Midnight Trooper

"How did the ones who paid get hurt? I'm just trying to understand this. They got what they paid for and at that time felt happy. The pictures haven't changed.They still have them .The only thing that changed is that some are now free....." This is the sort of attitude I have been seeing alot of. People just dont get why some of us are upset about this. I dont know how the situation could be any clearer. We cant change what happened, just try to understand why what happened ****** off the group of people who have bought these CD's in the past. Its like making a choice to buy a Lamborghini and the day after you buy it, everyone on your block is given a free one. Sure there is nothing wrong with that. But while you worked hard to get your car, everyone else did nothing at all to achieve the same end. You would feel pretty bad and think about all the other things you could have spent your money on. That said I am glad the community can see some of these. I am glad for the people who I like anyway. The fact that alot of people who I dont like have them as well makes me feel pretty crappy.

Sure an' I'll be down the pub, sittin pretty wit my lady lub. Gettin' meself a bit O' Irish cheer, in the blessed form of Guinness Beer!! On this St. Patty's day, I'll favor you all with a traditional Irish blessing; May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Thanks but there really was not much point to me staying beyond me trying to continue to make a point nobody over there wants to hear. I really wouldnt want any part of a forum with CAP in a control position anyway... This is not an "angry because I was banned" thread, it is a bragging rights thread. I said what I needed to say and possibly some people watching heard what they needed to hear. Thats all. I have better things to do than hash it all out again the next time it comes up. Too tired. I dont mind having some good, non-recasting related discussion with people who are over at the other forum as well as here. You know where I stand on the issues.

I would think that the strap you see is from the backpack. I dont think anyone knows how that attaches or what sort of part it is mounted on but I would say the strap is from something to do with it.

I thought so. Just a little gun shy after a forum that doesnt seem to have any.

I agree that its just best to let it lie. But I absolutely refuse to accept the opinion of a poster here and someone who PM'd me, that I "fired the first shot" or was contributing to and insult fest. Let me quote my very first post from that thread. "Sorry to stir things up again but I just caught this. I am Midnight Trooper, the poster of this apparently terrible post at MEPD. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about why I said what I did. I am perfectly happy to discuss in a manner befitting to adults but I really dont think I can say anymore than I have. I'll try to the extent that I can providing I am not banned instantly for possessing a different point of view. I really dont want to be the bad guy here so someone tell me what I need to do to make things ok in your eyes." Citing some of my analogies used on this forum people thought I was using condescending language and I addressed that; "I promise none of those are condescending on purpose. It is really how it feels from where I stand and can you blame me? I have been really taken aback by this witch hunt that ensued after I mentioned I have these pictures." "Interested to discuss this without too much negative passion if we can avoid it. I promise you that I am a smart *** too but that never adds anything good to a debate. It sure feels good to blow off steam sometimes though!" Now not everyone who was countering my argument was acting poorly. Despite hinting that they doubted my intelligence, experience, motives, politeness and thought I was acting very high and mighty, in ways that didnt exactly endear them to me; It was mostly the man himself CAP/Weibes who destroyed any semblance of a sensible debate. In a since deleted post, after absolutely no provocation from me, CAP writes; "If your so ****** off come and get some, matter of fact i was fighting last night and my chin still hurts. I was up 24 and 12 of the 24 i was drinking and having fun, so come on over and we can discuss how you feel.. " BBBBbbbbbeeeeeeeiiiaaaattttcchh!" Other people thought this post, and others like it, were to be praised. Now how would one respond to that? Its true that I did call them "rough and tumble" sort of people, I called their forum the "dirty bar in town" and I even insulted them a few times. But not before I was treated the way was. I'm only human afterall. Not one of my posts was made without it contained relevant information and I wish I could say the same of CAPs. So to say I escalated the situation in any way by being what I would call painfully polite in the face of how I was treated is not an insinuation I accept. Many people who are members there condemn how CAP acts and are embarrassed by him. Those are the people who I cant understand why they chose to be associated with him or condone what he does. TK-14** (he'll know who he is) impressed me very much actually with his approach to the discussion and there were others that I respect. But they all rally under the banner of a person who I consider to waaayy beneath them. I dont want to "stir the pot" over here either. But to not defend myself when it is made to sound like I went over there just to start a flame war is ridiculous. Maybe the mods could lock this thread instantly if it starts to go south? I said what I needed to say and dont want to have to deal with this crap anymore. Move along, move along.

