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Greetings, Troopers! After almost 2 years of nagging, I finally convinced my hubby to join the dark side in white armor. I surprised him with his very own set of BBBs from RS Props (a big one and a little one) on Christmas morning. Here's the moment of unwrapping. You all know the feeling. Now it's up to me to build it. And I'm super excited about this build because I won't really need to do much alteration to the plastic at all. At 5'10" and about 165 lbs, my husband is in the 'out-of-the-box trooper' size range. This thread will be pretty limited with regards to detail stuff (this is my fourth TK build, OMG!), but I wanted to share the bits and pieces of progress on this full-sized build anyways so I can get feedback when I need it. During the past few days, I've done some initial assembly with inner cover strips. Ooh. Ahhh. His compression garments arrived yesterday, so we're hoping to get time this weekend to do initial fitting of the limb parts. I would love to get moving on building his magnetic shins, but I can't until we get his boots for proper sizing. I'm on the lookout for a pair of TK Boots (not IB Boots) in size 12, so if anyone has a pair they'd like to part with (or has a lead), I'm your gal! TK Boots has told me they're currently out of stock, and unknown if they'll ever get more in.

In the meantime 2 more packages arrived, containing: - additional 3D printed parts, this time from Christopher Pearson - the BlastFX with miniscope electronics kit from TRamp So I guess you know what’s coming next... Pew pew! Here’s a picture of the incoming goods inspection (trying to be professional about this ): 20190114_190640 More details And here’s a picture of some recent progress using the 3D printed parts: 20190114_225019 It’s beginning to look like a blaster... 20190114_230059 Cheers!

Update, Ok so I got around to casting the shoulder straps in Simpact 60A. his stuff is an off white urethane rubber that is fairly stiff. I added Smooth-On’s white pigment to the mix to ensure a proper white color. Mixing and set-up is fairly simple and no need to gas the product. I poured the first one and demolded it 2 hours later. I placed it on some wax paper and let it cure for a full 24 hours. It was a little tacky but I figured out that was the mold release. I washed it with some warm soapy water and presto! One complete flexible shoulder strap done. So, I made another one, then I made two with a piece of Velcro sewn to a piece of white nylon webbing and imbedded them on the back side of the shoulder straps. After the straps were cured, I used my hot knife to cut the excess webbing off and I think they came out equally nice. The webbing adds some stiffness to the strap, but I really don’t think it is needed. My primary goal with the nylon was to have a surface for the Velcro. I will see if any of the silicone based adhesives I have will stick to the urethane. If they do I will add Velcro to the other two straps. Once I have the process down, I will be offering these to whomever wants to purchase them. I am not looking to make any real money on them so they will go for just a bit over the cost of materials and shipping. I am figuring about 30 bucks for a set of two shipped to the US and Canada. Elsewhere the shipping may be a few bucks more. Regardless, once I get all this sorted, I will post the straps for sell in the proper forum. Thanks for the interest.

Soitenly not. Shemp is the forgotten 4th Stooge. Frank is the really, really forgotten 5th Stooge. Or 7th or 8th, if you include all the various "Joe" Stooges.

Just as I redrew the M38, I have also redrawn the Hengstler counter. I'm undecided on wether I shall have an Eagle logo on the side, or something more 'In Universe Styled'. And the window on the rear that normally shows the numbers still need to be cut out. But I plan to place a small display screen here, and I still need to measure the size. The front will have a mesh installed inside at the bottom, at the 'roundish' shapes, and the side that faces the Sterling as well as the bottom now has a grill pattern. Both to better let out the sound of the speakers I want to install inside.

