bluebantha Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 (edited) Hey all, I'm hoping to document my first order TK build here! This will be my first build, and I will inevitably have a million questions, so I'm hoping I can have some guidance! Here are my current plans: My dream is to make the TFA version of the trooper, as this design is what truly got me invested in stormtroopers years ago when I first saw them walking around Hollywood Studios. The DN kit is obviously intended to be used as a TLJ/TRoS suit, but from what I can tell, it can be made into a TFA kit. So that leads me to my next question, are the only differences between the two versions the helmet, forearms, and cod piece, or are there more? My plan is to order the individual TFA pieces from Imperial Surplus, and make both versions of the suit. Long term, id like to have an approved TFA kit, TLJ/TRoS kit, and Executioner kit. Lofty, but doable I think. As far as the helmets go, I would love to have both of the DN premium helmets, however, im not keen on dropping nearly $1,300 on the two of them. I will certainly get the premium TFA one, however, for TLJ, im going back and forth between the premium and standard line. The premium line helmet is very accurate. The standard line helmet is slightly inaccurate beneath the mouth, using the TFA chin. I thought about converting a black series helmet, as the chin is more accurate, however, I have quite a large head, and worry it won't fit. I have 3D printed 5th Horseman's F11-D, and SE44-C. Geeky Pink seems to be the go-to for gaskets, however, I am looking for rubber ones, as I hope to apply for centurion. I believe there are runs of accurate metal holsters, as well as well defined resin hand plates, both of which I hope to purchase. In addition, I may upgrade to Dino's spats. Any guidance and/or tips are greatly appreciated! I have completed a few ANH TK kits before this, and I'm excited to add this to the roster! Edited April 20 by bluebantha 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 Sounds like you have done your research. Detonator also different between the two versions. TFA TLJ has an inner pipe/tube with black areas of the housing cut out Some links for you: Great Anovos build by Ukswrath Also DN build by TheRascalKing Metal holster Rubber gaskets http://www.tandaworkshop.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Thorsson-Associates-Workshop-112076042142986 Resin hand guards There are some small differences in the blaster so check visual references from the movies Looking forward to seeing your build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themaninthesuitcase[Admin] Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 Good luck with your build. Sounds like you're doing all the right things and looking into things before you start cutting and gluing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted April 22 Author Report Share Posted April 22 On 4/20/2024 at 5:04 PM, gmrhodes13 said: Sounds like you have done your research. Detonator also different between the two versions. TFA TLJ has an inner pipe/tube with black areas of the housing cut out Some links for you: Great Anovos build by Ukswrath Also DN build by TheRascalKing Metal holster Rubber gaskets http://www.tandaworkshop.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Thorsson-Associates-Workshop-112076042142986 Resin hand guards There are some small differences in the blaster so check visual references from the movies Looking forward to seeing your build Thanks for all the links! super, super helpful. And thank you for also pointing out the thermal detonator 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted April 22 Author Report Share Posted April 22 6 hours ago, themaninthesuitcase said: Good luck with your build. Sounds like you're doing all the right things and looking into things before you start cutting and gluing. Yes! The last thing I want to do is make some irreparable mistakes to the armor lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted April 22 Author Report Share Posted April 22 Caught an Anovos premium line TFA helmet for $250 on Mercari. All things seem well, seller seems nice. They do offer buyer protection however, so if things go wrong, I can always get a refund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted April 24 Author Report Share Posted April 24 Quote Premium Anovos Helmet is arriving Monday! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted April 26 Author Report Share Posted April 26 Hey guys! Quick question. DN just started their May 4 sale, which is 10% off, plus free shipping. Im also able to apply my other 10% off code from the email list, giving me 20% off, which is crazy, so I think I'm pulling the trigger tonight. From what I can tell, the standard ABS they provide is plenty glossy, especially with a proper polish. I have seen, however, some really wonderful glossy automotive finishes, and am wondering what you all would recommend? I am fairly experienced when it comes to using automotive paints. I have a HVLP setup, and have been painting Mando armor for a number of years now. What I'm really wondering however is if it is worth the time and energy needed to paint it, or if the standard ABS is fine? Really, which is more screen accurate? Any guidance is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted April 26 Report Share Posted April 26 30 minutes ago, bluebantha said: Hey guys! Quick question. DN just started their May 4 sale, which is 10% off, plus free shipping. Im also able to apply my other 10% off code from the email list, giving me 20% off, which is crazy, so I think I'm pulling the trigger tonight. From what I can tell, the standard ABS they provide is plenty glossy, especially with a proper polish. I have seen, however, some really wonderful glossy automotive finishes, and am wondering what you all would recommend? I am fairly experienced when it comes to using automotive paints. I have a HVLP setup, and have been