troopermaster

I think wider cover strips look better than adding shims inside. At least this way the armour looks finished rather than seeing where the original piece finishes and leaves the extensions/shims exposed. The wider cover strips may not be screen accurate, but at least they look part of the armour. Just my personal opinion

I agree Shawn. White soles and right hand holsters should be compulsory for ROTJ. On a side note- I read somewhere that white naval officers boots were used for the ROTJ troopers. I've never really looked for ROTJ boots so I couldn't say if there is any truth in what I read, but maybe worth a look if you want the real deal?

I'm pretty sure SDS/AA is 0.080 / 2.0mm ABS. No idea what ATA is.

He's a member here. Maybe he will let everyone know who he is and how he came into the armour business?

TM 0.080 / 2.0mm ABS

Not compared to an on screen ROTJ it isn't, it's way off. The actual assembly may good, it's the positioning of the face that's off on these TE's but, I doubt that can be rectified given the shape of helmet.

These new TE helmets are simply recasts of his old ROTJ helmets he made ten years ago. They both share all the same discrepancies though these new ones have been sharpened up more. They are all assembled badly too IMO. Definately not CAP originated.

You sound surprised. Seen any ROTJ troopers wearing their holsters on the left?

.....and the kink/dent in the side tube which is part of the original design, nothing to do with assembly.

Every helmet I have seen Gino offer is from modified moulds. Who actually cast the Brian R. helmet? I would love to know the full details of what actually happened when Matt decided to mould the original ANH helmet, from who did the moulding to what materials were used.

Question is....Does anyone have an unmodified mould of the original ANH Brian R. helmet?

You mean the AA face plate is a type of PP, not HDPE? I thought you was refering to milk bottles not being HDPE

Thanks Mark. That's what he told me a few years ago when I met him. What I can't fully understand is that he would have had to get this ABS specially made and would have come in a tonne supply which would have cost a small fortune. I honestly don't think that he would have been able to use all that plastic for the stormtroopers and whatever else helmets he made. Just doesn't make good business sense to me. I'd love to be proven wrong and only reciepts will do that.

Please do. Try and get a detailed answer and maybe see some reciepts of purchase if possible. I hear things like "It's ABS" as though it's fact, when in reality it's only hear say. While it is most likely ABS for the armour and HDPE for the helmets, there are some plastics with virtually the same properties as these two that they could be mistaken for quite easily, even if you have experience with them they are hard to tell unless you form them. Latex thighs.....(screen grabs courtesy of TKDUEUNO)

The plastic milk bottles are HDPE, I just checked in the fridge

I've fully trimmed and assembled kits ready to wear in a week. It's very hard work I won't lie, but it can be done when the pressure is on.

Definately leave it as it is Mark! I wouldn't touch a thing if that was my armour. Should look even better after a few more troops

SDS ear caps?

You must have dreamt it. No flexible TM armour has been offered yet.

Nope. I'm talking about the little square rivet covers on the belt. For ROTJ, the plastic ammo belt was riveted straight through the webbing belt and abdomen plate at each end only, not in the middle. Only ANH and ESB troopers had these rivet covers on their belts and they were not permanently attached to the abdomen plates. Instead, they were held on with snaps and could be removed from the armour.

I've been looking at your photos again Allan and noticed another inaccuracy - belt rivet covers! The ROTJ troopers didn't have these at all, only ANH and ESB. Matt is the trooper expert

Your totally wrong about that mate!

That's good to hear Joe

No, not that one. The photo's where the two troopers are with Vader in the streets of London. Those two are SF helmets and dated 1980. The trooper on the right next to Vader in the ESB photo with the red background is most definately an ROTJ/SF helmet, no question in my mind. The fact that it has grey teeth makes no difference to my eyes, though I can see why it would be misleading. One of the troopers with Vader in London 1980 also had grey teeth while the other had black. I'd say that these are most likely the same helmets.

An SF helmet is seen in ESB and photographed in 1980, a couple of years before ROTJ was made, so it stands to reason that the SF helmets were made first. I would say that there should be no difference externally if smooth and haircell ABS were pulled over the same mould. Two reasons spring to mind why one would be softer in appearance- thicker plastic or recast mould. I tend to think the latter here but without having the different helmets in my hands I couldn't possibly say for sure.