ChrisThePropGuy NEW ERA/R1 TK

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Well its been almost 6 years since the initial TK build and Ive explored pretty much all I wanted to with that. Im very proud of it but I need new challenges and things to work towards to avoid stagnating.

I recently set a goal to have all the R1 kits designed and hopefully in kit form by next year for the 10th Anniversary. I have had some bits and pieces made for other kits so Im slowly going back and redoing stuff to build up the parts catalogue for the TK.

A little about the timeline of what to expect:

 

To start off with Ill show off the renders as well as WIP to ensure that the design is PERFECT. I want feedback from anyone and everyone. The OTTK kits are sort of locked in to how theyre produced as accuracy to form comes above all else but with this we can add some QOL things that will make building and trooping easier! Not having made new era costumes before I want to know pain points and what you feel is missing or is needed in a new kit! 

 

I am planning to do the kit as mixed media in terms of material. All simple forms will be vac formed however the intricate detail and things that require sharp edges will be done in flexible urethane. I would like to eventually mould the Vac bucks and do Polyurea casts in silicone moulds however I need to do more research as Im not sure if people would be willing to pay 2+ thousand just for a kit if thats what the cost will be. But its on the table.

 

I need to ensure that there is no V2, and it gets done right the first time! The armour will be done first and then the helmet as I expect the helmet to take a very long time. Ive recently completed a Patrol helmet that I have stacked up against Sams original renders and the proportions are bang on so its a great starting point to mod the files back to a TK.

 

Im aiming to start printing moulds by end of year as thats when the weather is good for resin printing. and I will have less on that will distract me!

 

Looking forward to bringing my expertise and experience to this kit. I know I had to be ready rather than just pump and dump another kit and the time is now!

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

First up is the shoulder. I noticed where the raised strip is on the bottom, it isnt a hard edge either side and is soft. hard to explain but I hope I got that right. Going off some images from celebration they dont seem to be completely symetrical and have a very slight wonkyness to it if Im not mistaken. Mainly in the curves on the right where it siits agianst the chest.

 

 

 

 

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Here is the Bicep. Please note I havent added the interior overlap and seam yet. I may make the inset recess on the cover strips thinner and smooth the hard corners a bit more buit Im just exploring the correct forms at the moment so just sussing if Im on the right track before I do nitty gritty. Im not 100% sure on the armpit cutout, should it be more pointy/less rounded?

 

 

 

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Chest I had done a while ago when I did my R1 TIE. Im feeling a little more confident in it not being too thin and straight as a lot of other ones are but I cant tell if the ortho shots have squashed it too wide now.

Toying with the idea of casting in the shoulder recepticals or casting them with the straps. Havent decided yet.

 

 

 

 

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

The back. I havent added the very small detials yet including most of the small cut outs. If I cut them now I cant go back and edit the form as easy so want to get the shape right before doing final detail.

 

 

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Looking awesome as always Chris, thanks for getting this post up so quickly, there are a growing number of us very interested in a decent and accurate R1 kit.

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Wow! If it looks like this when finished I might be interested in one

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Looks like an amazing start.

 

You've probably already seen these but these are the full res reference photos I took at CE2016 and you can see how they are assembled.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/themaninthesuitcase/albums/72157671098462536/

 

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

16 hours ago, themaninthesuitcase said:

Looks like an amazing start.

 

You've probably already seen these but these are the full res reference photos I took at CE2016 and you can see how they are assembled.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/themaninthesuitcase/albums/72157671098462536/

 

I have! First pictures I saw actually.

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Moulds are printed should have some pulls by end of the week. Im looking at the hand plates and Im not sure if I added too much curve? Thoughts?

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

2 hours ago, ChrisThePropGuy said:

Thoughts

 

Mayby just a tad…a bit hard to see….the top one looks bigger or it’s just the angle of the photo? 

[TheSwede[TK]]

On 6/20/2025 at 10:35 AM, ChrisThePropGuy said:

The back. I havent added the very small detials yet including most of the small cut outs. If I cut them now I cant go back and edit the form as easy so want to get the shape right before doing final detail.

