This pleases me. If anybody convinces me to get a set of armor, it'll be you.

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Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know, a headache with pictures.

DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!

OK on with the show. I've decided to assemble the armour into sub-assemblies before weathering as this allows me to paint the silver pop-rivet heads before weathering but won't be as hard as weathering a fully built set. These sections will be main torso front, main torso back and shoulders (and of course helmet, ab-pad and shin guards).

OK on with the shoulders. 1st off I needed to add the camping mat padding to the small bell panel, here's how I did it...

First off get a bread knife and a square of the mat.


Then cut the mat down with the bread knife to about 5mm.



Next trace around the plate so you know where to glue.


Then using a contact glue stick the foam in place and use pegs to keep it firmly in place as it sets.


When dry use a sharp blade from underneath to cut away the excess mat.


And the (almost) finished result. The Pinch marks from the foam to spring back after a day or so. I also used a lighter to clean up the edges but forgot to take a photo.


OK now its time to start strapping up the plates! I'll be going over this in detail as I know a lot of you need help this part.

The basic single strip fed through the flap and measured along with the other plates that make up the shoulder section.

And here we have the complete shoulder sub-assembly.




And while I had the rivet gun out I decided to attach the back brackets.

Great update as usual ! where did you get your camping mat from ?

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"I'm not insane, my mother had me tested" Sheldon TBBT.

Got it off Ebay. Just search for dutch camping/sleeping mat.

Looking good, Nick! Can't wait to see how it looks weathered.

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GySgt Gustafson, Dru R.
Callsign: Mud Shark
A06/TQ0.0.32122E1

Thanks! I cant wait to weather it, I hate the look of clean new armour, looks too bright and cartoonish.

so is that screen accurate minus the weathering?

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No. The green basecoat and the sand yellow aren't the screen used colors. The accurate green is far too blue imo and the sand is too bright. Over the course of painting many sets of armour i feel the colours I do use in addition with my weathering technique gives the best overall "screen seen" look.

good to know,Ill note that for later =)

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How in hell did you cut the foam that neat??? I took 1/2 an hour to cut mine and the back of it looks horrendous!

(BTW: Holy Grail of armour threads!)

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AKA: Simon

Sharp knife and blade. Blunt knives will just tear the foam. If you need any more foam Simon let me know.

OK big steps today. This build is really heating up.

Added the straps and buckles to the front and rear plates and attached the floater shoulder piece. I still want the 2 halves to be able to separate completely to make weathering easier so the left shoulder strap which permanently attaches the 2 main halves hasn't been added yet.






Close up of the floater plate. It will be riveted to the webbing underneath when the shoulder bell sub-assembly is attached.


At this point the armour is wearable!

Thanks Nick, but I'm fine ta! It's only the back that looks horrible.

You've seemed to of sped up over the last few days, nearly there now!

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AKA: Simon

This is looking really great!! I agree that the armour does not look at all right until it's been weathered.

Are you using nylon webbing? And where do you get it from.

Also is it possible that you could give us a list of the paints that you use?

All I can say is that I hope when I get to make my armour it's half as good as yours.

Many thanks.

Thanks for the kind words!

I'm using webbing that came with the kit. It's canvas (I think).

The paints I'm using are:-

The OD spray I posted a few posts back for the base-coat.
Games workshop chaos black mixed with scorpion green for the dark green
Humbrol 160 for the brown
Humbrol 93 for the sand
Humbrol 147 for the grey.

OK small update today. Attached the elastic to the shoulder paldrons and painted all the metal rivets.

I have bookmarked this page, very useful. Great job so far, cant wait to see the finished piece.

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Hey, Hicks. Man, you look just like I feel.

Greaves painted up and I've begun work on the helmet. I cut the metal slots and ear-cup panel out using a Dremel with reinforced cutting wheel. The rivet holes were simply drilled out with a standard cordless drill.

Installed the male section of the earcup hinge to the helmet.

Excellent Job Nick!

Ear Defender Position is like 100% more Accurate to mine mate!!

Callum

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Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

Thanks Callum!

OK dirty job is done, dulling/dirtying down all the paint with MIG black pigment powder. Just used an old sponge to wipe it on then shot a coat of mat clear-coat to seal it in. The armour looks a little shiny as the paint is still wet.

That turned out amazing!

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PFC Tom "Kenny" Kness
A10/TQ2.0.72155E1

Sucks!


Awesome as always!

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AKA: Simon

Right managed to get A LOT done this weekend, on the home stretch now.

1st thing to do after the varnish had dried was to add the neck binding. I do this by measuring each section dry then cutting to size. Then I use contact adhesive to glue them in place. Go slow and make sure everything lines up. Then I use clothing pegs to keep them in place overnight. Once dry I then run Superglue around the ends and edges to make a very secure bond.

Once that was done it was time to strap everything together! Sadly I didn't have my camera on hand as I did this but I will be going over how to strap the plates in detail soon! Here's the results:





The vinyl on the greaves:



Held in place with industrial Velcro:



I scratched the armour using steel wool. It really makes a great effect as you rub through the black powder layer and to the metal.

Just the ab-pad and helmet to finish now!

Great update as usual Nick ! What size rivits and washers are you using ? are you using a hand
rivit gun ?

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"I'm not insane, my mother had me tested" Sheldon TBBT.

You should do this for a living....

I love how consistant your armour sets always look, like they're all from the same squad of
marines. Top stuff!

'Industrial Velcro' - Now that's a good band name!
How much stronger than normal Velcro is it?

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AKA: Simon