Correcting the TSC Death Star Gunner Armor

[jedi master sal]

The Hasbro Death Star Gunner has incorrect armor. This can easily be fixed if you have one of the new Sandtroopers. Simply take of the Paulron (shoulder armor), carefully snip off the little pouch, turn it 90 degrees so that the hole is on the top. Slip that over the head "ball" and voila you have the correct armor. To maintain this armor against the chest, make a small hole near each of the bottom corners of the armor to put string in and tie it around the back. Make a small knot just bigger than the hole, slip you string through the hole until the knot comes in contact but does not pass through the hole. Take the string around the back, slip it through the other hole. Now the only part is tying the other not close to the other hole. After doign this and that second knot does not slip through the hole, snip off the excess string and bam, the armor is secure.

Now you say, "but I have to lose a sandtrooper by doing this." Not really, there were some Sandtroopers that did not have paulrons. Besides if you get some good paint remover, I suggest ELO, you can get rid of the sandy paint and bam, you've got a fresh new clean Stormtrooper!!!

-Sal

[jedi master sal]

I'm hoping to put up pictures of this on the weekend, but it works like a charm.

[mastermatt24]

No pics yet?

[jedi master sal]

No pics yet?

D'oh, I was so busy over the weekend taking pics of some of the several hundred clones I have, that I forgot to do this (along with customs Ewoks!!)

That and I was sick all this week. Even spent two days in the hospital. I'll try to get them up this weekend. Thanks for the continued interest and again sorry for not getting these up.

-Sal

[figrin bran]

thanks for that custom recipe, sal. i'll try it once my gunners arrive from the HTS.

about the easy lift off, i searched every aisle at michael's and could not find it. from where did darth cruel get them for you?

hope you're feeling better!

[mastermatt24]

D'oh, I was so busy over the weekend taking pics of some of the several hundred clones I have, that I forgot to do this (along with customs Ewoks!!)

That and I was sick all this week. Even spent two days in the hospital. I'll try to get them up this weekend. Thanks for the continued interest and again sorry for not getting these up.

-Sal

Excuses, excuses, excuses...

jp man- hope your better!

[jedi master sal]

Feelin' MUCHO better! If fact so much so that I took the photos tonight. In fact the photos you will see are the custom AS IT IS BEING DONE. It's actually a very easy custom, but what the heck,it can't hurt to have pics to help one along the process. I have to crop those pics down as they are rather large. I'll do that tomorrow and time permittnig during work...I'll post the complete tutorial with picture referencs. Cool?

-Sal

[Turbowars]

Hurry the hell up!

[jedi master sal]

Hurt the hell up!

??Hurt?? Do you mean "hurry"?

[jedi master sal]

Okay so here it is the COMPLETE play by play of how to do this. There's 29 steps, but seriously though they are SO easy it's really more like 5-7 steps, but I spell things out here in entirety so there is NO WAY anyone can screw this up.


I'm going to list links for pictures (They are labeled what steps they are) and explain them. You may want to open another window for the pictures. Whatever makes it easist for you. I'm giving links instead because these pictures NEED to be a little higher res than what attaching images in a thread allows here.

Here we go:

Step 1: You will need to assmeble all of your materials for this custom. As you can see in the picture you will need the following:
1) Black Paint- you don't need to be to specfic with brand type here. I used ceramcoat. It's only a small amount you need anyway, so no need for the large bottle (as I have). You might even be able to get with a Sharpie, but I still reccommend paint.
2) Paint brush
3) Shoulder Paulron from Sandtrooper- I used one from the new TSC Sandtrooper
4) Black thread
5) Needle
6) Death Star Gunner- Obviously this is the TSC version as that's what this custom is all about
7) Cutting implement- You cna use a smaller implement like an exacto knife, but as this plastic is a little think, I chose a metal straight edge, also reffered to as a box cutter
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_01_1463.jpg

Step 2: Isolate your paulron (see I told you the steps were EASY...)
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_02_1464.jpg

Step 3: Using your cutting implement, carefuly cut away the pouch (or ammo clip if you prefer) from the rest of the paulron. Thankfully there is already a molded crease to follow so it's a snap. Or is that "SNIP."
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_03_1465.jpg

Step 4: I made two cuts to snip it away. One on each side.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_04_1466.jpg

Step 5: This will leave you with an edge that is white, thus the need for the paint later.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_05_1467.jpg

Step 6: Also by cutting straight across the crease of th pouch you may be left with a litle nub, see picture.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_06_1468.jpg

Step 7: I carefully cut away this nub with the cutting implement, rounded off the corner to somewhat match the other side. This DOES NOT have to be perfect as it's mostly hidden by the helmet anyway.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_07_1469.jpg

Step 8: Now is one point that you can aint the white part. Though you may chose to do this later. Since it's such a small area to paint, your aint should dry rather quickly and you can continue on with customizing with little or no wait.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_08_1470.jpg

Step 9: Here is my paulron painted.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_09_1471.jpg

Step 10: Just another view, this time seeing a more rounded corner and painted.
http://www.geocities.com/swsalerno/Step_10_1472.jpg

Okay, I'm going to break this here for the moment and in the next post I'll give the next 10 steps.

-Sal