Midnight Trooper

The ebay auction has ended. I know someone must know about the nuts and bolts. TM maybe has a source?

Does anyone have a current source for the correct bolts and nuts as well as the 45mm white shoulder elastic? That damn shoulder elastic has been elusive. I can find stuff close but not with the square pattern like the original

I'm pretty sure AA doesnt have the original lens mould. He doesn't have anything else original?

What belt is that Paul?

Can you take a picture of the tear detail? I would be surprised if your helmet had it. I will be watching this thread as I build up my own Gino helmet.

Gino never said that.Of course the ovals are on the original moulds. They appear more prominently on the HDPE stunts than the heroes. Maybe Gino had said something about the way HDPE pulls and creases into details like that vs the ABS the hero helmets use? At any rate the hero helmets have them too. Certainly not as clear as the stunts but pour over your reference again and check it out.

Rare and you also need to find the setting kit for them. I bought a bunch of these several years ago but despite looking identical, they look to have a slightly different attachment method than the original ROTJ snaps shown. Paul I didnt know you had some of these. We must chat again sometime.

Yeah, the difference is the Brian R was cast and the Dave M. was not. The ears were but thats it. Nobody is sure what Matt's "Dave M." style molds are from. He is not honest about it and I believe still maintains to the public that they came "right from the original helmet" when really they had to have been made from the scan just like the FG version.

Wow! Love the new and improved version helmet in your avatar TM! Sent you a PM.

I see alot of people thinking that Gino has a poor community attitude. Thats true to some degree. He is not really a team player when it comes to sharing with everyone. But few people seem to know that there is a reason for that. Its not just that he disagrees with what most costumers think of the hobby. It stems from a long bad history of the way some people think of armor vs what he thinks. Gino and his partner actually bought the armor moulds guys. TE owned the original helmet and armor and his friend actually made the moulds, not TE. Gino and his partner purchased the original moulds and the sole rights to produce parts from them. Shortly after that it was discovered that TE had double dealt and had sold GF a set of armor and helmet and also the rights to cast them and sell copies. GF and Gino didnt know the other had been sold the rights to produce. They did not become enemies. They acted like adults and I bet some of your here have owned some GF armor at some point. These moulds would later be sold to AP and they still produce amor today. All during this time TE is still selling helmets and armor to people. Jump ahead a few years and TE sells another set of moulds to TE2 with the rights to produce armor. And now it appears that TE has given the moulds and rights to Dan Laws would I think will be producing armor in the future. So can anyone understand why Gino might be a bit upset? He owns the rights to the original moulds and paid good money for them. Then all of a sudden there are all these other people that TE screwed making armor left and right. These people are egged on by costumers mostly and I understand. They are the people making cool things for the masses. I totally get that they would be supported. But even after Gino might have given up the idea that anyone would pay attention to what his story was, there comes the constant "You dont make anything for anyone and thats not cool" attitude from people. I get that as well. I've been there. I started out in this hobby only a few years ago and TE was my trooper god. Gino frustrated and upset me. The way he posts still annoys me sometimes. But I understand his reasons for thinking what he does. And I understand why he wouldnt want to sell many of his helmets. What does he have to gain by it? There are a bunch of people he doesnt like saying "make us nice things" and if he ever did you can bet WeiBs trooper and such like him would be right there to recast it. So maybe before you guys judge and form your "well he has no rights to it anymore than anyone else" you should do some research.

Hey Joe, What do you contribute to the hobby? Gino is extremely knowledgeable and he shares what he wishes with whom he wishes. I think thats his right isnt it? He doesnt come across nice online and thats no secret. But then, you dont seem to come off well either. I think "Gayno" which you used as a replacement for "Gino" in the other thread demonstrates to me that you have the sophistication of a 3rd grader. His "smear campaigns" have all been with right and cause. I think you'll find few people who think TE, Sithlord, and GH needed any "smearing" As for TM, I think there is little doubt he recasted a helmet. So thats not smearing. At the very least there is room for debate which Gino started. And for yourself, I dont agree with the strong reaction he had to your ROTJ helmet. I think that stemed from a deal gone sour between yourselves and I cannnot say for sure but I think you were trying to cast your ROTJ helmet and sell them. I think he had a right to be slightly wary that you really were selling the real deal when you posted such. So will you share with me? Will you sell me casts of your helmet or tell me all the intimate secret details and history of it? Or would I have to accuse you of "hoarding"

I agree with alot of what Gino says. In my opinion screen accurate is the only way to go. Your brain likes asymmetry. The real armor and helmets are far from symmetrical and that is the least of their flaws. They have glue spots, chips, rivets, and cracks all over the place. Yet I believe far more people like stormtrooper armor than clone trooper armor. Everyone feels the desire to correct the bumps at some point, even us screen accurate diehards. But if thats the way the helmets actually were thats the way they should be made for authenticity. But hey if you want to be screen accurate and still be nice and shiny, be a hero helmet trooper. There are far less bumps on that helmet. Just dont do FX or symmetrical armor. Please!

Its great that you can say that Dan. I noticed you hadnt made any claims about your helmet and thats why I wasnt picking on you when I told people to be careful with their labels. I just am wary of this helmet getting a reputation for being "the most accurate" but thats not to say it isnt a fine looking helmet. You say you didnt change anything on the mold, does that mean there are bumps on the cap?

I agree. Be careful with your labels folks. Dan you've reworked some of the details to reflect what some of the better looking screen helmets have and idealized others and I know why you did, but please share what you changed about the details and how. It wont change what the helmet is but will help keep it clear to people exactly what they're getting. Any more pics?

I will be bad enough if the ROTJ/ Special edition suits end up in ANH timeframe again! Nevermind if they do CGI troopers...