CSMacLaren
Sr Member
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:
