KS helmet and armor

[blitz1027]

Hey all. I just finished acquiring the last of the soft parts for my scout and was wondering what the consensus is on the KS armor and helmet? My armor building skills are pretty much nonexistent so I was thinking of getting it prebuilt but I wanted to know what you guys thought of it.

Is it okay for basic approval?

[Darth Voorhees]

Helmet is decent armor i dont really recommend. Id go with SC or MC for Armor.

[Rust Bucket 9]

I have KS armor and helmet. The helmet is pretty good, but I don't recommend the armor. I've seen the SC armor and it has much crisper lines and on the whole looks better. Also the KS helmet is bigger. So if you have a large head or need to wear glasses with it on it would probably be the way to go. Either is acceptable for approval with a bit of work.

 

I also ordered it pre-built. The snout on the helmet, elevator bolts on the side of the helmet and the T bits on the biceps have all needed to be replaced. The tank topper on the back has needed to be painted with white circle and red line. Other than that it has just been very minor things.

 

I would suggest getting it in a kit and not pre-built. You should get in contact with you local garrison mates and have them help you at an armor party. They can teach you how to do the cutting and sanding and fitting. This way it's a lot cheaper and you can fix it yourself if the need arises. It may take a little longer but I think it will be well worth the effort.

 

Hope this helps and watch out for trees.

[Smiling Fox]

I own KS armor and helmet. The armor is ok, with a few modifications. I had to send the first helmet back because it was a bad pull and two different colors. The second one is still not great but I made it work. Every pic I have seen of their helmets show the same bad spots on the ears. I would also note the way the helmet is built makes the sides want to warp outward. The faceplate has to be carefully closed and secured down with velcro.

 

My advice, go with MC or SC. You will start out without any regrets.

[Donovan]

I got sc armor and helmet andcfrom pics ive seen I would avoid ks armor and go sc.better quality Imo.the helmet is alright but replace the bolts, snout, and if u want the decals.

[Griffin-X]

I sport KS armor and helmet. I agree with the above posts...the helmet is awesome, especially if you have a larger head. However, the armor is not as accurate and WILL require some basic mods for a better fit and look. KS armor is acceptable and can be approved though...if you go that route. I'd recommed the SC armor and a KS helmet (if your head is large), or an SC helmet (if you noggen is smaller).

 

[blitz1027]

Thanks for the info guys. I was thinking about the SC kit but since I've never built anything like this I'm really nervous about it. I wish there were some local garrison members close to me but unfortunately they all pretty much live 3 to 4 hours away. For those that know, what are the mods that have to be done to the KS armor to make it approvable?

[adamp1903]

I have a KS bucket, i got it pre-assembled as I didn't have the patience nor the faith in my ability to assemble it.

Armor I went with SC and it came with all the things I would need to put it together, I like the look of SC armor over the KS, just personal preference. It did require some sanding and trimming but that was all I really did to it. In the end the choice is yours. Good luck!

[Griffin-X]

Thanks for the info guys. I was thinking about the SC kit but since I've never built anything like this I'm really nervous about it. I wish there were some local garrison members close to me but unfortunately they all pretty much live 3 to 4 hours away. For those that know, what are the mods that have to be done to the KS armor to make it approvable?

 

For basic approval on the KS armor, not much. And this goes for any armor currently available. You'll need to add the grey rectangle on the front chest part (usually paint or decal), add a cloth cover to the chest/back join, paint the tank topper with a white circle and a red line, and remove the extra clear tubing that KS will include on the armor edges. After that, you could be approved in it provided the fit is good for your body type.

 

For better look-and-feel and more accuracy: replace and/or reshape the shoulder bells, replace the belt boxes (way too large), replace the nylon webbing with real cotton webbing, replace the greeblies (t-bit, snout, and add TD bits), replace the TD end caps, replace the helmet bolt covers, replace the snout, and replace the helmet decals. I'd also replace all the Velcro/Elastic strapping since KS uses a cheaper brand. You could also go screen-accurate on the strapping.

