(more on the Expensive Side) ARC Trooper Cosplay

ever seen a clone trooper in
The Clone Wars (Both series, the 2005 and 2009-2013 series, kids, the 2005 series is a bit before your time)
Star Wars Battle Front II (2005, specifically, the geonosis map, i haven't quite worked out how to do the phase 2 trooper yet)
Attack Of The Clones

i certainly have. ever since i was a boy, when i first watched Attack Of The Clones back in 2004, i have wanted my own clone trooper, i bought all the legos, all the figures and as many of the dress ups as i could find. if only my 6 year old version saw me now.
( i sadly only found darth vader dress up)

Step 1: Step 1. Materials

now i didn't build this from scratch.
i bought a costume which is found here:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/230942177877?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=63&ff19=0
i bought
A. red tape for the captain fordo costume at any DIY store
B. royal blue tape for rex at any DIY store,they came in the same pack!

i also bought a clone wars voice changer online for about £30.00
A. fordo's costume needed red paint so i bought that for £2.50 a tin in a hobby store
B. captain rex's helmet was a xmas present from a family freind

i then bought a DC15 dart gun at this link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Clone-Electronic-Trooper-Blaster/dp/B001JAGT5A/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1372584122&sr=8-13&keywords=star+wars+clone+trooper+gun

for rex, i had a pistol as a present.

the paints i used black paint from the same hobby store i got the red paint from.

the spaulder, i bought a large sheet of black cardboard from hobbycraft.

Step 2: Step 2. the Helmet

i cleaned my helmet off so it was a blank template. i then begain the painting process.
i did come across a disaster during the paint process which forced me to start again.
the pictures show the whole thing.

Step 3: Step 3. the Costume

the costume is the most straight foward thing in this whole project.
lay your costume out flat
take your red/blue tape depending on which one you're doing
start from the shoulder and take 3 pieces of tape and align them in this formation, one in the middle, one either side.
just continue that line down the arm and on to the hand.
the comms piece needs some special attention. just be very intricate with your taping. just stick it around the edges. common sense tells you to cut it into thin strips before you do anything to it.

(REX ONLY)
be very careful with taping the knee areas.

Step 4: Step 4. the Spaulder

take your cardboard and draw an octagonal circle on it. then draw a rectangle onto it.
cut both pieces out and tape the rectangle either red or blue. then glue the rectangle to the circle.
make sure it's fully attatched on then try it on.

Step 5: Step 5. the Rifle/pistol

this is also very easy.
pistol link:
http://www.buystarwarstoys.com/captain-rex-toy-dart-blaster.html

the rifle
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Clone-Electronic-Trooper-Blaster/dp/B001JAGT5A/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1372584122&sr=8-13&keywords=star+wars+clone+trooper+gun

now buy some paintbrushes and black paint. paint them carefully and TAKE YOUR TIME.patience is very much needed in this step

Step 6: Step 6. You're Ready

other than Rex's kilt which is very hard to explain how to do. just look on the internet for the tutorials.
other than that, put it all together and you've got a mean looking ARC trooper