Shadow Stormtrooper build

[trooper[501st]]

Howdy folks hope everybody had a great christmas and a wonderful new year.

 

This will be a tutorial of my Shadow storm trooper build which when completed will hopefully qualify me for the specialist program.

 

 

The usual brown box that we love seeing when ordering any armour finally turned up on my door step this week.

 

Maker: Shepparton Design studios

 

Details: The armour was ordered as a full black ABS kit unassembled but trimmed. So all is required is to follow the instructions and put it all together. They do sell them already assembled but as this is my fourth costume build i prefer to assemble it the way i want to using the tips and tricks i have learnt over the years.

 

Box Contents: The box came with everything in individually wrapped pieces in plastic bags which where dot colour coded to make the assembly easier. (must cost them a fortune in plastic bags and rubberbands)

There was also rubber chemical gloves, full one piece black undersuit supplied as well. There was a full detailed instruction book and a detailed booklet containing information about the company and how to reorder replacement parts if required. All the glue was supplied as well which was also black.

 

 

 

Okay after reading the book and checking to make sure all parts where present and counted for i started the build on the helmet. The helmet came as a 2 piece cap back with the teeth area in the frown already filed out and ready for painting.

 

 

The helmet was probably one of the easiest i have built and was all assembled within a couple of hours minus the painting of the frown and the lens install. The photo shows size comparison next to my AP helmet

 

 

Today was drooling over the helmet day and more building.

 

 

Forearm assembled and waiting for the glue to dry, bicep is next on the agenda.

[DarkGTI04[TX]]

Very nice armor. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product.

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

ooohhhh, shiny!

 

lookin good. keep the pics coming.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

This one is bookmarked Shane! Thanks for sharing the build and pics.

[trooper[501st]]

will try to up date as pieces get built, but you know what its like when ya get carried away..... forgrt to take pics.

 

Q1 what clour silver should i be painting the frown

[izzi[TX]]

Silver colored is best.

On mine, I actually skipped painting and used some aluminum foil tape I found in the heating section of Lowes. Gives it a nice metallic look. A bit tricky to get to wrap around without wrinkling, but it's easy to remove if you mess up. Just don't press down hard until you have it how you like it.

 

-iz

[Griffin-X[501st]]

I like Izzi's trick but I could not pull that one off. I used Testers ALUM paint for my frown(s).

[trooper[501st]]

I like Izzi's trick but I could not pull that one off. I used Testers ALUM paint for my frown(s).

 

 

 

I'm with you on the foil part it looks good but would drive me crazy attempting to do it that way. I think I will stick with the brush

[Wraith[TX]]

Looks good can't wait to see it all finished and approved

[trooper[501st]]

Continuing on with the build.

 

 

 

started on the shins and Thigh's

 

Also gave the frown 2 coats of Silver.... Yes Izzi Silver

 

 

 

Have ordered some mirror lenses from the fleabay to finish it off. Have also got to install Hovi's and rubber ring around the bottom of the helmet and mesh behind the frown.

 

Just wondering do i need to paint the vocoder? and if so would it be a flat black

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

The vocoder can be flat black or glossy, either is fine. What type of paint did you use? It looks white or light gray in the pics. Any way to get a different shot that shows it as silver?

[trooper[501st]]

I used Humbrol number 11 silver, i also have a chrome silver from Model Master which i was going to use but went with the humbrol paint instead.

 

The photo is to light because where i build all my stuff in the man cave it is bright as hell in there which can be good in winter and bad in summer.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Looking really good. I painted the vocoder on my AT3 flat black (Testers...) and I think it looks nice.

[trooper[501st]]

Yeah Jim i think i will do the same as well.

[trooper[501st]]

Not much progress on the build but hope to have more done this week with pics. While i was waiting for the glue to dry on some of the parts i knocked this up.

 

Hasbro E11 with updated Doopy Kit.

 

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Looking good Shane. I love the DD Hasbro kits.

[trooper[501st]]

[Nearly completed the bucket.

 

Painted the frown again but this time used the chrome silver paint.

 

Installed the mirror lens as well.

 

 

 

Replaced the original buttons which where just thumbtacks painted and glued in. Replaced them with some Billett Machined buttons then did under coat and hand painted with gloss black Humbrol.

 

 

The originals are the blue and white next to the other 3 which are about to be painted.

 

Have a Question regarding the belt for the specialist program. The picture below shows the material the belt is made of, it is a rough looking finish which is not as dark in colour as the armour. Can i use a Canvas belt and if so will that get me through or will this be suitable???

 

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

wow, what a weird material to send as a belt. The belt will need to be glossy black. You can do canvas or the one in the pic if you get some black vinyl or patent leather and sew it on over them. Or you can order some black abs strips.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Looking good...!

[trooper[501st]]

wow, what a weird material to send as a belt. The belt will need to be glossy black. You can do canvas or the one in the pic if you get some black vinyl or patent leather and sew it on over them. Or you can order some black abs strips.

 

 

So does that mean a standard black canvas belt will get me into the specialist program???

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

So does that mean a standard black canvas belt will get me into the specialist program???

 

http://forum.specops501st.com/index.php?/topic/381-specialist-requirements-blackhole-trooper/

 

" * Belt must be made of a glossy material to closely match the shine of the armor. "

 

No.

[trooper[501st]]

http://forum.specops501st.com/index.php?/topic/381-specialist-requirements-blackhole-trooper/

 

" * Belt must be made of a glossy material to closely match the shine of the armor. "

 

No.

 

 

I thought that might be the case so i might have to hang off for the specialist program till later, we have Phantom Menace 3D launch on the 5th Feb so need to get this finished and approved then i will source a belt later on.

[trooper[501st]]

Howdy Guys sorry for the long absence but normal life got in the way of my project. Since my last post i have managed to get most of it together after hours working in the shed and did a trial fit tonight .

 

 

 

 

 

Still need to add a few pieces to finish it off and adjust some of the strapping.

[Griffin-X[501st]]

Looks awesome...! Great work on this build!

 

Question: how did you do secure the chest/back and shoulder strap parts?

[trooper[501st]]

Looks awesome...! Great work on this build!

 

Question: how did you do secure the chest/back and shoulder strap parts?

 

 

Thanks Jim.

 

Okay the kit came pre trimmed with the strapping already cut and it also had the snaps applied to the pieces of strapping.

 

The shoulder straps came trimmed with a thin piece of ABS glued on the inside then covered with velcro. The snap was also centered and glued in place on the strap. What i did was remove a slight piece of the velcro and fixed it in place on the chest piece using E6000 and left the back piece free floating. I applied some velcro to the back piece which then enables me to secure it when wearing the armour, when i am finished wearing it i just seperate the back from the front which makes it easy for storage.

 

I think the thin piece of ABS glued on the inside of the shoulder strap is the key as it keeps it all nice and rigid and solid and will probably put less stress on the shoulder parts.

 

 

Inside of shoulder strap attached to the chest piece

 

 

Front and rear pieces seperated.

 

Hope this helps Jim.