Secureideas Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Hi all, So I have been sitting on an NE kit for about a year (Maybe longer) and pretty worried about trimming it and screwing it up. At the encouragement of Larry (Secret Squirrel) I decided to go ahead and build a sandtrooper. I have a long way to go, and a LOT of questions about the arms, legs and helmet. But here are some build pics as I start out. (Thanks Larry for trimming stuff while we were in Orlando!) Kevin First a pic of the DLT-19 and pauldron: Some snaps: Shoulder bells: Front: Back: I have posted this in the FL Garrison's board, but am combining some of it here.... So I adjusted the straps on the front. Below I think I have the chest higher while having the cod piece stay in the right spot. Here is a side shot but the kidney plate isn't shaped right. Not sure if thats because its not connected to the front or if its due its being misshapen. And here is the back without the butt plate. (I have to cut and reshape that according to Larry.) I stripped the gloss off of a black pair of boots. I think the white is finished. It only took 8 coats. I am going to try and touch up the black.... I think I have finished the snaps and straps for the torso. The belt is too low here, but my helper didn't know. The front: Left side: Right side: And the back: Can someone point me at the reasons or pros/cons between butt joins and overlap with a cover strip? I am trying to line up the shins and thighs for a butt join but the edges aren't matching well. I can keep trimming but am afraid I will lose the "front" of the completed item. It seems to me that doing an overlap and then adding a cover strip would work easier. Thanks for any feedback and help. I am very excited this is coming together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 I have done a little bit more. I added an elastic strap to the handguards. (Not sure this is the best way to attach them, but it should work.) I also put together the shins. I have not put on the cover strip yet. (I suck at straight line cuts so may wait for an armor party. <grin>) Hopefully tomorrow I can do the thighs. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 I did get a few more pieces done today. I glued the front of the thighs: I also sanded and dyed the large pouch I have. (I ordered the MP-40 pouches this evening.) And its finished: I may put another coat on it, but since its going to be weathered, I think this is good. One thing I am wondering is if anyone knows where I can get/buy a set of ears? My understanding is that the NE ears are messed up, and Larry verified that when we were in Orlando for the PEP event. Thanks all! Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex507 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Good luck! I've never seen a NE in person but dude this is a good start. Looks sharp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Thanks! I am almost finished with everything except the arms and helmet. Going to need help there though. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Hi all, I put the legs on tonight to get sizing. I also am adding a gloss layer to the pouch since the dye rubs off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Did you get strapping from your kidney play to the ab plate? That may help with pulling the sides of the kidney plate in a bit. I just line up the lines of the butt and kidney plates then use elastic straps glued to both with no gap using e6000. Just keep rubbing your pouch with rags until the dye stops coming off. Can you post pics of the ears? ATA should sell you a set of ears. Looking great otherwise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper1 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Kevin, just turn your thighs so the strip matches the shins. Straight up the center thigh, also the strip method if you haven't glued yet should be butted evenly together, then the strip glued on top to hold them together. No overlap is needed. Looking good, just don't rush things. That way you won't have to go backwards any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Hi all, Thanks for the feedback. With SWW coming up and LOTS of travel for work (I am on the road every week in May and the beginning of June), I am probably not going to make much progress on the TD until mid-June or early July. (I will be latching the fur for my Chewbacca instead.) Wolfman, I did get the strapping on the plate and it seems to be holding together better. Once I get back to this, I will get some better pics and make sure the straps are small enough to help with this. As to the ears, I had someone offer me a fixed pair, so I will be taking them up on that when I get to the helmet build. Trooper1, yup on the turning of the thighs. I should have commented that I was just holding them so we could size them on my actual thighs. But thanks for the feedback on the join. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper1 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Ahhhhh yes! SWW we are planning on trooping June 5, 6, 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Ahh man, I am there the first, third and final weekends. Sorry I will miss you. I will be trooping in my TR kit if anyone is there those weekends. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 **** I completely forgot I had started this thread and have not kept it up to date.... ugh. I believe my TD is finished. I sent some pics in for submission. I will put them on here when I get a chance. On a related note, I do not have a back pack. But I am starting to think I should? Thoughts? Thanks Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Oh yes, you most certainly need a backpack! If only there was someone on the boards who offered a backpack kit Some parts of the kit are a little different and improved. I'll send you a PM with the details. Good luck with your approval as a Sandtrooper! Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 Thanks! For the record, and LOTS of celebration here, I was approved! http://www.501st.com/members/displaymember.php?userID=17041&costumeID=2 Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveMonkey Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Congratulations on the approval Kevin! Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD42115 Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Congrats and welcome to the sand box trooper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secureideas Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Thanks all..... Plan on doing my first hospital troop Saturday in my TD! (Have to fix the groin strap as it popped last weekend.) Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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