Shoulder bell attachment

[RLH2515[TK]]

I use the snap on the 2" white elastic method to hold my shoulder bells up. My 7 year old goes with me to my troops and has a hard time doing those snaps. Any other methods to hold them up that may be easier for a yougling to attach.

 

 

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[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You could use Velcro or even magnets, as long as it can't be seen from outside there wouldn't be any issues.

[Frat-man-du[TK]]

I use the snap on the 2" white elastic method to hold my shoulder bells up. My 7 year old goes with me to my troops and has a hard time doing those snaps. Any other methods to hold them up that may be easier for a yougling to attach.

 

 

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try attaching bells without bicep and forearm before slipping into the clamshell... then slide the bicep forearm combo up. Much easier and can prob do yourself

 

 

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[kman[TK]]

^^ That's the method I use.  Before I started doing that, the shoulder caps were the one thing I really couldn't do myself.  Now, I don't need any assistance suiting up at all.

[sylverbard[TK]]

Mines just all glues together . Put it on like a shirt.

[RLH2515[TK]]

so I'll attach the top bell to the armor. Put the armor on then put the bicep snap to the bell. I'll try it tonight.

 

 

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[RLH2515[TK]]

Yeah I can't seem to be able to get the other side buttoned once I have a side on. I can't bend my arm enough to button the last. Uggg thank the empire for squires

 

 

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Edited December 1, 2016 by RLH2515

[kman[TK]]

Yeah I can't seem to be able to get the other side buttoned once I have a side on. I can't bend my arm enough to button the last. Uggg thank the empire for squires

 

Try attaching the shoulder bells BEFORE you put the main armor on.  Then you should be able to get your arms through without assistance.  Then, as a last step, just slide the arms on like sleeves.

[RLH2515[TK]]

I did put the bells on first. But can't seem to get to the snaps that I use to attach the bicep to the bell. I'm gonna try leaving the bell and bicep together then just try the forearm last.

 

 

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[kman[TK]]

I did put the bells on first. But can't seem to get to the snaps that I use to attach the bicep to the bell. I'm gonna try leaving the bell and bicep together then just try the forearm last.

 

 

That might be easier.  I actually use Velcro for that particular connection (bell to bicep), so it doesn't require particularly precise aim like a snap does.

Edited December 1, 2016 by kman

[RLH2515[TK]]

That might be easier. I actually use Velcro for that particular connection (bell to bicep), so it doesn't require particularly precise aim like a snap does.

Velcro didn't hold too well is why I went to snaps. I usually have my daughter with me on troops to help but I'm going solo Friday to two different places and just trying to dress myself. I think I'll be asking for assistance lol.

 

 

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[DohF4[TK]]

Looking at the pictures (frame by frame) from ANH I begin to wonder if the shoulder bells were actually attached to the elastic straps underneath the shoulder bridges. In various frames the top of the shoulder bells do not line up with the position of the  shoulder bridges where they would be attached. In a frame where Harrison Ford wears the the armor you can see clearly how there are no straps over the flaps from the neck seal. This makes me wonder if the shoulder bells were actually attached to the under suit or the flaps of the neck seal?

[Locitus[Admin]]

1 hour ago, DohF4 said:

Looking at the pictures (frame by frame) from ANH I begin to wonder if the shoulder bells were actually attached to the elastic straps underneath the shoulder bridges. In various frames the top of the shoulder bells do not line up with the position of the  shoulder bridges where they would be attached. In a frame where Harrison Ford wears the the armor you can see clearly how there are no straps over the flaps from the neck seal. This makes me wonder if the shoulder bells were actually attached to the under suit or the flaps of the neck seal?

Every picture we have from production made suits indicate they were attached to the elastic shoulder straps via a snap. Check out our gallery.
https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/gallery/category/24-anh-tk-reference/

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

 

[DohF4[TK]]

Great pictures! Is it possible they had different systems? I am still learning how to upload pictures (mine are too big). Once I know how to downsize my pictures I will upload the ones I am talking about.

The reason why I am asking is because I am building my TK ANH suit (RS Propmasters) and I really want to get the shoulders right. If I use the elastic straps the shoulder bells will sag down and open up a gap. If I minimize the length of the elastic strap I lose range of motion to the point where I can't get the helmet on. If I lengthen the elastic strap the shoulders will sag down. I went through the movie frame by frame and there are a lot of action scenes where the shoulders are all over the place, yet they stay in position. This made me wonder if there is an alternate way to attach them which might have been used on the suits that were part of action shots (trash compacter scene, Stormtroopers on the floor or falling).

 

Thank you for accepting me in this forum! There are a lot of great resources here.

Any advice is highly appreciated.

 

 

[DohF4[TK]]

Wouldn't we be able to see the strap on his left shoulder going underneath the shoulder bridge?

