Greetings from Clemson

[bobio]

Hello all,

I was 14 when Star Wars came out in theaters, have been a huge fan ever since. I have been to lots of events where the 501st has been represented. I have always thought about joining but life just always seemed to get in the way My kids are also big Star Wars fans and my son has expressed a strong interest in joining the 501st. He is 16 so he has a couple of years yet to work on his armor (Scout Trooper). His enthusiasm has rekindled mine and we are going to do this together. I have been spending quite a bit of time reading, reading and more reading. I have not decided on which armor kit to go with but I do know that I want to go ANH Stormtrooper.

Looking forward to my first build, joining the 501st and trooping with y'all

Thanks

Bob

[rasman06]

Welcome man and go Tigers!!! I'm an upstate guy moved to the coast of NC. My parents still live in Salem on lake Keowee. All that reading is going to pay off!! I jumped in too quick on the ordering end and made some bad decisions early on.

Take your time and make sure you vet your vendors well through other members.

[Marqus]

Hello Bob! I am on the same boy as you, I just ordered my ANH trooper kit from AP (Authentic Props) last Tuesday. I should expect it here in 5 weeks. I am still reading and learning. I hope for the best.

[bobio]

Thanks guys for the welcome, much appreciated

I think I have decided on the armor, going with TM ANH Hero.

Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it

[Cantina Security]

Hey Bob, nice to see you making it onto the forums, and bringing the family together with StarWars. Awesome.

TM is fantastic stuff , I have a ESB from him, and it is beautiful. Nice fellow, never heard of him letting anyone down. Came through with my kit as offered, on time.

Just give us a shout if you have any questions. Good luck, and have fun!

[RogueTrooper]

Hey Bob!!

Welcome!!

If you need help/advice on the stormtrooper Kits (which is best for you) Please let me know

Some are for different body types etc...

Also with your son working on his armor (Scout Trooper) he can join the Galactic Academy for now with any SW costume and if you are coming to an event (after you are approved) he can come as well in his costume.

the nice thing about the Scout Trooper suits is the armor can be adjusted (so if he grows any not like TK armor) maybe the other thing would be his jumpsuit to be replaced (grow out of it)

[bobio]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for the welcome, much appreciated!

Before I pester any vendors I was wondering if anyone can give me an idea what a (TM - troopermaster) TK ANH Hero armor kit is going to cost.

I know pretty much what the soft parts are going to cost, can't seem to find anything on the armor kits themselves in my searching.

Thanks

Bob

[RogueTrooper]

Hey Bob. TM is not cheap $1200 + S and H

Alos If I may the hero helmet had Bubble lens . Bubble len are extremely hard to see out of (like looking through a round fish bowl) What this video tie which has the same style of lens as the ANH hero does ( time marker 2.53 ) :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs_qyBaCi5s

I would look at one of the TK that does not have bubble lens for your first costume then you can enjoy trooping and get use to the armor ... then you can get yourself an Hero lid and the hero belt variant and have two to switch from (if you do the ANH Stunt).

thats IMHO

Now what is your height and weight ?(why I ask that some kits are make for different body types...

Best Boots for a great price : http://imperialboots.com/products/chaussure/

Neck seal best and do not worry about the bib riding up: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/1 ... -neckseal/

Blaster (contact then for restocking ): http://www.doopydoos.com/stormtrooper-e ... 2685-p.asp

and I sell addons at a great price screen accurate items Belt, hand plates, Thermal Detonator Clips Snap rivets scope rails etc....

Just wanted to thank everyone again for the welcome, much appreciated!

Before I pester any vendors I was wondering if anyone can give me an idea what a (TM - troopermaster) TK ANH Hero armor kit is going to cost.

I know pretty much what the soft parts are going to cost, can't seem to find anything on the armor kits themselves in my searching.

Thanks

Bob

[bobio]

Tom,

Actually that is a tad less than I thought it might be

Good point on the bubbled lenses, hadn't considered they might not be easy to see through.

I will pretty much be a Luke Skywalker size Stormtrooper heightwise I am 5'9" but about 180lbs...

How would you compare Imperial Boots to the TK Boots (http://www.tkboots.com)?

I was looking at the neck seal and the blaster at the links you shared

I tend to be an obsessive researcher, especially with an investment this large

I am sure I have about a million more questions to come, thanks soo much for your input.

