TK-4510

1. Where did the ROTJ molds come from? 2. When exaclty were the molds made? 3. Are there pics of the first completed suit? 4. Does anyone know how to get ahold of "Dave", "Mike", and "Gerardo" for their opinoins and what not? 5. Lets discuss the discovery of the armor not the deals. We have a semi clear picture of what transpired so lets move on.

This is not a TE bashing thread or a Bashing thread for anyone else. Lets keep it civil... That being said:) 1. Where did the ROTJ molds come from? 2. When exaclty were the molds made? 3. Are there pics of the first completed suit? 4. Does anyone know how to get ahold of "Dave", "Mike", and "Gerardo" for their opinoins and what not? 5. Lets discuss the discovery of the armor not the deals. We have a semi clear picture of what transpired so lets move on.

Hey Paul, how many different handplates do you have? I have seen three different kinds with your armor so far.

Does GF get on the boards much??? It would be nice to get his two cents worth of how his end played out. Plus that would a good way to get into FX discussions eventually. GF created the FX, right?

I find it dissapointing that Matt cant answer the questions that are posed to him. Its frustrating to read another post and find that your questions are passed over and only finger pointing has taken place. Gino still hasnt answered some questions as well, but has been more forthcoming.....and more calm. So here is what we have established...I think. TE aquired the armor parts (from?) and recasted them with his friend Mike. TE sent the loose pulls to GF in the hopes that GF would sculpt them into something nicer. GF went overboard and TE decided to part ways with GF. GF then sold his molds after his C and D from lucas to AP. AP is the current producer of ABS troopable armor. TE's partner Mike makes a deal with Gino's partner Dave to buy the "ROTJ" molds and sends the molds along with the faceplate and cap n back off. TE waits for his suits which were part of the deal, but they never show and so he demands the molds to the cap n back and faceplate to be sent back. Since TE has had the "ANH" molds all along he doesnt care about the ROTJ molds in Gino's possesion and Gino or Dave paid for em anyway. TE begins producing his armor and molds. Gino begins producing his nice helmets. TE says he's getting out and works out a deal with Guns to buy his "ANH" molds and Faceplate and Cap n Back. Guns begins making TE2 armor and helmets. TE comes out with the Dave M helmet "STS" as a scan and offers up a fiberglass helmet. Since nobody seems interested in the fiberglass version TE starts Vac forming HDPE over the "STS" molds and selling helmets again. TE rumors that Dan is now working on a very accurate ANH set of armor. Gino shows that he also is about 80% done with his armor. Is that right????

Sweeeeeeeeet Is that styrene or ABS Gino?

Gino, dude you are killing me man.... What did you think when you first saw the molds? Like, what went through your head? The first time I saw the armor was on tk409's website. I was thinking holy crap, I have to HAVE TO get a set of that. Unfortunately I couldnt afford one, so I bought the RT-MOD.. a year later I sold my RT and promptly bought the AP set. It still makes me slobber. I never get tired of looking at it...... Anyway... Tell us your stories and show off some pics gents. We are all ears and eyes.

Can we see them please? Are they unaltered? Please man, come on.

Matt, please post them here. I mean thats what this is all about! Your baby. You started all this. We want to archive the info so that we have a place for people to go when they are interested in finding out the history of the armor we all love today! The controversy is one thing and thats kinda cool in itself, but the armor history is most relevant here. Please, tell us how things came about.

As far as the TM hemlet goes. I havent held a TM in my hands so I dont know, but I have seen his progress pics. V1, V2, V3 etc.. I also think its his creation. Thats why he is not included in this thread as well. Obviously we have a confusing transaction that took place between Mike and Dave (Gino and Matts friends) It went bad and we were left with two seperate vendors of the "same" product. Nobody has answered my question though..... Where are the ROTJ armor parts that started it all? How where they obtained originally? Gino or Matt have any pics from back in the day?

