Advice for biker scout Airsoft compatibility

[Nameless_TK]

Hello everyone. It is a dream of mine to purchase a set of Biker scout armour from a UK based craftsman known as RWA creations, and play airsoft in full scout trooper kit.

I am already fully aware of the negatives of playing with a set of TK/BS armour. Limited vision, terrible ventilation, terrible camouflage, discomfort while wearing, little to no sound muffling due to clanking plastic, and the list goes on.

But I say that doesn't matter when you look that cool.

My only issue, if any, is im wondering if the TK armour will hold up to airsoft at all. Will the bb's put dents and holes in the plastic? Will the bb's cause serious damage to my armour?
If so, could it be repaired, filled in or would it be a waste of time and money?

On the more technical side.. 

I have spent alot of time researching this subject. The craftsman himself at RWA creations has told me in text, that the helmet and armour should be able to "withstand BB impacts with ease." As much as I'd love to take his word for it, I want to consult other members of the 501st who have experience with this. The armour kit he sells is made from ABS plastic, which I'm sure as you are aware it is renowned well for its impact resistance capabilities and density, relative toughness etc.

 

Compared to other plastics such as HIPS, the ABS should fare better. I had the opportunity to speak with an airsofter that had a kit made out of "EVA foam and surecoat", I'm not entirely sure what that even is. He told me he had a bad experience with 1mm RATGS (could not find this plastic online) with airsoft, however the armour maker makes 2.5 to 3 mm thick ABS plastic, which I'm hoping would perform better. He says it would, but what do you guys think?

 

If anyone has any experience or knowledge on this subject, let me know. I'd love to troop, and to play airsoft with my armour, but I dont want to blow my money on something that will get destroyed in a single game. 

 

Side note: seen and heard rubies armour stands up great to airsoft, but you'd have to kill me before I don the Frankenstein beast that is "rubies supreme edition stormtrooper armour."

[MikerScout]

I like this idea.  I have yet to take an airsoft gun to armor.  I would think most BBs would bounce off but having been pelted before I'm sure a couple might get through rarely.  I think a bigger risk would be crush damage from diving for cover or falling.  You'll probably see splits and cracks develop much much faster than normal. 

[Chopper]

8 minutes ago, Nameless_TK said:

My only issue, if any, is im wondering if the TK armour will hold up to airsoft at all. Will the bb's put dents and holes in the plastic? Will the bb's cause serious damage to my armour?

If so, could it be repaired, filled in or would it be a waste of time and money?

It'd depend on the velocity of the plastic airsoft pellets -- I know it can vary. As far as I know, no scout maker's armor is ballistic rated. After all, it's a costume that's meant to look cool, not actual body armor.

Will it stop an airsoft pellet? Probably? Will the armor get damaged, if not immediately, then over time? Probably.

And then there's the lens. Most of us hot glue the lens into the helmet. Again, I personally wouldn't trust a lens that was hot glued to hold up to getting hit by an airsoft pellet.

 

[Nameless_TK]

18 minutes ago, MikerScout said:

I like this idea.  I have yet to take an airsoft gun to armor.  I would think most BBs would bounce off but having been pelted before I'm sure a couple might get through rarely.  I think a bigger risk would be crush damage from diving for cover or falling.  You'll probably see splits and cracks develop much much faster than normal. 

Yes, I think the idea would be swell also. I have seen pictures of people in what would appear to be scout trooper armour heading to airsoft, yet I haven't been able to contact them directly. I definitely would understand falling and smashing the ground would be potentially damaging, but with the BB's and the plastic being abs, I'm starting to gravitate towards more confidence. The fear in my head comes from the price tag of acquiring these sets.

I'm not a handy guy yet, but I hope there are ways in arts and crafts, propmaking etc. To repair and mend damaged armour, instead of discarding the whole piece. 

[Nameless_TK]

12 minutes ago, Chopper said:

It'd depend on the velocity of the plastic airsoft pellets -- I know it can vary. As far as I know, no scout maker's armor is ballistic rated. After all, it's a costume that's meant to look cool, not actual body armor.

Will it stop an airsoft pellet? Probably? Will the armor get damaged, if not immediately, then over time? Probably.

And then there's the lens. Most of us hot glue the lens into the helmet. Again, I personally wouldn't trust a lens that was hot glued to hold up to getting hit by an airsoft pellet.

 

I may switch out the lense in my own time for a polycarbonate lense, or put a polycarbonate insert into the back. I have did this  behind glass lenses with several surplus soviet era gas masks that I own, and frequent airsoft with (would not reccomend, very hot and terrible ventilation) for fun.

 

As with my previous reply to mikerscout,  the fear arises from the price and the level of craftsmanship. I dont want it to go to waste, but apart of me is feeling more confident, the ABS plastic apparently isnt ballistic rated sure, but it is well renowned throughout the thermoplastic and construction industry for its impact resistance and shock absorption. I'm not saying its strong, but I think it is better off. 

 

Original suits were made with HIPS, right? From testing and testimonies, HIPS plastic does NOT stand up to any form of impact resistance, the tensile strength of ABS was upwards of 8X greater than HIPS! that is an insane difference!!

[Harbinger]

HIPS was only used on TKs I thought? I believe the original scout suits were haircell ABS.

[BikerScout007]

1 minute ago, Harbinger said:

HIPS was only used on TKs I thought? I believe the original scout suits were haircell ABS.

