ANH Build (putting on and taking off the armor correctly)

[TrooperMiles]

Hi. I received my custom-made ANH Hero armor from Dark Side Dave. I tried putting it on but don't know how to put all the parts on correctly. Is there anyone in Santa Clarita that can assist me?

[kevin_kevin[TK]]

My kit is from Dave. Here are the instructions he gave me for putting it on:
 

Quote

 

Putting on the Armor

Here is the way I put on the armor.  
Take everything out of the bin and place it all in a place you can reach it. Preferably not on the floor.  

First on is your undersuit.  The armor follows as:

1- Thighs and waist belt.  I just use a leather belt and put it above my stomach.  I don’t use it like a regular belt. I placed the belt up above my stomach. Usually you can get it tighter and your stomach will hold the belt up there. I then put my thighs on. Do not tighten the ties up yet just let them hang. That will come after.
2-Boots, now put your boots on your thighs should be hanging around your shins. This will allow you to bend over and get your boots on. 
3-Now pull your thighs up and wrap the black strap around the belt three or four times. The straps will be long enough for that and you can either let them hang or wrap the straps so they keep going around built until used up.
4-Now put your shins on. Take your finger and run them through the Velcro either from top to bottom or bottom to top. The Velcro is very strong and may rip off of the plastic if you just try peeling it apart. Now open the shins at the top and slide it up from your ankle. You want to start from the largest part of the shin armor around the bottom of your shin and then pull it up to your knee. That will help on getting it on to your shin. There are very stressful break points at the corners of the top of the shins so you want to be careful not to stretch them too far.
5- AB/Kidney/Butt.  I throw the ABs, Kidney and butt plate on. It’s a clam shell effect so open it up. Put it on the left side of your body. Reach between your legs and grab the black strap that’s the elastic black strap on the bottom of butt plate. This strap will connect to the button at the bottom of the AB/Cod plate. Once that is done connect the 2 straps on the right hand side of the Abs and Kidney. 
6-Now you can put the white canvas Belt on. Take your fingers using your index finger and thumb reach in between the plastic ammo belt and hold onto the buttons that are on the canvas belt. Snap them into the male snaps on your ab plate in the front. Have somebody help you pull the belt tight and let the Velcro you do its job. Now add the thermal Detonator. That just slides in on the back of the belt.
7-Now, take your chest and snap the back plate together with it. Put your neck seal on and then slide your head in between the chest and back plate. You can now connect the back to the kidney plate and the chest to the AB plate with the 2 black elastic straps.  
8- Arms.  Assemble the shoulder, biceps and forearms together. They will all connect to the black elastic straps. The bicep with the imprint on it is your left bicep you will see there’s Velcro for the back of the forearms. Do the same thing you did for the shins take your finger running from top to bottom or bottom to top on the Velcro. I just leave these hanging for now. Place your arms through the biceps. Pull them up, attach the shoulders by attaching the shoulder bell to the snap on the white nylon strap on the chest to back plate. I do not put the forearms on yet let them hang.
9- Grab your gloves and put them on.
10- Now, I grab my helmet. Put your helmet on. The easiest way to put the helmet on is hold it at a 45° angle. This will have the safe looking to your left. Your head will fit through it easier that way. As your head goes through twist it to the front.
11- Now place your forearms in the forearm armor. Pull the backs together the Velcro will hold themselves there.
12-  Have somebody check you to make sure everything looks correct.
13- You are now a Stromtrooper!!!!   Now go out and do some good.

 

 

Does that help? I'm in Sydney so I can't meet up with you in person, but that hopefully gives you some direction.

Edited July 21, 2025 by kevin_kevin

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

 

[TrooperMiles]

On 7/20/2025 at 8:37 PM, kevin_kevin said:

My kit is from Dave. Here are the instructions he gave me for putting it on:
 

 

Does that help? I'm in Sydney so I can't meet up with you in person, but that hopefully gives you some direction.

Thanks for helping. I will try putting it on by myself.

[TrooperMiles]

On 7/20/2025 at 9:21 PM, gmrhodes13 said:

 

Thanks for the video. I will try putting on the armor.

[Hesikaya[TK]]

It may be helpful to have a friend.  I find that I can get my shoulder bells clicked in but it is a challenge sometimes and order of operations is important!  For me, Thigh, then boots before shins.

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

Getting armor on by yourself can be a challenge, but when you are at a troop there will always be more than a few folks around that will be more than happy to help.  Trust me.  At every event I have ever attended I have needed some assistance, like putting on my thermal detonator, attaching the shoulder bells, etc.

It gets easier over time, and you will probably be asked to help someone else (even Rebel types, lol) suit up as well.  It's what we do as a community and there is absolutely no shame in asking for assistance.

 

If you haven't attended your first troop yet, I have a thread here that will help.