ELP

Sorry guys I'm rarely over on this side of the plastic colour spectrum. Thanks to everyone poking in and helping out on the questions. My personal preference is for the Black AM kit ... But as RT is a Canadian Made kit - If I were to go for a TK that would be my choice. Just my opinion ... Jim to answer your question I'd think both kits would work for you, but please have a read through a few of the build threads here on the FISD, and ask a few troopers that are close to your size what kits they have and how they fit. Thanks again for looking after this orphaned post guys!

Hi All - Thanks for the posts. Sorry I lost all my "thread post notifications" when the new look happened (nice by the way). Thanks for making the size chart Eric - That's Fantastic! And Dave if you're looking to go Sandy Grab the AM in white - comes with the handplates, proper ab plate and proper knee plate for both the TK and TD. And head over to Alpine as well - Great bunch of folks! And if you see Izzi (the XO) tell him to mail me my glassware (just kidding he's my DL over at Spec. Ops - and a great guy!)

Ernesto - A trooper posted in your post on Special Ops - he's 6'4" and 275 in AM ... so I'd say that'd be your best bet (if you're going black).

You can also head over to the Spec. Ops board and have a look around - There are a few kits for sale, and posts from the makers as well. http://forum.501stspecopsdet.net/ Sign up and say 'hi' we're a helpful bunch.

Will - Have a read in this forum as there is a tonne of information and it'll help answer your question.

Dan - I'd say so far so good. And as great a site for information and feed back as this (or any internet sight for that matter) may be I'd say see if you can post pictures on your home garrison site and ask for feed back and/or some hands on guidance. Chances are there will be a bunch of people more than happy to lend a hand. Canadian garrison Contacts: http://www.501st.ca/contact.html Seems like the forums are closed to non-501 members but an e-mail to the GML might help, or wait for one of the Garrison Members sees this post and hopefully the wheels will be in motion. I learned from first hand experiance that your first kit can be tough to put together if all you have is a mirror and the internet for feed back. Don't get discouraged - it takes a lot of work and frankly a lot of tweaking to get everything just right ... I'm still not there. Hope that helps!

First I'm pretty sure RT is on Vacation. He also works a TONNE so give him time to get back to you. He's a great guy to deal with. Second don't go for a cheap eBay kit ... You'll end up paying more in the end. Have a read through the Armour makers post in the "Read Here First" area and talk to those guys. If you can't afford the prices these guys are asking ... Then Save Up! It may take a while longer for you to get the kit but in the end you'll be happy you waitied. Plus the customer service you get from these guys will be, with out exageration, one million times better then an eBay vendor. Plus you've got all the build threads on this forum for all the common suits - a HUGE resource you will miss out on if you go the eBay route. Just my 2 cents.

TX-5575 requesting access. Thanks. http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=11952

