REQUIRED READING WHEN DEALING W/ ARMOR MAKERS

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The following is an Information Guide/FAQ for those considering a FAN MADE (FM), armor kit. It should help you understand the process and give you an idea of what to expect from one of his creations. It might also apply to other makers who do this craft, so it will give you a general idea of what goes on in the relatively small, made to order prop-making community.

FM creates various types of armor kits and is constantly busy with orders, so patience is one of the first things you should possess before ordering and while you are waiting for your kit. A lot of people who are new to the costuming community don’t understand what it takes to make these products and while we are not going to dwell deep into the process here, you should understand that it is not a machine-based process you might be familiar with, like a show you might see on TV where some product made out of plastic is being churned out every two seconds.

FM and similar makers usually create their own tools to make these products. They don’t purchase machinery built specifically to make the armor, but rather customize existing tools to be able to make their creations. One thing to keep in mind is that their tools are not set up to produce kits fast by the numbers, but are rather “tweaked” for making high-quality kits. For this reason, making one set of armor can take longer than you might imagine. FM stands by the quality of his creations, so if something doesn’t turn out right according to his expectations, he may have to start again using new materials and the time involved may then be doubled.

The type of plastic that is used for the kits is a high-quality ABS that is sometimes hard to come by. Often times, this material may take a long time to acquire from suppliers so then the process of making the kits becomes delayed.

When ordering a kit, consider that you are basically commissioning a wearable work of art that takes time to create. You will be given an estimate as to how long it will take, but consider that it may take even longer. FM does his best to keep taking orders but does not cut back on the quality and materials so rest assured that the wait time will be worth it. Here are some questions you might have:

Q: Since the process can take a few months, can I put down a deposit on a kit and pay in full when it is ready?
A: No. FM does not make a huge profit from these kits and the materials that he uses must be paid for upfront and in full to his suppliers, so your payment is due in full at the time you place an order for a kit. Keep in mind also that there are many other costumers out there that understand this and have paid in full, in advance already.

Q: What is the possibility that my kit will take longer to make than originally promised?
A: It is possible, as FM does his best to keep up with the high demand of his kits and takes orders from as many people as he can. There are also potential material shortages that should be considered. When you place your order, you will get an ETA but keep in mind that it can take a few weeks longer.

Q: But it’s a plastic kit coming off a mold, it’s not like it takes that long once he’s got everything set up, right?
A: Keep in mind that there’s a high level of heat involved in this process also! This is not the type of thing one can do for 8 hours straight per day, back-to-back. You have to be focused and energetic and it requires a good amount of physical effort to accomplish.

Q: Can I ask for progress updates, like “how many kits do you have before you get to mine?”
A: This will only delay things further. The process can sometimes be “hit or miss” and can be a little difficult to predict. FM would have to write you another message to say “Sorry, things didn’t go as planned for me on kit #____” if he has foreseen an x amount of kits before yours.

Q: Can I ask FM questions about the kit as I am waiting?
A: I think most people who are waiting on their kits to be made would agree that it’s best to let FM concentrate on his work rather than check his email 3-5 times a day and send responses. You best bet would be to ask around on the message boards from those who already have their kits, but be forewarned: this may make you a tad bit more anxious while you wait for yours!

Q: What if I change my mind about it, can I return it?
A: No. Trust us, if you change your mind about a FM works, you would have no problem finding a buyer.


This just an example of what to expect when dealing with our Base Exchange Vendors. They wouldn't be listed in here unless their product was of the best quality and that their work wasn't exemplary. Patience is the one word that describes the process of armor kit making from both the maker's and costumer's point of view.