maxsteele

It is my understanding that NE is Armormaster, which is cast from custom molds. TupperwareTK, Troopergear and others are just resellers of the AM armor. I am basing this off this post: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/22616-armor-sizing-question/page-2#entry283438 If this is incorrect, then I would like to see information to the contrary.

Yeah, I saw your thread, and while they are nice boots, I feel our wants are butting up against the wants of the consumers of shoes in general. I don't believe you have to pay over $200 to get a decent pair of shoes. There must be a better price. I'd love someone to chime in on that eBay link I posted of the boots that are $66.75 plus shipping. It says they're leather, and they come in a good range of sizes. Anyone have an opinion on those?

I found these boots from another thread: ------------ A 9.5 US Mens is an 8.5 UK Male. They have 9's, which might be a little big, but I think they would fit. At this point I'm willing to paint.

Dammit! The maximum size you can get the above boots in is UK 8. That's a US 9. I'm a 9 1/2, which means the largest size would be too small for me. Grrrr! I'll keep searching. I'd still like to know opinions on if these are the right style for 501st.

I've seen several threads on this topic, but none where people are posting various boot brands and styles and then asking if they are 501st approved. I had started to tag onto a Centurion approval thread, but even then, I felt like I was hijacking. I've started doing a search for boots that will pass 501st approval. I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest boots out there, but I'm also trying to avoid $200+ for a pair. Here is what I have compiled so far, and I'll be adding on to this list as I find more boots. If others find boots that they wish to find out if they're approved, please feel free to reply to this thread and add what you have found. http://www.fashionunion.com/boots/white-chelsea-boot/invt/wfwb0308whe These boots look wonderful to me! White, U-shaped side, no seam in the front. Hell, these might even be Centurion-approved! If I'm doing my math right, these are $55 shipped from the UK to the US. Someone poke holes in these shoes, because if you don't, I think I found the pair to buy. http://www.fashionunion.com/boots/black-chelsea-boot/invt/wfwb0308blk?awc=5514_1376345749_eca2e68a6b3436a0af55dab1531cfb2d&utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=Affiliate_Window_Sale This looks exactly like the white pair, only in black. The inside looks a little different, but otherwise, if someone wanted to have black shoes and paint them white, I could see these working. What do people think of these pairs for 501st approval?

Well then, I'm going to have a hell of a time finding boots - because the second one I linked to from zappos looks *exactly* like the photo reference boot. It's just a darker black. Which if these are getting painted, it'll be white. If there's something wrong with them, I'm just not seeing it. EDIT: I just realized - this thread is specifically for Centurion certification. I should make a new thread, because I'm looking for boots for 501st / EIB certification. DOUBLE EDIT: Ok, I think I see - it's because the elastic part isn't in a U shape. Which is 501st cert level. Man, it's going to be difficult to find boots.

I didn't want to start another thread, and didn't want to risk hijacking someone else's thread, but this thread seems the appropriate place for my post. I've been doing some research into boots to get, and here are a couple I have found. I'd like to know people's opinions on these: _mkwid_S4woQCQC_27930974753%7C-%7CS4woQCQC'>http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/dr-martens-shoes-2976-chelsea-boots?ID=673012&cm_mmc=Google_Mens_Shoes_Geo_PLA-_-Mens+Shoes+PLA_Mens+Shoes+PLA-_-27930974753__mkwid_S4woQCQC_27930974753%7C-%7CS4woQCQC http://www.zappos.com/giorgio-brutini-66059-black?zfcTest=fcl%3A0

If you take a look at this thread: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/19329-where-what-and-whom-to-avoid-when-buying/ CTM props is listed on there already as a re-caster. That's a good list of who to avoid. Over on this thread: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/ you'll find a good starting point for armor providers. I suggest sending emails to each of the contacts and asking them what type of armor they provide. You'll get a response and you'll have a better idea of the type and price of the armor you're getting from them.

What set of armor and helmet are featured in these videos?

Thanks for the reassurance. I sanded the left eye last night and smoothed out the line on the right one and placed the untrimmed lens inside for a quick look, and yep it looked fine. My next two challenges are cutting out the teeth and shaping the ear pieces.

Do you mean sand down the ridge above the left eye so it's shorter than it is now to come more in-line with the right?

Here we go! I have started the construction of my ATA helmet build. With very large moral and in-person support by Raintrooper, I have started on my ATA Helmet build! Here are a few photos of the progress I made today. Here is the current front of the helmet. I was trying out a way to start the teeth, and it proved harder than expected, so I'm going to wait until I get a decent sander barrel for my Dremel to follow Pandatrooper's teeth removal process. I trimmed a little too much off of the ridge on the right eye. Oh well - nothing I can do about it now. Hopefully it doesn't cause much of an issue. Right side of trimmed back helmet piece Left side of trimmed back helmet piece: I really do hope I didn't screw up the right eye trimming. It's not really noticeable from the front, but this is my first time doing it, so I don't know how much it matters.

