Dark CMF

Greetings Troopers, Trooper gonna-bes, and Trooper fans. Many of you are aware of the fact that Kevin Brice of KB Props made accusations that FN Armor's FO TK kit was a recast of his own KB Props kit. This situation sparked some very heated conversations here at the FISD, and that resulted in many separate individual threads being locked and closed for comment. I have maintained from the beginning that I appreciate Kevin's work, his concern over the apparent recasting of his armor, and his passion in defending his work and speaking out about it - even if I asked him to scale down the passion from time to time. Many of you are also aware that Peter of FN Armor offered to send some of his kits out for comparison and review by Legion members across the globe. The first member to have access to both KB Props armor and FN Armor was Clint Randall, and you can see his thread regarding the comparisons right here. It is obvious based on Clint's comparison that the FN Armor kit is recast from Kevin's KB Props kit. As a result of the evidence presented during the comparison, FN Armor will be placed on the FISD's known recaster list. This simply means that we will not allow sales threads, and we will not encourage anyone to buy it. It does not mean that the armor is not capable of being approved for Legion membership. It does not mean that we will not allow build threads here. It does not mean that we will not assist new members to the forums in building it. On the contrary, those things will happen. If someone posts a build thread, we will help them build it to CRL standards for the costume. If it is built to meet the CRL standards, then GMLs should approve it for Legion membership as the LMO will approve it - if it meets the standards. I thank everyone who was conducting analysis of the kits for their commitment and dedication under some unusual duress and vitriol, and I thank everyone who maintained a cool head throughout the discussions. I thank Peter for offering his kits to our membership for analysis. This is a community of Stormtrooper fans after all. Even those of us who are already Stormtroopers, or members of the Detachment or Legion Command teams were Stormtrooper fans to begin with. Now that this is behind us, let's focus on what we have in common and come back together as a community, as opposed to whatever little differences exist in certain areas that serve to drive us apart.

Thank you, Clint. As Wyatt mentioned, I know that you took this analysis very seriously and were prepared to conduct a very in-depth caliper-based comparison of all of the parts. It is both fortunate, and unfortunate that it wasn't necessary to do so. Naturally, we all would have enjoyed seeing the process take place being the nerds we collectively are. I also appreciate your fairness in discussion of Peter's interactions with you. I do believe that at one point in time he did say that he did not actually know the origin of the armor parts, but was sure that they were not recast. Alas... We couldn't have a thread with FN Armor in it stay open for more than a few days for awhile there so I don't recall where he said that. I tend to agree with your thoughts that he probably doesn't know the origins of the parts, and that the photos of the plastic show no indicators of having been pulled against CNC'd forming bucks. The details are far too soft in my opinion as well.

Can we please allow the build threads to be about builds everyone?

Jesse, you have to have made fifteen posts here at FISD in order to gain that access. Go forth and welcome some new folks, and you'll have it in no time.

Also, great shares from the IPM! Thanks, Troopers!!

I was with you 100% and then you said "FNs."

I have also made some good use of that shared experience. LoL

That's because we don't want any kangaroos (or drop bears) hijacking your account and posting here. <br><br> You should be good to go, Glen.

Joe, I'm going to ask you nicely here to lay off. You've had the situation explained to you in the other thread. These build threads are not the place for this, and FISD is not a place for harassment of any members, regardless of what you personally feel about their thread. We all get it by now. You're opposed to Evin having this armor. Don't take that out on him. If you've got an issue with it, take it up with Peter, via PMs.

Try it again, Aaron.

^ What Paul said. Thank you, Glen.

Not that I'm aware of, no. The names suggested were people who have made or handled armor for as long as twenty years, and have direct experience in identifying tells of recasted armor, and have demonstrated impartiality, and integrity for close to a decade or more in their time in and associated with the Legion.

If you're not happy that the people don't have Kevin's kit, the only solutions I can offer you there are to petition Kevin to send kits to the people that have the FN kits, or buy some to send to those people. We cannot control what Kevin or Peter choose to do with their kits.

