Investigating Options

[XenoXal]

Hi everyone.

 

To start off, I'm a 25 year old law student in NYC studying for the bar with plans to go to Celebration afterwards. My girlfriend has a fantastic slave leia costume, so I decided I had to have something neat so I didn't look like a loser without a costume. So I decided to finally get some stormtrooper armor after years of considering it. This is probably the only time you will hear someone say "I didn't want to be a loser, so I bought some stormtrooper armor".

 

Specifically, I bought this: EBAY

 

Not too expensive and already assembled, two important things given I don't have a ton of cash and I won't have time to work on anything until July 29th. However, you'll note it doesn't come with a helmet.

 

I would like to join the 501st someday (possibly even EIB after I start generating income and can actually afford the hobby) but THIS doesn't have to be the 501st admissible set, I want it to look good. But if I can make it look good while also setting up an easy conversion to 501st acceptability, thats even better.

 

As I said though, there's a couple things: 1) No Helmet, 2) No Drop Boxes/detonator, 3) The Ribbed Straps on the armor set.

 

As I understand it, a Stormie needs the drop boxes and detonator (and also pure white armor). The sandtrooper needs cloth straps on the chestplate, not the ribbed ones.

 

So, do I:

A) get a helmet, weather it, and have a non-501st acceptable Sandtrooper costume and later just try to make a separate 501st suit (maybe I could re-use the helmet?)

get a helmet, paint over the weathering on the armor so the helmet and armor are both glossy white, and then someday get the drop boxes/detonator and the other things necessary to be 501st compliant

C) something else?

 

Also, what recommendations would you make as far as helmets go? 

 

Sorry for so much text and so many questions. All of your help and input is greatly appreciated.

Edited July 23, 2021 by gmrhodes13
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[Daetrin[Admin]]

I'd suggest option A with that suit (check out ATA or AP for helmets to match). Don't worry about the shoulder straps as they are fine for 501st acceptance and will be hidden under a pauldron.

-----------

 

Then just get a few ammo pouches (the same guy who makes the pouches will sell them to you) and you're set (presuming that you won't hit the con with a blaster, else you'll need one of those too).

 

If you really, really want to do a stormtrooper, I'd advise selling the suit for cost (you should no problem - you bought it ), and then buying one of the pre-assembled TK suits that are currently for sale.

 

Otherwise the effort/cost to convert that sandtrooper to stormtrooper will be more than it's worth.

Edited July 23, 2021 by gmrhodes13
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[TK bondservnt[501st]]

it looks like the armor came with a pauldron.

 

he'll need a blaster and a helmet and a pack.

 

the helmet he's looking at is the MRCE... which would need to be modded for acceptance

into the 501. don't buy that helmet.

 

you should consider making an ABS helmet that does not need to be painted.

 

it takes quite a bit of time and expertise to paint a helmet and get armor sorted before

 

CV

Edited July 12, 2010 by TK Bondservnt 2392

[pandatrooper[TK]]

You actually don't need a backpack to be 501st approved for a sandy. It's optional, since not all sandtroopers wore backpacks.

 

It would be required however for MEPD deployed.

[XenoXal]

So a somewhat surprising twist here...

 

I got a quote on an ATA armor kit, and upon hearing the price, my girlfriend decided that she'd like to make a set too. Here's the thing.

 

She's 5' and 97 lbs. She would be a tiny, tiny trooper. I've read that the armor can work on thin people, I've read it can work on short people, but the real question is... can I make the armor work on an anorexic midget? And also, how mad will she be if she ever finds out I called her that?

 

Thanks!