FIVE

Yes... stick with the lite kit and get all the other stuff on your own. You don't want to use ABS cement (use E-6000), you'll throw that Velcro away anyway, and you don't want the bucket. The only thing you might use is the polish.

Haha... thanks man. I'm here a lot actually.

YES!! PM coming your way...

I started painting my TE2 ESB (Empire Strikes Back) armor last night and am using Rust-oleum “Appliance Epoxy.†This paint is amazing on HIPS plastic! I primed first with plastic primer, then painted. The finish is like glass and feels like a refrigerator or stove front! Slightly “rubbery†and very hard! You can see too how I modified the left thigh on the TE2 to look more like the right thigh at the top. And I have “notched out†the backs of the thighs at the knees in matching with some of the troopers in Empire.

Got it.

Oh, and THANK YOU MARK for the pictures!!!!!!!

I'm with Vern on this... would love to be able to order a "strapping kit" with all the snaps, screws, wires and straps from someone! Buying all that stuff is a hassle in Albuquerque (for some reason.) And this is (a stupid question) the accurate way to do an ESB suit?! It's the first time I've seen anything like this with the strapping on the little wires and screws. Is this how a TM assembled suit comes?! Is it frowned upon to just glue in the straps like you did on the biceps?! AND... are the biceps ever "under" the shoulder bells? In my research and reference photos it seems they're always below the bells on ESB.

Where did you get the hooks? Fabric store? Do you know the "size" etc? Enquiring minds!

:lol:

Sorry, I know you mean to say the above, so I corrected it for you. hahaha

Yes... it will. Read this... and this to get caught up.

Yeah... that's what I meant.

You don't have to... but it will help a lot. Just any good plastic primer.

I think what you're seeing is that it's sitting on the "flat" of the neck opening. You never see screen used helmets sitting like this... even on reference photos they're usually on a stand or tilted. Have a look at the attached image even... just tilting your image make a big difference in how it looks. Plus, looking at a helmet in person that you've assembled is always so different. All that being said, I think it looks good.

Oh I really, really wish I'd have kept what I originally had typed about "Vern will probably have more to say about it." haha Love ya man!

There's not really any rank on there that's canon. So just do it based on the helmet / movie you're mimicking.

You could also spend the money you'll spend on modding it and -----

Brian... I'm not making any promises... nor am I an "official" spokesperson for any individual or group of individuals... but, have you considered asking for suits and helmets to be donated by 501st members? If the safety specifications were made clear to us, I think there are plenty of troopers who would gladly assemble suits that would meet those specs and donate them to WDW. ESPECIALLY if they were given some sort of "trinket" for their efforts... or even if the suits had something on the shoulder bell — or some less noticeable area — that paid homage to the donating trooper. Something, for example, like "TK-8541 Clone" Just a thought.

Okay guys... I'm actually into the TE2 ESB build now. Cut some armor tonight, so it's really happening! Question: I've read a lot about the butt-joining on the seams. Is that the screen-accurate way to do it? Thighs? Greaves? Etc... What about the backs? Are the thighs glued / permanent in the back? Part of what made me wonder was this pic... Look at the top of the trooper's thigh in the back. I looks like it's hooked like the thighs and is "slipping"... or... who knows? ALSO... Are the gloves ALL sewn on? Because a few scenes it seems they're not. Such as when they're "cuffing" Chewbacca. And, finally, everyone notice all the times they "flipped" the film for continuity? Holsters and knee plates all get moved again and again.

That's what I was going to say... get all the parts from TK-4510. Also, as much as I understand your desire to finish the armor by CV, unless you have every waking hour between now and then free to work on it, then I would say it's better to miss CV and do it right than rush just for "one con." There will be other cons... and, before you know it, you'll be on your way to one of them with your pristine, done correctly, armor you can be totally proud of. It's worth it to do it right is my point. As for snaps, the heavy-duty ones are it. As for better strapping system; all my armor has used "quick release" back-pack clips of various sizes and configurations (side release, top release, etc.) as well as Velcroâ„¢ and E-6000 glue. I think I'm going to do snaps on my next set of armor, but I have always been happy with this set up. Hope that helps man! And please, TAKE YOUR TIME!! It's an investment, you want to do it right!

How have I not seen this list... BOOK MARK ED!!!!

With some major mods...

Welcome Albert! You seem to have done your research if you know TE armor and know that Rubies is... well... what it is. I would suggest staying away from eBay. That looks like a recast TE. The ab plate confuses me a bit though because, while "soft" like a recast, it has the little "cut out" in the place for the left side buttons. Ah well... You can get great armor from the source very easily... so I'd say do your research here and do that. My advice.

Agree...

If you wanna do it really accurate looking then add seamless shims to both sides so you can't see they're shims, then put the rivets on those. All that means is a little extra work in doing putty and sanding and painting to make them unnoticeable. Or, from your options I'd say do one on each side.