Dark CMF

Best of luck, Dennis!! Looking forward to it!

Excellent news! (Thanks again, Karin!) Fortunately, I've not yet begun assembling anything. I'll post my day 2 progress pictures tonight, though. Germain... sorry about that. No idea why that happened, aside from me doing it. It won't happen again. I'm planning on making a magazine clip, but I'm not sure what I'll use yet. I'm kicking around a few ideas, like so many others... LoL. I didn't recall seeing the D-ring in Craig's (DM101) build thread so I was hoping to make sure that everyone knows it is there - but I will agree (as I have handled a weapon or two that have D-Rings on them during the past 20+ years ) that the one supplied is rather flimsy, slightly mis-shapen, and would not be up to the task in a real-world situation.

Germaine, I was pleased to see that as well. It also included a D-ring, as you can see, which I was not expecting. I'm not sure how long ago that started, but that was nice to see. The only things that do not currrently ship with the kit are the rail/bracket, and the wires! Oh, and directions!

For the record, I have no fewer than 12 build threads opened up in tabs on my computer (to include yours, Mark - which I will be looking at when it comes time to paint, for sure. Great job on it!!). They've been there since Thursday evening, and should remain there for the foreseeable future, until I have mine at the very least partially assembled. I'm kicking around some ideas for my bolt carrier group. Mostly derivatives of previously used ideas, but possibly with different materials - which I'll explain a bit when I post day two sometime in the next 24 hours or so.

Yay! Thanks, Karin! And, of course, thanks to everyone else for the awesome words of encouragement. No new BUILD stuff today - but I have two point five days worth of build photos to share and comment on, so I'll get right to that now... Another picture of the box, showing the angle that really had me worried. When I got home I just wanted to open it immediately and conduct an inventory, but the first two to three hours at home are spent with our two year old son, Kellan. So, I waited patiently until he went to bed before I did... Prepped for the inventory. I have DM101's beautiful build thread open and waiting on my laptop, to use as my "inventory sheet" since no documents come in the box - and I had already learned that from the countless build threads I've read so far. This is what was in the box. Three loose parts, and a zippable bag filled with what I was hoping was all of the rest of the parts. Fortunately, yes... All of the parts were there, so my beloved significant other had indeed, inadvertently caused me a minor anxiety attack at work where I am in a position of authority. Nobody likes to see a grown man cry, and I was only close to doing so, so no harm, no foul. The parts arrived with a lot of dust and release agent/powder on them and as I've learned from all of those build threads - you need to wash them before you do anything else. Rather than simply go and start playing, I knew (being an acutely aware husband) that a bit of housework before-hand would go a long way in this regard, so I did what made a lot of sense at the moment... I did some dishes! I didn't say I did a LOT of dishes. I said SOME. Anyway, with the sink cleared of dishes - it was time to clean Doopydoos E-11 parts... Getting the upper receiver cleaned and ready... A smile from England!! and... The rest of the parts get their bath, too. All washed up, with nowhere to go - except into a room where a two-year old can't get at them. That's the "work" for day number one. I'll post up day number two shortly. Thanks for following along.

This actually arrived on Thursday, while I was at work. I was in a meeting and was handed a phone message from my wife, by our Operations NCO. The message simply said "Call me at home when your meeting is over." No big deal, I thought. I get that message at least twice weekly. When I got back to my desk, I realized that my cell phone had a message so I checked it. It was from my wife, and it said: "Your blaster kit is here. The box is wide open. Only God knows if all of the parts are here. It's a freaking mess." So with about 45 minutes remaining in the work day, I became very preoccupied and useless. I spent those last 45 minutes trolling through Doopy threads here at FISD. I've shared this picture, as I finally remembered how to do so, which allows me to have a build thread. I'll begin to add to it tomorrow evening, I believe. Thank you all in advance for your insight, critiques, and previously shared experiences and inspiration. I'm excited to finally have a build thread of some sort, here at FISD. Enjoy the show!

Thank you, yet again, for the newsletter! Always an enjoyable and informative read, and this month is no different. Looking forward to February's!

Thank you, that's exactly the thoughts that I was having, but I don't have any sort of technical audio background - outside of operating radios professionally. LoL. To me it just seems that if the mics are only three to four inches apart facing to your front, there really isn't any stereo effect. There's too much crossover, so amplified, not stereo. Also, the sound is coming from in front of you, which you can see already, defeating the purpose of the system. Thanks, the system's theory is brilliant and the iteration that exists right now seems to be getting rave reviews. One day, I'll have one. Just need my armor first.

Taras, Would you say (having worn the kit) that mounting the mics in the frown causes any sort of confusion or disorientation? I've seen a lot of discussion of mounting the mics that way and to me it seems counter-productive. We are used to hearing sounds as they come from the sides of our heads. Just curious about your take on the notion of mounting the mics in the frown as opposed to in the temple/brow/ear area. Thanks.