I got my first ever banning and I couldnt be prouder. I went over to a notorious new pro-recasting forum as a direct result of being referenced over there because of the thread I was involved in here. But instead of sharing, we started "debating" recasting. Apparently some of you dont know that it is because of these people's actions and attitudes that made me feel the way I do about sharing in the other thread. Braks Buddy (Art) can tell you I was never like that before. After all, I only know what I know now because people were kind enough to share with me. The title of the thread over there was "Help Me Understand" and the poster, who is also a member here just wanted to understand why somebody could think how I do. I tried to explain and I did it in a very polite manner. With the exception of a few members over there, I was pretty much a target for everyones frustration. Not that I'm suprised at that and I expected that after all. What amazed me was that people several times called my intelligence into question and I responded in kind. I was also told to share my personal info so somebody (who had challenged me to a fight earlier in the thread) could fly out to "meet" me. On several counts the people debating with me admitted to be either drinking, drunk, or hung over. One had even said he had a fight with his friend the night before. After I had been insulted to the point I demanded a banning, there was a poll started to decide wheather I would be or not. A few intelligent posters kept me over there trying to answer the questions they had and I was still writing back to one when I was banned. I dont really care. I am happy I dont have to debate anymore. If you want to hang out with a bunch of drunken cussing cowboys who run you out of town on a rail when you try to discuss things they dont want to hear even though someone asked to hear it in the first place, that forum is your place. I have never been treated that way. I'll continue to stick to respectful boards such as this where such foul and insulting language is not acceptable, even if there is a disagreement at times. I also promise to keep my mouth shut from here on out. I have never started a fight and will continue not to. But just dont ask for an opinion you dont want to hear! LOL I dont want this to turn into the same tedious thread I just left so I dont want anybody to turn it into that. I am just blowing off a little steam and sharing my exhiliration with you of having been so "bad" as to be banned by people who act much worse than I ever have.

Its hard to say how many troopers may have used these hooks. From Matt's archive pictures, there is only one complete set of arms that are shown enough to tell there are the bicep hooks on them. Besides Han's suit, there are possibly two other instances of similar hooks being used. One is see as the first trooper to get shot on the Tantive IV throws up his arms and the other is seen on the hero trooper who walks Leia to Vader. Both arent really clear enough to tell what there shape really is, or even what they are made out of. Could even be tape!

I have always liked these two standtrooper helmets and particularly the Move along helmet. Nice to see somebody do a good buildup. Since you are replicating them as they appear now instead of onscreen, does that mean you will display them without the interior foam and straps? Looking forward to the white paint!

So what I am hearing here is I shouldnt come to MEPD because I know more than some of you and am not a costumer. I guess Brak's should leave too then. And TM, and Gino, and TE. Wait a second! Arent those the same people who gave you most of the info or armor you currently have? And I keep seeing people reffering to "boasting" that I have something. Not at all. I have had it for some time now and this is the first time I have ever said I had it so I could avoid these sorts of jealous feelings. I get it. I really do. And telling me I was never like you that I dont like sharing or am not respectful and beyond that am mocking you? Once again I have done nothing to warrant that attitude. I do like to share. In fact I share all I can, with my friends. With people I know and trust.

Now I've been called stupid. Now I really want to share with you. I saw what I wanted, paid the price for it, and now I have want I want. If you think that's stupid then I dont know what to say. I dont have to hold on to it because it makes me feel better than you guys. I want to hold on to it because I paid for it so I could use it for my project. Its just elastic and snaps for pete's sake! But I have absolutely no reason to wish that people like you get their hands on it and take away the great feeling that comes with having something rare. When you ever do have something rare you might understand. Its the same as telling somebody that has a rare trading card to copy it and give it to everybody. Sure, its great for those other people and the guy who had the rare thing will be liked for giving it to all. But he also feels like what he has isnt as special any more. And if he didnt think he would want to share it with everyone the correct response is "Aww thats alright. I understand why you wouldnt want to." That is respectful and maybe the next time that guy will aquire something he does feel like he wants to share with everyone to make up for not sharing the other thing. But if the response is "You jerk! Give it to us! You didnt print the card, you dont own the rights to it. Everyone will hate you if you dont share." The desire to remain friendly with those people goes right out the window. And that is what I am feeling like here. When this strapping system and pictures become public, as someday they surely will, I will be all the happier for the few who will use it to make their costumes better. I may even help out by telling you some discoveries I might have made about the armor and we will have intresting discussions about it. But before then I am to remain the bad guy and be universally disliked, not being respected or understood. And all the while my feeling of community, the same feeling people like Rolf have for this board being a nice place where we can all work together, is being destroyed. Why cant you just accept that fact that you cant have something? The fact that I was just like you before I had these pictures and would feel like someone who did have them should share with everyone should tell you I am not for hoarding info just to keep it from somebody else. But I never, ever have made a post bashing the people who wouldnt share. I would like to share some things said in several different situations in PMs to TE over at white amor. Me: "Hey Matt. If you don't want to share the helmet bump information, that's your choice. I'm not going to call you names like some other people. But it is kinda frustrating to have these people who know an awful lot hanging it just out of reach." Another time it was "Thanks Matt! That's a pretty intresting answer." My response to a concern he had in another situation, "No worries about me spreading it around. I am extremly secretive and always know much more than I let on publicly. I really just like to learn the answers to some of these questions so I can move on ya know?" Matt: "So just be patient as when I can show more I will." "Not right now but it will happen." "I cannot say anything on the helmet right now, but I will later. Cool?" "I really dont want to give it out. One of those identifying factors we use to determine real from fakes and well, current and previous owners all agree we dont talk about it" You see the attitude myself and others have about sharing? If you want something then ask for it and respect the owners feelings once you have it. Dont sit around and complain that people are being mean to you on purpose for their own satisfaction! And Matt's responses didnt always add up to something he followed through on but that is the way it goes.

