Dark PWF

Watching with great interest, your build thread, I am. Looking good. Thanks for sharing!

I can only imagine that it was. I experienced my first troop yesterday and it was an awesome experience, but I have no doubt that Katie's ceremony and the events leading up to it were no less than incredibly memorable and rewarding.

I'm not going to lie, I started reading and when I got to the pictures of your helmet I actually thought... "Okay, that's odd that there are reference shots posed on a stand like this. I thought most of the original helmets were wrecked or locked up someplace... Okay, where is the one you finished?...." Then I realized what I was looking at. Beautiful job on the helmet (which is obviously a very high quality kit to begin with)! Congrats even though this is an old thread. I just now came across it as it has become active again. Beautiful, beautiful helmet.

I've always appreciated Katie's story. It was one of the situations that really did bring the 501st more into the forefront of my mind and got me thinking about becoming a member eventually. Since Chicago is where I was born and raised, it hit even closer to home. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome Tehya, to FISD! Personally, I'm new too - but not quite extremely new. I don't have my armor yet, but I'm on a wait list for it. In the meantime, I've been doing what you've started doing - reading. That's the best thing you can do as a new recruit, so hats off to you for that. There are a few points that you made, that I'd like to address quickly for you and hopefully I can help to clear some of them up for you a bit. The pros (Legion member TKs) will certainly be able to help with some of the others better than I can though. a: The TKboots are still being sold. I actually just received mine a little over a week ago. There is an issue that has slowed down the production though, so getting on the wait list is a good idea. b: The original armors were built for actors who WERE 5'10", not over 5'10". The getting started thread has some great info that explains that most kits will work for anyone from 5'1" up to 6' tall with modifications. It is over 6' that people need to look at some of the specific builders that cater to taller/larger troopers. At 5'7" I believe that you'd have no issue with most of the kits available though. c: Saving and waiting is probably the best route to go. The wait list that I am on for my armor will carry me over into late spring of 2014 or so, and I've been on it for over 2 months already. In the meantime, I'm reading and buying other parts like my undergarments which are just compression suit pieces - Eastbay.com has some, Walmart has some, Kmart has some, Academy Outdoor and Sports has some, Underarmour is an option. There are different price ranges for them, but you can get some of those for less than $20 per piece. I've got my boots, and I'm getting ready to order a kit to build my E11 blaster later this month. d: I just saw that you're 16, but that gives you some time to save, learn, and build as you go along and get closer to 18 when you can apply for Legion membership as you already pointed out. e: There are a lot of female TKs here at FISD and they are quite helpful. They can certainly give you good advice about which armors to consider from the female perspective. Hopefully I've helped you out some. Being 16 though, time is truly your best friend in this process. You have plenty of time to learn and read. The forums have everything that you'll ever want to read about Stormtrooper armor. If you can't find your answer by searching, then by all means ask questions. You're off to a great start, and we're all a little overwhelmed by it at first. Hang in there, and you'll be fine!

I know that I don't really have a dog in the fight - as I'm not yet a TK or Legion member, but I have a lot of practical ("real life") experience with similar things and I think they are great ideas all the way across. As a recruit that is targeting nothing less than Centurion for my first build, I fully appreciate the ideas that you've presented and I think that they have tremendous potential to drive more recruits to shoot for the higher levels. Under the current system, most of the recruits seem to focus so heavily on getting Legion approval only that they don't even look at the EIB/Centurion standards because there is a prevailing thought out there (and to an extent - rightfully so) that it is supposed to be elite levels. The thought that follows is that it must be too hard to do up front. Then, they get Legion approval and kind of go "well... I want to get active in my garrison and the Legion" so they kind of fade out. I think that making it something that seems truly attainable from day one, and allowing them to understand how to do so early on will lead to more TK prospects going for it. As I said, I have extensive practical experience in similar processes. In coaching them about US Army promotions we always teach new Soldiers to work towards two promotions higher, rather than worrying about one at a time. It gives them a feeling that they do control their own process, their own destiny and an understanding that it is indeed possible for them to move even higher than the next level, if they do some extra work. For what it's worth, I think this is a great step in the right direction.

There are definitely thoughts on him. Don't let yourself go there. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/23392-wwworiginalstormstroopercom-hit-or-miss/?hl=%2Bandrew+%2Bainsworth

If you've never been to his website, you should check it out. The alien is just one of several builds that he has on display. Rob is no less than an artist, as clearly demonstrated with this particular topic.

Are those ear bumps on the shoulder blades, and Trap stencils near the bottom? Again, truly a beautiful and creative solution to make your son happy. I built a house out of a medium sized box this evening. My two year old son loves it. LoL

LoL. Brilliant!

Beautiful work, Rob!! Not only does it make me excited for your son, it makes me more excited for my armor sometime next spring! Well done man. Very well done!!

As a relatively new recruit, and not-yet 501st member, I'm curious; is there a way to distribute the newsletter to the Garrisons, or does it already happen? I personally love the newsletter, it is really informative and has a lot of useful info in it. It seems to me though, that the (active) TK community at FISD is not nearly the size of the entire TK community. With ongoing changes to the CRLs and new armor/prop vendors coming on the scene from time to time - not to mention the Troop of the Month, etc. it would be great to try to push this information out to the TK community at large to ensure that Legion-wide, the TKs are up to date with changes that are happening and the opportunities that still exist for them here at FISD. Perhaps this would also lead to more EIB/Centurion submissions? I don't know this for fact, obviously, but maybe since Centurion is only a couple of years old there are TKs out there who are simply unaware of it and have made upgrades to their armor but have not submitted for it out of ignorance? If this already happens, then I'll happily talk to my Garrison Leader on Saturday at my first troop, to make sure that it gets posted. If not, why not? Just food for thought, perhaps. Thanks again for all of the work that goes into the newsletter. I understand that this is all volunteer work, so I realize that it is a labor of love.