Detachment Leader Executive Officer Provost Marshall Deployment Office Pre Approval Forum CRL Updates Detachment Affiliation Forum Downtime Around the Detachment 3D Section FISD Logo's Hall of Fame In the Media Costume Totals Just For Laughs Trooping Imperial Attaché Program EIB & Centurion: What do these terms mean? Advanced Tactics Awards EIB - The March To 1000 Merchandise & Branding Officer Competition Merchandise Public Relations Follow FISD I think now is as good a time as any to let everyone know that I will not be running for DL this year. I had intended this year to be a fun one full of cool merchandise that everyone enjoyed, excellent progress on the CRLs, and just enjoying the camaraderie of my fellow Legion stormtroopers. Instead I ended up spending the better part of the year embroiled in Legion politics defending the integrity of my staff and detachment from abusive and dysfunctional members of Legion command. While one should never shy away from standing up for what is right, it was so draining I nearly quit. Thankfully a visit to the Hong Kong Garrison served as a pleasant reminder of just how fantastic the Legion can be. Love out to you guys! I'll still be on permanent staff as detachment founder so it's not like I'm leaving, but in truth I need a break want to just enjoy being a normal Legion trooper again. I want to give a huge THANK YOU to the FISD staff who have worked tirelessly this year through all the challenges to keep things humming along and the place positive. They are truly a talented and dedicated group of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and it's been a privilege and a blessing to work with them. You guys are the best! 2019 promises to be a phenomenal year for FISD and I can't wait to see what the next crew has in store. With Unquestioned Loyalty Paul Hoeffer TK-8020 "Daetrin" Detachment Leader I would like to start off with a few words about Paul after his above announcement. On behalf of the command team, we would like to say what an absolute pleasure it has been to serve under your leadership these past couple of years. Not only are you a great leader and person but also have become a good friend. Your wisdom and guidance are an absolute blessing not only to many of us but to the Detachment and Legion at large and for this we thank you. So what’s next for FISD!, well we are approaching the crazy period in the legion calendar as the election cycle gets underway in early February. For those newer to the Legion, as a full member you are afforded the opportunity to vote on candidates for the leading command officer positions: Legion CO, your local garrison or squad CO and in your affiliated Detachments for Detachment leader role. If there are no new candidates and those leaders are happy to continue, then the vote in that position is obviously bypassed and that leader and command team continue on for the next term. In our case, Paul (Daetrin) has decided not to run again in February as our Detachment leader, and I feel if Paul did not believe our Detachment was in a good place, then his decision would have been far more difficult a call to make. Thank you once again Paul for your service. This creates an opportunity for new leadership in our great detachment, and this is one opportunity I would be honored to take. This is not to say I would be the only candidate, there may be others, in which your vote becomes very important, so please stand and be counted when it’s time to vote. EDITED: Due to the updated 2019 Legion Election rules and regulations, this post has been modified so it cannot be considered, misinterpreted or misconstrued as Electioneering in a newsletter. Announcing candidacy is however acceptable, so If you would like to read the full transcript It now resides in an open thread where full members can make comment if they so wish. Please click on the link below With Unquestioned Loyalty Andrew Franke TK-11469 "Sly11" Executive Officer Greetings troopers! During the month of December there was a run of challenge coins offered by Endor Finders in our Detachment Merch section. Many troopers are starting to receive their coins. As you may notice there are imperfections on the edge of the coins. While there are no imperfections reported on the faces of the coins, these imperfections on the edges have been reported to us. We have been in contact with John at Endor Finders and he is offering to replace any coins that you feel are unsatisfactory. This will be up to the individual customer to contact John if they choose to have replacements made. If you are happy with the coins then you do not need to do anything. You may contact John at endorfinders@gmail.com and he is asking you to title the email as "Replacement." In the body of the email please provide your order number, your address and any other pertinent details about your coins (eg. EIB coin number). John is asking that the customer pay for the return postage and the postage to send out the replacements as he volunteered to do this run. If you have any questions regarding the replacements then you may contact John at the above email address. With Unquestioned Loyalty Steve Sheades TK-10466 "starsaber25" Provost Marshall Happy New Year to all our fellow FISD members. As we blaze into 2019 the DO officers are ready to blow the EIB 1000 goal out of the water and we want you to be part of it. If were not approving apps we're researching and updating CRLs or assisting our fellow troopers with their builds, all in hopes of making everyone look their best. So you want to apply for EIB or Centurion? As we add more members to the 501st, we're also seeing an increase in applicants for our optional Level 2 (Expert Infantryman) and Level 3 (Centurion) approvals. It's great that so many of you are looking to add that extra level of accuracy to your costumes, and this guide is meant to help you through the process. Requirements As always, the first place to start is with the CRL for your costume, where L2 (in blue) and L3 (in red) requirements for each part of your armor will be clearly listed. (Note that not every part will have L2 or L3 requirements.) It will always be easiest to build your armor with L2 or L3 in mind from the beginning, so use the CRL as a guide. Submission When you're ready to submit, you'll want to make sure to follow the photo checklists for EIB or Centurion to ensure that you're including all the required photos. At the top of your application, please also include the following information: Name: Forum name: TKID: Garrison: Armor: Helmet: Blaster: (Centurion only): Link to EIB application It can also be helpful to the DOs to include height and weight information, just so we can get a better sense of how your armor fits. Many applicants also include information like neck seal maker, holster maker, etc. It will be very helpful for first-time applicants to take some time to look at recent approval threads so that you can get a better idea of what a successful submission looks like. Feedback Once you've submitted, your application will be assigned to one member of the DO team for review, but every application is discussed and signed off by the entire DO team. And although only the DO team can officially approve your submission, we have many veteran members who know the CRLs inside and out, and in the spirit of 'troopers helping troopers', will often respond to submission threads with suggestions and corrections. During the review process, your DO may request additional photos because they're missing from your application, or to see certain areas of your armor in more detail. If there is any aspect of your application that does not meet the requirements, we will do our best to detail the corrections you need to make; we are here to help you! Approval Upon approval, your DO will respond with any suggestions to improve the look of your armor, or for L2 submissions, any corrections that need to be made for L3. We will be clear about what is a hard requirement (e.g. rubber hand guards for L3) versus a suggestion (e.g. the tops of the ab and kidney being aligned.) Although the suggestions are just that, many troopers enjoy adding that extra bit of screen accuracy to their builds and will apply many of the suggestions. If any changes/corrections are made to your armor between your L2 and L3 submissions, it is strongly suggested to take a new set of full body photos for your L3 submission so that you can show off your armor at its best. Since we have a goal of 1000 EIB-approved troopers, you'll see us add approval numbers to EIB submission titles to help you and us keep track of our progress. For those troopers getting their second (or more!) EIB approvals, you will simply see "APPROVED". Questions? Feel free to reach out to your friendly DO team: Tony (@ukswrath), Joseph (@justjoseph63), Dan (@CableGuy), and Sha Sha (@shashachu). To Paul, thank you for your leadership, endless support, keeping me in line during my early times and your Unquestioned Loyalty to the FISD. And finally, major kudos to Sha Sha for writing 95% of this months DO piece, way to go Sha Sha. With unquestioned loyalty Tony “ukswarth” Deployment Officers With Unquestioned Loyalty Tony Jobe TK-10116 "ukswrath" Deployment Officer With Unquestioned Loyalty Joseph Pedigo TK-10863 "justjoseph63" Deployment Officer Deputy Deployment Officers With Unquestioned Loyalty Dan Branton TK-142911 "CableGuy" Deputy Deployment Officer With Unquestioned Loyalty Sha Sha Chu TK-19233 "sashachu" Deputy Deployment Officer The FISD is pleased to announce the addition of a new area in the Advanced Tactics forum dedicated to those ready to submit for basic 501st TK approval. This section will allow future Troopers the opportunity to submit photos of their completed build to be reviewed by the Staff, Imperial Attaches and others in preparation for forwarding it to their GML for approval. Any and all advice/suggestions given will be specific, constructive, helpful and respectful. Please note that this program will NOT take the place of your local GML, as Detachments are not chartered for costume approval and can not override a GMLs decision, but is instead a peer review program designed to help you look your best and offer guidance and positive feedback. