HansDC

...so here is a few from a shoot I did yesterday with a mate of mine who is starting out in photography. I think they turned out pretty well. Here is his WEBSITE if you wanna check out his other stuff. Enjoy!

Dan - this is my second bucket after I was approved. Im not sure what the rules are in terms of cutting visible holes in your ears, but Im guessing if you try and hide them with a bit of paint, you will at least be granted basic approval. As for the mic-in-ears technique, I got the idea from Tony's (ukswrath) BUILD THREAD. So much skill and talent there! My mic/amp kit is THIS ONE The speakers also came in the kit...they're not really loud enough. Im yet to take it out into the public to see if it works ok. But if I put some earbuds on instead of using the speakers - I can hear a pin drop two rooms away! I did try the mic in the hovi tips as well.....but they are too close to the fans and pick up a lot of vibration and echo. Feedback was also a problem. The good thing about this way, if you can get it to work, is that its directional. So you only really hear what you are looking at. With the mics in the ears I have almost 360 degrees of hearing, which can be quite annoying after awhile. As for the ears, took me forever just sanding and sanding and filing and then more sanding. I will post a picture of my first bucket when I have some time so you can see how rough it is compared to this one. Its all a learning curve innit. I read pretty much ALL the threads on ears. So made it a point to get it right with my next build and I think I nailed the ears at least 95%....maybe...HAHA! Im happy anyways..with the ears at least. Now the handpainting is another story......

Joe - Looking good mate! Kyle - if you can you should try and have a look at someone else's armour. I looked at millions of pictures for months before my first build, but only after I went over to another troopers house to check out his suit....everything made sense!

There is already a few threads requesting troopers to show the insides of their helmets. Click HERE for the latest one. Im sure if you see one you like you could PM that particular trooper and ask what they used and how they did it. I re-read your post again and I missed the part where we explain why our helmets are so. Well, I have recently got a second bucket mainly because I wanted to see if I could do better now that Ive already built one. Mostly for aesthetic reasons. I did experiment a lot with electronics in my first bucket but because it was mostly already built, I didn't want to keep taking it apart etc. With my second bucket I tried my hand at hand painting and making sure the ears had minimal/no gaps. Also did some mods and installed the Active Environmental System which gives me some volume in the lid so I can hear a little of whats going on outside. Apart from that I went with just fans. I don't like the idea of wires connecting the helmet...so I went with a throat mic system. There are so many ways of customising your helmet on the inside. There are no rules so do what works for you. I tried so many things and I think Ive found what I like, Im sure in the months ahead someone will give me some crazy idea and I will try that too! I suggest you check the thread I linked if you haven't already cos there are some amazing builds in there. Some look so good im sure they were issued by The Empire....

Keep in mind that if you're from the southern hemisphere, you will need to account for higher postage fees too. And a longer wait time. Ive probably spent closer to AUD$2000 maybe a little more, but I started with nothing. So I had to buy all the tools (Dremel, hole punchers, rivet guns etc) and all the base materials (snaps, elastics, glue etc.) I also had to go through making some of my own mistakes in sizing like getting the wrong sized boots and gloves. Luckily I resold the boots and didn't loose too much on them. But like everyone says, there are cheaper and of course more expensive ways to do it. For example I'm sure everyone has a mate or two that has a garage full of tools that maybe you could ask to use for your build. Even ask your mom or grandma/aunties if you can look in their sewing supplies and raid their kit. Or you could go the other way and splurge and get a pro to build it for you. Whatever choice you make, there is no right or wrong. And the end result is worth every single cent as many if not all will agree.

HooRag arrived and its no good. Its still too big! I can wear it but as soon as I twist my bucket, it twists with it. There is a spot tho inside the lid in between the back pad and top pad. If I put my hair in a little bun and twist it in correctly - it sits nicely in that area! First world problems really.

^^^^ THIS!!! ...is exactly how I have felt since the first time I put the helmet on in public.

LEGIT! Great photos!

Wow. Something that is so important and necessary...but you never think its actually someones job to come up with it all.

Anyone ever approached you with prescription green lenses for their lid?

I though this would be a thread already but I searched a few pages back and couldn't see anything so here it is. I find it very interesting to know what people do for work outside of their Star Wars fantasy. As been mentioned before some of you are servicemen or ex-servicemen in the army/police/etc. I am also constantly intrigued with random occupations. All of us are different and do different things. Please share if you will! Lets be honest this is in no way a cheap hobby. Those who are good with money will always find a cheaper better way, but for most of us, time is the most costly commodity. Would love to hear some stories of the balancing acts you do with your life and The Empire.. Myself - I'm a full time DJ. I work 4-5 nights a week and spend most the week digging for music and dreaming about Star Wars. Since music went digital, I spend a lot of time online, which is bad, but also allows me to trawl the interwebs a bit. Before that I managed retail stores for 15 years. I also work for a magazine called 'Sneaker Freaker' once a week in an office looking after the e-commerce side of the business. You can probably work out what the magazine is about. So thats me in a nutshell! Your turn!

I too have an EAS kit but haven't properly installed them yet. But yes, the green speakers come with the kit. I was given an option of bigger or smaller speakers.

I cut my cod just last week after a lot of deliberating. I wouldn't say I can now do special choreographed dance routines, but it just feels a little bit more natural in the overall fit. It's like getting a waist and hips for the first time if you were born without them. My advice - if your TK is mainly for display only - don't cut it. But if your main intention is trooping, then you should consider. As far as toilet breaks, if you have to go really bad - you will find a way regardless of how hard it may be.

From my (short-ish) experience here, I don't really think freedom of speech is the issue. From what I can see it is the 'tone' that is causing the problem. It is very hard to express emotion through the internet. In my last 10 years of involvement on various forums, this is the major cause of almost all the fights and arguments. Sometimes all it take is a smiley face or a wink to change the entire attitude of a post.

Sorry I should actually have used a current picture instead of being lazy. Dan - Thats an old pic. I have since fixed my shoulder elastics and placed them in the correct place...

Sure man. Just a suggestion because someone mentioned it. Trying to give the new guy all the options so he can decide for himself. Thats all.

You don't cut the corners. Once the front of the pieces are sealed, you should be able to pull the back apart and slide your leg in.

I am really interested in this but I want it in the blaster. Might have to do some creative thinking before I trigger a set. But this is a great how-to! Thanks!

Its all up to you. I find it helps especially if you are going to troop in your TK.

The little white piece on the bicep holding the elastic is a bicep hook. They prevent your shoulder elastics from riding too high, hence holding your bicep piece in place. I used THIS TUTORIAL to make the ones you see below.

For the first time since I joined (not too long ago), I understand what (most) the roles are now and how this all works. Even tho I managed to navigate my way though this web of the dark side and come out the other end ok - I think there are many others who find everything overwhelming and intimidating. Sometimes to the point of not even giving it a go. With this one post I feel that things are gonna get better, and hopefully make it more accessible and fun for recruits. Everyone mentioned has my full support!!! Congrats and long live FISD!!!

My balaclava is the smallest I could find. I do have a smallish head. I wear a size 7 in a fitted cap if thats anything to compare by. I ordered a hoorag. Lets see if that works.

Nah I think this is the correct place for it. Just keep adding to this thread. Remember everyone loves pictures. The more the better so take lots. Don't be afraid to ask even the dumbest question. We should be able to get your armour up to standard.

Would you mind taking some more shots? Side, back, details etc.....looks good from the front but I've never come across a bucket made with 'clear' plastic. Maybe some pics of the chips with the plastic revealed? Once you have more pics Im sure everyone else will chime in.

^^ Didn't know that!