ShavedWookie

Great newsletter! I'm thinking I might need to head back to Canada some time, you guys always seem to be having fun!

I had a young girl come up to me and ask "Are you my dad?" To be fair, her dad is also a TK, but 6" shorter than me

My High School enrollment number (of all things) was 2425, for some reason it's always stuck in my head... I just added an extra 2 at the end for balance (and to make it a 5 digit number)

That's awesome Tim. Perhaps a bit much to put on FB next time someone bad mouths Stormtroopers, but a fun read all the same.

Apparently Mythbusters are looking into the "myth" about the aim of the Stormtrooper (which we all know is awesome). http://www.cnet.com/news/mythbusters-summer-plans-test-star-wars-stormtroopers-blow-up-a-boat/

Please enable 501st access for TK24252 Thanks, Sam http://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=18832

That's how I game

Quite possibly the best cameo in the whole history of cameos! As obsessed about SW as I may be, Bond runs a really close second (so close it may be a tie). The end of this year was already looking fantastic with both Spectre & The Force Awakens, now it's just a little bit better

I love the idea that old imperial uniforms, ships, weapons etc. are still being used. It makes more sense for cast offs to be re-purposd. Though, by this logic, Dengar should have been wearing clone armour parts, not snowtrooper. (I might be slightly over analysing)

Height is good, at 6'4" it's nice to see a 'real' sized character in Ep7 that I can copy. It will be interesting to see if all Captains wear chrome, or if she is unique. From the pics I have seen so far, this character is the one that seems to have more of a Vader factor than any other.

Awesome!

Cool idea! General theme song would be "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen Music to enter a room would be the end bit of "Domination" by Pantera (starting about 3:50 into the song)

Thanks for setting this up, donation made.

Retail manager, before that Casino Pit Boss on a number of cruise ships.

Love it! Want it!

When I originally signed up to the forum I was Eng76 - my first email address from the mid 90's. As I got more & more into the Star Wars theme I tried to find a name that was SW relevant. I was at my best friends place for dinner, and had mentioned my search for a suitable moniker, as well as my progress on my TK. Someone (drunkenly) suggested that I need not worry about the armour - I was big enough to go as a wookie (not needing a costume). I protested that, hairy as I am, I'm still not quite hirsute enough to be a wookie, the retort was "Shaved Wookie" Possibly should mention that I wasn't drinking (6991 days sober today), I blame it all on my friends. Awesome thread - thanks Snaps

Who was he cheering for? If it was Seattle, he's definitely on the dark side.

Awesome! Where to start; TIE's, X-Wings & The Falcon in atmospheric flight / combat rather than out in space. The new TK armour (though I'm not sure about the ribbed body suit). The X-wing pilot helmet, changed but recognisable. But that lightsaber, holy crap. Maybe a lightbroadsword with the cross hilt, I almost jumped out of my seat! And best of all - no spoilers

Yes. But I am weird in so many ways. I find social interaction very awkward, yet while in armour I am no longer as pathologically shy - I am a Stormtrooper. The people I have met through the process of building my suit have been fantastic, & despite the differences we have as people we will always have one thing in common: Star Wars. It takes my comfort zone around these movies and allows me to expand on it with real people. Yes I am weird, I don't give damn - why should anyone els3!

Ha ha! I was so impressed by noticing the "extra" drop box that I didn't even look at the dead stormtrooper. I wonder how much else I have missed,

While researching all that I can for my ESB TK, I came across this photo: It was taken on the Bespin set and is featured in J W Rinzler's [awesome] book The Making of The Empire Strikes Back. I have never seen this pic before, and it fills me with hope. As a taller trooper I have a bit of extra black showing between thigh & cod (and everywhere else really). The ability to cover this with an extra drop box would be great! Unfortunately I can't see this particular TK on screen... Nice idea though. (ps if this has been discussed elsewhere please point me in that direction)

Thanks man, I have boiled my way through liters of water but not having much luck. On the upside we are having an armour party next weekend and someone is bringing a heat gun. Hopefully that will straighten out my problem. In the mean time, another update. Issues: 1) Drop Boxes & Helmet - Will be here very soon (fingers crossed) 2) Thermal Det - forgot to put it on for pics. It is complete with [questionable] clips in place. 3) Belt keeps riding up, although TD will / should keep it lower I am going to velro it to both kidney & butt plates. 4) Knee plate (also known as &$%@& ^%^@& ^@&$ knee plate). I have tried boiling water numerous times, but it still isn't working. Next option is a heat gun bend, and of course, those never go wrong! 5) Large ammount of black above the thighs. I think I need to open the back of the thighs & re-do the cover strips with larger ones. Hopefully they will then sit higher. At the same time, that is pretty major surgery considering how far along I have come, It will also leave me with black knees. 6) Back of Right greave, the velcro failed as I put it on. I will be adding lots more velcro (and a ton more glue). 7) Measure twice cut once. There is a small oops in here that hopefully goes unnoticed by anyone. I see it every time, but that's probably 'cos I stuffed it. I'm not going to mention what it is, unless someone else sees it. Anyway, so that's one fat trooper. Let me have it! All feedback is good feedback.

It's been a while, but I have been busy building. First a question, particulary for bigger troopers (or at least those with big calves). The sniper knee plate won't go close to fitting on the shin. Do I [a] bend it, leave it sticking out a bit, or [c] someone please suggest aonther option! I have also taken some rigging pics: Starting with an easy one. Much in the way of the song "dem bones" The forearm's connected to the bicep; the bicep's connected to the shoulder; the shoulder's connected to ... nothing yet The ab / kidney plates have a combined 32 snaps (I may have gone overboard a bit) The long shoulder straps also have the chest / back plates attached (see pic later), the butt / cod hang off of the bottom snaps. Due to my uncertainty of how well the shims will hold up, the elastic on either side is to connect the parts directly, removing the strain on the shims. I installed some split rivets after this pic was taken, but these will be mainly for show. The right side is one big piece of velcro. Split Rivets! Looking down through Ab / Kidney & cod / butt. Really hard to get the camera to focus - sorry. There is a big horizontal gap between the pairs of parts. This will be covered by the belt. The massive upside, is that I can step into this rig "as is", it pulls up over my legs (in armour). Fantastically easy to suit up. The small pieces of elastic between cod / butt help them retain their shape. As mentioed earlier, the chest & back attach to the shoulder straps. The bridges are glued onto the chest and velcro on the back (no elastic band - ESB). Here are all 6 torso pieces hanging out together. When I am wearing it, the chest & back sit lower as the main straps conform to my body shape. Finally the thighs. I was using an old back brace. It was going to hold all of the other bits as well, but the shoulder straps were too flimsy. The left straps comletely ripped through, so I will need to re-think this (or take great advice).

Quick update today: I finally have this!! !! !! ;D ;D ;D More cutting required!

In the carbonite chamber on Bespin. Seeing Han frozen, Leia & Chewie taken prisoner. One of the imperial highlights of the trilogy.