Greatly appreciate this Kevin. I've actually been doing some light (initial) research into the magnets lately as they are my 2nd planned purchase(s) moving forward (first is my DoopyDoos kit next month). I had already decided that I would need more than one would like to initially think, because I'd like to be able to do BOTH shins/thighs/forearms, etc. on any given day as opposed to one on Monday, the other on Tuesday and the more magnets you have, the faster you can build. Thanks again!

A: Like Dizzy said, You can't be cheap on boots. B: Those aren't even shaped remotely like they'd need to be in order to be usable for Armor. If it were even possible, I imagine that you'd spend a fortune trying to modify those and I imagine it would also take a substantial skill set. I don't know what that actual skill set is, but it would have to be substantial. Beyond all of that, for basic Legion approval, all TK CRLs require "Leather or leather-like material." As those are rubber, I highly doubt that you'd even receive basic level Legion approval.

I wonder if they sell life-sized ones? That DLT-19 isn't all that bad looking. Very cool though. I may have to venture "into town" (not on Sunday) and get one myself.

Great idea, and some great responses to the request everyone. Thanks for asking, and thanks for sharing! Troopers helping Troopers, in full effect.

This is one of these moments that I find and love, while just reading/researching things on FISD, while waiting (forever) for my armor kit. Just earlier tonight, this thought occurred to me, and here is my answer, gift-wrapped if you will in the forums!! Great question Kev - even if it was asked a long while ago. The same questions will inevitably come up again some time, and someone has probably already asked whatever I come up with!!

I just received my boots from TK boots on Friday. I wear a size 12 in every single piece of footwear I own that is not made by Nike - those are 13s. My TK boots are 12s, and ibnzbass4 nailed it. Slightly narrow perhaps, but overall a very good fit. Thing to remember is that TK boots are not available in half sizes so that will be something to consider. I'd feel good with thick socks or an insole in the boot with no issue whatsoever.

I have a nice new pair of TK boots. Quite pleasantly surprised with them actually. My wife looked at them and went "Really? Those look like pimp boots." So I figure I should wear them just for the heck of it from time to time, to ruffle some feathers, you know?

I have boots now!!! LoL So at the moment, I have undergarments, and boots... I can be a Stormtrooper that was a victim of a mugging for Halloween. LoL Funny that you mention the Star Wars/Disney link. I was told by a cast member (employee) that I was talking to that they are hearing that the Hollywood Studios Park (at Disney World) will be exploding with Star Wars over the next couple of years. Looking forward to it for sure!

Ahhh... Still a little ways off. Good luck to all of you on the promotion boards. I'm not eligible for any of them for a few more years. I just need the next E8 list to come out so that my assignments manager can accurately forecast where he'll need me to go so that I will know where we'll be moving to this spring. On a more forum-oriented side note, my boots arrived on Friday afternoon (I just got home from vacationing in FL today) and I love them already. So now... I own undergarments and boots. I suppose I could be a TK that got mugged, for Halloween. LoL. Doopydoos blaster should be ordered in mid-late November, followed by hand guards/gloves, neck seal, belt, possibly a grappling hook/comlink set-up and then the fun will be beginning, stuff like rivets, webbing, snaps, paints, tools, etc... in anticipation of my armor being pulled. As Ingrid pointed out, it is the hobby of waiting for us newbie/recruit types. LoL

Soren, My apologies for being late to this party. I've been out of town - Disney World for my now two year old son's birthday - for the last week and have only been skimming the forums. Somehow, I managed to miss your EIB party. Congratulations my friend, on this achievement! I'll get there with you eventually! Looking good in the armor, for sure!

This may be something to consider. This is a very vital key to this process from start to finish. You've got some good advice in this thread already, and I can't add much more to it as I'm quite early in the process myself (I own an undersuit and boots at the moment, and I'm on the waitlist for armor until next year sometime) but I can say that research is key to making better decisions for the hobby, and reading FISD / asking questions if you don't understand something are keys to the research process. The thread you posted in "Getting Started - Read this First!" includes a lot of great information for a new recruit. I will throw out this tidbit that the actors in the movie were all (roughly) 5' 10" tall and 170 - 180 lbs. As a result, any armor that is based off of an original sculpt/kit, etc... Is built for troopers about that size. Keep reading, so you can figure out what the best move is for you going forward, ask questions if you've got them and welcome Sylvain, to FISD! Good luck.

I greatly appreciate the monthly newsletter, team! As one of the new-ish (not-yet-a) troopers, I feel that it helps tremendously, by putting some very useful information in our hands. While the forums are here for us to read, the newsletter is an opportunity for different bits and pieces to be highlighted/spotlighted for awareness. Great tool and great information. Thanks for the extra time and work.

This right here... That's the bottom line! (With Soren's addition, of course) More suppliers of quality boots makes for a much happier base of troopers, as they'll be more readily available. In the end, we all win.