Imperial Guard costume help please

I think I have a helmet now(finally) & a friend thinks he can make a force pike. Any ideas where I can get the robe? I have run into a lot of differing pinions as to what to wear under the robe(armor, robe,color of clothes/boots). any help would be appreciated.

S_S edit: just unlocking

 

Wow. Someone else who's making the Royal Guard! Woohoo!

May I suggest The Squall for some leads.

I'm making the robe myself after what I saw at a site, I'll find the tutorial about how to make a 2 by 4 meter piece of red cloth into the robe, I think I found it through the 501st site.

Under the robe, I'm making the armor from Crimson Empire. It's out of paper mache, but there's a spray which gives it a plastic-like finish, so that should turn out well. The Force Pike can be made from a ski baton, so I'm told.

Plus I'll be having black cycle shorts and top for the skintight suit, with red thigh-high boots.

Also, may I ask where you got the helmet, or was it a one off sort of affair?

 

Try Azeem's Imperial Guard tutorial.

 

Check out the IRG Costuming Board cause there're lots of discussion on the IRG Armor/Costumes & Weapons here. I regulary post there too.

Currently, I'm technically done with my IRG Costume. It's the ROTJ version with a little touch of CE. When the weather gets better, I had polished up my prop painting skills and I'd gotten a helmet stand, I'll repaint my helmet. And I'm gonna redo my Outer Robe so that it follows the CE version more, which will also be used for my AOTC Royal Guard Costume. My Forcepike is my ongoing project cause I'm still hunting for parts to use for the pikes and the base. Currently, it's just a piece of Tube with "Sharpen" dowel on one end and a rubber chair cover on the other.

 

There's a lot of conjecture about this and it depends on whether you read the EU material or want to go off the film.

In ROTJ where the guards first appear, if you look around the wrists there only appears to be a cuff then glove over the outside of the cuff, which would indicate underneath is just a tunic. Looking at the latest AOTC figurines suggests the same thing.

However if you look at EU, it suggest that the Royal Guards have a modified stormtrooper uniform. One thing that makes me rethink the whole stormtrooper underneath the robe thing, is the way the robes hang in the film.

With all shoulder pads and armour, the robe just wouldn't hang that nicely.

Up to you.

 

The force pike is a deep sea fishing pole
modified thanks to the prop department of Lucasfilm.

 

For the ROTJ version, the Outer Cloak has only an opening on one end. The Inner Robe is Monk-like with a Maroon Obi/Sash and a Rope Belt (probably like Boba Fett's but in Maroon and less wide). The Gloves goes up to the elbow and goes on top of the Inner Robe Sleeves. Boots are ??? but it could be Black like the AOTC.

For some Costuming infos and pictures, check out OB1 Jedi Academy


For the AOTC version (according to the Action Figiure), the Outer Cloak is like the Crimson Empire Version; 2 slits/openings on the left and right sides. Inner Robe looks like a Maroon Shirt, Maroon-Brown pants(?) and 2 pieces of cloths that goes on top of the pants. The "sarong" is secure by a "ruffled-like" belt that looks like those wore by guys wearing one of those Ballroom/Dinner Suit (donno name). Gloves goes on top of the sleeves BUT is only mid-arm high.


(Correct me if I'm wrong cause my CE Comics are somewhere in my room )
Crimson Empire aka EU is a "Batman Movie" kinda armor; body chest, belt & stormtrooper-like gauntlet. CEI Red boots goes up to the tights while CEII is only knee high, with a shin guard-like thing.
A picture of it can be seen here:
CEI Version
http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/darthmaulgirl/CE-TPB.jpg


The ROTJ Action Figure Version has a Stormtrooper Chest Armor but painted Red. The Bodysuit is also like Vader's. The Outer Robe open on one side.

Something is telling me somebody's website need a BIG updates on the IRG Fashion.

 

"a "ruffled-like" belt that looks like those wore by guys wearing one of those Ballroom Belt (donno name)"

A cumberbund, perhaps?

 

I have an armored royal guard costume and i am a member of the 501st
i am "tr100" of the southern garrison.

I have stormtrooper armor on my arms and it's painted red to match my helmet.I made my cloak using the pattern of a wizards cloak and leaving off the arms and hood.You can see pics of it on my webpage.It takes only 4 yards of fabric so its not expensive.I just made one for someone and i paid $5 a yard so it only cost 20 in materials.Im about to make another so email me.
http://mglinks.com/royalguard.htm

ive also made my own design of armor but i havent finished the molds to be able to make any to sell.
My force pike is made from a metal pole and using various parts i made the bottom.I have made other force pikes from plastic pipe and they work great also.
Feel free to email me if you need any more help.
Skip

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I got my helmet from a friend of a friend of a friend so i'm not too sure about it but it's the best lead I have so far. I've had quite a bit of trouble locating one. This one supposedly needs a little work but my friend said he can handle that. I want to join the 501st but need a costume first.

 

I'm TR-095 from the Southern California Garrison.

[image=http://www.azeem2000.com/imperialguard/images/guard.jpg]

There is a good picture of my costume on Page 15 of the current Star Wars Insider (the one with Yoda holding his saber on cover)

 

depending on what is wrong with the helmet it may be fine.Post what the problem is and im sure that a solution will present itself.

skip

azeem-great stuff dude!

