New Member - John from San Clemente

[Johnic]

Hello all, just wanted to introduce myself. Just started this journey and will be putting together a TK costume, stunt/hero version.

Not sure where to buy the TK costume or build one. 

 

All recommendations and advice are welcome.

[TheRascalKing[TK]]

Hey John! I'm Justin/Rascal and am your Imperial Attaché for the Orange County Squad, along with fellow Armorer @Oztrooperin Garden Grove. I'm based in Placentia, run @Rascal.Works out of my garage, have mentored a good number of the TKs in our Garrison, and would be happy to assist.

 

What armor to buy is a complex question that is pricey enough to require a good deal of thought to ensure you're happy with your final purchase. It's like somebody asking - what kind of car should I buy? Well the guys who can afford Ferraris are going to say that's best, and they're not wrong persay, but that would probably be insane for a daily driver suggestion. Some guys prefer domestic brands over imports. And in the same analogy - there are a lot of guys out there have only ever driven one type of car or haven't driven in years - so be careful whose recommendations and advice you take on the internet. There will be positives and negatives about every maker, so just find one that fits for what you prioritize (accuracy/lineage, comfort, size, price, etc.).

 

That said, there are a lot of us locally that wear Denuo Novo armor (or the older Anovos variant). They're a licensed maker in the US and their armor usually ships quick when it is in stock, and it's a great kit - they retained all the accurate dimensions and asymmetry of the original suits but are made without the lumps/bumps of the inferior vac-forming work done at the time. However, their helmets have been out of stock for a hot minute with no end in sight, and they do not offer replacement parts or extra ABS, so if the kit does not fit your frame, it will be harder to modify.

 

There are also lots of great makers abroad as well, but with tariffs lately, who even knows the cost/shipping you'll deal with, so that's a consideration. Point being - there is no one right answer, but that's not a bad place to start, in addition to this subforum for getting started.

 

Budget about $1500 on average for it, and most builds take about 6 months, but it all depends on you. If you're not already in the SCG Imperial Recruits Facebook group, I'd definitely recommend it. You just missed an Armor Party (where we get together to work on our kits) this past weekend in Anaheim, but there will be more throughout the year. 

 

Let us know if you have any questions and we're here to help!

Edited 3 hours ago by TheRascalKing

[Johnic]

1 hour ago, TheRascalKing said:

Hey John! I'm Justin/Rascal and am your Imperial Attaché for the Orange County Squad, along with fellow Armorer @Oztrooperin Garden Grove. I'm based in Placentia, run @Rascal.Works out of my garage, have mentored a good number of the TKs in our Garrison, and would be happy to assist.

 

What armor to buy is a complex question that is pricey enough to require a good deal of thought to ensure you're happy with your final purchase. It's like somebody asking - what kind of car should I buy? Well the guys who can afford Ferraris are going to say that's best, and they're not wrong persay, but that would probably be insane for a daily driver suggestion. Some guys prefer domestic brands over imports. And in the same analogy - there are a lot of guys out there have only ever driven one type of car or haven't driven in years - so be careful whose recommendations and advice you take on the internet. There will be positives and negatives about every maker, so just find one that fits for what you prioritize (accuracy/lineage, comfort, size, price, etc.).

 

That said, there are a lot of us locally that wear Denuo Novo armor (or the older Anovos variant). They're a licensed maker in the US and their armor usually ships quick when it is in stock, and it's a great kit - they retained all the accurate dimensions and asymmetry of the original suits but are made without the lumps/bumps of the inferior vac-forming work done at the time. However, their helmets have been out of stock for a hot minute with no end in sight, and they do not offer replacement parts or extra ABS, so if the kit does not fit your frame, it will be harder to modify.

 

There are also lots of great makers abroad as well, but with tariffs lately, who even knows the cost/shipping you'll deal with, so that's a consideration. Point being - there is no one right answer, but that's not a bad place to start, in addition to this subforum for getting started.

 

Budget about $1500 on average for it, and most builds take about 6 months, but it all depends on you. If you're not already in the SCG Imperial Recruits Facebook group, I'd definitely recommend it. You just missed an Armor Party (where we get together to work on our kits) this past weekend in Anaheim, but there will be more throughout the year. 

 

Let us know if you have any questions and we're here to help!

So awesome, thanks for all the great info. I def do not want to jump to fast into buying my kit so I appreciate the info but I can't wait to get it going.