Bloodsport Studios--a review. Avoid them.

I was recently asked about my gauntlets, so I thought I'd submit my notes.
I ordered a pair of ESB Gauntletts for my son, ignorant of other sources, from Bloodsport studios (and I use the term 'studio' loosely). Here's my conclusions after being older and wiser:

1. Be ready to sand and use a dremel tool. They are
very rough and have lots of excess resin and microbubbles. This includes the thickness of the gauntlets which varies from minor holes to overly thick. This
also makes them heavy. I had to cover a couple of holes with furniture putty that worked well.

2. Getting the two halves to match up is a challenge.
There's a variance in the widths and it can be overcome, but jeez. Also, you'll be trimming the ends, one gauntlet had to have an inch sawed off. The lengthwise areas of the gauntlets were at off angles and had to be dremelled
to have the two halves flush together. I was only marginally successful.

3.They were $ 135 and showed up promptly. Would I buy them knowing what I know now ? No. I'd contact someone well liked and respected and go with them. As it's proved that he's a recaster and you cannot knowingly support that considering what a 'labor of love' this stuff is.

I am frankly amazed at the level of quality and performance from people making everything from jet packs from Bobamaker to flak vests from 'batninja' to gauntlets from Ruffkin and many more. I'd hire all of them to come work for me, if such a thing were possible.

that's pretty much what everyone has said. Good luck with fixing them up.

Fix them up, throw them on ebay, and buy Ruffkintoy

I'd do that, but selling them to some other poor sod to solve my problem, solves no ones problem. That and my son is learning how to make something work that's not ideal. A good lesson in todays,"I want it now and it has to be perfect," world.

So, if they're a recast, and the shells dont' match up, does that mean that the work they cast from also didn't match up, of they're a shoddy recast?

As far as I know, it's just a shoddy recast. I have seen some other recast guants that didn't match up, but it was only because they were poorly molded and cast.

Its good to see a thread like this. But be warned, a number of the sellers of what we look upon as recasts etc, lurk on these boards and contact those who criticise them publicly. I have had the same problems from a well known seller who isn't one of our favourites. Just giving you a heads up!

If that's as rough as it gets, let him come. I emailed my thoughts on his work to him anyway.

i go to the rufkintoy's web site but i dont see the page for buy anything ! i dont know how to make a deal with them !

he has a website? Just PM him.

I bought a pair of BSS gauntlets many months ago prior to my knowledge of TDH and I ordered a set from Ruffkin as soon as I could. BSS gauntlets were poorly made and with all of the tools I have I couldn't get them to fit properly. I hinged them, sanded, filled and sanded...all for not. I almost took them to the gun range and used them for skeet.

Originally Posted by lorenreale

A good lesson in todays,"I want it now and it has to be perfect," world.

A lot of people here do the "I want it now, and if it's not perfect, I will make it perfect" route.

Check out these two threads:

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/showthread.php?t=11723

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f25/bloodsport-studios-9706/

It seems a lot of people on here have had a problem (or problems) with this person.

Yeah I also bought some this past April, theywere heavy as heck and I did alot of sanding and dremeling. I only bought from him because I had a event to do at the end of that week I figured it will only be for that one event and it will be dark. So I grabbed a couple of spray paints and went to town. I'm not a good painter and didn't want to put that much into it being it was only going to be for that one time, any how heres how the tops came out, they servered their purpose and now they collect dust.

Check it out:

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...odsportstudios

All I can say is ... "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

Expect a new BF parts seller to pop up soon on Ebay

I still think Vaticast Studios and Bloodsport Studios are connected somehow, if not the same. Their auction layouts and many of the pictures were the same. Maybe they dropped BSS to finally combine forces as Vaticast.

I dunno...I'm a conspiracy theoretician at heart.

I've got a pair of BSS laying in the garage if anybody wants them, for a paper weight or something.

I got a pair from BSS collecting dust as well. Never even finished them. I waited and bought MOW instead.

Originally Posted by batninja

I still think Vaticast Studios and Bloodsport Studios are connected somehow, if not the same. Their auction layouts and many of the pictures were the same. Maybe they dropped BSS to finally combine forces as Vaticast.

I dunno...I'm a conspiracy theoretician at heart.

you're probably right...like a sockpuppet ebay account or something.

I'm glad I didn't waste my meager supply cash on anything from BSS then!

Originally Posted by Delta75

I've got a pair of BSS laying in the garage if anybody wants them, for a paper weight or something.

