Raintrooper

Whew! That got intense for a bit there... Congrats on the awards, Michael!

Cool, thanks Trevor! Yeah, I could definitely use some guidance when I get to sizing and gluing cover strips. I'll let you know when I'm ready to tackle this beast again. I just started a class at the Portland Code School to learn programming and web development. It's a short program, only 3 months, but really intensive!

Damn my lack of progress!! I've still only scratched the surface on trimming my kit over the summer. I probably won't get a whole lot done this Fall either, since I've decided to take the plunge and go back to school part-time and still work full-time... Not sure what I've gotten myself into yet, but it's gotta be done. My goal for TK completion is before Celebration Anaheim, so still plenty of time. (Sorry, boring post, I know..) Just wanted to say don't forget about me, I'll be back soon. I'll try to squeeze in some armor work on the weekends when I can. Thanks troopers!

Oh man, that would be hilarious! Imagine that as a 501st approved costume... '77 Action Figure Trooper! CRL: No articulation at the knees or elbows, only shoulders and hips... helmet and chest are attached as ONE piece.. Blaster MUST be held at a 45 degree angle...

Hey Ron! Yep. Those are the decals I've got. Watch trooperbays tutorial on how to apply them using a soap and water spray. Super easy.

Haha! Sorry, but I've always wanted to use this emoticon. Couldn't resist.

Those are some of the best damned ears I’ve seen.. Great job! Nice and snug, with hardly any gaps at all!

I guess there aren’t many here who can afford costuming AND tattoos... Definitely two expensive hobbies! I’m tempted to post pictures of Star Wars tattoos I WISH I had/could afford...

I’m pretty sure that rotary tool was just recently added to trooperbay.com. I bought my dremel a few months ago at a local hardward store, before trooperbay offered one. I definitely would have gone with trooperbays $25 dremel! I paid quite a bit more for mine, and it didn’t even come with as many attachments. You don’t really need a fancy, high power, multi-speed dremel working with these armor kits. So, while I haven’t used trooperbays dremel, I’d say go for it. It’s a great price!

That is one awesome tattoo Soren! I have several tattoos, but no Star Wars tattoo(s)... yet. I love 'photo-real' portrait SW tattoos, but I also really like the idea of SW tattoos done in a traditional 'Sailor Jerry' style, like a pin-up slave Leia, or a stormtrooper with a ribbon below that says "Move Along" or something like that.. SO many ideas! I'll be watching this thread with great interest!

Got mine at Eastbay. Compression top and pants, on sale for $14.99 each!

Wow! yeah, those are two COMPLETELY different helmets! Stay FAR away from this seller... and fiberglass.

I've gotta say, I'm leaning a little more toward the 'idealized' look. I completely appreciate the 100% screen accurate look as well, but there are a few aspects of the armor that I think even 'ol George would have improved on, if he had more time and money during ANH. A few things come to mind like... ...the rubber hand guards & gloves. 'Ideally', armored hand guards would be made of the same material as the rest of a suit of armor, right? ..and rubber gloves? Maybe for the troopers assigned to diswashing detail.. I personally like the look and practicality of the nomex flight gloves with shiny ABS hand guards. ...the flimsy green acetate lenses. I think heavy plastic lenses just look better, and I would imagine hold up a lot longer without denting or wrinkling. ...the 'bra-hook' enclosures on the shins. I also imagine that industrial velcro would hold the shins together much better on long troops, and not be prone to popping open, like they certainly did on screen. ... the bumpy cap & back. I have an ATA kit. I honestly don't mind the bumps all that much, and while they may be screen-accurate, I'd personally prefer a more (again) 'idealized' smooth cap & back like the AP lid. AP was just a little out of my budget.. Just a few thoughts/opinions I've had while researching and putting my kit together. I definitely plan on applying for EIB, but I'm still on the fence about Centuiron.

I wish I had painted the inside of my helmet like that... Looks great!

I haven’t had a chance to get much more trimming done since the armor party... but I’m just about done trimming the large torso pieces. More progress this weekend!

I agree with Vern.. It looks great so far! I put together my ATA bucket a handful of months back and I hit this same snag (http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/23411-raintrooper’s-ata-build/). Not sure if you’ve come across my build thread, but yes, the helmet kit is lopsided, wonky and nowhere near symetrical. Don’t worry! Thery’re all like that. I had a heck of a time lining up the outiside of the eyes with the traps. The face always seemed to be jetting off to the left. If I were you, I’d bring in the left eye a little, so the outer edge lines up with the trapezoid. That will decrease the gap of the outer right eye with the right trap. Does that make sense? It’s the hardest part about the helmet build.. at least it was for me. Keep up the good work!

Oh my god this rules!!! Combining the zombie and Star Wars love! I was WAY into horror movies and comics for a long time.. I kinda felt like the whole zombie thing was getting played out... but THIS, Wow! I think I need to read that Death Trooper novel!

Looks like the video was removed.. What happened?

Thanks to a fellow trooper here on the boards (Thanks Andy!), I was able to shave 3 months off my wait for an ATA kit! Doin’ the happy dance! I felt like that kid on christmas morning, 1981.. tearing open my Kenner Death Star playset! So, here’s where I’ll be for a while... “I’ll be in the basement, sweetie!†My local garrison is having their annual armor party/potluck in a little over a week. SO glad I won’t be going empty handed! I’ll have plenty of folks with plenty of experience to help tackle this beast. Born to be a TROOPER! Just fulfilling my destiny...

Adam - Ah yes, forgot you were 17. 7 months, plenty of time to finish your armor. It would be pretty sweet to get your 501st approval right on your 18th birthday!

37 here... I was 1 year old when ANH opened in theaters. You teenage whipper-snappers were 3 or 4 years old when Episode 1 came out!! I feel old. Ahh, the multi-generational love for Star Wars! Anyway, welcome to the FISD! Now get suited up trooper! Don’t worry about your age. It’s just a number. The Empire will assign you the only number that matters!

Hey Robe, I certainly did struggle with getting the cap and face together. It didn’t seem like they were made to go together at all! Once you drill the holes and screw them together, the cap pulls in nicely.

Are you doing the necessary "twist-on" method? Turning the helmet 90 degrees before putting in on? I have a big noggin' too (7 1/2 - 7 3/4), and my ATA helmet goes on fine without any extra trimming.

Nice! Good luck! I'm jealous! I'm about halfway through my 7 month wait. I got the ATA helmet kit first and finished it in about a month. waiting, waiting, waiting...

That looks like the funnest party EVER! Gotta love SF!! Why can't there be parties like this in Portland?