Showoff: Mod to my Gino Darth Vader Armor

[Darth Kahnt]

Tired of the shoulder bells on my Darth Vader fiberglass armor clinking around (and with that scratching and chipping) , I looked for some sort of setup that would allow them to never slip again.

I tried the leather straps, door hinges and a host of other things. The bells on this armor are massive and have lots of space due to the way they curve. I figured the most viable solution would be to have them permanently fiberglassed to the body of the armor and that's exactly what I did. I took it to a local fiberglass shop and had them do the job.

I put about a quarter inch lift from the bells off the main body of the armor so it is not all one solid piece like the ROTS Vader armor. The bells are big so I can freely move my arms up to just below shoulder height, which is perfect because I only use this armor when I am having professional photos done or make public appearances where I will not be mobbed by kids with lightsabers, I have my Rubies armor for those types of events.

Here are some before and after shots. One big thing is that it makes your shoulders look MUCH bigger when the bells are fiberglassed to the main body:

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Here's a shot of me wearing the armor. I think the bells being attached adds a lot of stature to the costume. I wouldnt be able to have an intense saber duel with the armor on because my upward mobility is restricted but since I dont do any saber fighting in my expensive fiberglass armor I guess Im safe.

 

[rmschneider104]

Holy cow, those bells are big. Pretty good solution, especially if you are going to be fairly static in the piece. If you don't mind me asking, how much for the service?

 

[SithLord]

Interesting solution...it's good that you can still swing your arms as that can be a problem even with moving bells...

 

[Emeldahay]

Your bell ends are pretty big - oh er missus . but looks good.


Is there nay flexibility with the fibreglass join?

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>(rmschneider104 @ Oct 4 2006, 10:16 PM) [snapback]1332223[/snapback]</div>

Holy cow, those bells are big. Pretty good solution, especially if you are going to be fairly static in the piece. If you don't mind me asking, how much for the service?
[/b]

About $100 for the service.

<div class='quotetop'>(SithLord @ Oct 5 2006, 12:51 AM) [snapback]1332310[/snapback]</div>

Interesting solution...it's good that you can still swing your arms as that can be a problem even with moving bells...
[/b]

At 6'6 245lbs I am not a small man but the shear size of these bells and the fact that they extend outward certainly help with the mobility. I still can't not raise my arms above shoulder level, but as I've said I don't really need to.

<div class='quotetop'>(Emeldahay @ Oct 5 2006, 07:03 AM) [snapback]1332416[/snapback]</div>

Your bell ends are pretty big - oh er missus . but looks good.


Is there nay flexibility with the fibreglass join?
[/b]

Nope, no flexibilty whatsoever but its nice like that.

 

[rmschneider104]

Thanks for sharing the additional info. May have to figure out a permanent solution on my armor.