sharkbait

Looking sharp, trooper! Welcome to the ranks!

AM and RT-Mod are well suited to larger/taller troopers, just like TM, RS and Anovos are best suited for smaller (thinner/leaner) troopers (especially Anovos in my experience). AM shins can be tricky, but there's a very good tutorial on here as to how to get them right. Your armor maker choice is really based on two things: your body type and budget. I really don't know enough to comment about specifics of other armor makers, but others on here certainly do. I would agree that while they all have their quirks, they're basically all at the same level of difficulty in assembling. Though I will say two piece (dome/back and face, plus ears) helmets are easier than three piece (dome, back, face, plus ears). But again- that's my own experience and preference.

Here's how I did mine, it's held up for 3+ years: It's nylon webbing with Tandy Line 10 snaps, snap plates attached with E6000 and a 48 hour cure time. (Plus Centurion-level rivets for the left ab/kidney connectors). (Also, I just saw your Garrison- hey there, fellow Garrison-mate! How's life in Northern CA?) EDIT: I also I would add if you have issues with the shoulder bridge elastic stretching out, I switched mine to white nylon. Elastic is preferred per the CRL, but mine just stretched out after a few troops and wasn't effective.

I know nothing of hydro dipping, but I think the first pattern would have the most effect. A smoke colored lens would fit well with that color scheme, as well.

Jimmi or KB Props are the only two I know of. As someone else ready pointed out, check here for details and availabiltiy: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/43484-wtb-tfatlj-armor-who-is-current/

I have a Trooperbay.com one- I love it, it's held up nicely for 3+ years, including several washings. The extra bib around the bottom is among the smallest I've seen, and I personally prefer that.

Did I get it backwards, again? D'oh! Or maybe I changed it and my changes didn't sync... I'll check on that.

So you've decided you want to be a First Order Stormtrooper. Congratulations and welcome! But did you know that there are four types of First Order TKs? We have The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Last Jedi Executioner, and Captain Phasma. Can't tell the difference between all that white armor? Don't worry- here's a spreadsheet of all the similarities and differences between them! Now all you have to decide is which version you like best. Details for Basic Approval, Expert Infantryman, and Centurion are all included. First Order TKs - What's the Difference? If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please feel free to contact me. Whitearmor is also here to help, so ask early and often! Interested in Original Trilogy Stormtroopers? See this post for differences between Original Trilogy TKs

So you've decided you want to be an Original Trilogy Stormtrooper. Congratulations and welcome! But did you know that there are four main types of TKs from the Original Trilogy? We have New Hope - Hero, New Hope - Stunt, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Can't tell the difference between all that white armor? Don't worry- here's a spreadsheet of all the similarities and differences between them! Now all you have to decide is which version you like best. Details for Basic Approval, Expert Infantryman, and Centurion are all included. Original Trilogy TKs - What's the Difference? If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please feel free to contact me. Whitearmor is also here to help, so ask early and often! Interested in First Order Stormtroopers? See this post for differences between FOTKs, including Captain Phasma

Will do! Now to think of a snappy, informative title...

You are correct! Fixed it. Good catch!

Here's the updated link and FOTK differences (including Phasma)! It should be posted in Getting Started later. OT TK Differences: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-cu3I77_aCwZl8CJBoEwlvH5jLCOmPXk/view?usp=sharing FOTK Differences (Incl. Phasma): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GGRJdA6q7hxnPECsIY6wqJ0lGtX6rZ0p/view?usp=sharing Let me know if anyone has any issues viewing, because Google Drive can be buggy.

Here's the update link, it should be shared publicly, so no one should have any issues viewing it: OT TK Differences: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-cu3I77_aCwZl8CJBoEwlvH5jLCOmPXk/view?usp=sharing FOTK Differences (Incl. Phasma): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GGRJdA6q7hxnPECsIY6wqJ0lGtX6rZ0p/view?usp=sharing Let me know if anyone does have issues, because Google Drive can be buggy.

Yeah if you wanted go with the obvious choice that I missed. Sounds good to me!

Thank you! I actually reviewed the FOTK CRLs, and turns out they're not nearly as complicated different as I thought, so I'm working on a spreadsheet for those as well. I'm going to add Phasma as well, because other than chroming and a handful of details, she's actually quite similar to TFA (no TLJ Phasma CRL yet, I'll add that once it's live). I'm working on TFA Phasma, so I have vested interested in that one. I think it was decided it would be best to add to Getting Started, and so I will create a thread there shortly.

Morning, all! I recently got inspired by a thread in the NCO Club (Off Topic) section about the differences between OT TKs and if a spreadsheet laying them out existed. We came to the conclusion we didn't think one did, and then on Friday I didn't have any real work to do at work, so I made one. It's OT TK only for now; I may make one for FOTKs someday, but that is not this day. There are spreadsheets for OTTKs and FOTKs- now including TLJ Phasma as per the recent update to the CRL! They are also now in PDF format for easy viewing! Here's the link for viewing/downloading (it looks terrible in preview- Google Sheets or download are the way to go). OT TKs - https://drive.google.com/file/d/10tEVteIreh6AHMogW010cuH_Bf8TBfU6/view?usp=sharing FOTKs - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GBkXIfRs9lYW6vnhVjqdEv5oNdp2ToTs/view?usp=sharing So my question is: Where should I post this for all to view? Armor discussion? Generic tutorials? My only thought is put it where it will be the most helpful, and I would prefer it not limited to the 501st-only areas, as it could help someone decide which TK to do for acceptance into the Legion (that was the point of the thread that inspired it). FURTHER EDIT: These have both been posted under the "Getting Started - Read this First!" Section. I note this post was pinned, but those weren't- those are the ones I'd recommend pining, as those are the ones I'll be updating with CRL changes.

