mikedwelle94

No one will know for sure how well plastic colors match up until these folks get the plastic in their hands. Also yeah, I heard that people are waiting a while for theirs. I don't think you can even order any OT TK stuff from Anovos now until some of the pre-orders have started shipping. There are other vendors with helmet kits ready to go besides Anovos. There are some good tutorials on how to put ATA helmets together.

Wait, TM has made the FOTK already?

I'll be referring to this thread when I start my DLT-19 build. Thanks for all the pictures!

Got a few things done since my last update! I sold my MTK helmet on eBay (my first eBay sale!!). So PayPal is withholding my funds until the helmet arrives and feedback is sent. Fair enough I guess. Apologies to TM for making him wait so long to ship my ROTJ armor, belt and helmet stuff..! What I still need to do with the parts I have on hand: - Spray paint right bicep white (a few of the parts I received came in black HIPS) - Add red stripe to right bicep - Trim knee ammo belt and rivet to right thigh - Add red stripe to right thigh and left thigh - Spray paint both shins + TK kneeplate red - Add rear shim to right shin - Add velcro to right boot to keep shin from popping out - Strap right shoulder bell to the right shoulder bridge I had to add a shim to the inside of my left shin so it would fit over the top of my boot, using some leftover red ABS from my old ATA Magma. Is it acceptable for the back of a ROTJ shin to look like this? I plan to do the same with my right shin if this is okay. This little glitch involving the shins and boots just so happens to be one of only two reasons why my other suit isn't 501st approved... I feel pretty motivated to make this change after seeing how well the shim worked on this set of armor. And this is what the front looks like with the shim installed. The knee plate is CAP-W (HIPS), and the shin armor is ATA (ABS). Can't wait to see how this all looks in red. And a couple more questions. Since the thermal detonator is clearly ANH/ESB and not ROTJ, would my FX control panel be acceptable? Are they still accepted on new recruits? I could purchase a replacement from ATA, but I would rather save up for DLT-19 and backpack parts.

Also, if price is the issue, it wouldn't hurt to let the vendor know. Perhaps they could work out a payment plan for you if you ask about it. We just don't want to see you make a purchase you'll regret Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

You are essentially buying a stolen product. If you're okay with that, fine, but keep in mind that although your kit may seem like a good deal now, it may wind up costing you tons more when you find out you have to replace parts. Won't seem like such a good deal then. You've gotten some good advice, and in the end it's your call whether or not you want to follow it. Good luck with whatever choice you make. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

Perhaps you could look into scratch building a TK helmet with the pepakura method. I've seen files that in my opinion look better than the eFX, but lack a lot of the wonkiness of the original helmets.

Yup, same. I had mine before I knew that more accurate options were available. My intention wasn't to berate anyone who put work into theirs and make the best of what they already have. It's not a BAD helmet by any means, but those who would willingly choose it over say, an ATA or CAP-W, would puzzle me. If you like what you're wearing, keep wearing it. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

I made it work for the most part. Not having the ridge on the other halves left me with a few gaps between the tops and bottoms, but once I get some stronger magnets I should be able to fix them.

Good god, did you really just go there? I quietly respected everything you said up to this point, but you're crossing the line now and you need to be called out on it. Body shaming is NOT okay, and no one should be discouraged from cosplaying their favorite character due to the way they look. Let the people have their fun. I don't think the 501st, nor the cosplay community in general, would mesh well with people who hold viewpoints like yours. OP had his question answered, and somehow in the same thread RS was bashed (again) and people are being body shamed. Let's put a cap on it.

CAP-W and ATA are examples of vendors who sell A New Hope style Stormtrooper armor kits. If it's true that Corsair Kids is a recaster, then it would not be morally appropriate to purchase from them. That kind of stuff is very much frowned upon. Buying from recasters is comparable to buying stolen goods imo. If you want HIPS, buy from Scootch. I don't think he's on the list Locitus provided, but he's recommended by many folks here. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

HIPS. Only good vendor I know of that currently uses HIPS is CAP-W, or it could be an old ATA. The helmet ears look a little weird to me. Other than that, it looks like it can be approved for sure as a Sandtrooper if you can make it fit you. It would have to be a Sandtrooper, as it's missing the TK kneeplate and the abdomen buttons. Do you have a link with more information about this set of armor, maybe a sale post?

