wampadude

Please Enable TK-2638 for 501st Status

Talked to our local Tandy dealer this week and when he heard what we were asking for, he asked if we were 501st! When he said we get you guys in here all the time and also offered us Chicago screws, I knew we were in the right place. Thanks for the tip! I have already started on my snap plates while waiting for the armor to arrive, and will post a build thread once I really get things in gear.

Another alternative to Duct Tape is using the brown packaging tape with the water activated glue. I used it when making mine and I found it much easier to work with than duct tape. First of all it is half the price and can be found at Staples or any shipping store. Second it is more forgiving. When using duct tape it is pretty much one and done. Once you have it down you are stuck there especially when the tape folds over on itself. With the paper tape you can lift it up and reset it. Once I was done with mine I ran a layer of clear packing tape over it just to protect it and it has held up just as strong as previous duct tape dummys that I have made. I found this method in a threadless video And here is my project (mind you I have lost 20 lbs since then!) Wampa Project Body double

So I have settled on the one piece using snaps. So I got to ask the experts, where is the best place to buy snaps that are the right strength. I have looked at craft stores but they are limited to about 8 snaps per pack. I have seen them by the gross on eBay for about half the price. They say heavy duty but we all know eBay can be iffy. Any tips will be welcome

Russrep has 2 left, and I had to snag one up. I have been in talks with VacTrooper too, I saw the interest thread for the comlink, and noticed Doopydoo's makes resin ones too which is alright but needs work, though it is tempting to build my own.

It is a concern to my friend that is building too. You're not alone!

Now only if I could hunt down an actual hook, those seem to be hard to find the for sale threads are all over a year old on here. I might have to settle for the thermal detonator until then.

I am being a realist with my height and figured I might as well go with hero since I can guarantee the too short comments. I figured. I should embrace it and go the extra step, I read about the "Luke cut" with the chest and back and will probably go the grappling hook route too. After spending 7 months on the wampa build last year, the TK is a welcome change of pace. I have my handler while in the wampa building her own AP at the same time so I really look forward to getting work. The TKboots are being delivered tonight and I am already underway making snap squares. I will keep researching until then. Thanks for all the info!

The other method can be seen here in this pic from one of our troops (that's me in the foreground wearing the wampa legs). I have seen the suspender method in other build threads and on youtube of people suiting up. Like I said I will probably strap it the traditional way. I was just curious on peoples opinions either way.

I am sure I am beating a dead horse here (or punching an ewok... same thing) so for all you veterans, grab your popcorn and let the broken record play. As I wait for my big brown box of AP armor to be delivered I have been scouring the boards to get the definitive way to assemble my armor which for TK armor is almost impossible with the many varients. For the most part I keep running across 2 different ways to put it togehter. One being the 2 piece body which consists of the "Stormtrooper T-shirt" and the lower body using suspenders and the second that has the body in one piece with the chest and abs connected and you slide into the side. So here is my conundrum, which way do I build mine. This is what I have gathered and feel free to correct me and put me in my place as a newbie. The one piece body is the way to go if you are going for EIB and screen accuracy and this seems to be the way to go if you want closed in sides, but the 2 piece looks easier to troop in because it is flexibe because you can bend over easier. But I tend to see a lot of that black strap overlapping the armor on the side this way. I will be aiming for EIB and am leaning towards the one piece body, but I know being shorter than the average stormtrooper I will have to take some liberties in trimming the armor (which is another post all together, any links?). So any expert advice from my fellow experienced troopers would be great to put me on the right track.

I am 5'4" guy and about to start a AP stormtrooper very shortly (pun intended). It was something that took me 6 months to finally accept when it came to my height, beign 35yo it has been a real self-esteme killer at times. But my last troop in my 8 foot tall Wampa suit, I noticed in the Tampa Bay Squad we got quite a few troopers under 5'8" and it finally clicked. The Too Short joke is inevidable, like water on a duck I will just let any mockery roll off my back and commit to building my TK. Here in Florida with Disney in our back yard, there is a lot more oportunities available with a TK compared to my other suit and it is nearly impossible to do a children's hospital in a lumbersome Wampa. I, like many of you, have my long wish list and there are costumes on my list that would better fit my height but I really want to honor the history of the 501st. It started with Albin and his TK, it seems only natural to have one for myself. Besides I can say that I won't be the shortest trooper, we got shorter in our Squad!