flerndip

I have been wondering this for some time now. Can you sit down without breaking your butt-plate? I have seen seated stormtroopers but that seems like a risky maneuver.

Because he has altered the deal.

A glimpse of the RS Prop Masters testing lab... ---------

Yeah he did respond and in a few days there is at least a chance and he'll check. In the meantime I already placed the order for these: --------- Worst case, I'll have a backup pair.

Thanks, Zap! I sent him a note. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

Thanks for the advice. I'll order a pair of those then. Looks like UK 8 = US 8.5, or else they are going to hurt like hell.

What about these? -----

Used shoes in a foreign shoe size? This is clearly going to be an expensive and disappointing adventure.

I don't see a single suitable pair of boots on ebay. Perhaps you could point to some?

I'll keep looking then, but nobody seems to make suitable boots anymore. What if none can be found at all?

If they're definitely not going to cut it for Centurion, please say so and I'll cancel my order.

I've got a suit of RS armor on order now, so in the meantime I am trying to scare up the other accessories. This includes boots, but with tkboots.com out of supply indefinitely, I just ordered a pair of Air Stanton Chelsea boots from Cole Haan. I hope these will be good enough. Please let me know before I start the dye applications. ---------

I appreciate the reassurance. I think that settles it then. Fully-loaded RS in ABS it shall be.

So it is easy to imagine picking up a PVC version later even if I go for the ABS for my first suit. If I go for the RS in ABS am I going to stand out in a crowd as the home-made looking trooper? I mean, from the perspective of spectators whose memory of Star Wars is idealized, of course. Most people's memory does not seem to recall how rough-looking the helmets and armor were in the first film. How do you deal with most people recoiling in somewhat embarrassed horror for your, in their (wrong) estimation, nice attempt at home-made stormtrooper armor? I'm not suggesting that RS armor looks bad up-close, but to the unenlightened, which is most people, it certainly can. Which would YOU choose? What if I ask Rob if they can "somewhat minimize the imperfections"? Would that immediately draw criticism? "Hey, that TK doesn't look warpy enough! Get him!"

Ok, I just want to be clear before I take a decision on this. I'm sure you've heard this a million times before, but my childhood memory of Star Wars is largely idealized. As a noob here, I personally wouldn't mind a fully idealized super-glossy and symmetrical (at least the helmet) suit of armor, or even a ROTJ version, but I need to base my decision on what the 501st prefers, and it appears that accuracy is king. If that is indeed the case, then perhaps I really am better off with a suit of RS, warts and all, than with something "cleaner". Or is the PVC version of the RS suit going to be a sort of ultra-white and super-glossy, compromise between idealized and accurate, and most importantly, does the 501st prefer ABS anyway? In other words, if I went with the PVC version of the RS suit, presumably it would restrict my options within 501st in more ways than the ABS version would? By restriction, I mean the preclusion of more advanced certification levels based on the type of plastic used or whether or not the surface texture is consistent. I understand the importance of screen accuracy in costuming where the inconsistency of one uniform in a crowd can detract from the entire group's presentation. I just want to be sure that I'm getting the suit that will be the most in accord with FISD guidelines, and if that means having to get a suit that looks like it was spraypainted by teenagers in a dust storm, I just want to be sure that's what is called for before I spend this much money. I plan to build more and various types of armor in future, but I really like the idea of having an accurate ANH reference in-hand, so there's another reason to like the RS. As a point of interest, I received an email this morning from Rob & Simon, and they suggest that a fully loaded pre-assembled RS armor+helmet+accessories order could be filled by end of January / early February - a lot faster than I thought. Anway, thanks for all the great advice, and sorry to the OP if I have hijacked his thread somewhat.

I ask because RS Prop Masters offers a choice of either material at no additional charge, and suggests that the PVC is whiter and glossier and more durable, which sounded like a plus to me. I am seriously considering investing in a full RS suit and I would like to know which is the way to go if I intend to join the 501st and troop. Thanks.

If I went for the "Fully Loaded" RS Prop Masters helmet+armor, that is EIB-ready out-of-box? Which would be the best choice? ABS or PVC?

Any idea what the waiting list is like for a fully assembled set is likely to be?

But can you get it in the US?

The list of vetted sources includes Armor Masters (AM) and makes no mention of this. Is there any cheese in this cheese shop?

I appreciate it. Well, I like the sound of "Expert infantry ready out of the box". Do you like the look of the AM armor?

What is FX? Is that the same as eFX?

Thanks, I'd read both of those posts already and saw no mention of higher quality fiberglass helmets, nor was this particular seller on the blacklist. It looks like a very high-quality helmet, with robust padding, chin strap and metallic frown mesh already installed. I also could not find any mention of eFX using the forum search to find out of the eFX ANH STORMTROOPER HELMET - PCR is authorized or not. I think that eFX helmet is supposed to be the stunt trooper model? Anyway, it seems like we can buy nice helmets but have to make the armor from kits, so I wondered if either of these would be a good start, especially the sexy fiberglass one.

Have you seen this helmet before? It's fiberglass, from a maker in Bolivia. Does it pass muster?-------------