The5thHorseman

By the way, did you notice how far on backwards is the forward grip on his blaster?! Sorry, I can't help myself, I'm a blaster addict...!

Evin, the real purpose of these kits for review is to compare them with other kits already on the market. Any chance we'd get to see some comparison shots with another armor kit or not?

Honestly, I don't think having the mounting plate in aluminium would make any difference (except in term of accuracy). The plate isn't the part that really withstand the weight of the blaster when hung to the thigh, it's the folding stock behind it (white part under the barrel). I've seen people drilling into the infill of the folding stock and using screws to suspend their blaster with success. However if you're really worried about integrity of the part, my advice would to make a bigger hole than needed, then fill it with a body filler putty (putty with an hardener) and drill your final holes into the hardened putty.

My problem isn't that they're applying new technologies to these new armors, it's totally normal they're doing so. What bothers me is that in the process they altered the original look of the armor with no real reasons. And I'm not talking about the little details here, new abdominal buttons, engraved tube stripes, ... all that I don't mind at all they changed it. What I really dislike is how they changed the lines/shapes of the armor and how it's making this new version looking worse/not as good as what the original model is. To me aesthetic aspect should always come first, and only after that the practical aspect. This is a movie, you're not asked to be comfortable, only to look like you are. Here I think they did the design process the wrong way around, thinking first about stunts and then about look. Now I just want precise again that even if I don't like these new troopers, they won't be the reason of why I will or not like the film. They're merely background characters in the end. I'm still looking forward to this film (far from what I was eagerly expecting TFA though), but I gotta say that the first trailler (which is only a few seconds trailer of course) didn't get me excited at all.

Wrong all the way. We prefer the original stormtrooper not because it's the first that's been made but because it's the best looking aesthetically speaking.

The part fears nothing after it's been infused with bronze, after this step it's composed of 60% steel and 40% bronze if I recall correctly. You can sand it or polish it just fine. Otherwise Shapeways wouldn't offer the option to have the part polished by them or not. If really you're afraid of damaging it you can try buffing the bottom surface first (the one facing the barrel of the MGC).

I'm too introvert to answer this poll...

Give it a good sanding and it should be good. If you're really ready to put the price, I have the MGC hammers and the rest of the ROTJ greeblies modelled in 3D. I could upload them on Shapeways if you want?

Oops, sorry, by "inox" I meant "inoxydable" which is french for "stainless". To be honest, screws are very prone to changes on the originals. Some blasters have stainless screws at one place when others have black screws at the same location. For example: My feeling right now is that: - When using stainless screws (silver ones), they should be TORX. - When using black screws, they should be socket screws (allen). On the first blaster above, the three screws underneath the forward grip are stainless, so I guess they should be TORX

Well, i've been looking more attentively and it seems like the inox screws are TORX while the black screws are socket head.

You know what? The more I look into it, the more I'm not sure about them being TORX. Here's another one from my refs where I think I see a TORX: Image not recoverable But to be very honest, I'm far from being 100% sure about it. I kind of assume it's TORX because that's what they use in many other places, but I might be wrong. Socket screws could the be correct choice in fact.

I have absolutely no idea! I personally used screws with no security pin because it requires special keys that I didn't have to tighten them Edit: added image

Both can be used for the F-11D. I have reference pictures showing screws with the security pin and others without.

I think the biggest change here is how they modified the helmet. The height of the teeth has been reduced a lot compared to the OT and it now looks like a Master Replica helmet. I know it's something R. McQuarrie wanted but I think he was wrong on that point. It also looks like they recessed the tubestripes. The chest plate looks also bad. It seems very narrow, a bit like the AP chest plate. The thighs... They butchered them. They're totally lacking the amazing aesthetic lines they had. Side note, the gloves appear to be FOTK gloves but in all black. Overall, I'm still very disappointed by these new stormtroopers. However, I don't think they would spoil me the film. I'm actually far more concerned about everything else, script, characters, and such...

Right. I understand why they're ordered this way now

Super collection Sergiu! BUT... why aren't they ordered chronologically in the reading direction (left to right)?! It's bugging me!!

His door latch greeblie is not bad at all indeed. The MGC hammer and scope rail aren't perfect though, especially the hammer

Maybe but the parts aren't really accurate. Also it mean 90$ just for the three side greeblies. Scope and scope rail aren't even available in metal because the price would extremely high (i.e: 240$ for the U-tracks in metal. Better make your own from metal sheets).

Actually, I think you already know more about it than me. I only know what it should look like .

Have you started looking for the correct Weaver scope rings? Because that's another thing you can do.

Absolutely beautiful. Fantastic job Christina!

How come anything be more iconic than this armor?! Truly unbeatable. Thanks for sharing the picture!

Yes sir!

I don't know if you're already aware but you can start looking for an air pistol "Panther RO 72 Bullseye" as its rear sight is a found part used on the scope rail for the ROTJ E-11. These air pistol were made in Italy and aren't too hard to come by. In the course of half a year I have seen two selling. One in not working condition for 20€, and the other in an almost pristine condition with original box and air pellets for 40€.

Looking darn impressive all geared up like that! Thanks for the pictures. It's always interesting to see side by side comparisons like that.