bobafret

Quite unusual. You have the four buttons molded into the armor on the viewer's left (wearer's right) so that's just a matter of painting. Setting split-rivet type buttons is absolutely not screen accurate and would require a REALLY lenient GML in my opinion. You'd be better to try and find a 4-button plate from someone for the viewer's right (wearer's left) side. That is typical to have a button plate mount there. For the missing middle button I suppose I'd try cutting a circle of ABS in the right dimension, mixing up some ABS paste, and using that little circle as a base and the paste to sculpt the little button above that washboard detail. Because it's a painted item, careful sculpting should allow you to make a button there. This is definitely something to talk to your Garrison about. You should also just get your GML to get eyes on your thread. That way you don't have any surprises, they can guide you and give you feedback along the way.

On the Anovos kit if you sand the back of the cover strip lightly as well as the surface the cover strip glues onto, it will give a better hold. Also when doing tubes like forearms, biceps, shins and thighs I found it VERY helpful to just glue one side of the cover strip at a time. Glue half down to one piece and clamp it really good all the way along. That gives you a really good firm join and then you can glue the other half of the cover strip to the other piece using clamps at the end and magnets in the middle. By not trying to join both sides at once I was able to get VERY clean and stable joins on all the butt joints on my daughter's Anovos kit. This is where the flexibility of that plastic will really work to your advantage.

That ab armor is missing the middle center button. Also the four buttons off to the right are missing (viewer's right, wearer's left). The middle center button is most concerning as it's normally part of a mold. You will have to sculpt something there. Did you get a little plate with the four vertical buttons?

Good morning, submitted for your consideration my Centurion submission. The three issues identified in my EIB application (return edge on wrist of forearm, shoulder straps not secured in back, TD faceplate needing rotation downward) have all been corrected. I look forward to your feedback! Trooper Info •Name: Dave Adams •Forum name: bobafret •Garrison: Mountain Garrison •Legion Number: 72569 •501st Legion Member Page: https://www.501st.com/members/displaymemberdetails.php?userID=20864 •EIB Application: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/36517-tk-72569-requesting-anh-stunt-eib-status-ap557/ •Height: 6'1" Costume Information •Armor: AP •Helmet: AP •Blaster: Hyperfirm •Boots: TK Boots •Canvas belt: Kittell •Hand Plates: Trooperbay •Neck Seal: Darman •Holster: Darman Pictures for your consideration:

Not at all I don't take discussion about this personally because it's not a personal issue for me. As a GML my goal is to always try to enforce the overall standards of the 501st. Now when it comes to "perfectly screen accurate" a LOT of us have REALLY great eyes for detail. It's really easy to judge a costume that hit the nail on the head. The difficulty is in navigating what is "barely passable". This is where the job of a GML is PAINFUL. I personally HATE to deny applicants, but I LOVE that the 501st has the prestige and reputation it does. That only comes from insisting on standards. And sometimes when you are in a gray area it is SO HARD because some people will fall on one side and some on the other. And due to the nature of the art of the thing, you can't define every little piece and part of what is acceptable so there are ALWAYS gray areas. With this armorer in particular I would say it's firmly in that discussion of "barely passable" and I happen to fall on the side of "not really". Added to this is the fact that I believe many of these pieces are recast which, while not taken out on the applicant, is just not cool. The vetted armorers who have lineage or permission or created their own fantastic sculpts have something that should be respected. So when someone comes out of the woodwork and refuses to share lineage and only seems to communicate enough to sell suits it makes my life difficult and biases me against that armor in general, I will admit it. That being said, I still objectively stand by the issues I saw as being unpassable. The shoulder detail bell ridges are angled significantly. The thigh ammo box has noticeable grooves in between the boxes. The breast detail on the chest plate angles down noticeably to the viewers right, wearer's left. The bicep "thumb" detail looked like it had been chopped in with a saw or dremel wheel edge, not sculpted. The h and plates were significantly larger than standard. Additionally the quality of the pull was sub-par with significant pitting and pocking in parts. I really am not trying to set a personal standard and that's why I've been in detailed conversations that have included not only Daetrin but I copied LMO and my own Garrison CO. I know some GMLs are overly harsh and I don't want to be that guy so I'm just trying to calibrate. I also know some GMLs pass stuff that I wouldn't, and that the DL wouldn't buy off on. That's the nature of how it goes. Anyway, sorry for the long post I just wanted to clarify myself as I'm kind of knee deep in this now. I'm not out to get this guy and if the general consensus is that the armor is good, I will go with that flow. However, the general consensus so far seems to swing the other way, at least for my potential applicant.

