pandatrooper

I’m 5 foot 8” and I’m building a Crashmann pack (using his vac formed seed trays and a PVC frame I made). I’m very conscious of height and proportions in terms of the armor. For example, on my first armor build I made almost every part (torso, limbs) too big, and I ended up padding everything. It resulted in me looking even shorter! On my second build, I made everything much more form fitting. I have a slim build, and it turned out much better. I’m building my TD now (3rd armor, 4th helmet) and I think I can do a much better job matching proportions at least the best I can do. That being said, I’m planning to build the backpack as is, no plans to scale down multiple parts – but the only thing I might make slightly smaller / shorter is the mortar tube. I want to make it slightly shorter, just from a convenience / bumping into things standpoint. It’s been said that most troopers were about 5 foot 10” and I think Brian Muir sculpted the original armor based on a body cast from someone of that size. I’m only 2” shorter, but I also have narrow shoulders. Nothing that can’t be solved with some shoulder pads. 

My thoughts are with you Rolf. I wish the best for you and your son. Just know that there are people out there that are watching out for you, and will help you through this.

I believe it's a male snap back to be specific.

Wow, great progress! Very nice work so far!

There's some here http://www.mepd.net/photo_gallery/Photo_Albums/Photo_Albums.html And of course on Look sir droids http://www.looksirdroids.com/davin_film.htm http://www.looksirdroids.com/davin_publicity.htm http://www.looksirdroids.com/hd_caps/index.htm

You seek helmet stands from the Woodchuck (member on MEPD and FISD). His stands can be placed on a table or wall mounted. I have 2 of them, they rock! http://woodchuck.imperial-web.com/category/creations/helmet-stands/

They are nice kits for sure, but keep in mind that the SR props E 11 is made up of many small resin parts. If you intend to use it for trooping, you'll need to handle it very carefully as there are a lot more components to it than a Pvc pipe kit, solid resin, or Sci fire blaster. Its assembled like a model kit.

Thanks Noel. It's a minor thing. I've found that with some thigh armors, the tops flare away from your thigh slightly (ANH style) and with others, the tops are right up against the top of your thighs. I’m 5 foot 8” in height, and I find that if I leave the screen accurate thighs untrimmed, they “bind” and can get caught on the inner thigh part of the cod when they are attached to it. For whatever reason (extra slack / flexibility in the elastic?) with the garters, I don’t have that problem. You can hang the thighs a few different ways, just choose the method that works best for you and is accessible in terms of materials.

This is my dream come true! Star wars + Adidas + Daft Punk + Snoop Dogg + Beckham? = greatness! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zd_khk6zXo&feature=player_embedded

I prefer to use a belt / garters. The problem with attaching the thighs to your ab / cod section is that the thighs tend to "bind" when you walk. Also, it puts additional weight on your shoulders (thighs connect to ab, ab connects to / transfers weight to the shoulder straps) I was making runs of garters for a while on FISD. I've been too busy lately to do another run, but here's a thread if you want more info on how they work. You can probably make something similar at home. I was just saving troopers the trouble. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=9665&st=0&p=122392&hl=garter&fromsearch=1entry122392 This is what they look like

Have a great time on your special day! Happy Birthday Noel!

I'm assuming this comes from those Star Wars visual dictionary type books, but I just found this on the web. I just noticed that the white one doesn't have padding in the rib area (looks like satin), and the black one looks almost like it had a piece of flat black plastic glued or sewn on, and there's finished no edging to it. Does anyone know if these were OT screen used or replicas?

Great photos! I hope to be able to take some that are that nice! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Noel. I asked my family a while back if they still had that picture (we moved our stuff a few times and my sisters have most of the family pics for safe keeping), but they couldn't find it. I might just recreate it, for nostalgia sake.

I watched it in the Stanley theater (now gone) when I was 6 years old. My family took me because they knew it was so different and creative. I was awestruck when the Tantive IV got eclipsed by the Star Destroyer. After the movie, we went home and I drew Star wars pictures as often as I could. This culminated in my first home made TK helmet, made from: - toy "policemans" helmet, blue with a yellow visor - cut off the visor - replaced the visor with a white piece of cardboard with the eye holes and mouth and vocoder cut out / drawn with felt pen - I made the cheek tubes out of paper towel cardboard rolls (I thought I was rather inventive for a 6 yr old) - drew on the tube stripes with a blue felt pen - glued in dark colored celophane behind the eyes - painted it with white house paint I wore it to school for Halloween.

That is fantastic! Great pics!

Very nice pack build Lou! Looks great!

I read over on FISD that on his next run after the current one, he will start offering individual pieces for sale.

Very nice work, original!

Thanks guys! Wait till you see the electronics and the finished weathering. I think you'll like it.

On mine, I only install a small round foam pad (closed cell, not open cell foam) on the top / crown, it's only about 5" in diameter. Then I have some foam that goes from temple to temple, but it's only about 1" tall / thick. I leave 2" gaps at the temple, then have some more foam kind of going from ear to ear around the back. I have one small thin laptop fan on the inside of the forehead to blow air on to my forehead and down through the gaps. Then I have a small squirrel an blowing towards the mouth area. I find that this is where you exhale and the air is hot when you exhale. The fan blows this hot air out, and keeps the air moving.

Wow! That looks fantatsic! Great work guys! Can't wait to see the finished plates.

Thanks a lot guys, glad you like it. I hope you find the tutorial helpful! Thanks Rolf! Those comments mean a lot coming from you, I'm glad you approve! More progress to come, I'm rigging up the speaker / electronics, and then it's on to final weathering (my favorite part!) Now I just need to build my TD!

Thanks Juan, glad you like it and hope you find it helpful! Remember, you don't have to do all this in one shot. This project took a couple months so far, just a few hours here and there. At the minimum, make the following for trooping, and add the details later - receiver / body - main barrel - corrugated drain tube / rubber door seal for ribbed section - taper - smaller barrel - stock - receiver chamber piping - top feed plate

saving for final images