So once again Rolf you impress me with the way you post. You were the only person who didnt have something negative to say. Does that mean you can understand where I am coming from on this matter? Ok, this is the sort of attitude that is perfectly ok to have. You are basically saying you dont care if I shared or not because it wont make a difference to you. You are already happy with what you have. That is all any of us want! The only people who are getting huffy are the people who are responding to my initial post. I am not lording this info over you people and saying "nah nah boo boo" I would love for you to have it if it were free from the get go. What reason would I have for not wanting that to happen? We all could enjoy it and benefit from it and that would be great for community and goodwill for all. But my post was just trying to explain why myself and many others feel the way we do. If you cant get over the fact that I know something you dont then that is immature. I just am not willing to share it with everyone for a number of reasons. And yes, some of those reasons are selfish. Why should I have to take crap for that? This is not a contest but isnt it ok if I want to feel some pride knowing my armor was strapped correctly with the info that I got for myself? If you all knew how to strap your armor correctly and all worked on it together, that would be awesome. But then my info would not be special any more and I just lost the great feeling of doing something different. That is another force that drives this hobby besides free sharing. Why when Brak's says he cant share something does everyone aplaud his commitment and when I say the same thing I am attacked for being some sort of elitist? I hate the elitists! They are the reason I cant get certain things that I want in this hobby. But I never have debated their right to be elite. I have never felt entitiled to anything they have. Why should they share with me? Thats their right to not want to. I dont look down on costumers and I dare you to show me where I said that. I totally get why you do what you do. Its fun and cool! But my example of the ice cream is accurate. The response I got to my post is proof. I had a bunch of people yelling "We want ice cream you big bully!" at me. Why is my perspective any less acceptable than yours? And saying I shouldnt be part of a community for this perspective is out of line. I dont participate in discussions often because I dont have anything to add. Its people like Braks who make the discoveries. But I am far more inclined to take interest and have done tons of research about the props specifically. Just because I dont do the costuming thing myself and am not involved with that branch of community is no reason to label me a hoarding elitist and say I dont care about you guys. Just because I have something special and am not going to share it that makes me a bad person. I guess we should all write our congressmen about the people who make millions of dollars then? Why doesnt our country give all the info about our space and nuke program to France as well? We are friends with them after all and it would be great if they had a better space or nuke program. But some information just isnt free and thats never going to change. Its only human.