Alright... you inspired me. I do love my spreadsheets: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xaRZxAlVwa327UFBSnwVS16tyRM5r9cU/view?usp=sharing It's broken down into Basic, EIB, and Centurion. OT only for now- maybe someday I'll get inspired to do one for the FOTKs, Rogue, and/or Solo, but that is not this day. Any questions or clarifications required on it, please let me know! I will say the preview you get when you first click sucks, so look at it in Google Sheets or download it and view in Excel/OpenOffice, etc., for best viewing. I reviewed this 3+ times, but please feel free to double check me and make sure I didn't transpose a column or something. There's a whole lot of info and a whole lot of little details.

The plan was to get you towards ESB! Just kidding- I just happen to partial to ESB. Originally I was between ESB or ROTJ- I ditched ROTJ because I didn't want to paint my boot soles white and have to keep them that way. To my knowledge since most kits are ANH derived, there's fewer ready options for ROTJ's one piece kidney and butt plate- I know there's at least one maker than offers that, but I'm not sure as to others. A two piece could be modded to become one, it would just take an extra step. ANH is by far the most popular option, so there's no shortage of help, parts, decals or paint options, etc. Thankfully, ANH-S/ANH-H/ESB are so similar in base that you aren't locked in to only build threads of your model- you can really look at any of them for most of it, especially the base armor. Good luck! Keep asking questions, keep checking these forums, and research, research, research! You'll join the white armor ranks in no time!

Definitely face the fans towards the lenses, be it diagonally across like CTID above or just up to the corresponding lens on either side- it will keep them from fogging up but also not dry out our eyes. Mounting them lower in the helmet can catch what little ventilation you get from the teeth, as well as from the opening of the helmet. You can play with the angle a bit to also get their airflow to catch a bit of your face/cheek area on its way to the lenses; it might be a placebo effect but it works for me.

I can help you with the differences between ANH and ESB (but don't ask me the difference between ANH Stunt and Hero, because I still don't really know): These are based on Centurion, because that's what I did, rather than basic to basic, and my knowledge of ANH is primarily Hero: Helmet: ESB frown is black, ANH is gray ESB tears, tube stripes, etc., are decals, and not hand-painted look decals, specific ESB details for color/type, the blue on the tube stripes is specific ESB Blue; ANH is hand-painted or hand-painted look decals (the rank bars on the ears are painted on both because there aren't decals for those) ESB Tube stripes should be 13 per side, but 9 - 16 is acceptable, ANH has 11 - 13 per side, but 9 - 16 is also acceptable. ESB lenses can be green or gray (smoke), and are flat; ANH are green or gray (smoke), and can be flat or bubbled- I do know bubble only for EIB Hero (someone chime in who knows more re Hero/Stunt for details) ESB has 2 - 3 ear bumps (rank stripes) in black, ANH has one ESB has 6 - 8 teeth cut out of the frown, ANH has six. Armor: ESB hand guards are the same as Snowie (Snowtrooper) hand guards, commonly called "clamshell", ANH are triangular. ESB can be attached with an elastic strip around the palm over rubber chemical gloves, or via a five point star pattern sewn onto black satin gloves. ANH are either hard plastic attached with elastic or flexible latex stuck directly to the glove. Misc: ESB holster is solid black, loops around the belt and is worn on the right, ANH is black and tan, riveted onto the belt, and worn on the left ESB E-11 is "paired down" compared to ANH, it lacks an ammo counter most noticeably. There's two versions of ESB, promo and regular, to be honest I'm not familiar with the differences. As to ROTJ... the boot soles are white, the kidney and butt plate are one piece (not separate like ANH and ESB), they wear Snowie/ESB handguards, and I think there's a trim on the chest and back plates, and maybe the ab, too. That's the limit of my knowledge on that. I tell my new handlers the easy way to tell my TK apart from the others at at event is to look for a black frown. But is is surprising how quickly you can tell each other apart even in armor. Once all variations looked the same, now they're glaringly different, once every TK at an event looked just about the same, then suddenly they were obviously the individuals wearing the armor.

Welcome aboard! Believe it or not, you might actually miss your handling days! Eventually, anyway.

For my TIE, I used an automotive paint base (get an actual auto paint, not just a paint they sell at a auto parts store; regardless of what the sales guy says, learn from my mistakes), and an oil-based gloss (I used Varathane brand). Turned out about as shiny as I've seen non-commercial applications.

In my opinion, no, because nothing Rubies does looks very good. That is, it looks terrible to the discerning eye of those who really know props, however I have found that even a lot of the general public can tell their TK helmets are off (maybe not in detail why, but just not right). I haven't seen the Rubies Phasma helmet, but I can only assume based on everything else they put out it's the same. For the price of Rubies, you're not very far off from getting it from a reputable seller and having it be truly accurate. I'd check out Jimmi or Shawn Thorrson, they sell helmets individually.

Communication has always been a bit hit or miss with him, in my own experience and what I've heard from others. But his kit is top notch, especially for taller troopers, so I still believe it's worth the wait. Be persistent but not annoying, if that makes sense. I'd check in every month or so with a one or two line, hey I'm still interested let me know, thanks, kind of deal.

You're not the only one thrown for a loop here. I'm having trouble trying to figure this out, too. I'm thinking the shins are mismatched, but I can't quite put my finger on it. The inside curve looks right, but I feel like maybe the pieces should still be switched. There will need to be width-trimming, but I would hold off on that until the line up is sorted, to make sure you're measuring to the right leg, etc. I would like up the tops, and flatten the front out, like there's a cover strip on them, and that might help you visualize. I'll keep thinking. I've looked at pictures of mine and they unfortunately didn't help. Any else have any ideas? I've been totally unhelpful, I'm afraid.