Where did the current TE2 molds come from if Gino has the originals? Why didnt you have him send the molds back with the Cap n back and faceplate? If you had a back up set, then why didnt you have a back up set for the cap n back and face plate too?

So if you sold the molds to Dave, then where did you get a set? oops sorry. So if Mike sold the molds to Dave, where did TE armor come from?

Well, if Matt sold the molds to GF, and kept a set,...... then to Gino and kept a set,...... and then to Guns..... He probably still has a set still. Thats what Dan must be getting.....another set. If he in fact is planning to start selling the armor as Gino has claimed. I gotta admit, that right there kinda sounds bad. Leave the he said stuff out of the picture completeley and that just looks bad. That just looks like Matt ripped everyone off. So my question now is: Who has the old armor now? Its gotta be around somewhere. Does Brian R still own his helmet that started it all? Why didnt Dave M use his sharp helmet for a mold, was it just not possible?

Damnit. I cant stay up any longer. Peace out! I LOVE THIS THREAD, ITS THE BEST THING I HAVE READ IN MONTHS!!!!!! Please continue. I would love to see this debate cleared once and for all. I also think we should sticky this when all is said and done!

This can only mean that when Matt sold the original molds to Gino that he kept a set for himself. Would that be accurate then?

Sorry if that sounded rude. I just meant that this thread was for the TE armor origins. At least thats what it has become. I do love TM's armor and I hope to get a set some day

So what matt sold Gino was the original molds, but not the only molds. Then he sold the newer molds to Guns. That makes sense. I am not taking sides here, I dont favor anyone. Just trying for clarity So Gino has pretty much got the most un-messed with molds that Matt sold him and a set that he is still working on for ANH. Guns has the set that Matt sold him that he reworked with Dan in 2000 from recasts of his original set over the years. GF had the soft pull set that Matt sold him and he reworked to make and then sold to AP hmm.

I would like to get Guns in on this too, as I am a friend of his and this is rather alarming.

Well Joey, can Dan prove that the molds for the TE2 armor are in fact originals? Did they get ahold of the old armor again? Hey there's a good question....Who has the old and origianl ROTJ armor now? MAtt?!!!!! LOL!!! That would be too much.

So you STILL had the original armor to recast correctly in 2000? That would mean that there are to original recasts of the ROTJ armor then?

So, if Gino had the original armor molds since 1999, where did you get the molds to modify in 2000? did matt recast the originals before Mike sold them to Gino perhaps?

Well, I only have one pic of the Gino V2 armor that Gino posted on the MEPD a while back. If I can find it I will post it. Obviously its as close to the originals I posted earlier. I think its amazing how much work must have been involved in getting those old hunks of crap to look decent. Its really too bad that there doesnt seem to be any ANH armor in existence anywhere. This has been very educational gentleman. I want to thank you all for clearing the air on the provenance of the armor. This discussion raises more questions for me but its EXTRA EXTRA type stuff, not really important to the armor history. Gino, do you have any pics of the original molds or would you mind sharing any early pics of your progress. Same goes for Matt. Do you have any pics of the recasting that you guys did back in the day? That would be fun to see.

Two questions: What was the agreement that you guys had with matt that had you sending the stuff back to him? ( no wonder the cap n back broke ) Be very specific about what tells you that the TM is a resculpted recast. I dont wanna belive it, but I would like you to give hard core details. (you can PM me)

got it. So Matts a nut case.

Oh I think I get it now after doing a re-read. Gino and Dave bought the molds from TE back in 1999. They had an agreement which I dont know what it was. They sent back the face plate (modified) and cap n back to Matt. Matt recast another set of armor to get the TE armor and got some tour suit parts to make it a bit more balanced. He then sold those molds to Guns. That right? Guns has the original Cap n Back and faceplate that was modified by dave Gino has the un modified duplicates of the recast original cap n back and faceplate Gino has the original recast of the unmodified armor. That right?