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about your completed armor, weapons (if applicable), accessories, etc. and get accurate information from the experts here at the FISD.. the definitive home of TKs worldwide. For more information on this program, please visit the link here CRL's pending: ROTJ text updates TKC detonator photos to be added also wording changed for thigh ammo strips positioning ESB no bicep hooks L3 text addition ANH L3 additional requirements With elections starting at the end of February it's time to check your detachment affiliation. OK so you look at your Legion profile and it shows that your detachment affiliation to FISD is pending, or otherwise incorrect. Why does this happen, and what is detachment affiliation anyway, and what will FISD do about it? The answer is that detachment affiliation is only ever used once a year, and for one purpose. The only time the Legion ever uses it for anything is to determine who can run for DL and who can vote in detachment elections. That's it. Otherwise it is pretty much ignored and not used for anything. The process of validating detachment membership is cumbersome and time consuming because people use different email information between their Legion and detachment logins, and that there is no way to bulk update the rosters. For a small detachment it is not a big deal to do this manually, but for a detachment the size of FISD with hundreds and soon thousands of 501st members, it's impossible. Fortunately we have technical folk both on FISD and in the Legion web team. Once a year they take a feed from FISD's database and do a bulk update on the Legion database. This occurs right before the election cycle starts and is done once per year. Tips: 1) Ensure the email address you use on the Legion & FISD boards are the exact same. 2) Ensure that your FISD profile has the correct TKID. 3) If after the bulk update is complete and your profile is still not updated, and you are 100% sure your info is in sync between the two boards, then ask for to the Legion web team. They should get feedback on why this isn't working. 4) If all else fails, ping the FISD staff. Which basically means that we'll simply tell the 501st web team to bulk approve everyone To check detachment affiliation go to the 501st Mb database here then click Your Profile Data. UPDATE: read the following section below. It happens. You are on yet another boring gate guard detail and are trying to relax with a cup of brew. You throw on the latest pod races on the closed circuit screens (hey, it's not like anyone is sneaking on a secret battle station, right?) put your feet up on the desk, lean back and start catching up on the latest FISD news on your data pad. Ah...the good life. Then out of nowhere, you can't get to the forums - it's like they are down. What gives? Did Lord Vader find out you piping pod racing again? Yeesh, doesn't he have something better to do, like track down rebels or something? Then again, maybe he doesn't. A cold bead of sweat starts rolling down your forehead.... Fear not - it's all good! The 501st Legion's webmasters are just trying to integrate the FISD forums with the Legion membership database and from time to time the forum servers are bounced. So it's not you at all, my good trooper! Wait, why are they doing this you ask? Ah...well you know how it's nearing election time and we get all kinds of requests to validate detachment membership, right? And each year it's a monumental task to try to get everything sync'd between the FISD servers and the Legion database, right? Well, your support request prayers have been answered! When the LWM team has completed their work, the Legion's database can simply pull membership data from FISD and automatically update membership requests. How cool is that? Surely worth a few server bounces, right? Huge thanks to the LWMs, especially Cari, for making this possible. Cheers Cari! Rocket Trooper So you want to build a Stormtrooper but you want something a little different, why not start with a completely new build with no CRL like Matt has with his Rocket Trooper. There are a couple of versions of this trooper, one from Battlefront 2 and the other for the Rebels series which could possibly see two new version CRL's. As Vader would say "Most impressive". Well done Matt. For those how would like to see more you can find more photos here Greetings Troopers! I am Brien aka TK-92802 aka Harbinger and I am here to talk about logos. Logos are a direct visual representation of an organization, and FISD is no different. But why a shield? Why blasters? Our logo draws from a rich history of real-world military logos, as is fitting for the 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment and its ranks of elite infantry. To quote our Founder: History lesson (as not everyone on the boards today was around in 2006!) The original logo was designed by myself and Ed DaSilva, FISD’s first XO, and rendered by Mark Fordham. Ed came up with the concept of a stormtrooper helmet in front with crossed blasters underneath. I specified the colors to be infantry blue, gold, black, and white. White and black because we are stormtroopers, infantry blue because stormtroopers are infantry and I started my Army experience in infantry, and gold to represent the officer element to the design (and also US Army colors are black/gold, so that dovetailed nicely). I also put in the short i for two reasons: first that it’s traditional in the Army for Corps to be designated by Roman numerals, and 1st comes out as i, just like XVIII is known as the 18th Corp, and our original name was to be “1st Imperial Stormtrooper Corp”. Also, the blue i harkens back to our clone trooper forebears, and you can see the blue i on the chests of the 501st clone troopers in Revenge of the Sith. Ed added in the background elements as an homage to the Tantive IV, and then I tossed in the banner idea as it reminded me of some of the Army unit designs as well (take a look at the ranger unit patch). Mark combined all these ideas in to the render that we have today, and it’s been used ever since. Our logo has done a fine job these past twelve years - but time marches on. There were several areas where the original logo was lacking. A refresh could solve many of these issues, such as: Consistency: The original logo, “stepping out” logo, as well as a logo refresh that seems to have only been used for decals and a couple of patch runs, had fonts and colors that were all over the place. When you want a recognizable ‘brand’, this is a no-no. Accuracy: Since our primary goal is encouraging costume accuracy our logo(s) should reflect that mission as well. Inclusion: FISD is now home to the new First Order troopers, which much like Clonetroopers during the prequel-era will be the face of Star Wars for some time. With that in mind I set out in updating the original “shield” design as well as the all-but-official “stepping out trooper” logos. However, in updating these logos for accuracy I realized that it would have to depict a specific TK (versus using hybrid/'idealized' Stormtroopers that are a blend of several films and not very accurate like some do). Seeing as the ANH TK is by far the most popular TK in the Legion, it was the obvious choice - same with the TFA FOTK. And while the classic ANH TK will always be the primary face of the Legion and FISD, at least in logo form, I hope no-one thinks we are devaluing all of the other great costumes that call FISD home, as every TK is equal here. The new logos are also (finally!) color matched with professional tools to (hopefully!) ensure all future merch runs will have consistent colors regardless of the medium or where they were made. With a new year comes change, for us it is new logos and soon, elections here in the Legion. I hope everyone is as excited for these updated logos as I was in helping to create them, and I hope they last us another 10+ years. With Unquestioned Loyalty Brien Edick TK-92892 "Harbinger" Merchandise & Branding Officer Don't forget to check out the new 3D section, and please contribute where you can, also see the link at the bottom for the new Contributor award details Contributor Awards Main forum title: 3D Parts and Technical Sub topics: 3D Printer owners Your place to discuss what printer/s you own, recommendations, tech talk and the like, It’s a place to learn something new 3D CAD Designers Home of talented 3D cad designers, show off your 3D renders, of FISD related costume parts and accessories. Offer help and advice on programs, or offer to commission a piece for a fellow member 3D File Depository A home for 3D file sharing, Troopers helping Troopers is what this section is all about; yes a single location to keep any 3D files offered up by our extremely generous membership. This will be a 501st member’s only section and rules will apply to any usage of the content. I will be looking for content to get these new sections started so If you are interested in helping drive these new forums, then please send me a PM and let’s get the threads and the filament flowing. 