#1
Posted 27 March 2008 - 09:24 AM
So I'll start.
TD Good:
- TD/TK are easily recognisable, be preapred to be mobbed
- Lots of sources of armour, information and experiance building/repairing it
- Get to carry an awesome gun
- Some personalistion with weathering
- The more TD/TK's at a troop, the cooler it looks.
- Some events ask for "white armour"
TD issues/bad:
- Sitting down/kneeling/picking stuff off the ground is a problem
- Armour can be hot and visibility low
- Lots of other troopers have TD/TK armour, so you won't stand out
- Full armour + gun + backpack is difficult to transport
- Have to put up with "Aren't you a little short/tall/female to be a stormtrooper?"
Other:
- Many troopers wear orange (captain?) pauldrons, so if you wear a different colour you'll look higher ranking.
- Before weathering, think about how dirty you actually want to be. You can be battle worn, "I've been here forever and don't bother cleaning anymore" or just a bit of dirt to prove you were on patrol.
#2
Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:02 AM
Tk's also hard to sit in and can be uncomfy to wear and fogup like a hot shower in your bathroom in winter.
Bucket can be hot, fans are used my some to alieviate this.
I totally agree on by far most recognisable, three troops this year in Sydney have specifically requested clean white TK's for the troop. Plus if youve got a good vader on hand his TK escort looks the goods.
And yes TKs get mobbed :)
#3
Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:30 AM
TB Good:
- we CAN sit down :P
- The Pathfinders (Biker Scout Detachment) is simply an awsome site if looking for information
- Get to carry an awesome guns. Sniper and a the noisy cricket in MIB *grins*
- Some personalistion with weathering, led lights and general look of the armor
- Women and the younger children know us from catching giant teddy bears
- Some events ask for "white armour"
- Cheap in comparison to other white armour.
- Photos.... Mobbing is usually prevalent
- No impersonations of Licorice Man (Lycra Body Suit)
TB issues/bad:
- Always wearing what can only be described as a giant nappy
- Armour can be hot and with no peripheral vision it's sometimes hard crossing roads
- Toilet time is always interesting
- Not quite as recognizable as a TK / TD
- Depending on the builder the armor can look fantastic or not quite right
Other:
- Some smart troopers have integrated drinking systems in the back pack part of there armor
- Weathering... well simply put never clean it, sure you'll stand out for the first few months but afterwards it will look just right
- If you are a big man / woman cooling in the helmets is limited to the ear piece vents
Cost:
- I got mine for 790 full hard armor
- Soft armor is cheap
- Boots were expensive for me.
Overall
- One of the best costumes to get into, easy to maintain and easy to move around in. Your normally instantly spotted and that 'other' white armor look sets you apart
#4
Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:46 AM
Pros:
*There are many variations/unit colours to pick from.
*Will become more popular with the release of the new animated film.
*Choice of weapons and armour attachments
*Amount of weathering is a personal choice - same as TD's
Cons:
*Early "models" of armour were very innacurate, due to there being no actual armour to model from and the inability of makers to access LFL CGI files.
*Requires some modelling skill to assemble - especially if going the seamless route.
*It appears that the more accurate the armour, the less mobility you have. This will depend on body type - height etc.
*Accurate body gloves are very difficult to aquire.
*Boots need to be custom built. CABoots are innaccurate and quality is variable. SFP boots may not turn up at all.
*You will need some one to help put the armour on.
My first TC armour was from Atin (new owner of R2/MG). I built it to be very mobile and wearable for long periods. Although in my opinion it still looks very good, I wanted at least one costume to be uber-accurate, hence the OSCS purchase. With some inconspicuous modifications it will hopefully be as pleasant to wear as the Atin suit.
With all the bits and pieces required for this suit, be prepared to spend $1000 -2500 US.
#5
Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:47 AM
TB Good:
- Great Movement
- Great visibility
TB bad:
- A never ending list of 'little' accessories for those with OCD about their gear.
- You have pockets, prepare to be the troop pack-horse :P
- If you have all the extras, Vest, Mud flap, etc... over the flight suit you can overheat. Drink your fluid, wear under armour.
