Dark CMF

Once again down the rabbit hole we go. This post, just like any other "HOWTO" on the FISD boards, shows how things CAN be done, there are multiple ways to do anything. I welcome you, and any other group of members to build this comprehensive flowchart of ways to do everything involved with building armor or props, and joining the Legion. Anyone can submit a HOWTO for review by the staff and inclusion in the boards. The post will not be edited. If you want a HOWTO on joining the Legion as a Stormtrooper by making your own armor, I believe you already possess all the tools necessary. Type it up, the same way that you typed up your objection to this one. Troopers Helping Troopers!

For what it's worth, the photos that they had on their website said that they were photos of their actual prototype, and they looked pretty good at a quick glance.

Congratulations, Joseph!!! Great work, the HWT looks great!

The bolt likely cannot be used, due to the inner diameter of the DD upper receiver tube. Hollowing it out to a diameter that would accommodate the bolt would likely leave your E-11 very, very susceptible to failure in the rear half of the tube. My DD E-11 does incorporate the actual folding stock from a Sterling. Dependent upon what you have, other parts can probably be used (sight apertures for instance could probably be used as well as a few others.

This thread has given me an epiphany of sorts. I was part of an EA/Gamestop LFL event back on March 3rd at which they revealed the gameplay footage to non-Dice employees for the first time. Peter Moore (EA boss guy) was there, and he even tweeted some pictures taken with us afterwards. https://twitter.com/petermooreEA/status/572835442518843394 https://twitter.com/petermooreEA/status/572891953156603906 Anyway, the footage that we saw that day has been seen by many now (at Celebration) and when I saw it, I was immediately impressed with the details that they nailed, i.e. the E-11 being used in the footage was the ROTJ version with all of the greeblies, and it was being used on Endor, so my natural inclination was to believe that they had just gotten all of the little things correct. At the time, it never occurred to me that they had simply taken the ROTJ TK and E-11 and used it as the sole model for the Stormtroopers in the game. I'll admit that this probability makes me a little sad inside, as an ANH TK myself, but as a fan of Star Wars, and a gamer, I am still very excited about the game based on what I saw and heard that day. As mentioned previously, we've only got a few more months of waiting left to know for sure what they did and didn't include. It is an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!

Dibs!

Ruben, as I mentioned above, it can be done, yes. How? You just hit the nail on the head with that question, be active here at FISD, and in your Garrison, host armor parties and be sure to assist as many new TKs as you possibly can and encourage them to build all the way to Centurion from day #1. If your Detachment has a FB group for them, then be active there. Lead by example, as you've done in achieving EIB (Congratulations, by the way! Your armor looks great! I've been very absent over the last month or so here, and I mean to reverse that now) We've got to get the Garrisons to come on board with the idea that their TKs should look good, as they are the face of the Legion and the face of the Empire. We want to put our best foot forward and demonstrate the pride that we have in these armors, after all, we put all of this work into them, right? You're part of the solution, simply by asking how to do so!

Last approved Centurion was #164. Looking over the EIB numbers for the last 2.5 years, using number of approved EIB TKs at the end of December of each year.; 2014 was an increase of 74 from 2013 2013 was an increase of 61 from 2012 2012 was an increase of 94 from 2011 Less than halfway through 2015, we have increased the number by 40, from the end of 2014. Which puts us on a good pace, but nowhere near the type of increase we need to seriously close that gap that Paul mentioned earlier. If you look at my note about nearly 200 additional TKs approved since March and factor that we've added 40 EIBs since January, that is a decent ratio (20% new EIBs vs new TKs) but with the kits available now, and the general mood of the Detachment and the Cadets, I seriously expect a big jump in EIB submissions and approvals in the back half of 2015. We've got our work cut out for us, but we can make a big, big dent in that gap this year with all of the new TKs coming on board. We've just got to get the word out and I owe you Attaches some help in that regard. It will be coming in short order.

466.

Just wanted to throw this little tidbit out here: When I posted this HOWTO on the 13th of March, 2015 there were 2,791 TKs in the Legion. Today, the 7th of June, 2015 (less than three months later) there are 2,973 TKs in the Legion. Almost three months have seen almost 200 new TKs approved. I've said it numerous times, I'll say it again here: 2015 - Year of the TK!!! Let's keep guiding them on that journey, FISD!!

