Armor history lesson - pay attention peeps!

[Daetrin[Admin]]

Fantastic thread on the MEPD boards about the lineage and accuracy of stormtrooper armor. Props to our dirty brothers for having this expertise, call to action for us TK's to ramp up lest we lose beers and face during "do you know" contests at gatherings.

 

Since this is a conversation, I'll publish this as a series of posts.

 

Original MEPD thread for cross-dressers: http://www.mepd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1803

 

Ill got two AP?s (autentic props anh stunt helmet version 80 thick abs plastic).

Ill know that AP comes from TE (60 thick hips) or GINO mold, and that its the same armor.

Besides the biceps is the same right and left, and one skin bone is the same on the left inner side.

TE should be a re mold of a return of the jedi body to anh, whit an anh helmet.

Ill think AP, TM is one of the best armors you can buy right now, when you can not have e.g TE2 or GINO as far as i know.

Or if TE2 gonna be the same armor as TE, when its ready for sale (helmet version ex).

Maby TM is one of the best in some way e.g, he got the arms and shouldes right.

11 on tne left arm, and 12 on the right. And the stripes on the shoulder goes down in a wide way on the right.

Gino ill do not have much knowless about, or where its comes from ex (ill think its comes from TE).

Ill heard about SDS aka AA armor, is it Andrew A full armor.

Ill rember he was selling only helmets, but not a full armor kit.

Are there some one who has a full SDS aka AA armor kit, if so what do they think about it accurate ex.

And now germany made movie-fx an armor look like TE,GINO,TM, SDS, AP.

Maby ill got somthing wrong, Ill think ill know the most about TE and AP/GF history.

But if sombody can shear some knowless on some of the armors right to be called screen accurate (or where to get it ex), ill be happy to hear in here whit the rest of my sandy brothers.

Peace out bro?s

 

Oh my, let's all keep this civil if we can. I'll share what I know;

TE moulded the Jedi suit, and two different ANH helmets. he re-worked the armor a little and the result was his early stuff, the GF2 and the Gino stuff. Now, both Gino & GF made some changes, but I know little of Gino's stuff except for the chest plate has/had the proper straps at teh top. GF most notably over-cleaned the helmet, resulting in a unique look to the original GF2 helmets. TE cast more parts from a tour suit (and some form another Jedi suit?), and that rounded out what his looked like, up to present and continuing over to TE2. Tha AP moulds are allegedly the same moulds as GF, however back when GF was sued the moulds were allegedly destroyed/ returned to LFL as part of the settlement. So, I think AP is most likely a re-cast (possibly sanctioned) of GF2, and AP did further work to the helmet, possibly resculpting, or re-casting a TE or Gino. This resulted in a more accurate faceplate, although the cap & back seem unchanged from GF2. So, which of them is most accurate? I would say TE2 if I had to give a simple answer. Unfortunately, no one has ever cast an ANH suit, so even all of these that share a screen-linage are also supplemented by original work, and restoration.

As far as TM is concerned, it is an original sculpt, and easily the most accurate original sculpt out there. It also has the "political" benefit of not being involved in the TE/GF, etc linage.

The most accurate helmet would undoubtedly be the TE2, having come from real helmets. Gino also makes helmets from the same linage moulds, and in addition completely finishes them after ANH styling.

AA offers a helmet "from original moulds" however that has been in dispute for some time, and will likely be forever. His armor appears to be a cobbled together collection, mostly re-cast from a TE rotj set & a GF2 set, supplemented by original sculpt pieces, and possibly some restored moulds, and casts of orignal skins (skins are thin plastic pulls, left on a mould to protect it during storage). He also seems to continue re-sculpting and working on parts, most notably the ab plate, that changed a little after a 20-some page thread on the RPF last year about his armor. All in all it's not a bad set, & while it seems a little pricey, it does come fully assembled, strapped, and glossy.

In closing, please keep in mind some of this is my opinion, however most of it has been culled from a couple years of following this stuff and talking to a lot of people and reading a lot of threads about trooper armor. Play nice everyone!

 

I think GF was the first one to bring out a replica ANH suit.I'm sure Matt gave him 'permission' to recast one of his ROTJ suit's and GF reworked and cleaned up the cast's.GF's helmet was way overworked and looked totally off to me,especially the cap and back.Shortly after TE brought out an ANH suit which looked to share 'some' of GF's part's.

 

Gino bought TE's ROTJ moulds and made a copy of his ANH helmet mould.I think Gino probably copied and reworked the ROTJ moulds to make ANH armour.Gino's ANH helmet IS the most accurate copy available IMO and far out shine's any TE.

 

AP looks to be ever changing to me.While it is a nice suit (they all are by the way) they are far from accurate.I don't mean any disrespect to any makers,but they all either don't know all the details of an ANH suit,or they just haven't incorporated them into their moulds.They all feature ROTJ tells and have some kind of discrepancies.

