Hellblazer

Thanks guys, this was the kinda boot up the butt I needed to pull the trigger. I signed up for ANOVOS Armor this morning, and paid my first $200 on Flex Pay.

Hello Ladies & Gents, I know I posted a thread with similar, but not exactly the same questions earlier, but I'm really in a decision pinch and I need AS MANY HONEST OPINIONS AS POSSIBLE from my fellow 501st Members, and my former TK Brothers...<br><br> Recently I came across a local here in Fayetteville, NC on Craigslist selling a set of Shadow Trooper Armor. The Armor is for my son who wanted to go TK or Tie, to join the 501st, but after seeing some cool mods, and my friends Sideshow 1/6 Shadow Trooper Figure is considering the Shadow Trooper. The young lady selling the Armor locally is selling it for $300. After doing some closer inspection of the Armor it's an older FX Kit with a Franken-Bucket. Now I know what mods are necessary and know I can make the FX pass inspection, but I'll need to get a new Helmet (about $200-$300). Plus I also need to buy Boots, Under Suit, Neck Seal, and Gloves (her kit comes with a Resin Blaster, plus I still own my old TK Blaster). Plus she's willing to let me split up the $300 between 3 paychecks...<br><br> Now, in my search for a new Bucket, I browsed the ANOVOS site b/c I knew they have a Shadow Bucket coming out soon. That's when I happened across the pre-order for the NEW TK Kits due out in January. The Kit w/ Soft Parts (Under Suit, Neck Seal, and Gloves) is a little over $600 plus shipping. I don't have to buy TK Boots b/c I still own my old set and they fit my son, and as I already mentioned, I still own my E-11. So when it's all said and done, the ANOVOS Kit w/ all accessories and build material will be $150 to $175 more than the Shadow Trooper Armor, plus ANOVOS offers FlexPay. And after reviewing TKSWrath's EPIC Build Thread I'm confident that the ANOVOS Armor will pass inspection if I even follow 1/10th of his advice and suggestions...<br><br> So it comes down to Cost vs. Quality, and I'm on the fence. Considering I'm making my son pay for part of his own Armor, the cost is a factor, but not a major one. And I've always been a stickler for quality, so you can see my conundrum. I want as many straight up opinions as possible... Be brutal!

So recently I came across a local here in Fayetteville who is selling Shadow Trooper Armor for $300. I'm going over to his house this weekend to inspect the Armor, and take pics to post here (to get everyone's opinion), but considering my son wants to join the 501st, and we've been looking for an affordable option that includes Armor (he wants TK or Tie Armor), I figure if the kit is legit, the price is right. My only concern is the guy isn't in the 501st, and honestly never heard of the organization. He bought the Armor years ago, and wore it to movie premiers and events, but never happened across a 501st member (I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility, considering there are so few of us in Fayetteville). My question is, I've been out of the Armor game so long, and I know my FX Armor I wore back between 2002-2005 probably wouldn't pass today, what should I look for?<br><br> Here's a pic he provided of the Armor. He said he bought it second hand years ago. I've compared it to pics of the poopie Supreme Armor Rubies sells, and this looks like a legit Fan / Artisan Kit, and not some commercial garbage. Plus it looks to have a Pauldron, which isn't standard to the Commercial kits... Like I said I'll post more pics after I go to his house...------------

Thank's guys... The wait for ATA isn't a problem, my son is only 16 and can't officially join the 501st for another 2 years, but he's dedicated, and wants to have Armor the day he turns 18. My only concern is making sure I have the money available when the time comes (you never know what curve ball life is going to throw at you). Does the gentleman that casts ATA allow payment up-front (does anyone know)? If so, then I don't mind paying and waiting, as long as it's a quality product. I see the draw backs to ANOVOS though, and I was unaware that they were no longer taking pre-orders for another run. Every time I visit their page, it still says you can pre-order, and even though I'm on their mailing list and FB Page, I had no idea they were selling out of the last 50 or so kits. It's funny, back before I retired my Armor (around 2005-2006), I look back at old photo's and I'm like "Look At That Oversized SpaceBalls Bucket". I originally trooped between 2002-2005, and owned FX Armor that the Carolina Garrison Commander helped me obtain and assemble...

I've discussed that I'm planning on buying my son TK Armor this summer to join the 501st, but I'm torn between ATA or ANOVOS Armor... So I'm taking a poll! And feel free to mention Pro's and Con's below!

At closer inspection, the ANOVOS helmet looks a bit larger as well, not FX large, but bigger than the ATA...

Looking at UKSWrath's helmet comparison, everything looks spot-on on the ANOVOS helmet, except for the airaitors, the ones on the ANOVOS helmet look a bit small and unusual?

My son is going TK, and he's inheriting my Hasbro E-11 (back from 2002, not sure if Hasbro sculpt has changed). I did a few mods when I was a TK, but nothing major. But now I want to beef it up for my son and wanted to know everyone's opinion on The DoopyDoos Mk2 conversion kit. It's quite affordable... http://www.doopydoos.com/stormtrooper-e ... 2636-p.asp