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Scubacat

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Posts posted by Scubacat

  8. Scubacat's TFA Build and Nonsense

    in TFA Stormtrooper

    Posted

    So I just got my kit in the mail. :) Already know that I am going to get rid of the rubber gaskets and go with cloth for the under armor. The helmet is nice and I didn't find any little footprints in my boxes. ;) Going to be a slow build for me since I don't have a sander and the fact that breaking anything scares me. Lol<br><br>

    Anywho, going to post up pics ASAP of what I do have for this.

    I bid you Good day from Denver, CO

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Welcome to the FISD Bill! What part of Colorado do you live in? I am in Littleton myself. It is a shame that you didn't get to go to the wings event but we always have plenty of events for people to go to. In fact we are going to make an appearance at the autism walk this Saturday the 10 down by colors field starting around 9:30. You can message me for more info if you want and we can always use more recruits here in the Mountain Garrison. Have you signed up on the forum yet? If not, go to www.mg501.com and from there you can see local meet ups and get to know the Colorado crew a bit better. Again welcome!

    Hello from Colorful Colorado!

    in New Member Introductions Archive

    Posted

    Welcome Jeff! Since you are in Colorado like me and a few others on here, I was wondering what part of Colorado you are from and if you have signed up on the Mountain Garrison forums. If not, I would go to www.mg501.com. :) we also have monthly meet and greets that you can go to as well as ask us in person many questions that you have. :)

  12. First troop will be a solo troop

    in Off Topic

    Posted · Edited by Scubacat

    Here is a somewhat tutorial that I grabbed from Dizzy over at the Spec Ops forums.

     

    "It's come to my attention that troops are just standing around, literally. One does not simply wait in front of the backdrop for people to come up and take pictures, the only exception being if there's a large "circle" of people, meaning the crowd is moving like in an airport or a mall and they just want to snap a selfie and move along.

     

    But in most cases your garrison/squad will have the booth set up in what I call an "open" photo op. This is where people are free to move about and there isn't a set route such as conventions. At my squad's cons, we're placed near the convention center entrance so we make a good opening impression, but away from the main vendors as not to "take away" from artists and shopkeepers. Sure people want the perfect picture of them with a few troopers or vader at the death star but it's important to keep in mind you aren't just a trooper. You are a mascot, a representative of the LEGION, not the empire. Remember the whole "bad guys doing good" motto? Troops are a group effort people, don't just stand around, interact!

     

    With the baby-to-toddlers group, they don't know what you are or what you might do. I give a friendly "palm straight, fingers moving" wave, or a quick "hand twisting side to side" wave and tilt my head to appear nonthreatening in a cartoony way. Older kids between 6-10 who generally may know of star wars, might look at you unsure of if they're supposed to go up to you or not. Often the parents will coax them into getting close for a picture. This part is imperative. Before they shy away (or run up in glee), bend over slightly and nod your head yes, or wave them "come on over" to let them know "I acknowledge you". I then will look down and put my palm out to say "I want you to stand here" and get into either standing or battle position towards the camera. It helps to be able to read the kids by their facial expressions. There is the general omg a star wars guy grin, and there's the parent-forced smile. For single kids, if I deem them worthy, I might have them hold my blaster for the shot, with one hand on my belt and the other on the kids shoulder. This really impresses people and shudders away all thoughts of you being "a bad guy". I warn, don't do this for everyone, but when done 99% of them give you your blaster back immediately. The other 1% either don't know what to do next or just want to see the picture first.

     

    For multiple-child shots, I always aim my blaster at the camera, this is because having it down you might not be able to see your actually aiming right at the dome of a little girl. You don't want to single anyone out. And again NEVER AIM YOUR BLASTER AT A CHILD.

     

    For troops that have a no-blasters policy, just hold onto your belt with both hands like vader for multi-kid shots, or one hand on the child's shoulder with your other hand on your belt for single child shots.

