Dark CMF

Indeed it is, Chris! I'd like to say that in the early stages so far, your build thread looks poised to pick up the torch and carry it even further. Keep up the great work!

Beautiful system that Tony has engineered!!

Seriously... If the red shirts are the people who actually go on all of the missions, why aren't they better trained? At the end of the day, the training issue isn't about laziness, it comes down to the almighty credit, and the scale of the 20 some year old war.

Looking closely through the watermark reveals a similar situation on the left arm of the TK on the right, which leads me to believe that it is less likely stress while dressing the mannequin and more likely a design/assembly element. Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Wel, the lack of training thing is just a reality aspect reflected on the situation. Not implying they were less well trained in the academies, just that their sustainment and proficiency training are not a priority in situations like being assigned to the Death Star. Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

I'm with SIMpixels... As someone who has been working with radios professionally for nearly 25 years now, and was an avid lover of my grandfather's Ham Radio station as a kid, I will say that static/squelch doesn't break the same way every time. The simple truth is that the random sounds come across as far more authentic and natural than the same sound pattern repeatedly. Also, if you're considering Hovi Speakers at all, I cannot recommend UKSWRATH's version highly enough (http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/31436-fs-ukswraths-hovi-mic-tips-with-speakers-crl-accurate-tips). He's done some amazing work, and they are surprisingly loud. As I said, knowing your venue makes a difference. Outdoor events, I always go with the chest speaker. Conventions, I will also because I'm just loud and obnoxious with people there most of the time. SW Reads days, smaller commercial type events, the Hovis are great, and there are no wires in my neck seal so I can just put the bucket on and remove it with no interference or need of assistance.

Bill, They're all good and fair questions. I personally use a Rom/FX mounted in my helmet and depending on the venue I have both Hovi and chest speakers at my disposal at all times. I've never had any complaints with either system except for the first time I used the Hovi speakers, as it was an outdoor event and a little bit tough for some folks to hear me with the wind blowing. The Rom is a great piece of hardware... Should you choose it, you will love it. As for the chest speaker, it does spread out well, and it is typically mounted less than a foot from the Hovis. All in all, it just appears to come from you, rather than a specific part of you. Just my two cents, for what it's worth. Hope it is helpful. Tim

It all depends on how you choose to strap everything, but if you make 30 of them, you should be pretty close to what you need, give or take a few.

Looking good! The more build threads there are going in the next few weeks, the better.

Mine were/are about the same size as the ones that you're making here. I think you'll be fine. Ultimately, when using webbing for snap plates, the entire surface will be a point of contact for the glue.

I'd definitely get rid of that bump. It is just too tall with it.

Gloves last, tucked into the forearms...

Housing looks pretty solid. A little bit of clean-up and paint, and nobody would ever know it wasn't an original part. The pin... Yeah, that's definitely not going to cut it. LoL. There's always the nail, or ABS.

Ah, indeed Sergiu, I hadn't even mentioned tha Tantive IV and that bottleneck. The TKs should have been easy pickings for the rebels there, not to mention Leia Organa being shot and captured. More food for thought though!

Hey there Chris! Looks like you're off to a great start on the DoopyDoo kit! I do have a few observations, and reading through your thread the first one I was going to suggest - you just asked about. Posting pictures... You'll need to go to a photo hosting site such as photobucket and upload all of your pictures there. After you've done so, you can copy the link from their site and paste the link here which will then share your pictures here in your thread. As for the front site post, since you've mentioned a Dremel, I used a nail. As it is not tempered steel, it was VERY easy to cut/grind to the proper shape using my Dremel. Next, air bubbles... Take a look at where some of them are, and decide if they might not be an area on the weapon that could potentially be dented a little bit based on normal every day handling. If so, you can leave them alone and simply do a little bit of dry-brushing on them when you get to the paint point, and turn them into battle damage. In my own build you'll notice that the feet on my M38 scope were a location in which I did this. There were a few air bubbles that looked like "perfect dents" from when I chose to club that puny rebel over the head with my E-11, rather than waste a charge by shooting him. Finally... Broken parts. They're going to happen during the blaster and armor builds, and unless a heat gun (or in some cases, a Dremel) are involved, 99% of them are fixable. You've already learned this, so I trust that you'll have no crazy concerns over it happening in the future. Now, enough observations. It's time for advice. Keep doing what you've been doing - researching, referencing, asking questions. You'll be fine, everyone here who is a member has been where you're at today, and with the help of the FISD (for the most part - I've become glaringly aware that not everyone who is a member goes this route) have all become approved members. It is absolutely possible, and highly likely that you will as well. One more bit of advice: Have fun with this. It can truly be an awesome experience, and you'll cherish the results forever.

