troopermaster

I'm working on it but need help finding the right HDPE.

When trimming any of the pieces, I like to leave a small return edge. Leaving a larger return edge, especially on the torso, could make the parts more prone to cracking if your not so careful whilst trooping. You will notice that there is a good bit of return edge on most of the rough trimmed parts, but that is not mean't to be left on. I just made the moulds that way so the pulls are really clean and they are not mean't to be trimmed where the rough flashing starts. I think around a 5mm edge is good for most parts. The torso could be more if you want, but it's not neccesary. Good luck with the build anyway Lennaert. Ask as many questions as you need to before making any fatal mistakes

My junior armour won't fit a 12 year old unfortunately. There are kits available on ebay that are smaller than adult versions, designed for kids and can be trimmed down. It's more FX based as you can see on the left here-

I don't know Pete. That might not be a wire after all. Maybe it's one of those red pieces of string you get with your firework kits, slowly burning away under the gaffer tape

Great theory Pete! You've had me searching my reference material and I know 100% (for Mr. No Stripes) that they are cracks taped up. Even though I had never even considered them to be wires, you had me thinking mate What you are seeing is the tape bunching up over the crack. Remember that these suits are not like your replicas. They are made from thinner plastic and strapped differently. The strapping from the abdomen to the chest makes the chest push up if you are shorter than intended, resulting in the top of the chest pushing into your neck and bulging the sides of the chest out. This bulging is making each side of the crack overlap each other and with the tape covering the crack, it looks like there is something under it, which there isn't. I can only say this for Mr. No Stripes as his suit still lives on today. The SFS guy I cannot say for sure, but I cannot see why it would be any different. If it was a wire, it looks like it just stops dead. Surely a squib would be visable on the chest, even if it was covered with gaffer tape?

Thanks Brian. It was nice to see you and Lindsay again. I'll have to send you those photos of 'our friend' we was talking about The next best thing you are going to get for your kid is this suit. I wish I had taken more photos of them both together, just to see how much they differ.

I think you need to square off the wrist area more. The real hand plate in your comparison is at an anlgle so it's not the best to use for reference. I'd make the raised strip narrower too. Good start though

I have photo comparisons of TM vs SDS which is a recast of GF if this helps? I can take measurements of any pieces you like and maybe someone with AP can measure their pieces to compare? Here's a quick sample-

Any amount of cleaning up is reducing the original shape. To clean up any area, you have to remove material, therefore reducing size and shape. Yes, it is minimal and I never meant it to sound like inches, though I don't think it sounds like that. You told me you made new moulds since the ones you got from GF were fibreglass backed with expandable foam, no good for a professional machine. You said your new moulds are made from a resin much like a bowling ball type material. I can look for the emails if you want? @Jonathan, It's much more than plastic to me my friend

No they are not. You told me yourself that you made new moulds and you are not using the ones you got from GF. GF cast a casting from a 1st gen casting of a TE, altered it and made new castings, so they were 3rd gen when you recieved them. Your new moulds are 4th gen.

LOL. You have been **misinformed** AP looks much better on short guys because it is a 4th or 5th generation recast which means each time it is recast, the moulds get cleaned up, shortened and shrinks in the process. I could show you photos **like the thigh I posted** and you would be amazed and just how **misinformed** you really are

What kind of kit is it?

You definately have the shin on the wrong leg Eric. Please put it on the other leg before you make an all too common mistake that can easily be avoided. On your thighs, mark the overlap with a pencil and split the difference, marking a line half way from the end of the plastic to pencil mark. Once you have cut the plastic away on both halves, line the bottom edge up so they are perfect and cover the mis-match at the top (if there is any) with the joining strip.

The belts are white like ANH. The majority of the ESB suits were reused from ANH which had canvas belts painted white, but there was an ESB2 suit which was all new and had a white webbing belt.

Don't worry if you think any pieces look too big or too small whilst they are not on your body. It's how they fit on you that counts. It's no good having a super nice looking thigh if you can't even get your leg it it If the parts fit you now as they are, mark with a pencil and trim. I would strongly recommend going for the joining strips. It's the little things that make up a great looking armour. If the back has a joining strip moulded into it and you need to trim past that, then do it. It's all about getting the parts to fit right and I don't like to see excessive padding in armour just because the moulded joining strip makes the armour too big for the wearer. Also, in your photo, you have a left thigh and a right shin shown.

I would only ever use the movie for reference, so the rivets want to be on the bottom edge of the belt.

Sounds to me like you don't know a lot

Maybe...but if your looking for a cheap trooper costume for your kid, this isn't it. I have had enquiries about these before and some people expect them to be cheap for some reason. I have just as many hours in these moulds as I have my adult suit and you will never find anything like these for kids on the planet. Just a friendly heads up If your serious about one, send me a PM.

Size differnce compared to what...AP?

The longer piece is the outer Lou. Basically the outer pieces bulge out from the shin bone and the inner pieces dip inwards slightly, just as your real leg does. These were originally sculpted onto a body cast so they follow the original shape of the human body. If you are unsure, post a pic of the parts and I will tell which is which

Good news....Today I pulled the latest set of mini trooper moulds and boy, are you guys going to MEM in for a treat! Every single piece of armour has been modified and made more accurate. The helmet is all new too and blows the last one away! All parts have been made longer and they really look awesome. I'm so excited about this kit and can't wait to get it built up. If you could only see it

Ah yes, I know the one (grey mould). Thanks for the info T

Can you see any differences (apart from the filled in teeth) between the two face plates? What makes this new face plate an SFS?

Glad you all like your your hand plates! I'll get some photos up ASAP with the drill hole placements