Fivezero

The advanced cloaking armor project to be used for the new generation of Shadow Stormtroopers is coming to its end. Thus Imperial High Command has issued me with orders for a new armor design. I have been informed that the Shocktroopers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the standard issue armor (commonly used by the TKs and TDs). The armor is currently not holding up to the intensive combat that they encounter. I have been tasked with creating a new, heavier duty set of armor to better protect the Shocktroopers. So yeah here's my next armor build! I've always loved the look of this trooper and noticed that I would have no Spec Ops projects after I finished the TFU Shadow, so I decided to go with this one! Started with the chest piece, using a modified pepakura method. I used the cardstock to make templates to then cut out on some plastic signs to build the chest piece. Now to slap some primer and paint on this sucker!!!!! The electrical tape kind of messes with the lines on this but this is actually going to be kind of a mold (hence why it's taped on the outside). I plan to slush cast some resin on the inside of it to make a true chest piece (that isn't held together with electrical tape!). Then I'll sand down and finish up the slush cast piece. I also plan to use some modded TK shins, thighs, cod piece, butt and kidney plates as well. Everything else will get made in a similar fashion to the chest. Oh and there's going to be a twist at the end too! Fivezero

Way ahead of you Dizzy, heading to pick up some paint to test tomorrow.

Don't get too caught up on the names, Master Tej. When I used to play the game I saw Blackhole Troopers called everything under the sun (Stormsnipers, Novatroopers, Stormtroopers, lots of others). The only thing I saw with a consistent name was the Nova Medic (even regular Novas got called all sorts of names). And we only have one reference too (only the game counts), but we don't need three, just the 360 shots. I can still see izzi's reasoning though to get something a bit more definite for this. Either way I think I am going after this one and will try and get it approved (even if it doesn't it'll still look cool!!). Fivezero

Gotcha izzi. I found another place that has some pics of TL-017 on a forum (along with some other Spec Ops goodies!!), with a date of June 8, 2011, before the game closed. Click me!! Other than that and the wiki image, there isn't too much else out there on this trooper.

Here's where I buy my lights from: LED Strips - Formula J87 EL Stuff - Ada Fruit 12V A23 Batteries - Local Hardware Store A23 Battery Holders - Ebay Seller Fivezero

Unfortunately, there are no other references to this trooper. Like the Nova Medic, he exists only in the game. Not sure if this explanation will help either, but I'll throw it in anyway Basically what this emulator is is a new launcher to a private server (as opposed to the official servers, which have been shut down of course). In order to install the launcher and log on to the server though, you need to have an official Star Wars: Galaxies client from Sony Online Entertainment (which I never uninstalled). The servers basically tell your computer what to spawn and where (of course that's a vague description). So even though the official servers have been shut down, all of the original, unaltered game data like the trooper models and textures are still on my computer. Again not sure if that will help us out, but here's the picture on the wiki that was added on Feb. 6, 2011, before the game closed later that year in December. Just another shred of evidence to hopefully help us out! Fivezero

So the last hurdle of this build has been overcome. The shin lighting has been not agreeing with me or the EL tape. The curves at the bottom of the shins aren't exactly EL tape friendly. But after looking at the pics again I noticed that the shin lighting was thinner than the rest of the lighting. So I had a brilliant idea to use EL wire instead, it should do the job and achieve the effect I need and it's flexible to contour with the shins nicely. The rest of the lights were ordered this morning. Hopefully get a decent day to paint the rest of the armor within the next couple days, then maybe have it finished by the end of the week?!?! Fivezero

Well I checked around to find some more info on TL-017, Wookieepedia does calls him a Novatrooper. Unfortunately I couldn't converse with him in game (the emulater hasn't gotten the content he's associated with working yet) to confirm this. I might have to get some parts soon........................ Fivezero

It still look pretty good in full light. Basically my camera is an old piece of junk that takes terrible pictures without flash (which drowns the blue lighting), that's why the last helmet pic I took looks blurry (cause I didn't take it in the dark). That and I think the dark pictures look cooler to show to you guys!!!

More photos (these guys are more common than Nova Medics!!!!) They're still called Storm Commandos though. Also found one called TL-017, he doesn't have a pauldron!

So somebody tried out the Star Wars:Galaxies Emulator the other day, look what I found when I stepped out of the starport. SWG's fantastic name generator has it listed as a Storm Commando (even thought it is next to a true Storm Commando). I'll see if I can find another one and see what the name is. Interesting, huh? Fivezero

More glowing! Finally finished cutting out the forearm and did a quick test to see how it looked with the LEDs and EL tape. Fivezero

Well I found out that my inverters are fine for running the lengths of EL tape I have. But I tried attaching another battery and hey, presto, it worked and they were at full brightness. So I just need to buy a couple extra batteries and the EL components will be all set. Now that everything is electrically set, it is time to place an expensive order for some EL tape and panels!! Fivezero

Well I got some inverters the other day and that did the trick. Unfortunately I need an inverter for every length of tape (i.e. I will need 6 total for the shoulders ), otherwise the tape is too dim to look right. Either that or I don't know how to wire things together (maybe I'll do a little research to verify this....) Either way, it still looks cool. Also started cutting out the forearms. I decided to go ahead and use LEDs for the top where the cutouts are (less inverters), similar to how I did the tube stripes on the bucket. And I'll use the EL tape to wrap around the ends of the forearms. Fivezero

Welcome aboard, glad to have another among us!!

