tigger68

The THX comes from one of Lucas's student short films called Electric Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB (THX 1138 4EB - USA Title) which is where the security costumes in "Fanboys" come from. They are designed like the security costumes from the THX movie. Lucas wrote it and made it as part of his film studies. So he does like continuity doesn't he??? I know, I'm a trivia geek, goes along with the Star Wars geek thing. I don't think it matters how you display your ID, but when I'm officially a TI :tie: designation, I'm definitely using a hyphen just to set it off from the numbers.

I don't know...it still seems really neat that the one guy (never did learn his name) got to live out his fantasy and be in the "remastered" EP IV. But it is also cool to see the inside of the backpacks they had to remake...hollow vacuum molded items. For those who are talented that way (I'm not) you might pick up some great ideas....hmmmmm.

Hmmm, may have to consider them for my pauldron for my TX, if they ever officially recognize the NovaTrooper. They look great!

Great information. Now I've got more ideas as soon as my mod kit gets here from DoopyDoos. I just need to make my T-rack while I'm waiting. But great ideas. I'd like to be able to keep my Hasbro blaster so I can open it and now I know how to do it.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Just remember he's "Nu kyr'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la." ("Not gone, merely marching far away" - Mandalorian tribute to fallen comrade.) I'll keep his family in my prayers tonight.

Very cool. I just wish they hadn't said on the slideshow that the stormtroopers had been provided from Lucasfilm Ltd., only partially true. No mention of the 501st at all. Oh well, we know who the real stars of the day were! Good job guys!

Okay, I was going to do a Disney Maleficent pumpkin, but after seeing the templates on StarWars.com I'm doing a TK or maybe a TX(?) one, or if I'm really ambitious, Darth Vader. Must go sharpen my carving tools now...

Congratulations! An inspiration for the rest of us who are still working on getting our IDs. You're definitely an asset to the organization.

Sorry to hear you're closing shop, but family comes first. I'm also sorry to hear about your dog. Put those kids in Jawa uniforms...or maybe you could get some of that craft foam armor.... Take care and take time for your family.

I'm going to throw my 2 cents in, hopefully to try and defuse a potentially harmful situation. First of all, as a newbie, I didn't know where to go to get my armor. Since I had decided to do my TIE Pilot first, I did use the bay as I didn't have anywhere else to get my helmet. Most prop makers aren't making TIE Pilots, and I didn't want to wait a year after I had ordered one to receive it. JRS allows the Rubies helmet (with modifications) and I'm also trying to get a Don Post Classic (off the bay because they aren't available anywhere else). The rest of my armor and uniform I got through my local garrison and members of the JRS. As for stormtrooper armor, I didn't know where to go. Recasters? So yeah, I looked at the bay, didn't purchase, but doing more research found a site mentioning TE, TE2, AP, TM, etc. No idea how to contact these people regarding armor...getting a little frustrated now. Went back to my local garrison and talked with some of them, they pointed me back to the 501st site and then here. I'm hanging out, learning all I can before I invest a good portion of time and money into what I want as armor. Most newbies don't understand contacting the local garrison, doing their homework, etc. They want it now. Don't get me wrong, if I find someone has recast armor without permission, I won't purchase from them...that is not right. But if I had innocently purchased recast armor, I would never have known the difference. Now that I know, I have my short list of persons I would love to purchase from, just have to finish what I'm doing and save up the money (sticker shock) Perhaps we can keep this discussion down to one of just directing people towards the correct armor makers. I know that when I'm ready to purchase my armor, I'm going to ask people here to PM me contact information so I can get what I want. Yes, recasting is not ethically correct, but unfortunately it is a fact of life. Lets try and keep things on an even keel so newbies will feel welcome to ask questions and get directed to those armor makers who are honorable. As a newbie, if I hadn't felt welcome here, I would have left the forum, probably purchased from a recaster on the bay, and tried to get into my local garrison. I'm rather shy in person and not one to put myself forward and make a nuisance of myself to my garrison. Yes, there are hoops to jump through to become a member of the 501st, but thank heaven Daetrin was willing to start this forum to help those of us who are trying to jump through those hoops by giving us the training needed from those who have been there done that. I'm jumping off my soap box now.