3D printer heads will understand that last comment Here is a link to the New FISD 3D Contributor program. With Unquestioned Loyalty Andrew Franke TK-11469 "Sly11" Executive Officer Happy New Year Troopers!!!Last month’s submissions to the Field Exercises was tremendous!It was great to see more new buckets sharing their holiday expeditions, making smiles, and warming the hearts in the season of giving.Even for me, the big ol’ jolly Santa Claus was starting to question his apparel with us having less screaming younglings and more hugs.This month we honour TK - 82214 Zac with his mic drop photo for St. Nick - never underestimate the power of the dark side big man. With Unquestioned Loyalty Aaron Gibson TK-99725 "Pyrates" Imperial Propaganda Why we can’t stop loving stormtroopers Pretty nice interview with FISD former DL, former LMO and current LMW, Eric Brager TK9674 aka "Darth Aloha" Stormtrooper fandom and the 501st Stormtroopers are a ubiquitous presence at sci-fi conventions, formalized through a semi-official fan club called the 501st legion. It hosts meetups and charity events where fans dress up in meticulously accurate replica uniforms. If you’ve ever seen stormtroopers marching in a parade, visiting kids at a hospital, or walking the red carpet at a Star Wars premiere, you probably saw a local garrison of the 501st in action. Eric Brager joined the 501st in 2011 and is now the executive officer of the New England Garrison. He owns several replica costumes including Darth Vader, and he understands the organization as well as anyone. “Most of us, including myself, I don’t really consider myself a cosplayer,” he says. “I don’t even like Halloween or any other kind of costume. But we have this idea where we wanna be this kind of life-size action figure.” It fits, then, that Brager’s favorite part of being a 501st member is attending charity events like the Make-a-Wish Foundation or marching in Pride parades. The 501st Legion boasts over 13,000 members worldwide, but its membership numbers are even more impressive when you know about the entry requirements. You can’t just half-an impolite person your costume; it has to fulfil enough regulations to satisfy Captain Phasma. Local chapters host armor-building parties and members have access to a terrifyingly detailed reference library for every possible permutation of costume. Once you’re finished, local and regional officers compare your armor to reference photos and either approve them or ask you to make corrections. (As you might expect, there are often disputes about accuracy.) Brager says that while there used to be “a lot of shame” about buying costumes off the shelf rather than crafting them yourself, there’s less stigma nowadays. It’s still an expensive hobby, though. If you want a movie-accurate replica from the official retailer Anovos, it’ll set you back almost $2,000. Brager estimated that of the 150 people in his local chapter, about a third bought their costumes online. That’s because when it comes to the costumes, the 501st appeals to a very specific kind of person: detail-oriented perfectionists. “We care about accuracy and we care about bringing what you saw on-screen to life. There’s really no room for expression,” Brager explains. “The Mandalorian Mercs [another popular Star Wars cosplay club] have a lot of freedom and they do crazy stuff with their costumes. We do not encourage that at all. Accuracy, for good or for bad, is really what we’re about.” This kind of precision is the polar opposite of transformative fan culture, where people use fanfic and art to remix the source material. Yet in its own way, the 501st does make one significant change to the canon. Its members enjoy detailed accuracy in the same way that some people build model trains or historical dioramas, but they don’t condone the ethos of the Empire. They relate to its appeal on an aesthetic level, stripped of its political connotations and rebooted under the motto “Bad Guys Doing Good.” As any 6-year-old will tell you, stormtroopers look cool as hell. They’re Brager’s most influential memory from seeing the first movie as a child, and he admits that “there’s something really attractive about this evil force that travels around in this very clean, orderly way.” Within the Star Wars universe, stormtroopers are walking propaganda for the Empire, presenting an image of organized strength and purity. Of course, this backfires because stormtroopers are famously incompetent, which in turn takes the sting out of their fascist symbolism. They illustrate the false promise that authoritarian regimes will make the trains run on time. In reality, what you’re getting are spiffily dressed mall cops with delusions of grandeur. “They never hit anything, they hit their head on things… it’s absolute slapstick comedy,” Brager says. “While I certainly didn’t recognize it as a kid, it allowed me to be a lot sillier in a stormtrooper costume, knowing they are kind of the butt of the Star Wars movies’ jokes.” You can read the piece in full here Another great article on Eric can be found in the Newburyport Magazine here Currently (as of 30 Dec 2018) there are 26,299 costumes in the legion, out of these under FISD there are 5,423 which is 20.62% of all approved 501st costumes. Costume ID breakdown in percentages: Breakdown of TK versions: Want Your Troop to be Included? Just a reminder if you would like your troop added please post your troop report in the Field Training Exercises section here Those with troop logs please post a separate troop report as it is easier to link too. December 2018 - January 2019 Santa Goes To Space More here By: Ray, Dielotski Strong Museum  More here By: Ryan, Manbehindthemask, TK91593 Happy Zoo Year More here By: Glen, gmrhodes13, TK85421 Starlight Express Room Christmas Party More here By: Glen, gmrhodes13, TK85421 Although this troop is from back in October the photos have only recently been released. Congratulations Once Again Mr & Mrs Christman "TK91488" Pretzel's Wedding Day October 20, 2018 More here By: Preston, Prezel, TK91488 Serve proudly, ladies and gentlemen, and as Tim (Dark CMF) says: "Keep doing what it is that got you here"! Are you an approved TK that spends more time on the boards than the average Trooper? Do you enjoy using your knowledge to help out future and existing Troopers? If so, we would like to invite you to join the Imperial Attaché program! Members of the I.A. team are chosen to help out not only those here on the boards, but on a local level as well. Our aim is to have at least one in each and every Garrison, Squad and Outpost in the entire legion to be the eyes and ears of the FISD on a local level. A suggested level of EIB or above is preferred, as part of the duties include assisting those aiming for levels 2 and 3, but is not a requirement. Being active on the boards on a regular basis , welcoming new members and helping out where you can is, though. Some of the benefits: 1. Access to exclusive Attaché merch., including patches, etc. 2. Having the Imperial Attaché title under your name. 3. Being a part of the team that welcomes new and prospective members of the FISD. 4. Being the "go-to" person in your Garrison, Squad or Outpost. 5. Exclusive access to the Attaché HQ area, Imperial Propaganda Machine (newsletter) and merchandise discussions. We are currently in need of Attaches in many units, especially International Garrisons/Squads and Outposts. For more information on this program, please head here and if you should have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time. (Pretzel) For a complete list of Imperial Attaches, go here IMPERIAL ATTACHE AWARD Imperial Attaché Award for those attaché's who have gone above and beyond [minimum 1 year of service] You can find a list of prior recipients here ATTACHE MERCHANDISE Attaché Patch NOW AVAILABLE For those of you on the Imperial Attaché staff, I am pleased to announce that the official I.A. patches will soon be available... again! Here are the details.. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Patches will be limited to TWO per person, and will only be sold to those who are current FISD Imperial Attaches. These patches have been graciously DONATED to the FISD, so all you will need to do is cover the cost of shipping and PP fees, which will be $1.00 each for those in the U.S. and P.R. and $1.50 each for those outside the U.S. What a deal! You can find the thread here Attaché Ambassador Fellow Attaches & Members of the FISD. I wanted to take another moment to thank our Attaché team for being an extraordinary example of what the FISD is all about. I know with great confidence that many troopers are helping one another with their journey and hopes on becoming a Stormtrooper with the 501st Legion. The New Year is here, and if you are a recruit looking to join, fear not, as we here in the FISD will be assisting you along your journey. We have many experts willing to lend a hand, and I know 2019 won't be any different. As always, it is an honor and privilege to be representing the Attaches here. Thank You. With Unquestioned Loyalty Preston Christman TK-91488 "Pretzel" Attaché Ambassador So what exactly are EIB (Expert Infantry Badge) and Centurion levels? These programs were designed for those who choose to take their armor above and beyond the minimum requirements for basic 501st Legion approval. It gives you the chance to show a level of dedication and pride that takes your armor closer to being as "screen accurate" as possible, without as much extra work as you may realize! It also works on giving a better look to the Legion as an entity, and you can bet others will take notice of your hard work. The 501st has a list of detailed requirements for Basic approval, (level 1), EIB, (level 2) and Centurion, (level 3) which can be found here in the Costume Reference Library, (CRL) http://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:FISD_CRL Here are a few of the questions people may be wondering about: 1. "I am a (tall/short/heavy/thin) Trooper. Can I still apply? Of course! These programs are open and encouraged for all sizes of TKs, as long as the costume is correct and meets the guidelines. There are many specific build tutorials to every option, as well as a vast network of fellow TKs on the FISD to help you out and offer suggestions. 