FIVE

I wanna know where you got Sophia's armor! My little girl is going to be wanting some of that soon I can tell ya!

I sure do!!!

Thanks bro! I always have Yes... "Blue-ee" And yes, it's one of those things. I actually never got a straight answer from where it came from. But I sure got called it a lot... even by strangers... so it works well; I think it especially works for the whole "trooper name"...

So I've been finally watching "The Clone Wars"... and really liking it. One of the things I like a lot are the nicknames the clone troopers have. For those of you that watch it, you know exactly what I mean. They never call each other by their numbers — in fact there are episodes that talk about that very point — but, instead, by their nicknames. I realized many of the guys on the forums have nicknames. Like "Skutch" (who I get to troop with now), "Dirty Boy", "Daetrin" and so on. Names that actually sound like characters from the Star Wars universe. Even "Rolf" sounds and looks like a trooper name to me! When I originally signed up on my local Garrison forum I couldn't use a TK # or anything because I didn't have one... so I simply used my real name, "Noel," with the "e" removed. No'l I always thought it looked "alien" or "sci-fi" like that. Plus, I thought then when people met me in person they would know who I was when I said my name. The problem is a lot of people thought my name was/is "No.1" And, people didn't know that my name was pronounced like "Joel" with an "N"... so neither worked. Not to mention I never sign "No'l" when I sign autographs in public. So, I started thinking tonight that maybe I should change my screen name to a nickname. Make it something that would "stick"... something cool... something I could tell kids in public, "My friends call me..." I thought of "Roadblock," since I most often troop as the roadblock sandtrooper, "Cloud9," because I'm about to do an ESB build, "Sequel," because I liked Empire the best of all the movies, and a whole lot of others. But nothing seemed to really fit. Then I realized... I HAVE a nickname! It's a name that many people know me by in real life. In fact, at my first job as a character at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri everyone still calls me this when I go back to visit. It's a nickname I was given on my first trip to Australia in 1995 — and that you Aussies will recognize as such. AND it's a nickname that works, I believe, as a stormtrooper or sandtrooper nickname on a "character" level. The name is "Bluey". "Bluey" is what Australians often call someone with red hair. And I got called it the first day I was there and it stuck. When I worked at Silver Dollar City they wanted to call me "Red" but there was already a (very popular) character there named "Red"... so I suggested "Bluey," explaining the origins of the name, and it stuck again. So I just sort of realized, "Why isn't this what I'm known as in the Legion?!?!" I mean I have mugs, name badges, and all sorts things with "Bluey" already on it. And for those of you who troop with me, you can start calling me "Bluey" in public... because I will answer to it! So... that's it. The name's "Bluey." And yes, I probably think about this stuff way too much.

Whoa... I don't wanna hear that! So, do you end up getting the items? My TM armor isn't what I'm talking about here... but I certainly want it to show up safe and sound when it comes.

If you're doing the hero bucket then you may have them... otherwise no. (if I'm wrong on that someone tell us)

My bet is there's a TSA agent somewhere with their hands all over my helmet's hovi mics.

Terry would know better than me... so this is good news.

Yeah... I'm thinking it's sitting in some custom officer's "to check" pile and he spends a bit too much time on facebook to get anything done. I'll post on here when (if?) I get it. Hoping it's when.

Not to step on toes or talk out of turn, but I believe this is something that's in the works for you all here at the FISD... or at least is about to be in the works. Much like we did these on the MEPD... ... except, of course, with the different TK variations. And, again, I may not have the correct intel. Only a few Bothans died to get it to me.

Has anyone had any experiences like this? I've got a helmet on the way here from Italy. It was shipped on the 22nd of December... so over a month ago... but I've yet to receive it. When I use the tracking number on the origin's shipping website — — I get a message that says "Out of the Office International home" on 30/12/2010. So I tried entering the # on the website and get that "We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece." This answer on Yahoo answers seems to be what's going on... I'm hoping/thinking maybe it's coming by boat! But I wondered if any of you have had similar issues.

I'd say be patient right now — if you can afford to be. Wait up to a month. Depending on where you are... humidity, etc., and not to mention the number of coats you painted... it may take a LONG time! I grew up painting things in Missouri. And even in the winter things seemed to NEVER quit being tacky. Of course they did, eventually, but I never could wait. Now I live in New Mexico and I can paint something in the morning and it's dry by the next day pretty much. I did 7 coats on something a few weeks ago and it took 3 days to fully cure. It's just so dry here that it works better. So yeah... just be patient before you try to "fix" what may not be a problem.

This post will probably help clear that up.

I've just re-read this entire thread for the... jeez... I don't know how many times. I have my TM armor on order and will be referencing this (including the nice little tips — like not worrying about aligning the backs of the thighs — that TM gave himself) a LOT while I'm doing my ESB build! Two quick questions about the ESB and your build... 1) the ESB shoulder bells still have the elastic strap that goes around the bicep, correct? 2) what method of strapping did you use for your thighs? it looked like loops... is that your own doing, or did you get it from somewhere? The thighs falling down, coming undone, on my TD have been a plague I only just recently solved... but I want to use the "standard strapping system" on my TM. Great, great stuff... thank you!

What ARE you doing "over here" Juan?! haha I'm really kind of excited to see a really well done SE TD... and I'm glad you're one of the ones that are going to tackle it because I KNOW it will be good! About all I know on this subject that two of the people at least were actors. Other than that you're going to have to keep doing research. I would guess that they were dug up and redone for the new movie... or made off molds they had or something. Just have no idea. Good luck!

Ditto this!

Can I just copy exactly what Terry said? Wow! Stunning build! Very nice work. Great photography too. Twice... once in bold red letters... Wow! Stunning build! Very nice work. Great photography too.

This is a great option btw... I actually wear my Nomex flight gloves under my rubber gloves. No sweating, and more snug fit. Plus it's good to cover up the $60 gloves with the $10 ones I think.

This is a great thread... keep up the detailed photos and updates! So often once we get "into" the build the camera ends up buried somewhere. Really great stuff!

LRB! Congratulations Paul! Now let's see if you can double it in 2011!!!

Ditto to what T said man! Now I have to find whoever just predicted this not long ago on the MEPD... there's a lottery I need some numbers for!

Mine too! Partly because it pulls double duty for me... it works for my "move along" TD, and will work for my upcoming ESB.

Totally amazing!!!

Ditto this!!! Totally amazing! Make one out of a "super soaker" water-gun and then you can fill it with rubbing alcohol and light it up! (we used to do that in college... insane college that is...)

We just deployed 75 more guys this past week. (just kidding)