Shortsighted people all. I am one of the owners of the cd sets which TE took in the archives that Braks Buddy mentioned in his other thread. All the owners paid a considerable amount for them and the info gained by access to them. Myself and several other know exactly how the ANH suits were strapped. Apparently somehow Braks might too judging by his posts on the other thread. If TE had originally just given these pics out publically to everyone including me, I would be overjoyed! I had put a huge amount of effort into researching the strapping and to have something given to everyone would have been awesome! But now that I have bought something and protected the interest of its owner by not sharing it with all of you, I would be furious if somebody did give the information out publically That would be a breach in the non disclosure arrangements we all had agreed to, and would mean that I had just thrown a lot of money down the toilet. Can everyone respect that position here? Or are you sad for me because I am hoarding info and not giving it freely to the public world of prop collectors who **** and moan every time they hear about something that cannot or will not be shared? If you want it badly enough then make it happen. But if you are just waiting for the info whatever it happens to be, to fall into your lap meanwhile complaining that the people who have the info are pitiful, sad people for thinking or acting differently than you, then I say it should be obvious to you why some people are reluctant to share publically. Sometimes I feel like people online act like a room full of 1st graders who want ice cream. I have one cone which I bought for myself and I’m eating it out in the hallway. Why would I come into their room and offer to them when I know they would only stampede each other in their eagerness to get it and probably destroy my ice cream cone in the process? Again with the school metaphors, we all remember "It only takes one person to ruin it for everyone." If I don’t like or trust one person in an online community, then I no longer want to share things within that community. Right now I don’t like what the recasters over at “Do it yourself props” are doing. And that is undermining the trust and thus the progress of the community through sharing. Even if I was allowed to share the pics I wouldn’t because I don’t want them to benefit from my purchase. But if I could be assured my posts would only be seen by someone I liked like Rolf, I might feel differently and might be nice enough to share right here on the forums (again pretending I actually could) But online you cant have one without the other. Sorry guys. I hope that makes some sense and gives people an idea of how it is possible for someone to not be able to share, and not want to share.

Besides, the helmets are shiny not sticky.

Looks great Rolf! You probably already answered this somewhere but; How tall are you? Love the weathering.

Should be .060 Glossy ABS for the suits. I highly doubt there were any ABS background helmets. None have shown up yet. All HDPE and especially the sandtroopers were for sure. About 6 ABS hero helmets were made I think. And something like 14 tie helmets were made from the hero faceplate mold. Belts are canvas, holsters leather, straps canvas and elastic, handplates latex. "Bah da da bah dum dum!"

I spent alot of time researching these at one point but I lost the links after a computer change. Still, these are pretty nice. And they come in black. http://www.countrysupplies.com/item.asp?i=4737

Agreed. It is tiring.

Can I change your minds by saying I am not a "groupie" of Gino or Matt and I have spent a long time going over both "stories". Gino may come across as bigheaded somewhat, but you would to if people always called you names and called you out as a liar for simply being the only person who publically punctures the myth surrounding Matt. By simply trying to tell people the real story and having people not believe you. Gets pretty frustrating after what, 8 years or so? Matt is the father of all things trooper. He bought the ANH helmet and had it moulded. He also had a ROTJ suit moulded. Give credit where credit is due. But that was almost 9 years ago. Now Matt has none of those things left. No original helmet, no suit, and no moulds from them. He still puts out some amazing looking things and I am looking forward to the new ANH modifications on moulds he worked on with someone who will be the new armor producer in the future. It will LOOK fantastic. But ultimately it is not as accurate as the ANH modifications that Gino could do to duplicates of the moulds he has. Gino has the original armor moulds. And Matt has sold his reworked moulds to TE2. So what are the new moulds based on. I dont know yet. But its not an ANH suit and problably not a Jedi suit either. More than likey its based on the tour suit parts and further modified moulds. At the risk of sounding like Gino, I know why said Gino's helmets are the most accurate. He told me. AND I've seen proof. I know why Matt's helmets are not as accurate. And seen proof. My TE HDPE helmet is on my desk. And I love it. But it doesnt have the pedigree of Gino's helmet. Take it for what its worth. I dont want to start a fight with people. But maybe be a bit less harsh and do some more research.

Why restore it to an ANH look when it had an ESB paint job for them to work with? You're telling me that all the decals fell off, and they couldn't tell the frown was black? May be a clever fake. But thats just my intial reaction. I've seen way too many good fakes. Everyone remember the "Original Alec Guiness Obi-Wan cloak"? yeah.....

Nice looking buckets! When you say the correct grey, do you mean the Humbrol or Testors? I am unconvinced that the midnight blue is the correct color. I used #15 and I think and that looks pretty good for my sandtrooper. Any shots of the sides and backs?

Great weathering! I like that shine of the white paint through the dirt. Is that Rustoleum? Also I would suggest redoing the "tooth" paintjob so they are not connected by paint for a true ANH sandtrooper look.

I would love to see these as some sort of a stencil so it's easier for people to go accurate ANH style and paint them on. I think the actual measurements are 16mm long stripes, with the stripes themselves being 3mm wide with 4mm wide spaces between them. Although the spacing varies a bit once in a while, the main thing to correct the different lengths of the sides is there is not a constant number of stripes on each side. I think the number of stripes from helmet to helmet varies from 11 up to 16.

Just noticed in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Kazim (the grail protector from the Venice boat chase) looks like he goes after Indy with a Sterling and factually the gun wouldn't be around until a number of years later. Of course it might not be a Sterling... I have to go back and check.