During the last two years (and for time and all eternity) I've been part of many discussions centered on the apparent lack of accuracy that was displayed by Imperial Stormtroopers during the Original Star Wars Trilogy. Naturally, many of those began as someone making the oft-lamented joke about not being able to hit a planet or sandcrawler, etc. but ended with the protagonist admitting that I make some very good points that they'd never considered before. Further, during those same two years, I've often said that "I'll have to write out my own theory on the accuracy thing" for sharing here at FISD. I've never done so, but tonight, that changes. Why now? Well, simply put - Mythbusters is apparently about to air an episode in which they take on the accuracy of the Imperial Stormtrooper. There's no motivation like that for me. I've often discussed my theory, but now it is imperative that I share it before they air their own, for the sake of critical analysis. Be warned, this might get a little bit long - not that you'd expect anything less from me at this stage in the game. So, where do we begin? We begin in the chambers of the Galactic Senate, during the timeframe of Star Wars, Episode II - Attack of the Clones. "As my first act with this new authority, I will create a Grand Army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the separatists." - Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine There is the origin of what would become the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps when the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) transitioned to the Imperial Army, following the execution of Order 66 and the Great Jedi Purge (19 BBY). Prior to Order 66, the GAR was comprised of Clones led by Generals (Jedi Knights) such as Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. These Jedi Generals were fighting leaders, not rear-echelon commanders. They were on the battlefronts with their Soldiers, commanding, leading the charge, and reacting to enemy contact. They had first-hand accounts as to the lethal nature of the GAR in action. To be sure, many of them owed the remainder of their lives to the accuracy and overwhelming ability of the GAR to suppress and eliminate the enemy under duress, and ultimately the overwhelming majority of the traitors met their demise by those same means. Yes, the GAR was clones, but the ability to shoot is not a trait that could be cloned. The physical traits that allowed them to attain that level of accuracy were present as a result of the cloning process, but it was the training that they received that led to their actual skill level and efficiency on the fields of combat. It stands to reason that the training developed for the GAR was the precursor to the training used at the Imperial Stormtrooper Academies in places like Carida where that training was refined and improved upon over the nearly 20 years between Order 66 and ANH. Fast Forward those almost 20 years and you find a Galactic Empire that is embroiled in a galaxy-wide civil war. Many systems are threatening revolt, withholding legal tax payments to the Government and the Rebel Alliance (formed shortly after the rise of the First Galactic Empiree) is forming new pockets of resistance in places like Lothal and Alderaan and gaining momentum. The Imperial Army had the task of ensuring the tenuous peace was maintained. This was an effort that, despite the high level of training received by the Stormtroopers of the Imperial Army, taxed the forces to their limits. In order to maintain the necessary show of force, units had to be spread out over the entire galaxy and with their numbers reduced by the area they were covering, rules of engagement had to be loosened up in order to provide for the security of the Stormtroopers. This means that the highly trained Troopers on the ground were encouraged to engage potential threats before the situation became less than ideal. It also served to keep the populations from getting any ideas about supporting the work being done by the Rebel Alliance. By the time A New Hope begins, this is a galaxy-wide situation. Stormtroopers are in every system - especially those on the edge of collapse - ensuring that the populace and government facilities are safe from terrorist attacks like the one that ultimately destroyed the Death Star approaching the Rebel Fleet's hidden base on Yavin 4. These Stormtroopers are in shoot-first mode, in order to stay alive. It is literally life or death for them every time they embark on a patrol, and they are staying alive and keeping the peace. The costs associated with running a war across a galaxy is staggering. Troopers must be equipped, fed, paid, and supported medically. Entire fleets of ships must be moved from system to system by means of hyperspace travel. Facilities must be built, staffed, and equipped in systems that are in danger of falling to the Rebel Alliance's guerrilla styled attacks. The Death Star, an unbelievably expensive Government Facility (the first of many planned for construction) that will ensure that many of those systems resist the Rebel's terrorist leverage on them has just been completed, outfitted, and staffed by millions of Imperial personnel. Everyone talks about how dangerous it was to be an Imperial Command Officer under the watch of Darth Vader, but imagine being the Imperial accountant who has to report to the Emperor (remember - he is not as forgiving as Darth Vader!) that more money is needed to ensure that all of the Stormtroopers remain current in their training and proficient in their skills. Soldiering skills are perishable. If you don't do them, you'll lose your level of