#6
Posted 27 March 2008 - 12:24 PM
DARTH VADER:
Pro's:
*Darth is the #1 bad guy.....like, EVER!!!! (it's a statistical fact)
*You are THE MAN and guaranteed to attract attention(unless Chewie is in the house...sigh!)
*Everyone recognises you
*Everyone want to be pictured with you
*Chicks dig black leather even more than armour!
*The lightsaber
*choking people...
Cons:
*Heat.....more than any other Imperial costume (So many layers.....)
*Expense - by far the most expensive costume to do PROPERLY(I know guys who have spent $3-4000)
*Rubies...the bane of all serious Vaders....'
*Can't sit down or pee (easily)
*Short Vaders or Vaders in heels.....
*There's always some idiot who wants to fight you...
#7
Posted 27 March 2008 - 01:12 PM
Boba Fett
Pros:
* fairly comfortable (you know what I mean)
* can sort of sit down (perched on side of chair – remember the jet pack!)
* can sort of pick stuff up off the ground (not recommended in windy conditions – does not take much to fall over)
* looks cool (insert fonzy aaaayyiii)
* lots of pockets
* awesome monster gun puts TK’s to shame
* fair amount of respect while trooping (most star wars games and books ensure that fett has this aura of danger about him)
* great fun going ‘hunting’ in armour – really fun character to get into
* range finder is sweet bit of hardware
* fair peripheral vision and can see ground for tricky stair climbing
* nice open helmet, fog is not a real big issue as long as you have at least 1 fan in bucket
* lots of scratches is ok to maintain
* neat cape to make all the girls jealous
Cons:
* expensive $3500 – 4000 + to get right
* Hard to re paint
* heavy
* hot
* knee guards really restrict movement in knees
* gun gets heavy
* lots of body armour with gauntlets arms are only good to grip onto your favourite blaster and that is it.
* damn jet pack gets caught on every door frame you walk through and weighs heaps and kills your neck after a few hours of trooping
* add 20cm to your height when walking about, range finders are expensive to replace
* some idiot always tries to grab your range finder while saying ‘what is this?’
* with all the lights and fearsome visage people are sure that boba is a walking bomb – not sure if this is a pro or con (near accurate description of boba!)
* massive gun can not be holstered - watch out for cops!
* people think that the concussion grenade on the left gauntlet is a big pencil grr!
Did I mention that it is really expensive, hard to make and is hot and heavy to wear? :D
D
#8
Posted 27 March 2008 - 11:49 PM
Pro's:
- Relatively comfortable
- multiple sewing projects (hat components, tunic, breeches or straight leg pants)
- With a Vader on troop, you're bound to get force-choked
Cons:
- limited sources of supply for complete outfits, patterns, fabrics and accessories
- DIY requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills
- easily mistaken for WWII Panzer crew :huh: , restaurant service staff (padawan meals are on the back of the menu, sir!)
- get stuck with wrangler duty
- more complex & therefore expensive than first estimated if done accurately.
- accurate style boots rarely come in real world sizes!
- With a Vader on troop, you're bound to get force-choked
- Few troopers can do key characters - Tarkin, Piett, Veers - well enough to be instantly recognisable
#9
Posted 28 March 2008 - 06:05 AM
AP TD
TD pros:
- AP helmet...love it...so authentic lookin, cant fault it
- TKs are easily recognisable, TD however not..."why u so dirty?"
- Lots of sources of armour, information and experiance building/repairing it
- Get to carry a BIG F...... GUN
- Weathering helps to not blend in with TKs ("work for a living")
- Cant walk past a reflective surface without lookin at myself
- AP on 6'5" is a tight comfy fit
TD cons:
- Sitting down/kneeling/picking stuff up...well..forget it
- AP Bucket lenses will fog quickly if not moving around as it is a tight fit
- Sore feet from standing/walking for long time
- Toilet,,,forget it,,go b4 strappin the plastic on,or be prepared to take it all off
- Full armour/BFG /backpack is difficult to transport
- Have to put up with "How come youre taller than Darth Vader?" (well I do)
TD cons pro:
- All the cons are painfully tolerable to be able to do something I have only ever dreamed about for the past 30 yrs !!
