gazmosis

That return edge process you have is awesome!!!!! I LOVE what you did with the bottom of the kidney. Nice job nailing those ears. You got skills man!!! I'd look into the blue for the tube stripes. Like Glen said, it seems really light. Can't wait to see you suited up!!!

I assume and hope that any event you do will be with your Garrison in which case your event coordinator (EC) will be your source of information about how long you will be suited up. In regards to where you get suited up, your EC will have taken care of that information for you as well. Back rooms, storerooms, private offices are usually where suiting up happens. You want your personal things to be protected and a bathroom is not agood place for that unless it is not available to the public. Questions: Hmmmmmmmmm Where did you get the armor? Can I hold your gun? Who are you guys? Most embarassing is being asked by a parent to hold their baby. But I was asked if a woman could make out with a stormtrooper. Who was I to dissapoint my public.

I know we have dicussed this a thousand times already. Since I have not been around due to total immersion in another costume project, I apologize if it has been discussed recently. We all know about the cover strip measurements: 15mm for arms, 20mm leg fronts, 25mm leg backs. However, a good friend of mine with direct contacts to RS Props said those are too wide. He just finished his RS build and used these thinner measurements for his finish strips. Just want to find out the opinion here.

Really nice looking armor, young Man!!! congrats!

I am ready to pull the trigger at removing my velcro and converting to the hooks and straps. My question is in suiting up. My calves are so form fit that if I am retaining water or ate too much salt the night before, the back of my left calf will not come together. On good day, it meets exactly with NO room to spare. Are the hooks easily....well...hooked with the calf on or are they hooked ahead of time and the foot slides in then your boot goes on? Pics would really help here!!!!

Doing what we do here in the 501st can be a thankless job from time to time. We appear in front of hundreds of people a month in our armor and are superstars rallying to the cause of whatever troop we are representing at that time. When the helmet comes off, though, did I ever feel that the person standing next to me who I just took 4 picture with their kids, knew it was me under that bucket? Did I ever really want them to thank me? No. Why? It's just what we do. The fact that the 501st seems to be represented more in the headlines than the FISD regarding Katie's armor doesn't seem that big of a deal. WE know what we did and like Carlos said earlier, Katie and her Mom were made perfectly clear with no uncertain terms that if it wasn't for the FISD, the armor plain WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!!! I feel a sense of pride beyond anything I have felt before in the 501st donating to the cause alone. HAve had the honor to be on the build team was just icing on the cake. The 501st is the larger entity and our home base. Should we really be surprised that it is mentioned more? Not really. The FISD is proud of what we did for that little girl. No one here will soon forget that. I know I won't.

Way to go, Matt!!!! I still remember the first time i suited up for the public like it was yesterday. I never expected that I would ever be involved with something as gratifying as this. Every time I think that I have seen it all, something like this comes along to remind me how awesome it is to be part of the501st. I am truly blessed!

