ROTJ Vader Costume Help/Questions

[Tom1971]

I have a Rubies Supreme that I have been slowly upgrading. I know many did not like it but I thought and still think it was great for the price. My two year old is going as a Jedi and I'm finally going as Vader.

I have upgraded to an awesome ROTJ Chest box and Belt by Randy/Korbanth. I'm doing my second helmet mod as my first Rubies became my reveal. Seen here:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/my-vader-reveal-80806/

Sorry but any excuse to show it off.

I'm working on turning my other Rubies Helmet into a standard ROTJ as there is no way my mint Don Post Deluxe #45 is going out at nite. I snagged it a while ago on Ebay and it's just to nice to risk anything happening to it. Ironically I used to make fun of people who would buy a nice helmet and then never where it. I will upgrade the armor but I'm not sure if I'll get to it this year. My questions are:

1.) I have seen several body suits with mesh backs for cooling. Are these any good and are they worth it ????

2.) Is there a good cheap option for boots ???

3.) Is there a way to keep the armor from coming up and choking you whenever you lift your arms ????

4.) What is a good cheap option for the breathing ??? Does using an MP3 player and speakers work ????

5.) What do people think of Fenixprops??? Their stuff looks real good and I'm looking at their armor and lenses ??????

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Tom1971]

Bump for help

 

[tictoc]

1.) Why not sew your own mesh panels in your Rubies suit? Over the shoulders, on the back and hips?

3.) How about velcro on the chest of the body suit and inside of the shoulder armor?

4.) Someone here or maybe its the FISD that sells Aker amplifiers that also have a input for an mp3 player. He even sells push to talk buttons that can activate the mp3 player.

 

[mrmyersfan]

the mesh sound good, I just looked at your reveal, and wanted to ask for you wearable one what all are you doing to it?

 

[TakerVader]

1.) I have seen several body suits with mesh backs for cooling. Are these any good and are they worth it ????

2.) Is there a good cheap option for boots ???

3.) Is there a way to keep the armor from coming up and choking you whenever you lift your arms ????

4.) What is a good cheap option for the breathing ??? Does using an MP3 player and speakers work ????

5.) What do people think of Fenixprops??? Their stuff looks real good and I'm looking at their armor and lenses ??????

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I bought the korbanth/Porty chest first, and after comparing it to others, I ditched it. Its no where near my current one in terms of accuracy and quality, but its a good starter.

1. Yes, it took me some time to get it from LA but the one I have is great quality and the mesh backing helps with heat.

2. Well, you can get el-cheapo costume boots on ebay or some local costume store. Black with rounded toe, mid-calf or higher. Not many people pay attention with the shinguards in place.

3. Never had this problem really. I pad mine on front a little and around the shoulders and it doesnt move much with the cape in place. I dont really raise my shoulders too much though.

4. Ipod with JBL speakers is what I use, set to loop.

5. Depends on what youre buying.

 

[Tom1971]

1.) Why not sew your own mesh panels in your Rubies suit? Over the shoulders, on the back and hips?

3.) How about velcro on the chest of the body suit and inside of the shoulder armor?

4.) Someone here or maybe its the FISD that sells Aker amplifiers that also have a input for an mp3 player. He even sells push to talk buttons that can activate the mp3 player.

Gonna try the velcro idea.

I figured the mesh suit was only $100 so it would be easier than modifying this Rubies suit but I'm gonna wait until I'm thinner to order that.

I got a great small MP3 player and speaker for $23 total at Toys R Us and they both fit inside the helmet right on the lower vent. This despite my having a huge 25" head that the Vader helmet fits me perfectly. Works great, nice and loud.

 

[Tom1971]

the mesh sound good, I just looked at your reveal, and wanted to ask for you wearable one what all are you doing to it?

The reveal is totally wearable. But of course I would not wear it out. I actually wanted to use it in a fan film I wanted to make but never happened. In my prequal trilogy Padme comes face to face with Vader and he removes his mask briefly.

