AP Trooper Kit Assembly

[Clutch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneralMayhem @ May 7 2006, 08:51 PM) [snapback]1240242[/snapback]</div>

When it comes to painting softly delineated shapes like that, sometimes you have to paint the shapes where you want them to be. Once the paint is on, your brain will matrix what your eyes tell your brain is there.


~ GM
[/b]

Exactly. It's totally flat where the rounded edges of the vocoder are, so you just have to 'eyeball' it. My biggest problem comes from brushmarks. You pretty much have to nail it on the first or second stroke because you'll muck it up if you keep going back to it.

 

[KevVader]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clutch @ May 8 2006, 10:02 AM) [snapback]1240497[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeneralMayhem @ May 7 2006, 08:51 PM) [snapback]1240242[/snapback]

When it comes to painting softly delineated shapes like that, sometimes you have to paint the shapes where you want them to be. Once the paint is on, your brain will matrix what your eyes tell your brain is there.


~ GM
[/b]

Exactly. It's totally flat where the rounded edges of the vocoder are, so you just have to 'eyeball' it. My biggest problem comes from brushmarks. You pretty much have to nail it on the first or second stroke because you'll muck it up if you keep going back to it.
[/b][/quote]


Yeah, I did use The Force to eyeball the edge of the vocoder. But, as Clutch said, sometimes the renegade brushmarks cause over-correction....next thing ya know the vocoder is twice as big. However, I'm not going to repaint it again....although sharper lines would help....

 

[jorusfett]

I did the pencil lines around the vocoder trick and it helped immensely. Made brushing that much easier.

 

[Buckeye_01]

Lookin good brother. IMO the attention to the little details are what seperates good gear from great gear. I don't want to hijack the thread, but what did the kit cost?

 

[spastromech]

Updates. Need updates.

 

[Old Timer]

I agree with Spas.
My kit is on the way and i will need all the help i can get.

 

[KevVader]

Sorry guys....you're right....updates are long overdue. Life has been getting in the way of this project....gotta get going on it again. This weekend...I promise. :$

 

[Darth Domain]

Kev, i would be grateful if you could show some close ups of the back of the thigh pieces when you are putting them together, especially the back bottom seam. I am trying to fix up my FX and the seams on the thighs are a pain to join.
cheers

 

[TK1536]

Some personal observations on the AP kit. I personally own and have assembled two TE kits with no problems. Everything lines up, looks good. However, I was helping a friend of mine assemble his new AP kit and noticed some striking differences.

- The inside arm is the same on both arms.
- The inside right leg is the same as the outside left leg
- the shoulder bells lack the destinctive 'swoop'
- the Sandtrooper ab detail/center box is inset, rather than flush.

Overall, I think the AP kit is nice, but these oddities really confused me when putting it all together. I had to do numerous test-fits before glueing to make sure it was being put together 'right'.

And, just as with the FX armor kit, THROW AWAY THE VELCRO. If you assemble it per the instructions with the supplied velcro, you'll fall apart during your first trooping adventure.

 

[Clutch]

The AP kit was made using GF molds. The GF was a cleaned up, stylized version of TE's old armor. And yes, they repeated pieces because they lacked the original ones. Definitely go for industrial-strength velcro and sand the area before sticking it to the armor.

 

[LDR]

I thought the pieces were the same. Just have to work out how to put it all together once i have finished trimming it.

With mistakes on painting the helmet, i found it easy enough to use white spirit to remove the paint without leaving marks, seems to take the paint off in 'chips'.

 

[KevVader]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darth Domain @ Jul 5 2006, 01:59 PM) [snapback]1274554[/snapback]</div>

Kev, i would be grateful if you could show some close ups of the back of the thigh pieces when you are putting them together, especially the back bottom seam. I am trying to fix up my FX and the seams on the thighs are a pain to join.
cheers
[/b]

DD...when I get to that point, I'll be sure to post lotsa pix. The fitment of the armor pieces should be quite the process....stay tuned....

 

[Clutch]

get crackin.

 

[Boba Frett]

<div class='quotetop'>(clutch @ Jul 5 2006, 10:23 PM) [snapback]1274907[/snapback]</div>

get crackin.
[/b]

What he said

 

[spastromech]

<div class='quotetop'>(clutch @ Jul 5 2006, 09:23 PM) [snapback]1274907[/snapback]</div>

get crackin.
[/b]

Clutch,

Do you happen to have the link to your tutorial handy? :love

-Scott

 

[Clutch]

Sure. It is in the archive section.
http://www.rpf.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=92789

 

[TK1536]

I've spent the last two/three weeks cutting and assembling two AP kits for friends of mine. Never once opened the instruction book.

Here's one of the guys I helped. He bought it pre-trimmed and it took me roughly ten to twelve hours to assemble it ready to wear. He did the weathering.

 

[Jaintly]

Beautiful job man, as always.

 

[Old Timer]

Looks sweet. Mine is well on its way to completion though what are people using for the "frown" screen? Is there anything better than the stereo speaker cloth?

 

[Predatormv]

I use screen door material for all the frowns on helmets I do. You can get huge rolls of it at Homedepot for cheap.