Darth Vader Costume...

i just joined the STT so maybe they can help me out more.

 

Never fails! I just made this post last night and I FINALLY get a reply back from the distributor! I just bought a 250 foot roll of the cape chain! WOOT!!! I may be stepping on scalper's toes here, but DON'T spend tons o' green on this stuff! When I get it, I'll gladly spread the love around if folks are looking for the cape chain for their creations. I assume 2 feet will be more than enough for a cape. $2(estimate?)for two feet of it for 1st class shipping delivered should be more than enough for this stuff! If anyone is interested, let me know. WIP shots coming soon!

 

sounds like a good deal on the chain.

vader is an awesome costume to have.
truth is,even if its not that accurate i wouldnt worry.most people just know the helmet and black cape.you can have alot of in-accurate parts and hardly anybody will know.
the main people that would notice your costume not being perfect are costume and detail nuts,like me!

it takes a long time to get it all right.ive been working on mine for years and its always got more.
heres mine as of last weekend.

[image=http://home.hiwaay.net/~shawn1/images/501st%20toys-for-tots/DSCF0035.JPG]

 

well you know when your 17 with no job it takes awile to get all the parts.


i have ceramic coin slots and rocker switches for my chest box cheasy, huh.

 

cheasy,no,not really,

i responded to your PM you sent so check that.

In reality most people (about 99%) dont know squat about the vader costume.they will know the main parts which are ,the helmet,the black cape and the boxes.you just have to have "the look" to impress most people.
if you have a cloth body suit instead of a leather one on nobody will care.if you have an inaccurate part,who's gonna know? if its really close then most people are excited to see it.

DO spend the money for a classic action helmet.even if you have to get a job!its xmas time ,EVERY single store is hiring for as much work as you can do.go bust your butt and make some money and then you can buy your stuff.theres just no way around it.this costume is going to cost alot.
expect to pay 400-500 for the helmet alone.some people want to use the $30 helmet and its just too small.

Its going to take some time,dont be discouraged,just be realistic.

[image=http://home.hiwaay.net/~shawn1/images/501st%20toys-for-tots/DSCF0036.JPG]

 

I myself have the Classic Action helmet! To me it is beter than the Deluxe, and weighs less too! I also bought a pleather body suit, which looks like leather, only cheaper and weighs less. However, when I can afford it, I will probably break down and buy a real leather suit...and sweat bricks!!

I have tons of fun when I'm in my costume. My size makes me look like Dave Prowse in the suit. I feel like I am The Dark Lord of the Sith!! It is such a blast!!

One of the things I plan on doing for Episode 3 is a Midnight Madness sale at my local TRU!! I will wear my suit to that event. The manager asked what I wold like for payment. I thought about it, and said TOYS!! She laughed!But with my costume, and Celebration 3, I don't have much money right now!! Oh well.

But have fun with your costume! Make it as "impressive" as you can!

 

i got your p.m. i am definetly going to use that tic tac thing. now i need to find those hobbie boxes.


as for my helmet. i got a dp classic action opn ebay for 20 bucks, i changed the lenses to the red lenses, i am going to try and replace the grill, and chop down the neck.


EDIT: i just applied to toys'r'us, radioshack, icecream parolor, dollar tree.


dollar tree and toys'r'us want to see me again for an interview

 

if you got a helmet for 20 bucks its not the classic action helmet.unfortunately i have seen people list their "standard" helmets on ebay and use the terms classic action in the wroding.
don post made a standard helmet meant for kids and halloween.its about half the size of the classic action helmet.
the "CA" helmet was cast of the the empire strikes back helmet and was mass produced back in the 90s.
the same mold was used to create the "deluxe" fiberglass donpost vader helmet.
the fiberglass is numbered and usually sells for $1000.
the classic action is plastic(much lighter) and will usually bring $400-500.
the standard is also plastic ,much smaller,and sells for 20-40 dollars.
it could be used for a costume but wont be good enough for any serious vader costume.id make it a point to get a classic action once you can.

 

Just make the suit anyway you like, as long as it makes you happy.

Since I'm not going to be wearing mine all that much (a couple in time in May '05 and maybe Halloween) I thought I may as well do it properly since I'll be looking at it on a mannequin for awhile. And since no metter how you look at it, it's going to cost alot to make so why not do it properly...

