sskunky

I have managed to get some measurements Cylinders: Total length: 58mm Tube length: 48mm Tube width: 10.5mm Front cap thickness: 3.5mm Back cap thickness: 5mm whereas 1mm of it is in a curve Width of both caps: 11.5mm Thickness of nut: 1.5mm Width of nut: 4mm Length of pins: 18mm Width of pins: 2.5mm Length of holder minus height: 32mm Width of holder: 36mm heigth of holder: 16mm Tube braces: 15mm where there is a bend at each 5mm on the sides Center of tube hole to other center of tube hole: 22mm Center of pin hole to other center of pin hole: 5mm The tubes & holder measurements make sense when you look at the photos. I got the photos from the darksidesithlord.com ( I hope he doesn't mind, it's for a good cause!! ) and he sent me the measurements. Check out his blaster build it's something else!!!!! Truly spectacular from start to finish. I used some 10.5mm brass tubing for the tubes and a bit of 2.5mm brass rod for the pins , I then bought some screw cover caps from Wickes £1.09 and some epoxy putty metal repair £3.99 and just used the clear inner caps and filled them with the putty and sanded them all down to look right. to make the holding plate I bought some 0.6mm sheet steel from B & Q and cut it out with some tin snips and filed it smooth , then bent it in a vice and drilled the relevant holes. Most of this can be seen on darksidesithlord's great tutorial. anyway I hope this helps anyone trying to build these cylinders. Keep building those blasters guys. Mark.

Hi everyone, I am trying to build my own power cylinders for E11 project. I have managed to get most of the other bits and pieces but I am having major problems trying to make the plate/holder/rack or whatever it's called that holds the cylinders and pins. There used to be a template on the BBC Blaster builders club but they seemed to have disappeared? Can anyone please help? your hopefully, Mark.

Hi Kenny, You can get velcro and webbing at John Lewis in the haberdashery dept E6000 at this link ----- £4.99 Canvas straps, use Woolworths cheap brand luggage straps 99p Helmet armor padding, I use high impact foam knee pads available from Ebay from £1.99 or a work clothing store etc. Mark.

I know, I know just use 3 instaed of 4

How silly do I feel I didn't even think of that! I just had four batteries and assumed I was using all of them! Thanks for that. Lateral thinking thats what I like to see. Thats why I joined this forum for bright sparks like you. Mark

Hi everyone, Can anyone help me? I am trying to power my ROM F/X with a set of powerful Lithium batteries for volume and long running times. the only problem is that I have 14.8 volts from the batteries and the F/X runs at a maximum of 12v. So I think I need a voltage regulator. Not being a whiz at electronics I'm a bit stuck. I believe I need to know what Current or amps the board runs at. Does anyone know this or maybe someone has an alternative idea. I know it can be run on 8xAA's but I have the lithium's already and thought it might be a good idea. Shoot me down if this is a bad idea. mellow.gif HELP!!!! unsure.gif Mark.

Hi everyone, Can anyone help me? I am trying to power my ROM F/X with a set of powerful Lithium batteries for volume and long running times. the only problem is that I have 14.8 volts from the batteries and the F/X runs at a maximum of 12v. So I think I need a voltage regulator. Not being a whiz at electronics I'm a bit stuck. I believe I need to know what Current or amps the board runs at. Does anyone know this or maybe someone has an alternative idea. I know it can be run on 8xAA's but I have the lithium's already and thought it might be a good idea. Shoot me down if this is a bad idea. HELP!!!! Mark.

Sorry I just saw almost everything!!!!!! Mark.

That said TE, AP , TE2, VT etc, are all technically re-casters like it or not. How far can you take re-casting? re-cast , re-cast of original, remodeling of an original mold? I suppose it is all down to personal taste, and how you look at art which this is. We all strive to impress others and gain personal satisfaction for what we do. That's human nature. I agree I said I don't want to support re-casters but I haven't really thought about it before. As for everything on ebay is a re-cast, AP sells on ebay so is his a re-cast? By modifying our Armor, Blasters and any other part of our costumes we are altering the original designs which is what we all do to any cast of our purchases. I think sometimes we can all get a little obsessive about this and if the artist of this replica Screen used helmet is outstanding in his ability then that should be enough.(which I think he is). After all this discussion I may just have answered my own question!!!!!! Its very good and that's all that matters. Mark...

You bet I'll be careful !! looks nasty. I've just read Stutkatroopers AP Build and it looks like Ive got my work cut out!! It looks as if I am going to have to work the shape of every piece? I did build an FX a few years ago but that was pretty easy in comparison. Can't wait.....

Worth getting?

Hi Guys, Does anyone know of 501st pathfinder a seller on *bay selling screen used replica Lids.(warts and all) If so is he recasting or legit. they look quite good. but I don't want to support a re-caster! Can anyone shed some light? I am relatively new to this forum so I do apologize if he is well known on this site. I do not want to offend.... Mark.

It actually looks softer in that photo I will try and get another shot and put it up soon, Mark.

You think it might be a AP? That's uncanny as I have just this minute ordered my new set of AP armor!!!!!

Hi everyone , I've just bitten the bullet and ordered my set of AP armor. Mark.

Hi I have this bucket in my collection and it is pulled in quite a thick ABS hence the soft features. It is signed inside with GLA Prototype No.1 and signed by someone I can't decipher. I know it needs a little work here and there to make it good, I just haven't had the time recently. Wife and daughter etc.. Does anyone here recognize it at all as I am trying to find out its history. I have attached a couple of pics...... Mark.

wow guys, Thanks again for your very knowledgable input. That certainly clears a few things up in my mind as I was really stuck on what armor to get. So TE2 or AP seem to be the most screen accurate? I think from what I have learnt from my limited time here that I will steer clear of AA for my armor needs and I hope as soon as TE2 does a new run he will put me on the list Thanks again guys. I had truly underestimated how good this forum really is and how much I really didn't know! I know now I will have to spend a great deal of time trawling through the various threads so as I don't keep going over old ground. Please excuse me the newbie!!! Mark. Mark.

Ok, That said I did speak to AA the other day and he didn't entirely lose his battle with GL and is still able to produce the armor. I bought Two of his buckets a couple of years back and he is at present replacing the face of one due to yellowing, apparently from some chemical that was used in the early runs. He is doing this free of charge so you can't say fairer than that! I still don't understand why certain other makers are regarded as more accurate when AA originally made them in the first place? As far as I am aware the designs were in fact changed slightly from the originals by AA and his father as they were not vaccume freindly. This is why there is an arguement about who owned the copyright. If not I stand corrected. I only know what AA has told me, wether that is what I wanted to hear or not , I'm not sure. Thanks to you great people for disscussing this with me. Mark

Hi everyone, I just wondered if someone could clear up the confusion I have over all the different Armor/ Bucket producers. I worked for a couple of years for a friend of mine who owns/runs a modelmaking props company here in England and have produced various items for the Newer Star Wars films. But while working on those I was fortunate enough to work with some tallented guys that worked on the original films and they were all convinced that AA and his father made all the Stormtrooper Kits used in the first films. I just wondered why alot of people did not think his kits were that good. Is it the price or quality? Mark

Hi, can I ask who did the original casting and are the kits still available for sale? Mark