TheMagicMan

How much is he letting the armor go for? I only ask because if it's a very low price, it may work to get you in the door, but it could use some tweaks, such as new boots and perhaps a better blaster. The EFX helmet will have to be replaced, regardless. I'm actually dealing with a helmet issue as well, as mine is the infamous 3-piece design, and while it might be approvable, it's a pain in the butt to assemble properly. Foe what it's worth, if you decide to go with this set, check out our vetted vendors for a replacement bucket.

This might just be my military upbringing and prior service talking but this is how I see it... To be involved in a group as highly regarded and well respected as the 501st is an honor that should NEVER be marginalized. To wear the white armor is an honor, but while representing this fine group is uniquely special; you are representing something FAR bigger than oneself. The 501st has done amazing things for people, and I will never tarnish that image by drinking alcohol while wearing my armor or my soft uniforms at ANY function, sanctioned or otherwise. I might not be official yet, but I consider it an honor to be involved with such a group, and I will not take that for granted. Ever.

11 May 2017 My Hyperfirm E11 and my Aker amp arrived today... Only a few more bits needed before I can start!

My Hyperfirm E11 arrived today, and it's THE way to go if you elect not to build one like our friend Addertime did.

I'm curious... Who won?

"Hey Bob, do you really think this will take the place of the Death Star?" "How the hell should I know Gary? We got told we could beat a bunch of Space Teddy Bears on that damn moon..." "Good point... Ehh, look at it like this; at least we're not having to dodge trees."

2 May 2017 My BBB is still sitting in my spare bedroom, but all of my undersuit items are now here. Unfortunately, I've had a few bills pop up that require my immediate attention, so the official start date on construction has been pushed back by a little over 2 weeks. I HATE delays, but it'll be worth it I think. I ordered my Hyperfirm E11 on the 22nd, but so far haven't gotten a tracking number yet from HFx. From what Lewis said, it was being packed up for shipping on the 27th. I'm not worried about it, but I am anxious for it to get here! Once it arrives, the last pieces I'll need, save for the actual construction hardware, will be my holster (ordering from Darman, as I like his heavyweight holsters), my TD clips. and my silicone handguard plates. Once those are here, I'll be ready to start.

Actually, way ahead of you there; Look in the builds thread and you should find it. It's ABS, so I should be good. This is true. I'll paint the parts that absolutely need to be painted, but the rest will remain unpainted.

.... OK, I have no idea how this posted here, but this was supposed to be in the ANH subforum! This is why I have posting from my phone! If an administrator can move this to the appropriate forum, I'd appreciate it.

Fellow TK's, I'm in the process of gathering my supplies for my armor build and was curious; do any of you fully paint your armor? I'm asking because I'm not the world's best painter and I don't want to screw up my armor before I even get the first chance to wear it. Any input here would be appreciated!

This is a TK Armour; a buddy of mine sold it to me for a very affordable price, and while I know it's not the most accurate, it'll give me the armor-building experience and the skills needed for a higher-end set down the road. My only gripe is the bucket; I know the 3 piece design can be a pain in the butt, but I do have some experience with plastic models so I'm pretty sure I can work with it for now. Regardless, a new bucket is on my list.

25 April 2017 And today is the day! My Big Brown Box arrived earlier than I expected, as well as my undersuit top... I'm pretty sure no one wants to see the undersuit top though, so I'll just start my build thread with these... .... Parts everywhere!!!! Let's get these out and take a peek... Not pictured are the smaller bits, such as the canvas belt, the straps, the hovi mics, the Thermal Detonator, or the lenses. All of those are still in the Big Brown Box. I've got my boots (actually two pairs, as I've got a pair of Funtasmas in the closet right now, plus a pair of TK Boots on their way now) and my neck seal is in the mail. I still need to pick up a holster, but my E11 is paid for. I haven't heard anything back from HFx on when it'll be shipping, but I'm sure it'll be soon. Now, onto getting magnets and rivets and snaps and scissors... Oh my!