Realized in my tired state, that my last post didn't exactly say what I wanted to. Let me try again... This is going to be the first and last "CAR" I restore, I have plans for...much bigger...toys There isn't another car I want to restore, so that's what I meant by once in a lifetime, woot exhaustion!!

Sorry izzi, but this is going to be my first and ONLY car I restore. It's a lot of work (which I don't mind), but it's a lot of money (which I do mind). It's a fun process, but it will probably be a once in a lifetime deal for me. Although an izzi-mobile would be fun.......... Fivezero

Very, very, very, very.....close...can see the blue lights at the end of the tunnel.... Finally ordered some inverters yesterday. If my electrical problems get sorted with the inverters, then I'll proceed to get the rest of the lighting (all $150 of it...). Today I hope to get off my butt and paint the rest of the armor I need to (shoulders, forearms, shins). Only took me two years to finally get here.... Fivezero

Been meaning to post in this thread for a while now (kept forgetting ), just thought I'd finally throw my 2 credits in... I have one of these "mypropcollection" kits. They are in fact true/original AM kits. They are not recast in anyway. I bought a white kit from him for my EVO Trooper (I took a bit of a gamble to see if it was a legitimate kit). Everything was exactly like my black AM kit I have for my Nova; every piece of armor was identical, everything was packaged the same, same fragile sticker on the box, even the same freebie pauldron came with it, it is definitely an AM kit, NOT recast junk (believe me I know recast junk, I made that mistake when I first started out). Left is the mypropcollection box, the right is my direct buy from AM. Another fresh from the box. Ignore the Gen. Veers kit in the front... Evilboy, you may be confusing mypropcollection with Star Fortress Productions/Nexus Enterprising/Any other BS names he has. Star Fortress is the only one I know with that "terrific" record you posted. Now this being said, don't trust Ebay at all either. Sometimes you can find some great stuff but almost all of it is garbage. Stay with the reputable sellers we have. Well I hope I haven't rambled too much on this subject. Fivezero

It's this stuff called snow, surprisingly most of the people here don't know what it is either and freak out every time it snows and drive like incompetent idiots (even though it snows EVERY year). Ah, Michigan... Also thought I'd update you guys on the Chevelle, well she's parked (Winter).... But come spring I'm getting a new carburetor (so she starts and runs even better). I also have some electrical things to sort, got pulled over in August (first time I ever got pulled over!) since my taillights were out). Then it's on to fixing some exterior rust, new floors, new interior, then paint! Would be cool if I got it all done this summer! Fivezero

Was wondering when someone would catch that....shh....you never saw that........

Seeing in this thing is just like seeing a regular bucket with a touch of blue. The lenses are dark enough to block the light (and the LEDs are above my eyes) so I don't go blind. Also my big head blocks the light from the cheeks and frown. And yes DE, the pic is very blurry. Flash washes out the blue lights and combined with a 13 year old camera and me taking a quick picture makes for a blurry picture, sorry! Fivezero

I worked on this for about 30 seconds last night to get you mongrels off of me. Unfortunately I ended up screwing up the cheek tubes and undoing a lot of glue (guess that's what happens to hot glue when you use a heat gun ) So I'm leaving it on the shelf for a bit. Back to my other numerous projects. Which I just did a quick tally after DE's comment: '71 Chevelle, TFU Shadow, Darth Malgus, Swamp Helmet, New Helmet Project, Sith Acolyte, Buy a Tank, EVO upgrades (also get that dang CRL done), Nova Bucket repaint, Dummy Gun builds (MG 34 & 42), I think that's about it....yep, will be a very fun and productive summer. As for a workshop, I'm down for it. Unfortunately you guys will have to wait another year and three weeks (I'm not 21 so I can't get beer, I'm not even 20 yet....) Fivezero

So I worked on the helmet last night. Finally got the lights rigged up and the details painted. I thought my lenses were being stupid with me then I looked at it with the bucket off (i.e. not in a mirror), it isn't as bad as I thought.... Hmmm......... Hmm... Seeing this picture (and seeing without looking through the lenses), it actually doesn't look too bad.... What do you guys think?

So, exactly one year after I bought my Chevelle, this is what my dad buys... I think he may have been slightly jealous about my car....... A 1972 Buick Skylark, so we now have 2 GM A-Body cars. Fivezero