Daryl's AT-AT Driver build [WTF]

[TKDMAC74]

Daryl great thread! Love learning from other keep up the great work brother! -Dave

[daryldoak]

This is looking so cool! I love seeing it come together step by step.

Looks pretty good to me.

looking good Daryl! those tusks are mean looking

Gonna poke someone's eye out with those! Haha they are awesome!

Daryl great thread! Love learning from other keep up the great work brother! -Dave

Thanks everyone for the kind words.  I haven't been very motivated on the build since summer started, but it's felt good to get back to it these last few weeks.

[daryldoak]

In prior posts, both here and on ACD forums, I've been pretty adamant about my decision to stay with a white AT-AT Driver build. 

For those not up on the topic you can read this ACD thread: http://forum.armoredcavalry.net/index.php?/topic/595-grey-vs-white/ 

But recently after seeing fantastic gray builds on ACD I decided to give the topic some more thought.  After weighing the pros and cons, I've decided to change my mind...  I'm going to switch from a white AT-AT Driver build to a gray build.

So I've bought VHT Light gray vinyl dye, which is the most common "paint" to use on gray Drivers, and it also works on the moon boots.  I also bought the plastidip to paint the interior of the helmet.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I already have gray gloves, I just need to sew the 3 stitch lines in the back of the hand (white ABS in the picture for color reference):

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Today I glued the rubber trim to the sides and neck of the armor, using E6000:

Chest:
Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Back:
Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

A package from WTF arrived today.  New ears to fix my current ones that I over-trimmed (see previous posts on ear issues).

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Here's an ear comparison.  Untrimmed on left, trimmed on right:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Walt is such a great guy!

[Yesac]

Nice! So how much is left to do?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[daryldoak]

Nice! So how much is left to do?

Quite a bit:

Trim and fit ears to helmet
Paint and clear coat the helmet, armor and boots
Plastidip helmet interior
Attach bubble lens and helmet suspension, fans
Cleanup and paint all helmet, chestbox, and back greeblies
Cut and assemble back circuit board, add decals and greeblies
Add aluminum panel, decals, and greeblies to chestbox
Finalize LED light system and mount in chestbox
Add decals and greeblies to helmet, paint details
Cut and attach hoses
Add Armor strapping
Attach shoulder bells to flight suit
Add 3 stitch lines to back of each glove
Misc fine tuning

Piece of cake

[daryldoak]

Thanks to Freya for sewing the stitch lines in my gloves today:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Drilled the holes in the corners of back and shoulders:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

[daryldoak]

Today I drilled the holes in the chest for the rivet and the holes in the back for the circuit board:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I painted the chest, back, and shoulder bells:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I prepped by washing the parts with soap and water.  Then I held the piece while painting and hung to dry.  I put on 3 coats, 10 minutes between coats.  7 days to cure.

[inquisitorius-picnic]

I really like that grey. Is it a flat grey, or a shiny grey?

[daryldoak]

I really like that grey. Is it a flat grey, or a shiny grey?

It is VHT SP953 Vinyl Dye Light Gray Satin.  I'm also planning to use a clear coat which is also satin.

[Yesac]

Did I read that correct? 7 day cure time?? Dang!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[daryldoak]

Did I read that correct? 7 day cure time?? Dang!

The can instructions are confusing since this is a vinyl dye.  I may have taken that out of context. LOL

[daryldoak]

Boot mods today:

I used ABS to add some roundness to the boot uppers:
Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Next I made a template and marked for the serrated sole:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then used my dremel to cut them out:

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Still need to do some additional clean-up before adding the tape wraps and painting.

[daryldoak]

Did some additional cleanup of the serrated soles and added the 3 tape wraps to finish my boot mods.  Ready for gray paint.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Cut the tin sheet and screen to size for the chestbox.  Trimmed the decals and temporarily set things in place to see how it looked.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Glued on the front of the trident.  I used CA glue.  I did end up adding a little scrap to the front of the mohawk to give more gluing surface.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I added the forehead cylinder.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Then I After that dried for a bit I glued the rest of the trident down using E6000.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Next I trimmed my new ears, and got them as good as I can.  I did use a drop or two of CA glue in a couple of spots to eliminate gaps.  This time I left more return edge on the back of the ears.

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

Untitled by daryl doak, on Flickr

I am happy with how the helmet turned out.  Next up, mounting the bubble lense and hard hat harness, plastidip, rubber neck trim, and then gray paint, then lots of helmet greeblies, paint details, and decals.