Pandatrooper, it's just you. No, I am kind of a little creeped out but then I'm a scientist at heart so why not? Although, if you go to the ThinkGeek website their product features include that it is "Great for playing pretend Save Luke from the Wampa Games." Um, why do we want to save him? He destroys our Emperor, and causes the demise of Vader. We were happy until Luke came along...although I do like the built in pillow

Oooo...black and shiny v e r y n i c e

Okay, I know this is kind of strange, but if anyone else out there is following the new direction of the Cartoon Network Clone Wars series, Darth Sidious (aka Palpatine) is attempting to harves mid-chlorians from children to use in creating new clones...I started laughing because of the whole EU thing, and my sister and her husband who were watching with me had to have an explanation. So perhaps down the road if you wanted to be a Clone Trooper you can carry a light saber because it will be canon.

Actually, I always loved the stormtrooper costume...but I am completing my TIE Pilot first (waiting on a couple of ordered details to add) because I always wanted to fly :tie: and they dress in black. :ph34r: Why couldn't some of the stormtroopers have been female? Remember, back in 1977 when ANH came out, women weren't serving in the military in combat roles...30 years later they are. Also, I have never seen myself as a typical woman, not into dolls, really dislike wearing dresses (unless formal ones or for a specific reason), would rather shop electronics stores than clothing stores, and have a real thing for anything mechanical. I am planning on completing not only a TK but also a TX version (black again). I'm already modding my Hasbro blaster to meet ANH EIB standards. I am not a Princess Leia type person anyway. My figure would never be her figure, and although I'm "a little short for a stormtrooper" (5'4") I think it is really fun. Besides you get to wear armor, bring smiles to people, meet great people, and have FUN!!!! Oh yeah, and carry a rather large "hand" weapon. What more could you ask for? One other note, George Lucas was asked in an interview not long after ANH was released about the dearth of women stormtroopers. He replied (and you can get the actual quote from the book The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film: based on the lost interviews from the official Lucasfilm archives by J.W. Rinzler) that although there were no women stormtroopers on the Death Star, that didn't mean there weren't others serving throughout the Empire. A long answer, but one to a legitimate question.

Well, according to Anthony Daniels in interviews, he did a lot of tripping...down stairs, walking across the floor, couldn't sit down. But WOW what a great job they did on this.

for maintenance sake I would go with the black pull...less touching up. Oh and to answer an above question...Obievon, I think your avatar is one of the pictures from Star Wars Helmet's site, flipped and cropped into close-up. I can hardly wait to see your TX. Makes me want to forget my chest box (and all the fiddly little buttons) and go for my TK or TX right now. (we need a head slap emoticon right here). Good luck!

Well, Target T1543 has the E-11 available (currently we have 2), and we got those in last week. The DPCI (and if you scan them with the PDA) for them calls them a Clone Trooper Blaster not a Stormtrooper blaster. We have both those and the "real" clone trooper blaster. This week, only 4 "nerf" dart guns. So it all depends on the store. I say just swing by that area and look through the entire stock of blasters as you might luck out.

I've tried to stay out of this controversy as I felt it didn't apply to me and although I can see both sides, I have to say that in many ways I support the actions of the person who was asking the questions. The fact that the laws are so weird, and even though I don't know the Dutch legal system, perhaps this is the time to look at changing the law???? I know that in the U.S. we could bring up a court case and perhaps even have it go before the highest court in the land. I know I would be concerned about being caught with an illegal prop weapon in a country with very strict weapons laws. That being said, toy guns are being used in crimes everywhere. How many of the TK's will remove their orange plug to look "more screen accurate" for their costumes? How many of us will remove the guts from inside our hasbro blasters? If it can be opened, and modified, I'm sure someone will do it, and make it so that it fires real projectiles, whether intended for that purpose orignally or not. As for trooping in hospitals with weapons. I'm sure that if you contact the hospital, talk with the head of security, and possibly even the persons responsible for the event, they would allow you to bring your blasters with you. You may have to have them examined thoroughly upon entering and have a sticker applied saying that they had been examined (sticker can be removed) but I think that would be a small price to pay. If the hospital or event decides that having the blasters there would not be allowed, would you really not partcipate? Is it about the blasters or the children? If a child asks you where your blaster is, just say they aren't allowed in the medical bay, but not to worry, you are just as effective without it. As a hospital employee, I wouldn't have a problem with a stormtrooper carrying a blaster, but again, I've had a close friend shot by someone who smuggled in what looked like a toy weapon modified to fire real projectiles, so I can see the reason for the total weapons ban. Okay, I'm jumping off my soap box now, and will try and keep things light and airy from now on...