Words can not accurately describe a childhood dream come true..
"I can dress as an authentic Imperial Sandtrooper OH WOW,,,
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL !!!! :D
#10
Posted 28 March 2008 - 07:25 AM
TI Pros
--------
- Pretty comfy
- sitting isn't a problem; the toilet isn't really either
- can be reasonably cheap (but then you just wanna keep upgrading :P)
- Jolly Rogers is a great source of information
- there aren't too many pilots around
- plenty of funny photos using the hoses as a straw
TI Cons
---------
- I have lost count of how many kids/parents call me Vader
- all black is hot in the sun
- vision below eye level isn't great
I am sure there are more cons, but I really can't think of too many LOL
#11
Posted 28 March 2008 - 07:48 AM
Kimelius, on Mar 28 2008, 12:49 AM, said:
Pro's:
- Relatively comfortable
- multiple sewing projects (hat components, tunic, breeches or straight leg pants)
- With a Vader on troop, you're bound to get force-choked
Cons:
- limited sources of supply for complete outfits, patterns, fabrics and accessories
- DIY requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills
- easily mistaken for WWII Panzer crew :huh: , restaurant service staff (padawan meals are on the back of the menu, sir!)
- get stuck with wrangler duty
- more complex & therefore expensive than first estimated if done accurately.
- accurate style boots rarely come in real world sizes!
- With a Vader on troop, you're bound to get force-choked
- Few troopers can do key characters - Tarkin, Piett, Veers - well enough to be instantly recognisable
More agree with Kim in regards to Imperial Officers Uniform above.
Pro's:
* comfortable to wear
* looks good being with as Stormtrooper's aiders for photo shoots, etc.
Con's
* not good being character by itself, people not sure what you are, unless you are with a Darth Vader or Stormtrooper
* difficult to get the right boots & size fitting, etc. Had to get mine custom made
* I found on troops with Vader, having to help out Vader if there's a problem.
Other than that, I find this costume is easier to wear.
Helen
#12
Posted 28 March 2008 - 02:05 PM
daemon_fett, on Mar 27 2008, 12:12 PM, said:
Boba Fett
Pros:
* fairly comfortable (you know what I mean)
* can sort of sit down (perched on side of chair – remember the jet pack!)
* can sort of pick stuff up off the ground (not recommended in windy conditions – does not take much to fall over)
* looks cool (insert fonzy aaaayyiii)
* lots of pockets
* awesome monster gun puts TK’s to shame
* fair amount of respect while trooping (most star wars games and books ensure that fett has this aura of danger about him)
* great fun going ‘hunting’ in armour – really fun character to get into
* range finder is sweet bit of hardware
* fair peripheral vision and can see ground for tricky stair climbing
* nice open helmet, fog is not a real big issue as long as you have at least 1 fan in bucket
* lots of scratches is ok to maintain
* neat cape to make all the girls jealous
Cons:
* expensive $3500 – 4000 + to get right
* Hard to re paint
* heavy
* hot
* knee guards really restrict movement in knees
* gun gets heavy
* lots of body armour with gauntlets arms are only good to grip onto your favourite blaster and that is it.
* damn jet pack gets caught on every door frame you walk through and weighs heaps and kills your neck after a few hours of trooping
* add 20cm to your height when walking about, range finders are expensive to replace
* some idiot always tries to grab your range finder while saying ‘what is this?’
* with all the lights and fearsome visage people are sure that boba is a walking bomb – not sure if this is a pro or con (near accurate description of boba!)
* massive gun can not be holstered - watch out for cops!
* people think that the concussion grenade on the left gauntlet is a big pencil grr!
Did I mention that it is really expensive, hard to make and is hot and heavy to wear? :D
D
To add some more,
Pro's:
* The Dented Helmet Forum (www.thedentedhelmet.com) is one of the most intrinsic fonts on knowedge on all things Boba Fett :D
* If outfitted with the Caboots, that spnogy sole really helps take the load on a long troop
* Toe Spikes are a good way to get people to move ;)
* On a troop, you are instantly recognised as much as Vader is.. :D Multiple photos ensue..