 

As soon as I find out myself, I will. I know my friend said it would need a little light sanding & repainting but that's all I know for now.

 

Ahh. That's standard. See the helmets are this sort of maroon colour. If you want the real crimson/scarlet colour, you need to sand and repaint it.

 

Let me see, what did the "instructions" said?

Sand,Primer, Sand, Primer, Sand, Color, Sand, Color, Finisher, Finisher.

Ya, Six layers altogether of two each for the Primer, Color and Finisher is recommanded with 12-24 hours between each layers.

Then, the eye piece need to be replaced with either a Smoked/Black one or Smoked Red one after the paint job. Most IRGs prefer to paste it from the inside too so the eyehole need to be cut bigger(the original hole is just a rectangular hole) before you start on the paint job.

 

I am also in the same club as Emerald Green and I'm trying to put together a Royal Guard as well. Does someone have the specific color and brand of paint that they use? Has anyone tried to set a standard color? Also, do most RG's use Red Velvet? That just seems a little warm and hard to wash. I have a number of medieval pieces that are velvet and the worst part is trying to clean them. So if there is a good alternative, let me know.

 

Velvet works the best IMHO. But, velvet doesn't mean you have to buy the thick type. I uses Fire Red Taffeta Velvet which is the thinnest and cheapest velvet here and it got short coat and a plastic-like backing. It's so light that I have to avoid the slightest Wind Drafts at all cost.

Some people had used Satin but it got that shiny sheen. Some had also used cotton.

For the color paint, it'll depend greatly on the color of your velvet. Get the velvet first, then with a little sample of it, go to your local hardware store to match it to the spray paint available.

I've read that some people uses Krylon's Banner Red(?). I'll be using Nippon Paint Pylox Fire Red.

 

I have used "banner red" on my helmet and armor.I dont reccommend it .Krylon is great paint but the banner red is a little orangy.In pictures it looks awesome but in person its just to orangy.I will recommend krylon paints and especially their crystal clear topcoat.I would also recommend using a bonding agent .I use "bond aid" from auto zone.Its $6 and works great.If youve ever painted plastic you know that if you bend the plactic the paint will just flake right off.Use bond aid first then primer.It will adhere the primer to the plastic and it wont flake off.

I also recommend painting the helmet first!heres my reasoning:The lids of paint cans are molded plastic and not painted.therefore the paint never really matches the can lid.if you make a beautiful cape and then go to the store and match it to the lids youre really not matching it to the paint.Go look at the paints and decide.paint a test pc of plastic.you may need to buy a few colors before your happy.if youre happy then paint the helmet.after that take the helmet to the fabric store.you can really find a good match then.
I had to match a helmet to fabric for someone last week.I had people coming from all over to see the helmet.I had painted the helmet "milano red"from duplicolor.Its a deep red and beautiful.Anyway i found an exact match and got the material.i never owuld have been able to match it without taking it with me.

hope this helps and good luck.
skip

 

Okay, I got a great deal today. I have been looking for 2 identical deep sea poles or a set of ski poles to make a set of Force Pikes. At the same time I don't want to pay $20 to $30 dollars a piece for fishing rods. Also, Indiana is not what one would call big ski country.

I went to Play it Again Sports. I looked around and couldn't find anything. I asked the guy at the register if he ever gets ski equipment. He said he had some in the back room and that it didn't sell to well. He let me go look at the stuff and I found a set of ski poles that were perfect. He sold them to me for $3.00.

Sometimes it pays to shop around and look for deals. I'll post the resulting Force Pikes when they're completed.

 

You got the poles? GREAT! I plan on going out to Lowes Monday with the 'shopping list' I got from Ron & get the rest of the stuff we need for the pikes.

 

I used a Fishing Pole:

[image=http://home.earthlink.net/~azeem2000/pikeend.jpg]

 

Nice job!

 

I found the perfect fishing pole. However, it was 30.00 and not what I wanted to spend right now. I may get it in the future depending on how this first set turns out.

Now the big question. I need to make the robe with the double split. Is there an easy way to do this? Is there a pattern out there that can be easily modified that some have used successfully?

Also, are most of you RG's wearing a crimson inner robe or are you doing more of a pants and tunic deal? Does it look better with shoulder armor?

 

Is there a pattern out there that can be easily modified that some have used successfully?

I used McCall's 2810-Cape for the outer cloak/robe and it gives a more "full" look to it. Cut the back and front panels as 1 each so you end up with 6 panels instead of 8. (Be warn that there'll be 2 seams lines on the back near the sides).

For less "full" Outer Robe/Cloak, can try normal Cape patterns like Burda Easy 2566 but it'll need more "tweening" of the actual pattern to get the 2 slits on the front. A more wider Velvet may also be needed if want to do the back piece as 1 piece (i.e. don't want that seam line right in the middle of the back).

I understand Azeem used another Simplicity pattern.

 

I also used a McCalls pattern.I dont recall the pattern # but it was for a wizard cape.I simply didnt make the arms and hood.

As far as armor goes,if your going to do then do it all the way down the arms.having just the shoulder armor may not look right.You might try some type of shoulder armor "under" the cloak.This would give a very strong look but that helmet flares out pretty far so youll have to do some experimenting.Youll also have to hemm the cloak "after" you decide.you dont want to make the cloak right at floor length then shove shoulder pads under it lifting it off the ground on the sides.

skip