On a journey to a galaxy far far away...

[Syntax error]

Hi everyone, long time no see.

Life has been pretty busy so It's kept me away from GTP. My wife and I are now expecting our 3rd child in about 2 months’ time and the other two are growing like weeds.

Some of you might still remember me, a few of you that I'm friends with on steam will occasionally see there, almost never on xlba and the few of you I'm friends with on facebook will see plenty of me there :/

I've made some great friends on here, so naturally I feel a need to gravitate back here every so often. Those of you that know me also know I have an undying love for Star Wars. I've amassed a stupidly large collection of Star Wars video games over time and my collection of other Star Wars "junk" (as my beautiful wife puts it) seems to be constantly growing. But that's not what this thread is about. I've always had a fascination for Storm troopers and as a kid I wanted one in those awesome suits. Earlier this year I finally got to make this dream a reality and to troop with the 501st.

Here are a few photos:

Me with my two daughters:

This just a pile of my stormtrooper helmets (the top one I haven’t finished building yet) also I have a stack of other Star Wars helmets, I’ll post some photos of those later.

Me out on my first troop as a stormtrooper with a full functioning remote controlled R2, Darth Nihiulus and some Jedi scum

So what is this all about you ask? read on:

So I'm currently building a new Stormtrooper outfit (I’m passing my other one along to someone else) along with a clone from the animated tv series. Specifically Commander Wolffe, and primarily that’s what this thread is about. I'd like to share this journey with my friends in the infield and hopefully it will in turn motivate me to get it finished as there is a lot of work to do!

For reference, those of you unfamiliar with Wolffe, he is a reoccurring character in the series and has had multiple versions of armour, unlike most clones, he seems to get an upgrade each season. The one I am working on is the Season 3 variant (the middle one in the picture below).

I did start this build a little while back, but I’m only really starting to get into the swing of things now. Here are a few progress photos of what's been happening up until now:

First I got a helmet. This is a custom built thing from a group called Sci-Fire. Someone had already taken a crack at painting it as a specific character from the clone wars tv series, but I didn't like it much.

I quickly sanded it back.

then my kids stole it....

I gave it a blast with some primer followed by a layer of flat white. Then the masking of the design was next. This was tricky as there is very little source material for this apart from a handful of scenes that he appears in. Also only two maybe three other people in the 501st have attempted this particular variation of the armour to varying degrees of success.

And with the grey down and the masking removed, it's starting to come together.

The helmet didn't have a range finder, so I sourced one from a guy that casts them in resin.

Then I finally glued in the lens and added weather by essentially black washing the helmet.

Unlike most clones that use a larger blaster rifle, Commander Wolffe uses two pistol blasters like Captain Rex. I had these custom made from wood by a very talented person. It's wired and emits a blue light from the barrel when you press the small buttons on the trigger.

I just finished painting and weathering it recently, although I am going to revisit it with a coat of dark grey as I'm not entirely happy with it.

And finally here is the arrival of the armour. It was vacuum formed with ABS plastic. It needs a lot of trimming, gluing, bogging, sanding (so much sanding :/ ) and then painting and strapping.

Also it does not include any of the other stuff like boots, undersuit, gloves, straps, holster, antenna..... well the list goes on.

So I've spent a lot of time trimming and gluing over the last few weeks. I'm still a very long way off but this is so far the latest update of what I'm up to:

If you've ready this far, I commend you. As I said, I just wish to share the journey with some of the closer friends I have here in the infield as I know many of you love Star Wars and maybe some of you will get a bit of a kick out of it. Feel free to ask questions or to tell me I'm insane (obviously I'm already aware I am ) and I hope you all enjoy.

 

[Nicksfix]

3 things :

1) welcome back.
2) congrats on the "expected addition" to the family.
3) that's some really cool Star Wars stuff you have working there.

 

[TB]

That is an insane amount of work there, Syntax, but it looks like it's coming along nicely! 👍

Keep us apprised on the progress!

And three kids. Damn, man. Sometimes my two are too many.

 

[Syntax error]

3 things :

1) welcome back.
2) congrats on the "expected addition" to the family.
3) that's some really cool Star Wars stuff you have working there.

Thank you good sir.

That is an insane amount of work there, Syntax, but it looks like it's coming along nicely! 👍

Keep us apprised on the progress!

And three kids. Damn, man. Sometimes my two are too many.

