A New Hope.

So my Sandtrooper is done. At least, almost done. I do have a couple upgrades in mind for my backpack, specially for the radio, and for my E11, and dream of building a new Sandtrooper Tunisian E11 version sometime in the future. But now, I am starting a new project, one that I have dreamed about and kept on the backburner for a year or two now: A Tantive IV boarding party Stormtrooper. For me, that is the way Stormtroopers should look like. That is the very first impression most have of the impressive white armored Imperial soldier. I will try to replicate the armor we see in the very first minutes of Star Wars with all its flaws and imperfections, using perfect replicas, pieces and parts. The most important and central piece of this project will be my new 1.5 mm flexible ABS Troopermaster armor. The kit is already awesome even in the box. All the time and hard work put into making this plastic pieces is near perfect. And also, all the extras like wire brackets, elastics, hardware and the belt, holster and handplates, just to mention a few things, is so close to the real thing that it is just mindblowing. This will take me the best part of this year and probably a bit of the next one, since I really want to get all the details the way they should be. So I plan to take it slow, carefully and most important, accurately. I will post from time to time when I have something new to share, about this or other projects. In the mean time... move along, move along.

Sandtrooper, '76 style all the way

I've been dedicated to build my Sandtrooper for the last, I don't know, 5 or 6 years. Have gone through 2 different kits, and dozens of upgrades in equipment, build, gear, tools, painting and detailing. Putting literaly hundreds and hundreds of hours working and a fair amount of money on it. All with one goal in mind: build the most accurate Sandtrooper ANH Armor I could. Without saying this is 100% accurate, I can tell that this armor has most if not all the datails, that were seen on the ANH Sandtroopers on screen, shot in in 1976. A lot has been done to make sure that all details have been taken in consideration and I have gone really out of my way to ensure all the parts and detailing was done as close as possible to the real props and costume. This for me brings somehow some closure in this process. There will always be something new to add or modify to any armor, but, I feel pretty confident that this armor is now in its ultimate shape and fashion. This is MY 76 STYLE STORMTROOPER ARMOR and I feel very proud of it. So, just a bit of showoff here... and most of all, a bit of sharing the love for Sandtrooper armor:

Thx everyone who has shared the road with me, for those who have read or followed my posts, for those who inspired my search and for those who tough me how to get here. I will keep building armor, and posting of course even if not very often... but today, I feel like achieving something. GRACIAS. Juan

My Set for Stun replica (not TD but cool)

So I build a Set for Stun helmet replica trying to emulate all the small details and mistakes that make this iconic bucket so special. Here is the result:

Sonix Victory 75 radio

Finally, a real Sonix Victory 75 was found, so we now have more reference material to improve our backpacks. This is probably the last of the main parts needed to be identified in the whole TD 1976 armor. So, starting from my Zenix radio kit, I have upgraded it with a few details seen on the real radio and this is the result. This is the Sandtrooper backpack radio: And this is the found radio: And this is my Zenix upgraded kit: Still need to find the vintage radio antenna, but, I think it looks really good already.

E11 Blaster

Having a trustworthy blaster is essential when facing Jawas, space pirates and generic scoundrels on everyday basis.

So, I had to have a better improved E11 blaster on my side. So here it is, my doopydoos pipe kit, built and finished to the highest Imperial standards...

More Move Along Replica Pictures

Just for the show (not for showoff ;) )...

Move Along Replica

Working with armor and white plastic is one of the joys in my life...
For years, I have been perfecting my techniques to make better more accurate props.

This I started almost a year ago and just now I have finished to my likes. It is still not perfect nor great, but it is a great step towards more accurate armor...

With no further introduction, my Move Along Replica Helmet:

Zenix Victory 75 Radio

Of all the Sandtrooper gear, probably the most coveted and most difficult pieces to identify and find yet, is the Sonix Victory 75 radio. Legend says it is a cheap plastic radio produced in Hong Kong during the 70s. Reality says we have not yet been able to secure one real Sonix Victory 75 radio yet.




All our references come from pictures and the net. But no one at the MEPD has yet held or even seen a real one.

But, that wont stop us in our quest to become the best TDs we can. So after a lot of research, modeling, designing and more, one kit is finally out based on the design and research of Zenix and the forming skills of Crashmann: the Zenix Victory 75 Radio.

I was lucky enough so that my kit was one of the firt available. It arrived and it was awesome!

Trimming, cutting, sanding, plastering, more sanding, more cutting and finally glueing. A lot of work, research and love was needed to put together this radio for my pack. But at the end, I am very happy with it, and will make a great upgrade for my pack!!!