2. "How much extra will I have to pay for extra items"? The cost is actually quite reasonable, considering the few extra supplies you will need, which are listed in the requirements area. While it may run you a little more to implement these additions to your costume, they will go a long way to improving accuracy. All needed items can be found for sale on this thread: https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/16-ongoing-sales-project-orders/ While blasters are not required for basic approval, for EIB and Centurion levels they are, and may need upgrades (also listed in the CRL). 3. "I haven't even got my kit yet, is it too early to start planning"? Actually, aiming for Centurion is easiest to do right out of the box. 4. "I have my basic TK approval, can I still get in these programs"? In a word... absolutely! 5. "Are there any "perks" to this extra work and cost"? Besides knowing that you have a great looking set of armor, the 501st and FISD believes you should be deservedly recognized for your achievement(s), and allows you to wear the appropriate embroidered "rocker" badge of rank (available for a very minimum cost) on your shirt, helmet bag, etc., as well as rank decals to put on your armor bin. You will also have access to select "challenge coin" runs, receive (free) a cool certificate for your new rank, and have your title posted below your name in your FISD signature. Plus, once you reach these levels, you will have the extra knowledge to help out those who are looking to apply as well. 6. "Is it hard to apply, and what happens then"? After basic approval, all you do is make sure your armor is up to the standards set forth in the CRL, post a thread with the required photos in the appropriate area (see below), and wait a bit for the D.O.s (Deployment Officers) to address it. (Hint: Studying other people's threads before you submit can be a GREAT help). These are also listed on the main page of the FISD site. While waiting for approval, you will get some comments from others who will offer suggestions and constructive advice to help you out. If you should need any changes, the DOs will let you know, so you can adjust accordingly. Don't be dismayed if you do need changes... it's all for your benefit! After you are approved for EIB, then you can submit for Centurion. EIB https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/19-request-expert-infantryman-status/ Centurion https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/72-request-centurion-status/ Just remember that the FISD is here to help you every step of the way with whatever other questions you may have, but if you can't seem to find what you are looking for in your research, just ask away here on the forum. With Unquestioned Loyalty Joseph Pedigo TK-10863 "justjoseph63" Deployment Officer This area lists all those who have gone above and beyond basic approval toward screen accuracy. FOR December - January the 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment would like to congratulate: Expert Infantry Badge Award: Roberto Cucchi "Roberto" TK 14965 EIB 878 Miguel G. Mügge "Mügge" TK 11519 EIB 879 Ryan Foresta "Manbehindthemask" TK 91593 EIB 880 Oscar De La Toba "Oscar" TK 22809 EIB 881 Fernando Alonso "Chips" TK 14767 EIB 882 SECOND EIB Awardees !! Luis S. Galan "Rietzer" TK 31513 Daniel "Ensi" TK 61514 GREAT job on your approval, now on to Level 3! Request your free EIB certificate here Centurion Badge Award: Wesley Gorman "theblueslime" TK 11937 Centurion 422 Jim "Rat" TK 95970 Centurion 423 Daniel "Ensi" TK 61514 Centurion 424 Outstanding job on reaching Centurion, Troopers! Request your free Centurion certificate here If you see any of these Troopers around your Garrison or Squad, be sure to congratulate them! As many of you are aware, the FISD is currently in our March to 1000 program. Our goal is to reach the one thousand mark of Troopers who have earned their Expert Infantry Badge, and although we are well on our way to this goal and have just reached the 880 mark! The amount of approved submissions is increasing (over 80 this year alone) thanks to the dedication of those willing to go the "extra mile" toward screen accuracy. Here is a brief description of EIB as written by Paul (Daetrin), our founder: "Expert Infantryman status is not required for members of this detachment. It should be viewed as an optional set of requirements for those who wish to take the accuracy of their costumes to the next level, and be recognized accordingly. We're a costuming club - think of it as an award for costuming excellence and you get the picture. The requirements will not replace or supersede 501st standards, but only serve as an inspiration for the level of accuracy that can be achieved. The standards are meant to be high but achievable..." Besides the added pride you will have in your armor, those reaching this level can purchase exclusive EIB gear (patches, decals, coins etc.) and get a free certificate for your accomplishment. If you are interested or would like more information about the program head here that will help. You can also contact myself "Pretzel" or any Imperial Attaché, and we will be more than happy to assist you! Greetings Troopers, It is with great honor and respect that I have accepted the position of DMBO. FISD has always been my home here in the Legion, and I look forward to working with the DL, command staff and members to make this detachment as great as it can be. A little bit about me - I have been a member of these forums for about two years and a member of the Legion for a little over a year. I have known about the 501st for several years, but it wasn't until the First Order Stormtrooper was unveiled in the first trailer for TFA that I decided to join and be one in real life. Plans change and I ended up joining as an ANH Stunt TK, and quickly applied for and earned my EI and Centurion badges. One year later and I still love every minute of it. I have also gladly served as an attaché and IPM member, helping others become stormtroopers and cleaning up our logos/branding. Lastly... merch is for the members. I'm not doing my job right if you feel you aren't being served - please, please post up a thread or send me a message if you have any ideas/comments/concerns. Once elections are over we will have a better handle on merchandise for the year - even with the new quotas, we have always believed in quality over quantity, and in the meantime you can look forward to some Celebration Chicago merch very soon! With Unquestioned Loyalty Brien Edick TK-92892 "Harbinger" Merchandise & Branding Officer FISD @ Celebration Chicago 2019 - Patch Contest ATTENTION TROOPERS!!! Feeling creative? Want to see your artwork and creativity immortalized and worn (and traded!) by hundreds at the biggest Star Wars event in the world? We are holding a contest to come up with an original FISD inspired patch design for Star Wars Celebration Chicago this April. The finished product will have it's own sales thread here and will be available for order as soon as possible! Contest Rules 1. The competition is from January 5th through midnight (PST) January 31st, at which time a poll will be opened so that everyone can vote on the design they like best. 2. There is no limit to the number of designs you can enter, and the shape can be round, chevron, etc. 3. You are welcome (and encouraged) to reference our official logos and colors at the bottom of this post to incorporate into your design. 4. All entries become the property of the FISD and 501st Legion. FISD Image/Color Reference: The winner will be announced in the February Newsletter. In addition, the winner will receive TWO (2) free patches of their design and some other cool swag (TBD) but most importantly, serious bragging rights! You can find the thread here ****PLEASE NOTE**** Although I try to add any new merchandise to the monthly newsletter not all merchandise runs coincide with each issue, it is always best to keep a watchful eye on the forums and especially on the merchandise area for any new runs as I am not privy to when they may be posted, as such some runs may not be included. FIRST ORDER RACING SHIRTS ***RUN CLOSED***Update 1/1/19 Finalization of current orders are underway. Any queries with regards to your order, please PM Berbs42 Big thanks one again to Chris for heading this run Interest Thread - Award Badges ***CLOSED - LMO APPROVAL DENIED*** Update 1/1/19 Matt "Bud Spaklur" posted an interest thread for award badges, unfortunately approval was denied, LMBO and team found the badges too similar to those used in the military, these will be revisited at a later date, perhaps after legion elections. Thread is here FISD OUTRUN TEE ***INTEREST THREAD***Update 1/12/19 Nate "The Snake" TK-87666 has posted the final design of his outrun tee and interest thread is live here. Run will be dependant on interest shown. Pricing USD $15 (which may be adjusted due to interested numbers) Newsletter FISD has been going through some refreshes over the last few months, logos, fonts, merchandise, so it's time the newsletter had a refresh too, hope you like it. Always looking for content so if there's something you like to share don't hesitate to reach out via PM. Hoping everyone had a great festive season break, wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year. With Unquestioned Loyalty Glen "Q" Rhodes TK-85421 "gmrhodes13" PRO - Newsletter Facebook & Twitter With Unquestioned Loyalty Daniel Lauber TK-55550 "Ripper_L" PRO - Facebook & Twitter Instagram With Unquestioned Loyalty Preston Christman TK-91488 "Pretzel" PRO - Instagram Facebook Group With Unquestioned Loyalty Marcus Dohring TK-14057 "JODOKAST" PRO - Facebook Group Don't Forget We're on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitearmor Facebook Group: 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment (FISD) Official Twitter: www.twitter.com/FISD501st or @FISD501st Instagram: www.instagram.com/fisd501st On behalf of the 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment Command Staff and the Imperial Propaganda Department http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9yfp014BM1qedb29o1_500.gif

