sharkbait

I have the AM 2.0 kit, I really like it. I had originally chose RT-Mod, but long story short it didn't happen, and I was able to snag an unclaimed kit from AM's last run in August, so within a month I had my armor. I'm 5' 11'' and average build, long arms, long legs (I wear a 34'' inseam w/o heels), long torso. The length of all the pieces has been perfect so far, no trimming down at all. (RT-Mod will fit troopers up to 6' 5'' and 230 lbs, I think, give or take how the weight's distributed). Nice thickness, feels like it's going to hold up. A lot of return edges to trim, which I don't mind so much, but again, to each his own. The hand guards are HUGE and I trimmed about 1'' off. The kidney, butt, and I think it was abs all had shim tabs, so if shims were needed, that would be a benefit. I trimmed them all off (easy, straight lines), so if you don't need shims, one more thing to trim. To my knowledge, the 2.0 chest is okay for Centurion, unlike 1.0 (even the untrained eye can see the difference between them), but the back plate will need to be swapped out for Centurion. It came with bubble green and a flimsy sheet of flat green. Also came with ANH Hero and Stunt decals, so if you're like me, and doing ESB, you'll have to order new decals (if doing decals, Centurion ESB requires decals). I'll be replacing the lenses with flat smoke (I really don't like green- personal preference). I'll also most likely be changing out the Hovi tips, if you don't, they'll need to be painted black (they come gray). It's not 100% symmetric, if that means anything to you, like one bicep has the thumbprint dent, one doesn't, one interior forearm is more curved at the top (for elbow bend) than the other. I've seen threads where people add a thumbprint dent and trim the lesser curve to match the deeper one, I've seen them leave it. AM came at recommendation by several of my squad members, and the price was good, as was the wait time. I used troopersupplies(at)hotmail(dot)com for ordering/questions. Good customer service. I have a ESB build thread up, too, if you're interested. I like that even if there's not a lot of ESB threads, they'res a ton ANH, and most of it is the same, so lots of easy to access help, which is huge for a first-time builder like myself. I'm working on the helmet now, and should have new pictures up this weekend. So, long story short, so far, I'm very happy with my AM; I'd recommend it, as long as the above are noted, and personal preference and all. If you want more details or specific pics, PM me. Hope that was helpful!

That's my backup plan. One of my squad managed to find me a pair from the last one someone was selling. Now I just have to hope they fit! If all else fails, Bass makes good boots, and I found white leather paint for $4 (4oz).

Here's what I ordered for my AM 2.0. I emailed him and said they would fit. Edit: I found specific ones for RT-Mod, for those looking. --------- (drop down menu for options)

As a (geeky/nerdy) woman I would take that as a compliment that I had the chops to be Vader, haha.

I'm planning on using parts of coordinates to places with significance to me (parts because the full coordinates are too long). I have my preferred and four backups, just in case, but so far they're all still available, and I hope to be done by December, so we'll see! Good luck finding the right number and snagging it, too.

"The member Verne cannot receive any new messages" Any other thoughts?

I'm after ESB decals, too. My (AM 2.0) kit came with ANH Hero/Stunt. Verne might get a flood of messages soon, haha...

Definitely look up your local garrison/squad/members and get involved. I third being a handler- it's actually a lot of fun in itself and since viability is so poor in most helmets, they need extra eyes. You can also learn a lot by watching and helping them suit up and take off, as to how things go together and what's optimum for comfort and wear-ability. Also take a ton of pictures while you're at it, and offer to take pictures for attendees so they can get in the shot with their kids if they want. High fives seem to be very well received all around. Some kids are going to be afraid no matter what, others will run right up and start telling you their life story (which is usually hilarious in itself).

I snagged a leftover AM run on short notice, too! And I'm doing an ESB TK as well. I look forward to following your build.