Done and done

DISCLAIMER: This post is in no way saying that the suits here are your only options. These are just the two that we happen to have on hand and that I built. There are many other options, but these are the two names that are mentioned most often when the topic of "what would fit a bigger trooper" comes up. _________________________ Hi All, After seeing a huge amount of troopers asking "what armour would fit a bigger trooper" I went and asked around and no body had any measurements. I asked the maker of AM and the maker of RT and they both gave me their blessings to share this information with you, the "Larger Trooper". The contact details can be found on another post, so please don't ask me, as I won't reply. My wife is about 6 feet tall and in an mostly untrimmed RT full kit (including Helmet). (I tried Lisa's on when I was 220lbs and it fit nicely). Here's Lisa: I'm 6'1" and 195 and in a trimmed AM kit (with an eFX helmet). Here's me: I haven't trimmed any length/height in any of those parts so they could both fit someone taller than 6 / 6'1" easily. Both kits fit me easily and very well and they both look Fantastic! Hope this helps us bigger guys and gals with dreams of plastic. matt. PS - My wife likes the AM thighs. As she said, "Those could be for women with big thighs". PPS - As both of these kits have been made and glued and snapped together I can no longer get any "out of the box" measurements. Sorry. PPPS - I have a 24" head circumfrence and I fit the RT helmet but I pull out the top padding, and I can only just squeeze into the eFX. But that's all I'm saying on Helmets. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ These measurements are taken on the outside / lateral aspect of limbs while the trooper is standing up with their arms hanging at their sides, palms facing forward. RT-MOD Version 5 (Bought June 2010) Limb Lengths: - Length of Thighs: hip bone to knee = 13†- Length of Calves: outer side of the knee to below the ankle= 14†Note: thigh and calf pieces should not meet as this would interfere with leg motion - Length of Bicep + Shoulder Bell: Top of the shoulder to elbow = 18†(max – this distance can easily be and is meant to be shorted via strapping during assembly) - Length of Forearm: Elbow to wrist (on the outside of the arm – non palm side) = 11†(this piece should not fully cover your wrist as it may restrict hand movement) Note: Bicep and forearm pieces should not meet as this would interfere with arm motion. Limb Circumferences: These measurements are taken on the outside of the armour at the widest part of the largest muscle group on that portion of the limb. - Circumference of forearm = 14†- Circumference of Thigh = 26†- Circumference around calf muscle = 18†- Circumference around Bicep Muscle = 18†Waist: Max Circumference of an unshimmed joined waist = 41†Torso Pieces: - Cod and abdomen pieces combined height (taken in the middle from lowest point of the crotch to highest point of the abdomen): 21.5†- Kidney and butt pieces combined height (taken in the middle from lowest point of the crotch to highest point of the abdomen) : 20.5†(the butt on the RT rides a bit high – it might seem odd but it looks more natural than having the same height front and back) Chest and Back: Please note: These pieces are meant to hang and not connect (plastic to plastic) front to back around the torso. - Chest Height (midline top of the sternum to bottom of the sternum): 12.5†- Chest Width (around the bottom of the ribs): 18†- Back Height (lowest part of the back neck line to bottom of the piece): 11†- Back Width (around the bottom of the piece): 16†AM ARMOUR KIT (Purchased July 2010) Limb Lengths: - Length of Thighs: hip bone to knee = 13†- Length of Calves: outer side of the knee to below the ankle= 14.5†Note: thigh and calf pieces should not meet as this would interfere with leg motion - Length of Bicep + Shoulder Bell: Top of the shoulder to elbow = 15†(max – this distance can easily be and is meant to be shorted via strapping during assembly) - Length of Forearm: Elbow to wrist (on the outside of the arm – non palm side) = 10 1/4†(this piece should not fully cover your wrist as it may restrict hand movement) Note: Bicep and forearm pieces should not meet as this would interfere with arm motion. Limb Diameters: These measurements are taken on the outside of the armour at the widest part of the largest muscle group on that portion of the limb. Note: The AM kit come with extra material around some pieces which easily allows for a customized fit by slightly trimming pieces. This procedure is fully explained in the instructions. - Circumference of forearm = 16†(max) - Circumference of Thigh = 29†(max) - Circumference around calf muscle = 21.5†(max) - Circumference Bicep Muscle = 18.5†(max) Waist: Max Circumference of an unshimmed joined waist = 42†Torso Pieces: - Cod and abdomen pieces combined height (taken in the middle from lowest point of the crotch to highest point of the abdomen): 20.5†- Kidney and butt pieces combined height (taken in the middle from lowest point of the crotch to highest point of the abdomen): 19†Chest and back: Please note: The AM chest and back pieces curve around the body and as such can give a very good looking fit. - Chest Height (midline top of the sternum to bottom of the sternum): 12†- Chest Width (around the bottom of the ribs): 24.5†- Back Height (lowest part of the back neck line to bottom of the piece): 13.5†- Back Width (around the bottom of the piece): 23†My Details: Height: 6'1" Weight: 200 lbs. Legs (hip bone to ankle): 34" Arms (top of the shoulder to wrist): 23" Torso height (pubic symphysis to top of the sternum): 24.5" Chest (below armpits): 44" Waist (At hip bones): 39" Waist (at belly button): 37"

Pat - Yea I set everything up (got a piece of tape on the inside with all the details - volume level, etc) and then away I go. The battery life is really good for the Ipod, and frankly I can't see anything less than 5 feet infront of me with my helmet on anyway so I'm not adjusting anything after I've turned it on. As for Lisa she's pretty much the same - just got the "off / On" switch on the amp that she can reach with her bucket on, if she needs to but she hasn't yet. Most MP3 player buttons are so freaking small anyway I need to have my gloves off so I just don't play with the electrics while kitted up. Lisa took the camera to work today so I'll grab pics tonight. sorry for the wait.