* You really stand out from nearly everyone else.. Most of the costumes are black or white, but all the colour on your suit stands out extremely well.. again Multiple photos ensue
* The Cod piece is an extremely great asset when around crotch high pre pubescent kids who run everywhere and headbut stuff, as well as kids with lightsabers... :D hehe
* People really do admire you in character, but still are reasonably cautious enough to keep their distance ;) Love the Fett Bad Karma Aura
* The Jetpack is a sweet setup, who else really gets a backpack looking that cool :) especially if you stunn the crowd with a CO2 display
* You get pretty good body mobility in the costume, and all the fabric costume/padding layers between the armour and the body means that it stays physically comfortable
* If you need to, you can run really when in full costume and armour, AND with your helmet on. Only Boba Fett and Scouts Troopers are really the only people able to claim that :D
* There generally is enough room in the helmet to add a full ventilation system into there, incorporating at least 2 fans
* You can setup the Rangefinder with an Electronic Servo system, whick looks really sweet when you snap your head at someone, lower your rangefinder and aim your blaster right at them :D
* Those chest lights from TK409 really do blast out light, enough to light at least a metre in front of you in dark areas
* The switches on your gauntlets can be wired to turn on lights and activate the rangefinder servo, instead of remaining idle.
* By keeping your helmet on, YOU ARE BOBA FETT, and can keep in character the whole time
* The voice is easy to duplicate, a Clint Eastwood style one for you OT fans, or a Maori Accent for Prequel fans
* You can setup a drinking system into your Jetack with a water bladder and hose, running a hose up the inside of the vest to the helmet
* Many Pockets means you can carry lots of snacks... FOr all you fetts out there in Australia, a 50 gram packet of Smiths or Samboy chips fits well into the leg and side pouches, instead of just foam
There are others but ill let other people put them up here if they have experienced them. Now the Cons :S
Cons, and possible solutions if any:
* It was said before and I must irriterate it, to get it movie/501st accurate (speaking for an RotJ Fett, but ESB would still be the same) is very very expensive and very time consuming, months +$3000-5000 after you add in all other costs...
* And again, it gets damned hot in that suit... especially in summer... regular breaks and aircon, and fans in your helmet really do help
* On long troops, batteries for your chest display, lights, and especially your fans will run out, so you will need multiple sets to keep you going. Best bet is rechargeable 9 Volts
* Getting called Jango from kids which isnt that bad, but from adults as well... it just bugs me a little...
* Sometimes the chest lights will light up your face on the inside of the helmet at night, so watch your pose peoples... it does look cool sometimes, but ruins the authenticity
* Pockets means pack horse :P
* Lots of places for kids to grab onto armour and pull- Gauntlets especially, considering the rocket.
* Speaking of pulling, Adults get the same way too.. Never let a person try pull off your Helmet. Wranglers are a need with watching you in this character, as many people also like to sneak up on you and pull on the rocket... Hard.. Not only can this damange the rocket, but can also make you fall over, resulting in a whole load of damage to your very very very expensive armour set....
* The Blaster can get awkward carrying it all the time, but what can you do... If you are at a Con, make a secure weapons storage area with easy access to troopers only.
* Toilet trips can be interesting, either painfully difficult or easy, depending what you need to do... :S
* Lugging around all that armour to and from events is difficul, due to size and quantity of parts.. Try Buy a large case (pelican are the best to hold all your gear, or Hardigg) or make your own... make sure it has wheels and is mobile
* All your gear gets heavy after a while, and it is hard to sit.
* SSUS -Sweat soaked undersuit syndrome- occurs here, keep your fluids up and bring deodorant
* Most of the time, in constuction, you will have to paint and attach your armour yourself.. very timeconsuming and pricey depending how you do it. Also very time consuming and stressful
* If you dont like being in photos, this inst a costume for you... it does stand out.. speaking of which, if you dont like photos what are you doing here ;) :P
Thats it from me on this one, when my RotS Anakin is finished and Trooped, ill fill that one in as well... But I can say something about it already... Way easier to put on, and full mobility :D
#13
Posted 28 March 2008 - 03:24 PM
d
#14
Posted 28 March 2008 - 05:45 PM
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=m_UrvdmrBHc this one wasnt too hard, but if my knees werent bent it could have gotten nasty. Recently at the One Man Star Wars Show, we were lined up on a crub backs to the traffic, with myself at one end of the line, I actually had a guy pulling back on my rocket, almost resulting me falling into oncoming traffic... :S needless to say, i managed to ressurect myself from getting creamed :D
Just a niggly thing to be cautious about, as you dont know its happening until too late...
good to know im the only one so far with that one... :D
#15
Posted 31 March 2008 - 06:39 AM
And it tends to ruin the event for the affected costume victim.