[Doggydoc[Staff]]

58 minutes ago, DohF4 said:

Great pictures! Is it possible they had different systems? I am still learning how to upload pictures (mine are too big). Once I know how to downsize my pictures I will upload the ones I am talking about.

The reason why I am asking is because I am building my TK ANH suit (RS Propmasters) and I really want to get the shoulders right. If I use the elastic straps the shoulder bells will sag down and open up a gap. If I minimize the length of the elastic strap I lose range of motion to the point where I can't get the helmet on. If I lengthen the elastic strap the shoulders will sag down. I went through the movie frame by frame and there are a lot of action scenes where the shoulders are all over the place, yet they stay in position. This made me wonder if there is an alternate way to attach them which might have been used on the suits that were part of action shots (trash compacter scene, Stormtroopers on the floor or falling).

 

Thank you for accepting me in this forum! There are a lot of great resources here.

Any advice is highly appreciated.

 

 

Hi Dorian, 

 

We typically use imgur for posting photos as the server has very limited storage space.  Use the direct link for the photo and paste it into your post and the photo will be tehre

 

 

I don't think that there was another method of securing the shoulder bells on screen.  When fully kitted up, many troopers have very limited range of motion in their arms.  

[DohF4[TK]]

37 minutes ago, Doggydoc said:

[..]  When fully kitted up, many troopers have very limited range of motion in their arms.  

But Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford seem to have unlimited range of motion, especially in the trash compactor scene. It would have been very annoying (and expensive) to shoot the scenes if the armor would consistently fail. If we build the suits and the result is very limited range of motion I am wondering if we do it wrong.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

5 hours ago, DohF4 said:

But Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford seem to have unlimited range of motion, especially in the trash compactor scene. It would have been very annoying (and expensive) to shoot the scenes if the armor would consistently fail. If we build the suits and the result is very limited range of motion I am wondering if we do it wrong.

I would suggest it's pulled off, you can see the strap on his other shoulder

 

Really depends on your size and armor as to how much movement you can have, remember too that the armor had some flex as we see in a lot of scenes.

 

See how Han's chest has bulged

 

We can only show your references as to how they were made, you take away what you will

[DohF4[TK]]

I have been experimenting and have some success with using an additional (2 inch) elastic strap that connects both shoulder bells (routed behind the neck). That additional strap pulls the bells inward, relieves the original straps and pulls everything back in place after any movement.

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

2 minutes ago, DohF4 said:

I have been experimenting and have some success with using an additional (2 inch) elastic strap that connects both shoulder bells (routed behind the neck). That additional strap pulls the bells inward, relieves the original straps and pulls everything back in place after any movement.

 

 

 

If you bring the connection closer to the front on the shoulder elastic (backplate to chest) it will bring the shoulders inwards at the front at rest

 

It will be entirely up to your GML (garrison membership liaison) who will look after base approval, I would suggest making sure any additional strapping can not be seen from the outside of the armor.

 

[DohF4[TK]]

Awesome! Thank you for the tip. The new strap runs underneath the flaps of the neck seal. Which, by the way, I am not too happy with. I bought it from trooperstore.com. It is comfortable but lacks the rubbery, shiny look and the flaps mostly get in the way of other parts and stick out because it is so flimsy.

[DohF4[TK]]

After some experimenting I am quite happy with my current solution.

 

 

The top button is on elastics and connects to underneath the shoulder bridges/shoulder elastics like the original.

The bottom button (on a non elastic strap) connects to the thicker elastic strap which runs over the shoulders underneath the neck seal flaps on my back. This strap keeps the shoulder bells in place and pulls them back into place after moving the arms around.

 

As far as putting everything on is concerned, I tried the technique mentioned above. Both arms first (holding in place with the connecting strap) and then put the main body armor on. Works great. All I have to do is to connect the upper buttons. This is a lot easier than trying to connect the arms after the body is already on.

 

Edited September 3, 2025 by DohF4

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You will find with shoulders it's best to have attaching points closer to the front, this helps pull in the shoulders at rest. But if what you have works then stick with it

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

On 6/17/2025 at 5:55 PM, DohF4 said:

It would have been very annoying (and expensive) to shoot the scenes if the armor would consistently fail.

It did fail....Alot. I have no pics at the moment but just watch the prison halway scene and Luke`s shoulder is missing in one cut and back the next.....and in ESB carbon freeze sceen when the Troopers enter, shoulders are at their knees....well..not really but you`ll get the jist oh...and not to mention the Tantive boarding party....shins popping open like they are paid to do that still we build like that cause it`s what they did way back when, I tread carefully in order to look my best when suited up and no armor fails to date...should I go fighting rebels I would need to reinforce the strapping like crazy Anyway, god luck with your build and looking forward seeing you kitted up 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by TheSwede