My ANH Stormtrooper Build Thread

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

It's Big Brown Box day from Faraway Creations! Can't wait to start trimming, glueing and putting together
Already have all of my soft parts from a Shadow Stormtrooper I bought pre-assembled but wanted to put a white suit together myself
Watched so many videos and threads from this forum and I'm equal parts excited to build and terrified to screw up lol
Can't wait to get started!

 

Edited November 14, 2025 by jmfl4sh

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Noting better than a BBB, you can find a lot of useful build information here

 

When is doubt ask, there are no silly questions just silly mistakes from not asking.

 

Reference galleries a great resource https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/gallery/category/19-ottk-reference/

 

Looking forward to seeing your progress, good luck 

 

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Trimming has begun. I didn’t think my fingers could feel this sore lol 

But making good progress and I think for the rest of the pieces I can use the score in snap method for thighs, shins, biceps, and forearms

I think I’m going to leave the helmet for last

https://imgur.com/a/6ouAEHM

Edited November 14, 2025 by jmfl4sh

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

5 hours ago, jmfl4sh said:

Trimming has begun. I didn’t think my fingers could feel this sore lol 

But making good progress and I think for the rest of the pieces I can use the score in snap method for thighs, shins, biceps, and forearms

I think I’m going to leave the helmet for last

https://imgur.com/a/6ouAEHM

Just a tip but if you add your photo links here you may attract more attention, it does get a bit difficult going to the photos and back again for leaving comments.

How to add images "direct link" option, guide here

 

 

Make sure you keep some trimmed material, you may need some for making ABS paste, to fill thigh seam gaps or joins if you need to add shims for extra room, I still have scraps from my 13 year old armor . Straight trimmed pieces can also be used for inner cover strips for extra strength.

 

 

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Ok, I think this might be working now lol. But here are my pics
1. Trimming progress coming along
2. Scrap that I am keeping
3. Full parts from FarAway Creations/MonCalProp Shop

Came as ANH Hero kit but I think I am only interesting in level 1 approval so willing to change up the helmet from bubble
Going to finish trimming everything and leave helmet for last. Have some small files to work with there
Then I have to cut out all of the cover strips and start glueing!

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You can find here the differences between the versions here https://drive.google.com/file/d/10tEVteIreh6AHMogW010cuH_Bf8TBfU6/view , quite a few details from Hero to Stunt 

 

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Yup! Was looking at something similar. For basic, it looks like it's mostly helmet related so I think I should be good for basic!
Thanks so much for this!

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Rough trimming continues! All big parts but thighs and helmet and then gotta do some small parts

Then comes the fun part of fitting and gluing

Edited November 16, 2025 by jmfl4sh

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Helmet started. Figured I should conquer my fear and get it over with
Trimmed it and started on the teeth with drill and file method

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Trimmed helmet completely, now to watch more videos and read more about putting it together
Don't want to mess it up
Used a dremmel and file to do the eyes

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Helmet starting to come together a bit

Edited November 17, 2025 by jmfl4sh

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

A couple of things you may want to address

 

If you are going stunt you will need a little more paint on the ends of the teeth. Remove paint from gums

 

White rim on hovi tips/rim

 

            

 

              

Vocoder needs some cleaning up

        

 

 

Remove bump at front of brow trim

     

 

 

Tube stripes, remove and replace, look to be on an angle at the back

 

 

Ideally Stunt has 4 ear bumps not 3 (double check with your GML to see if approvable for basic some are stricter than others)

       

 

 

 

 Here are some great threads, I encourage you to have a good read through them, ears are the worst and do take a considerable amount of time and care to get right, adding a step also helps them to sit a little flusher.

