BoomerTrooper

My two-cents, I wouldn't purchase it with the expectation of it being automatically approved or even in anticipation of it getting approved any time soon. If you're at the 'hang around' stage and you haven't acquired armor, I would stick to a builder or maker that has been approved and has a history (TM, MTK, CFO, CAP to name a few). And while I don't share the same level of skepticism I've seen in some of the replies... I ordered mine for a couple of reasons: 1. I already have approved armor 2. I don't have the expectation that it will be 501st approved 3. I don't mind waiting until winter (or longer) because it gives me a project over the holidays or the summer 2016 4. I could use it to as part of a cool Carbon Freeze Chamber diorama for display in my living room 5. I actually like the armor that I saw on ANOVOS website Do what you like (or can afford), but this will be my third set of armor (4th helmet) and I've spent a combined total of $1,460 including my ANOVOS purchase today! (Moral of the Story: There are deals to be found on 501st approvable armor without spending $1,000)

I believe that the sizing is only in regards to the under suit and the rubber gloves. The armor is OSFA

Just placed my order and got my confirmation. Although I'm extremely satisfied with my MTK armor and bucket, I'll build this new version and do a comparison -- whichever is more comfortable will be my trooping armor and the other will go onto a custom posed mannequin with a Death Star hallway diorama for my living room.

Mine is part of one piece that runs around the bottom of my bucket and has fans attached to the ends that fit in the hovi tips well. There's two buttons that I can access with my thumbs.

Judging by the photos, the first picture is the eFX Legends (which hasn't been released), the second and third photos are the eFX Precision Cast (which we all know) and finally, the fourth picture is a Master Replicas .45 scaled helmet... Me thinks that the seller doth post too much.

Between my 4 buckets, Trooperbay has been a LIFESAVER!

Yeah, I realized after I posted that I alluded to them being painted and I should have known that they were stickers. I'll use the links that you all provided (thank you, BTW). But do the stickers look blue-ish?

I'm in the process of putting together everything for my third helmet build and I plan to make this one an ESB version. The other two are ANH and I thought it would make a good contrast for my display wall (posted below) In an effort to get the paint right, I've been doing a lot of research about ESB paint schemes vs. ANH. From what I've read, the traps and tears are the same gray, but almost every photo that I've seen it looks like the ESB helmet traps and tears are almost a light blue-ish. I'm sure that's not right, which is why I asked the question in my subject line. Am I crazy or does anyone else see the same thing I do? I just want to get it right. Light Blue?

I just bought one of these to have displayed in my house (big collector of anything TK related). I got it Friday and started sanding, shaping, and painting it on Monday. I've done a side by side with my CAP that I troop in to see the difference in size, shape, etc. Personally, I like it. I know that as a 501st Member, I'm supposed to demonize recasters, rip-off artists, etc. but he actually didn't say anything about 501st approval or anything in the ad. It was a solid piece that I wanted to do as a project to see how I could make it look. Personally, I would recommend you buy your first from one of the great members that build and make available super accurate buckets, not only to support our members, but the experience to build, paint and create your own first helmet. It would be your first step into a larger world

So I was cruising eBay (searching for a couple of TK stickers) and I saw the following posting: "STORMTROOPER COMMANDER SUPRIME EDITION PROFESSIONAL FULL BODY COSTUME" Beyond it just being a Rubies with a shoulder pauldron, the description says; "PICTURES ARE REAL AND SHOWS THE FULL COSTUME" Uh... no. Prompting me to send the seller a question: Normally I just pass them up and live by 'Caveat Emptor' but I think the 'Commander Supreme Edition Professional"... "...has been used in films" just really bugged me. Then again, maybe I'm just being a jerk. Either way -- I feel better saying something.

I kinda wondered the same thing. I would hope that it wouldn't be that way since there wouldn't initially be that many members that would have the new armor/helmet (I would imagine). l really like the new helmet, but there's a part of me that hopes that if they're going to show remnants of the Empire still functioning that there would be at least a few classic TKs shown onscreen, thereby warranting a mix of classic and new troops at events. I do plan on owning Ep. VII armor and bucket once a clear winner emerges in what (I would imagine) will be a veritable land run of new and old designers vying to be at the top of the heap. In the worst case, if there comes a point where requests for Ep. VII troopers outnumber classic troopers, I'll purchase a mannequin and build a diorama of the Carbon Freezing Chamber and add him to my dedicated Star Wars room in my house.

After reading your post, I went into our bedroom and took a couple of quick photos. You're right, you hardly notice the vents when the bucket is on. The pics of the vents in the back are visible because I haven't painted the inside of them black yet. --------------

Sorry for the delay in replying to this conversation. I'm almost completed with the vents and I actually like them a lot. I didn't take any from the back vents since I haven't touched it up yet, but I'll do them soon! Here are a couple of the front vents! -------------

I'll post pics in the next couple of days. The venting went well, but I do have to do some shaping then I'm going to paint the vents. Once I'm done with that, I will post pics.

Well, I took your suggestion Tim and routed the tears and traps and it looks... awesome! I stayed away from the tubes, but the rest really does look good! Thanks for the suggestion, Tim!

Hi all -- I searched the boards but didn't find anything about this topic. After looking at the new Ep. VII buckets that were released this week, I noticed that the vents in the tubes are actually vented. I know that they hand painted ANH and used stickers for ESB and ROTJ for the purposes of filming/budget - but my question is, has anyone ever cut actual vents into their bucket? I am considering doing it for the tubes and the back of my bucket, but I'm a little nervous about doing it for fear of how it might look. I had two schools of thought: 1. Cut the tubes and paint the inside with the blue color used on the stickers 2. Cut the tubes and lay a layer of frown mesh inside the bucket to give it a vented look Has anyone ever considered or done this? If not, what are your thoughts about it?

Great information, Peaches_DC! I was just blown away when I saw it on evilBay.

Please enable me for 501st status. Thank you.

Wow, I don't think I've seen a helmet this out of proportion since forever... What do you guys think? Scout Trooper Helmet

Hey SC -- that's a really good idea and one I'll definitely use. In regards to the armor it's kind of a long story, but let's put it this way -- if you're a guy that up and leaves your wife of 10 years to move to Texas with your new girlfriend, make sure that your newly abandoned wife isn't best friends with my wife... and when you then help your wife's best friend move to a new home and during that move she gives you his RS armor (which you've been drooling over since the day he got it) it's probably not polite to call him and ask him to ship the helmet.

You're right Zebra, the man is fast and dependable. He also added a bonus set of coms for me to practice on (really cool move). SC, you're right -- the paint is the thing that is giving me anxiety!

Thanks SC! I was pretty stoked about getting started but now you spooked me (ha!) when you say, 'a little more work'... is there anything that I need to be watching for during the build or are there any pieces that I need to watch for? I'm looking forward to seeing the RS and CAP together as well. Hopefully it will blend well.