Baron Dirk

Happy wife = happy life.... At least that's what the Imperial Trooper manual says. Are you getting her one too? That would be an awesome wedding ring at the next Star Wars fan wedding.

Jostens is another company that will do stuff like this. They make school rings, company anniversary rings and the SUPERBOWL rings. Where ever you go it's going to be pretty expensive though, especially for the first "prototype". On a side note have any of you seen that bilnged out R2D2 covered in Swarovski rhinestones? R2 be pimpin'.

You can search a little bit more because I know some of these sites have the "chemical" gloves in the small sizes. Most laboratory supply houses only stock them in medium or large because those sizes sell the most and they aren't concerned with looks. They might special order you some in a small though. Chemical gloves have the right "look". You can also try looking up these two business'.... "Stormy Leather" (A women owned company. I know they use to have chemical gloves in the odd sizes) "Mrs. S Leather" (Another fetish company that used to carry them) Both do mail order and custom requests. Cheers!

This will sound kooky and only use this tactic if you are okay with viewing NSFW websites. Google "rubber fetishwear womens gloves". You will find rubber gloves of various types (chemical and fashion) and ALL sizes from XS to XL. There are plenty of websites to choose from. They will usually be about twice the price of buying them at the science supply houses but they have more sizes. Also many of these "fetish" store fronts also cater to PG "cosplayers" as well. They are great resources for costuming providing stuff like colored latex and rubber sheeting and colored liquid (paint on) latex. This brings me to my next suggestion for you or any 'Trooper with odd size hands. Buy a cheap cloth pair of opera gloves or soft cotton gloves (like art appraissors/museum workers use) that fit like you want. Order a pint or two (have a glove making party) of black liquid latex and some small cheap foam brushes,at least two. (They get destroyed from use) Shave any arm/back of hand hair close to or under the glove area to avoid a painful "waxing". Put talcum powder on the areas that will be covered by the glove and place it on your hand. You can use one of two methods or a combination of both. Method #1. is to paint it on and let it dry. Method #2. is the dip method. simply dip your hand in the can (or container big enough for your hand) and pull it out and let dry. Method #3. Combination of dip and paint. Dip then smooth any funky areas with brush, dry for a few minutes and repeat. Retouch any funny areas by painting after final coat. ALL METHODS REQUIRE SEVERAL COATS TO BE DURABLE! Let each coat dry for a few minutes before applying the next one and ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGERS FROM TOUCHING TILL COMPLETLY DRY! DO NOT REMOVE GLOVE UNTIL DRY! You can speed up drying process by GINGERLY using a hair dryer set on medium or low. Let gloves dry completely overnight by slipping them over a beer bottle or plastic party (beer pong) cup with a hole cut in the bottom (for faster drying). They usually come out a dull to semi gloss finish. If you want a better sheen to them you can use something like ARMOR ALL tire and dash polish just don't apply it to the palm side of the glove as it makes them slick as hell. You don't want to drop your after work cocktail at the Mos Eisley Cantina! You can use common rubber cement to attach latex or latex like hand plates but do this before any application of Armor all. BOOM! You've got yourself custom fitted 'Trooper gloves. Some of the sites that supply liquid latex also post tutorials and there are plenty on YouTube. It's awesome stuff for costuming. I made a pair of costume devil/batwings by making a metal frame of wire hangers with nylon stockings stretched over it and painted the nylon with the latex. CREEPY LOOKING! I also made a pair of cheap "leather" pants for my "Road Warrior" armor by taking a pair of old faded jeans and painting with latex and then aging/distressing with "stage dirt". Great costume possiblities with this stuff. REMEMBER TO WEAR A SMOCK OR CRAPPY CLOTHES WHEN WORKING WITH IT! Once it gets on cloth it does not come off. EVER, NO WAY! I hope my suggestions will help you find or make gloves that fit. (Dang maybe I should make a tutorial of this for FISD. Hmm....) Cheers and good luck!

What/who is TM armor?

My problem remains in the sizing. I just don't like having crappy fitting clothes or armor and I have that odd body size. So I will check it out but It has always been a problem with clothes. I am short by modern standards, with a waist smaller than my chest and inseam.

Humm.... I hadn't thought about mixing and matching color from maker to maker. ARRGGHH! So confusing because every armourer seems to make one thing really well. Nobody seems to do it all with a consistent quality.

Thanks for the info. Hot tweaking skills I got. I have worked in plastic for costumes/medieval armor before. Your comment about ATA is one of the things that thwarts me because it seems only whole suits are available and by reading the forums it seems this guys limbs would be better, that guys butt plate is the best, this helmet is best, more details in this suit, etc. and it all seems to be geared towards a slightly taller, thicker, sedate trooper. Dammit! Why doesn't the Imperial kitchen make a high calorie nutritional paste for us smaller troopers? Ha ha.

P.S. While the expert and centurion badges are great I would really rather go for a white armor or a commander armor that looked like it fit and had a visual flow to it rather than looking like some 'Troopers I have seen at costume events who go for total authenticity "and fit and function be damned".

Wow! First off I gotta say you people and this site are FRACKIN' AWESOME! What kid didn't want a suit of 'Trooper armor after they saw Star Wars? When I got to school on Monday the teacher asked me "What are you making for your art project?", ME "Stormtrooper armor". It turned out alright but it's really small now and won't meet 501 spec. Ha ha! Speed up to modern day and I remember "I always wanted a badass suit of 'Trooper armor" so I googled it and found 501 and FISD. So here's what I got so far.... Boots: sourced Gloves: Rubber/chemical - got it. Bodysuit: got it. Neck seal: making it. (pretty easy and many online look too crappy for the price.) Tailoring skills: got it. Craft skills: got it. Armouring skills: got it While all this stuff seems to be what alot of people have trouble getting it was no problem for me but the armor is my problem. I am a real stickler for a good look and fit. It just looks crappy and uncomfortable when people seem to be swimming in costumes that should fit. My big problem appears to be fit. I am 5'7"(171cm) tall, 140lbs.(63.5kg) weight, 28'(71cm) waist, 38'(96.5cm) chest. My torso is flat/wide/short rather than round/thick. My limbs are long/ropey muscled not long/straight. So there in lies my quandry. I have read on the forum that some armors are better for smaller people and some are better for taller people but I am kinda stuck in between with an odd combination of measurements. So my questions are.... Is ABS heat workable after it has been formed into 'Trooper armor? Does heated shaping post manufacturing ruin the finish? If so is it repairable with refinishing? Any troopers out there with body types like mine that have input on which armourers make/can get closest to our shape? Any armourers out there that sell peices by the part? (I have found with medieval armourers that if they make a good greave and gauntlet that is a good guage of their sizing and work.) Was this the right forum to post these questions in? (I have been reading this forum and 501 for almost two days and A little overwhelmed trying to find all the info I need.) Thanks and cheers!