New Empire Strikes Back Armour Build

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Ok for the last couple of weeks I've been working on a new more accurate ESB build. This will be as close to the originals as I can manage. I have most of the arms and legs built so will be finishing the rest of the armour this week.

 

Here is how the armour was after 5 hours of trimming..

 

 

I had help building the lid from StukaTrooper and here it is. This is the best looking helmet I've had yet..

 

[SW1]

Ok for the last couple of weeks I've been working on a new more accurate ESB build. This will be as close to the originals as I can manage. I have most of the arms and legs built so will be finishing the rest of the armour this week.

 

Here is how the armour was after 5 hours of trimming..

 

 

I had help building the lid from StukaTrooper and here it is. This is the best looking helmet I've had yet..

 

You lucky chapey nice one mark well looking forward to this , is the armour Pauls 1 mm abs, by the way the lid looks well sharp mate.

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Hey Steven this is the 1.5mm abs

[SW1]

Hey Steven this is the 1.5mm abs

i like , Mark is the armour painted or are you going to paint it , and then age it up , i like old school , Pete done a fantastic job on your lid, and i do love his 1mm abs anh kit all weatherd , so we have one very screen accurate ANH Trooper and to follow one very sreen accurate ESB Trooper cant wait to see more pics mate keep them comming

[steelgrip]

Can't wait to see the finished product.....awesome armor.

[Madmartigan]

Great start, Mark! Would expect no less.

[ThayNerd[TK]]

Looking good Mark! I can't wait to see the finished product.

[firebladejedi[TK]]

I think the paint will be all finished tomoro so stay tuned for an update

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Todays work dodging the rain drops ended like this...

 

[mods1965]

Mark,

Great work! The bridges on the chest are amazing! How did you get them to stick down so well?

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Hi David being 1.5 the shoulder bridges are nice and flexible so I just held them in place and ran abs weld around the edges

 

The paint also helps to fill the gap to look super smooth..

[mods1965]

Interesting. What paint did you use to get such a great finish?

 

I did not realise that ABS could come non-gloss.

[firebladejedi[TK]]

This suit is painted using halfords appliance white. These are before rubbing down and polishing

[troopermaster]

Excellent work there Mark!

 

Better get myself down to Halfords for more paint

[Sonnenschein]

Excellent work there Mark!

 

Better get myself down to Halfords for more paint

 

okay, I'll ask: Do you paint an ABS kit, because the original ones have been painted during restauration aswell? If so, that would be a fact which is rather unknown

 

 

Karin

[firebladejedi[TK]]

[SW1]

Simply stunning Mark , are you going to be weathring all the armour mate , i luv old school me

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Ok here are a few more armourâ„¢ pieces after paint but before rubbing down and polishing. This week I will be weathering and strapping

 

[Obievon[501st]]

Uuuuuuggh! Your killing me with these pictures. (Okay keep them coming)

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Here is most of the elastic I will be using for the internal strapping. The only items missing are the elastic for the shins and the left side torso

 

[Darth_Finger]

Mark, you do some fine work

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Ok biceps, shins and thighs have their strapping glued in. I have also added the hovi mic tips, ears are painted and screwed on, neck trim and elastic chin strap fitted

 

[Mojo]

Awesome work bro... when you said accurate ESB build! man you weren't kidding! lovin the hooks in the shins...

[tkrestonva[TK]]

What kind of glue did you use?

[firebladejedi[TK]]

Ok so i have now completed my new Empire Strikes Back stormtrooper helmet. This is the best replica helmet i have built yet, and am very pleased with the results.

 

Sorry about the sometimes crappy pictures but the weather here is really bad at the moment, more decent pictures to follow later.

 

Ok this helmet has had 4 coats of paint, grey primer, a green for the hdpe effect; inside and out, white primer and then white gloss. It has plenty of chipped paint, a little glue here and there and i will be weathering this very soon.

 

The helmet is finished using Keith's hovi mic tips, flat green lens, TK 4510 decals and the inside has the star shaped foam liner and elastic chin strap

 

I would like to thank Paul and Pete for their continued support in my ongoing project to have the closest prop replica's.