As someone who once had an EFX as a first helmet, I upgraded to a CAP-W and never looked back. The HIPS plastic is much lighter and more comfortable to wear than whatever the thick stuff EFX is made of. That, MTK, and ATA are all fine choices for cheap, good quality kits. Why buy an EFX and do a bunch of extra work to make it pass for basic approval, when you can just buy a quality kit for roughly the same amount of money (sometimes less)?

This talk about RS has nothing to do with OP's question about resin helmets. I don't think bashing RS is adding anything too constuctive to the discussion. I'd think you'd be more than welcome to start your own thread in which you can voice your opinions. --- Another thing about resin helmets worth mentioning, is the work it takes to finish them from their raw state. Speaking from experience, sanding and cutting resin with, say, a dremel, kicks up a LOT of toxic particles. It's messy, and you'd need a respirator for sure. ABS is much easier to work with - it's possible to do most of your work with a razor blade and some sandpaper. If you want a cheap, good quality helmet kit that's easy to work with, hit up Scootch and see if he can sell you one. He uses HIPS that requires painting, but I've found that it's easier to cut and assemble vs. ABS. A few coats of spray paint and clear coat, and no one will tell the difference. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

I have a set of MonCal thighs that I'm putting together with overlaps (for my ROTJ Shock Trooper) and I'm stumped on how to join the backs together. As you can see, there's no raised edge for me to glue the other half to. Any advice on how to create that edge with a heatgun? Is there anything else I'd need to make sure I don't ruin my plastic? Thanks in advance for your answers!

My advice is to avoid it. Some kinds of helmets - like Mandalorian helmets for example, are good resin helmets. But you will be much better off with a trooper helmet made of ABS or HIPS. There are no advantages in having a trooper helmet made of resin. It will be heavier and more expensive. And if you drop it, you're S.O.L. Take a look at the recommended vendors here. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/

If you're going for total accuracy, I recommend rubber chemical (dish washing) gloves. You can find them for $5 at the hardware store. Wear cheap cotton winter gloves underneath, or you'll be bathing in sweat. An often recommended alternative to rubber gloves are "nomex flight gloves."

Troopermaster ( TM) and Cast from Original (CFO) both sell ROTJ kits. They are based overseas. TM: ---------- CFO: ----------- It would be cool to watch another ROTJ get built. I don't see enough of 'em!

Thanks for the replies, gents. I went with hot glue so that whoever gets this helmet can more easily remove the ears if they want to. A little silicone for the gaps, and it's looking pretty sweet. Paul, I will be ready to purchase your helmet kit soon. I have some people interested in the bucket.

What I'm probably gonna do is submit without the pack and the weapon for level 1, then build the pack and a DLT-19 from scratch for level 2. I don't think I'm crafty enough to build something from scratch that no one's done before And that's how it should be, but I'm pretty confident I'm at least capable of hitting level 2 after introducing TM's ROTJ helmet and kidney/butt into my build. I don't see my FX abdomen armor lasting much longer here either. A lot of the ANH pieces look the same as ROTJ. Forearms, thighs, shins, etc. Even the shoulder bells in the game look more like ANH ones: they don't have that pinched look.

I would hold off on buying a separate mic then. The I Comm might still be cool to have though. Not sure how it would hook up with whatever setup is included with your helmet, but that's a question better directed to the seller of that helmet. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

No problem at all sir, glad to help. As for the lack of response, I'd just give it a couple more days before trying again. It can sometimes take that long, speaking from experience. You'll get your reply - whomever you're trying to reach is more than likely just busy at the moment. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

I think AP will be what will work best for you. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

Voice booster, I Comm, that's all good. Not required for approval, but it makes you sound like a real Stormtrooper with the static bursts. And I don't know if anyone asked this yet, but what's your body type? Some armors fit certain body types better than others. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

I'll give it another go haha. Maybe I just need to trim them a little more. Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk