jnnfr72

TK 5305, here's some photobucket pics for your viewing pleasure. http://s853.photobucket.com/albums/ab99/jnnfr72/IndyRebel%20armor%20pics/ and this has nothing to do with armor, but it makes me giggle....

Hi NoVATie, One of my minions got approved today. Rick Smiley... http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=14468 TK 5305. Could he please get access? Now I'm off to recruit more minions! Thanks!!! Jenny

TK - 5305, The Empire is most pleased of your unfailing loyalty and exceptional service on this day of days. Proudly wear your armor while blasting rebel scum across the Universe! Congratulations on joining the finest Imperial Corps in all the Galactic Empire. Unquestioned loyalty! TK - 9496 out.

No Way, DAWG! I have the SAME EXACT TRUNK!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Hi Shawn, I would say yes, get the front to line up, and glued, and then work on the backs. I found a Panda Trooper thread... not sure it all the way applies to your thighs, though. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=11836&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1 I made my AP thighs a bit too tight, and I had to wrestle with them a LOT! Give yourself more room than I gave myself! I had the fronts glued, then when they were dry, aligned the backs and taped them. I drew a "straight - down - the - middle" line, then gave myself extra room for shins. Both the left and right side of the thighs were at an angle when they weren't taped together, but when pushed together, the line I drew was straight up and down. Hummm, that probably makes no sense! I think Panda Trooper had the thread that helped 'splain that better than I attempted to. I had to draw my line on the insdie and outside of the thighs so I could tell where to cut once the 2 parts weren't taped together anymore. I better quit while I'm at it! Good luck, let us know what you did.

I wouldn't give it away for free. I know my spouse would tell me to sell it for at least what the TM cost. My hubby really doesn't like to part with money, though! Just my 2 cents.... Good luck!

Hey Kendall! I had some second guesses before and during my armor buying / building. BUT, now that I have my assembled armor and have been to a few troops, I am SO GLAD that I decided to go for it. It does seem like you are on your own at first, but once you start actually assembling your armor, you will most likely be on this website, and you cannot help but get EXCITED from all the support and feedback everybody gives you. You will have a sense of accomplishment just from assembling your armor, and then when you see all the little kids faces light up on troops, it is an awesome feeling. Heck, seeing the parents looks are worth it too.... you just know lots of those parents want to do what you are doing, too! IMHO, you are not losing money, because if you HAD to sell (Lord forbid!!!) there's lots of people that would buy your armor. Yes, you should not buy assembled armor b/c you'll have to make it fit your body, but people do buy it all the time. I get excited thinking about all the conventions I can take my armor to, and make a week long vacation out of it... like in Florida, Georgia, maybe San Fran one day?? I'm lucky that Indianapolis has a yearly convention, and I'm only 30 mins away. Although, in my garrison, we have people that drive 2 and 3 hours to get to a troop. In the early spring the troops are usually inside, like a mall or stadium, but there's cold weather gear you can buy for underneath. [i'm not THAT tough!] I really hope you can keep working with your garrison to find more troops to go on, and that you all can have some "armor parties" and maybe informal meet and greets. It's nice to get together with like minded Star Wars fans, from time to time. Keep your spirits up, you are about to embark on a wonderous journey. There's times you'll get frustrated (I still do with my strapping!! haaa haaa) but then you will have something to gripe about to your TK friends. The fun I've had as a TK outweighs the doubts and frustrations. And, I agree with what everybody before me has said, too! It's gonna be A W E S O M E ! ! ! !

Hey Hitman! Good to see you over here. I'm on this site more than the garrison site. I'm looking forward to meeting you and checking out your VADER. Very cool, btw! There's quite a few taller troopers and some good build threads you can follow. p.s. Don't be fooled by Noah's avatar. Not that you were, but just in case... THAT TK wasn't one of the build threads I was talking about. haaa haaaa...

Congrats Karin! Thanks for all your information and helpful advice!

Hi Rick! Have you been able to overlap the kidney and butt plate - and does that fix the issue? Have you decided what to do with the butt / leg armor bites? Can you adjust your thigh strapping so it works better? I know lots of people say "don't do the velcro" - but I sewed industrial strength velcro to strong elastic suspenders. I've got about 6 inches of velcro that holds up my thigh peices. I've got them slightly outside the center line. Crap - I better post a pic! hang on... Lemme know if I can help. There might be an armor party this Sat - but I'll be gone. ttyl, Jenny

Way to go to all the TROOPERS!!!!!

