I see these on eBay all the time. I'm not looking for something ultra accurate, but I also do not want a POS. I'm looking something for my static EP3 vader and was wondering if there were any actual user reviews on this.
I see these on eBay all the time. I'm not looking for something ultra accurate, but I also do not want a POS. I'm looking something for my static EP3 vader and was wondering if there were any actual user reviews on this.
I've never heard anything about SW, but CustomProps and FenixProps both make really awesome leather suits in a variety of styles (one, two, and three piece) and prices.
I asked the same question on the prop den a while back. i also contacted some fellow ebay members that also bought one for their review. The general consensus was they are made from a material similear to that of a sleeping bag. They are a bit baggy but do the job pretty well. If you want accuracy though, Fenix props is the way to go.
I can vouch for claudio at custom props. He does great work. It does take a while to get his stuff but def well worth the wait. Hope that helps matt. Hit me up if you haveany q
thad
didn't custom props and fenix props work together at one point before they went seperate ways?
Yes they did. Amicable split from what I understand, and they are still friends and work together sometimes.thedarkone said:
I figured as much, i notice that they both use the same vader costume sometimes to display their items.
I have one that I use for trooping all the time.
looks good and works great for sure.
but if you want a suit to display i would get a real leather one, but they are $500+
this is also "empire-worldwide" that we are talking about - and I can't speak for his Darth Vader stuff - but I know several Jack Sparrow's who have bought that stuff and have been unhappy with it.
From the "word on the street"
Their write ups are very misleading - saying "authentic materials" or "screen accurate" when they are not. Im sure his stuff is "good enough for halloween" probably even really good for a party costume - but not for people who are meticulous about details.
I know for a fact that they have used reference photos that are not even their own props.
It's hit and miss with them. I hear just as much bad stuff as I do "it's ok" - but certainly nothing glowing.
Fenix props only charges 300 for there all leather suit. heres 2 pics of mine.
sparrowfan said:
The Empire Worldwide ones are not accurate, but neither are the Fenix Props / Custom Props ones, although the latter are a bit better in some ways.
The Empire Worldwide ones are made out of a kind of satin. From a distance, it's hard to tell if it's leather or not. The strips are too wide for the screen look but they wrinkle nicely and could be good if you're replicating the Rebel Assault look of Vader (which used wider strips). The material appears to breathe quite nicely but may still be warm if worn outdoors under the sun and in conjunction with a wool robe, depending on how thick the wool is. I imagine a leather suit's heat buildup is worse unless its back is an open mesh.
The Fenix Props / Custom Props strips look too rolly polly and puffy, but if you're not super picky, you could convince yourself it's accurate, as many 501st costumers flock to it, and they're not quite screen accurate themselves.
Well, then, who does make the best Vader undersuit?
Rick
Some good info here. I was thinking of getting one of the Larry Green suits since FP used one for his vader ROTS and that is the benchmark for ROTS vaders IMO. Anyone have actual pics of it?
This is a really good discussion. I have also been starting to look into the suit I will go with for my ESB Vader. I prefer to save sme money and go with the suits that are not real leather but if they look cheap, it wont be a savings in the end.
I'm leaning toward a two piece suit from South America but still quite undecided.
Nice pot shot at the 501st. Talk about generalization.CSMacLaren said:
The Fenix Props/Custom Props suits are unbeatable for the price. Real leather for $300 - $500 are well worth the money and I dare say most wouldn't be able to pick out the inaccuracies that they have. Even many seasoned fans.
yeah you can't beat the price and quality i love mine. Besides you barely see much of the body suit besides the legs and arms, and the little area around the stomach.WebChief said:
Nice pot shot at the 501st. Talk about generalization.
The Fenix Props/Custom Props suits are unbeatable for the price. Real leather for $300 - $500 are well worth the money and I dare say most wouldn't be able to pick out the inaccuracies that they have. Even many seasoned fans.
