Darth Aloha

Unless the thread is exceedingly inflammatory we do not make a habit of deleting threads.... not even for-sale threads. History, no matter how banal, is an important part of the FISD. However if you want a topic title edited please let one of of the staff know. We're usually happy to do so. -Eric

Sweet lid! Nicely done trooper. -Eric Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Artie, Your armor looks good and you're really close to EIB after fixing a few minor things. CRL Related It looks like one of your side gaps are larger than 1/2". In the photos I can only see your right side. Your left side gap is obscured by your arm. Please retake both photos once you eliminate the gap. Other Please retake all of your full body photos with your holster attached and your thighs moved up. Ensure your arms are at your sides in the photo of your front. This is a really minor and stupid thing but when you retake the photos ensure your undersuit isn't bunched at the elbows. Your ab buttons do indeed need a little more paint. See this post with reference photos. (I should really make this a CRL item somehow given how often it occurs) Centurion Suggestions Your holster rivets should be moved down. The blaster needs a cocking handle. I'll get back to you on the length of the clip. Ensure the outer edges of your drop boxes are vertically aligned with edges of the plastic belt. Take a few closeup photos of your thigh back and sniper knee. Thanks! -Eric

Thanks Ray. Those look much better. I'm approving you for Expert Infantry. When you get a chance can you post a photo of you suited up and not so close up of your ab buttons. Congratulations trooper. -Eric

Pretty much years of staring at photos posted in this forum every day of your life is the only way to catch the subtleties of each maker's armor... And even then I'm still learning. Some people are just frustratingly good at it. I recently showed a photo of a sniper knee on a shin to Locitus and he correctly identified it as AP. That may very well be a sign of a larger mental health problem that he shouldn't be as proud of I find the armor itself easier than the helmets even when they're lined up next to each other. That sounds like a fun web app to create doesn't it? -Eric Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey Gordo.... Also what theme are you using? Take some screen shots if you can. Thanks! -Eric Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All, I upgraded the forum software on the server today. Please let me know if you experience anything out of the ordinary by posting here, sending me a PM, or emailing me. Thanks, -Eric

Folks... I upgraded tapatalk on the server today. Please let me know if it seems broken in any way. -Eric

Woo. Fun blaster build... where's the "follow" button? -Eric

Michael, Okey... here are my two points before approving you... thanks for your patience during my absence. Trim the top of your shims so that they line up with the top of your ab and kidney horizontally. Trim material of the top and bottom of your knee pack so that the edges are closer to the boxes on the pack. Thanks! -Eric

Craig, I'm sorry for the delay but I'm back at it again.... Your build looks good but needs a few minor tweaks before I can approve it... I think you should reduce forearm gap with elastic but I'll allow it. Most of the time when we troop our arms are bent. Here's a photo from the lucasfilm archives showing the forearm/bicep elastic: Add a solid head rivet to the thigh pack on each side Align the sniper knee along with the angle of the top of the shin. I hear tell that the AP shin is notoriously annoying. Replace the fasteners holding your holster on with unpainted pop rivets or chicago screws turned around so that the screw head is on the inside and the tube with the hole in it is in the outside Photo of the outside of the butt and cod crotch (I love this hobby... I get to type "crotch" fairly often without irony) Photo of the return edge of the wrist side of the forearm Photo of the spring in your blaster Reduce the back/kidney gap by either lengthening your shoulder elastic and shortening the back/kidney elastic or somehow slide your butt/kidney/ab up. I think the latter would look better. The one thing I'm undecided on is about the rivets on your ab and kidney. I need to confer with the staff but I think we generally ask applicants to put the rivets on the shim itself rather than have a wide gap between the rivets. They rivets should also line up. Please stand by on this point. A seam is fine on the side shims but more hidden is better if possible. Thanks for your patience, -Eric

Chris, I'm back again with full time internet access with a computer. Give me another day or so to chat more with the staff and I'll get back to you. (nicely researched btw) Thanks for your patience, -Eric

