Daetrin

Yup, assemble then paint, else the glue won't hold. Like Brad - I'm a big fan of snaps wherever possible. Eventually straps wear out, and will need adjusting or replacement.

- I wonder if you can use the rolling technique for the chest plate on this part to create a return, e.g. line of illusion? Just a thought - I think it's an easy pass - Scott will give the official word.

To be honest, I bet I could spend $3000 on a kit. The de-milled Sterling alone will set you back a very pretty penny

Pretty cool

The absolute lowest you can do for armor only unless you get a used suit or recast items is the FX lite + MRCE. But again, that's a starting point and you still need assembly supplies. If you're in to handyman / craft type stuff some folks already have many of the items, but if not plan on spending a few hundred dollars at least.

We did a poll awhile back and to do a basic costume will run between $1000-$1200. Even using FX lite + MRCE which is your cheapest option, you're typically looking at $1000 when all is said and done. Let's not forget that Hasbro won't work out of the box - you need an upgrade kit too. Same with the MRCE - not acceptable out of the box and needs some tweaks to make it 501st approved. And the soft parts, and glue, clamps, etc. to put it all together. To do really good costume would run only about $200-$400 more (an AP or TE2 kit for instance is only $200-$300 more than FX). You'd have to really work hard to put $2000 into a set, and at that point we're talking RomFx sound kit, Hyperfirm blaster, etc.

The FX helmet is accepted for 501st membership, but is not acceptable for either FISD Elite or MEPD Police Officer status. In some garrisons (like mine) there are only a few people left with them, and only for secondary costumes. Considering that the MRCE is acceptable (with some mods) for Elite/Police Officer, this is what many are moving to. Heck, even FX sells helmet-less kits. Also, the pricing for other kits has come down drastically - you can get an AP or TE2 kit for a little over $225-$250. Figure you can sell an FX bucket for about $100 and it's not much more then to go with a far more accurate helmet. Honestly I'm recommending everyone starting out not get an FX bucket. It's only a matter of time before they are no longer 501st acceptable.

There is a world of difference between what he does and what "legit" sellers like FX, AP, etc. are doing. What exactly do you want to discuss? As you can imagine this has been hashed out quite a bit many times over? e.g. what's new?

Actually I'm dying to move to Hawaii but am still trying to talk the wife into it for this year, or next year at the latest before my daughter starts school. Wish me luck!

Presuming I'm still living in WA? Sure Actually we'll have to decide where the best place to do this is - WA or CA.

Let's talk before that happens. Those are OSCS clones. Another good resource for building EPII clones is www.clone-empire.com/forum/, though it's not a 501st detachment. Oh - and if you *do* go white clone Tony - lmk 'cause we'll fly you to us this time for a good armor party.

Yup. CMANavy is 6'4" 240+ lbs and was able to get TE armor to fit, so as mentioned it's all what you want. That said RT is probably your best bet.

The only reason to ever buy FX is price. And even then then the price delta's are not as large as they used to be. Unless you're on an extremely tight budget, why get it anymore?

All my birthday related stuff was taken. 80/20 is the Pareto rule.

Updated! Congrats on both getting your Legion and FISD Elite!

I found it at my local crafts store - pretty cheap.

Easy approval, I say - fantastic suit & my compliments. Just waiting on word from Scott & Terrell & you're record will be updated. Congrats!

Helmet, hands down. And no, you will not always get feedback from the helmet. My garrison mate has a 100% self contained RomFx in his TE2 and has no feedback at all. He did use some material (can't recall what kind) around the speakers though.

It's more fair to say that all TK armor should have a separate butt and kidney plate, thus so does TE2 being accurate. ROTJ armor has a solid back piece, as does FX. So...if you want to use TE2 armor for ROTJ you'd have to fuse them together.

I can never fully repay Tony and Faye for their kindness and generosity to me during my visit, and opening their home and sharing their lives. They revealed me the true beauty of Hawai'i. It's not in the beaches or the tropical maids or the weather: it's Aloha and the Ohana spirit that is woven in to the people, most especially Mr. and Mrs. T. I'm secure enough in my manhood to say that I had to fight back tears at the airport, again at home as I showed my wife the lei, and even now here at work I'm crying a bit at having to leave what I consider to be Paradise. God bless and Mahalo Paul

Yup - Mike A. is the man for these.

Remember folks - the suits were designed to look good, not be comfortable. There is always the trade off between looks & comfort: the more black the worse it looks, but the more mobile you *may* be.

Trooped it but haven't seen it. Guess I'll have to wait until I get back home... Sounds like overall it was worth watching though - better than PM?

At the Rose Parade there was a bus of standing troopers on the way there, and a bus of sitting troopers on the way back. You will find a way. Depends on the seat really - usually the big part is unsnapping the thighs and rotating them. I've done cut cod and uncut cod and it made no difference at all - same with the butt plate. Then again, I'm 6'

I'll trade for my screen used tape dispenser.