painting Mando armor for a number of years now. What I'm really wondering however is if it is worth the time and energy needed to paint it, or if the standard ABS is fine? Really, which is more screen accurate? Any guidance is appreciated! Only difference I find between painted and non painted is the after care, I have soft pouches for all my armor so they don't get chipped or scratched in transport. The occasional crack can happen with painted and non painted but sometimes the painted can chip which is a little harder to fix. There is also some of the details which need work, forearms, yoke to back and abdomen, all need either filling with automotive filler then painted or filled with ABS paste sanded and compound polish. All the first runs of the ANOVOS FOTK's where painted as they also needed joining in quite a few places. Some have built their DN suits with ABS paste and I've seen a few fully painted, there are really pros and cons for both so it's entirely up to each individual how they want to build and finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Sunday at 05:43 AM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 05:43 AM Hey all! Quick question before I pull the trigger on my DN order. I have seen a number of people approved with the DN standard line TLJ helmet, which has a few inaccuracies, most notably, the clips. I did notice, however, that even for basic approval, the CRL states that the helmet MUST include the appropriate TLJ style clips. What is the workaround here? Do people replace the clips with 3D printed ones? And if so, how? Any help is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly11[Admin] Posted Sunday at 08:32 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 08:32 AM 3D files are available for the correct clips to make the DN helmet more accurate. I personally haven't had my hands on a DN, X Anovos TLJ helmet, to see how they are attached, but we certainly have members here that have and also replaced them with said printed clips. https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/52039-mrpoopietherascalkings-tfa-tlj-first-order-stormtrooper-greeblie-pack/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Monday at 12:29 AM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 12:29 AM 15 hours ago, Sly11 said: 3D files are available for the correct clips to make the DN helmet more accurate. I personally haven't had my hands on a DN, X Anovos TLJ helmet, to see how they are attached, but we certainly have members here that have and also replaced them with said printed clips. https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/52039-mrpoopietherascalkings-tfa-tlj-first-order-stormtrooper-greeblie-pack/ Thanks for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Monday at 12:35 AM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 12:35 AM (edited) I winced at the price, but I finally pulled the trigger! Lets hope this is smoother than Anovos... So, as things currently stand: DN TLJ Helmet- Ordered DN FO TK Kit- Ordered DN Neck Seal- Ordered Anovos TFA Helmet- Ordered I still need: Boots Gloves Imperial Surplus TFA Parts Metal thigh bracket Metal shoulder brackets Shiny shorts New gaskets (?) I cant wait to start this thread! Edited Monday at 04:24 AM by bluebantha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted Monday at 01:23 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 01:23 AM Looking forward to seeing photos soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Monday at 03:17 PM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 03:17 PM Just received 3 UPS tracking numbers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryldoak[TK] Posted Monday at 10:34 PM Report Share Posted Monday at 10:34 PM On 4/26/2024 at 1:28 PM, bluebantha said: Hey guys! Quick question. DN just started their May 4 sale, which is 10% off, plus free shipping. Im also able to apply my other 10% off code from the email list, giving me 20% off, which is crazy, so I think I'm pulling the trigger tonight. From what I can tell, the standard ABS they provide is plenty glossy, especially with a proper polish. I have seen, however, some really wonderful glossy automotive finishes, and am wondering what you all would recommend? I am fairly experienced when it comes to using automotive paints. I have a HVLP setup, and have been painting Mando armor for a number of years now. What I'm really wondering however is if it is worth the time and energy needed to paint it, or if the standard ABS is fine? Really, which is more screen accurate? Any guidance is appreciated! I highly recommend just filling the required seams with ABS paste and not painting. It’s actually really easy to do, and the end result is really good. You can find my build in the TLJ build section if you want to see pictures. Good luck on your build, no matter which way you decide to go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Tuesday at 02:52 AM Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 02:52 AM 4 hours ago, daryldoak said: I highly recommend just filling the required seams with ABS paste and not painting. It’s actually really easy to do, and the end result is really good. You can find my build in the TLJ build section if you want to see pictures. Good luck on your build, no matter which way you decide to go. Hi my friend, thank you for the advice! I actually have your thread in my google resource doc lol, so ive been following it closely. Im leaning towards using the paste, it just seems to be all around a good idea. I have some experience with that method on my Anovos ANH TK 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Tuesday at 03:10 AM Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 03:10 AM Some welcome updates today! Firstly, the Anovos Premium Line TFA helmet arrived! Here are some photos: This piece is lovely, and I truly cant wrap my head around how it was being let go for so little, nonetheless, I am satisfied with it. It's got a great weight to it, it's