Since the rest of the parts will be here soon I figured now would be a good time to start getting the shorts wearable.
Right now the tops are closed and the bottom of the legs on the back half are closed.
Top
Bottom
Inside View
Having made a few sets of stormtrooper armor, I've found the best way to trim ABS and polystryrene vacuuformed plastics are by scoring and snapping.
Basically, use a razor to make a line where you want the cut to be.
Instead of cutting all the way through the plastic, give it a slight bend close the the score line and it will begin to split.
If you're careful, the splitting will perfectly follow your score line.
Go slowly so if the split starts to get off course you can correct it without ruining your part.
The whole piece comes off and you're left with a relatively clean cut which can be sanded and shaped.
When plastics are vacuuformed, there are chances for thin spots, especially when the mold is tall and the plastic has to pull far to fill all the gaps.
On the shorts there are some very thin spots between the legs and crotch area. This made it very easy to cut. I'm not sure exactly how I will handle this yet. I may reinforce the parts or I may cut them open more and leave them loose. I'll know more when I get the parts and the shorts can be tested with the legs.
Now that the top and bottom are open...
...it's a good time see how the parts fit together.
Testing the fit and looking ridiculous.
Even with the excess lip around the openings they fit great with room for the belly ribbing and wires.
Next step... starting the abdominal wiring....
Very soon, I'll have some updates of the abs and figure out how I'll be attaching the front and back of the shorts. I have a few ideas now... we'll see if they work....
Right now the tops are closed and the bottom of the legs on the back half are closed.
Top
Bottom
Inside View
Having made a few sets of stormtrooper armor, I've found the best way to trim ABS and polystryrene vacuuformed plastics are by scoring and snapping.
Basically, use a razor to make a line where you want the cut to be.
Instead of cutting all the way through the plastic, give it a slight bend close the the score line and it will begin to split.
If you're careful, the splitting will perfectly follow your score line.
Go slowly so if the split starts to get off course you can correct it without ruining your part.
The whole piece comes off and you're left with a relatively clean cut which can be sanded and shaped.
When plastics are vacuuformed, there are chances for thin spots, especially when the mold is tall and the plastic has to pull far to fill all the gaps.
On the shorts there are some very thin spots between the legs and crotch area. This made it very easy to cut. I'm not sure exactly how I will handle this yet. I may reinforce the parts or I may cut them open more and leave them loose. I'll know more when I get the parts and the shorts can be tested with the legs.
Now that the top and bottom are open...
...it's a good time see how the parts fit together.
Testing the fit and looking ridiculous.
Even with the excess lip around the openings they fit great with room for the belly ribbing and wires.
Next step... starting the abdominal wiring....
Very soon, I'll have some updates of the abs and figure out how I'll be attaching the front and back of the shorts. I have a few ideas now... we'll see if they work....
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