It's really pretty pathetic that people behave this way. When you have a group, where the majority of people gather to share knowledge towards a common goal, you expect information to be shared without prejudice. I have been researching this hobby for years, only to have finally jumped into building my first suit this year. Where would we without the frontrunners and pioneers to this hobby? These individuals who are caught up in their elitist attitude really put a stain to the whole community. Have these folks not benefitted from the knowledge and hard work of others before them? As I have communicated freely with Wizard of Flight with his outstanding teplates, sure, I could make these things myself and "figure it out." However, becuase Wizard had done such amazing work, I was able to create a JP rocket from flat sheets of plastic in half the time it would take to : find parts, come up with measurements, template them myself.
When I first came to this board, I was Jumped all over in PMs about sharing knowledge that I discovered about source material. The bottom line is this: you still have to build the stuff yourself! That to me is half the fun! I could go out and buy a complete Fett suit component by component and have a "perfect" suit. But where's the fun in that? The challenge to me to to create things from raw parts. Having started my ESB bucket before reading this thread. I pretty much took the same approach as spidey with the fluid and layering, etc. (great job by the way) But no amount of "tutorial" can do it for you. All the "secret" lore and technique in the world will not help you if you cannot apply it.
As someone said before, we are ALL compying someone else's work, so get off the high horse! Each members final results are going to vary from immaculate to poor, but who's to judge? If the person had fun ddoing it, WHO CARES?!?!?
In conclusion, Spidey, Keep up the terrific work! The same goes for all the fine folks who have selflessly given their time and experience to help the rest of us.
Shinobi