eqdizzle

That second part I can't help with....

I asked Vince to reach out to you and he responded pretty quickly. They're in the PRC, so email can be filtered sometimes. Let me know if you're still having issues reaching him.

Good deal. I've scoured these and there's nothing that I see personally why they wouldn't meet or exceed CRL requirements. Flat black sole....check Wider profile....check Wider gray webbing....check No visible seam in the back....check Dark gray stitching around the webbing...check Now if I could just find time to finish the armor....anyone have a spare time machine handy?

Dark CMF would have to give final say on the approvability...!

Weird. He got back to me and said they are indeed wider than the 421s they offer, so they run true to size.

Has everyone paid their final balances on these?

Yeah, the only thing that I've gotten is that they're true to size.

I was given these preview pics by the fine folks at imperialboots. I do not have the boots, as these are the prototypes from which they will build the production models. If they're not right...please speak up now!!

Are you talking about the action figures? These are secondary references and not used unless they match the on-screen references. Notice the soles of the feet are white also? What about the traps on the back? I've been so flippin busy that I haven't had the time to grab them, but I will assure you they are there. Grab the blu-ray and you'll see it right away.

I'd like to see how they do the indents. I've been so crazy busy lately that I haven't been able to do anything on this.

99.9999999% it will get a BH designation. There's just not enough of us on the DW and non-Bossk/Boba/Jango/etc etc canon Mandos to justify a new Detachment.

I'll see if I can grab a good close up pic. It's definitely painted in there, by a method of a ton of tiny dots. As far as real-life rendering of said indents, yes this is up to LMO and Det Staff.

I see what you're trying to get at, but look closely at the raw armor vs. the screen shots. Pretty different, eh? Compromise could be "vertical indents are or appear dark charcoal gray to match references"

I'm waiting on the TD and the drop boxes....but yes it's supposed to come with those..!

If it weren't clearly visible on every reference shot, in every type of lighting situation, and on every type of trooper (from the basic grunt to the Elite squads), I'd agree with you. These troopers have some weathering, not unlike the Sand Troopers, or HWT. To not include weathering as a basic requirement (as is the case for a LOT of 501st costumes outside of the FISD), would do disservice to the character, imho! You'll want to look closely at the show, but the indents are clearly "painted" on in the animation, once again taking into account different lighting conditions.. As long as you can faithfully recreate the look, I think you'd be good. I don't necessarily think the micro-dotting must be a requirement, but is the method used to "paint" these. Either way, you'd need dark charcoal in the crevices to show the look correctly.

I think for this costume, we should give it the same respect we would other newer CRL costumes. We have sources for the armor and bucket., so it's really the soft parts that may or may not present a challenge. Boots are now in production, and pricing shouldn't differ too much from the standard TK meaning this should imho not be an issue. On the neck seal, we could update to: Must be same or very similar in color and texture to undersuit material for the first line This would allow separate neckseals but still get the look and point across. On the vertical indents, all the references I've seen short of the "Hero" shot of Rex and Kanan in TK disguise show a micro-dot dark grey coloration in the indents, regardless of lighting. In watching a LOT of the episodes, tons of miniature dots are used all over everything and are unique to the animated styling of the show. While I don't think the micro-dots should be a requirement, the grey weathering and the indent coloration should absolutely be included. On the gloves, these should be very easy to source. These should just be a form-fitting glove without labels and details in a material very similar to the undersuit material. I use Nomex for my CT, but these have the leather portions and dimension that isn't present in the animations. If they were hard to source, I'd probably agree with you, but a pair of wrist-length opera gloves will cost you less than a pair of Nomex..!!! On lining up the back plate indent to the butt plate indent, I need to word that differently. Ideally, when standing straight, these should line up to create a squared "U" shape, and I don't think this should be affected by body shape. This really doesn't have anything to do with the gap, so it needs to be a separate line. The gap itself could be accomplished by trimming the armor in most cases, right? Finally, on boots. We require an animated style boot for the Animated Clones, so I don't see why that should be a hurdle. I understand that during the rush to get a bunch of costumes completed for their launch at Celebration Anaheim, that some corners were cut, but I don't see a justification for it here. Imperial Boots is working on a prototype now, and these should be similar pricing to standard TK boots, fwiw. BTW...I love the debate and challenges to what I've put out there, but I do feel strongly that this is a different build than the Movie TKs and should be treated differently as well!!

And it looks like the run will be a "go"! They're working on the prototype this month!

Some painting over the weekend. I started with WHITE primer so no other colors show through when the armor gets scratched. This was followed up with two light coats of GLOSS WHITE. I'll let this dry for some days, hit it with 0000 steel wool, and then get at least 2 more good coats over the top. This armor needs a sheen to it to look right..!! Some work on the ammo belt portion of the right thigh. Kind of a pain to get it lined up correctly. This will need to be filled to look seamless by the time everything is done. Speaking of seamless... The primer will show off EVERY flaw in your work. Back to sanding!!!

I was thinking about that. Since that is really the only difference between the officers/leaders and the grunts, I think it would make sense to keep them in a single CRL as optional accessories.

