My costume quest

[Clonetrooper]

I thought I open a new thread to share all my experiences/info on searching for my costume.

Criteria:
- Total Budget < 1K
- Full face helmeted(due to "coolness" factor)
- Exotic looking(not-cheap-looking): should look like out of this world and not be similar to anything we've got in our present world
- Preferably a "Trooper" or soldier
- No red (ie.royal guard out)

So far I've narrowed down my current costume choices to:
1. Snowtrooper
2. Boba Fett
3. Stormie (Sintra armour)
based on the major factors of initial investment costs, "coolness"(ie.full face helmet, "oohs" and "ahhhs"), and future upgradeability as and when time and budget allow it yet without lacking of a convincing and decent looking costume.

My effort analysis:
1.Snowtrooper commander
Easiest: White canvas or deluxe rain Boots,white construction gloves, white coverall/cape, no need backpack, forearm armour can cut from PVC pipe, no need knee armour,three velcro strips around boots,any plastic mouth cover;all can get from normal shops;
Moderate: Armour pieces for shoulder, groin, chest and back can source from ebay (I've seen 2-3 times Snowtrooper armour for sale in last couple of months). Alternative: get General veers armour and helmet(is identical to Snowtrooper armour) and just spray white (although would be a shame to waste grey paint!) and add goggles.Simple Blaster holster construction can be DIY (any plastic/PVC) or just buy off Ebay.Helmet goggles can shop around for similar(toy sun glasses,party goggles etc.); Blaster DIY from toy gun or buy off Ebay for US$30;
Difficulty: Helmet/armour. Helmet supposedly not based on any existing helmets, made from scratch by ILM. Not mass produced(ie.Don Post,Rubies,Altmanns etc.) like the Storm/Clone troopers,X-Wing Pilot or TIE Pilot helmets ect. (Heck, even rarer than the mass produced Royal Guard helmets!but they are less popular so not such extravagant prices...) best way I see:Ebay!
Belt/cape fastening: how they do it??
Summary:
I think it still retain the "coolness"/exoticness and recognizability (thanks to widespread snowtrooper action figures). Due to less armour (which when accumulated for Storm/Clone/Shocktroopers, min.RM15-30.00 per piece, times 26 pieces can end up quite a bit) it reduces the cost significantly. Being Snowtrooper commander instead of regular soldier can save backpack(difficult!), knee armour and forearm armour(similar as worn by Boba) translating into further savings while still retaining the overal cool-factor of the outfit. I believe black jumpsuit(stormie) costs more than a white coverall(snowie). This outfit I believe can reach cost below RM 1K.

2.2.Boba Fett
Easiest: complete and ready made, painted,lightweight and affordable (~US$80) Sintra Armour from Ebay since original armour is flat anyway(unlike Stormies) so will look close to real thing; Just add velcro and stick to suit; mass-produced helmet is easily and affordably available thru ebay etc.(of course mod it with tint visor,fans,hardliner/padding for trooping); blue-grey coverall/boilersuit (search ebay or local store). Gloves. Boots.
Moderate: Blaster DIY from toy gun or buy off Ebay for US$30; and maybe to get the look of boots right...
Difficulty: Precise replica of gauntlet(the forearm gadget thingy). Time/price effort could be high.Jetpack(I could do w/o it and I think not many ppl would notice anyway!)
Summary: To me if ignore the jetpack(unless future upgrade using normal backpack and modifying it) this is the easiest and affordable outfit. My only hesitation: I want to belong to an army(!) and there's only one Boba (more than that looks awkward to me,eg.in future another Boba or if going to other country's conventions). Overall cost should be below RM 1K.

3.Stormie (Sintra armour)
Easiest: Helmet(great supply!) affordable (from US$25.00); plenty of spare parts on market; Gloves; If can achieve all armour parts from Sintra, would be much cheaper (future upgrade to ABS etc. when time and money permits)
Moderate: Find cheapest black Jumpsuit;Blaster DIY from toy gun or buy off Ebay for US$30;
Difficulty: Armour assembly!
Summary: One of my faves, if can get Sintra armour maybe possible cost below RM 1K. Same thing can apply to Clonies(just different helmet) except the quality(Kellog's is right size but wafer thin and Rubie's is solid but undersize) as compared to Stormie helmet.