Anthony, I think that is probably a good idea. Although I'd been thinking of joining the 501st in the back of my mind for quite some time, ultimately it was the Legion's FB campaign that really led me to the research that brought me to FISD. If I may, I have a suggestion as well... While recently conducting some cross-forum electronics research, I signed up over at the Sith Lord forums and noticed that they have something like a "Hall of Fame" for their second and third level approved members (I believe Emperor is their equivalent of our Centurion, I don't recall the second level title). It is a section of the forum that I think helps with the awareness of the programs, while giving a small nod of appreciation to those who have already done it. Might also help with awareness to have an "Honors Detachment" for EIBs and Centurions here for the new members to read/see.

bzb.... Any updates on what you've been doing with this project?

I'll vouch for him on this count - for at least ONE, because that is me. Bill, take a look at the Centurion standards vs. EIB... It really isn't that much more to do to accomplish the higher Centurion standard, and the subtle changes/upgrades will make a difference to you in the end! Centurion is definitely worth considering - in my humble opinion!

Excellent! Thanks., Mathias! Jannick, I think that it may be something that triggered it, yeah. Only because it worked fine whenever I used it prior to upgrading, and although I don't recall if I had used it immediately after the upgrade, it did stop working since that time.

Are you using Win 8.1?

Well, I won't lie... For what it's worth, I'm glad it's not just me. Sorry that you've been dealing with it too though.

This started within the last two to three weeks sometime. I'm not sure what may be causing it, but I cannot paste into the forums or into PMs. I can paste into other browser-based applications and websites. I can paste into non-browser-based apps or programs. I just cannot paste to FISD. I've looked at settings in my IE, I've looked at my settings here on the FISD site. I'm at a loss. Help... Anyone.

I concur... Definitely looks really good!! Nice job!

I'm all in!!! My armor kit is (currently) on pace for an August delivery, but I'm gunning for Centurion (with EIB the second stop along the way - following basic 501st approval as the first step) from the get go!! I think that we can do this! The attaches definitely seem to be making their presence felt along the way, and I'm familiar with a good handful of current recruits/prospects who all say that we are going to do it. March on to 700 in 2014!! On a side note, and this may not be the place for it - someone PM me please if need be - but I might have a contact in the relatively near future that currently does produce coins at a very, very good price for my Battalion. If there is any interest in investigating that as an option, please let me know. I can't make any promises and I understand that there is a lot of higher level approval etc involved with producing any merch for any part of the 501st, but if it is desired, I can easily ask the question.

Thanks for sharing that, Jon. Great news for troopers everywhere, to be sure!

Greetings Hunter, and welcome to FISD!!! RainTrooper touched on some very good points, namely - have you already purchased armor. Aside from that, I've seen some other people with similar questions answered this way: When you think of the Stormtroopers and your desire to become one... What scene from the trilogy is it that you see in your mind. Do you see formations of TKs in the hangar bay on the second Death Star, waiting for the arrival of the Emperor? Do you see the TKs shooting their way into the hallways of the Tantive IV? Do you see the TDs stopping the landspeeder in the streets of Mos Eisley? Which scene is it that turns your mind to the thought of becoming a stormtrooper? What are your favorite scenes involving them? Ultimately, whichever movie version you decide to build is a purely personal choice, and your reason for choosing it is equally personal but no matter which you decide upon, you will find answers and help here within the forums of the FISD. Congratulations, you've taken your first step into a larger world!

If you go and look at SorenM's armor, and his EIB application thread, you'll see the exact same situation. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/25232-tk-29066-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-tm-343/#entry317471 He ordered his built by TM, and after receiving his TK number I believe all he did was take pictures and submit them for EIB.

LoL Dave... I think I'll just keep my camera hanging near the door once I've been told that my box is on the way. I'm exactly with everyone else: Congrats! Looking forward to the build, and NOM NOM NOM! I couldn't have said it better, so I simply did not try.

Reading the forums will set you on the right path, Mick. You can never go wrong reading more of them!

Spike TV has their Star Wars Holiday going on again today and I saw it in the guide literally moments before ANH began. I turned it on and called my 2 year old son over to watch it with me. He immediately recognized R2-D2, then the Stormtroopers and Darth Vader. Fast forward to docking bay 94 (because this is, of course, the "special" edition) and the moment that Jabba appears on the screen. When my 2 year old sees him, he declares "Poo-poo, ocky." Even he developed a quick opinion about the special edition tweaks. I'm glad we were eating when Greedo fired first so he didn't have to see that.

Greetings Jason, and welcome to FISD! There is a thread in this same "Getting Started" forum that directly addresses which armor kits are best for larger/bigger troopers. I apologize, I'd have posted the link for you but for some reason, I'm unable to copy and paste at the moment (I have no idea why). I'm not quite as tall as you are, but I am a little taller than the average trooper (I'm 6'2" and 225) and I am on the wait list for RT-Mod armor. I made my decision after reading that forum thread and looking at a lot of build threads and EIB/Centurion applications. Good luck, and again - welcome!