Chaos

Logan, welcome to Spec Ops. You have picked a great costume to build. There are plenty of build threads in this Imperial Death Trooper section of the forums. You will find everything you need to get started and along your journey to the Darkerside of the Darkside. I recommend reading through each person's thread. You will find plenty of Pros and Cons for each type of kit you are thinking about using. The search function works very well to quickly find specific questions you may have. As always, we are also a great source of information when you can't find something or have a question that may or may not have been asked before. Best of luck on your build.

I also started on the elbow joint, I thought about printing a Ninja Flex type piece and model it like the Stunt elbow joint but decided if I could get it to look like the CGI geared joint it would be best. I have been playing around with just how to do that. I have looked at medieval suits of armor and other cosplayers ideas and right now this is the best that I can come up with. It consists of an upper opening for the bicep and a lower opening for the forearm. Between each are a set of interlocking / overlapping plates that when the arm is moved from straight down to a bend up, the plates collapse upon themselves. So far I have been able to get the total bend angle to around 38 degrees and with the gap between my actual arm and the openings I can get an additional movement of my arm itself by about 12 degrees more. That's only about 40 degrees total but I think it might be enough to have a decent range of motion. Of course after I work out the mechanics of it all I will go back and work on the cosmetics to make each section look like the CGI gears in the joint. The photos show only the front side of the joint but the back plates will be arranged and work the same way.

I have been working with the finger files and think I have got the right look etc., for the fingers based upon a combination of the CGI and the Stunt costume hands from the Mando Exhibit. I added some back extensions to the fingers so that they would nestle up under the back hand plate. So far so good. I will need to work out the layering of the back extensions so they fit under the hand back plate. I'm waiting on some black Nomex flight gloves to arrive as I think they will work better than the ST and DT gloves (they are too bulky) plus the cuffs extend farther back making it easy to tuck under the forearm and wrist joint. More to follow on that later. Slow and steady!

Does your kit come with the 3D printed laser? If so people have drilled out and installed something like this: https://www.tvc-mall.com/details/650nm-250mw-red-dot-laser-head-cnc-engraver-focusing-module-laser-engraving-head-diy-part-red-dot-laser-point-skutp10310354275a.html Or like mine, I bought this laser pointed and modified it to look like the one in R1: https://m.ar.aliexpress.com/item/1005003713738612.html?spm=a2g0n.detail.1000014.3.668fpWwOpWwOxF&gps-id=platformRecommendH5&scm=1007.18499.280016.0&scm_id=1007.18499.280016.0&scm-url=1007.18499.280016.0&pvid=4950345c-4d19-4759-b236-9aaa0b1fed36&_t=gps-id:platformRecommendH5,scm-url:1007.18499.280016.0,pvid:4950345c-4d19-4759-b236-9aaa0b1fed36,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238113%231998&pdp_npi=2%40dis!SAR!7.56!6.44!!!!!%400b0a23a916619286091191453e19bd!12000026906959028!rec

They could use the design concept but the actual design and details would have to match what we end up using for a CRL photo. I looked at a lot of 3D printed hand designs. I even thought about making the hands look like the CGI and running wire pulls up into a modified forearm like this guy did for a costume he built. I may end up trying this later.

I really like this character, anything with lights, bells, and whistles is badass!

First attempt at design and functionality.

I could do that but the "armor" pieces might loose rigidity and possibly flex out of shape. Its something to consider though.

I decided to jump into this costume as I enjoy a challenge. I will post up various photos as I compare screen grabs and SWC suit photos and think through possible ways to make these pieces and parts into a wearable and easily constructed item. There is a place for reference photos in this forum so I ask that you don't post them here unless you are highlighting something of interest or expressing an idea. If you quote me and the quoted entry has photos please go in and edit the quote to remove the photos. This will keep the thread neat and organized and easier to read through. With that being said, if you do happen to accidently post something mentioned above, please don't be offended if I remove it. I will be kind enough to send you a PM with a reason as to why. I anticipate that this will take a while as I am working full time and only doing this during my down time. There is another thread in here that @nanotek started where we can discus ways to convince the LMOs to accept this costume as a viable CRL Spec Ops character. Please post any ideas you might have or information that will help reinforce references over there. Quoting Michael Vale in that famous 1984 DD commercial "Time to make the doughnuts!"

Good idea, I was also thinking it would not be hard to 3D model the SWC joints and then print them in a PTU such as Ninja Flex and wear them much like the gaskets of the newer armor suits.

