So, after 80 hours playing on very hard, at level 50, with luck at 12, I still cannot seem to find a complete set of this armor anywhere. Am I missing something? Everywhere I go it's either a t45 or a t60 (with the occasional x01 in the spots you'd expect to find that at my current level).

I've checked all of the "spots" people say you can acquire it, and still nothing. I was able to get a set sans helmet from killing clint, but that is all I was able to find. I've also tried reloading files from other areas to re enter the area the armor was in to see if something else would spawn, but that didn't work either, I would just get the same armor missing the same parts.

Has anyone else experienced this level of difficulty in finding what is supposed to be one fo the lower level sets of power armor? Any tips to finding it?

I find it strange that T-60 is 10X more common than the lower tiered 45 and 51 models.

Well theres ya problem, ya level 50, power armour sets are level tied, as you go up in level lower grade models starts to phase out of spawning while newer models starts spawning in.

Yeah, that's one thing I don't like about the loot scaling in this game. I'm just not a fan of linear equipment progression in general. :T

aren't the two early models limited to spawning points?

wereas the crappy raider armor and the brotherhood t60b can be obtained from mobs that respawn?

I've seen few parts, but mostly the game just seems to skip right to T-60.

Not that i mind, never liked the T-51's looks.
Nor the rusty hunchback.
And why is there no Bethesda's own http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Enclave_power_armor_(Fallout_3)?
I even miss the http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Enclave_Hellfire_armor

I didn't even know the T-51 existed until I read it online. There's no way you'll find it at that level. You probably have to check the power armor spots when you're at around level 15-20.

While I get that level plays a part, I really don't think that's the case here. I mean, for example the boat on the coast near the old north church that is "supposed" to have t51 armor, but that area (and nearly any other location that makes this claim) has t45 armor for me. I mean it just doesn't makes sense to me that the higher my level goes the lower the level of the armor that I find. It may come as a surprise to some, but I didn't start looking for the armor at level 50, but rather I want to illustrate that my increasing rank has made no difference it seems.

The leveled lists aren't designed to completely replace lower-tier armors with higher, they're just built to make it more and more likely you'll find the best set as you level up more and more.

The T-51 seems to be the hardest to find armor in the game. I've got a full suit of it. I don't think I ever actually found a full suit at once though. I found a partial suit that was missing the torso and one the legs, and managed to eventually find them. So I have a full suit, plus a couple more torsos, and some scattered limbs. Not enough to put together a second suit though.

I'm pretty sure I have two full suits of T-45. I've got two suits of X-01, and then like four full suits of T-60. I've also got probably six suits of the Raider power armor. T-60 is probably the easiest to get. Just pickpocket the fusion core from a Brotherhood Knight and they exit their suit lol

Rowdy often has T51 parts...I've completed two suits that way.

I'm pretty sure that the Atom Cats garage sells T51 parts. In fact, apart from the Old North Church suit, that's the only other place I've encountered t51

I seem to stumble into power armor everywhere, but for me it's always T-45 or T-51. Of course, I've only ever gotten slightly above level 20 so it makes sense.

I found more T51 that T45

Welcome to Bob's Pwr Armor Shop.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/756/23237067940_cbe364de03_o.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5630/23223007019_3a7c743a96_o.jpg

My prize T51

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/586/23419942791_398ba83f02_o.jpg

I wont tell you where but here's a complete set if you stumble on this barge.

This short 4 minute video might have SPOILERS in it so watch at your own risk

https://youtu.be/MPodViqLqSw

OP hth those T51's are out there.

I wish I could scrap some of my PA. They just stand around in the Hills waiting for me to climb into them. I have been thinking about taking them out to sea and dumping them like some type of mobster.

I very coincidentally just found that very barge and was returning to inform you guys that there is indeed a complete set there. Looks like the search is over for me, hopefully this info proves helpful to someone else that is searching for it as well.