 

 

 

 

Looking at the backplate I think the trapezoids should be closer to the Oll box. And possibly a bit more angled. 

Edited July 2, 2025 by TheSwede

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

1 hour ago, TheSwede said:

Looking at the backplate I think the trapezoids should be closer to the Oll box. And possibly a bit more angled. 

Ive spoken to Andrew about this and after seeing a front on ortho shot its also too thin so Im just going to start from scratch.

Its defos just the angle as well as they were just mirrored on the slicing software so identical scale.

Yeah handplate was hard to catch because some angles it looked curved where others stright? Not a big deal I can make it a little more straight with some sanding.

Edited July 2, 2025 by ChrisThePropGuy

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Nothing to wow pic wise at the moment but wanted to show off that the parts are looking clean and sharp!

 

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

Biceps looks like a great sharp pull, the bells look a bit soft at the bottom? Either way is really great work going from concept/renders to actuall vacu-pulls   (Wish I could do what you do :)) 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Definite nice sharp pulls 

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

10 hours ago, TheSwede said:

Biceps looks like a great sharp pull, the bells look a bit soft at the bottom? Either way is really great work going from concept/renders to actuall vacu-pulls   (Wish I could do what you do :)) 

the bells were intentionaly rounded towards the raised bit in the centre as you can see that little overhanging bit at the bottom is curved on the side slightly if that makes sense.

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

5 hours ago, ChrisThePropGuy said:

the bells were intentionaly rounded towards the raised bit in the centre as you can see that little overhanging bit at the bottom is curved on the side slightly if that makes sense.

 

I see what you mean and it do look a bit like that on celebration suit. Some suits seem to be a bit sharper and some don’t, angles play apart to I’m sure.

 

 

 

This particular one look almost spot on to what you have.

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

 

5 hours ago, TheSwede said:

This particular one look almost spot on to what you have.

Yeah I did notice some were sharper and I cant really tell why. Someone said some costumes the shoulders were cut down for certain costumes so that could be a reason but I feel like the R1TKs all would have been trimmed the same? I suppose Im only seing that curved edge on the earlier ones from what I can tell? IDK, All I know is its on one of em so good enough for me haha. Im actually just having trouble pulling off the mould haha.

[TheSwede[TK]]

27 minutes ago, ChrisThePropGuy said:

All I know is its on one of em so good enough for me haha.

Yeah for sure :) if it were me I’d be tempted to make the edge a bit sharper, reason beeing that the general thing with the new era suits are the sharper overall look. Could also just be the difference from the handsculpted OT suits VS ”computer-made” new suits. Meaning maybe it wasn’t intentional, just a biproduct of better production tools. Either way, looking forward to see more pulls

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

Test Bicep befor moulding cover strips:

 

 

[TheSwede[TK]]

Looks great

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

Looks like I may be taking out a second mortgage once these are ready to ship.  

On 7/2/2025 at 5:11 AM, ChrisThePropGuy said:

Moulds are printed should have some pulls by end of the week. Im looking at the hand plates and Im not sure if I added too much curve? Thoughts?

 

I think you nailed the curve, Chris, absolutely spot-on.  It may be the photo or just me, but the inside angles seem just a tad off.

 

Looks like I will be taking out a second mortgage once you get these kits ready to sell.  Damned fine work, sir.  

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

20 hours ago, justjoseph63 said:

It may be the photo or just me, but the inside angles seem just a tad off

Ill get you a pic of pulled ones at the same angle as the right pic and we can compare. Thanks for the kind words.

[ChrisThePropGuy[TK]]

I have had a brain blast for the belt section. I was concerned about the durability of this being vac formed with the boxes on but Im thinking of either doing acrylic boxes or roto cast ones to stick on. The actual belt itself is quite simple with little to no detail besides the notches for the ab recesses. Im thinking of getting these laser cut out of 5mm acrylic or cnc cut ABS and then heat bending them to the contour of the ab plate over a wooden mould. This way its much more sturdy as well as sharp while maintaining uniform thickness. Thoughts?