Bob

[RogueTrooper]

I tend to be an obsessive researcher, especially with an investment this large

that is always a good thing....Know what you are buying before you jump....Lot of little things to know about the Stormtroopers!

How would you compare Imperial Boots to the TK Boots (http://www.tkboots.com)?

Both vendors are great. I have 4 pairs of the TKboots.

just Imperial boots normal does not have a want time and TK boots does ..plus TK boots have had to look for a new maker for the boots several times in the past 2 years....

I would not say bad about either both are great...

I will pretty much be a Luke Skywalker size Stormtrooper heightwise I am 5'9" but about 180lbs...

Bob

Actually you are several inches taller the Mark Hamill. I have met him several times and know he is around .5.4 / 5.5 tall....

I have also met several of the people who played/wore the Stormtrooper armor in ANH...most are from 5.7 to 5.9...

a few said you had to be between the height of 5.7 to 5.9 to were the screen used armor...any taller and too much black showed...shorter than 5.7 and the armor did not fit right and they where not going to trim it down, they would just move you to another costume......

Now Mark Hamill's Stormtrooper armor was trimmed down a lot ////Next time you watch ANH look at his armor you will see that a lot of trimming was done and it still did not fit him well, plus he is wearing 2 left forearms.....

Now Carrie Fisher (leia) knew that they had to trim mark Stormtrooper down quite a bit and in one of the takes Carriechanged the line to "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper" picking on Mark. Lucas love it and used it in the scene....


so you are on the high meter for the Stormtroopers.

Side note with the dome on and boots Vader was 6.7 ... the reason why the Stormtrooper where in the 5.7 to 5.9 range, the wanted Vader to know more menacing so that is why the Stormtroopers at those heights....

I am sure I have about a million more questions to come, thanks soo much for your input.

Bob

yeah man always happy to help....and anytime you need help and advice do not hesitate!!

[bobio]

Both vendors are great. I have 4 pairs of the TKboots.

just Imperial boots normal does not have a want time and TK boots does ..plus TK boots have had to look for a new maker for the boots several times in the past 2 years....

I would not say bad about either both are great...

Good to know. Looks like Imperial Boots also make Scout Boots. My son really wants to make his own but at this point I am not confident enough to take that on. Maybe after I do a lot more research. It is nice to know there is an option though...

Actually you are several inches taller the Mark Hamill. I have met him several times and know he is around .5.4 / 5.5 tall....

I have also met several of the people who played/wore the Stormtrooper armor in ANH...most are from 5.7 to 5.9...

a few said you had to be between the height of 5.7 to 5.9 to were the screen used armor...any taller and too much black showed...shorter than 5.7 and the armor did not fit right and they where not going to trim it down, they would just move you to another costume......

Now Mark Hamill's Stormtrooper armor was trimmed down a lot ////Next time you watch ANH look at his armor you will see that a lot of trimming was done and it still did not fit him well, plus he is wearing 2 left forearms.....

Now Carrie Fisher (leia) knew that they had to trim mark Stormtrooper down quite a bit and in one of the takes Carriechanged the line to "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper" picking on Mark. Lucas love it and used it in the scene....


so you are on the high meter for the Stormtroopers.

Side note with the dome on and boots Vader was 6.7 ... the reason why the Stormtrooper where in the 5.7 to 5.9 range, the wanted Vader to know more menacing so that is why the Stormtroopers at those heights....

By now I should really know better than to believe what I see on the internet. Many sites list him at 5'9" and I never really questioned it :/

I think one of the things that got me paranoid about my height was reading a recent thread on FISD where Paul (troopermaster) mentioned an "ideal 5'10" height".

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/3 ... /?p=393362

I am only an inch away from that height but looking at build threads I have noticed the variation in gaps due to the fact we all come in different shapes and sizes. I have noticed though that on a lot of builds for guys my size the gaps tend to start closing up.

I am probably just overanalyzing and being a bit OCD

I am probably also just scared of the prospect of cutting on $1200 dollar armor

yeah man always happy to help....and anytime you need help and advice do not hesitate!!

Thanks, much appreciated!

[RogueTrooper]

By now I should really know better than to believe what I see on the internet. Many sites list him at 5'9" and I never really questioned it :/

I think one of the things that got me paranoid about my height was reading a recent thread on FISD where Paul (troopermaster) mentioned an "ideal 5'10" height".