Eric, can you get a picture of your TD that shows the entire thing, similar to the RS original one that you shared? That would help to get a better feel for what is going on. I'm all about lots of photos that show all of the angles, but right now all of yours are so close up that we can see the details, but not the TD. From what I can see in the pictures you've shared so far, it appears to be alright, even if a little more metal could have been left on the edge of the clips as Eric suggested. I think that you've done a fine job, but one full picture would clarify a lot.

It's been almost three months now.

Comments on the shin closure: It's awesome. Move along... Move along... Any rivets used on the sniper plate will be a: Inaccurate and b: eliminate you from EIB and Centurion. Looking at your mock-up on that sniper plate, it appears as thought you've got a great alignment going. The sniper plate should be attached using the same "lines" of the actual top of the greave itself. Clamps, magnets, blue painter's tape. Those things will combine to keep it in place long enough to dry properly. Just check for any shifting after about six hours or so - it will still be movable then, but tacky - so you can make sure that it cures in the proper location. I've got some beer. Come on over.

I just read to this point in your build thread, Clint (as within the last hour, I sent ANOVOS a big pile of my moneys) and there is already a product out there in the world that might meet this need for everyone interested in the approach. Many hockey players wear compression shorts with velcro attached to the lower ends of the front and backs of the thighs, to hold their socks up over their shin guards rather than taping them to their legs. Finding black ones may be a bit of an issue, but these may work: http://www.amazon.com/SafeTGard-Large-Hockey-Compression-Short/dp/B00064UPU0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1433367094&sr=8-6&keywords=hockey+shorts+with+velcro Aside from this, great job on the build and the successive adaptations. This thread, as others have said already, will be one of my "Go-Tos" when my build begins later this year! Thanks for providing this great resource for all of us!

I'd suggest you do biceps down, as the forearms are a little more complicated to fit typically. I do always suggest/recommend the biceps first for all TK builds.

Just a reminder... I'm a Centurion.

Thank you, there are a lot of REALLY helpful build threads that helped me to get started. Read through every one that you're planning to read, they'll help your comfort level substantially. Of course, you'll still be scared until you've already assembled at least both biceps and probably one forearm. Then, you'll just be cutting stuff to pieces like it was nothing. That first cut syndrome though... You'll be weakened and nauseous about it until you get it over with. We all go through it, but we've got your back.

Probably because you've been here for a week or more. You can take a look at my build of course, I "constructed" quite a fun pressure/tensile strength "rig" to keep my sniper plate in place while the glue on it cured. "Fun" doesn't begin to cover the sniper plate. LoL

When are you expecting your big brown box? The RT kit is a dream to work with, seriously. Rob is a true artist, and the kit reflects that. It looks like your research is already paying off well, as you've got a lot of necessary bits there waiting for your BBB day! If you have any questions about building that kit, be sure to have a look at the existing RT builds out there already. You can find my build thread in the link in my signature.

Get rid of any return edges on the bottoms, or they'll do some damage to your boots. On the top, make sure that it isn't biting you. I've got return edges on the tops of my shins, but I had to clean them up a bit as they were tearing into my shins just below the knee in a couple of spots. As for your elastic straps/hooks, you're just fine, Eric. I can understand why you feel that way about them, but mine are just about exactly the same as yours. If you turn them upside down, there will be almost no way for you to close them. If you go and look at the HD screen captures, you'll see that the gap that has you concerned at the moment appears on all but the gaffer taped TKs. Looking good!! As for the cover strips, if you can get them removed and get the 25 mm ones on there, that would be an improvement, as the backs of your thighs will have the 25s on them, and this will keep you uniform from top to bottom.

At your height and weight, you should also be looking at RT-MOD and TM with the longer limbs as mentioned earlier in this thread. Darth Aloha is 6'5" and wears an RT-MOD kit pretty well if you'd like to see how it looks on a taller Trooper.

I'm bringing this situation to the Detachment Staff for discussion.

Heh... If it were in Dallas. Ah, that... That would be sweet, sweet music to my ears (and my wallet).

Christopher, Here's where you should look to see some of the things that just FISD members alone are a part of: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/forum/13-field-training-exercises/ Keep in mind that this link is only a small sampling of what we do on a regular basis.

I actually heard that they wanted it in Anaheim this year, but in order to do so, they broke a contract with the Convention center in Orlando, where they'd signed up for three consecutive ones there (this year should have been the second of the three). If that is true, I'd be shocked if it were anywhere besides Orlando. Coincedentally, if it is in Orlando - I'll see you all there. LoL That (tentative) plan has already been discussed with Mrs. Dark.