Daetrin

if you do that, want to coordinate on FISD then? This way the data is miscible. Else, we can't really compare apples to apples.

Done, I broke out AP as well.

The last time we did this was September 3rd, 2010. It's time to get new data. What we want to know is, what armor / helmet are you wearing? This poll will run for 3 weeks.

Or, Rainbow for Girls: -------------- (and yes, my daughter is one, so guess who'll be wearing rainbow colors to support his little girl)

Good one Glen

As noted, no pauldrons while in your TK. Or, if you want to fully kit it out, go HWT

The short answer is because I wrote it and kept it there. Waaaaay back when TM emerged there were many discussions here and on MEPD about the origins of his molds, and as there was no concrete proof that he used a TE kit as a base, and as his armor was (and is) the best reproduction ANH armor out there, and as he's a really good guy who was helping the community tons, I left that text in place. Another reason why it's strange that there is a perception that I "have it out" for TM, when in truth I've been supportive of the guy for years. Mathias: "As I understood it, CAP recast TE, but then TE ran sold off all his moulds "getting out of the game", and later changed his mind, so to get new moulds, he recast CAP (or himself kind of) which is also how CAP got his "approval" from TE." Yup, this is my understanding as well by people who have much more intricate 1st hand information of the transactions than I do, however I have never heard that CAP got any approval from TE, more that TE let things go.

And you got that from where? You've been on staff how long and you've not once brought that up? I lost a friendship with Terry Chui because I wouldn't ban Appling as there was no posted evidence that he was VT. Thanks for keeping this to yourself. How much other info then is out there, I wonder, that people are keeping to themselves.

I've deleted all my posts, and will never raise the subject again. Ever. This whole detachment was founded on integrity and transparency, but I guess that's no longer how FISD rolls...

Fine, if you believe him then just have the DL delete my posts. Honestly, if it's that important to you, I just don't care anymore. You have no more evidence than I do.

Billy - as I said I'm pointing out what I've been told and explanations given. If the others who are so vehement in private won't air their concerns in public, as I said I have no dog in the fight. The flipside is that people have every right to question things too. Or are you suggesting that he gets a free pass because he's a good guy and makes great armor? There should be no sacred cows if we truly want the truth. Else what's the point of this whole exercise? Why bother questioning the origins of VT or MTK - as you note there is no proof.

I have no dog in this fight. What proof does anyone have of any of the rest of the tree then? You take all that on faith, it seems. However, if the others who have PM'd, emailed, phoned, etc. their opinions about the origins of Paul's molds don't want to chime in, then I'm content to let it go.

Not true. I recommend your armor to many people, including those in my garrison, even today, and on these boards.

And the #1 issue is the transparency instead of recasting. I mean, it would be one thing to say "I recast RS for my new armor, and am selling it anyway. Tfpftpt". At least people know what they are buying. It's quite another to not be honest, which is where people really get upset. Taking advantage of new members makes me angry, and was seeing people do so was my whole reason for creating FISD.

I guess the question is how much would you alter it? Zero, some, a lot? At that point one could ask why not 3D scan it, which is a direct copy. Typically when people want to do what you suggest, they do the courtesy of asking the person who owns the molds if they can and explain what they want to do. For example Andy E. took a JM clone helmet kit as a base to make his Baccara with the OK from JM. TM certainly used a set of armor as the basis for his molds, but has done such a great job of modifying them that many consider them in the same category as an original sculpt.

I think there is a place for both. Are you asking people to submit photos?

Congrats again - this is a huge achievement.

I put one around the front. I suck with a heat gun, so the one that connects the front tabs worked for me just fine.

My $.02...you can make FX armor look really good for $50 or so and an afternoon of work. There are tons of tutorials on how to pimp the armor out to make it look good, and you can 100% go EI with it (I should know, I wrote the article! ). The helmet is where you'll get gobsmacked. You will stand out easily and will just look out of place. I replaced mine (when I had FX armor) with an AP helmet and was selected to march in the Rose Parade in 2007. And, it still looked good! You can use the FX helmet as a display piece or sell it, but you should know up front that it's on the way out. The armor...again with a little pimping can easily go EI and beyond, and you'll probably get years and years of wear out of it, so no worries there.

I used to have 2 sets of armor - one for TD & one for TK. Personally I loved my TD, and even was XO over on MEPD. However as I'm trooping less now I decided to sell my TD and when I want to go full bore then just add my accessories and go HWT. As noted, you can then have a more fully kitted up look without having to shell out the $$ for a full second costume. My experience is that the fans dig the HWT. When asked I just say I just got posted to Mos Eisley and haven't yet been sent out on patrol.

A good start. I think you can solve a few problems with the use of some foam padding in the butt & back to make them more vertically aligned. I also put a back strap around my wait connecting the fronts of my butt plate to bring them in more. Also, drop the biceps more. They should float down your armor and not be covered so much by your shoulder bells. Your thighs also need some adjusting (one is higher than the other), and your shoulder straps can be moved down a few notches in front. All par for the course. Mine looked similar at one point (I'm 6'0) and it took several tries and as I said some padding to get it to sit right.

can't find a picture that shows is clearly, but I cringe when I see yellowed armor. There were some marchers at the Rose Parade that clearly stood out. Also, at C5 and C6 when we did FISD photos, there is always some old timer with a yellowed FX kit that just ruins the picture for everyone else. We try to hide them in the back, but the eye cannot filter them out. That and sandtroopers who weather their kit so badly we call them sewer troopers.

The choice is yours - there is no right answer. Some prefer the fresh from Carida look, others more what Lucas tried to portray on film - things are slightly used.

Next is to get pix in full armor, but here's a teaser. ANH Stunt helmet (ATA) built by Jesse M. All hand painted and gorgeous. I can even wear glasses in it.

I think you are spot on there Kevin with the calves. I can't see it any other way for the reasons you cited.