Rotj Critique

[GeekdadX7]

Hola folks.
I went to my first little convention, fiiiiinally. I was only able to get a few pics (didn’t realize it’d be impossible to take pics, using my phone, with the gloves on). But I was wondering if you guys might be willing to give me some feedback on the current state of my suit. Mainly, if there’s anything glaring that I need to address, as I continue moving towards trying to get it rdy for 501st standards.

Notes:
1. Obviously the lighting in that hallway wasn’t optimal.
2. I still need to get 1 off white hip pouch.
3. I got my woodman braids in, but haven’t swapped them onto my suit yet.
4. I need to shorten my right gauntlet hoses a little bit, I couldn’t straighten my arm lol.
5. I have extra shin tools on purpose. I put’em in, just for more bling lol
But... any feedback would be welcome, sorry I didn’t get pics from different angles, or of the jettpack.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Krewkid82]

Dude your suit looks awesome!!! I cant wait to finish mine. I just hope itll be this good!

 

[Viper]

Suit looks great! Other than what you mentioned, nothing that is super glaring.

 

[Boochman]

I’m with Viper , besides what you mentioned I think it looks great! Maybe, and it’s a stretch here, hahaha, maybe weather the flak vest a bit more?

also, are your hoses too long or is the attachment point at the gauntlet too long? I have wooden dowels in mine and I think I need to trim them down a bit; just curious!

 

[GeekdadX7]

I’m with Viper , besides what you mentioned I think it looks great! Maybe, and it’s a stretch here, hahaha, maybe weather the flak vest a bit more?

also, are your hoses too long or is the attachment point at the gauntlet too long? I have wooden dowels in mine and I think I need to trim them down a bit; just curious!

DOH!
I didn't even know that you were supposed to weather the flak vest!!!!! LOLOLOLOL
Hell's bells, I need to look into that heh. The flak vest is completely, 100% un-weathered. *facepalm*

Not sure about the the hoses.
I'm not really sure how long the attachment bars on the back of the gauntlets are.... These suckers are pretty long, but I just figured that was for added support, as the gauntlets were commissioned *shrugs*
Is there a common/ideal length for them? these metal bars are a good few inches long. I'll try to measure in the morning. My guess is they are a good 3 to 3.5 inches out of the back of the gauntlets.

My previous hoses were a little short when I got a newer flight suit, so the night before this convention I ran to lowes, bought some hose, and just eyeballed it without measuring. Big mistake. I seriously couldn't extend my arm past that bent position LOL. The entire 5 hours I was there, my right arm stayed in that 1 single position the entire time, it was like having a splint on.

Dang, need to look up how much to weather the flak vest.

 

[Boochman]

I don’t think there is an ideal length for the hose attachment dowels. The whip cord housing on mine is metal and about 1.5”. I added the other 2, and they’re closer to 3” or so. But because of that length, the hoses come straight out of the gauntlet instead of being able to follow the curve of your arm (if that makes sense)...? The dowels prevent the hoses from bending right away.

If your hoses are new, weather those too! Flak vest and hoses, THEN you’re good, hahaha!

 

[GeekdadX7]

Hiya folks, lots of pics coming.
I’m getting closer, a few things left to address... but because I got geared up and walked around today (may 4th) my wife was able to take some pictures of different angles of me, so that I could post them here for feedback

things to note, before the critiquing begins:
1. I just got a new cream colored hip pouch in the mail, but haven’t been able to weather it yet. Both of my hip pouches are tan in this, because the pouches and ammo belt belonged to RKD, and the CRL’s have since changed. I know the 1 hip pouch must be swapped out.

2. i need a new girth belt that’s longer, for the new CRL’s.

3.Ididn’t put on my boba thong.

4. I have aaaaall the shin tools in, on purpose, just to look cooler, walking around.

Just thought I’d mention those, because they’re obvious. So... with those mentioned... PLEASE let me know if you see anything that glaaringly screams “fix me or you’ll never get into the 501st!!” Lol.

thanks guys

 

[Strider]

Looks great! Apart from the things you mentioned the only thing that might give you a remark is the missing dent on the right chest plate. Good luck for approval

 

[GeekdadX7]

Looks great! Apart from the things you mentioned the only thing that might give you a remark is the missing dent on the right chest plate. Good luck for approval

*spits out his dr. pepper*
well THAT’S a big one lol.

I’m not up to snuff on all the different versions of fett... are there hopefully any that don’t have the dent? Like the stunt version or somethin?

 

[Strider]

*spits out his dr. pepper*
well THAT’S a big one lol.

I’m not up to snuff on all the different versions of fett... are there hopefully any that don’t have the dent? Like the stunt version or somethin?

