Mass produced TK armor?

As many of you probably know, Windlass Studios, producers of some amazing replica props and costumes, has announced that they will be making complete sets of stormtrooper armor… among other things.

So, will this armor be any good?
Will it live up to our —the fan’s — standards?

While I love this interview, and really hope that their stuff ends up being fantastic, here’s what I think about (what my fears are about) the whole “mass produced” thing in general…

The “problem” with these sort of licensed suits, buckets, and armor is that the people who make them are always restricted by 1 thing… price.

If they can’t make a profit on it there’s no reason for them to do it. So that means, when it comes down to it, that they might cut corners, fudge a little on “this” or “that” and so on and so forth just to make certain they will turn a profit.

That’s fine on things like the Imperial uniforms… fabric costumes. Even on some of the amazing sword replicas and such that have been made by other companies through the years. The MiB Neuralyzer (of which I own one of) from Master Replicas comes to mind. That thing wasn’t cheap… and it is spot-on AWESOME… but they STILL had to make a profit! They were just able to do it!

When, however, you start talking about full body armor… and you start trying to replicate something that was originally made in the late 70′s — not in our current “hi-tech” world — then you start falling short very quickly with what you can and can’t do and still make money on it. Things like the asymmetrical aspect of the armor… the biceps, legs, forearms and everything being different… all means separate molds… which adds up to more $$.

You also, and obviously, have to consider how much people / fans / etc. are willing to pay for something. Sure… most of us would fork out a bunch for a suit. But… if they’re going to mass produce them they can’t rely on just us.

And, finally, when you’re talking about a sword or a Neuralyzer you’re talking about a one-size-fits-all item. Even a fabric suit you can make in sizes. But pre-assembled boy armor? Sorry… you must be this height to enjoy this ride.

All this to say I would LOVE for there to be a screen-accurate, really well made, one-size-fits-all, “affordable” set of TK armor… but, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Not for a while yet.

Maybe the new live action series troopers will have some “updated” armor that will be really sweet and lend itself to being mass produced and marketed. Or, MAYBE, just maybe… these suits will live up to everything we hope they might and everything they’re making them out to do. (reading that interview makes it seem so!)

(Obi) One can only hope…