[blitz1027]

For basic approval on the KS armor, not much. And this goes for any armor currently available. You'll need to add the grey rectangle on the front chest part (usually paint or decal), add a cloth cover to the chest/back join, paint the tank topper with a white circle and a red line, and remove the extra clear tubing that KS will include on the armor edges. After that, you could be approved in it provided the fit is good for your body type.

 

For better look-and-feel and more accuracy: replace and/or reshape the shoulder bells, replace the belt boxes (way too large), replace the nylon webbing with real cotton webbing, replace the greeblies (t-bit, snout, and add TD bits), replace the TD end caps, replace the helmet bolt covers, replace the snout, and replace the helmet decals. I'd also replace all the Velcro/Elastic strapping since KS uses a cheaper brand. You could also go screen-accurate on the strapping.

 

Not to sound stupid but when you say cloth cover to the chest/back join what do you mean?

[Chex]

How the shoulder tabs join. Research pandatroopers build thread. Great insight..though you won't have to go to that extent.

[blitz1027]

Thanks for all the great help guys. I'm going to do a little more research and go from there.

[Griffin-X]

As Chex mentioned, it's where the chest and back come together on your shoulder.

 

[blitz1027]

As Chex mentioned, it's where the chest and back come together on your shoulder.

 

 

Thanks so much. Now that I see it I know what needs to be done. What color does the cover need to be?

[Griffin-X]

A good rule of thumb is color matching, so white or off-white. Mine matches the cotton webbing on my belt boxes.

[NegativeEleven]

The KS armor is big. I helped RustBucket with cutting his down. The chest/back have really long pieces that go over the shoulders, and you're gonna have a gap in between the armor and your back if you're not a big guy. The belt is huge. Unlike SC, it's all one piece, which is more accurate, but you're gonna have to heat it and bend it in to your size. Yeah, if you just want a Biker Scout costume and don't want to get your hands dirty, you can probably wear it right out of the box. If you don't want to look sloppy and want everything to fit so you can move comfortably, you're gonna need to do some work. Save your money and buy the kit, learn to do some of this modding, and you'll be much happier with the final product.

 

I got SC armor kit in the mail on a Monday and had it wearable by Friday night. I could have done it faster if my sewing machine would have cooperated when sewing velcro to elastic. Another 2 weeks of working on it here and there (adjusting for fit and trimming for accuracy), and it's almost ready to be approved. The SC kits comes with pretty good instructions and all the straps, decals and elastic you'll need (although some might need to be replaced later for accuracy).

[Donovan]

Yeah if ur a smaller body type lean towards sc or mc.I'm 5'2 And Ican almost wear the armor with no mods.(chest, back, belt, and shoulder bells are a little big but nothin bad) but if u r bigger try ks.

[Griffin-X]

BTW...I'm 6"2, 175lbs and wear KS (classic Biker Scout) and also SC (shadow scout) armor. The KS armor (at least mine) is not larger than the SC kit. In fact, the chest is smaller and more slim. They both fit good, but the SC armor is better quality, fits nicer, and looks much more accurate.

[blitz1027]

Okay I'm 5'9" and weigh around 185lbs. In you're opinion which one will fit me better?

[Chef]

Between the two, I'd have SC every time.

 

Jeff's stuff is good and the man himself is top notch.

[Griffin-X]

I agree with Chef...go with the SC armor. It's a better product, it looks more accurate, and Jeff @ SC is awesome.

[blitz1027]

Alright thanks guys.

[Donovan]

Jim

rlly ive been told ks was a way bigger kit?

[Griffin-X]

Jim rlly ive been told ks was a way bigger kit?

 

Bigger helmet yes, bigger armor...not so much.

[blitz1027]

Okay so the SC kit will fit someone between 5'6" and 6'3". What body size will the KS fit?