Well, the ESB version ;-) That said, I just rechecked the CRL and it doesn't seem to be a requirement so should be good

 

[GeekdadX7]

Well, the ESB version ;-) That said, I just rechecked the CRL and it doesn't seem to be a requirement so should be good

Hmmmm.... I dunno. *shrugs*
the 501st database pic shows a dent on the right. Looks like i might end up needing to commission someone to paint up a proper right chest plate, and do touch up paint on my collar armor. It broke in half the other day. I repaired it, but a good sized chunk of the paint/finish shattered off at the break point.

 

[ShortFuse]

Looks fantastic.

 

[MinaFett]

Lovely to see some more photos.
There was a recent build thread on here for a person missing the dent as well on the chest plate. He posted a fantastic video with text on how he fixed the dent. In a nut shell he gently heated it and applied gradual pressure. Might possibly work for you as well?
Also a query on the gauntlets. Do you know which version you are going for/representing? There are minor differences such as push switches or pilot holes on the right gauntlet. On your left gauntlet it looks like the tower greeblie is missing?

This may be lighting but you knee straps look a little too clean. Might need a little more weathering.

Overall things are looking great. Best of luck with your build. I’m still working on my ROTJ build as well.

 

[zemzero]

From what I've seen and been told, the hero version of RoTJ has a dent. The stunt doesn't but I believe this comes with other changes as well.

I added a dent to my chest, just because I haven't painted it yet. If you decide to heat it and press into it, do it gently and take your time, a lot can definitely go wrong, very quickly. I used a bic lighter on the inside of the armor and then pressed into it with a piece of clay that I rounded into a little ball from the opposite side.

This is a picture of the stunt armor on the set or Return of The Jedi.

And this definitely looks like a dent to me, from the Hero armor:

 

[GeekdadX7]

Lovely to see some more photos.
There was a recent build thread on here for a person missing the dent as well on the chest plate. He posted a fantastic video with text on how he fixed the dent. In a nut shell he gently heated it and applied gradual pressure. Might possibly work for you as well?
Also a query on the gauntlets. Do you know which version you are going for/representing? There are minor differences such as push switches or pilot holes on the right gauntlet. On your left gauntlet it looks like the tower greeblie is missing?

This may be lighting but you knee straps look a little too clean. Might need a little more weathering.

Overall things are looking great. Best of luck with your build. I’m still working on my ROTJ build as well.

defintely need to weather the knee straps.
Let me see if i can find the link to artahka’s thread where he built/painted my stuff, he has close up pics of it all... brb

-edit-
Here’s the link to his build thread:
Armor, Jetpack, Gauntlets, oh my! for GeekdadX7

it has close up pics of all the hard pieces

 

[GeekdadX7]

double post, oops.

 

[GeekdadX7]

From what I've seen and been told, the hero version of RoTJ has a dent. The stunt doesn't but I believe this comes with other changes as well.

I added a dent to my chest, just because I haven't painted it yet. If you decide to heat it and press into it, do it gently and take your time, a lot can definitely go wrong, very quickly. I used a bic lighter on the inside of the armor and then pressed into it with a piece of clay that I rounded into a little ball from the opposite side.

This is a picture of the stunt armor on the set or Return of The Jedi.

View attachment 189435

And this definitely looks like a dent to me, from the Hero armor:

View attachment 189436

would using heat to apply the dent ruin the paint job/finish, on the front side? If so, will look into commissioning a new piece and a touch up paint on the collar.

 

[zemzero]

It will probably flake or crack but if you dent it just enough to be noticeable you might get lucky. If not, just get some silver/grey paint to touch it up. How did the collar break?

 

[GeekdadX7]

It will probably flake or crack but if you dent it just enough to be noticeable you might get lucky. If not, just get some silver/grey paint to touch it up. How did the collar break?

i had to make a couple of may the 4th videos for a little kids bday and some virtual classrooms. Was wrestling on my gear and the jetpack too quickly, struggling to reach up into the flak vest to tighten the jetpack straps. Cracked the color in half right under the chin. Luckily it’s hidden by the front edge of the helmet... but still, it completey shattered a section of the paintjob.
It snapped right in the middle of the white part.
Reattached it with a lil super glue, then spread enough epoxy on the back side of the collar to drive a suburban over it now lol . But I might just commission someone to touch up the color and paint an accurate right chest plate.

my worry is that the colors of their paintjob vs the rest of my chest armor from artahka would match, shade-wise.

 

[zemzero]

my worry is that the colors of their paintjob vs the rest of my chest armor from artahka would match, shade-wise.

Right, that's the difficult part. You would have more control over it if you did it yourself but painting is a tough thing to do anyways. Can you contact the original painter again?