Rich330

Now just a couple of interesting "freaky" ones .... The trooper on the left of the shot below seems to have no ab buttons. Is he a recycled Sandtrooper? And look at this shot of a hand guard as a trooper grabs Chewy! That's some lazy trimming!

Note also the trooper nearest the camera in the first picture in the above post. Lots of extra cutting on the eye hole and no longer evidence of the "bump".

I was looking at the next shots to see if I could shed some light on the "Humbrol 15 versus Humbrol 14" blue debate. There's no right or wrong here. These are just personal "conclusions" for my own build. Lots of variants which make it impossible for me to say anything authoritative on the matter. My screen settings, the software I'm using to capture these, the use of "auto levels", my eyes etc. etc. But these are my thoughts ... There are lot of shots from ANH which seem to suggest that a lighter blue was used on the abdomen buttons and that it was probably French Blue #14 rather than the darker #15. I have even got hold of some lighter blue (incidentally Revell 52 becasue I can't get Humbrol locally) specifically for my ANH build. However, when I look at my screen shots, I compare the blue of the stripes on the helmets and the blue on the ab buttons, and I have to say the blue on the abdomen buttons looks duller and maybe darker. So, in line with these shots, I'm going to use the darker Humbrol #15 on my ESB build. Remember these are shots from my PC, produced with my software, seen through my eyes and it's just one subjective opinion and one interpretation of 30 year old movie stills. In fact, is it possible that when the suits got a makeover for ESB that it was indeed Humbrol #15 which was used on what had originally been #14? The idea that it was #15 in the first place has to come from somewhere, right? I'd be interested to hear the opinions of those more informed.

I have been watching ESB on my PC this morning, freezing individual frames for reference for my upcoming ESB armour build. Here are a few of the most interesting screen captures and some of the conclusions I've drawn for myself. There is a lot of evidence that when the ANH suits were touched up, some of the eye holes were cut back further for better vision. Some are clearly missing the characteristic "ANH bump" under the right eye. This next shot, however, seems to suggest there was a lot of variation. These two troopers certainly maintained their "bump". As a result, I will be keeping to the original ANH line on my helmet.

Sponge Bob, you are a member of the rebel alliance and a traitor!

Thanks. I know Mike's website and I was going to use him for my decals, but then this thread turned up with TM-branded decals. From the font and the general style etc. they look like they're supplied by Mike anyway but if Paul is including decals with his kits, I won't need to buy them separately.

Beautiful lid! Is Paul supplying these decals with his helmet kits? I only ask becasue I have a helmet/armour kit on order and wasn't sure whether I needed to source decals elsewhere.

Well done, mate. Must've been hard work in your armour. What scene/film do you see a TK wearing those shoes? I'm having trouble placing them!

Magic photos, Mark. Some great reference shots for my forthcoming TM ESB.

Don't expect an answer: the next day they usually can't remember how they celebrated!