     

    For everyone else (ages 12 to 112) it's strictly professional, NOW you can just stand there and wait for the hotties to make their latest facebook picture. Occasionally from adults you may get odd requests. I was asked if a guy could hug me.. Anyway, perfect example: You might get "pretend you just captured me guy" which is a simple everyone aim blasters with his hands up, or if solo, I make him kneel, arms above his head, one hand on his shoulder, and blaster pointed to his head. There's a certain point where it's obvious if you're just blatantly aiming at everyone, but don't do that. The spectators or "next in line" people don't want to see repetition.

     

    Here's some other helpful tips:

    Never do anything you aren't comfortable with. Almost all people ASK you to get a picture out of human nature. They'll ask those odd things I mentioned too. That may include "can I kiss you" which has happened to a trooper who was single, and he specified "helmet on, or off?" But be careful with stuff like that.

    Never let adults hold your blaster. Not because they could run off or drop it, but it just makes for a bad picture.

    If you let a child hold your blaster, make sure they hold it properly before letting go. One or two have tried to hold it like a pistol then realize how heavy it is, before I let go I make sure there's two hands.

    If said child drops your blaster, motion to them that's it's okay. Their first reaction will be "OH NO" and seeing as how you're pretty much an angry god in their eyes, you don't want them to freak out. Hopefully them being so close to the ground your blaster wont be damaged but if that's the case, ask a handler to get the parts.

    Don't take off your helmet unless you're in a private area, bathroom, or in back of the backdrop. Being helmetless is as bad as being naked. It takes the "real live stormtrooper" fantasy away.

    After someone gets their picture with you, offer up a high five. It's the universal bro-fist."

     

    I have gone by these rules and tons of people have loved seeing me so far. So I have made my decision to follow these, minus the occasional small break dancing that I do, and I have tons of fun. :) I think the number one rule is to have fun and relax. :)

  17. To Sell or Not To Sell

    in Other Non-Approved Star Wars Costumes

    Posted

    Since there have only been people interested in my almost full TK to purchace, I think that I am going to turn it into a fun stormtrooper costume, such as a stormtrooper samurai or even paint it up for my Denver Broncos. Who knows what I am going to do with it, but if someone really wants it and does not want to see me turn it into something else, I would think about selling it. I got it as a hand me down and the armor is to large to fit my 5'7" 130lbs frame. My armor that I am building to fit my frame makes me look really small and I have had to do some adjustments on it so that I won't be a clanker. So, unless someone contacts me about buying it, I am stuck on deciding if I want to do the samurai or not. Help me decide! :D I have about a week to decide. The onl thing I would not sell is my helmet.....well.....maybe. My armor is more or less all put together along with a holster and neck seal. Everything is ready to go minus some working out with two spots that need to have more e6000 applied to it. Making a samurai armor piece will involve me making cuts into the armor. It will be a good and fun piece at a lot of conventions so if any of you have suggestions on how I should make it look, let me know. ^^

     

    tumblr_ms3j551F0E1r6alpno1_1280.jpg

  18. Scubacat's Builds

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    Yeah! The helmet quality is amazing! everything fit perfectly to me. ^^ I can put my helmet on without twisting it and there is plenty of room in it for me to breathe. I can't remember where I got my fans but you can also go to radioshack and get some squirrel fans and a switch and battery connector. I taped every wire with black electrical tape to prevent any shorts and covered the exposed areas with hot glue. My fans work great and I made sure to place them so that they will circulate the air. I may put a third fan in with velcrow on a seperate battery for those long summer troops in the back.

  23. Scubacat's Builds

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    I will mostly hold this for all my builds until I finally decide to get a new set of normal stormtrooper srmor. I have one but it is far too big for me and I will end up selling it eventually. To start off I have my shadow stormtrooper kit. It is what I will be joining the 501 in. :) So far the only thing that I need to do to complete my kit is black boots, a shiny belt, a neck seal, and new under armor. I have recently started to put all of the straps and such together and it is coming along nicely.

     

    Here I am working on a helmet (not my own but I offered to help). My random E-11 in the background.

    IMG_0497_zps242553e7.jpg

    7ae1fd78-c57d-45f6-823f-804e7f31b1de_zps

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