I'm not going to support or disprove this gentleman's claims. I'm not that concerned. What I am interested in is the fact that the picture of the group of TK's in the docking bay shows that not all the armor was identical. I'm seeing missing drop boxes, no holsters, one trooper looks like he put on the shoulder bells of the trooper next to him (they seem a little long)...but then I could be splitting hairs. So I'm not going to take sides on any of this. All I know is that they were grabbing bits and pieces from every source they could to make up the uniforms, and who knows what may have happened. (rummaging through her storage unit looking for her original VHS tape of ANH to see if she can spot the trooper with no armor on his leg) Also, it is common practice to use cardboard cutouts in large group scenes in movies. Happens all the time. Not as often now with CGI, but look at most crowd scenes in movies and over 60% will be cardboard cutouts.

Um, I posted about a week ago about going about dyeing black boots. Dyeing Black Jodhpur Boots I've done leatherwork for years and you do need to use a deglazer. One of the main problems with Jodhpur boots is that they are designed to resist the elements, and animal by-products. So the dyes and finishes are really tough. One possible reason (already mentioned) for the cracking is the number of layers of dye used. Another is the fact that strange as it may seem, you need to get the leather wet before applying the dye. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but if the leather is moistened (not soaking wet) it will absorb the dye more readily. Another suggestion to limit the number of dye coats is to use an intermediate color between the black and the white. Put down a coat of light grey just over the bottom black. Then after that dries, wet it down again, and apply a coat of white. I wouldn't apply more than three coats total (1 grey, 2 white). You can then use a leather whitener (Kiwi) that has a sponge applicator for touch ups. You will also need to apply a top coat to seal the dye and protect your boots from the elements. Remember, you have removed the coating that the manufacturer put on the boots. I was working on a written tutorial about how to dye boots, and I didn't know if people were still interested. If you'd like more advice, you can PM me and I'll see about posting my written tutorial later today. Also, (directed at JAG) there is a leather "paint" supplied by Tandy Leather Factory that is acceptable in California, also, there are several sites that sell products to recolor leather furniture.

Okay, I got hooked on Republic Commando. Then I found the Boxed set called Star Wars the Best of PC, which contained Empire at War, Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront, and Republic Commando. So now I travel back and forth between RC and Battlefront. My extended family thinks I'm nuts. Because I have a long commute on public transport for work, I purchased a Nintendo DS...and splurged on SW Battlefront, Elite Squadron, with the Nintendo DS Star Wars kit (Darth Vader Sleeve, Red Lightsaber stylus) so now I'm playing while travelling to and from work. Combine that with my gold metal stormtrooper keychain on my desk at work and people think I'm a little obsessed with the Dark. Side But who cares? :tie: :vader1:

Hmmm, I'm thinking road trip, and I think I know just the person to do the movie. Now, I just need to raise the money....find the time....oh yeah, finish my master's degree...make money....go overseas...pay the filmmaker.... This is one project that I won't be completing in the next six months. Perhaps in the next four years...I'll put it on my To-Do list. A good excuse to travel???

Um, has anyone else noticed how "out-of-sync" the clone troopers are when they are assembling on Kamino for Kenobi's review? I've seen high school marching bands that are more in sync, and these were supposed to be incredibly well trained soldiers????? Personally, I'll still with the original ANH. Have the original copy on VHS, and burned it to DVD using software...also cleaned it up a little. Great to watch if I don't want to see the extra added people in Mos Eisley. Only downside...less Sandtroopers to watch. <_< Oh well, can't have everything.

Well, Tricker's Factory in the UK does do women's white jodhpur boots. At least they used to: Tricker's Factory White Silvia Brogue Jodhpur boots However, looking at the prices for their boots, 215 USD and up, I'm not sure I want to pay that much for boots I'm not wearing all the time. Who knows though....

Um, anyone in the UK know anything about Trickers Factory Shop shoes? They make a women's white jodhpur (not suitable for trooping though because of decorative elements), but maybe....talking with them about a couple of runs of white jodhpurs for the 501st might work. However, the cost might be prohibitive. Just a thought.