Dark CMF

It is an awesome feeling, isn't it? Get used to it, Felix!

Greatly improved!!! What I did to prevent the sides of the neck seal bib from flaring out at the shoulders is one of the oldest tricks in Stormtrooper costuming - black duct tape. I took a piece and wrapped it around the bib below the rib cage both in the front, and the back. No more problem with flaring. Not sure if it will help yours though, based on construction - you may need to alter it or as you said, wear it beneath the compression top. It does look as though you need to pull your back plate up some. The "OII box" should really be up around the tops of your shoulder blades... Perhaps pull the chest plate down a bit further on the abdominal plate. This will bring the ab and kidney plates up more, pushing the back plate up a bit, and may or may not require much in the way of shoulder bridge adjustment. You're getting closer and closer now! Nearly there!!!

Looking at the pictures that they have provided for the pre-sale page on their site, I fully believe that the kits will be up to the challenge of meeting 501st Legion standards. ANOVOS is run/owned/was started by two former members after all, they know what sort of standards their costumes are up against when it comes to the Legion. During trade shows within the last year to fifteen months or so, they have had TKs and other Star Wars costumes on display. Truth is that none of those were their own products. They borrowed costumes from local Legion members where the shows took place. Their website however does indeed have pictures of their actual prototype in the sale/pre-order page. This is why I believe that the kit will likely be good for Legion base level approval without much work. Naturally, there is some risk involved, but early indications are that they'll be good, quality kits.

I'm in with the school of thought that it is simply a case of a smuggler/BH/pirate type using some old school equipment that he or she may have taken by force, found laying around, or just picked up in their travels. It does not appear that the individual is wearing a full suit of armor, merely a TX looking bucket with some sort of chest box attached via a hose. I've seen the image captured in high res, and blown up considerably, the Aurebesh on the forehead does indeed spell the word FEAR. From a standard Star Wars sort of approach, and knowing how JJ has wanted to handle this film from day one (capture the feel of the OT as much as possible, to include the "lived-in/used" universe) it makes perfect sense that we'll see plenty of remnants of the First Galactic Empire as we move forward. Not sure if everyone else has seen it or not (though I'm sure many have) looking at Rey's "goggles" they certainly appear to be the lens area of a TK bucket, cut out and used as goggles. Look at the business that is done by military surplus stores here in our galaxy... makes sense that the galaxy far, far away would have similar needs. I'm loving everything that we've seen so far, and my excitement just grows every time something new like this pops up!

That is a pretty cool idea, Brian!! Looking forward to the progress on it.

There are speakers in the Hovi Tips. When using them, everything (wire-wise) is contained in my helmet, so there are no wires running down my neck seal or into my armor.

I'm pretty much in camp with Eric here... To me, it looks as if a lot of your strapping could be tightened up some, pulling the armor up for the most part. The shoulder bells are a bit far from the bridges (which may need to be adjusted some, can you get a better picture of the attachment there?), the chest/back could be tightened, which would bring up the abs/kidney group as well. As for the Cod.. You might consider cutting a bit off of the top of it. I want to say that I cut about an inch and a half or so off of the top of the plate before attaching it with the strapping. My belt also runs across the seam between the Kidney and Butt plates. Build looks good, but perhaps tighten up the strapping. The "sag" almost makes it look a little bit too big, because of how everything is kind of hanging on you. Very, very close to submission!!

As you can see above, pretty much everyone attaches things inside of the helmet using Velcro. You can attach the Velcro to the painted inside of the helmet without any real difficulty. Here is a picture of the inside of my bucket when I was almost done with my recent upgrades: The inside was painted before anything was installed, Velcro is stuck to the inside of the helmet, and everything else is stuck on the Velcro!

It does seem that way to me, too - besides the totally different boots/ankles. I'm assuming that the armor was, for the most part, built in standard "one-size fits-all" fashion and she's taller than the parameters for it. More than likely, the shins were difficult to fit and so the new boot/ankle armor was born - pure speculation, of course. I don't know anything secret like.

LoL... This is one of the only costumes in the Star Wars Universe (and perhaps Kylo Ren - Yay!) that I'm just about the proper height for. Typically, I'm a bit too tall for a Trooper, and a bit too short for a Sith Lord. This one though... What's a girl to do? LoL

Brandon did pick up a lot of the things that need to be addressed. It also looks as though the shoulder bridges are not affixed properly on the chest plate (At least the right one - left as you look at the picture). Your neck seal is also puffing out at the top of the chest plate, and it should not be worn that way. Some photos of the individual parts will help us to see things. If you go to an EIB thread (mine is linked in my signature), you can see the type of pictures that are typically used to evaluate the armor. It does look like you've done some good work though! Keep at it!