I've been looking at several ATA helmet builds, and I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere... Once you put the bolts in to hold the pieces together, quite a bit of them stick out inside the helmet. It's said in the tutorial that the bolts sticking through the ears are what hold the lens in place, but don't you now have exposed bolts threatening to pierce your ears / head if you get some force applied from either side of the helmet?

So, which one is the "corrected" belt? The one with the larger boxes, or the one with the smaller boxes?

Thanks for the info! The purchase price of a full NE armor kit is the exact same price for me as buying a lite NE kit and a local garrison member's ATA helmet. For an extra $100, I can get the full NE armor kit and an ATA helmet. Then I'm able to have both helmets and have myself covered either way. I can always user another helmet, right?

You know what kaa? You're absolutely right. I have no idea of knowing if I will be fine with the mismatch, because the only way I'll know is when I see the ATA helmet and the Troopergear armor in front of me. I'm getting a good deal on an ATA helmet from someone who has an extra one, so I'm going to order the full Troopergear set, with the helmet, and pay a little extra to also have the ATA helmet. Worst case scenario - I don't like how the color of the ATA helmet matches with the Troopergear armor, so I build both helmets, wear the Troopergear helmet, and have an extra completed ATA helmet for a backup. I pay a little more extra, but I get to have both helmets.

Daetrin, if I miseed this in a sticky post, then I sincerely apologize. If it wasn't in a sticky post, then I think everything you just posted should be in one! That was the most comprehensive and thorough explanation I have seen regarding the topic. Thank you very much for putting it all in one place.

After a bunch of research and meeting up with my local garrison today, I have come to a decision on the type of armor I am going to purchase! I am going to get the Troopergear New NE lite kit and an ATA helmet. From everything I've read, this combination combines affordability, quality, and accuracy to get me not only a 501st-approved TK costume, but the possibility of EIB or Centurion approval at a later time. My one concern I had was whether or not I'd have any issue with color-matching Troopergear armor with an ATA helmet. I have seen several suggestions on these forums to use Troopergear armor with an ATA helmet, so I don't think this is a concern, but I wanted to ask before reaching that final decision. Any opinions on this armor/helmet combination are appreciated before I initiate the actual purchase.

Yep, all I've been doing since I made the final decision that I was going for this has been research and reading. I've even made separate Word documents for each of the vendors I have contacted containing initial price and availability information, comments from people on various forum posts about their product, and personal comments. I'm definitely seeing the option I'm going to go with start to rise above the rest. I'm doing an in-person armor party / potluck with my local garrison on Saturday, which is when I'll present all of my findings and make my final decision. To say I'm obsessed now would be an understatement, which seems to mean I'm starting to fit in around here.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts on the different levels. I would tear my hair out if I attempted to get my costume to Centurion status on the first kit. I am all for improving my costume after I get 501st approval for it, but I'm not going to shoot for the moon right out the gate.

Thanks for the suggestions Gazmosis. I've been doing a ton of research on the different vendors for armor and helmets. I came to the same conclusion regarding Troopergear armor. Get the Lite kit and get a helmet from ATA, as he has those available without a wait. Unfortunately, RS for the armor / helmet is close to the amount I can spend for the entire project, so while I'd like to knock it out of the park the first time, I'm alright with my first suit not being 100% screen accurate, but better than average for 501st approval. I've contacted TM regarding availability and cost, and am waiting for a reply. If he comes in under RS prices, I could definitely take him into consideration.

I knew there had to be perks!

Through my searches for armor, I came across Troopergear making sets of armor. I've also seen it referenced as "New TE" and "TG" armor as well. I have also seen a reference to Armor Master, though the thread at http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/ says that Armor Master is no longer made. I'm a bit confused on that. I am 5'11" , 190-195 lbs, with a 36" waist. I wanted to know people's opinions on this new set of armor / helmet that Troopergear is making and the possible fit for someone of my size. It is trimmed and sanded, ready for assembly. It is quite affordable, and if this is good armor for a first-time TK owner, and will pass 501st approval, I may go with this set. If this has been covered in other threads here, I sincerely apologize. For some reason, every term I type into the Search window comes back as "No Results". Even if I put in common words, it never finds a match.

I know the base certification is 501st approval, for getting into the 501st, but I have also seen two other certifications - Expert Infantryman and Centurion. What are the reasons for getting these further certifications? I have seen the extra details that are required in the costume database to get these certs, but are there restrictions during troops for those who don't have EIB or Centurion certification?

Ah, excellent! Did you have to do any extra cutting, or was it just a matter of assembly? Also, I was told the trimmed / assembly kit does not come with any straps or velcro. How did you procure (and know what to procure) the necessary items? Also, I was curious on your body dimensions. I'm 5' 11", 190 lbs, with about a 36-38" waist. The suit looks wonderful!