TK-9805

Looks like the helmet is a different image, or photo, than the rest. the shoulders look kinda funky. Where did you find this?

Great tip Tom! I have a bad feeling I made need this before it's all done. Hope not, but you never know.

Well, like I said, they were $44.00, as opposed to $80.00. After spending what I did on the parts for my E-11, new lenses for my helmet, a helmet sound kit, ab button upgrade and other misc. stuff, I didn't have the extra $40, so I went with these. Guess I'll start saving for another pair.

Hey Bernard! Happy birthday, guy! Do the Wookie-Wookie Shake!!!

Hi guys, I just wanted to clarify something about the boots. I have a pair I bought from TrikToys, mainly because they were half the price of some others I had found. Here is a link to them on another website: Trooper Boots Are these acceptable under the Elite standards? If not, my Elite request may have to wait until I can afford whatever boots are accepted.

I have Macs too, but I have a Windows machine for "other stuff". That is too funny!!!

The amount of work shows my friend. That is a thing of beauty! I only hope my ANH armor turns out nearly as good.

Hhmmm.... why didn't I think of that? Good tip. Guess it's off to the hobby shop.

Yeah. Found that out after masking the entire helmet, just to paint the frown, and paint STILL leaked under the tape on the edges!!

Aaahhh... but that means that it WAS there to begin with! (Just teasing... ) Honestly, my $.02, I can go either way. I like the look, but you see them in the films just as much with one as you do without. Mine has one, but I just liked the way the E-11 looked with it, plus I like the coiled wires. Just adds a little something extra. BTW, anyone know what the yellow "spot" is on the bottom of the left chest strap? Dried glue?

I read somewhere that a guy sprayed the chrome silver Krylon on an old sock and just raked it across spots where he wanted the weathering. I was thinking about trying that myself.

Looks great John! I just finished doing the same thing myself. Had a little trouble in the painting area, but it all came out fine: You might want to try painting around the edges of the holes, just so you don't see the white outline. Just my $.02. Looks fantastic! You did a great job!

I found out that the Krylon doesn't come off very easily, even with thinner. I ended up remasking the mouth and adding about a millimeter to the thickness. Just enough to cover the "leaks". I, then, hand painted the mouth with some acrylics I had. Got really lucky in that the black and white I mixed were almost the exact same gray as the Krylon.

Too cool 'Turc! I would frame those puppies.

I've seen them in Suncoast video and Sam Goody's before. If you have either of those within driving distance, might want to call them and find out if they have one in stock. Saves shipping costs, anyway.

It's an FX. I am not opposed to taking the paint off and starting over if doing it by hand is better, but I would need to know, from anyone who's done it, what is the most effective paint removal product and process.

Hey Smitty! Lemme know when you get started on building the Dark Trooper armor. I've only seen one. It be be a nice addition to the FISB! Keep us updated.

Arrgggh! I was so careful in masking off the mouth and somehow, little, tiny places along the top and bottom still got ou, so at. Also, I overcoated, while the mask was still on, with Krylon Gloss Clear, so at this point, it's still a little tacky. Found that out when I laid the faceplate down on my lap, face down, to pick up my X-Acto and when I turned it over, the middle tooth and the one next to it, on the left, both have a light roughness texture of my jeans! AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK. First of all, I am going tomorrow to AutoZone to get some Goo-Gone to get the residue off from the masking tape and some super-fine grit sandpaper. What I really need is any advice on maybe how I could salvage what I have done, being that all but two teeth and the rest of the mouth is in pretty good shape. I'm afraid of trying to use the X-Acto to scrape away the small leaks. I just want to make sure I do this right. Used Krylon Gray Gloss for the frown and Krylon Clear Gloss for thr overcoat. Thank you for ANY advice!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my new, and very-much-appreciated, friends in the FISB! Hope your day has been filled with blessings and happy moments.

Thanks Scott. Great photos for references in the "Elite Progress" thread. Impressive. Most Impressive! :vader1: I already have a new button set and am just waiting to get the ab and cod pieces separated. I'm also ordering a canvas belt from firebladejedi and I have an armor party coming up next Saturday to complete my armor. I know it may be a big bite to take, trying to achieve Elite status on my first costume, but anyone that knows me knows that I only do something if I feel like I can do the BEST job on it. Wish me luck! You should be seeing my request for Elite status in a couple of weeks, if all goes as planned!

OK. I just finished reading the "Should FX buckets be non-acceptable for Elite status?" thread, and I have to say Thank God for people like Carlos!!! The quote: "Part of the point of a detachment is to help the costuming standards and we are already way ahead of the curve in regards to the Legion's TK standards. By shutting out others in FX helmets, you're driving away many others who like their helmets. The ANH V2 is not screen accurate either, so why would that be accepted, because it's a bit more accurate? How long until those helmets are not considered "elite?" Why stop at the helmet? We all know the FX kit is not completely accurate either, so if we're voting, let's just vote out the FX kit all together!" sent a chill up my spine!!! Now, mind you, I know Ed closed the topic, and I AM NOT looking to open it back up. I was REALLY glad to see Paul and Ed giving positive comments on Mark's FX bucket above. Being that I am still in constructions stages, I would love to strive for Elite status! You have no idea how proud it would make me to know I received recognition for my hard work. That said, I just finished putting the 4th tooth in my FX lid, based upon Paul and Ed's comments and Mark's photo. Just wanted to let someone know that there are still FX'ers out there that are working toward that Elite goal, and in fairness, until the 501st declares FX buckets as non-acceptable, IMHO, it should stand as an option.

Thanks Mark! That helps tremendously!

If I decide to go for Elite status with my FX kit, what's the best way to cut the fourth tooth? Any posts or, even more helpful, visual aids/pics?

I picked up a can of the same stuff (Krylon Fusion Satin black) and tried to use on my resin Hengstler counter and it made a MESS! The paint got "globby" and ran. Guess resin isn't the best receiver of this kind of paint, or maybe I just got a bad can? I ended up having to re-sand the whole counter and repainted it with Krylon Flat Black (not Fusion).

Just curious, Gino; is the "roughness" of the dome intended? I saw a lot of bumps and was just wondering if that was part of "matching one film used helmets sharpness to another"? I will say that the accuracy of the lines and proportions is impressive! Wish I had one!!!