#16
Posted 31 March 2008 - 12:16 PM
PROS:
we have the BEST mobility, Ive seen vids of ID's doing cartwheels
we have the BEST visibility, which while often relegates us to wrangler, if it were for us most of you might have bumper stickers on the back of your armour
Unfiorms are relatively cool compared to others.
there are 5 defined styles (black, green, grey, white, red) and hundreds of possibly variations, (Tank Commander, Shuttle Pilot, TK officer, Medic, Engineer Officer etc) as of a week ago, Engineer Officer and Shuttle Pilot are accepted into the 501st
ONLY confirmed Female Chacter that isnt also acceptable in th Rebel Legion (Juno Eclispse)
We can sit ANYWHERE
we can eat without removing our cap.
while its been said, you will NOT be mistaken for Nazi's the uniforms are COMPLETELY Different, Waffen SS maybe but thats really stretching it rank bars caps and belts are completely different
we can even arrive at events In complete costume without strangling ourselves
Cons:
there are 500 ID's in the Legion so be prepared for them to be nitpicky
there are NO decent patterns that dont require modification
you will become invisisble if around armour unless you OUTNUMBER the armour
you will be mistaken for characters from other franchise (Star Trek, Babylon 5 etc)
in NSW you MAY be mistaken for Transit Cops, well you would, not anymore.
Troops comprising entirely of Officers doesnt have the same impact as TK's
#17
Posted 31 March 2008 - 05:59 PM
Category: Sith Lord
Costume: Anakin Skywalker
Movie: Revenge of the Sith
Pro's:
* You can be a jedi, and be evil at the same time :D
* You get to carry a blue lightsaber, and be evil :D
* You have a hell of a lot of mobility, almost as much as an ID uniform
* Lightsabers are really good for prodding/poking/hitting people, especially ones in armour, to get their attention, without damaging ur prop, in relation to a painted blaster which can scuff their uniform.
* Your right hand gets an Awesome Leather Gauntlet/Glove, with shiny metal buckles... It really does look awesome :D
* I have to say that you get the best belt out of all the villains costumes, including Boba Fetts one if you have it functional with hollow pouches.
* You get to wear a lovely huge robe, with an awesome hood :D It really does look sweet for photos with a wind blowing, or just for a really evil look whilst marching/walking.
* You can detach the lightsaber blade from the hilt, and hide the blade away in your robe and wear the hilt on your belt if you dont want to hold it all the time
* Your weapon can be carried in public and people dont actually think its real, except little kids of course.. :) No arresting that way :)
* The costume is all fabric and leather, meaning really easy to store away and travel with
* There arent that many 501st approved Anakin's running around, and none yet in TAG.. key word yet... Hopefully ill be the first of many to come :) so you do stand out, especially with the blue saber :)
* The Sons of the Suns Forum (www.sonsofthesuns.com/forum) is a great place to collect accurate information about creating this costume, really helpful people (Thanks Justin/Primrodo btw) and excellant links to members who creat eawesome prop parts, and tailoring.
* If you see an Obi Wan Kenobi costume, people always compel you to pose really evil wit the Obi Wan for photo opportunities :)
* You do have the option of becoming Rebel Legion, to which if you have a girlfriend/wife that you can con into this lovely hobby, you can dress them as padme :)
* You can eat and drink to your hearts content, as you are wearing regular pants, and have no helmet..
* Speaking of Pants, you can sit down quite comfortably, just keep an eye out for the pouches at the back of the belt.
* You dont have to wear a robe all the time
* The costume isnt too hot
* You get to wear a wig if your hair isnt long enough, and they can be quite fun to play around with :D
* Awesome evil looking scar on your forehead/eyebrow/upper cheek
* You can wear the Yellow sith contacts and look really sweet and really really Evil..