[triplesaber]

Clone bro, i think the solution for your quest would be a DIY armor made by yourself. I know it sounds hard and leceh, but it would suit your budget and need. I dont think u could find any ready-made armor less than RM1k. Even the guy in eBay who occasionally sell Clonetrooper armor put the price tag at above RM2k, and his armors r not exotic lookin, rather clumsy n flimsy.
Check out TK560 website www.tk560.com/stormtrooper.html
This guy makes his own armor. even provides a video demo on vacuformin process & mold makin.
n Im sure u already knew about Studiocreations website.

U need some handy tools and creativity. really lotsa time.. sacrifice some of your holiday trips with your family.
U only need a big oven and a big vacuum cleaner, n the rest is up to your imagination n $$$ fund.
One of the hardest part would be the molding part..
Theres really no easy solution for this. I thought about makin my own, but i know my limit n im not a handyman either, so i work the other way around, find lotsa $$$ to buy a FX kit, but it doesnt end there. I will still need to sacrifice my time n more $$$ to get it right. Some of us r lucky to come frm a rich family n have a strong $$$ backup, but for guys like me, its really a strong decision to make. its not easy to part with your hard earn money for a set of plastics!
Im always in doubt, whether i can commit myself to it or not, but i think im ready this time. Its a dream i need to fulfill even for a short time. Maybe i would get bored in the next 5 years n sell it, but at least, i know ive reached tht certain level of satisfaction in my life.
So, my fellow Clone buddy, hehe.. r u ready?

[triplesaber]

..but then again. i might be wrong..good luck in your search!

[Clonetrooper]

Thanks for the reply Storm bro(I thought noone would!)!
It would appear I can count on your reply in regards to Troopper armour ;D
Well, I'll take note and continue my journey (BTW, how long was yours?) using my Force to seek out any cheaper and better alternatives within this year (FYI, I'm also not from a rich family with lots of $$$ backup so it's all down to me basically)....yeah, lots of money for plastics but I believe the main bulk of the cost is mainly due to workmanship/time effort to come up with so many pieces for an armour which ensures the price is kept high)
Basically, the name of the game is to weigh the satisfaction level against the $$$ level I suppose...yes it does....hm Meditate on it, I will...

[Haldir]

Well, IMHO, try saving up if want to afford ready-made armors. Maybe a dollar or 2 or even more per day into your coin banks.

[Plo Strax-Avix]

Or dump all your money into the coin bank and eat Maggie mee only...he he he ;D

[Clonetrooper]

yes I suppose so... I'm trying to check out how to DIY Armour with Sintra first.... then later can always upgrade to ready-made (ABS) armour if the determination is still there... hehe

[triplesaber]

(Or dump all your money into the coin bank and eat Maggie mee only...he he he)

haha, thts wht i do now! i think im losing weight a bit, but my wifey says i still look the same, not even an inch of difference (my waistline of course!).

[Clonetrooper]

If you don't mind me asking what does your wife think about your armour acquisition?
Mine not so keen (mainly cost factor)...

[triplesaber]

well, she doesnt know abou it. but based from my past xperience, she didnt mind me transformin into Darth Vader (but with 'cheap' Hasbro Vader mask n homemade chest armor n cape). but im guessin tht she knows tht im up to somethin big his time, since my workplace at home is covered with lotsa references of STrooper armor n accessories. Yesterday i bought a 'cheap' alternative to a Blastec E11 strooper blaster at Alamanda, a made-in-china blaster tht looks 70% similar to tht of the real blaster. I said its for my son, she just smiled n say nuthin, i knew she didnt buy the excuse, but at least she didnt say anythin against it.
i already plan this whole thing though. What excuses n reasons i shall give later when the armor arrives. She already saw Dplik's appereance in armor n she liked it. I told her the armor r home-made by fans, n its not somethin u can just buy off the shelf. So, im gonna use this explaination later, say, a friend of mine is kind enuff to make this armor for me at a reasonable price. And the assemblin process will, i guess, convince her more. She may not help me at all, but at least she know tht this thing is home-made.
Anyway, this month, ive showered her with enuff love she wont give a fuss about my armor later. I just bought a bike for my son too...hehe...