Re: RS Prop Masters ANH stomtrooper build: 2 sets of armor: 1 full PVC kit+helmet, 1
Here's an update (concerning the RS PropMasters ABS suit I built):
I was never too happy with the regular mannequin I used to display my armor on so far. The full size manny was a good 10cm taller than me, too lanky but muscular in all the wrong places, and worst of all he was just standing around stiffly, arms to his sides like he was awkwardly standing in front of class during some embarassing song recital.
So what to do if on a budget? Well, build a mannequin of yourself, using duct tape - loads of duct tape, to be precise.
Here's how mine looks:
What will you need should you want to make one yourself?
Here's what I used: at least 8 rolls of duct tape (8-10m each is perfect, I used 84 meters for my dummy), a set of old clothes (like a pajama, long sleeves and legs are important obviously) and some wood or another hard material of your choice for an internal support skeleton. Also some nails and screws if you use wood.
Also, loads of stuff to tightly stuff the thing - I used plastic bags and old bedsheets.
Scissors (with rounded tips, trust me...) and a knife will also be needed.
Here's how I started:
I did you all the favour of making this tutorial perfectly safe for work.
Then have someone cut you out of this silver space suit, and then re-seal the cuts, like so:
Unfortunately I did not snap a pic of the internal wooden skeleton, but it's basically just a simple stick figure that I made according to the height of my crotch/shoulders/top of my head.
Kinda like so (not mine, but you get the idea):
Then put the "duct tape body sleeve" over the support frame:
I gave him a "head" from a half ball of styrofoam and feet from metal L brackets:
I then dressed him in some cheap-o black clothes from a dollar store (good enough for a static display IMHO):
Then I put the armor on and also gave him forearms made from metal rods (so he can hold a blaster later):
I can only recommend a display like this - and it's even cheap compared to other made-to-specs poseable mannequins!
