tkrestonva

I'd say you can fit pretty much any kit, although I'd stay away from the larger kits (AM & RT Mod) - you'd be floating inside of them. I expect you'll also have to put padding in the arms and legs to ensure those pieces stay in place.

On that - we are in agreement.

In all likelihood, that's no more acceptable than having someone with a 20" waist with their drop boxes against their butt. Without the benefit of an example photo, I think it would be acceptable to move the drop box as far out as Option B (or even a tiny bit further) if it enhances the overall costume appearance. You have to look at the individual and make a judgement call on what looks best, while sticking to what is seen on film (be it still photography or video) as much as possible. What we're trying to do here is get as many people into accurate costumes as possible and have them look good doing so. By contrast, I don't believe that numbers were an issue during filming - if the actor wasn't the proper height/weight proportion he was simply passed over for the next guy. It is possible to get so caught up on the small details that you lose sight of the overall picture - "missing the forest for the trees" if you will - and the overall appearance is really what most people outside of us stormtrooper fanatics see in the films. That's what we're really trying to achieve in attempting to nail as many details as possible - the big picture. That's why even a beat-to-hell screen-used suit that looks like a complete pile of junk up-close can look stunning - from a distance. It's the sum total of the details and how they come together - not the details themselves - that really make for an outstanding costume.

Sweet! It's like I'm surrounded by Leia goodness.

The photo is pretty pixely. Got a better photo?

But that's the thing - there really isn't undeniable evidence, not anything consistent anyway. I have a life-sized cardboard cutout of an ANH stormtrooper in my garage - the promo picture that has him wearing a Hero helmet and pointing an SE-14R at the camera. If you look at his left drop box, it clearly doesn't align like Option C. The outer edge of the drop box aligns about half way between Option A and Option C - right where the belt begins to taper. Let's consider a (not-so) hypothetical scenario: A small-built would-be trooper, say around 5'1", 100lbs, with a waist measurement in the low 20-inches, wants to wear accurate armor (TM, TE2, etc.), build it in a screen-used fashion, and look good. If that trooper says "Option C - no matter what!" is it really the right choice - even if the drop boxes end up on their buttocks? Or should they do what the costume department did back then - take the suit and fit it for the best possible look taking into account the individual's unique physique? I say the latter - that's behind the whole idea of taking a kit and building it to your unique specs for the best possible fit. I agree that the default answer should be Option C. However, I also think one should not allow onself to be enslaved by it if it obviously doesn't work. Especially if you end up violating the intent of the drop boxes - to cover the triangle-shaped area of black undersuit showing between the thigh, cod, and butt armor. The costume department (I believe) did what they needed to do to get the best fit for each actor, realizing not all of their actors were built identically. So should we.

That statement - I can agree with. To my eye, there is definitely variability in where the boxes are placed and the screen cap Dennis posted illustrates it. I seem to remember Mark (firebladejedi) once stating that the drop boxes were not fixed to the belt, but looped around as shown - and as a result tended to slide a bit as the trooper moved around. Would that explain the variable positioning? - Mark, my apologies if I attributed something to you that you actually didn't state.

If you mentally rotate the drop box and straighten the elastic such that the top edge of the drop box is parallel with the bottom edge of the plastic belt, the outer edge of the drop box will extend past the outer edge of the plastic belt. If not, then the plastic belt is longer than it appears to be based on where it appears to end (which is of course hidden by the belt). Even without using mental visualization, the belt on the trooper second from the left in the screen cap looks most like Option B. Just one more example of the variability in the details from one screen-used suit to the next, and why if you truly want to emulate screen-used, you have to pick a single stormtrooper to emulate. Anything else - including attempting to combine the varying details of different screen-used suits - can only result in an interpretation.