On this new standard Rubies mod I'm doing it ROTJ as is my suit so I added a better defined strip on the dome like my reveal. I removed the "frame" the eyes sit on to greatly increase vision, and I'm gonna try to use Fenixprops larger flatter lenses. Otherwise I'll use the motorcyle visor like I did for the reveal. But that is totally flat. I increased the size of the lower vent and got rid of the inner lip so the vent mesh is at the correct depth. Sadly when I was done it was a bit too big so I glued a piece of 14 guage wire around the inner edge and putty filled it. I trimmed about 3/4 of an inch off the neck which makes the whole thing look much better, dome length, etc, and makes it work much better with the armor. I stripped and cleaned the interior and after adding lenses, MP3 player with speaker and a couple CPU fans I'll put in nicer looking, clean cut padding, repaint and should be all done. I think that's it. Oh yeah Walmart air filter grills, black window screen and then black cloth for the mouth vents.
And removed the silver insert nose, filled in hole and will paint. Left that insert in the reveal and wished I had not
Will post pics soon

 

[Tom1971]

I got a great pair of cheap boots off Amazon. They fit great but they are 12 to 13 size and with the lifts in place they are tight. I would get a bigger pair but I dont think they make them.

Anywho with the one inch heal and two inch lifts I put in I went to 6'1" from 5"10'. I'm gonna add one inch to the sole so I can hit 6'2". Any more than 1" to the sole does not look so great IMO. I'm gonna try to put in an additional 1" wedge inside but I don't think I can fit it in. Still 4" lift is not too bad.

 

[Tom1971]

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[darthgordon]

Yeah, those cheapo costume boots will do the trick just fine. The only problem is they do run a little small, and you will need insoles like gel or something to make them more comfortable. Also, they don't last very long... but for one or two nights they'll work great.

You know... I tried the motorcycle visor idea and my dremel wouldn't cut it. It was way too tuff material. I may try something else... maybe something a little thinner.

 

[mrmyersfan]

cool thanks

 

[Tom1971]

Yeah, those cheapo costume boots will do the trick just fine. The only problem is they do run a little small, and you will need insoles like gel or something to make them more comfortable. Also, they don't last very long... but for one or two nights they'll work great.

You know... I tried the motorcycle visor idea and my dremel wouldn't cut it. It was way too tuff material. I may try something else... maybe something a little thinner.

I got mine at Walmart as well and it cut no problem with the dremel. I'm guessing at about $10 it was not a high impact resistant plastic.

The Simpson helmet that looks ironically like it was Vader inspried has a very dark and much thinner visor. Could easily be cut.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Fenixprops are spot on.

I have a vader breathing CD I got years ago from UKPF and run it through my IPOD with a small speaker in the mouth.

Its on a loop of about 10mins and then just replay

 

[CAndrewNelson]

3.) Is there a way to keep the armor from coming up and choking you whenever you lift your arms ????

If it's any consolation, the original costume does the same.


-----Drew

 

[Tom1971]

Disaster has struck. After deciding to do this last minute conversion to make my Toyota costume look like a Lamborgini, or at least a BMW it is not going to happen.

Everything was going great. The repaint and everything else was going real well. The MP3 player and mini speaker worked great. the sound is crisp and clear and fits right in the lower vent. The Shoulder armor was repainted and I solved the choking problem with an inner belt then a strap running up to clip on to the top inside of the armor to hold it down. It passes through a small slit in the body suit. Everything was going great until,...

I use a auto primer that can be sanded so it fills in small cracks and what not. Great stuff. Same stuff I used on my reveal. I primered the face and dome. Gloss coated the dome and Gun metaled the face. The testors gun metal I used on my reveal is a little light so I went with the commonly Vader used Duplicolor. I could not find the exact one mentioned but found one that is the newer verion I think. Anyway it's looks great and sprayed wonderfully. After several days it came time to mask off and paint the gloss black face parts. I was almost done when I had to move one piece and the paint and primer came up with it. I carefully removed another piece and the same thing happened. I can't get it fixed in time so Vader will have to wait until next year.

I also have no idea why it happened. It the same technique I used on my reveal and I had no problem with it.