Looks like a SW fan film is having success with it making the rounds on tech blogs etc: https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/13/18180851/star-wars-short-fan-film-squad-leader-td-73028-soliloquy-shakespeare-maxime-claude-lecuyer Starring one of our own dirty TD brothers no less. Congrats!

Coming along nicely. With elastic straps I normally use a soldering iron to make the hole but then add a drop of E6000 to the area before adding the snaps, doing both of these does help to stop the snaps pulling through, nice work on add the abs strip, they will work just the same

Hey Jesse...been off the boards for a while but damn! This is turning into one hell of a detailed build my friend!! Keep up the amazing work! [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks so much, guys!! :-D I'm having a blast. Last night I glued in the remaining male snaps on the right side of the ab/kidney (but forgot to take pictures). It may be redundant, but I am adding one more strap on the the bottom of the right side, even though the belt is sufficient to hold it together. I'm just paranoid. :-) Since the glue was still drying, this morning I moved on to the butt plate. Using the measurements from Ukswrath's ANOVOS build, I marked, drilled and countersunk holes for the two male snaps. And got the snaps installed. Again I used the supplied AP snaps here because they are visible from the outside (from a very specific, unlikely angle). I really liked the sturdiness of the elastic/ABS combo used for the shoulder bridges, so I decided to use it again here (even if it's a little overkill). I'll be turning the codpiece rivet into a snap on the inside, so I installed one female snap on the other end of the strap. Right about here, my latest (and probably final—probably) package from Amazon arrived with more snaps. Just in time! There are also some more rare earth magnets, a belt for my thigh garter, and some springs and clear cabochons (I didn't know what these were until yesterday!) to enhance my E-11 a little. With my snap stock replenished, I made straps for the ab/kidney connections, as well as the 14 remaining male snap assemblies I'll need to put the rest of the torso together. After this, I'll only need to make snaps for the thighs and possibly for the forearms. And lastly, I got the male snaps glued into the butt plate. The rest will go into place on the other pieces tomorrow, after the current round of gluing is finished. That's it for now! As always, your critique is much appreciated. Thanks everyone! :-)