At the risk of derailing the thread, wasn't the intent of the drop boxes exactly as stated? As I understand it, the stormtrooper costume was an evolution of the sandtrooper costume, with drop boxes, ab buttons, thermal detonator, and a redesigned knee plate added to enhance the overall appearance. Also, if one is to look like a "real stormtrooper" doesn't that demand that one be a slightly-built man of approximately 5'10" and 160lbs? Personally, I haven't been that size in about 20 years, nor would I want to be. That may have been the norm or even ideal body 30 years ago during the era of "Twiggy" (remember her?), but it certainly isn't now. Finally, not all of the drop boxes on all the screen-used costumes appear to be placed exactly in the same spot relative to the belt. For instance, "option C" has the outer edge of the drop box exactly lined up with the outer edge of the plastic belt, just like in the promo picture Dennis posted. However, the photo Pablo posted doesn't appear to show that alignmnent - granted, you have to use some mental visualization to see it. Furthermore, if you look at the screen-cap that Dennis posted, you can see examples of both Option C and Option B on the trooper in the rear on the far left of the screen-cap, and the trooper to his immediate left.

Agreed.

Sorry - I should've been more clear. By tubes I meant the "small flexible rubber duct to hug the inside of your bucket" as per your description. The idea being that the heat exchange would happen inside the main unit mounted in the backplate, with cool air being blown up into the helment via the rubber duct snaking (which may need to be insulated to keep the air cool as it travels up the duct) up the trooper's back.

I've never heard of it being a problem. If you go to Flickr or one of the other photo-hosting sites you'll find thousands of photos like you described. Even surfing through the "Field Training Exercises" section here you'll find plenty of photos like that - and no one (to my knowledge) has gotten sued for it. As much as we like getting our picture taken in costume, the fans we interact with seem to like getting their picture taken with stormtroopers even more. So yes, bring on the photos.

Carrying a DLT-19 as your primary and a holstered E11 as a sidearm is perfectly acceptable. If you decide to go ANH Hero, ala Han Solo style, it's even screen-accurate.

There are a handful of options for what you want/need, but it sounds like AP would be the best match.

Eight AAs is a lot of weight. Would it be possible with this unit to mount the hardware in the armor - for instance, the backplate - and simply run a cooling tube up and into the helmet?

Happy Birthday, bro. Enjoy your day and evening. Wish I could be there.

Looks good - and Happy Birthday to you, sir.

Depending on what kind of kit you have, you can always contact the makers. ATA and RT Mod will for sure sell you spare parts. ATA is TE2-compatible, and RT Mod is FX/AM-compatible. Under certain circumstances, AP and TM will provide spares as well. If you specifically want FX pieces, your only option may be to scour ebay or keep an eye out on the boards for preowned kits. If you find one, ask if the seller is willing to part it out. If not, buy the entire kit and part it out yourself.

Based on your needs & desires, AP is a good choice. TM would also be a good choice. You definitely have what we call a "screen-accurate" physique. The efx ESB TK is basically an MRCE with a black-painted frown. It's 501st acceptable, EIB-acceptable with mods, but there are better options - especially if you go with one of the above-mentioned kits. Better to keep it as a display model.

Happy Birthday Paul - and thanks for all you continue to do for this hobby and community .

Play nice, gentlemen. No need for personal attacks coming from or directed at anyone.

Can you do a parts & supplies list for the internal strapping? I'm particularly interested in the strapping that connects the back, kidney, and butt plates. I'd also like to know what glue you used for the straps, the type of snaps used, etc.

Having the rare earth magnets attached with screws instead of glue is a great idea - and a lot more secure. I may have to make that change to my set of binders.

Both AM and RT are similar in terms of material (ABS), thickness, ease of assembly (both come pretrimmed and don't require painting) and the fact that both are generally better suited for larger troopers but can - with trimming - be made to fit smaller troopers. In fact, I use an RT Mod chestplate & backplate with my AM kit, and the two integrate very well. Both kits are acceptable for basic 501st membership as well as EIB. I think one of the biggest difference is that the RT kit comes with a preassembled helmet, whereas with the AM - assuming you bought the helmetless "AM Lite" kit - you'd have to find your own helmet. It's really a personal preference. What I would do is look at photos of both kits, and go with whichever catches your eye more.

Yes, we love looking at photos of ourselves! No doubt you'd be most welcome.