Haha yeah, my two are an absolute handful as well. All those people that said girls are easier are lying! They're just as naughty as boys and break absolutely everything

I'll most definitely be posting more updates, I'm going to endeavour to spend a bit more time on GTP now, I feel like I've been away too long and I miss all of you awesome people.

 

[niky]

I've got to get a hobby. And probably got to get the kids to watching Star Wars. Good job!

 

[Omnis]

Not sure how Australia works, but don't take those awesome pistols out in public unless you got some orange caps for the barrel.

 

[Syntax error]

I've got to get a hobby. And probably got to get the kids to watching Star Wars. Good job!

Haha to be honest, we haven't let the kids watch Star Wars yet (apart from the old 80's droids and ewok cartoons), I feel like they might be just a tad young to considering the topic of violence and limb removal. That said, they know most of the main characters by name, mostly from all the action figures, statues and other random junk around the house and they love putting my helmets on and running around in them. My wife even joins in sometimes here's a family photo:

 

[Wolfe]

I've never followed the Clone Wars side of Star Wars, but it's a bit odd to find that you're constructing the armor of a character who's apparently my SW doppelganger.

Welcome back!

 

[Syntax error]

Not sure how Australia works, but don't take those awesome pistols out in public unless you got some orange caps for the barrel.

Depends on the event, If they have a very stringent weapon policy we don't remove them from the holster, but generally we seem to get a free pass on them. Most other cosplay with weapons require the cap but for some reason we don't get pulled up for it and generally we attract the biggest crowd at most events.

 

[Syntax error]

I've never followed the Clone Wars side of Star Wars, but it's a bit odd to find that you're constructing the armor of a character who's apparently my SW doppelganger.

Welcome back!

HA! & Thank you. To be honest I'm fairly new to the Clone Wars series, I find the show a bit hit and miss. When it's good, it's fantastic, but there are a lot of boring/sub par story arcs as well.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Awesome suit/helmets you made there Syntax. 👍 And congrats on the expected little one.

 

[Syntax error]

Awesome suit/helmets you made there Syntax. 👍 And congrats on the expected little one.

Thanks buddy 👍

 

[Dennisch]

So awesome.

My girl would never let me go out the door dressed like that.

 

[DustDriver]

My girl would never let me go out the door dressed like that.

Then dress up as a Sith and use mindtricks. Or force lightning, your pick
Oh, and running, lots of running.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

That family photo is all sorts of adorable.

Awesome stuff here Syntax, and excellent to see you back, too! An early congrats on the next little 'trooper!

 

[niky]

Been thinking of hunting up copies of the Ewoks movies, actually... that Ewok costume is adorable!

 

[TB]

I have Ewoks: The Battle for Endor on VHS.

Wilford FTW.

 

[Pupik]

Welcome back!

Hmm...should I commission a plastic codpiece so I can go through those full body scanners?

A third one? Figures you're making a trilogy out of it...

 

[Syntax error]

That family photo is all sorts of adorable.

Awesome stuff here Syntax, and excellent to see you back, too! An early congrats on the next little 'trooper!

Thanks buddy, good to be back

Been thinking of hunting up copies of the Ewoks movies, actually... that Ewok costume is adorable!

Oooo those movies are terrible. I've been looking at getting a copy too just to round out my collection but even the DVD release is pretty expensive :/

I have Ewoks: The Battle for Endor on VHS.

Wilford FTW.

Oh the memories, I haven't seen it in at least 15-20 years now.

Welcome back!

Hmm...should I commission a plastic codpiece so I can go through those full body scanners?

A third one? Figures you're making a trilogy out of it...

My wife did suggest Anakin as a name if it was a boy. The ultrasound says it's a girl however so we won't be going with a Star Wars related name hahaha

 

[Spacegoat]

Welcome back SE, good to hear from you again. And a big congrats on the new little one.

 

[Yukon]

Hi Syntax.

That's a pretty cool Star Wars collection you have there. What are your thoughts on the movie remakes that we'll be seeing in a couple of years time? And you must have been from before my time here, so it's nice to meet you.

 

[Danny]

Looks like a lot of work went into that! 👍

Makes me wish I'd watched Star Wars at some point.

 

[sesselpupser]

Makes me wish I'd watched Star Wars at some point.

Leave. Immediately.

 

[Shaun]

Nice to see you back around Syntax.
Gee the kids have grown up a fair bit. I remember from your post about your drive down the Great Ocean Rd.

 

[Cano]

here's a family photo:

Dear god your kids will grow up to become pro-class geeks. Cool.

welcome back bud, long time long time. Also, I thought custom die cast cars were a lot of work. Keep us updated.

 

[Syntax error]

Welcome back SE, good to hear from you again. And a big congrats on the new little one.

Thanks buddy 👍

Also if the Roosters keep up this good streak, we might just take out this season.

Hi Syntax.

That's a pretty cool Star Wars collection you have there. What are your thoughts on the movie remakes that we'll be seeing in a couple of years time? And you must have been from before my time here, so it's nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too. I am indeed a bit of an old hand even if my post count is on the low side.

I'm cautiously optimistic about having some more movies added to the franchise. Disney won't be looking to sabotage their investment. I like the idea of the spin off movies that will apparently be coming down the track, I'm actually looking forward to those more than the new trilogy. The new animated series that's been worked on should also be good, they have a great creative team behind the new Rebels series.

Looks like a lot of work went into that! 👍

Makes me wish I'd watched Star Wars at some point.

It's not too late!!!

Leave. Immediately.

Nice to see you back around Syntax.
Gee the kids have grown up a fair bit. I remember from your post about your drive down the Great Ocean Rd.

Haha yeah, that's going back a little while now. I could use another holiday!

Dear god your kids will grow up to become pro-class geeks. Cool.

welcome back bud, long time long time. Also, I thought custom die cast cars were a lot of work. Keep us updated.

I'm working on making sure they're big geeks They do love running around the house with all my helmets on being silly haha

edit: Plenty more updates to come Cano. I've got a fair bit of work lined up over the next few days but I plan on putting a fair few solid hours in over the weekend. It's not too disimilar to working on die cast cars or other models, it's just the scale that's different.

 

[Cano]

I'm working on making sure they're big geeks They do love running around the house with all my helmets on being silly haha

Keep on it! Recently I was on a vacation trip and stayed at my aunt's house in Cancun. Staying over there was also my little nephew which I hadn't seen in, ergh, like 6 years. He's 10 or 11 now. I don't really like kids nor have the pattience for them, but he turned out to be a big Legend of Zelda geek. I first listened to him babbling around the Song of Storms ad was like wtf. Needless to say I liked the kid and we got along real well based on our geekness. He's my new favorite nephew. So yeah, geek is good.

Also, what the hell is that helmet made of? Resin? Plastic? Fiberglass?

 

[Syntax error]

Keep on it! Recently I was on a vacation trip and stayed at my aunt's house in Cancun. Staying over there was also my little nephew which I hadn't seen in, ergh, like 6 years. He's 10 or 11 now. I don't really like kids nor have the pattience for them, but he turned out to be a big Legend of Zelda geek. I first listened to him babbling around the Song of Storms ad was like wtf. Needless to say I liked the kid and we got along real well based on our geekness. He's my new favorite nephew. So yeah, geek is good.

Also, what the hell is that helmet made of? Resin? Plastic? Fiberglass?

The animated series helmet is a very thick high impact styrene. The material used by different manufactures will vary however. The armour for example is an ABS plastic (same stuff lego is made from). My royal guard helmet on the other hand is fibreglass.

There isn't really hard and fast rule about what armour and helmets need to be made from as long as they are screen accurate. Generally the stormtroopers have it the most stringent as they need to use a pulled plastic for their armour like HIPS or ABS but I have seen the odd fiberglass one slip through approval as well if it's well enough done.

 

[Cano]

The animated series helmet is a very thick high impact styrene.

So, is it cast into a mold, or hand-carved/made?

 

[Syntax error]

So, is it cast into a mold, or hand-carved/made?

It's cast off a mold. The clone helmet is based off the animated series, so in that case it was hand crafted first prior to a mold being cast.

My stormtrooper helmet which I'm also currently working was originally cast off an original movie one and then the mold that was made is used to produce more helmets via vacuum forming process. I still have a lot of work to do on it but it will be screen accurate.

Here is a pic of it half complete next to an efx collectibles series one which is quite popular and relatively inexpensive to purchase online. At a cursory glance the efx looks good, but when you start to look at the detail, the frown is too small, the overall size is roughly 20% larger than it should be (to accommodate a slightly fatter head ) and it is symmetrical. When you look at the original movie helmets, it quickly becomes apparent that they are not symmetrical at all and have a host of cosmetic errors like the dent in the right eye etc.