Have a read through this post: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=11538 ... And then read through the top 8 or 9 posts in the "Getting Started" area as it's full of "What you need to know to be a Stormtrooper" info. If you still have questions post or chat with the makers listed. They will supply you with quality goods. I've got an AM kit and my wife has an RT - We love them both, both came pre-trimmed (both still needed a bit of trimming but not much). We're bigger so we didn't want to get to complicated on our first costumes. But depending on your size you might not want to limit yourself to a larger fansculpt suit. Note: If you're not sure what I'm talking about go and read ... and then read some more... You'll end up with a better kit in the end.

Finger prints and general dirt I use a microfiber cloth - works like a charm and gets everything shiny clean. For polishing I use Novus and it works pretty well. Just take your time and do a good job. The first time I polished and removed a few scratches I kept seeing more and more when I thought I was done ... The black really shows any imperfections. Also are you also posting on the TX board? http://www.501stspecopsdet.net/forum/ There is a great community over there and a lot of TX specific knowledge. For example there is a great post comparing Black hole helmets

Pat we've done two things: 1) We used an Aker amp on Lisa's TK kit. This is snapped into the chest with a very small MP3 player attached to it (cheap $10 Radio shack special). We've used snaps, elastic and weather stripping (acts like a shelf) to keep everything in place. There is enough room in the chest for both and this way there isn't extra wires running around that could get snagged, forgotten about (when getting un kitted) or pulled on by "fans". 2) For my TX I don't have an AKER amp so I made a pouch out of black Vinyl and a snap and attached the Ipod pouch to the inside of my chest. At ~75% the Volume is loud enough to be heard without being too loud. The result is a tiny almost invisible sound source - Works Really Well! Also the plastic and Vinyl seem to distord the sounds a bit - we really like the effect. Have a look around for the MP3 TK sound file (if you don't have it) ... it's about 42 minutes long and has a bunch of great sounds on it. Lisa got it from the "501st area" of this site. I'll take pictures of our set-ups when our camera batteries charge up (tonight or tomorrow). Hope that helps.

"may be even home made" ... LOL! That's good funny. It's pretty good for someone with time, a rivet gun, velcro and a small budget. At least it doesn't say "Join the 501st".

I've got ESB / ROTJ hand plates (in black), and a sniper knee plate for a TD (in black) PM me if you're interested.

Great review Terry! But you forgot a very important detail ... This kit is also available in Black! Sorry Couldn't resist Here's me in the new AM black kit (with an eFX Lid): ---------- Sorry I don't mean to de-rail the thread ... EDIT: Got rid of the pic and put in a link instead. EDIT #2: Sorry Terry - I re-read your review and saw you did mention the TX ... Thanks!

Nick, Here are my 2 cents ... Contact your local garrison. Post that you're interested in getting a kit and if possible you'd like to meet up with a group who is doing a troop. You can introduce yourself, see some of the fantastic things people with no previous ABS skills were able to do ... And best of all these same people will probably gladly help you build your kit. And if you're in BC or the Okanagan let me know and we can get together - my wife is a white stormtrooper and I'm a Black Hole Trooper (just waiting for the LMO to issue my number). We've got experience (built two kits), tools and a few bevvies in the fridge. There ... That's probably 2 cents worth.

PM.

If you're set on AM (the new FX) be prepared to do A LOT of trimming. I'm 6'1" and a fit 200 lbs and I'm trimming every piece. I'd say (as the troopers before me have) go with a TE derived / smaller suit. You'll end up with a nicer look in the end - Not saying AM isn't great (My AM - TX is looking AMAZING!) but you should look at a suit which is made for someone ~5'10 as it'll look more proportional then a trimmed down suit which could fit a trooper who is well over 6 foot tall and 230+ lbs

Pat - Lisa can't make it. She and the girls are going to Cirque that eveing ... Sorry. All the best, have fun and please post pics!

james - Thanks for the other Flickr page. Those are great!

here is the guy's Flickr account - there are a few more: here I made my wife a Windows 7 desktop with them (the images change every 5 minutes)

16th at 6pm ... I'll check with her and get back to you. Also where? I've heard there are at least one or two places to get married in that town.

Pat, Firstly - Congrats!!! That's Great!! Secondly - My wife is in Vegas with a few of her friends and she arrives on the 16th in the afternoon sometime. When is the wedding? I'll ask Lisa if she's can take her kit down. Ahhh marriage ... There are mornings I wake up and look over at my loving wife and I wonder why I waited so long to get married (I was in my early 30's), then there are other days when I wake up with my legs cramped from sleeping on the couch and I wish I had waited a bit longer. My only piece of advice … Enjoy the good times and eat peanut butter during the bad (It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to be angry when you’re eating chunky organic Peanut butter with a spoon).