Wow!! Paul continues to improve on his BlastFX offering. I had asked for a rotary switch over a year ago...now it being available, thats very cool!! Sent from my SM-G390W using Tapatalk

You’re doing some really great work with this build Patrick.

Thanks again, Jordan, for pointing this out -- I'd completely forgotten to include the fact that I did this when I set the snaps for the arms to attach to the shoulder elastic. As Jordan noted, the snaps on the shoulder elastic take a beating. Not only are these probably the most snapped-and-unsnapped snaps on the armor, but they're not "secure" snap locations in that one side or the other isn't solid ABS like it is so many other places on the armor. This is just elastic-to-elastic, and any kind of tugging can tear a snap loose. To help alleviate this, after burning the snap hole through the shoulder elastic -- but before mounting the snap -- I attached a 1"x1" regular webbing strengthening patch right where the snap goes. As I have before when gluing straps together, I used Duco Cement which dries nice and stiff. Once dry, I added a hole through my strengthening patch, and mounted the snap. I've done and undone that snap several times now, and the extra thickness there helps a lot. And, while you can't see it, I added some other strengthening to the shoulder elastics, too. You can see that the ends are folded over, but on the end that attaches to the Chest Plate (the right side of the strap in the photo), I've also slipped in a thin piece of ABS. Because I'll put on my armor clamshell-style like most of you, only the front snaps that go to the Chest are constantly snapped and unsnapped. This has already made a big difference.

Way ahead of you, Jordan -- I did exactly that. I added a stiffener to the shoulder elastic where the snap goes. That was just a 1" x 1" square of regular webbing, glued directly to the shoulder elastic. Not only does it strengthen where the snap is, using the regular webbing as a stiffener helps keep the elastic at the shoulder from pulling out to the side under the weight of the arms. In retrospect, I should have included a photo of that. In fact, I think I will. Hold that thought...

Yes, the BlastFX kit is really awesome! My son couldn’t stop testing it. And the scope display looks fantastic, especially in your beautiful hollow scope kit Brian. As soon as I saw movies of that combination I was sold! And on top of that Paul is a great guy to deal with, very helpful. He even sent me the latest BlastFX version with functional rotary switch, which wasn’t available yet when I placed my order. Really cool! Thanks for the heads up! Fortunately I already noticed and screwed the rear sight in the correct position, leaving just enough room for the end cap to move. Thanks guys! Looking forward to completing this project. If only I had more spare time...

FYI, I found this: it is an application for Centurion (Level 3) approval . The trooper is slightly weathered and approved.

FYI if you have not seen this already, there is a thread on SpecOps for this costume https://forum.specops501st.com/index.php?/topic/6288-rocket-trooper-bf2/&fbclid=IwAR0Uro-n80yG1lzBF6fV9KcXb8ZscyGDwFFYWQ6o5Gsxf-mQ08FwI6O_NDU&_fromLogin=1 The CRL will be created there, as SpecOps owns the costume. That said, it's been great for you to show your progress here - it's a sexy trooper for sure.

Hi Simon and welcome to the FISD! I love the eye for detail. Be sure to check out the CRL for the ANH stunt TK. If you are going for 501st approval, there are a few details that, although technically seen on screen, may not be approvable. This might include "heavy" wear of items or on-set fixes such as gaffers tape and such. Some minor wear and tear is allowed. Good luck on your build!

I sure will! Many thanks!

I have an extra set of TK Boots size 12 (I think) that I could sell. They are just sitting in my closet. But they are "Pre-weathered" if that makes sense

Huzzah! A new Cricket build!

Great progress despite setbacks! Go you! The punch may have gotten bent due to hammering on the granite slab if you didn't put a buffer behind the leather would be my guess. @Grihm is our resident leatherworker and can likely weigh in on punch quality questions.

Looks great!

The BlastFX kit is spectacular! that is going to light up your blaster like a Christmas tree! The scope display never fails to impress me as well. I told Paul he hit a grand slam when he added that to the kit! It added new purpose and meaning to making my hollow scope kits! Keep up the amazing work!

Capacitors looking good. I found them to be the most fun for this part. I had never worked on anything that small model wise so it was a challenge to get it all looking as it should. You are on your way! Coming together and your care for all the details is showing!

Thanks everybody and thanks Dan for all the effort you have put in to reviewing my application and for the very detailed feedback. I really appreciate that this is a big time commitment for you (and the rest of the team doing the approvals process for us all) and I want you to know how much you’re valued! It’s great to have this next level of approval - now back to reviewing the feedback about requirements for Centurion...

