jimmiroquai

Yep. Got into this expecting to get recast. So this is just an FYI.

C'est la vie. It was bound to happen sooner or later. They do seem to have a set of my original kit (flexible fiberglass) that they are trying to sell off. I've been going through my records and for the life of me i can't figure out who it is i sold it to without going on a "did you recast my stuff?!" witch hunt. My sculptor friend was right in his advice to sculpt in tells and signatures in your work. You can't really stop people from recasting but you can tell when they do. Thanks for all the support people. Especially to those of you taking time out to help me investigate. Cheers.

Yup, didn't comment about the anovos stuff because i wasn't sure but in another pic (with the cap america shield) armor looks like a mix of anovos armor and mine. I think the drop boxes are anovos...

Hi all. FYI. Furry Props on etsy has sold and is still selling recasts of my 1st gen TFA stormtrooper armor on etsy. I've messaged them and they admitted it was recast. Screen caps below. They still have not removed the ad and i've logged a report with etsy. And the clincher: My original build can be found here for reference: http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=239344&highlight=jimmiroquai http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31428-another-tfa-stormtrooper-bucket-buildold-school-sculpting/ I just want to say that a lot of time and work went into making this. You guys have to know that while it's mainly my pride that's hurt with this, there are other people who's livelihood is affected by this blatant stealing. I originally set out to make this armor mainly for myself and a few for my 501st garrison so that we could have a few TFA troopers in time for the premier of Episode 7. I never intended to get thrust into overseeing a small business all of a sudden. In fact, this cuts into a significant chunk of my real job (I'm an Ophthalmologist) and is an additional source of stress. But you see, my fiberglass guys needed the work badly. They are not well off and while all this is just a hobby for us, my guys make a living out of this. They buy food, pay their kid's tuition with what they get with each suit i help them sell. Every recast suit Furry Props sells takes away much needed income from my fiberglass guys. Funny, i knew this would happen sooner or later, that's why i sculpted tells and signatures into my stuff, but i didn't expect the first recasters to come from the UK. Anyway, just a heads up. Thanks to everyone for the support. Jim

This says it all: ---------------

I've contacted the seller and she conformed that this is a recast of my armor. Reported the item to etsy. I have screen caps of the conversation and the sale page. I haven't given anyone permission to recast my stuff. Someone from the UK did ask for permission to cast for a few of his friends but conditions have not been met yet. And i expressly did not give any permission for anyone to sell recasts of my armor internationally.

Messaged the seller if this was a recast of my older armor.

Thanks for pics!

FYI, chrome spray paint CAN give you an almost mirror finish, if reflecting the environment is the gauge.... as long as you don't touch it or wear it or sweat on it after....ever.

Awesome finish! That's paint?! How? What kind of paint?

Beautiful, beautiful chrome! I wish i could achieve that finish with mine.

This is awesome!

That's an amazing finish.

I'm not sure waxing before painting / chroming is a good idea...

Wow, that looks awesome! Does the armor retain it's flexibility? No cracking in the paint? And most important? What paint was used?

Very very cool, Kevin! I would love to get my boys your mini buckets if ever you decide to sell kits.

I love this build!!! I used to build WW2 airsoft bolt actions and machine guns from scratch so this takes me back. Awesome, awesome build!

Very nice! Turned out awesome!

PM sent.

Thanks for sharing the video! Love learning new tricks.

Hi! Would this be open to non-anovos builders?

Not sure if this is the right place to discuss it but here's my build thread: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31428-another-tfa-stormtrooper-bucket-buildold-school-sculpting/ I used a lot of reference photos, scaled them, extrapolated measurements, asked some extremely helpful members for actual measurements and went from those.

Oh there were builders before there were CRLs, but in this case, i do agree. That's why i've been following this thread from day one. My main motivation is not money (I don't need the minimal extra cash), but it's because i'd like to have approvable armor for myself and possibly my garrison mates and building it myself is the only way i can do that. I'd love to go the extra mile and build myself a vacuumformer, which i can. But i did a local search and could not find a supplier of smoked (or similar) thermoplastic sheets. And to be honest, i am a bit knackered from building everything from scratch (no pep files, no 3D modelling, just old school sculpting by hand). All i'm suggesting is maybe we can specify bubble lenses for higher tier, just like OTK boots vs FOTK boots? That's all.

Just wanted to lobby a bit more for the approvability of flat lenses. With humility and every due respect, of course. Ever since the first teaser of the new helmet leaked online there have been many, many fan built helmets that have come out of the woodwork. Some that are too far gone to use now that more references have been made available, but some (especially the 3d rendered ones) that seem even closer in shape to the screen used helmets than the "A". Helmets are simple enough to produce via molding and casting but bubble lenses require vacuum forming which a lot of builders don't have access to in terms of the machines, the plastics or both. For most of the non-501st who want to be 501st with this costume , these fan builds are their only access. Even 501st members like me, don't have access to the "A" because the company won't ship to our region before the movie comes out. In fact, this lack of access was the main motivation for my full build (helmet and armor). By accepting flat lenses as well, we can have more FOTK troops before and during the premier of the movie. Besides, i don't think they really detract too much from the overall look of the helmet which i hope the pics below can illustrate. And because the FOTK uses a one piece lens, a flat, but curved lens (like a motorcycle visor) can be angled so that it look like a bubble lens. Just my 2 cents as a fan builder and as someone without access to "A" before the premier. Building buckets for my garrison mates: My armor's debut on Force Friday:

Do the lenses absolutely have to be bubbled lenses? Bubble lenses require special equipment to make and so far, as far as i know, only one helmet maker is offering bubble lenses. Doesn't leave much room for other makers. And when done right, flat lenses don't detract from the over all look too much, IMHO. Maybe bubble lenses for higher tier?