RichTrooper Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 feel I must admit to the sin 1st off, please do not judge me people :-/I wanted to build my own trooper kit for a while now but not being particularly craft handy I scoured eBay for a basic/cheap kit to basically play around with and test out. I managed to find what I was the perfect thing for the price I paidSadly when I opened the box it had a sworn enemy sticker placed in its helmet......JEDI ROBE!!!! (I've already whipped myself hard)The kit itself is actually in excellent condition but obviously it's not ideal (but like I said it was cheap enough to use as a practice model)Just wondering what modifications it would need to bring it up to proper spec etcNot looking to formally troop yet as just starting outAny help, ideas or directions would be most welcome Here's a few pics to start with, not entirely sure what is needed thoughI know about the wrong boots etc (comes with Elvis boots) the butt joints to the legs too but on reading some of the stuff on here I'm looking at the depths of the chest and ab plates....I'm looking at splitting the kidney/butt plate to make up the stunt costume (as can been seen in the helmet pic, that's what's been supplied) Already doing away with the straps, the guy I got it from was much shorter than me so way too short (looking at a strapping kit from rspropmaster)Eyeing up the kidney plate split, just need the right tool. Any recommendations?Not looking at trooping right away, it's more a hobby to get my interest peaked then I'll sort a proper kit outStill, any help is very much appreciated. Be brutal if you want. I deserve it lol I've compiled some tools and accessories to aid me but where the heck do I start?!I've looked and downloaded the guideline spec off of the 501st site for the stunt version I'm trying forLooking at the spec I don't appear to have anything major to do (no doubt I'll be corrected here........)My main concern is transforming the "overlap" in the JR suit to the "butt joint" on most of the piecesI'm probably aiming a bit too high here but I'm enthusiastic enough to reach for the level 2 certification and my other worry is measurementsI'm 6'2" (185cm) and 14 1/2 stone (90kgs)There are some exacting measurements that I'm not quite sure I'll achieve"Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantina Security[501st] Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Two words... Death Trooper... I fell into the JR trap as well. I rectified the situation buy purchasing an RS kit, then went for the crown jewel, TM... I have seen a Rubbies kit quite recently get EIB, but it looked like it wasn't easy. I have been entertaining the idea of modifying my JR, but, I'm really leaning towards the DT... Just my $0.02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 So you're saying put holes in it and dirty it up? I could do that, it deserves it!! But what about the other aesthetics? joints etc, don't they still need to be authentic looking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantina Security[501st] Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I don't know about yours, but mine has plenty of "slack" so that I could trim the pieces, and assemble correctly. All I need is some ABS cover strips. As far as the chest , ab, back and cod, we would need to split the back , then assemble with rivets ,, straps and so forth. Not really a big under taking when you think about it.... Lets do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 In all fairness, apart from the forearms mine fits really well Need to order the rivets, straps etc before I make the first cut Finding it hard to get hold of RS at the moment Know anyone else that does it? Also gonna order a new kit so I still got a proper TK to work on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 And where would I get some ABS strips too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantina Security[501st] Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Trooper Bay, MTK search for him on here or on the web. He has lots of goodies, and a reputable vendor. I would imagine that the straps do not need to be screen accurate for approval on a DT. But it wouldn't hurt to ask around. My kit fits well also, but I have just enough room to cut off the overlap, then butt joint, and add a cover strip. You Got me really moving forward with this build... Of course, you could build your own straps. Buttons, strapping and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I've looked at the build thread for 501st clearance and it still seems quite specific though You reckon i could use the straps i got with the JR kit? Before i chose my angle i got a bunch of luggage clips and already started to use the existing strapping so i could get the costume on and off easier (the velcro is way to fussy for 1 person to do it) I'll take a look at Trooper Bay then, see how it goes from there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantina Security[501st] Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) I think also, for basic approval, the JR strapping would be ok, now step up to EIB or Centurion, then you would need to have the accurate strapping . I am not 100% sure but hopefully someone will chime in and help us out. Notice how everyone stays away from JR, even the posts about it... Like its infected with the plague or something...lol... That's why we gotta make it a DT, cause its infected. My JR is on a mannequin display in my office. I still like it, pristine and shiny... It still makes me smile. It's going to be hard to kill it , but its going to be so cool... Edited January 12, 2014 by Cantina Security Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolo[TK] Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 I've looked at the build thread for 501st clearance and it still seems quite specific though You reckon i could use the straps i got with the JR kit? Before i chose my angle i got a bunch of luggage clips and already started to use the existing strapping so i could get the costume on and off easier (the velcro is way to fussy for 1 person to do it) I'll take a look at Trooper Bay then, see how it goes from there Is it a velcro straps system? Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantina Security[501st] Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Yes JR is all Velcro... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 JR do sell a clip system but as i got mine through other sources mine had the velcro already on but not enough! The previous owner was definitely WAY too short to be a stormtrooper That was another reason ive pulled it apart to make it fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolo[TK] Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) Why don't you try the snap system with the buckles? I made a suspender that are holding with snaps on the ab and kidney plate. Everything else is olding with webbing and snaps. (I have an original FX, so it's pretty much the same armor) Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk Edited January 12, 2014 by Tolo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Sorry yes thats the words "snap sytem" I'm already making my own with the existing straps and brought some buckles (which actually worked out a hell of a lot cheaper than contacting JR for theirs!!) I'm just not confident in cutting the kidney/butt plate Also thinking of making it into a "onesie" type thing where everything is join and i just slip into it. I'm not too worried about authenticity at the moment as eventually (once my RS comes through) I'll be transfroming it into a DT so 501st spec is not ultimately the goal......yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTrooper Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Made successful contact with RS today, sending me through their strapping kit and tools so I can start converting :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylebeagle[TK] Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Looks like you are on path!! RS is a good group and very supportive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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