Now the Cons'
Con's:
* For an Accurate costume, its not cheap but not really expensive either, you are looking in the range of about $1500-2000 to get it right properly.
* Many reference photos show the costume is black, so you get people saying your costume is wrong. (only some Promo Shots were used wearing a black tunic setup, and never saw the screen, hence why its not 501st acceptable)
* Multiple layers of Robes and Leather do get hot pretty easy
* People see your face, so you have to really try keep in character... not too much smiling, and that lovely frown he has.
* The Wig can really irritate some people, and to get it right you need a Human Hair wig, which cost about $400 for what you need, then you need to get it styled, washed, maintained or you will need a new one soon enough....
* If your robe is a tad too long, you may/will get people stepping on it, which can be disasterous *insert faceplant*
* No armour, means no Cod piece. Keep an eye out for all children who's head height is near your crotch area, or pain will ensue.. also children too young to realise how painful a hit to that area is with the toy lightsaber they are carrying are a hazard.
* Trying to explain to children why you are evil and why you killed padme, and all the Jedi Younglings :S this one is one of the worst, id rather take a shot at the groins.. :S
* Although the majority of the costume is easily packable, the boots are rather big, as is the lightsaber so you do need to have something to fit those as well
* In rare cases, not wearing armour can attract some rather rude comments to the extent of 'Bathrobe Jedi' or similar taunts, and with no helmet to hide your scowl behind, you have to just roll with the punches and accept that some people have their own opinions and all that matters is that you enjoy what you do, and remember why you are doing it :)
* Lots of fabric, lots of sweat... Washing is needed frequently, or at least a can of Febreeze in your emergency trooping kit.
* There arent many places to collect information for making up this costume. And many photos online are incorrect.
* Most of the time you will need to buy the fabric for someone to tailor for you, so postage costs really do pile up in the end, and can be a pain to keep track of all the time.
* Lightsaber blades can break/crack under certain conditions, are are hard to get new ones to fit your saber hilt :S
* Tears, Scuffs and Stains are likely to occur with this costume, so take care of costume, from yourself and those around you, especially with kids with food and drinks.
* If you wear the contact lenses, they can really irritate your eyes on a troop, and get really painful. Bonus is you really dont have to wear them all the time though, so that is a bonus. But if you do like the yellow eyes, it is a hazard.
* No real place to hide a Handheld Radio/Walkie Talkie and Microphone, as they do stand out quite a bit
* Many Anakin Props are inaccurate, and may not pass 501st levels, especially from ebay like the store CostumeBase, so you really do need to do the research. Those that are accurate may be done on limited runs, and when not in a run, the only way to get one would be second hand.
* Getting a pair of Accurate Boots is getting really hard these days, especially since Carlos Diaz (The LEather Boutique on Ebay) has started to drop in major quality and customer service for the Anakin boots at this time.
* The leather glove can get uncomfortable after a while, especially if it gets sweaty on the inside.
Thats it for the moment, Ill update more after I troop the cosume in June
#18
Posted 31 March 2008 - 07:59 PM
Pros
You are really Scary looking and can scare the crap out of women and children with out doing anything at all.
You can sit down, lie down crawl up into a ball and any food or grease you get on your robes looks great.
If you get tired you can pull your head into your robes, have a lie down and have a nanna nap.
Heaps of pockets on your bandoleer
Gaffi Stick
Recognizable to fans of the OT and PT alike. Every one loves the Tusken.
No problem breathing.
Cons.
Go grab two empty toilet rolls, and use them like a pair of binoculars like you did when you were a kid. That is your visibility in a tusken mask.
A Head of the correct size can be compared to a leather gimp mask... but worse.
You are really Scary looking and can scare the crap out of women and children with out doing anything at all. So no hospital visits.
It can be very hot after a while in all those layers. But you can all ways strip one layer off... its screen accurate and that makes it canon.
If you weather your robes with fullers Earth, every one can tell where you have been even if they don't work as a CSI.
You don't get a little Tusken head icon to click on the bottom of the posting window :(

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