proficiency, and that can get you and your fellow Stormtroopers killed quickly. So then, what's an Imperial budget officer to do? Well, all of those Stormtroopers assigned to the Death Star certainly don't need to go to the range every month. They're on the Death Star, they won't be seeing combat any time soon, and when they rotate off of it, they'll get caught up to speed by their new units of assignment - that will reduce the training budget even further, and allow those credits to go to the much needed supplies for Stormtroopers on the ground, in theater. What does all of this have to do with the accuracy of Stormtroopers? Here's what it has to do with it, ANH - Tattooine, scene of a trashed Jawa sandcrawler, Ben (former GAR Jedi General Obi-Wan) Kenobi remarks to young Luke Skywalker that it wasn't Sandpeople who did it, but they were made to think so. Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise - he would know better than almost anyone. These are line Troopers, they are living life and death every day in places like Mos Eisley - the wretched hive of scum and villainy - they understand the importance of their mission - finding those droids and the plans stolen by the Rebel spies. They know that should the rebellion receive those plans, that not only are the lives of millions of their Imperial brothers and sisters jeopardized, but the ability of the Empire to maintain the peace in multiple systems at once is jeopardized as well, and the war is likely to continue for years. Nobody hates war like a Soldier does. Proceed along the timeline now to the Lars homestead. Again, the Stormtroopers on the ground, living in the war day to day, demonstrate the efficiency of their training and their experience - both manifested in their battle-hardened nature. The next timeline point is Docking Bay 94. Yes, the Millenium Falcon escapes, but the only person outside the ship when the Stormtroopers begin firing is Han Solo, a smuggler with a reputation for quick getaways, and plenty of experience feeding that reputation. The ship is under small arms fire while they close up the hatches, but underway quicker than the battle-hardened Stormtroopers on Tattooine can get their E-web Canon mounted and operational, testament to the efficiency of Solo and Chewbacca, who are also living life-or-death every day as notorious smugglers with prices on their heads. From here on out in ANH, we are on the Death Star, where the Stormtroopers are not maintaining their battle proficiency as a result of their assignment, and the needs of the Empire to sustain the Troopers on the fronts. This is where the "Stormtroopers can't shoot" fallacy begins (and ends, really). Who are the Stormtroopers on the Death Star? Primarily, they're serving as administrative specialists. They're charged with the day to day operations and maintenance of the facility. Of course there are security forces and prisoner guard details. Certainly, there are small groups of elite Stormtroopers there, such as members of Darth Vader's personal Legion of Stormtroopers - the 501st - who were no doubt maintaining their training, and likely had been dispatched to investigate and destroy the Rebel base purported to be on Dantooine. But the station's complement of Stormtroopers are not only in a degraded training status, they are under orders to funnel the rebels back to their ship so that they can escape by means of the homing beacon placed on it, and lead the Death Star to the true location of the Rebel Alliance's hidden base - Yavin 4. The remainder of the Trilogy - ESB and ROTJ are fairly simple to cover, as every time the Rebels are set upon by Imperial Stormtroopers, they are routed quite handily. ESB - Echo Base - Stormtroopers invade a prepared, dug-in and defended installation, and route the Rebels, scattering their fleet across the galaxy. Cloud City - C-3PO is destroyed, Solo, Chewbacca, and Leia Organa - Captured without a fight by Imperial Stormtroopers. Only Luke Skywalker (who a: has Jedi reflexes and training and b: was being funneled to the Carbon-Freezing chamber) manages to escape them. ROTJ - Forest Moon of Endor - the Rebel scout team is routed by the Imperials. Hands-down. R2-D2, and Leia Organa are both shot by Imperial Stormtroopers. Had the Ewoks not interfered while the Imperial forces were focused on guarding their prisoners, the battle ends in completely different fashion, as the Rebel Fleet arrives, and the shield generator never stops operating. TLDR Version: The cost of waging war across the expanse of a galaxy is astronomical, and in order to save a few dollars, the Stormtroopers on the Death Star don't go to the range to maintain their proficiency. This, and the order to herd the "escaping" rebels back to their ship so that it can be followed with a homing beacon, further caused them to shoot but not hit the rebels while ensuring that they escaped. Every other instance in which the Stormtroopers go toe-to-toe with the Rebels ends in a very one-sided victory for the Imperial Forces: Tattooine, Hoth, Bespin, Endor. So, without knowing what the team at Mythbusters will have to say, this is my theory as to the apparently lacking accuracy of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps. Clearly, all of us know good and well what the truth is, but the public at large manages to be swayed by rebel propaganda to this day. It is our duty to educate them as to the truth and the might of their Imperial Stormtroopers. I'm sure that the Mythbusters team will come to a very similar conclusion, should the rumors of their upcoming episode's content turn out to be true, and remember, you read it here - at the FISD - first!