Congratulations trooper！

Man oh man - BlastFX v.2 with LED strip is gorgeous!! A heads up - not sure if you have your rear site installed already but a gap needs to be in place between it and the end cap so that when the end cap is engaged, there's that approx. 2mm room for the cap to be pushes and turned. Thought I'd mention [emoji28] Have fun!! Exciting build times ahead!! Sent from my SM-G390W using Tapatalk

Congrats!

Congratulations!

Congratulations on your approval!

Your pack is coming together nicely. Your attention to detail is very good.

Congrats on your approval! consider applying for the Expert Infantry Badge! https://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/113-advanced-tactics/

Great work, I have snaps behind my rivets, helps to break down the armor for air transportation, the clamshell is just a little wide for my suitcase Keep up the great work.

Congratulations on receiving approval and welcome to the ranks trooper. Here is your link: https://www.501st.com/members/displaymember.php?userID=29716&costumeID=122

Advised that the above is how it's meant to be. Thanks Mark (AP) for clarifying.

Goodluck with your application!!

Congratulations!! Well done!! Enviado desde mi SM-G930F mediante Tapatalk

Great job so far And really no need for any extra as the belt holds the rest - up to you though

Congratulations on approval If you have the profile then you`re all set, copy the link in the browser window

Looks great! Things get real when the strapping starts to go in. I'm sure you are aware, but just in case - remember to paint those ab/kidney rivets white.

Hi Eric, Thank you for your Centurion application. Let's drive straight in... CRL and Centurion Application Requirements: All required submission photos appear to be present. Firstly, I would like to thank you for making the suggested changes suggested in your EIB app. Secondly, on behalf of myself and the FISD Deployment team, I'd like to welcome you to rank of Centurion. Congratulations! Other-Armor Fit/Assembly: In this area we discuss any areas still needing some improvement. Though they will not hold you back from Centurion, Centurion is the elite level of accuracy and what we suggest here will help you reach that. Thank you for taking the time to adjust the sniper knee. We appreciate that the sniper knee can be a real pain sometimes, however, that little change has taken a beautifully built set of armour to an even higher level. Aside from the sniper knee, another minor detail is the thickness and shape of your E-11 D-Ring. As below, yours appears to be a little thinner than the originals, with a different overall shape. FISD Blaster Reference Apart from those two things, we have nothing else to say. Well, apart from many congratulations again! Get out there and make the Empire proud.

I will with the front strips only because the raised area will be 20mm, so that’s all that will fit on the inner channel. I will probably use the 40mm sections I cut off the outer thigh shell front as an inside strip on the rear of the thighs. It’s for strength so the more surface area the more grabbing power. Generally I don’t worry about the inner size as long as it’s not too small.

I’d give it a few days to post to the 501st website. Perhaps another member has some other options.

Hi everyone, happy Monday! Since those other pieces were still finishing up their 24-hour dry-time, this morning I set about the ab assembly. Since I'm building for Centurion, this means the left side will have six visible rivets (three on the ab, three on the kidney) painted white, and the right side will have one visible male snap. I used Ukswrath's ANOVOS build as a guide for my measurements here: After a test fit, I discovered that trimming to Mark's indicated "movie accurate" size is the correct fit for me. Hooray for accuracy! Those OTTKs must have had some extra room in there. Also, I decided to leave on the ab's return edge for now, until I have the strapping done. Then, I'll see how it feels and if I need to open it up some more I'll trim some or all of it away. Back to business: I scored and snapped both the ab and kidney to the pre-drawn pencil lines. For clarification, I'll be referring to the sides of my pieces as "left and right" relative to how they fit on my body when assembled (i.e. "left side" of the ab closes on the left side of my body). Here is the left side of the ab with its drill holes marked, starting 2cm away from the return edge and spaced 6cm apart from each other: And here are my pre-drill guide marks: Voila! Since I would still like to disassemble the ab and kidney at will, I'll be using the "turn rivets into snaps" method. I cannot remember where I read this first, but it's a great idea. All you have to do is trim down the split rivet, and using a chisel (or in my case flathead screwdriver) and hammer, set the rivet into the inside of a male snap. I found that finishing the job with the snap-setting tool firmed up the snap nicely. Next, I moved on to the right-side snap, which I'd like to be functional. As directed in Ukswrath's guide, I measured 20mm away from both the return edge and the kidney-side edge. I drilled, countersunk and installed the male snap. I used a supplied AP snap instead of a Tandy snap for this so that I didn't become a non-canon Tandy advertisement (even though half of the Empire is held together with their supplies!). And that's where things are for right now! Tomorrow, I'll get the interior strapping done. I'll be adding one more strap on the bottom of the right side, and also using the "tab and slot" method to keep things lined up properly.

The project isn't dead. But had to be put on pause due to exam. I have gotten a lot of the parts I need, and ordered some I won't need after all. I have an extra of DD's M38 scope and Hengstler counter. Both will be 3D printed instead. As I want to make them hollow. The Hengstler to be able to put electronics and speakers inside. And the Scope, just to let light pass through. I had previously made the geometry in 3D, but wasn't fully satisfied. So tonight I redrew the files again. Some parts aren't included, as they will come from other sources. Such as the screws (from T-Jay's parts set), and the lenses I got from another place. And as I was already doing the files, I thought I'd some fun and made a render of them. I haven't yet put text on the rear of the scope. I'm not fully decided if I want this part 'on screen accurate', or 'in universe style'. For the latter I imagine doing them in aurebesh letters, instead of latin letters.

The best thing I did was stuff the fear of failure, take the plunge, and get building. Congrats on that first step! Looking forward to this build; I've always been curious about Phasma's outfit.

Hm, not sure if you knew, but scopes and counters are both available with hollowed body to install electronics. See here: FS: Bulldog Props M38 & M19 Resin Scope Kits and the version 2 counter from the completion sets.

Great pictures Trooper!

I just want to bump this back to the front page because it's a lifesaver! Just printed the front sight housing, as I carved mine up a bit too much trying to release my doopydoos housing and the sight itself.