A year ago, at the opening year of a local con, I happened upon the 501st Legion booth. I knew vaguely what it was, but had never really given it much thought beyond that. I picked up a brochure, half on a whim, half just curiosity. I later saw Boba Fett having an in-depth conversation with Batman, and thought "This is why I love cons." I was too shy to actually approach anyone in 501st costume (Boba, TIE Pilot, pretty sure at least one TK), but it started something. A year and countless hours of research later... here we are. Kit: AM 2.0 Gloves: Nomex (I used these rubber chemical gloves for Centurion) Boots: TK Boots Under Suit: Eastbay compression top, and random brand yoga/compression pants Neckseal: Trooperbay Belt: TKittell Blaster: Hyperfirm by Slave5 Holster: Darman (8oz) Random tools: Wen Dremel with flex shaft, #1 series X-Actos, curved scissors, lots and lots of clamps in various sizes from Harbor Freight, E6000 glue, Empire metal ruler, rare earth magnets, lots of blue tape. Since I've never built really anything before, I was utterly terrified for a long time. I finally reached a point where reading and research had gotten me as far as it was going to, and it was time to just start building. Luckily I've had great help from my local squad members, and after that initial cut, it wasn't so bad. Even the helmet didn't seem like such a daunting challenge. The CRL seemed to make more and more sense by the time my kit arrived, I could positively identify all the pieces. This set is actually a couple of weeks worth of work, since I chose the busiest time of my life to start this whole process, between working full time, going back to school (out of town) twice a week, and buying a house (first house, whoo!). Slow and steady, it seems, lately. My goal is to finish my December 17th. I'd love to not only be able to troop the premiere (our squad will be at a local theater, of course), but also have that potentially be my first troop? I'm trying not to put too much pressure on that, just in case, I don't want to rush, but a timeline incentive is nice. Eventually, I plan to go Centurion. I'm doing as much as I can to that spec now, and will modify a few things (hand guards/gloves, etc)., later. Obligatory brown box shot (yes, it's already been opened, I couldn't wait); Kit all laid out, where it would stay for a few days, until we were going to have company and my mom wanted her living room back (I was staying there while I was having my house painted and new floors put in, among other things): I started with my forearms. Unfortunately I wasn't thinking and didn't take pictures of the process, but I ended up trimming roughly a 1/4'' off each side. Here they are laid out trimmed, hard to tell the difference, but they we huge on me at first. I have long, narrow hands, small wrists, and long, narrow arms. Return edge removed: Post Centurion edit: Here's the fully removed return edge: Next, the biceps: Before: Marked for trimming, might need to be trimmed a little more, but I'm pretty close. Again, I took off about 1/4''. I really should work on at least SOME muscle... the downsides of an office job. I found this was a far superior way to make a straight line score (not my strong suit, straight lines)- clamping my ruler onto the piece, then clamping it all onto my craft board (from a local hardware store for about $8). And I thought I wasn't going to need that old microwave cart anymore! Hence why it's in the garage in the first place. It's actually been a perfect work station. I used my X-Acto to score it, and keep scoring it until I could bend and snap. I was very impressed with the #1 X-Acto. And I got a three pack for $10 on Amazon, so not a bad price. My box cutters were just sliding across the slick ABS and doing very little, but the X-Acto, while it did dull after the four bicep pieces, is still functioning well enough to keep using it for another few pieces. Biceps all finished: Some random bits to trim: Shim tabs on the butt plate and abs (shaded removed): Excess length on chest tabs: Now to trim the excess length off the cod and butt. I ended up trimming it in the middle of those two lines on the cod, seems just about right. I might take a little more later, but for now it's a good start: Same with the butt plate (shaded removed): And now, hand guards! As other threads have noticed, these suckers are gigantic. At first I thought it was just my hands (long (8''), but narrow and halfway feminine), but then one of the guys in my squad compared them to his hands (which are not small), and they were even too big for him. After reading through other treads and holding them on my own hands, I decided on trimming 3/4''. It seems just about perfect. Left: Original Right: Trimmed Much better! And then I got both brave and ready for something different... and so, I made the first mark on the helmet. Alas, poor Yorick... I opted for 8 teeth, rather than 6, because I like the look of more teeth. Here's the rough cut (to be filed later). I ended up using my X-Acto because the head of my dremel attachment came off and I was having issues putting it back together (sometimes I get a mental block on things, I'm sure once I come back to it it will be a piece of cake to put it back together). And speaking of cake, I have Grandpa's birthday cake to frost for tonight, so that's all for now.

