troopermaster

If there is a quick for this then I want to know about it Each helmet is assembled differently so the trimming of the ear caps will be different each time. What I do is rough trim them so far and offer them up and see where more plastic needs to come off. It takes time and a lot of patience but it can be done. Another good thing is that if it is close enough, the screws will pull it in somewhat to close the gap.

Nearly

I have a few pairs ready to ship if anyone's interested? PM me

Well AA is right about the HDPE at least. I've used it, as well as LDPE and PP which are virtually the same stuff but none have left these bumps like on the helmets. Granted, they did leave bigger bumps which can be seen on some helmets but I would say that they were definately on the moulds....no doubt. Now wether the sculpt was cast in plaster which had pitted causing the actual positive mould to have the bumps I don't know. Or maybe the bumps are there intentionally for airflow aiding the material to pull down enough is another guess but whatever you think it is Gino......I'm all ears Here's a pic of the beige HDPE I can get. What do you guys think...is it close to the originals?

So AA can't remember or doesn't know but Gino who had absolutely nothing what so ever to do with the manufacturing of the original helmets knows because....... Whatever you think it is Gino, it has to be a theory or do have some kind of solid proof? I'll give it one last shot.....the bumps are for keying the silicone skins to the mother moulds?

You might be better off just buying your ABS locally. Plastic will vary from each supplier and even vary from batch to batch from the same supplier. US ABS is different to UK ABS (I believe) due to chemical tolerences in the EU which is much more strict in the US so chances are you will never get an exact match. Try some local ABS and see how you go, it might look better than you think

The bumps are there to help stop the PE from deforming when cooling and keep it's shape once formed. PE takes longer to cool than most plastics and and moves when it cools so I reckon the bumps were put there purposely to help the PE grip the mould. The face plate is a much more complex shape and the plastic locks down naturally and didn't need any crap on it like the smooth shape of the dome. That's my theory anyway

I just use the cheap black washing up gloves and they are fine for me. I occasionally dust them with talcum powder and have no problems at all. You could use lycra/spandex gloves.

hehe

Howay man, it's a bit too thin if you ask me like Seriously, you can use the canvas for painting on which is similar to the blinds. I've used it and folded it up to four thickness and was pretty good actually. I have yet to find a decent thick canvas which will work on it's own and so far just use sheet cotton canvas wrapped around 3" elastic which looks quite good really. -Paul.

I'd say your right Bernard. 2.5" wide and the material looks like polypro webbing rather than canvas. I could be wrong but the ROTJ tour suit's I've seen looked to have a slight sheen like polypro or nylon webbing. -Paul.

The canvas does have velcro at the back, about 6 inches. I've seen a belt somewhere where it fastened at the side using a snap at one end of the plastic front and then snapped to the canvas so there was no velcro at the back, just one full belt with no overlap. To stop your belt from slipping, just add a couple of snaps to the inside of your belt and then a couple to your ab plate and your in business. The snaps are hidden by your belt and stops it from slipping. -Paul.

He was on the star signings this year and he had a couple of stormtrooper pics on his table when I saw him about 1.30pm. He was about the fourth from the end next to Richard LeParmentier.

Yes I was there on Saturday afternoon. It was great to meet Brian finally and find out about what his actual involvement was with the trooper armour. I have a load more questions to ask him next time we meet which will be at CE hopefully.

He didn't really say much about the accuracy of the suit's but when I pointed out the fact that his suit's have all the ROTJ tells he agreed and said he didn't have the original moulds.

OK I met with Brian Muir and his wife today and we had a great chat and a laugh. Brian confirmed to me that HE scultped everything of the stormtrooper armour from the neck down and AA did nothing but the forming and maybe the assembling but did NO sculpting. Up until recently Brian though Andrew 'may' have sculpted the helmet but new pics have been uncovered revealing the original sculptor. I tried and tried to get the info but he said he couldn't say but he could say AA will lose his case. Brian was a very nice and helpful chap and answered all my questions in great detail. The only problem was I thought of a load more questions I didn't ask him on the way home I also met up with Salo Gardner who played an original stormtrooper and actually was one who stormed Tantive IV in the opening scenes. He didn't really tell me much about trooper armour and was more interested in showing me pics of other films he was in <_< -Paul.

Hi Bernard, Rounding off the corners on your shoulder bells would help achieve the ROTJ look -Paul.

I will ask Brian about this when I meet him next week

Me too looks great! I recently bought some black leather for my holster but all I could find was black both sides. It still looks good but the natural tan looks more authentic IMO. -Paul.

As I understand it, Liz Moore sculpt the armour and helmet and Andrew made the moulds, vacced them and helped with assembly. Now wether that makes them his or not I don't know but what I do know is that he is definately NOT using the original 1976 moulds for his suits or helmets. I met Andrew in 2005 and he is a very nice bloke. I quizzed him about his armour and he had all the right answers, but unfortunately were all lies. I can see how many people who meet him would believe everything he says and those less knowledgable about the details of ANH armour could be duped. He even told me that he had to get the grey pipe imported from the states for the thermal detonator when they were originally made in the UK so why the US pipe? I'll tell you, he is copying what TE uses. I am not anti AA in the slightest and not really bothered who sculpt or formed these suits originally. I am just saying it how I see it. -Paul.

Tony, I think this particular helmet has it's face mask sat high up into the dome making it look slightly smaller. We know all the helmets were built up differently giving each one a unique look and these ESB helmets are refurbished ANH's. Apart from the helmet with new decals and black mouth, the only other differences I can tell are the hand plates and the holster being worn on the right hip. A new blaster was also issued too. You could go for the upside down ab plate box that has been spotted in ESB to be a little different -Paul.

I just realised that I had them in my email account so here they are

Hi Tony This is the only one I have uploaded to my PB account though I do have more big ones that I was sent from Christies but they are on my old computer. I will post them as soon as I transfer them over -Paul.

Ayup John You know what, I thought the bottom part of the pack looked like a toilet cistern. I'll have to look around B&Q next time I'm in.

Thanks for sharing that John...nice one The CAMPING GAZ canister's are easily found in DIY and outdoor stores and there are a few different sizes to choose from. Now to find the other bits -Paul.