 

am happy with my vader suit so far. i'm almost done, i need to make my armor and finish my chest and belt boxes.

 

Does anyone here know somebody who has brought or built a Vader 'reveal' helmet? I'm interested in hearing how they did this or where they brought parts from... Reference seems to be few and far between when it comes to the reveal BUT I have seen some great reproductions of it which seem to be almost identical to the original.

Shoot me a PM or just post here if you'd like, I look forward to hearing from someone.

 

I can contest to a Fett costing over 2 grand, I am slowly getting there myself. Here I thought 'hey fett will be cheaper than vader cause wow those helmets are pricey"

LOL, try getting ahold of a jetpack that doesnt look like crap for under 300 and a helmet under 200, that you must paint and prep yourself.

Not to mention there is so many little pieces I never thought of, dental exspander? I know Vader cant be easy but Boba is breaking my wallet.

Nice vader btw.

 

Hey gang,

I got the spool of Vader cape chain in today! God, I could hardly wait!!! If anyone is interested, let me know. I'll gladly share it with you for the $2 1st class shipping or $4.25 Priority shipping, USPS domestic. Email me at scottstoybox007@aol.com or PayPal me direct to scottstoybox007 with your shipping info. PLEASE don't go to ebay and pay $12 bucks for this chain! IT'S CHEAP! Most of the cost is in the shipping!

This stuff is GREAT! I can't beleive I finally found it! LMK~!

 

Well, gang... I received my armor from GA Thursday of last week and it is, shall we say, a deluxe fixer-upper! I'm trying to be completely fair, as this set of armor was indeed ordered in kit form, but BE ADVISED: This armor set is NOT for the novice! The parts were cast VERY thin in some places and the completion will require A LOT of Bondo.

I have already started working on the facemask. This is the most crucial area of the costume (or in my situation, display) and already I've spent about 40 hours Bondo-ing, Dremmeling, sanding, masking, and painting! I still have to paint the silver in the "nose" and I have yet to lay the lenses in place. BUT...Here's what I have so far:

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderpaintschemfrontfull.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderpaintschemrightfull.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderpaintschemright.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderpaintschemleftfull.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderpaintschemleft.jpg]

I also started working on the soft goods and have some pics I'll upload separately if these pics work.

Again, if anyone is ordering from GA, I can vouch for their communication...He's been good about contact and info. If you order this in kit form, though, you will have HOURS of work!

More pics coming soon!

 

PICS PART 2! I think the last upload worked (except for the squaring of the image) so here's the rest...

So far, I have completed the codpiece (PVC),

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vadercod.jpg]

The gloves (leather and PVC,

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderglovetop.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vadergloveunder.jpg]

and I have the aforementioned cape chain.

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/vaderchain.jpg]

I decided to go with the PVC instead of real leather since the suit will not be worn and looks as good. Once I get the mannequin put together with Vadermaker's Dave Prowse measurements, I'll pattern the suit and capes. This is going to be my big hobby project for 2005 I can tell already!

One other thing, the GA chest and belt boxes/buckle are not good at all. I'll probably start looking now for a replacement and chuck the poor castings that came with the kit. Again, if you buy these in finished form from GA, they might look very good...but these are crudely cast to say the least.

MORE TO COME!!!

 

SWEET GLOVES!!

 

Hey STB, disregard my PM asking for pics... I should have checked here first! Looks like you've done a great job considering what the kit comes like, good work! And the gloves and cod look great, did you make them also?

BTW: Since you're not going to be wearing it, maybe go with leather instead of pleather as it'll look way better. And you should be able to have just the main areas in leather since you won't be moving around in it... The leather does make a big difference, IMO anyway.

Great work and great pics!

EDIT: Typo.

 

Hey! Thanks for the compliments guys! I made the gloves and cod myself. I really do want to do the leather eventually and will probably do so after I work out the pattern and make sure it all plays together. At the price of the Italian leather, I'd rather screw up the pleather first...not that I plan on screwing up!

