cover strips are exactly 20mm wide (in the front only), and there is a lot of extra plastic on the front of the inner and outer calf piece, so I needed to cut that down to match the cover strips. I measured 10mm from the "ridge" on the front, and marked it with a ruler to be cut. (The clamp/flexible ruler method is awesome, thanks to whoever figured that out)

Handy-dandy workbench edge

Now the front is half of the cover strip, perfect!

I did that on both left leg pieces and then did a test fit with some masking tape

One thing I will note here that might screw me over later is that I tended to err on the side of tighter than looser on all the pieces, I just personally hate the look of "saggy" armor, but I might be wicked uncomfortable.... we'll see.

Here is where I ran into my first problem...

I tried my best to mark where it fit best, then divide that line in two, and cut an equal amount off of each side, but this piece had waaaaay more plastic on one side, and it turned out a little diagonal and "spiral-y"... How bad does it look to you guys? Am I in need of a new calf piece?

The other leg went quite a bit better, especially with the measuring and carefulness

I measured the circumferences and there is about a half-inch discrepancy on the bottom of the legs, I'm hoping that's not too bad in the long run.

I can't wait to get this stuff dirty!!!

The thigh pieces turned out to be a lot easier than I thought! Or maybe the calfs were just a lot harder than I had expected. but here's the pics from that process, same as the calfs, and I still have the left one to do.

More to come on those when they're all done

The last thing that I worked on was to get my inner coverstrips in place on all the armor pieces I had finished, This part I did with E6000 for the long lasting durability and flexibility. I figured that if my armor cracks or breaks where the superglue is holding, the E6000 will keep me together at least for the rest of the troop.

All of the coverstrips came from the extra flashing off of the armor, and there was way more than enough, I could probably do 2 sets of armor with the flashing from one. So that was nice.

I used a set of magnets that I thought were earth magnets that I bought off of amazon, but they weren't quite that strong, so I used multiple at a time and that seemed to work out pretty well.

That's it for now, thanks everyone!

[ANOVOS armor tweak questions]

I'm curious as to what is wrong with the ANOVOS belt? The four holes leftover after removing the holster?