FN1313

Good notes, yeah those are some of the things I figured I would need. Just wanted to get basic approval as soon as I could to get reinstated as a TK and the stuff I’ve been doing when I was previously with my FOTK Considering I do the edits for most photos in our garrison I did what I could for backdrop until I can get a better option. I can work with that for now lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alright I submitted my photos to the other GMLs where I’m at for basic approval. https://imgur.com/a/SIXRVs6 For higher levels I need to touch up the paint on the side and knee ammo rivets and also add some inner clips to keep the posterior and kidney from overlapping. Just curious on my shoulders, I know we want them as close as possible, I have pretty large shoulders/back/chest from lifting weights over the years and due to that I’m not sure how much closer I can effectively get them? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I meant 20mm from the top but yeah better details were gathered. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll also defer to other detachment members involved with higher levels, but the general idea I understood is 10mm from top and bottom and then the center one needs to be right smack equidistant from the top and bottom ones. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dave may not respond super fast as he is busy right now too. He had a huge run with lots of commissions. I just barely got my commissioned helmet that I ordered in November so don’t worry too much if he’s not as responsive, I can for sure guarantee his quality and offerings from my experience. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Helmet arrived, Dave’s quality is top notch I’ll try to get a full suit up with pictures tomorrow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Even at larger size AM armor may still need some help if shins are too big. As long as rear cover strips are straight and not too extreme in size most GMLs I’m sure would be okay with them. The other thing is you could shim the armor and then fill in the seams with abs paste then sand and polish. A process that sounds scarier than it actually is. Just more time and patience required than anything. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

“We’ll be watching your progress with great interest” Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Looking good. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I echo what was said, you can check my thread for more on how I did my rigging, but here’s some examples (Still waiting on helmet for approval and such, but everything else is pretty much there) You can also see I removed some of the return edge on the kidney and posterior armor. I kept maybe half an inch. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I personally avoided the classic system because of the risk of cracks and wear. What I did was make male side snaps attached to black nylon to glue to the armor and then female side snaps with elastic to hold things together. Similar in idea to the photo previously posted. Here’s some example photos. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good work, it’s a process for sure but you’ll get there! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well it’s been a while, but finally got a shipping number for the helmet. So I should be submitting for basic in the next week or two. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You lines look about right, you may find that near the sides you adjust it to go upward a little if need be, but overall that looks good. Just make sure that the sharp corners you have in the lines are slightly curved so that it’s less likely to develop cracks.

You may be able to bring the kidney and abdomen in a bit and trim excess of the ends of the kidney. I know I took off an inch each side, but that’s only if it fits as such. Otherwise it’s looking a good start. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another thing I’ve noticed going with what Glen said is that a lot of people want to join 501st for “social media and swag” it seems these days. One of the things that drives me nuts is how many will show up to a photo shoot and TikTok video or something like that for the recognition and the social media like but when it comes to charity or other types of things they don’t. I find that this has led to a lot of “what’s a cheap way to get a stormtrooper costume so they end up buying from stormtrooper costumes.com or something like that and then when they are told it’s not approvable they don’t care and just go on to make their TikTok’s but never strive to join further and research and build. Some do though and that’s always great, but I also see that many just want to buy something out of the box and don’t want to build it which in many cases makes a TK much more expensive and slow to arrive, so that also discourages some from building a TK vs. a simpler cheaper costume just to join. Finally my other consideration is how many I’ve seen join in the past years I’ve been in a GML capacity that seem to want a quick costume so they can get access to the cool swag. This is something that seems to push many to just go the route of an officer or tie reserve so they can get on the current racing shirt runs and all. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what motivates anyone to join and so long as they are active and do their part, hey, that’s all that is required, but I do believe that some of these reasons has led to what costumes seem to get more submissions these days vs. the heavier duty costumes. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good to see another Dave’s build thread. I’ve got my main armor pretty much done, just waiting on my commission helmet. I wanted to comment here though to follow your build along and also help answer questions too.

Yeah in regards to the armor fitting there’s some things we noted, but just seems that there’s been some regular submissions where it pokes out a lot more than I’d expect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is it just me, or does Denuo Novo seem to really have posterior armor that protrudes a lot more than seems normal? I’ve had a few submissions that we haven’t really held it against them, but I’m just curious about higher level accuracy with this? Each submission has been the same where the posterior armor is extending almost 4 inches behind the rear of the trooper’s actual thighs/posterior. Again, not holding it against approval, but not sure if there’s any higher level things here or what not, it’s a hard item to always see in films and references as most don’t stand at a side angle like this anyway.

I’d definitely recommend incremental changes. I actually did .5 inches each time, on the first thigh and then went more based on how much I did on the first thigh, but the general idea is to get it so it’s comfortable to fit in while at the same time not over killing it to the point that it’s not as accurate anymore. Your last picture you may want to also consider trimming more from the edge near the codpiece after you trim that out. It may be sharp or biting, but you won’t know until you fit with that trim. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I know it’s a late reply, but I’ve had two submissions show up with this vendor’s armor and can definitely say it’s far from approvable without major modifications, let alone an unscrupulous vendor as seen in the link above. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

FOTK is doable, but yeah you likely may need to shin some. I had to do so with my legs on my first armor as is. OTTKs are definitely more forgiving there unless you go for centurion and the gap then needs to be closed, but at that point it’s the same story of shimming abdominal pieces. As it is, lots of good resources and hopefully you can find something that works even more effectively Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One final note I’ll say. Being a GML I’ve had to deal with the potential of lots of negative response when a costume doesn’t meet basic approval standards. It really sucks and honestly many times I wonder why I still do it. That being said almost every time I get initial negativity in responses as soon as I’ve better explained the replica standard and help offered through forum and garrison resources most people tend to have an instant change of anger and despair to hope (who says stormtroopers aren’t better Jedi than the Jedi themselves?) Even today I had just that. Someone submitted armor that was commercially bought from a well know bad and unapprovable source and I had provided a very detailed comparison and explanation of the mods. Their initial response was quite negative but I continued to help them see the future perspective and understand that many of us have been there before. Myself included. My first approved tk was not my first tk submission. Rubies taught me a lot about quality of replicas lol. The individual though bummed truly seemed to be interested in finding and getting resources after knowing they were not alone and there are still ways to get there and be involved. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I personally removed the tab. Looks better to me and also don’t have a trooper suppository every time I walk. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Honestly, I’m unaware of anyone selling FOTK armor for bigger individuals, Dave’s Darkside Depot does a great job with ANH tk style for us, but FOTK vendors are sparse. Im only aware of Denuo Novo, KB Props, and Jim Tripon. Denuo novo is quite thin person style, it can be modded, but it’s not out the box great for our size and doesn’t come with extra plastic beyond what you may trim. KB props right now is once again in struggles and last I saw was essentially no longer in existence so probably not a reliable source. Jim’s is sized well, but comes from the phillipines and is a flexible fiberglass version. Which one is the one you were looking at? You’ll likely need to modify any one you’d get somewhat, so worth seeing how it is. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk