WIP - JimmyC ESB build 5 year update

So, I've been working on this "accurate" ESB build for almost 5 years now! I've had a child born, I've been divorced, and been through some tough financial/ and legal battles within this time, so its been pretty slow going at times. But now, I think I'm to a point I can start making some serious progress on this. I should also mention, this build is not for trooping or the 501st, even though it is wearable it is for my personal collection and mannequin.

NOW, I've had my ups and downs with this build too and I admit I had no idea what I was in for when I decided to do this thing "Accurate"! Everyone in this community has their own version in their mind of what the word accurate means. My idea of it is, "as close as humanly possible", if something is not available, then the next best thing until I find what I'm looking for... Even through all my tough times I have been sticking to that, and learning a lot about what was actually used and done along the way.

So without further ado, this is what I have so far, what I'm currently working on, and things I'm looking to fix/replace:


FOUND ITEMS:
Real Borden connector: FOUND (currently in the GMH)
Dental files: FOUND
Helmet suspension kit: FOUND
Sidearm holster: FOUND
Shin tools: ALL FOUND
Chin straps and cup: FOUND (correct)
EverReady Mini Light: FOUND
Girth belt: FOUND
EE-3 parts and greeblies: ALL FOUND ITEMS (Except box on stock)
EE-3 scope: FOUND Vintage A.S.I 4X20
Scope mount and rings: FOUND (all parts in hand making my own with found parts)
Sidearm: FOUND PLUCE 40
Gloves: FOUND (and custom making)
Jetpack harness: FOUND (correct strapping and buckle) & RS
Wookiee braids (real horse hair): Woodman
Cape: custom made
Gauntlet switches: FOUND
Small Circuit board for helmet: FOUND
correct Mic connectors for the bottom of the Jet Pack: FOUND

NOT FOUND (but good enough for now):
Jet pack: MOW (still need metal covers for the bottom)
Flight suit: Clothears
Pouches: Clothears
Vest: Clothears
Neck seal: Clothears
Boots: ManOfWar2014
Ammo belt: BBF #84
Chest display: Fettronics
Gauntlet rocket: Darkside
Knee darts: Darkside
Jet pack beacon & light kit: Darkside
Jet pack Stabilizer: Darkside
gauntlet darts: Mojo
Collar/Cod studs: I believe I found something that could be right.

Looking to replace:
Helmet: GMH (Keeping the GMH for a PP2 display but Looking for an accurate ESB bucket with metal ears)
Armor (NEED correct size and damage): Currently have Fett Pride V4
Metal cast Glenross expander: currently have a Bronze casting (looking for real)
Little blue switch for circuit board

Still Need:
EE-3 blaster: looking for real Webley
EE-3 sling: NEED
EE-3 Box for stock
Gauntlets (ABS correct size): NEED
Gauntlet hose: FOUND ITEM (from UK)
Gauntlet flamethrower: either will fabricate my own or order a metal one with correct clear plastic tip.
Circuit board components (also FOUND electronics and correct wires for helmet/suit)
Toe spikes: NEED RS FOR MOW 2014
Jet pack rocket: NEED metal

Here are two pictures to tide you over until I take some close ups and updated ones, they are from last year:





If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer most of them...

UPDATED Gauntlet picture 24AUG2015 (oops)

-Jimmy

That is an incredible list. You have tackled quite a task and it appears you are well on your way.

The Clothears soft parts look spectacular. There is no doubt they nailed it.

EPIC build! looking foward to more of your progress, i'm a little stuck on mine ATM

That list of found parts is dizzying. Congratulations on tracking down so many of them. Not an easy task. Your build is going to be amazing, no doubt about it.

This is looking REALLY good.

Hey Thanks guys!

Here are some pictures of the collection of stuff so far. I had to leave a few things out for now, including a possible new found item. I'm not positive about it yet, but it looks promising. If its not right, I think it will be the part that I will use... at least until the real thing is found.



The GMH with metal ears with an RS HDPE ESB helmet.



Thermal Fetter RF on the GMH












Found Gloves.


Found Blaster parts so far.


one "replica" one vintage helmet liner. the straps need to be replace on the vintage one. But it looks to be exactly the same plastic part from the ESB one.



The chin strap and correct screws.


Gauntlet parts, the Glenross is just a metal bronze casting and the darts are very good replicas. I think you can figure out the rest...

I'll try to take some more updated pictures of the build as its going, sometime next week.

May the hunt continue!

-Jimmy

There is no metal ACCURATE flamethrower....the metal ones offered are best guesses based on an OLD file, and poor photos. Fettprides gaunts are the most accurate out there and his Flamethrower is spot on....Id look to him for the gaunts

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the switches in the above pic are wrong if they are for the left gauntlet. The screen accurate ones are not toggles, they are push buttons that look like toggles.
The correct ones are either the alco mpa106f or mpe106d. They look almost exactly the same other than the collar being a bit smaller on the mpa switch.

By ACCURATE flamethrower; I mean one that is not available right now. I used to have FettPride Gauntlets and flamethrower and I didn't like them, so I sold them and i'll be holding off for something better someday, and/or try my hand at my own flamethrower (I have my a metal lathe).

I will be keeping my GMH, I LOVE that bucket. other than being a tad too small, it's perfect.

AH, good eye Jc, I do have those, I had a bit of a dyslexic moment when I grabbed them for the picture.. I bought a bunch of them to look at, the ones I have for the picture are MTA106D, I'll dig up the other ones and replace that photo in my next photo installment. ;-)

I'm not completely happy with the clips yet for the scope mounts, yet and I also need to replace my FettPride armor. it's WAY too small.

Still A LOT of work left!

thanks for the input guys!

The latest Flamethrower from FP has metal rods and resin greebs if you will and is really nice, not sure why you wouldn't like them.

Do you mind if i ask where did you find the vintage helmet liner? On eBay? And what key words did you use if so? Or from which type of helmet is it from.

How will you attach the suspension kit to the helmet? I vent thought that one out yet.

Looks great a great start.

The5thHorseman said:

Do you mind if i ask where did you find the vintage helmet liner? On eBay? And what key words did you use if so? Or from which type of helmet is it from.

Click to expand...

Yes, I got it from the evilbay. Try searching on there for "vintage Rock Climbing helmet". The pop up pretty often, I was only looking on there for a few days and found this one... they should be under 30 bucks.

Sixxgunn13 said:

How will you attach the suspension kit to the helmet? I vent thought that one out yet.

Looks great a great start.

Click to expand...

I don't plan on putting the helmet liner into the GMH. But when I get the ESB bucket I'll be making it with all the correct internal components. I think its just glued in, possibly just hot glue, there are these tabs (I circled one of them), they go all the way around the liner, I'm guessing that's where you glue it to the inside bucket. It doesn't appear the liner is glued in the back, but I'm just going off of pictures, that would be a good questions for someone who has seen the real thing up close.

Thanks very much for the hint. And i gotta say, this is a extremely impressive list you've got there!

Thx for the info.
I forgot to ask what is the mounts for the scope and Would you be able to point me in the right direction to get a set?

cheers

Sixxgunn13 said:

Thx for the info.
I forgot to ask what is the mounts for the scope and Would you be able to point me in the right direction to get a set?

cheers

Click to expand...

ahh, those are not complete yet. the scope mounts are called Maclow clips. You can find them on pool supply websites they are used to attach tubes and polls to walls ceilings and decks. But the correct ones are hard to find (not the ones pictured). I think I may have found a source for the right ones, but i'm not sure yet. I ordered them from England like two months ago and they got lost in the mail, so I have to reorder.

I believe the ones used in the movie (at least the larger one) was white and that one has sharper indents. There was also an exhaust clamp (possibably from an aircraft) on the large one. I really haven't had a lot of time lately to dig around on that yet though.

Sixxgunn13 said:

Thx for the info.
I forgot to ask what is the mounts for the scope and Would you be able to point me in the right direction to get a set?

cheers

Click to expand...

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f20/esb-ee3-search-barrel-mounts-found-parts-discussion-47095/