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/3 ... /?p=393362

I am only an inch away from that height but looking at build threads I have noticed the variation in gaps due to the fact we all come in different shapes and sizes. I have noticed though that on a lot of builds for guys my size the gaps tend to start closing up.

I am probably just overanalyzing and being a bit OCD

I am probably also just scared of the prospect of cutting on $1200 dollar armor

yeah man always happy to help....and anytime you need help and advice do not hesitate!!

Thanks, much appreciated!

I was the leader for the FISD.

The reason why Paul (TM) states that is George Lucas stated it that he wanted them to be.

Wish in one hand a poo doo in another ...see which comes first. LOL

As you can see the TKs were all different heights .




I have screen linage armor and I am 5.7/5.8 and no large gaps or having to trim off anything.. and look proper standing beside a proper height Vader that is 6.7.

but with the 1 inch normal heel and the helmet on I hit 5.10 ...if you started with a person 5.10 and then you add the 1 inch and the helmet on you are looking at 6.0 easily....


Prowse as Vader (in all the costume dome boots etc) was 6.7

look a the Tks with Vader here. As you can see there is more that 7 inches difference here.. ' if you started with a 5.10 tall person and added the TK boots and helmet (just saying TK were not 5.10 nor taller in their bare feet,)









John Mollo Costume design had his hand full to worry about Lucas "ideal 5'10" height".


Most of the UK guys wanted to not allow women to do 501st TKs and the funny thing there was a lot of them in the TK costumes and the two ties that Vader told come with me was short women...so to make Vader look more menacing... you cannot look menacing if you foot soldiers are getting to be the same height as the Biggest baddie in the Galaxy..




Honestly George was not the true power behind the Original Trilogy being great....lot of stuff he is re-written to make it sound like he had been the one and all knowing etc...


and with doing the TK kit armor...it is not that hard...but fun like a huge model kit!!! You will do great at the build just ask questions and if you need hands on I will be happy to help!

Tom

[bobio]

and with doing the TK kit armor...it is not that hard...but fun like a huge model kit!!! You will do great at the build just ask questions and if you need hands on I will be happy to help!

Tom

Tom,

Thanks so much for the advice, you are a fountain of knowledge

Just might take you up on the hands on offer once I get into the build.

Will get my first taste of it in a few weeks, my son and I are going to start building his Studio Creations Scout helmet.

BTW, what do you think of TM 1.5mm ABS vs 2.0mm ABS? Would I be better off going for the 2.0mm?

I am also looking at strapping systems, seems a lot vary from the original style.

I really like the build thread that Paul did of his own armor...

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/1 ... o-buildtm/

Thanks again!

Bob

[RogueTrooper]

I would do the 2.0mm the thinner is like the original (which what Paul was going for) but also comes with the issues of being like the original screen used armor and ez cracks etc... the 1.5 is more for those that do not troop a lot or just on display......

As for the strapping system I like the line 20 snap plates style for all the elastic. The original strapping system has it issues IMHO

You can fake the outside look of bolts on the return edge and not have to worry about the original style system breaking/putting stress on the edges that will crack etc. .....

and with doing the TK kit armor...it is not that hard...but fun like a huge model kit!!! You will do great at the build just ask questions and if you need hands on I will be happy to help!

Tom

Tom,

Thanks so much for the advice, you are a fountain of knowledge

Just might take you up on the hands on offer once I get into the build.

Will get my first taste of it in a few weeks, my son and I are going to start building his Studio Creations Scout helmet.

BTW, what do you think of TM 1.5mm ABS vs 2.0mm ABS? Would I be better off going for the 2.0mm?

I am also looking at strapping systems, seems a lot vary from the original style.

I really like the build thread that Paul did of his own armor...

http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/1 ... o-buildtm/

Thanks again!

Bob

[bobio]

I would do the 2.0mm the thinner is like the original (which what Paul was going for) but also comes with the issues of being like the original screen used armor and ez cracks etc... the 1.5 is more for those that do not troop a lot or just on display......

As for the strapping system I like the line 20 snap plates style for all the elastic. The original strapping system has it issues IMHO

You can fake the outside look of bolts on the return edge and not have to worry about the original style system breaking/putting stress on the edges that will crack etc. .....

Tom,

What adhesive do you use for the snap plates on your armor? Would E6000 be sturdy enough for regular trooping?

How about the calves? Are you using the hook system?

I have probably bombarded you enough with questions today, sorry 'bout that

Thanks again!

Bob