As I start my two day weekend, I have begun looking at the Droid files Nikko Industries made as examples as to how the hell I am going to attempt to 3D model my own pieces. (I have lots of coffee and aspirin on hand LOL) I think we can argue that even though they used CGI on a lot of the joints and abdomen areas, that it is probably safe to assume that they also constructed wearable joints and abdomen areas for some of the quick shot scenes such as the hands grabbing Grogu scene @Trachta mentioned, AND that the suit we have seen at the SWC Mandalorian Exhibit is viable as wearable since Jon Favreau even said they were screen used props and costumes in the exhibit. There are enough photos of the SWC suit, and good resolution screen grabs that we have references for almost 98%of the costume. LOL wish we had a close up of the bottom of the feet, that would take us to 99%. Since there are Legion costumes that exists now that some "creative and logical assumptions" were made on the construction for some characters in comics and games, I don't think it would be too difficult to apply that same assumption and thought process to the joints and abdomen areas for this costume. After all, the overall intent of creating a costume is to present the character so that the average person who has seen a movie, comic book, or game will immediately recognize the character. I will tell you right now, this costume will have to be a built with a combination of materials and techniques. I am going to start a Pre-Build thread where I will throw ideas around comparing screen CGI and SWC pieces and parts in an attempt to narrow down just how this costume can be produced easily and still retain the enough authenticity to meet the Legions intent on CRL requirements. I have no clue why I always lean towards the most difficult costumes to build. Wish me luck .... I am going to need it! PS. At the same time I am also printing Nikko's Droid files which eventually I plan on making a display statue.

@Lt. Dan This is why I say I believe it has 8 vents, hopefully, like you said, someone will buy one and get us a definitive answer.

A question was raised over in the Death Trooper's Build Group Facebook page about a Death Trooper helmet being offered by a company called Cyber Crafts. I did a comparison of the Anovos vs Screen Used vs Cyber Crafts' helmets and create a PDF document. If anyone is interested it can be found/downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lo7up1lmrj8nxl9/Cyber Crafts' Death Trooper Helmet verses Anovos and Screen Used Helmets Comparison.pdf?dl=0 Hope it helps.

If I'm not mistaken, Jim Tripon makes a tall kit, if you send him your measurements he can make sure the kit pieces match your body needs. His is a fiberglass type resin kit that is really easy to work with. My kit is from him, and a lot of others on here have his kit. I agree with Greg, the details are more crisper in a cast kit than they are in ABS, even with the resin add on details in 850's latest kit, the ABS pulled biceps, shoulder bells, forearms, etc, lack the crispness that is the DT appearance.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r5081olaqarzbyu/1 Updated Deathtrooper Voice Lines (Play %26 Pause track).mp3?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/vvkqlzdum8fv2ew/2 Deathtrooper Voice Lines with segments (Loop track).mp3?dl=0 The first one is set up to press play and pause, the second has gaps so you can play it on loop

Since you are tall, when you think about your next costume, I suggest the Death Trooper. I'd love to see more badass DTs in our ranks. Hold your head up with pride, you did a great job on your kit! Your Shadow is way better than my first Shadow, hands down.

Oh that's horse poop! You're telling us that the gap between your forearms and biceps is too much? What Garrison are you in? I'd go look at the other Shadows in your Garrison and I bet you see some worse looking suits than yours? Body size should not be a discriminator! Put some foam in your forearms and move them up closer to your biceps and your photo will look just like the CRL photo. Same gap at the elbows and at the wrists.

I have Jim's kit, I built it back in July 2021 and have about 21 two hours or longer troopings in it. I have modified how it is strapped several times. My latest will be my final as I don't think I can perfect it too much more. Through out it all Jim's kit has held up great, I had two small stress cracks on the front chest upper shoulder extensions, but a little bit of resin and fiber glass to strengthen the back side and I haven't had any more cracks. Having an ABS Shadow trooper, I can honestly say Jim's kit will hold up way better than any ABS, plus the details are way crisper overall. Don't be afraid of working with fiberglass. Any fiberglass auto body repair kit will work and it's super easy. You'll be pleased. Good luck and I can't wait to see your progress. We are always here for any questions you might have.

Holy Cow! That's AWESOME! I'm thinking I might need to make silicone joints and a waist area when I start my Dark Trooper Gen 3 build, the screen suits were CGI'd at those spots so I'm going to have to be creative. I might hit you up for your color ratios. Your's turned out perfect!

https://forum.specops501st.com/topic/7425-death-trooper-parts-vendors-as-of-25-feb-2020/

Not really, the current CRL is pretty straight forward and the changes that were made from the last one were mostly Level 2 items. As far as what needs to be modified on 3D files, there are a few build threads that describe what other Troopers did during their builds. The best part about building any costume is the journey of research and discovery. So when you finally finish and put it on you can stand back and say "Yeah.... I did that!"

Yes, but just to make sure you will need to go thru each piece and compare it to the current CRL. The CRL changed a little last year. Let us know if you have any questions as you go thru the process.

No worries! I have used 3 or 4 different set ups for strapping and each modification was made after trooping in my DT for extended periods of time. I think I may have even put something together for another Trooper as a visual example. I will go take a look and if I can find it I will post it here.

Great news! I can't wait to see how your DT progresses.