shenphong Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Hey guys, strangely enough I was able to save up recently to purchase my scout armor and had found a seller on craigslist which was as surprised as I was he had found a buyer only minutes away. Long story short, I got an incredible deal on a set of armor and was just wondering if anyone out there may be able to identify it. The seller was someone who had just lost their job at a tech company out here in the bay area and has had the armor in storage for a few years now. He could only tell me he pieced it together after several years and still thought it was more then he could handle pointing out the roughly cut out holes and shoddy velcro work. Armor looks to be a set where as the completed belt/hip boxes were done separately. (excuse my imperial gunner/tie pilot get up, currently getting a new scout jumpsuit and cummerbund ordered) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre5549 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Looks like you have a mix of MC and SC for the belts. I'm no expert on this matter though. The first pic, the one piece belt I believe is an MC belt, the one in 3 parts I believe is SC. The rest of the armor, I think I'll leave that to some expert eyes. That tank topper really scares me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 The topper scared me too...It was the first thing that I took off once I got it, that and the actual tank with the huge seam through the bottom of it. The armor itself looks relatively good though and is made of fairly thick ABS much like my AP stormie. I'll be removing all of attachments, wetsanding many of the cuts, and will be polishing up the armor as much as possible or may go ahead and paint it as I've worked in a number of motorcycle shops that'll do the paint fairly cheap for me now. Either way, the quick mock up really impressed me and I have to admit I love the look more so then I do the stormtrooper. After browsing the forum, I do believe the complete belt to be MC and the separated belt to be SC but figure I could be wrong since I'm still new at this. The armor (he had mentioned) was an older version of SC but I could not find any pictures of the tank with the large seam/gap going through the bottom of it like the one shown in my pictures so I am unsure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chex Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Yeah def get a new topper. The majority looks like sc. Check out the forum. Every thing you need to know about fixing every thing you can find here. We are all more then willing to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch27 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 The topper looks like a bad recast. I'd just throw that thing away and get a good one. The holster looks messed up as well. The helmet is most likely a Rubies, given how deformed it looks. I'll poke around to see if I can figure out the armor pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowmantis Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 one thing that i noticed and looks a bit fishy is the armor back that says master... almost like the guy you purchased that from was a recaster and you got for instance the back part that he used for setting it up. also is the back supposed to have that little square in the bottom left aswell? thats almost like they just took a front and added the tank part and called it a back.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch27 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Also is the back supposed to have that little square in the bottom left as well? That's almost like they just took a front and added the tank part and called it a back.... Good eye! No - that indent should not be there. In fact the back plate is rather flat minus the tank mount. I think you're correct: It does look like a chest plate used as a back plate. I had thought some parts were recast KS pieces. The sweeping arcs (like on the forearms) are close to KS stuff but the details look softer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chex Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 I really hope you didn't pay too much. That back piece is too funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowmantis Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 hey can you get a closer shot of the back piece where the flat part that says master meets what would be a second front piece? is it just me or does it look like you can see the fiberglass on the edges where that has been added? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Hey, I'll get some better pics up probably in the next few days. The marks on the armor are just marks from being in storage, something like the sticky stuff that attaches the laminated junk mail you get. No I did not pay much at all for the armor pieces though, the helmet is definitely rubies and was thrown in for free. I'd still like to get a much more accurate scout helmet though and go on from there. I am fairly new at examining pics side by side between MC, SC, KS and such, much more familiar with TK stuff so this is definitely a helpful learning experience. All in all, everything included was a set of gloves, the armor, the rubies helmet, a stormtrooper neckseal, flightsuit, boots that look to be pretty well done (going by the tutorial posted on the site here) with holster attached and contact info for a local 501st who he had mentioned did it for him, and lastly cummerbund. Sadly most do not fit me as I am 5 foot 6 and about 155-160 lbs while he was a size XXL and about 5 foot 8. Boots were also to big by a good 2 sizes, but I figure I could salvage the holster from it if anything. Everything together came out less then what you'd pay new for a rubies scout helmet so hoping it was a good enough deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 If you didn't pay much, that's good. That first belt is definitely an MC belt and box setup (just watch the strap length). As for the rest of the armour, everything but the chest/back and the holster are ok. Actually, you can probably salvage the chest but I'd contact SC to get a new back with new tank and topper. Also, you need the hose and endcaps for the thermal det as well as the greeblies. Also, you might wanna save up and get yourself a nicer bucket unless you plan on redoing that Rubies. You're most of the way there, just need a few bits here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 I currently have 2 rubies, just had one of them on for the pic. Figure I'd just end up selling/trading them as its too much of a project for me to work on them while I'm working on my other armors as well. Definitely looking to replace the back/tank and topper. I did also get enough parts for two TDs for the back so no worries on that although I am trying to find a more definitive answer on the greeblies for the TD (I've seen pics where they are plain then pics with 3 squares and a black disc on them, and others very detailed) The belt is definitely to long. It was built to his size so I had to hold it up for pics. Luckily my gf can sew so we're actually in the midst of shortening it. The rest of the armor appears quite good aside from some shoddy cutting and velcroeing/strapping. Ended up