Opinion poll: Movie accurate or ultra clean. Which do you like?

[Tray[TK]]

I think the Idealized face is the worst. I would never buy an EFX/MR helmet because of that very reason. I like my accurate smooth eye bump helmet. I think the clean or scuffed TK is great and mine is certainly getting that used look. Not like I have been crawling on concrete or playing in the mud like that but it is getting some nice weathering on it's own over the years.

[rhapsodyred99[TK]]

oh well if wea re just talking assemble, then I am for a Screen acurate TK armor, assembled with care, and with the normal wear and tear of use to add realism.

 

I would never use gaffer tape or purposely assemble my TK to look hurredly tossed together.

 

 

I have an RS fishpond lid, but the wear is minimal and more reminicent of battle damage than a 40 year old found in some guys basement prop replica.

 

 

So Idealized Screen Accurate

[Raintrooper]

I've gotta say, I'm leaning a little more toward the 'idealized' look.  I completely appreciate the 100% screen accurate look as well, but there are a few aspects of the armor that I think even 'ol George would have improved on, if he had more time and money during ANH.

A few things come to mind like...  

 

...the rubber hand guards & gloves.  'Ideally', armored hand guards would be made of the same material as the rest of a suit of armor, right? ..and rubber gloves?   Maybe for the troopers assigned to diswashing detail..   I personally like the look and practicality of the nomex flight gloves with shiny ABS hand guards. 

 

...the flimsy green acetate lenses.  I think heavy plastic lenses just look better, and I would imagine hold up a lot longer without denting or wrinkling. 

 

...the 'bra-hook' enclosures on the shins.  I also imagine that industrial velcro would hold the shins together much better on long troops, and not be prone to popping open, like they certainly did on screen. 

 

... the bumpy cap & back.  I have an ATA kit.  I honestly don't mind the bumps all that much, and while they may be screen-accurate, I'd personally prefer a more (again) 'idealized' smooth cap & back like the AP lid. AP was just a little out of my budget.. 

 

Just a few thoughts/opinions I've had while researching and putting my kit together.    I definitely plan on applying for EIB, but I'm still  on the fence about Centuiron.        

[TK-4902[TK]]

Asymmetry is very important for the proper look of a Stormtrooper, especially when it comes to the helmet. A few scrapes and scuffs are just fine, but no overly bumpy or taped up pieces. In other words, find a happy medium and everybody wins.

[sskunky]

Used, Wonky Asymmetry, dirty, rough, thrown together (with passion), warts, bumps n all....... That's my true love.

 

I just think they look better that way. I have to love the 2mm pinseal as it's off white in a warm way and extremely flexible, lovely to cut and assemble but I'm biased as that's the ABS I use. For me I hate acrylic capped ABS.... it has an almost glassy feel when cutting it and the look of it just doesn't do it for me.However I produce ROTJ which is a whole different kettle of fish to the ANH armour. Saying that, I would go with a smooth 2mm non acrylic capped for ANH.......Acrylic capped wasn't even around in 1976.

 

I love the 30 year old kicked around look on all my props...... But everyone is different. I personally think it brings out the features more.

 

Here's one I'm building at the mo....

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by Sly11
Edited to restore the images by Sly11, 2021

[longboard8]

I'm actually a greenhorn, so i'm signing out. I'm getting advice from friends as I go.

 

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[starwarrior]

I think that the asymmetrical look is fine, but I also prefer my cuts to be neat, and my lines straight. I am currently making a NE TK and I am score and snapping everything, even if it is behind a cover strip, because I want to be as exact as possible. I think it is a cop-out to say, "oh well, it doesn't really matter if there is a gap, or it doesn't line up - you should see what the movie versions looked like". Personally I want mine to look like I am reporting for inspection, all shiny and ready for action. 

[Daetrin[Admin]]

How clean do you really mean? I think it's great to have some light scuffing and wear as we can clearly see this while watching the movie, just like there are TK's that look perfectly clean too.

 

On the other hand, I don't think our goal is prop replication. Props don't look the same sitting on a table as they do on screen, and our mission is to replicate what you see on screen, not what you can see on a blue-ray freeze frame. Thus while I dig the light scuffing, etc. I don't think the following should be acceptable:

 

1. Paint chips

2. Gloppy paint

3. Gaffer tab

4. Rough cut edges on the thighs/shins

 

Things I think do look perfectly fine to me include visible screw heads on the back, etc. where the brackets were secured.

 

There is a mistake to think that prop replication and screen accuracy are synonymous when they are truly not. It's more of a Venn diagram.

[heavyarms[TK]]

I think if you asked any average Star Wars fan who has watched ANH a hundred times, they would say that the Stormtrooper armor in the movie was always clean/perfect. So I believe that Armor seen/worn in public should maintain a certain level of quality in detail to match the perception of your "Average" fan.  Yes, I know clean/Perfect is not cannon,  While things like misfitted parts and wonky armor are easily missed in the movie they can become very obvious when seen in real life.  Then folks mistake you for a scruffy-looking Nerf herder. 

[akrembug]

Personally speaking, concerning real life, it depends on the troop. During Mardi Gras here in Louisiana I like the clean, nice and shiny look. With all the marching we do with Lord Vader it looks really cool. When we are on troops where we are up close and personal, intermingling with people, I think it is a bit cooler to have the worn scuffy look. It adds to the costume, for showing off "damage from battle".

 

As far as if the empire were real, I think it would depend on where the trooper was. I mean if they were on the Death star or a "clean" environment, then yes the look of the suit would be expected more prim and proper. I think if the trooper was some place like say, Tatooine or Kashyyyk then of course the suits would be more on the beat up side. Concerning what the empire would have as far as acceptable, I think they would take were a trooper was stationed into account. If they were an escort for a superior Lord or even the emperor himself, of course they would want to have the clean suits. But I also think that the empire would know that all troops can't have perfect armor, all the time. (Don't tell Lord Vadar I said that.)

[TK Keith[TK]]

I like my ATA helmet and am perfectly ok trooping when my armor has a small scuff or two, but I tend to prefer a cleaner look.