Chaos

I had to take a break from designing 3D files so I decided to play around with some electronics I had delivered. Wait for it to load. AUDIO ON. Dark Trooper Test.mp4

I have had a chance to put the elbow and forearm together in virtual to test fit things. Now I am in the process of printing the pieces for the left side to see if they will work in practical application. Hard part is waiting the long hours and days to get them all printed. I am hoping that I took enough time in designing them that after the printing I won't have to make any major modifications. If anyone sees anything I missed or might need to tweak please let me know. I am still not sure about the internal coverings for the elbow joint. I want to make them look more like the screen shots than the Mando exhibit.

Yeah me too! The tactile feel makes it easier to manipulate triggers and buttons on my electronics.

The forearms are done to include the greeblies. Now I just need to finish the hands so I can make the joint between them and the forearm. I may use the same design I have for the elbows, just scaled down and simplified.

Update on the fingers and hands. I decided to attach the individual joints and covers with heavy duty elastic. I found the stiffness of the glued covers made it difficult for them to stay in place under the back hand plates. After I paint the fingers I will attach the elastic and try out the new design with the hand plates and gloves. By the way the black flyer's Nomex gloves came in and I honestly think they are the best way to go. They fit well and the cuffs are long enough to go completely under the forearms. I'll post photos when I get them assembled.

Well I changed the design of the elbow joint. I went back through all the photos and decided to go in a new direction. I think this design will be much better and I can get almost 80 degrees of range of motion. I am printing the parts for one elbow now to test fit and see if my design will be feasible.

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.