The day the 501st/F.I.S.D./Midwest Garrison were all waiting for has come and gone. It was everything it could have been. Once it was decided that the presentation was going to be an official troop, troopers from the Midwest Garrison ralleyed to join in the celebration. It would have been cool to have three or four troopers and maybe a Vader. Not only did we have a Vader, but an Imperial Officer, and EIGHT TK's were there as well!!! I did not suit up as I had volunteered to help Katie into her armor and show Mom (carrie) through the process. 11 troopers all together! What a turnout! What was best about it was that neither Katie or her Mom was aware that troopers were going to be there! Once Katie and Carrie arrived, they were greeted by the Imperial March on the stereo and the sight of 8 TK's lined up on both sides creating an aisle that led straight to Vader. Katie was a little overwhelmed and that was to be expected. Carrie was feverishly snapping pictures to document every moment of this little girl's dream come true. Once things settled down a bit, Katie was told the story of how this day was made possible. She was informed that the entire WORLD had come together for her to help her dream come true. She was even shown that fact. With Tom (RogueTrooper)'s help, the full list of everyone that had contributed to this project was assembled. These names were added to the underside of the tote lid to document all the contibutions from troopers around the globe. A list of instructions was added as well as a column for "armor recipients". After Katie has outgrown the armor, it will return to the 501st to hopefully make another child's dream come true. Once the tale had been told, Katie heard the words she had been waiting for...."Are you ready to suit up?" The armor went on like it was made for her........because it was!!! But really. The fact the armor not only fit, but fit her comfortably was a huge relief to the build team. And she wore it like a pro!!! She joined everyone for picture time along side her heroes. Katie then took a second from all the excitement to remove her bucket and thank everyone for helping her dream to come true. Although I didn't see, I'm sure my eyes were not the only ones with a few tears in them. Thanks needs to go out to Legion PR member Dean Plantamura for contacting the F.I.S.D. and to Tom (RogueTrooper)Gardner for spearheading the contribution efforts. Thanks also needs to go to all the troops worldwide that contributed both dollars and/or materials. Thanks also needs to be extended to the Midwest Garrison build team members: Javier Esqueda (TK 265), Adriane Bean (TK 4541), Steve Mammen (TK 7345), Brain Troyan (TK 8968) and Steve Gaza (TK 4034). This was truly a worlwide effort that made a little girl's dream come true. This is a proud day for the 501st!!!! DUTY! HONOR! EMPIRE!!!.....501st!!!! Garrison representatives: Brian Troyan (TK 8968) Adriane Bean (TK 4541)Carlos Mendoza (TK 5924) Phyllis Schulte (TK 1951) Steve Mammen (TK 7345) Matt McDonald (TK 8148) Javier Esqueda (TK 265) Jim Tampa (SL 1020) Dave Obidallah (ID 4185) Steve Gaza (TK 4034). Kudos need to go out to Matt Frysztak (TK 8596) who came in from the Bloodfin Garrison to join in this celebration. ----------------------

Great choice on the ATA!! Love the kit and the results!

Got mine at Home Depot

Wise words!!! Your level of satisfaction with that decision will never be questioned. Building the armor is only half the fun!!!! Follow Frank and Patrice's advice!!

It is now an official "troop"!! With confirmation from Katie's Mom, an established time of her arrival has been set and they will be met by members of the 501st 's finest. You can guarantee pictures will be taken!!!

Having one pre-assembled is risking more than the reward. Everyone is different. Armor should be built around YOUR body. If you pay to have it built and it doesn't fit......you know that result. Many things need to be taken into consideration when buying armor. What you can afford is a good starting point, but body type is another. RS Props has been labeled as THE most accurate ANH armor available. Because of this, it is designed to fit the build of the 1977 actors (approx 5'11" and 175 Lbs....roughly) If you are a bigger trooper, that needs to be taken into consideration. If you are on this website...THIS is your instruction page. There are MANY methods of building armor. Find the RS props builds and use them to guide yourself through your build. Whoever has purchased RS Props knows what they have bought and has done the research necessary to acheive the best results.