Seriously, I did find a top shelf pleather though. It's very much like the leather in the hands of the gloves and matches perfectly. It was roughly quarter the price of the leather, so I went that way. If it doesn't look right, I'm definately going to revisit the pattern with leather. So far, I have 3 different pleathers I'm working with for the various parts, (suit/gloves/cape edge, cod, and cape collar). I just know this thing is going to evolve for the next several years in parts and stages. I've got the perfectionist's curse of "nothing's ever good enough". With couseling, I'll maybe work it down to something manageable!

More pics coming soon!!

 

OH MY GOSH! WHAT a week it's been! I've pretty much been working exclusively on the chest armor not including the shoulder bells. I HAVE to say once again that those who choose to buy from GA must realize that HOURS of work will have to go into the armor parts and you will need extensive experience in Bondo/body work to get this armor even close to right! I think I've come close, but it is truly exhausting work. This will be my labor of love for 2004/2005!

Here's what I started with...

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010373.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010374.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010375.jpg]

After HOURS of bondo-ing and sanding, I put the first coat of primer and sanded some more. Then came subsequent coats, base coat gloss black, and then finally the dark aluminum highlights. Then, the paint wrinkling started. More sanding, re-masking, and painting. The resin used in the armor is not ideal and should have been more of a true fiberglas, or better yet, black gelcote. All this aside, after repainting and top coating with 4 coats of high gloss, here's where I am:

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010381.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010382.jpg]

Please excuse Frankenstein! He's volunteering to hold the costume components while I prepare the mannaquin. With all my life-sized monsters, I PRAY for the poor soul who ever attempts to break in! He's gonna have a coronary! Anyway, more pics will follow as I recover from this past week of work. Thankfully I heard from GA and my Neckbrace (now cast in black rubber) and helmet dome should be coming over the next two weeks. I am sweating to think what condition the dome will be in, but he said that he is taking extra care in the casting of the helmet dome. We shall see.

Take care all!

 

Nice, great job!

 

http://rmackie40.home.comcast.net/method.html

This is a NICE vader helmet tutorial...from pvc.

 

Got my aluminum belt boxes and buckle from Russ in the UK! They are BEAUTIFUL! I just have to drill for all the lights and get it all mounted on the 2 inch belt. This guy does great metal work! Can't wait to get the aluminum billets I ordered! I should have a couple of pics tomorrow or Monday. Anyone know of a good place to find a pattern for the body suit or at least good pics of the suit without all the armor/capes/etc? I've got an idea of what I'd like to do, but a few other ideas couldn't hurt either!

 

I spent about $4000 on my costume. got everything off EBAY. Great thread

 

I just finished drilling the necesary holes for the lights in one of the belt boxes and it seemes to have worked. The boxes Russ provides have no lights and no holes for them. This is probably a good idea so folks can customize them to fit their needs. The lights I decided to use are all 12 volt lights, so I'm going to have to play with a schematic to get them all to work right. If anyone out there knows a schematic to get the 3 12 v lights to glow without sapping the batteries, let me know...Will I have to go AC with this? should I consider lower DC LED's? GAHHH!

Here are some pics!

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010383.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010384.jpg]

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010386.jpg]

I may still swap the square green lights with a couple of pilot lights Grainger offers. Not sure what kind of voltage they will be, but I don't think they could be much worse!

Here's the bad news. As you guys already know, I am using the GA armor set. This has been difficult at best, but it doesn't look bad after I have Bondoed, sanded, primed, sanded, re-primed, and painted! I am averaging about 40 hours per armor piece (counting the shoulder bells as one piece.) The thing is, GA used one bell (as I am told they used one shin guard for both legs as well) and molded it twice. This would have been manageable IF the bells were the right size to begin with! I am not sure if they were molded off of a stunt armor set which I read were smaller, or if this guy molded one of the Distortions Unltd "Anakin revealed" latex and fiberglass busts. They are just too small. I may be able to work with them since I will be covering it with the cape anyway.

See for youself!

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/scottstoybox/01010385.jpg]

It's really a shame the stuff is so riddled with errors, but if I can help someone else not to make the mistake I made, at least something would have come of all this. Please be sure to research a company's product fully BEFORE you send your money! I have since found so many other more trusted providers and could have saved myself ALOT of work!

L8R!

 

BTW...Ken-Benoki, for some reason I keep getting an error that it will only let me send PM's once I've posted 20 posts. HUH? Is this new for 2005? Oh, well! you can try emailing me if you like. scottstoybox007@aol.com .