Airing on one of the local stations throughout the day today, are a series of interviews/vignettes showing what can happen when the Empire takes over a news studio. WFAA (ABC) Dallas, Channel 8 asked the Empire to run things for awhile. TKs in the segments below are TK-51878, and TK-7153. TK-51878 had a bit of a bad day when the cameras were around. I can be seen getting some coffee, trying to get some water, dealing with anyone interrupting Lord Vader, "fixing" a network van, making copies... TK-7153 got to be the "New Guy" and serve as Station Security for awhile. Here's a link to the spots: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkCeJSrX8m28e_9ZMwuf6wQA4dHIW0PZA For the record, there was more footage, so it is possible that they will post more as the day goes on. If they add more, I'll share them here as well! We had a great time filming these segments. Truly a blast. Enjoy!!!

Paul & Mathias, Thank you. That's pretty much exactly what I expected from examining pictures of each. In doing so, I couldn't outright detect any crazy inaccuracies or even truly noticeable subtle differences. I guess the haters are going to hate, and I know that I cannot convince them otherwise. I haven't touched or seen either in person, so I am constantly rebuffed with that as evidence that they're correct. They've seen both, they study armor, I can't be right. LoL

Mike, can you access the sales area yet? I believe you need to have five posts before that area is available to you. At any rate, the Echo fans are great, here's where they can be found: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/24372-fs-helmet-fan-system-echos/

Truthfully, I've been made aware of one or two people who are basically crusading against the kit after having worn them in Anaheim, under this very notion. They are saying that it is not close enough to screen accurate to allow it to meet Centurion standards - to which my reply is "Which Centurion standards does it not meet, as there isn't a CRL for it yet?" I've seen it called "The next generation of Rubies" and to me, looking at pictures of the armor, and screen caps from the trailer, I don't see any basis whatsoever, for this comparison. Technology has come a long way in the last forty years or so. Armors created now are for more accurate and consistent than the armors being produced in the 80s. So, for those of you who have the kits, built the kits, AND saw the screen used kits at SWCA, what degree of differences do exist?

I think that if you exercise a bit of patience for about the next 24 to 36 hours, it may indeed be rewarded. That's what my Holocron is telling me at the moment. EDIT: because 24 to 3 made no sense at all.

Steve, I hope you're recovering by now. You've been away for a bit, so you've no doubt not taken note of the fact that a lot of us have in fact, been missing lately. It was like a detachment-wide "Con-Crud" hit us or something... We're picking up the pace though, you've got time to take that necessary knee and get up to speed when you're ready brother. I didn't meet you at Celebration either, but that is completely my fault as I wasn't there. I did see you on the live stream a time or two though, for what that's worth. You're a key player here, and though you've been missed, and will be missed while you recover, as everyone else has said already, your health is far more critical than spending a bit of time here getting caught up on stuff. Stuff will still be here when you're healthy again, and taking a break will expedite your recovery. Thoughts and prayers for a comfortable recovery for you, my friend. See you back in action soon, I'm sure.

You can also look at Sally Beauty Supply if there is one near you. They've got it in "human-sized" containers (20 - 40 oz) for relatively cheap - less than or around $10.

Apologies for my lack of welcomes. I'll get caught up. Life + server downtime have been conspiring to keep me behind on them as of late.

Approval still rests with the judgement of the GMLs and LMO, but the FISD Attaches will be coming online more empowered to assist them prior to the ANOVOS armors hitting the field. Rest assured that by the time this wave hits the Legion, the Garrison Command Staffs will be very happy to have their Resident FISD Attaches.

Well, Anakin has always appeared to Luke as a force ghost at the end of ROTJ, along with Yoda and Obi-Wan. No retcon needed for Anakin to be available and active in Luke's life as a Jedi.

Greetings Jed, and welcome to the FISD!!! As has been suggested, I'd also advise you to look into RT-Mod. I troop it at 6'2" (6'4" in armor), and 210 lbs. our Detachment Leader, Darth Aloha is 6'5" without the armor, and he also troops RT-Mod. Definitely a great option for you. Rob does have a long list, and probably won't accept anyone else on it until January, but it is worth the wait. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have. That's why we're here.

Hey Scott, as others have already stated, ANH derived armor should fit you pretty close to perfectly. As much as I'd love to see another RT-Mod Tower Trooper join the ranks, it would be too big for you. The RT kit fit me nearly perfectly, and I'm 6'2", and was about 225 with a 36" waist when I built it. Have another look at the vendors. AP fits fine up to a 32" waist, all others should be in consideration by you.

I'm fresh out of popcorn, but I've got ice cream sandwiches and Dove chocolates.

Germain, are there larger versions of those available someplace?