"The Attempt at TK" or "What A Fine Mess You've Gotten Us Into"

ILovely white.

Not so lovely white.

Why won't you let me wear you?!?

Ok, since Tapatalk and Photobucket want to be complete TooLs to me: crashing, freezing, and being all around a-holes I decided to blog my frustrations...and while doing so found an alternative to those two afformentioned pieces of coded crap I recently deleted from my devices.

I will post the Armor Thread here!!!. 

People can comment, they can see pictures, and I can update this on the go with both ipad and the old android phone. 

Hall ee lew yer!

OK. 

I acquired used TK body armor recently. Helmet is new and with the squad leader. I got all the undies, boots, accessories, and supplies to make this suit my own. 

I was given links to tutorials and forums to talk to others about building. No problem with the learning, doing, or acquiring... just the limited access of the above crappy hosting service and app.

The legs, arms, thigh, kidney and butt plate need work. 

I was instructed to get foam to put in the kidney plate to bring it out level to the butt plate. My back is s-curved and my belly is a bit out there, so I wear a corset-like girdle for the gut, unfortunately it does not help the back straighten. I was going to try to use the foam from an automotive lumbar support, but it was too big. I'm having my husband bring home a vehicle  headrest to harvest its foam.

I am currently making extension panel patterns for the sides. I don't have the ABS yet so I'm making patterns for now. 

Gluing the biceps together wider for my arms. 

The thighs, and legs will be shimmed when I get the material (on its way in the mail).

I was told to remove and shorten the previous owner's elastic straps holding the bicep onto the shoulder bells. They were hanging too low. (Her arms were longer than mine). 

The belt was also too short. All the way around me (in the correct spot with the armor on), it only connected on two inches when it's supposed to be 6-8 inches of overlap. 

The previous canvas belt, drop boxes and plastic belt were riveted to the ab plate. I removed the rivets and detached the belt, removing the plastic cutout circles glued over the rivets in the plastic belt.

I made these belt squares from leftover KYDEX in preparation. (see tutorial video link below).

I put snaps on the drop boxes per instructions from this link: http://www.tk1336.com/howto.html

(the belt in the video link below does not use drop boxes).

I purchased white canvas, proper weighted thread and denim needles for a sewing machine. The fabric was folded three times and ironed at 3", one inch was folded in to make the end seam. I do not have a working sewing machine because my mother decided to bleach her floor and forgot the machine was in her closet, so it's corrosion city. I gave the items to my ex-mother in law to sew with instructions, measurements, pictures and the old belt. (I will return and edit with pictures at a later date). She is leaving one side open so I can put a plastic strip inside. 

 The strips pictured here are made from decommissioned signage from my store. I used an edge punch to curve the sharp edge. 

Only one strip will be inserted into the belt, then she will sew closed the open end and sew on the remaining velcro. Once I have the belt, I will attach the plastic belt according to the tutorial here: http://youtu.be/KrZ6WVX95t8