Definitely going to be interesting to see, although I have a feeling as to how it SHOULD turn out, I suppose it will just be up to Jamie and Adam and their "evidence." In light of this revelation, I think that it may be high time for me to publish my own theory that I've glossed over here a few times as existing, but never explained that I can recall. I'd prefer to do it before they publish their findings, so that I can do a comparison and see what they look at vs my theory. Oh well - I've got a job to do now!

Congratulations! It's all of those little tweaks at the end that pull it all together and make it look right. Great work, and way to stay on top of the details! Welcome to the 501st, Trooper!

At this point in time, no pricing or availability date to the public has been announced.

Not problem asking questions, Kevin. What specifically are you looking to find? The build thread here is one of the "HOW TOs." There are many here at FISD, and depending on which type of kit you are building, some may be more highly recommended for your use. I'm not sure if I understand your question very fully, unfortunately. What type of kit do you have, or are you waiting for?

Eric, The TFA kits that you see in this area are all made by ANOVOS. They are only available to members of the 501st Legion at this time.

Indeed, brother... There are no rules. If you want to emulate the US Army style, it would be Centurion above EIB, on the left shoulder, above the "patch." In fact, if you want to make it look more complete, or official, you could order one of the patches (either standard blue, or Centurion Red) and sew that over the patch on the sleeve also. Just my two cents. Now that I've mentioned that, I need to order some more tabs, since I've got two FISD shirts, and one set of tabs.. EDIT: I tried three times to get that photo to stay rotated and link it. It isn't working, it's almost 1am, and I've got like 30+ Members and cadets descending upon the house in like eight hours for an armor party. You're going to have to turn your head sideways like a dog.

You definitely want to do the research on the strapping and snaps. You can (of course) have a look at my thread to see what I did with the right side closure. It is the left side that gets the rivets, and naturally, I had to borrow an over-engineered and unusually complex method for that side as well because well... Me. LoL Don't hesitate to ask any questions, brother.

Eric, My apologies for my absence... I feel like I've let you down. In that time though, you've done some beautiful work with your armor and the strapping brackets. If you can get a few pics of the kidney lined up against the back and/or the butt, it should be apparent which is the top and which is the bottom.

Congratulations to Scott, and all of the Advanced Tactics awardees!