Here's what I've come up with so far. I'll try to post some good reference shots asap. Every time I look at the pics I see something new, so please call out anything as you see it! Helmet For 501st approval: Animated style Stormtrooper Helmet Painted with gloss white or polished to shine in light Traps (trapezoids on dome of helmet) and tears (area beneath the corners of eye lenses) are gray with a thin black border. Tears have 5 equally-distant parallel black lines at an angle towards the eyes, as per references Lenses are flat, dark smoke to obscure the wearer’s eyes. The “ear” bars are painted gray and are a flat rectangular section with two indented vertical stripes painted black. The outline is painted with a thin black line. Frown is painted gray and does not leave the teeth area. Seven total teeth on the frown are cut out and the frown is tapered at the ends. Tube stripes are a light aqua blue and number 11 in total on each side. The lines are flat as no curve is present. Vocoder (vertically ribbed chin detail) is painted satin black. Forehead band is painted satin black. Aerators/Hovi mic tips (cylinders on either side of the vocoder) are painted satin black. The tip is painted light primer gray/silver and is lightly weathered with a darker grey. Mesh must be used behind the frown to obscure the face of the wearer. No weather stripping on neck opening. For level two certification (if applicable): Helmet is subtly weathered with light gray, matching references. The edges of each tooth are edge lit with a lighter shade of grey matching references Neck Seal For 501st approval: Identical material or very similar in texture and color as the undersuit Black, with minimal dimension, fitted to the wearer Neck Seal covers all exposed skin If not integrated into the undersuit, armor must conceal the ends of the fabric, to give the impression that the suit and seal are a single piece. For level two certification (if applicable): “Hero” version has 5 horizontal ribs Under Suit For 501st approval: Black non-textured material, either one-piece or two-piece construction with no visible zippers or logos/designs. Shoulder Straps For 501st approval: Animated Style straps Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Consists of two larger end segments and 13 center segments Secured to chest and back armor with no visible method of attachment to match visual references Straps are thin with minimal dimension For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Shoulder Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Weathered subtly with gray to match references Symmetrical bell shape with open bottom Vertical indent is colored gray Bell is worn with slight float above wearer’s arm For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Upper Arm Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Armor is seamless with no indication of joining method Vertical indent on exterior of bicep is colored gray Armor is worn with the Shoulder armor overlapping to match references, with the vertical indent in line when arm is stretched straight. For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Forearm Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Armor is seamless with no indication of joining method Forearms are symmetrical can be used for either arm. Bottom of forearm has 13 segmented rectangular indents beginning at wrist and ending at elbow scoop Armor is extended at the bottom at the elbow, and curves inwards toward the shorter top of arm. Vertical indent must line up with indents on Shoulder Bell and Biceps when arm is stretched straight Detail indents are colored gray For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Hand Plates For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Roughly pentagonal in shape, the hand plates are mounted securely over the back of the glove. Hand Plates are mirror images of each other Detail indents are colored gray For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Gloves For 501st approval: Black in color, closely matching undersuit in material and color, with no visible straps or logos/designs. Dimension is kept to a minimum. Nomex gloves are not acceptable. Chest Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Chest armor overlaps the abdominal plate For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Back Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Back plate contains a "O II" design. Back plate has a gap above kidney plate Gap present between the chest plate and back plate, lined up with vertical indent on abdomen armor For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Abdomen/Kidney Armor Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Ab/Kidney is worn as a single piece fitted to the wearer’s body Armor is essentially seamless, but minimal seam at one of the vertical indents is allowed. Center rectangle section of Ab has 5 approximately ¼” “buttons” which are flat or recessed slightly, painted black Left side rectangular section has 4 smaller recessed “buttons” painted black. Right side rectangular section has detail indented rectangle just below the chest armor Indents are colored gray For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Posterior Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light No snaps or rivets visible Rear rectangular indent lines up with indent detail on kidney plate Indents painted gray Bottom part of armor narrows and covers part of the underside, ending approximately halfway under the wearer, and does not attach to the bottom of the cod. For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Cod Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Vertical indent leading down to a hexogonal section colored gray Wraps around side of hip with a small edge appearing below belt, ending behind drop box For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Belt For 501st approval: Animated Style belt Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Is either integral to or fits against cod/posterior armor without gap. Segmented across the front to the center of the side of the costumer, typically 13 total sections, 6 on each side of the center segment Center section has an oval indent that lines up with the vertical indent of the cod. Back of belt is non-segmented Indents are colored gray Animated-style Drop boxes are attached at each side, lining with the center of the final segment. No straps or visible means of attachment are present. No holster is present For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Thermal Detonator For 501st approval: Animated Style detonator Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Is a cylinder with no indents Has a gray “U” shape paint detail, thinly outlined in black, lining up with indents on kidney and posterior armor. 8 detail dark gray/black “buttons” are present on the right, inside the “U” shape detail No clips or other means of attachment are visible For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Thigh Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Vertical indent in front and rear of thigh, colored gray Seamless construction Has a detail “point” on rear side For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Ammo belt attached without visible seams on the underside to bottom of right leg. Slight seam permitted on upper side. Lower Leg Armor For 501st approval: Animated Style armor Must be made of ABS, styrene, or similar durable material Painted gloss white, polished to shine in light Vertical indent in front and rear of legs, colored gray Seamless construction preferred, but an opening may be hidden to allow wearer to get legs into armor Sniper plate on left knee is integral or attached without seams, and has hexagonal indent detail, colored gray Bottoms of leg armor are curved to accommodate boots with minimal gapping. For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Boots For 501st approval: Animated Style Boot Flat black sole Webbing is primer gray “U” shaped, and wider than Movie TK boots, thinly outlined in black Thin black stitching or detail line at bottom of webbing to sole Boots have polished shine similar to armor Weathered subtly with gray to match references No seam at back of boot For level two certification (if applicable): Weathered subtly with gray to match references Optional Accessories Items below are optional costume accessories. These items are not required for approval, but if present appear as described below. E-11 Blaster For 501st approval: Manufactured by BlasTech Industries, the E-11 is standard-issue for many Imperial troops. Light, compact yet powerful, the E-11 blaster is always in high demand throughout the galaxy. Animated style E-11 blaster For level two certification (if applicable): Illuminated red in barrel