comfortable, and certainly high quality. With all that said, there are some minor details that would make the retail price of $600+ feel a bit steep. In the first photo, you can see a slight divet in the nose plate above the chin. In addition, the recessed lines above the ears are unevenly deep in spots, and some of the black paint apps look not entirely crisp. here's some photos of that Again, im just being nit picky, im super super happy with it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Tuesday at 03:12 AM Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 03:12 AM Second, I got tracking for all of the pieces of my order from DN today, and it seems that they'll all be arriving on Thursday! The tracking is updated, and they're already moving! Crazy to me how fast they shipped, especially considering the likely influx in orders due to the May 4th sale. I absolutely love supporting smaller businesses, and independent makers, but you cant beat a turnaround time like this for a kit, it's crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted Tuesday at 03:58 AM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 03:58 AM Just take care with the premier line helmet, they were made from fibreglass and a little week around the neck opening, they used to ship the helmets with a cross brace of wood inside the neck which was tensioned, this also caused some cracking due to the weight of the helmet and movement in transport. The early run also had no rubber around the neck so this could be a newer version or someone may have added it later. Any way don't hold the helmet by the neck just in case DN are trying not to make the same mistakes as Anovos and are dealing with orders very, very quickly and waiting until they have things in stock before selling (unless pre ordered), they have a lot of work to do before the Star Wars community trust another main stream company. Hope you are doing your research, things will be in your hands in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted Thursday at 08:49 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 08:49 PM Hey all, today is the big day! After work, I went outside and was surprised with a BBB, MBB, and SBB! Here they are! They were the kit, the helmet, and the neck seal respectively. Im still amazed how quickly they got here, and so far, the quality is seemingly amazing! Here is a comparison of the Anovos TFA Premium helmet, and the Denuo Novo TLJ Standard helmet. The colors seem to be ever so slightly different, Anovos being a cooler white, DN warmer, but I don't see either of them being an issue with the armor. Here's a look: Happy I ordered the neck seal, it looks great, and feels great too! here it is with the included gaskets: Chest, yolk, and back: Shoulders: Biceps: Forearms: Abdomen: Cod and Butt: Thighs: Shins: Spats and Knees: Belt: Resin Greeblies: Decals: Fastening: That pretty much sums everything up. Im super super excited to get started. Just some observations going forward: - Bummed that the tall belt pouch cover doesn't fit the pouch, so I'll have to buy a set from Trooper Bay. - My big head doesn't fit in the hard hat rig they have set up in the helmet, so ill need to get that taken out - Ill either need to paint or find rubber for the neck ring on the helmet - Still need boots, gloves, and shiny shorts I'll keep you all updated, for any following along. Im gonna start trimming some stuff up tonight when I get home from my show! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted Thursday at 09:27 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 09:27 PM A nice surprise albeit you'd think they would try to notify you will such a big delivery. They are useless here, I had a printer delivered on good Friday when everything was closed, no notification and only saw the box the next morning on my way out to walk the dogs, luckily it hadn't been taken. I don't use the hard hats, I have a thin 10mm piece of foam on the top of the helmet and small blocks of foam on the sides, stops the helmet from wobbling. I found the same issue, color was a little different between the plastic (base helmet) and the premier line (fibreglass) luckily the plastic matched a base white from the auto shop, premier line I have on show. Looking forward to seeing the build progress 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted 9 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 9 hours ago Hey guys! Wanted some clarification on this, if it can be offered. I was on Keep Trooping, looking for boots, and found them have this "New Era Undersuit" https://keeptrooping.com/product/new-era-undersuit/ Does anyone have experience with this specific suit? I can tell that there is a gasket material on the knees and arms, however, I cant tell if the thigh material is shiny. Im still looking into the best gloves to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 4 hours ago, bluebantha said: Hey guys! Wanted some clarification on this, if it can be offered. I was on Keep Trooping, looking for boots, and found them have this "New Era Undersuit" https://keeptrooping.com/product/new-era-undersuit/ Does anyone have experience with this specific suit? I can tell that there is a gasket material on the knees and arms, however, I cant tell if the thigh material is shiny. Im still looking into the best gloves to get. I think you will find this is for the Rogue One and other series not FOTK, the ribs are a little small and FOTK don't have ribs around the tops of thighs, we have shinny shorts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebantha Posted 4 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 41 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said: I think you will find this is for the Rogue One and other series not FOTK, the ribs are a little small and FOTK don't have ribs around the tops of thighs, we have shinny shorts Cool cool. Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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