noob armor

[Flatrabbit]

Hey all,

Brand spankin new here. I was recommended a few armors to start with. Where do i find those armors (TE2, TM, AP)? What are the pros and cons of each?

Thank guys.

[Boklast]

Since you have a couple types in mind then you should read some of the threads in this forum and check out FISD (whitearmor.net) forums for tons of info about the names you mentioned. All the info you need is found within. Read up before you try to move to the next step because you might find something else works better for you. Good luck

[Pappy]

Hey flatrabbit it you again,good thing that you ask so many questions

Before you start hunting see this first www.starwarshelmets.com theres a "fan-made" section,thats where you heading,and you can see the original helmets too!

From there you're gonna off a good start

Cheers

-Erik

Quoted from TM

You have to ask yourself what you want from your kit. Everyone wants different things so you have to make up your own mind.

Are you more concerned with price?

Do you want quality ABS or cheap Styrene?

Do you mind going to the trouble of painting your whole kit?

Will you be trooping or using it for display?

Are you tall, short, slim or overweight?

Is accuracy a concern?

Lots of questions have to be answered and then you can start looking for the right kit that fits your criteria.

Hope that helps

[Flatrabbit]

Hey flatrabbit it you again,good thing that you ask so many questions

Before you start hunting see this first www.starwarshelmets.com theres a "fan-made" section,thats where you heading,and you can see the original helmets too!

From there you're gonna off a good start

Cheers

-Erik

Quoted from TM

Thanks again Erik.

I've be looking at posts and chatting with members and since i am 6' 220lbs., AP is out. I'm thinking about TE2. Any thoughts, pros and cons?

[Jonboy2312]

Thanks again Erik.

I've be looking at posts and chatting with members and since i am 6' 220lbs., AP is out. I'm thinking about TE2. Any thoughts, pros and cons?

AP out? Nonsense... I'm 6' 220lbs too! And guess what suit is this?

Not only I didn't need any shims, I actually had to TRIM the back of the thighs to make them narrower. And better yet - I have a HUGE head, no hat ever fits me. And yes, the helmet is AP, too.

I highly recommend AP as it's really tough ABS and an easy build, too.

[dutchy]

Nice AP Jonboy..

The AP is a good choice to begin with, true...but you can also take it up a notch immediately and order a TE2 or a TM, which both have a bigger fit as a good price setting.

[Jonboy2312]

Nice AP Jonboy..

The AP is a good choice to begin with, true...but you can also take it up a notch immediately and order a TE2 or a TM, which both have a bigger fit as a good price setting.

But isn't TE2 made of styrene? My old armor had styrene legs and belt front. They all cracked and split everywhere. The belt piece is missing the corners (they snapped off around rivets) and is near-completely split vertically in two different places near the middle. The thighs were cracking at the top...

I would never, ever recommend anything styrene to a beginner. It makes a fantastic display piece for a mannequin, but that's it.

Another thing is the helmet... It doesn't look like anyone informed the OP about what the cap looks like on TE2.

TE2 replicates a really badly pulled cap as found on one or some of the actual movie props... Again, while it's cool for display, I would find it really awkward for trooping among fans. I don't know about Flatrabbit, but personally I think we should be costuming stormtroopers, not actors who played them... It's likely that as a beginner he'd only fully appreciate a TE2 set as his second kit, not something to start with...

Don't forget he's asking for noob armor, not advanced armor, LOL

TM is a good choice, I guess, but I've never seen one and thus can't speak for it.

[Daetrin]

Yes, most TE and all TE2 and ATA are both of HIPS. If HIPS cracks it means that the maker overheated the plastic before forming. Both my TD and TK are TE2 and are holding up well, though I have gotten some small tears when I tried doing some aggressive maneuvers. My take having owned both ABS & HIPS is that ABS will take more abuse for sure, but HIPS will do fine for normal trooping.

Also, HIPS can be lower cost at times but this depends on the maker and the fluctuating prices of the two different plastics.

My advice is to first decide on which armor best suits you based on your needs (as there is no one 'best' armor), then go after contact info.

[Flatrabbit]

Thanks for the info guys. I love this forum.

I can't believe thats AP!! Everyone has said it more for short slender guys. I definitely want to troop, although I work and travel alot, so not often.