I'd definatley try and shoot for one of those and not the sith planet, being the material they are supposably made out of, it seems like you'd also have that annoying fabric rubbing sound as you walk. (wind breaker pants type sound)
Andy
Yeah, not much of the leather suit is seen much when you wear it.
I ordered mine from Custom/Fenix when they were working together and sent them every pic and photo I had and could find of the actual screen used suit.
Back then they only made 1 piece suits, with the photos I sent they were able to make patters for the 2 and 3 piece ones, seeing how the real suit was put together.
Mine is the old technology, bought in 2004, I need to pick up a new one.
WebChief said:
Nice pot shot at the 501st. Talk about generalization..
Simply go on 501stsithlords.com and see for yourself what make brands they recommend. Then compare the appearance of either make of the suit against the screenused. You'll see a difference.
So you're basically saying the same thing I am. Just because people can't see inaccuracies, it doesn't mean the suits should be labeled or presumed screen-accurate.WebChief said:
Last edited by CSMacLaren; Mar 19, 2010 at 7:03 PM.
Well, okay, so my question still remains: who DOES make the best, most accurate undersuit? CSMacLaren, you have only criticized some, not suggested others that might be better.CSMacLaren said:
Rick
David Pea did.rickrickrick said:
http://www.universaldesigns.ca/replica/vader.html
I still wish I had mine.
rickrickrick said:
If you've seen any of my articles or posts over the years on The Prop Den, then please don't try to depict me as a person who criticizes without offering solutions. I was responding, in general, to the first post to help people become more informed. Also bear in mind that your question (which is the best and most accurate?) is different than that of the original poster (which is a good deal that's not a POS?). So please don't try to make me out as a bad guy when you were the one who changed the topic altogether. I've been helping people tirelessly for years, as I started out as a complete n00b and took a lot of authoritative advice from cosplay people that set me back financially and did not help me reach my goals.
The solution depends on how accurate you want your Vader and what your collecting needs are.
If you want affordability and a good approximation, then I've already shared the pros and cons of each make of suit so people can make a balanced and informed decision. It's sad to see this being depicted as criticism.
I do understand that there are people who are offended by the mere notion that costuming organizations are not the end-all of screen accuracy. But those same organizations also support recasting and do not protect the work of propmakers - propmakers who actually may know a bit more than the vendors who have availed themselves to cosplayers. Their stance on illicit recasting has turned off people who now only privately offer much more accurate stuff than the mainstream. Their level of knowledge come from the available vendors who slant their information to suit their sales. People train their eye on vendor products rather than accurate representations of the screen-used (be it photos, screen captures, actual first generation screencast props, etc.)
You'd have to go custom and have someone be able to work with you until you feel the look you want is established. Tour suit photos can be of some help, but they are not necessarily completely accurate sometimes. You'd have to study screen captures and photos and do a lot of experimentation.
That, however, is going to be expensive.
Short of that, the products suggested here are good and reasonably affordable approximations but will not be entirely screen accurate - so do bear that in mind when encountering enthusiastic and perhaps even well-deserved praise. I happen to know of people who swear by Custom Props and Fenix Props, and then I also happen to know of people who strive for accuracy and have sold their CP and FP suits to work on something custom.
Last edited by CSMacLaren; Mar 20, 2010 at 12:30 AM.
so the question is, is there anyone out there that we can contact now besides fp cp and sith planet to get a hight quality vader suit? (word of mouth makers would be welcome)
CTF said:
Oye!
Thanks for that! Very cool of you to say so.
That was years ago....actually a real long time ago...and seemingly from a galaxy now far far away....
David
I only speak the truth, David.
I wish I'd kept it, but it went to a good home (a member here on the RPF, actually).
So... what we've learned from this thread are a few things...
Unless you're willing to spend thousands from a custom build from some yet un-named source, the Fenix Props etc... ones are one of your best bets at this time.
Last edited by WebChief; Mar 22, 2010 at 8:52 AM.
Reply with Quote
