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tkrestonva

Imperial Attaché[TK]
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Posts posted by tkrestonva

  5. Recommendations: Source for FO TK Group Build

    in TFA Stormtrooper

    Posted

    If you are intent on doing a group buy (and presumably reaping some cost savings) and fiberglass isn't an option, then KB Props is pretty much it. They also do TLJ-style resin helmets. As for the TLJ-specific thermal dets, it's very easy to modify at TFA det into a TLJ det.

     

    As for TFA helmets, assuming someone has enough of them in stock I'd probably jump on Amazon Prime and bulk order a bunch of Anovos standard helmets. Decent price/accuracy, and they are fully finished - might as well save yourself some work.

  8. Captain Phasma- starting up a build

    in Captain Phasma - TFA and TLJ

    Posted

    Omg ... you are nearly the perfect height for a Phasma! :D

     

    Most of us First Order stormtroopers use cloth gaskets due to comfort. About the only vendor of rubber gaskets out there is Imperial Gaskets. They (Rhonda and Wyatt) are members here and offer gaskets in both latex and fabric. I have both. Personally I prefer the fabric gaskets due to comfort, but you're right about the look of the latex gaskets - they do look amazing. 

     

    Where are you located?

  9. I Need Help Modifying My Armor Build

    in ESB Build Threads

    Posted

    Having gaps between the armor pieces is not required. In fact, I'm of the opinion that the less undersuit showing, the better looking the trooper. Conversely, the more black undersuit you have showing the more mobile you tend to be. So it's a tradeoff between appearance and functionality. In the end, how much gap you have will depend mostly on your height and how you have your kit trimmed. Looking at your photo, I'm guessing you are fairly short.

     

    Having said that, you're going to want to do some trimming on your kit. In particular at the tops of the thighs, and on either the biceps or forearms (or both). I can't see you having much if any mobility the way your kit is now. You don't need to be able to do acrobatics in your kit, but you should at least be able to walk comfortably, climb/descend stairs, drink from a water bottle, and put on/remove your helmet without assistance.

     

    As for tools, a set of Lexan hobby scissors (both curved and straight), a metal ruler, a sharp blade (such as a box cutter), and some sandpaper should be all you need to get the job done. You can get the scissors from Amazon or from a local hobby shop that specializes in plastic modeling (cars, tanks, airplanes, etc.). 

     

    On a side note, you'll also want to shorten the straps that connect the shoulder bells to the back/chest connection. Ideally, the shoulder bells should be touching the ribbed plastic shoulder bridges.

  11. **SPOILER ALERT** So what about TLJ?

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    After seeing it twice (I *really* needed that second viewing to get past my 'WTF was THAT all about?!?" moments in the first viewing), I'm still sort of "meh" on it. 

     

    In addition to the details that Andy listed (nearly all of which I agree with), I think it was *too* much of a departure from the OT and even from TFA. I get and support that the torch needs to be passed and new directions need to be taken, but if TFA played it too safe then TLJ played it too loosely. There should be a way to move the franchise forward without burning down all that brought you to where you currently stand. Basically respect your past, but don't be confined by it.

     

    On the plus side, I now think that Rian Johnson is exactly the right guy to create an entirely new trilogy that is unconnected to the OT, PT, and New Trilogy. I just wish he had saved the "forget the past - kill it if you have to" approach for his new trilogy.

  13. "TK" Designations for First Order Troopers

    in TFA Stormtrooper

    Posted

    On ‎11‎/‎26‎/‎2017 at 2:57 AM, Peregrinus said:

    Club designation and in-universe usage are separate things, as Paul said. As far as in-universe reasoning goes, the preponderance of material indicated the prefix is an indicator of posting. The troops boarding the Tantive IV in ANH have a DV prefix for the ship they're posted to -- Devastator. The pilots flanking Vader in repelling the Rebel fighters' runs on the exhaust port had DS prefixes, for Death Star. TK-421 is likely part of Tarkin's personal garrison, brought with him when he transferred his flag to the station. And in TFA, the FN prefix indicates troopers assigned to the Finalizer. I would go so far as to assert the other prefixes in that film and in the Phasma novel are an indicator of other garrison/shipboard postings those trainees are intended for. I like the idea that there's another Resurgent-class star destroyer named Tarkin out there in First Order space, and that's where those couple TK troopers were deployed from. Not sure if the Starkiller had its own garrison yet, or if those mustered troops were down from the Finalizer (Phasma was up there on the podium, after all).

     

    But one's Legion ID number has nothing to do with any of this -- unless one feels like being creative. ;)

    Interesting. Makes sense, too. Do you have any sources for the DV and DS prefixes, or is it simply based on reasoning?

  16. Fotk variant

    in TFA Stormtrooper

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Christianbruxelles said:

    Where can you get a good FOTK complete armor? And approved by the 501st?

    If by "complete" you mean preassembled ... you can't. As of right now, there are only a handful of kit makers - emphasis on kit. There is no one that sells preassembled costumes - not even Anovos.

     

    First off, nothing is automatically 501st approved - it depends in large part on how well the armor is fitted to your body. With some diligence, you might get lucky and come across someone who is selling their completed kit but that kit will have been built for their individual body, which will likely not be the same as yours.

    • Like 2

  18. TK helmet as carry-on luggage for flights?

    in Hard Armor (General Discussion)

    Posted

    I've done it, and had no problems with it.

     

    I live in the Washington D.C. area, and it's how I got my helmet to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim back in 2015. I carried it in a motorcycle helmet bag and of course I had to open the bag for inspection when I passed through the Security checkpoint. The TSA agents actually thought it was pretty cool. :)

     

    When I got onto the airplane, I stowed it in the overhead space but I also made sure it wasn't next to someone's heavy carry-on bag so as to avoid it being crushed by shifting baggage.

     

    As for the armor (and armor bin) itself, that was shipped via FedEx Ground.

  23. "TK" Designations for First Order Troopers

    in TFA Stormtrooper

    Posted

    Yeah, if you follow the books (and even the movie) the First Order Stormtrooper prefixes are all over the place. While the preponderance of them are FN, you also see FO, TK, JB, and others that I'm not remembering right now depending on which unit they were assigned to. For consistency's sake and to allow for smoother management at the Legion level, best to stick with a single prefix. Since we are stormtroopers, "TK" seems to work the best and it makes clear that we are part of the FISD.

    • Like 1

  24. Metal E-11 Blaster

    in Boots, Soft Parts, and other Accessories

    Posted

    If you want a metal E-11, your best shot at it (no pun intended) is to buy a deactivated Sterling submachine gun outfitted with the correct add-on parts (counter, scope, T-tracks, etc.). Once in a blue moon someone puts one up for sale here. You can also haunt various firearms collector communities, purchase one yourself, and do the conversion. The downside is that it's very expensive, extremely heavy, and you will likely be prohibited from bringing it to many (if not most) troops since it is a formerly operational firearm.

     

    So metal E-11s ... great for display, not so much for trooping.

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