Hi Charles! Congrats on your AP. That's what I went with and I went ahead and put mine together. I did cheat on the bucket, and shipped it to Trooperbay. I had him install my squirrel fans and had him custom paint ti too. I was happy with it! It's a bit small, but I have a smaller head. I had to go back on my armor lots of times and adjust / cut / sand, but it's fun for me. And for Kevin, I feel your pain, bro! I ordered my full (unassembled) AP in OCT 2010, and received it in MAR 2011. There were boarder issues beyond Mark's control, and we all know stuff happens! It was well worth the wait and I love trooping in it. I tried to be patient, and I think I'm still on Mark's good side?! Everybody kept telling me that lots of people wait when it comes to this hobby and that most of us still have our real jobs and families and all that good stuff that has to come before the 501st. pssst... Don't tell the Emperor I said that!!!!! haaa haaa! Cheers and enjoy the journey! Jenny

Congrats, and keep up with the good posts!

Howdy! You gotta walk around your neighborhood for a true test fit!!! It's fun to see the neighbor's reactions. Before you trim - I'd get some RT-Mod people to give you their opinion. But, I had to trim the tops of my thighs and the bottom of my butt plate - a little. It's looking good. Did you work up a sweat just getting into your armor? I still do.. every time!!! You have your neck seal yet? Geez, I pick on you too much!!! We might need to get your sleeves pulled down more for when you're out trooping. My newest adjutments for keeping my thighs up is a very long (vertical) piece of industrial strength velcro in the thighs that attaches to my lovely walmart suspenders. ~ I added ind strength velcro - about 6 inches to the suspenders) They work, so I'll keep that "as is" until they don't. You can always paint the buttons to get approval, then add Vader Dave's later. I think you said you have the paint, right? If not, I've got some.

Hey Rick! How's the strapping going? Have we talked you into going for expert infantry? I've got some "swag" saved up for yah! [Stickers and lapel pins and stuff!] Hope to see you out trooping soon! Jenny

My build buddy ROCKS!!! And, OT - everybody wants to see pics of your "Mr Grrrr!"

I stop by every day. I like to catch up on what the newest cool gadget is, or see how people have modified their armor, or see who had a problem - and who helped to get it fixed! I really like it here. We can joke around and have fun, and share new ideas - or bring up oldies-but-goodies. The atmosphere here is very unique, in a good way. There's lots of help and real concern for each other. Oh no... I'm getting too gushy! haaa haaa Plus, if a few extra $$$ are burning a hole in my purse, I just come here to do some shopping. I love the pics of events, meetings, charities or even GAME SHOWS!!!!!

I like using photobucket for pictures. Plus, it's free - my favorite! http://photobucket.com/ Good luck Steve! ------------

Hi Walt! I was looking around because I knew I read about the ears quite a while back. I found PandaTrooper's thread: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=14806&hl=ears&fromsearch=1 Hopefully that will help. Not sure about filling the gaps and painting, but somebody out here will know! I'd love to have seen your kid running with the dogs - I bet that was funny!

Wow! Another great newsletter, and so informative. I loved the St. P-Day parade videos and pics. Congratulations to Ingrid and well deserved! I get so inspired by the stories and will definately share my joy and starwars pride with others at cons and troops.

I have my beloved Precious - from TK Bondservnt. But, for troops, I'm scared to take it. Now I'm bidding on a cheapie Hasbro so that I can let the kiddies hold my Hasbro, and save "my Precious" for fancy parties. I heard one of the Rebels in my garrison tell a dad he "preferred [his kid] he did not hold the gun" which is totally acceptable, but I don't have the heart to say that to a kid. Mabye it's the "step-mom" in me always needing kids to like me?!!! Probably! Good luck on whatever you decide, but don't forget the kids and parents when you troop. It will probably come up sometime! It was the dad who asked if his kid could hold the gun... not the kid. Not sure the kid cared one way or the other!

Hey Brian! Your minion's armor is looking good! I've been working with my 1st minion - Rick. Oh, ok - he's not really my minion. He's got the RT-Mod armor, and I got to see how it will fit on my hubby.. my real minion. I was trying to gently nudge Rick into going for EIB, but not sure the best way to go about that. I just tried to be helpful, but respect what he wants to do with his armor. Can't wait to see more updates from your garrison! Jenny