 

When I first started making my suit's,I just wanted to make a nice set of ROTJ armour but then I turned my attention to making an ANH suit.I started noticing many differencies from the originals and the GF (the best at the time) and it's been my goal ever since to make the most accurate suit possible.I've had lots of help over the years from members giving me dimensions and pics of there suit's to help me get everything right.TE has helped me out too,giving advice along the way.So,even though mine is an original sculpt,I think it's the most accurate replica out there.There is not one ROTJ feature on my suit at all unlike all the other's.That's not to say mine is perfect,and I hope I don't sound like a big head because that's not my intention,just that I want to make an accurate ANH suit and have no 'thing' about being the best out there.

 

The MFX armour from Germany I believe is another recast of TE's ROTJ.Guidon has shown me pics of his supposed 'original' suit,but I would say it's a TE recast.MFX has totally over worked the suit and has taken away the original look he has tried to capture.

 

AA/SDS IMO is a mixture of a TE ROTJ and GF2.I've seen his suit's personally and there is no way they are from the original moulds,be it ANH or ROTJ.AA told me what I wanted to hear and had an answer for everything I threw at him.It is a well made suit though,comes assembled and strapped,but has gone up in price lately.

 

This is what I know,think or have been told about armour out there.Don't take any of it as gospel and at the end of the day,only you can make up your own mind on which armour you think is the best

[TK8280]

WOW!!! Thats allot of information , but I love it!

[bobby fletcher]

to bad i already learned this a while ago and a few other things

But TM had made many soild poitns in that thread as always for he is the trooper master LOL

[steelgrip]

very informative......

[Daetrin[Admin]]

And the lesson continues: http://www.mepd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=25720

I bring this up not to suggest people lean on way or the other, but that you can at least be aware of what's being said.

 

It's a long read and there is some controversy for sure, but some of the info that you can get via summary is quite enlightening. Some people may have heard these arguments already (and over, and over, and over, ad infinitum), but if you're new to the 501st or to TK armor in general, IMHO it's good to educate yourself on the history of what we put on our heads.

 

Notice especially that no one is saying the various makers are bad quality or do bad work. But it does highlight that there can be subtle differences. Personally I love all the buckets (I have a TE2 & AP, and would love to get a Gino as well), and knowing their stories just makes me appreciate each one all the more.

[Chefhawk[501st]]

This topic like most is even more interesting with pictures to show the subtleties. Troopermaster is in my mind a bit of a legend. The reason behind this thinking is he sculpted his himself and didnt take the easy route of recasting. Im having a go myself and believe me its very hard!. The stormtroopers are the most iconic out of all the star wars universe. The mystery of what creature/human they were was spoilt with the "New Trilogy". I would love to know who did the original sculpts for ANH. I would also like to know what other sculpts he/she has done since.

History can be exciting!

 

Cheers guys

 

 

Chefhawk

 

[SpinWard]

*tries to stop her head from spinning*

 

Ok, I'm a serious newbie here. I'm very interested in this but need to know what to look for and how.

And what the heck are all the acronyms?

 

AP, GINO, TE, TE2, SDS, AA, AP/GF, TE/GF, ANH, AA/SDS

 

Do I do a search for the letters and armor? I've looked on ebay and they don't specify any of this that I see.

 

I'd appreciate the help. I'm a 5'11" female, what would work the best?

Thanks!!!!!!

[WhiteCommando[501st]]

Did someone say female?

[Exodus[TK]]

*tries to stop her head from spinning*

 

Ok, I'm a serious newbie here. I'm very interested in this but need to know what to look for and how.

And what the heck are all the acronyms?

 

AP, GINO, TE, TE2, SDS, AA, AP/GF, TE/GF, ANH, AA/SDS

 

Do I do a search for the letters and armor? I've looked on ebay and they don't specify any of this that I see.

 

I'd appreciate the help. I'm a 5'11" female, what would work the best?

Thanks!!!!!!

 

Hi Beth,

AP: authentic props (armor and helmet)

TE: trooper expert (no longer in production)

TE2: Trooper expert 2 (helment and armor in production)

 

Here's site to look at the helmets:

http://www.starwarshelmets.com/ (which will add color to the rest...Just click on the fan-made helmets, then the stormtrooper)

[troopermaster]

I would love to know who did the original sculpts for ANH. I would also like to know what other sculpts he/she has done since.

 

You will be able to meet the main man himself at CE and ask him any questions you like. Brian Muir sculpt the stormtrooper armour and Darth Vader helmet too. I met him earlier this year and he's a very nice man and answered all my questions.

[Guest T*E]

You will be able to meet the main man himself at CE and ask him any questions you like. Brian Muir sculpt the stormtrooper armour and Darth Vader helmet too. I met him earlier this year and he's a very nice man and answered all my questions.

 

Avoid AA if you hear of him. Aa and SDS are the same sad person. He will lie and tell you many fantastic tales to get your money and give you a helmet he claims is identical to a real one and guess what!!??

 

It isn't and is a total POS. Shiny plastic, but hey, monkeys like shiny things.. Don't be a monkey.

 

T*E

[Chefhawk[501st]]

I think that i will be making a B-line to see brian,if only just to shake his hand.

I know ralph mcquarrie came up with the concept designs but ultimately brian muir is the guy responsible for my obsesion.

 

 

cheers for the heads up paul...again.

[Exodus[TK]]

Hey Paul,

 

Sounds like we can start a photo gallery with the sculptors you will be meeting and have meet. TK armor history as its finest...