Hmmm, I guess i'll give it some more though. Anyone else?

Cheers.

[Jonboy2312]

Yes, most TE and all TE2 and ATA are both of HIPS. If HIPS cracks it means that the maker overheated the plastic before forming. Both my TD and TK are TE2 and are holding up well, though I have gotten some small tears when I tried doing some aggressive maneuvers. My take having owned both ABS & HIPS is that ABS will take more abuse for sure, but HIPS will do fine for normal trooping.

Aye, but accidents have a nasty habit of happening. A few years back an overly excited 'fan', quite well oiled at that time, grabbed a fellow trooper from the Polish Garrison by the neck edge of the back plate and pulled him real hard... I cringed at the sound of bent plastic. Fortunately, there was absolutely no damage... It was a brand new AP kit, which has become nearly standard issue in the Polish Garrison, especially among the polish MEPD crew:

All save one are AP. The only exception was my custom one-off (the yellowish one) which was fiberglass and HIPS. This was two years ago, all ABS suits are still going strong and look the exact same, while the fiberglass/HIPS hybrid has been retired due to the HIPS parts simply disintegrating. Just my experience I guess it all comes down to display vs trooping. The PG troops a LOT.

Also, HIPS can be lower cost at times but this depends on the maker and the fluctuating prices of the two different plastics.

My advice is to first decide on which armor best suits you based on your needs (as there is no one 'best' armor), then go after contact info.

Ditto - it would be best to see a bunch of different kits in person first

Thanks for the info guys. I love this forum.

I can't believe thats AP!! Everyone has said it more for short slender guys. I definitely want to troop, although I work and travel alot, so not often.

I have no idea where those urban myths came from

I haven't noticed AP to be any smaller than other armors. I've worn SDS before and they feel just about identical.

Here's a couple more photos, I think they show my stature well enough...

Yes, I'm pretty big and I have a bit of a gut, which I intend to loose by means of intensive trooping in my portable TD sauna

And here's a nearly direct comparison to an FX suit with a Master Replicas helmet. Luc is about the same height, but much, MUCH slimmer than I am. Still, even with the difference in our build, I think it's still an interesting comparison.

The height of the legs is about the same and they give plenty of room. moreover, if you assemble the limbs the correct screen-accurate way, the connecting strips will give you even more potential room to adjust (personally, I had to TRIM the thighs rather than shim them - and I'm 6", 220lbs...)

Hmmm, I guess i'll give it some more though. Anyone else?

Cheers.

Well, I'll just add that I recall Paul / TrooperMaster presenting a super-flexible variation of his TM suit. This might interest you, too! (But Mark / Authentic Props also has an extra-flexible ABS-60 version). With TM, you also get a strapping system identical, to our knowledge, with the original movie props. Assembly is thus different, so read some build threads on the different brands of armor to see what you'd like the most.

Do research yourself, lots of it. If you just ask people, each of us will most likely just recommend what he wears himself, LOL!

Oh, and there's this photo of other MEPD officers comparing AP, TE2 and TM:

Sorry, I forgot who's the author of the shot nor who the troopers are, so I can't give them proper credit, sorry

If there really are any size differences between AP and TE2, they're marginal and negligible and in the end, your own assembly work has a far greater impact on final size.

Bottom line is... do your own first-hand research, see some of those suits in person. The best choice will be the one you make yourself, based on your own research and knowledge

[Flatrabbit]

You guys have been great. Now I'm more confused than ever

That's a good thing. It'll let me decide what I really want. I will also mean you guys will have to put up with more questions.

I'm torn. I love the "top of the line" in everything I do, but I dont want to spend that much for detail and wreck it. I want to troop for sure (still not sure where). I'd love to see some up close. Know anyone in Utah?

Mad love , guys.

[iconoclasta_88]

...I'm torn. I love the "top of the line" in everything I do, but I dont want to spend that much for detail and wreck it....

Hey there bro... I just want to share with you my experience regarding armor, not an armor expert, just an armor and trooping enthusiast and 501st member for 3 years. HEHE.. my whole resumé...

Anyway... I have not seen in person most of the accurate armors out there, but have studied a lot of threads, forums, sites and pictures. To this point, my fav and personal choice was the TE2 (currently under construction).

