Time to start getting the legs sorted and assembled.. the thighs and the dreaded ‘shins’.
The thigh armour is the largest limb armour in the kit and is one of the pieces that might require a little delicate trimming during the final fitting.
After a couple of blue tape fittings we’re ready for the final bond. I will be bonding both the outside and inside seems as I did with the arm sections for greater stability.
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Not flattering I know but essential
Fit seems ok
Both thighs taped up and look (and fit) ok
Tape off the safe sanding area
... and sand the edges to provide the key for the glue
Magnets and camps in place
Using a strong light to see through and align the bonding strip and the magnets
All aligned and left to cure overnight
Following day the other side is bonded and the whole thigh piece is held in place whilst bonding
Time to address the shins…
As you will know from the previous posts there was an issue with the shins and the Facebook and FISD forums have been alive with fixes, alternative builds and ways round sorting this. I had to resort to posting these images to get an answer:
LEFT on right and RIGHT on left
RIGHT on right and LEFT on left
The overall feedback was that the original and correct R on R and L on L was the best fit so that’s how I proceeded:
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Final tape up and walk around and mark the back overlap area
Front strip now bonded (sorry forgot to take a photo of that in process) and the back overlap marked
Measure the total overlap
... and divide it equally across both sides
Clearly mark up both back panles
To ensure a clean and straight line a large metal ruler is clamped in to place
.. lines marked down each side (on the protective film!)
Carefully score and snap each section
... and remove the excess
Bond the rear strip into place with enough overhang for the Velcro strips
Same procedure for both shins, bond and leave to cure over night
Following day when all fully bonded, remove clamps and apply Velcro to the back strips
Now, there are two schools of thought here regarding the best way to close off or fit the shins at the back: the supplied Velcro or the use of a bra hood and eye system. I have gone for the supplied Velcro at the moment, and if I get any problems I can always resort to adding the bra hooks later. There is enough modification already going on at present and I don’t really want to add additional work now unless absolutely necessary.