That is correct from what I've read

I'd also like to point out, as I do many times, that the Biker Scout is a SOFT COSTUME.  Sure, there is a bit of coverage of the upper back and upper chest, but for the most part you are just wearing soft parts.  Not the kind of coverage I would feel confident in absorbing BB hits, unless you plan on wearing some sort of ballistic undersuit.  

[Nameless_TK]

15 minutes ago, BikerScout007 said:

That is correct from what I've read

I'd also like to point out, as I do many times, that the Biker Scout is a SOFT COSTUME.  Sure, there is a bit of coverage of the upper back and upper chest, but for the most part you are just wearing soft parts.  Not the kind of coverage I would feel confident in absorbing BB hits, unless you plan on wearing some sort of ballistic undersuit.  

I have played airsoft in a tank top, with a light chest rig and a gas mask, bled from the arms a bit, but it was okay. I'd rather suffer and look good  then feel great and look mediocre😂!

 

My main issue/concern as previously stated is the ability of the hard parts to absorb the impact. I'm just hoping it will.  I wanted to ask all of you because you guys actually have the armour, or have worked with ABS plastic and are more familiar with its tensile strength.

[Aradun]

As an avid paintball and occasional airsoft player, the concerns I have aren’t so much from the bb’s doing damage to the ABS, as the environment doing a number on the ABS. From knocking that plastic against rocks and trees, laying on the ground, I’d bet you’d be looking at serious repairs after every outing. Thinking about the scratches alone make me shudder!

The ABS might hold, but what about say, the rivet on your knee armor, or strapping if it gets snagged. That will probably be your bigger issue. And I envision your tank taking a beating too depending on how you have it secured. Heck, I have minor repairs after almost every few troops as glue gives way, minor stress cracks occur and soft goods get snagged and all I’m doing is smiling and waving lol.

Not to discourage you, because it sounds like an awesome idea, especially if you have your hands on the Airsoft version of the E11, and let’s be honest…you’d look badass, but for the price of the armor, I myself would be reeeeally hesitant.

IMHO doing this in TK armor is pointless. There is barely any mobility or vision as it is. You might as well stand midfield and let everyone have at you .

That being said, if you go through with this make sure to do something about those TB lenses. You don’t want to lose an eye, and you had better post some gnarly pics!


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[BikerScout007]

You may want to consider buying a B-pull kit just for airsoft then.  Vendors often have pulls that didn't come out quite right that they sell for discounted prices.  

ABS is pretty hardy stuff.  It stands up to a lot of punishment.  But that flexibility does mean it dents and scratches pretty easily.  You'll probably do more damage to it crawling around than absorbing pellets.  

[Nameless_TK]

2 hours ago, AradunFF said:

As an avid paintball and occasional airsoft player, the concerns I have aren’t so much from the bb’s doing damage to the ABS, as the environment doing a number on the ABS. From knocking that plastic against rocks and trees, laying on the ground, I’d bet you’d be looking at serious repairs after every outing. Thinking about the scratches alone make me shudder!

The ABS might hold, but what about say, the rivet on your knee armor, or strapping if it gets snagged. That will probably be your bigger issue. And I envision your tank taking a beating too depending on how you have it secured. Heck, I have minor repairs after almost every few troops as glue gives way, minor stress cracks occur and soft goods get snagged and all I’m doing is smiling and waving lol.

Not to discourage you, because it sounds like an awesome idea, especially if you have your hands on the Airsoft version of the E11, and let’s be honest…you’d look badass, but for the price of the armor, I myself would be reeeeally hesitant.

IMHO doing this in TK armor is pointless. There is barely any mobility or vision as it is. You might as well stand midfield and let everyone have at you .

That being said, if you go through with this make sure to do something about those TB lenses. You don’t want to lose an eye, and you had better post some gnarly pics!


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I plan to acquire the airsoft E11. Yes, I do definitely see the issue with the environment. If the bbs do not cause such an issue for the armour (my primary concern) then hopefully all will be well. 

 

For me, the minor cracks and wear and tear are what I've seen and heard make trooping just apart of the experience that it is. Putting time into your kits, learning how they work, mending it. Doesnt it all add to the experience? I've never did this, and I've never did any prop crafts diy stuff, but I'd love to learn. 

 

As for environmental factors, I may play this kit in an indoor range only, within a building, which those do exist. The hazard of tripping of roots, branching snagging rigging, and other hazards such as mud, clay etc are pretty much negated.

"You might as well stand midfield and let everyone have at you".

That is the plan😂😂😂, I'll be dying left right and centre, but I will die cooler than anyone else.

[Nameless_TK]

2 hours ago, BikerScout007 said:

You may want to consider buying a B-pull kit just for airsoft then.  Vendors often have pulls that didn't come out quite right that they sell for discounted prices.  

ABS is pretty hardy stuff.  It stands up to a lot of punishment.  But that flexibility does mean it dents and scratches pretty easily.  You'll probably do more damage to it crawling around than absorbing pellets.  

I will definitely look into second hand and b pull kits, perhaps that can be a test run, and if failed, is a relatively more cheaper alternative.

 

I have seen several people using the "rubies" stormtrooper TK armour (I know this is not biker scout related, but it is relevant to the topic). I'm not sure what that company makes it out of  but from what I've seen the armour is able to withstand and hold up to BB impacts well. Environmental, not so much. However, that's to be expected. I refuse to get rubies, it is not screen accurate, the helmet design is just... wrong. I dont mean to sound nitpicky, or overly judgemental, but I just dont see the point.

[BikerScout007]

Yeah for 501st purposes, Rubies is definitely out.  I could see some of their vinyl helmets taking a pretty good beating though.