If you still have them and want to get rid of them let me or my wife skullleader know (I love a good challenge)

Ruffkin has never done me wrong ... ever.,,, But bloodsport? I had to chase my money down and drag it out of him. What am I a bounty hunter GEEEZ.

Avoid at all costs. I bout something off ebay from them 5 weeks ago, still waiting. Luckily it was only 9 bux.

Originally Posted by chucky

Avoid at all costs. I bout something off ebay from them 5 weeks ago, still waiting. Luckily it was only 9 bux.

File a PayPal complaint right away if you have not already done so ... the guy is no longer a registered user. (I hope you used PayPal.)

Originally Posted by Jimmy BufFETT

Check it out:

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...odsportstudios

All I can say is ... "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

Look at some of the auctions listed - they were selling the resin and other items to cast things...

i have a set of blood sport studio gauntlets and i am quite fond of them! heres a pic tell me what u think.

Originally Posted by boba_fan

i am quite fond of them! heres a pic tell me what u think.

I think you are missing a gauntlet dart.

Originally Posted by boba_fan

i have a set of blood sport studio gauntlets and i am quite fond of them! heres a pic tell me what u think.

Not bad, but all of the edges seem to be too square.

Originally Posted by Dha_Syntir

So the edges on the gantlets needed to be sanded down to a more rounded appearance then? I wasn't aware of that. I'll file that in my memory for when I begin my own pair...

Well, I would say in the right gauntlet it should not be so square. I was using MOW's as a reference ... he makes some AMAZING gauntlets! Check out this thread:
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f25/my-gauntlets-14374/
It looks to me like the right gauntlet has smoother edges than the left. I'm not as familiar with the ESB gauntlets, but for what it's worth, I know the ROTJ right gauntlet has smooth edges. Again, here's MOW's for reference:
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f25/man-war-rotj-gauntlets-models-pics-15125/

easy gentlemen we are all friends here. yes i am, missing a dart it must have fallen out b4 the pic was taken. and much yes to all the other criticisms but i am doing this for the first time as cheaply as possible. this is for the love of fett we are all doing this. be positive when someone has something new to be proud of because we all work hard for our passion. 80

I don't think anyone meant any disrespect boba_fan. I asked my question due to my inexperience, I wasn't sure which way the edges should be sanded and shaped.I believe you just received some friendly constructive criticism meant to help, which we are all subject to when we show our work amongst serious craftsmen and artists as those that frequent TDH. I do apologize if I offended you, I was just trying to find out which way was more movie accurate...

Originally Posted by boba_fan

easy gentlemen we are all friends here. yes i am, missing a dart it must have fallen out b4 the pic was taken. and much yes to all the other criticisms but i am doing this for the first time as cheaply as possible. this is for the love of fett we are all doing this. be positive when someone has something new to be proud of because we all work hard for our passion. 80

Originally Posted by boba_fan

easy gentlemen we are all friends here. yes i am, missing a dart it must have fallen out b4 the pic was taken. and much yes to all the other criticisms but i am doing this for the first time as cheaply as possible. this is for the love of fett we are all doing this. be positive when someone has something new to be proud of because we all work hard for our passion. 80

Sorry if what I said offended ya ... no offense intended. I was just trying to help ya in case ya wanted to make some modifications to those.

I think the right gauntlet is supposed to be a Jango gauntlet, no Boba. Notice the cut-lines below the darts.

Bloodsport Studios doesn't know the difference, so he markets them as 'Boba Jango'.

Originally Posted by batninja

Bloodsport Studios doesn't know the difference, so he markets them as 'Boba Jango'.

Is that where that came from? I always thought somebody marketing an item as would be so that the item would come up no matter what Fett somebody did a search for.

Originally Posted by batninja

I think the right gauntlet is supposed to be a Jango gauntlet, no Boba. Notice the cut-lines below the darts.

Doh! Good Eye Batninja!

I totally missed that and you are correct.

well thanks for the help guys. although now i feel like i was ripped off!! lol.

Originally Posted by Jimmy BufFETT

Is that where that came from? I always thought somebody marketing an item as would be so that the item would come up no matter what Fett somebody did a search for.

That's my point. There aren't too many people making both a Jango and a Boba, so when they search 'fett gauntlets' and these come up, they may feel that the gauntlets are for both characters, misleading them.

So either Bloodsport Studios is intentionally misleading their potential customers, or they haven't done enough research to tell the difference in the two.

Either way, it always helps to do research before making an eBay purchase.

Has anyone seen F-N-S's new site thingy? I found it while searching on Ebay for stuff.