I might be a lowly FNG here, but something feels WAY off on this listing. First off, wouldn't a member of the 501st know to call it the "501st" instead of the "501?" Second, wouldn't a member know that once his armor is approved for membership, that approval does not transfer with the armor should he actually sell it?

I'm eventually going to have both Nomex and standard rubber gloves for my armor, but I expect to be using my Nomex more than anything due to my location. It gets HOT here!

I can't speak for the others listed, but I can verify that Starfortress is dubious AT BEST. The owner of Starfortress screwed me out of $250 way back in 1993. I had ordered a Battlestar Galactica Colonial Warriors Flightjacket, of which to this day I have yet to recieve. For an 18 year old in 1993, $250 was a lot of money to fork over. All of this is also secondary to the fact that the owner, <name edited>, is also wanted by Federal Authorities for crimes so profound and utterly disturbing that common decency and decorum prohibits me listing them here. Look up the name on Google if you want to confirm this.<br><br> The TL;DR version? Starfortress owes me. I want either 1 BSG Jacket, my $250.00, or <name edited>severed head on a lance.

Another good one to look at is a Hyperfirm E11. It's durable as hell and is excellent for trooping. I just ordered mine tonight at the recommendation of a LOT of folks here.

Annnnnd I just ordered my Hyperfirm E11.

Not entirely too long ago, I was involved with a woman who wasn't exactly too "receptive" of my desire to build up an armor kit, or any other costume for that matter. She was one of those that didn't see past the armor to the good that the 501st does on a daily basis. Today, I heard from her; it seems she's wanting to patch things up.<br><br> In short? I told her no. She didn't care for any of my hobbies, and to be frank, I don't want to listen to her gripe about spending all the money I'm spending on getting my armor built up. <br><br> Ain't karma grand?

Well, a buddy of mine in the Timberline Garrison had a set up for sale and I would have been a fool not to jump on it for the price he offered it to me for. It's from TK Armour, and while I know it's not 100% accurate, I'm certain I can work with it. I've already seen three TK's get approved by their respective Garrisons with this armor, so if they can do it, so can I! My only gripe is the bucket, so I'm already looking at options on replacing it. Eventually though, I'll buy a higher-end armor set, but for $200 I'm not going to complain. I won't panic until my first troop! Has anyone barfed in their bucket before? Thank you! I'm already planning a 90-day evolution from box to approval-level completion, so I'll need all the luck and the karma I can get.

I feel like a little kid right now that just saw Star Wars for the very first time... Tomorrow, I'm ordering my hyperfirm E11 and I'm waiting for my Neck Seal and second pair of boots... OH HAPPY DAY!

Actually, I was off today from work, so I decided to hop on the speeder bike and head to Dick's Sporting Goods just to see if I could get an idea on the sizing required. Turns out they had the required compression pants on a steep clearance, so I picked them up. They didn't have the top though, so I went to Academy Sports... Lo and behold, they had a black compression shirt on clearance! Unfortunately though, It's got a logo close to the neckline on the back, so I'm going to see how well fabric paint will cover it. If it doesn't... Oh well, I'm only out 10 bucks.

Thank you everyone for your input! Admittedly, the price point on the Blaster Master E11 is right on and definitely has my eye. I'm going to end up getting one eventually, but I think I'm going to start with a Hyperfirm. The hell of it is that I can already see myself amassing a small arsenal of various blasters. I did the same thing with airsoft firearms for my Stargate gear!

Which is why I'm already looking at alternatives. The hell of it is that i have no idea how to select an appropriate size in the pants, as I've never worn anything like this before. I'm anywhere between a 38 and a 40 in trousers depending on the manufacturer, and all the cheaper ebay listings are either using European or Asian sizing.

Initially I did, but the vender was kind enough to allow me to cancel my order. I'm looking at Darmans right now, and based on what I see, it should cover the zipper nicely.