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Appreciate the help as always. I might go with ordering another helmet made for me since I'm not sure I have the skills to fix. I was wary of putting together myself too lol
The CRL can be so confusing sometimes with both Hero and Stunt saying the following
The “ear” bars may have three or four bumps and are grey or painted grey, with a black outline. - Hero 
The “ear” bars have three or four bumps and are gray or painted gray, with a black outline.  - Stunt

So basically it's up to the GML to say what is stunt or hero? Since I'm just going for basic but do GMLs base their approvals on Level 2 or 3 where it requires certain bumps for basic?
I think that's what confuses me the most with the different things I see lol

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

2 hours ago, jmfl4sh said:

Appreciate the help as always. I might go with ordering another helmet made for me since I'm not sure I have the skills to fix. I was wary of putting together myself too lol
The CRL can be so confusing sometimes with both Hero and Stunt saying the following
The “ear” bars may have three or four bumps and are grey or painted grey, with a black outline. - Hero 
The “ear” bars have three or four bumps and are gray or painted gray, with a black outline.  - Stunt

So basically it's up to the GML to say what is stunt or hero? Since I'm just going for basic but do GMLs base their approvals on Level 2 or 3 where it requires certain bumps for basic?
I think that's what confuses me the most with the different things I see lol

Yes for basic it should be ok to have 3 or 4 bumps for both, BUT some garrisons are stricter on what constitutes basic approval, ie: 3 bumps for Hero and 4 bumps for Stunt (as they were in the movies)

 

At the end of the day it is entirely up to your GML, as I say check with them first, they only look after basic approval, but can require additional L2 or L3 details, detachments look after higher levels L2 and L3 (EIB and Centurion) and has nothing to do with the GML.

 

I'm sure you could make some adjustments to achieve the desired look, it's fine tuning with small stages of standing, have a look at some of the builds I posted.

 

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Appreciate it as always 

putting the helmet aside, I did my final fitting trim and gluing of my biceps

I’m using E 6000 just to make sure if I make any mistakes or needed to adjust anything I can take it off relatively easily
Tomorrow I start with forearms

Then I think I’m going to do ab plate finishing so I can start strapping together the top before finishing the thighs and shins

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Just a couple of things.

 

We try not to have too much of a gap between the coverstrips and ridge on the armor.

 

General coverstrip widths

Bicep 15mm

Forearm 15mm

Thigh 20mm

Shin Front 20mm rear 25mm

 

However you can use bigger coverstrips if you need them, we do try to look standard from the front and add larger on the rear, the public don't see as much from the rear.

 

Score and snap method works best for cutting cover strips, yours is a bit wobbly

 

 

You only need to take the corners off so they don't catch, the left one is very rounded

   

    

 

Some you can cut on an angle depending on overhang or stepped armor

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

They didn’t send me a sheet for cutting out cover strips
They sent out raised plastic that I had to cut around and then cut out strips from that

Is there a vendor that you recommend just to get a sheet of plastic that I can score and snap off of?

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

13 minutes ago, jmfl4sh said:

They didn’t send me a sheet for cutting out cover strips
They sent out raised plastic that I had to cut around and then cut out strips from that

Is there a vendor that you recommend just to get a sheet of plastic that I can score and snap off of?

You have to be careful using other vendors plastic as there can be a BIG difference in color/shades, from stark white to murky cream. 

 

If you can't trim straight try using some sandpaper wrapped around some wood. I use a sanding block for nice straight lines, works the same for coverstrips

 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

as an example. This was sent to me for strips 

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

I’ve been quiet but busy. I think helmet is done now 

now to put everything else together 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Some additional info:

 

Ideally at Level 2 tube stripes are approximately 1 cm (5/16ths) away from the cheek, and should also lean toward the front.  The thickness may vary, but the number of stripes must be between 9 and 16.  These may be hand painted or decals for all levels, but should not extend under the ear.

 

                     

         

 

 

For Level 2 and above correct Hovi Mic tips are required.

                "Correct" is defined as:

1. Hovi tip rims and insides must be white or painted white on the insides.

2.  Screen must be a wide mesh.

3.  Screen should be attached toward the tip and not recessed.

 

Note:  These are also known as Hovi-mic tips.  That name derives from the originals, which had Hovi Mix PA2 embossed on them.  

 

            

 

              

[jmfl4sh[501st]]

Thanks sir as always. Here’s some more closeups as I finally had some time lol 

I am aiming for a basic approval as I have some other costumes in the work at the same time lol 

 

Edited January 5 by jmfl4sh