selling the flight suit, tk neck cover, and gloves real cheap to a member on another forum so total spent on what I've kept is something around $40-50, definitely a steal with whats there (belts, helmet, and armor). Going to contact sitharmor for some gloves and looks like the wheels are moving on the rest of the suit except for the helmet. The only real problem I am having with what to do with the armor are the arm/elbow pieces where the T-resin pieces fit into. The black T resin pieces are nicely done but do not sit flush on the armor spaces where they go. I figure I'll either sand down the armor or the resin piece but do not wish to replace it all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 As for the t-bits, there's a minor detail that you should take care of - Make sure the large rectangular bits are facing the same way. See where there's two "dots" on the corners? Those should be pointing to the back. One of your t-bits is fine but the other is glued(?) exactly the same. If you can cut one apart and re-glue it the correct way it'll really help the entire look. It's also a great way to figure out which one goes on which arm. Also, don't worry if they're not perfectly flush, just blame it on those pesky Ewoks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Thanks for the advice, I would have never noticed that. I understand, so it should be flipped so both "flat" areas are pointing to my back. They are glued but can be taken apart so I'll just flip them around. Lol the flush thing is bothering me though but I may have to live with it. Do people usually velcro or glue them on? I still have quite a bit of E6000 glue I use for my stormtrooper armor and I thought I'd use with the scout but doesn't seem to be very much to glue on the scout if anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch27 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 hey can you get a closer shot of the back piece where the flat part that says master meets what would be a second front piece? is it just me or does it look like you can see the fiberglass on the edges where that has been added? Looks to me like the part that says "Master" has the hook-side of velcro around it, probably so the tank can come off for storage/transport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 That is true, its just velcro that I've removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Thanks for the advice, I would have never noticed that. I understand, so it should be flipped so both "flat" areas are pointing to my back. They are glued but can be taken apart so I'll just flip them around. Lol the flush thing is bothering me though but I may have to live with it. Do people usually velcro or glue them on? I still have quite a bit of E6000 glue I use for my stormtrooper armor and I thought I'd use with the scout but doesn't seem to be very much to glue on the scout if anything. Actually, the dots point to the back when you're wearing the bicep armour. Most people just glue them in once they're painted. No reason to remove them. E6000/Goop will do the job nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre5549 Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Actually, the dots point to the back when you're wearing the bicep armour. Most people just glue them in once they're painted. No reason to remove them. E6000/Goop will do the job nicely. Wait, I thought the dots point toward the front? *Borrowed from Screen Caps Gallery* But yes, flip direction of one of the squares so they will be facing the same way when you put them on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loosetoon Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Yes, t-bits dots should face forward on both arms. Still, this is not a crucial detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StudioCreations Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 It looks like shenphong bought a set of armor that someone was working on piece-by-piece to make ELITE worthy. Most of the parts look to be Factory Second armor parts of an SC kit, combined with MC parts that probably replace the worst of the defective pieces. SC sells factory seconds kits from time to time, when we accrue enough slightly-defective parts to make a a kit. Generally we offer these to only High School or College students, who just do not have the funds to afford premium quality armor. That tank toopper is a factory second vacformed piece that we were putting with kits way-back-when. "MASTER 02/17/02" HAhahaha, how quality improves over the years. I think we changed that back mold in Feb 2003. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 It looks like shenphong bought a set of armor that someone was working on piece-by-piece to make ELITE worthy. Most of the parts look to be Factory Second armor parts of an SC kit, combined with MC parts that probably replace the worst of the defective pieces. SC sells factory seconds kits from time to time, when we accrue enough slightly-defective parts to make a a kit. Generally we offer these to only High School or College students, who just do not have the funds to afford premium quality armor. That tank toopper is a factory second vacformed piece that we were putting with kits way-back-when. "MASTER 02/17/02" HAhahaha, how quality improves over the years. I think we changed that back mold in Feb 2003. Yep, that is what I did with my armor haha. I got the factory reject kit from you guys when I was 14, and just worked it into shape. Over time it has become very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 Hey thanks for chiming in! I just met up with the guy again today. He left me an email asking if I just wanted the rest of the stuff (xxl flightsuit and cummerbund, another set of boots, supplies, etc) so I stopped by and let him know what I found out. He did mention that it is a mix of parts and none were recasts. He also mentioned that he bought it over 7 years ago so I figured it was an older mold and pointed out on the SC website that another scout troopers back portion also had that square and must have been from an older mold. As far as the T bits not sitting flush on the arm part, he gave me the envelope it came in and it is from the UK, from a Richard Hughes if that rings a bell so they were not "made" specifically for the armor which will explain the fit. Its just amazing itself to search up all the history behind this armor kit itself. I'll be building this for a rough and tough trooping and will be saving up to buy an SC kit for display. Definitely will be contacting you though SC for some replacement bits on here such as the back and hump piece etc. I know a bit about AP, TM, ATA etc variations of TK armor, but still am having a hard time finding direct comparisons of SC, Moncal, FX type scout trooper comparisons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenphong Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 All velcro has been stripped and starting too use goo gone to remove the adhesive mess on the affect parts. As my gf also states "why would anyone staple these straps on!?" I can see why the guy ended up giving up. Luckily, wet sanding and polishing is fairly easy to me after working on motorcycle fairings for 8-9 some odd years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.