FIVE

Wow... Can I post this over on my facebook note Jonah?

Too late.

I like it!

I don't think ever! <_< So you're asking why does the 501st call stormtroopers "TK" at all? Why don't we just each make up our own call signs... or better yet, have them "given" to us just like in the real military? "Monk, why aren't you at your post?" Now you're getting it!!

Exactly. BUT... since we have "TS," "TB," and all the rest now and have made up what those mean, why not MAKE UP what the "K" means? You know... for fun! Like a party! Except online and with people we don't really know.

Hahaha

Yeah, personally I just like "Trooper Warrior" better... sounds more bad a'.

Yeah... that's what I mean. The connections are there anyway... so why not "keep it German?"

So I've often wondered if anyone knows what the "K" stands for in "TK". We know, obviously, what "TS," "TD," "TB," and all the other identifiers mean... but the "K" in our beloved stormtrooper's TK has always been somewhat of a mystery. Along these lines I asked a friend of mine who is fluent in German if he knew any words that might work for the "K." I thought German was a good language to pick from because 1) they have really cool sounding words... 2) I knew they probably had one that started with a "K"... and 3) so much of the Empire is based on Nazi Germany. He came back, quickly, with quite a few options... and one stood out among the rest... So... may I submit that the "K" in "TK" stands for "Krieger"... the German word for "Warrior."

I believe it was deck 12, section 19. Imperial issue.

Well, the hanger bays were also "sealed" and you can see right out that big gaping whole in the wall. Just sayin'... maybe what we consider "sealed" would look different in a galaxy where forcefields and such exist. (TRYING to give them the benefit of the doubt! hahaha... make it work man...)

As are the comics... though I love them.

I've always called it a "TD", partly because I think that's what Jawas were saying... "TEEEE DEEE!" But maybe they were just screaming that a sandtrooper was heading their way. I like Paul's explanation though. The O2 canister fits that sandtroopers don't have them too... they were on a planet, didn't need the O2 like the troopers on the DS might have (even though they weren't "space troopers").

Yeah... what Paul said... no real "ranks". That's why his sidebar avatar says, "Detachment Leader / Founder ADMIN STAFF" under it. haha

Congrats man! It's so great getting a really accurate suit, I know. And while I've got a TE2, I know the AP is AMAZING!! Have fun putting it together, and please — as everyone says — take plenty of pictures! We wanna know the whole process... every cut, clamp, and "crap!" (hopefully not many of the last one) haha

I just found this thread and all I have to say is "Wow." Those pics in post #21 of the thread are really impressive. Sure, like is pointed out, it's definitely a ROTJ type of suit. But it's FAR better than any other Rubies pics I've seen... and yes, I would say well worth entry into the Legion. There are some FX suits I've seen that look worse than that one. Those comparison pictures at the armor party are something too. I mean it makes the Rubies look... dare I say... BETTER than the FX. The FX legs and such look like tubes comparatively. So yeah... good job guy! I'll be excited to hear what happens... or did it happen yet?

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Great topic... and great points. I have to say I love all that Jonah said. I also love the point Steve made about what you're having the armor for — man cave, troop, etc.. As many of you know I've been an "idealized" proponent for a long time. I redid my MR CE to the hilt and still troop in it and love it. I love the symmetry of it and that it is what people "think of" when they think of stormtroopers. It's what, as Lou said, is seen on screen... not the "fact" of the armor from 1976 filming. It just occurs to me that "facts" and "representations" would be another interesting way to talk about this subject. Do you want the "fact" of the 1976 production... or the "representation" people carry in their heads? Many of you also know that I recently got and am finishing up a set of TE2 armor. This stuff is "screen accurate". Meaning, if I wanted to do the gaffers tape and all, I really could make it the 1976 "fact" out of it. Of course I'm taking the screen accurate look and using rivets, solid fasteners, and even Mike's hand painted LOOK decals (so not actually painting the helmet but making it LOOK painted) instead of the gaffers tape and such. So, I'm going for a sort of "representation" of the "fact." It will, for all intents and purposes, look like that 1976 used, 1977 seen, armor. It's just not as "accurate" in production as others might like. And, I've always said and agree that it's totally personal preference. I can get behind anyone's armor who has put time and love into it... who have made it look great — whether factually or representationally — and who love it themselves. I will say this too... I have been completely won over to the "screen accurate" side of things since getting the TE2. There is something about holding a helmet in your hands that looks so much like the actual screen grab from the film that just gives you a rush. Plus, as much as people / the "public" have that "representation" in their head... and are totally satisfied when they see FX buckets, or worse... those same people KNOW when they see something that's accurate. There's a feeling of familiarity... or realism... or, as the French say, "I don't know what," that people can sense. They probably won't say, "Man... you're screen accurate and that dude isn't!" But they still "feel" it I think.

Looks amazing! I should be painting mine (and doing a lot more) in the next month or so. Great job man!

Well, I've got to say — from one modder to another — I'm pretty impressed with this. I loved reading your first post because you had obviously 1) been naive (we all were), 2) admitted it, 3) done your research, and 4) stepped up past the initial naivety to come out way on top!! Great job man! Of course I totally agree with your assessment that this armor would be next to impossible to make ANH and that ROTJ was / is the way to go. Not that I needed to say that... but you get typing and you know how it is. haha One thing I will say is that I love how TK armor and this whole hobby is. Meaning that when we start few of us can tell the difference between any one set of armor or bucket... but the more you study, the more obvious it becomes. The differences in the armor and films are a lot of what makes the hobby so fun I think! It reminds me of being in high school when the original Nightmare on Elm Street came out. Then, II, III, IV, and so on. I was a HUGE Freddy buff... and could tell you, simply by a picture of his scars, number of stripes (and which was first) on his sweater, even a close up pic of one of his glove blades, which movie it was from and who made it. (I wonder if I could still do it?) And THAT was before the internet! You know I have some pics of stormtroopers I found online pre-501st days. I saw them on a CD a few months ago and was AMAZED at how crappy they all were! Cloth drop boxes, wacked out sniper plates, the whole gambit. I'm glad I didn't get into it before "all this." I think it would've been a bit too much work on my part. Anyway... all that to say fantastic job on the Rubies man! The ROTJ still isn't my personal fav, but yours is going great!

What's so great about this is that "one day soon" he'll be on the (then holographic) FISD talking to us all about having armor since they were a kid. He will probably also have the strictest mindset when it comes to being screen-accurate. haha I mean having this kind of quality that young is going to set some high standards when he's older.

Yep, I like the bumpy cap of the TE2 for sure! Much more "true-to-life" if that makes sense. If I'm going to go with idealized I'm going to have a MR CE (which I do have) and fill in all the gaps, and make it just completely "perfect" as far as no "flaws." The flaws are what make the TE2 a beautiful, accurate, thing in my opinion though.

Their armor always looks so funny to me... like too "perfect" or something. Even their Jango Fett looks like really clean and nicely put together. I can't even explain what's weird about it... it's just not quite right.

If you're on facebook you can subscribe to the "501st Storm Trooper Division" group it posts all the upcoming events every couple of weeks.

I like the raised brow. I actually think it looks meaner... more like an feral cat with its ears back about to strike, or a snake that has that 'wide eyed' look. Very other-worldly / alien as well.