Good point Kevin! This thread has been moved to the new Concept Armor forum. I'll add link to the CRL on the side of the main page as soon as I remember how. Aloha, -Eric

You're welcome Andy. I think a lot of folks have been following your research. If you look in the forum where your threads are located you'll see the number of views the thread has received. I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're looking for. If you compare it to other seemingly popular threads the number becomes more meaningful. Actually the staff has been so wrapped up that we're just getting the email notification out today. Expect it in your inbox some time in the next few hours. Thanks! -Eric

i sorta did in a way Greetings from a random coffee shop... I started through the EIBs this morning.... I'll continue on with Centurions later today once my internet is installed. Grassy an impolite person for everyone's patience. -Eric

^What the founder said. -Eric

Todd, This is one utterly badass costume. It's a really clean paint job and build with a high attention to detail. It is completely deserving of EIB. The reason for the delay on approval is I wasn't, and I'm still not sure, about the back of your helmet. The action figure clearly shows some gray boxes below the cap: I'm not convinced that it would look good on an actual helmet. I also think I need more proof beyond the action figure that the gray boxes are present from star tours footage. I want to discuss it further with the staff. I will likely ask you to add some paint to your helmet if you apply for Centurion. Please continue to stand by on a decision on that. As it stands here is the wording from the basic level for the helmet which is confusing: A unit stripe in a medium gray shall be present on the cap of the helmet. The unit stripe starts between the eyes and above the brow and flares out to cover the outer edges of both back traps. (trapezoidal indentations) and ends at the ridge of the cap where the back meets and extends below the bottom of each trap. I'm also ignoring the ab button orientation which you correctly pointed out is wrong in the CRL. I'll be changing the CRL soon enough. Congratulations to Todd, a 4 time EIB, a costume addict, and the first Skytrooper EIB! -Eric

Robin, Great looking armor. You're approved for EIB. Please help me congratulate the second Dutch EIB. Here are the suggestions for Centurion: Remove the side overlap on your right side Lower your holster rivets Move your drop boxes to the end of the belt. The outside side of the dropboxes should line up with the end of the plastic belt. I can't really see the photo on this terrible laptop, but do you have a spring in your blaster? If not, you'll need one. Show proof of the small white elastic holding down the shoulder bridges in the back. Would it be possible to make your thighs and biceps a little smaller in diamter? That would help improve your overall look. Ensure your left calf closes all the way before retaking photos. Include some up close photos of your thigh pack and sniper knee. -Eric

All, I'm without real internet until Monday the 9th of December. I apologize for the continued delay on EIB and Centurion applications. Thanks for your patience. -Eric Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A-mazing! -Eric

Wow. Way to make some imperial lemonade out of your armor lemons. Looks like you're having fun too. Keep at it! -Eric

Wow. It turned out great! This is under review. Stand by Todd and thanks for your patience. -Eric

As Locitus keeps pointing out to me... there is no mechanism for getting two Centurion awards. I agree that it dilutes the special nature of the award, but this hero build deserved to be spotlighted as a Centurion in spite of all those facts. So... even though we can't denote it... this is certainly a Centurion-worthy TK. Troop on! -Eric

Sorry for the delay. Approved! I still suggest you tighten up the back/kidney straps a bit. That will improve your overall look. -Eric

Chris, Your side shims look great. I'd like to see a photo of them on you as well. I'm sorry for the confusion. I was indeed making it a requirement. From what I can see from this photo is that there doesn't seem to be a reason for the wide cover strips. People usually use them to create a wider gap in the back for larger diameter thighs. Here's a photo from your application: I can see that your inner cover strip is thin and the two halves of the thigh come together not leaving a gap for fit. Based on this I asked that you put smaller cover strips to match what was used on screen. If I'm way off base here please provide some detailed photos of the backs and inside of your thighs to continue the discussion. Thanks! -Eric