The Road to TK# 40773

[XavierTam]

Hi Bros,

Just want to share my story for the whole journey to join the Dark Side of the Force.

My first Storm Trooper armor was actually a paper version. It took me 1-year to build it.



After then, I decided to build screen accurate one. My armor assembly kit was bought from Authentic Pops in 2014 May. I did spend around 6 months to look for info through the internet and some Starwars forum for advice. The kit took one month to send to SG from US. There was no need to wait as AP had stocks.

The cost of building consisted of two parts. One was the parts purchase and one was the tools purchase. The former one was around USD 1,300. The latter one was unknown as I didn't keep records. I have to warn you it was not small sum.

I completed my armor building around April 2015, almost 11 months. I got my TK # on mid-August.

The coming posts will show the building history.

[jedi7]

Awesome bro!

[XavierTam]

First start with the "END" first.

Name : Steve Tam
TK # : 40773
Garrison : Singapore

Armor : AP
Helmet: AP
Blaster: Hasbro + Mod kit from Doopy Doos
Boots: TaoBao
Canvas Belt: Robs from FISD
Neck Seal: TaoBoa
Holster: AP
Gloves : AP

Height : 5'5"
Weight : 76 Kg

Front 1


Front 2


Front 3


Right Side 1


Right Side 2


Left Side 1


Left Side 2


Back Side


AB details


Holster details

[dranoel]

Well done and welcome to the Dark Side!

[XavierTam]

Part 1 - Start with the armor parts and accessories arrival:

The first day when I received the parcel from US.



After opening it to check the qty and quality



Excellent quality!!! No critism at all.

Other parts also arrived.

Boot


Holster and Gloves


Neckseal


Canvas Belt

[XavierTam]

Part 2 - Tools to trim and glue....

Here is the tools I used to trim the armor.



They are common tools. The glue is E6000. You can buy it from the Art Friend shop in Bras Basah Complex.

My drill is not here. But I never used drill to cut the armor. All the time, I used the cutting knife.

The special tools needed here is the clamps and the strong magnets. They are very useful to help to glue the parts as the E6000 glue needs at least 12~24 hours drying time.

I bought them through TaoBoa.

[XavierTam]

Part 2 - OK Start with Helmet.

Trim out the front, and top.





Open the left eye.



Open the right eye.


Open the teeth.



8 teeth were opened for ANH Stunt.

As I like back color inside. So I sprayed print the interior.

[XavierTam]

Continue...

Tried to assemble the front and top parts together.



Initially the gap at the sides seemed not small.



But after screwing tightly the ear pieces, it was much better fit.

Front view :


Side view :


Angled side view :


Close-up


Bottom view :

[XavierTam]

put up the decals and hand paint according to the official color table.



Before


After


Next the green lens

Use a plastic sheet to make the frame


Completed one


Also make the teeth net


Final touch-up
Front view


Left view


Right view


Add-in the pads and fans (x5)

[XavierTam]

After the Helmet, I started from the shoulder bell

After Trimming




Then Bicep trimming

Before trimming, it came in one piece


After cutting into two pieces


More trimmings on the edge


Glue together by masking tape


Trying to wear


Gluing a 15mm wide cover strip for external side


Gluing the other side 15mm cover strip for external side


Completed


Glue the internal sides cover strips




Finished


Check the edges alignment and the return edges


They needed to be trimmed and adjusted. So bought a tool to do this.

[XavierTam]

Now DIY the Bicep hooks

Got two abs sheet and cut the size as that


Bent it according to this profile.


Finished and glued it to the Bicep.

[XavierTam]

Now for the Forearm :

Before trimming


After trimming


Glue the cover strip with E6000


Completed

[XavierTam]

Time to make snap plates

First bought a bunch of snaps from China.


Cut out a no. of abs plates from 1mm thick ABS sheets. Each plate is around 5cm x 3,5 cm or 2" x 1.25"
Drill a 3mm hole in the center.
Use snap tool to punch a female snap on the plate.



Prepare a no. of such plates.


We can't glue this plate firmly to the armor as the surface is not flat.


So we need to make a bigger hole on another extra plate so that the snap can go through it.


By gluing these two plates, we can have a snap plate with flat surface and glue it on the armor.



Using the same method, we made a no. of these.



Here is the completed snap plates glue on the Bicep

[XavierTam]

Next glue the strap for the forearm



Made snap on the other side. First made a hole first


Position the snap parts


completed


Full view with the forearm


Now snap it to the female snap of the Bicep


Completed view


Closer look


Next is to connect the shoulder bell and the bicep

First glue the straps to the should bell


Completed one


Total 3 parts together


Another side view

[jedi7]

Oh my god bro! Excellent lar!