Jeez I love armor builds!!!!!! Nice work so far!!! \

So the gathering began at the house of Gazmosis at just after 8 AM and ended just after midnight. All participants lended their talents toward a single goal; to have Katie smiling in her armor. Adriane Bean, Steve Mammen, Javier Esqueda and Steve Gaza toiled into the night bringing Katie's armor to near completion. It was a battle that is best described as "polishing a turd". FX kids armor was not thought out very well and parts fit together weak at best. We awnted to deliver something that looked as close to "big person's" armor as we could get it while tweeking some things to acheive better accuracy. We made some EIB and Centurion additions to the armor. We tweeked the rounded biceps to give them a more horseshoe look even giving her left one a little "thumbprint". The right grieve was angled slightly at the top to give it a less rounded appearance. The butt and kidney were seperated and joined properly. Males snaps(2) and the crotch rivet were installed. Despite the need for shims, we still installed the side rivets and male snap on the right side. We strognly desired to alter the thighs to look more accurate but they were molded so poorly and hardly lined up to start that removing too much material would jeapordize the final fit. We even placed the elastic on the ribbed shoulder straps. My nighbor's daughter had stopped by to do a test fitting but came over earlier than planned so we tried on her what we had finished at the time. It looked GREAT!!!! There are only a few minor loose ends to tie up and these should be done by mid-week. We, of course, are trying to turn the final presentation into a troop. It was hard enough to gather the build team with the time we had so we are hoping we can gather some troopers for the presentation in a shorter time. We will update this, of course, Here is the link to the build pics so far.http://s807.photobuc...tie armor 2012/ teaser picsOur build team (Left to right)Javier Esqueda TK265, Steve Mammen (Woulf), Steve Gaza (Gazmosis), and Adriane Bean (Beans) bicep before/after nice thighs, huh? The "cuteness" of these tiny parts made us swoon on several occasions My neighbor's daughter in the early test fitting.

Thanks for the kind words! This coming Sunday is our main build day. Katie wants it for halloween so if there are things that need to be tweeked after the main armor build party, we still have a few days before final presentation. I will post a photobucket URL the day of the build

Just an update from the Midwest Garrison on Katie's armor build: Progress is being made despite the distance between all parties involved. Measurements of Katie were collected and compared to a neighbor's daughter for fitting purposes. All extra parts have been received (ABS from Terrell at ATA for cover strips, neckseal, KICK A** holster and blaster from Tom, canvas belt, and boots). Since this IS an FX kit, the challenges of making this NOT look like one are a challenge in itself. The main challenge was in the helmet. I have evidence that the helmet was trimmed prior to receiving it. It did finall go together but with a great deal of effort. Standard FX helmet building proceedures were scrapped for more accurate results. Correct colors and hand painting were implimented although Trooperbay's accurate tubes stripes were used. The ears were a total different color of ABS and looked rediculous next to the much whiter helmet. After considerable trimming, the ears were painted white to match the rest of the helmet. The only other thing that needed correcting was the mic tips. The kit comes with what looks like ribbed stereo knobs. This would not do. I ground down the ribs on the sides, cut an "equator" around the center and added mini screens. They are so cute. Other tidbits that have been done so far: Ab plate was trimmed to not look so "FX" like, black ab buttons painted correctly, Belt was trimmed and corners angled, Therm Det was painted and awaiting assembly, Butt plate was seperated from kidney. It was determined from the measurements that the sides will need to be shimmed almost 2 inches. It is what it is. Our team is assembling this coming sunday. We have three experienced armor builders and one seamstress who also has armor experience. I can't wait to see this little girl in it!!! Some progress pics. The original ab After trimming at ab buttons installed Helmet during painting Stereo knobs.....er...mic tips before and after Completed helmet Hopefully soon, we will have pics of our little TK complete and smiling!!

It will be agreed to get that chest down a little. The straps even if it is one in the center, is the perfect solution to keeping the chest from riding up on the ab. One more thing.....the tube stripes on the cheeks look a little wide a far spaced to me. Maybe it's just me. Are those decals or hand painted? Looks really nice all together!!!!

I contacted Paul â„¢ and he said he will not be making any of the Kids Kit in the near future He won't even make an exception this one time for the one little girl?????? How much can we pay him without getting nuts to convince him?

Has an armor been chosen yet? I saw the TM kit for kids and MAN that looks great!!!

As a Midwest Garrison Member we already have several troopers lined up to donate their time to make this little one's dream come true. Would the armor maker chosen be willing to donate any portion of the armor? By the way...paypal sent

you'll need to go at it with some rubbing compund and polish it to a nice gloss.

I have a ton of what you might be looking for. I am sure others will chime in. PM me with your address and I will send you some and you decide if it's right for you. What I have is a sheet of metal mesh. one piece not woven. It is used to create shapes like mountains and hills for model dioramas.