I emailed TK Boots to see what was going on straight from the horse's mouth, this is what I got back: "I'm sorry, but based on our incoming run's quantity and the size of our back order lists, the entire run is sold out. Some may not be ready to purchase, which may enable to move faster down the back order list, but we'll have a better idea later this month. I'm sorry about our inventory, but the new production facility has promised to help us catch up." While I understand supply and demand, I honestly believed I've been on the wait list for a year, and I reaffirmed that at least six months ago, but I think I just slipped through the cracks and/or have the most popular size so it really didn't matter how long ago I did it, it just wasn't long enough for available supply; I'm a little miffed, but it happens, I guess, that's life. So, sadly, it looks like for me TK is out for my first pair. Maybe eventually I'll upgrade or be lucky enough to snag one, but my goal is to finish my armor by December, so I just don't have any more time to wait. Still waiting to hear back from Imperial Boots (also backlogged, per website). Will advise when that comes through.

To my knowledge, TK Boots, Imperial Boots, and the "Chelsea" or "Jodhpur" style, and I think they generally only come in black so you'd have to paint or dye them with leather paint/dye. There's probably a handful of random boots that fit the bill out there too, but those are the main ones. I've also heard that the slightly taller ones work best so that your shins don't ride up. I'm looking into Imperial Boots, but it looks like they also got backlogged (waiting on an email reply) and according to their site, aren't taken new orders until "Early October" and as far as I can tell it's now early October, but it didn't mention how long the potential wait would be once orders were open again. I'm looking for my first pair too, we have bad timing with all those waiting on their Anovos kits! If I hear back from IB I'll post again. And if you find any let me know. Here's from the CRL on boots. They're all basically the same base (except the Concept Stormtrooper). And it also depends a little on what level you'll go for. ANH Hero/ANH Stunt: Boots For 501st approval: Boots are above ankle height and made of white leather or leather-like material. Small U-shaped elastic sections on both sides of the ankle. Flat sole with a short heel. No buckles or laces. Jodhpur/ Chelsea-type boots or an equivalent style is acceptable. Elvis or Mariachi boots are not allowed. For level two certification (if applicable): There is no seam present on the front of the boot. ESB: Boots For 501st approval: Boots are above ankle height and made of white leather or leather-like material. Small U-shaped elastic sections on both sides of the ankle. Flat sole with a short heel. No buckles or laces. Jodhpur/ Chelsea-type boots or an equivalent style is acceptable. Elvis or Mariachi boots are not allowed. For level two certification (if applicable): There is no seam present on the front of the boot. Boots are lightly scuffed ROTJ: Boots For 501st approval: Boots are above ankle height and made of white leather or leather-like material. Small U-shaped elastic sections on both sides of the ankle. Flat sole with a short heel. No buckles or laces. Jodhpur/ Chelsea-type boots or an equivalent style is acceptable. Elvis or Mariachi boots are not allowed. For level two certification (if applicable): There is no seam present on the front of the boot. Boots are lightly scuffed. For level three certification (if applicable): Boots have a white sole. Painted soles are acceptable

I've been on the waitlist for ages (like, a year ago, last October), but I never got that email. And naturally my size is a 10, one of the most popular. It wasn't a big deal before, because I was waiting on armor, but now I have my kit and my goal was to be finished by the movie, so I could troop in costume for the first time at the premiere... maybe it's time to search for a reasonable pair in the interim, just in case. Any recommendations? Preferably something that's already white, because I really don't want to deal with painting it unless absolutely necessary.

It wasn't directed at me (I was just a handler, my first build is in progress), but at a recent zoo event, a little girl asked our Sandtrooper "Who would win- Darth Vader or a tiger?" while we were standing by the tiger enclosure. Too bad our Vader was about five yards away, I would have liked to have heard his answer!