My first Stormtrooper build, 3D printed.

[Lovespicyfood]

Hey All,

 

I'm looking to fulfill a childhood desire of having a full stormtrooper costume. I've been an avid 3D printer for the last ~ 1.5 years, putting over 4.5k hours on my first printer (Bambu P1s), but I have never done a costume. I recently purchased an Bambu H2C and a P2S. The plan is to do this mostly on the P2S.

I original posted about this on Reddit, and I was going to start printing out Galactic Armory's Rogue One file...but when I started resizing one of the calf pieces, I quickly saw the thickness went up to about 4.5mm which seemed too thick to me. Having done some research, I know that sizing the armor is critically important.

I was recommended by @Platinum Lex, to start a build thread here. Thanks Platinum Lex for being so friendly and helpful! I must note, as I've read this more than once, the serious enthusiasts have recommended not to print a Stormtrooper costume, I think the recommendation has been to get an armor set. It seems to be that the printed files are not easily certified to be 501st legal.

** I must state that I don't think my intention is to get this costume certified. My intention is to create a costume that looks good and works well, the main goal of doing it myself with printers I already have. I'm a little worried that the "post production" work will be hard and something I won't love...but let's see what happens. If I can make something that looks decent, I think it will all be worth it. And never say never I guess...having it be able to be certified might not be a bad thing...

So here's where I'm at...  I purchased Akira's 3D file as it seems to be highly regarded, more so than the Galactic Armory it seems. I purchased 5 rolls of Kingroon ABS grey to start out with...I'm guessing this will take 10-15 rolls and after some research, I went with ABS because it seems to be the easiest for post production (sanding), is durable and heat resistant. I am going to use a .6mm nozzle to save time printing.  I am a Kickstarter backer of GA's form fitting software but I don't think they will have anything usable to use for this build as my goal is to have this ready for this Halloween... I have printed out some calipers and will use that to guide the scaling of the files.

Please comment and ask me any questions. I will definitely be needing help as I go along... 

[Platinum Lex]

Hey Pete, congrats on starting your first build thread. I know the recommendation is always to buy a kit, but a 3D printed kit is still certifiable, especially with all the feedback you're going to get from a lot of amazing people in this community.

Hope to see your next update.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Hello and welcome looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

Jason has a nice build thread, you can also find a lot of more accurate files for some parts in our 3D files area

 

https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/202-3d-file-depository/ 

One of the big things is print lines, you need to remove these for 501st approval.

 

Many use Nico's helmet files https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/784808040/rogue-one-stormtroopersolo-mimban

 

Greg has been doing A LOT of accuracy updates to the files, you can request a copy with proof of purchase of Nico's files.

Updated files

 TKModder421 https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/53406-modifying-the-nico-helmet/ 

 

Good luck with the build 

 

 

[Lovespicyfood]

Thank you both for your replies...definitely going to go with the Nico helmet I think...probably unlike most, I'll save the helmet towards the last part...

I think there are mods to some of the Akira armor pieces making them more certifiable?!

Yea, going to print out the pieces using a .6mm nozzle and not worry about the layer lines as I plan to post process everything...seems some use resin while others use some type of "bondo" to fill in layer lines?! Not sure, need to figure that out...initialy thought was to start printing a lot of the armor while I get up to speed on the post processing procedures, where the most work I understand will be needed....

[Sayless]

Welcome to the FISD! 3D-printed armor can definitely be a bit cumbersome, but it is entirely doable with enough patience and effort. Akira’s files are great, and while you might encounter a few minor hiccups with certain parts, those have been deeply detailed and troubleshoot right here on the forums. I haven’t personally heard of any mods to Akira’s files yet, so I’m curious to see what you found—I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they exist!
 

When it comes to smoothing out your pieces, UV resin is an excellent approach because it coats well and sands down pretty easily. A lot of us also rely heavily on spot putty, specifically the 3M or Bondo brands. Other builders have found plenty of success with plastic wood filler from the local home improvement store, too. I’ve tried both and personally had better odds with the spot putty, but it really comes down to individual preference.

 

As others have already mentioned, Nico’s helmet files are pretty much the community gold standard, especially when you pair them with Greg’s mods. The helmet is easily the most time-intensive part of the entire build, so it makes total sense that you're saving the best for last. Doing it this way gives you a great opportunity to practice various techniques on the rest of the armor first so you can figure out what you like and dislike before tackling the bucket.

 

With Akira’s armor files and Nico’s base helmet, you should have no problem earning basic Legion approval, provided you follow the minimum requirements outlined in the CRL and really take your time with the prep work before painting. As PlatinumLex mentioned, never hesitate to ask if you run into questions. There are some awesome resources and incredibly helpful members here, and I can’t wait to watch your build progress!