Again, see above, the people recommended by the FISD have NOT received armor or to the best of my knowledge even been contacted by Peter about receiving armor. <br><br> We did not put armor in anyone's hands. This is only happening strictly as a result of Peter's generosity. <br><br> If someone cannot sleep at night because they have concerns that FN recast Kevin, the only true solution that will ever put their minds at ease is for them to buy both kits and compare them for themselves.

See above, the people suggested by FISD have NOT received armor kits.

As stated above, a number of times, there is no mission. <br><br> There was no plan. <br><br> There was an offer made by Peter to send kits to people for evaluation. Names were suggested to him (and honestly, I don't know that he took those suggestions, as those people have not received kits yet) and he chose some names on his own, from across the world. This is not a function of the Detachment, or a standardized process managed by the Detachment. This is us allowing the discussion to publicly take place in our forums, and ensuring that it happens in a civil manner.<br><br> There is however, a very simple solution which I'm sure will absolutely cure the intense curiosity that any of you have regarding the origins of FN Armor. Dig down into your wallet. Buy a kit from KB. Buy a kit from FN. Compare them.<br><br> If that's not acceptable, then dig even deeper into your wallet, and fund the process that laid out above by Michael.<br><br> Unless you're (anyone reading this) willing to do so, you'll have to learn to appreciate the generosity of Peter in sending out the kits, and trust in reading the responses of the people who are building them. Some are more likely to provide answers to the questions that you're asking than other are. Some are quite simply likely to give a shiny review of the ease they had or didn't have in assembling the kit.<br><br> If you're unhappy with what's going on, then the alternatives are spelled out above. This isn't a function of the Detachment. We get what we get in this case, take it or leave it.

Unless I'm mistaken, Travis mentioned that he originally purchased a WTF kid's TK kit, which means that the bucket is about 80% full scale.

Oh... The things I do in armor... For Canon events, I'm typically very quiet and business like, occasionally acting like a bit of a brute if that's what they want us to do. Non-Canon events... Far less businesslike. Straight up, at those events (sporting events, etc) it is all about the fans. One of my favorite things to do when I see little kids acting excited about me is I flip the script on them. I act very excited to see them, I kneel down and point at them and say stuff like "WOW, I didn't know you were going to be here! I didn't bring my autograph book. Can we take a picture together?" It really makes the little ones feel special. I also will put any child in an Imperial/First Order costume in charge of the area. To include their parents. I let them march around the area and I clear a path for them in the crowd. Parents always love seeing their children get to have that kind of fun, and really, when is it going to happen again? Now, where I really have the most fun is at Conventions. I stand immediately in front of closed Elevator doors, so that when they open and people want to leave the elevator, they're startled by the very tall Stormtrooper in their way. I correct people for not using handrails, running in hallways, walking on the wrong side of the halls. Anyone who asks for a picture is usually met with some sort of snark before getting their picture. For instance, two Mortal Kombat cosplayers asked for a picture and they we're told that they have to fight for the right, and the winner gets the photo - and the fight must end in a fatality. I've done the blue milk crawl of all of the food facilities. I ask people if they know of the rebellion against the Empire, and of course if they say yes, they're immediately placed under arrest. No holds barred at a convention. LoL. Great list Jeff! Thank you for sharing!

Awesome write-up, Dave! Thank you for sharing it. Truly. I believe I saw some photos of that exacto knife aftermath... I think I speak for everyone when I quote the Jedi Scum Kenobi in saying "You're fortunate to be all in one piece." Welcome to the Legion and the FISD, Stormtrooper. We all put some degree of blood, sweat, and tears into these builds. Rare is the trooper who puts in enough blood to cover a Garrison of the Legion's finest.

There's nothing at all better than being a Stormtrooper Kelsie - except being a Star Garrison Stormtrooper!! Welcome to the right side!!!

Congratulations Ryan! Welcome aboard! We're looking forward to a great many troop reports from you, and an additional congratulations on achieving EIB. Well done!!

Congratulations Tom, welcome aboard!!

Congratulations Shawn! Welcome aboard!

JT, you totally should have been giving BJ rabbit ears in that photo...

Congratulations Gabriel! Welcome to the FISD and the 501st Legion!!