My first armor was an FX made of some kind of styrene, more similar to ABS than to HIPS. I built it the best way I could but was not the way TK or TD armors were built in the movies. I liked it a lot and was very happy, but with time made several modifications to it and improve it a lot.

With time, I learned a lot of techniques and developed my habilities for working with plastic and prop building.

I just recently was lucky enough to finally get my TE2 armor (Im a big fan of it) and after a lot of studying and analyzing each part and its construction I can tell I would not have been able to correctly built it 3 years ago as my first armor kit. And money always being a tuff issue, I would have been very mad at myself if after investing in a top of the line armor, I would have not put it together as now I now it should.

So, at the moment, I am very happy to finally have my TE2 armor, but even happier to have it now and not 3 years ago.

This is my story and is not intended to give you any kind of recommendation. Just wanted to share so you could take it in consideration if it could be of any help.

Im sure that if you went for an FX or a top of the line armor, with the right instructions, research, references, patience, work and care, it can come out awesome... even with no prior experience with armor or prop building.

... I want to troop for sure (still not sure where)...

In my case, I can tell you that being comfortable with FX armor kit when trooping requires a bit of practice and lots of trial and error for adjusting the parts. It is not the most ergonomic armor out there. But since it is harder more resistent than other armors, it is not a big problem.

Dont know yet about other armors since I have never wore other than my FX, but my guess is that TE2 armor is way more comfortable... but softer.

Just my two + two credits. Hope it helps.

Saludos

[Flatrabbit]

[Flatrabbit]

Gracias Juan,

I appreciate your honesty and personal experience. My own abilities at assembly are definitely a concern. I guess I need to research TE2 construction methods more to see if I am capable.

Cheers.

[Flatrabbit]

So I found this thread on TE2 Assembly.

http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=...=armor+assembly

In the pics there seems to be alot of bumps and ripples in the helmet. Is this standard? Just on the TE2 or all kits? Curious.

[Jonboy2312]

So I found this thread on TE2 Assembly.

http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=...=armor+assembly

In the pics there seems to be alot of bumps and ripples in the helmet. Is this standard? Just on the TE2 or all kits? Curious.

Yes it's normal. in fact, it's the main selling point of the TE2 helmet. Some (well, at least one) helmets used for the movie had really badly vacuformed caps. Bubbles and dimples all over, especially near the edges. Furthermore, look at the 'trapezoids' on the sides of the dome. They're almost flat and non-existent.

This is exactly how some of the 'stunt' (or 'background') helmets looked in the movie - probably those made near the end of the batch. one of those 'flawed' screen-used helmets was cast to create the current version TE and the TE2. Personally, I hate it... and like it at the same time! I would hate that cap on a trooping helmet, but I would love to have a TE2 lid as a display piece - I would also brush-paint it sloppily with some drips and runs, then let it sit in the sun to turn yellow... I'd make it look exactly like an original prop from 1976

Smooth and sharp helmet caps such as AP or old TE are also just as screen-accurate. These were just cast off a different screen-used helmet.

By the way, assembly of all screen-accurate kits is exactly the same, what works for one of them will work for all of them (except maybe for material-specific glues, such as ABS cement)

iconoclasta_88 has a very good point - you really don't want to mess up a quality kit like TE2 or AP. but on the other hand, if you get an FX to practice on, you'll later regret throwing money at it that could have gone into something better. I would advise getting one of the screen-accurate kits right from the start, but assembling it with assistance from an experienced trooper who did one of these before. Perhaps your local garrison has armor parties sometimes? Or you can just ask someone who lives nearby for help.

EDIT:

Another thought just came to mind. RT-MOD. It's custom-sculpted as opposed to cast fromt he original props, but it's done really well and looks great, keeping the shapes and proportions of the original but in larger scale. This armor would probably even fit Lou Ferrigno if assembled creatively, LOL. It's also tough like heck, being ABS. And it might just give an extra margin for error in assembly, I guess...

[freakengine]

As a 6-3, 220# trooper, I can honestly say that RT-Mod is the next choice for me. I simply don't look good in other suits except for FX and the accuracy issues of the old FX bug me. I currently troop in FX with a TM helmet but would like to upgrade to RT-Mod. I've seen it in person and even tried on another trooper's armor and I could see how well it could be made to fit me. RT-Mod has no screen-used provenance though, so that's an issue for some.