Interesting. I did notice that squished in middle button on the ab plate which is similar to the kit I saw and posted pictures of, but the kit I saw was intended to be butt/cover strip. I guess the photo there isn't enough detail to see. Also can't see the side where the shoulder bells I saw have a CRAZY pronounced offset to the center detail ridge. That might have been a tell. I do see the super small teeth and small/soft frown that I saw on my applicant's kit. There may be multiple molds flying around. I know the armorer said they made changes and we have seen in this thread pictures of ab plates with no buttons, and ab plate that I have seen in person with buttons. Since the armorer kind of evaporated from the discussion here we're kind of left to flounder figuring things out for ourselves. I guess all I can say is that the kit I saw in person just wasn't sufficient quality to be able to pass at Basic Approval for me for the reasons I outlined in detail in my post with pics.

Whatever that is it doesn't appear to be the tkarmour I think I see overlap construction on thighs which is not the tkarmour Why was that pic posted? It seems to be confusing the discussion about tkarmour.

Hi Dave and welcome! I notice you said you had read the thread about various armors and where to find them, but maybe you might benefit from a second look. I know there is a TON of information about armor out there, but that thread actually has all the contact information for each of the vetted armorers: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11538-the-various-types-of-armor-and-where-to-find-them/ I'm only mentioning this because you might have missed another armorer on there that would fit your situation. AP was a great suggestion and their contact information is in that thread. SDS is not listed there for a reason. It's SUCH a great and complete guide. I would also caution you against buying a fully assembled kit. Many of us had NO SKILL as it related to putting together armor, but by attending build parties and following build threads and all the good advice here we were able to put together armor (sometimes qualifying for the highest levels of screen accuracy). A fully assembled kit is going to take tweaking to fit to you most likely, and you will need the knowledge of how the armor was built and strapped to maintain and repair it along the way. Not only that, but you will save a TON of money by doing the work yourself and you will gain a pride in accomplishment that you didn't know you could achieve. Hope all that helps. I know it's a TON of information to wade through, but you're basically investing your time and energy into a hobby that will last a lifetime. It's SO worth it. Good luck and best wishes in your journey!

I had a chance to see this kit in person this weekend. I stand corrected it is NOT a FX bucket but it is a SUPER soft pull, so much so that you can't even see the teeth definition on the left side and the detail of the frown is even lost. Some other concerning pieces: Chest is EXTREMELY lopsided:

Here are pics submitted by an applicant who has this armor. Bucket appears to be clearly recast FX with weird construction of back over cap. Helmet is not acceptable IMO:

Dave Adams 72569 EIB Letter Size Tony http://www.whitearmor.net/eib/certificates/72569-eib.png

Hi David! First of all I would like to give you kudos for coming on this board to directly represent yourself and your armor. I have a potential applicant who has purchased one of your kits. I have yet to receive detailed pictures so I think there's still some question about what the final mold actually looks like. I would like to see you post some pics of your latest mold, including a completed helmet. While I appreciate your direct contact, I question why you aren't providing more direct information about this kit (specifically the lineage) and just as important, high res pictures of this newest kit. It seems to me that a armorer that wanted to establish a relationship would not only supply high res pictures, but if it were my company, I would probably be the first one to assemble and submit said armor for approval. That seems to be the perfect way to get feedback directly from the source. I'm a person that doesn't get deep into armor criticism around lineage, but I am not completely comfortable with the communication you have offered. It seems just enough to encourage optimism, but not as much as you could provide to just settle the matter of suitability. Any way we can get detailed pictures of each piece, most importantly the ab and assembled helmet?

Very cool thank you for this effort!

Watching this thread for updates. I have a prospective member that just received his!

Those are amazing pictures. I love analyzing all the differences with the new TK. As others have mentioned THOSE COVER STRIPS! Wow, COMPLEX detailing on those. All these new armor kits are SO detailed with SO MANY little exact finishing details. I don't envy first to approval on these. Interesting to be able to get confirmation with these pics on the significant differences in back and belt construction. SUCH a different TK. Although the public won't notice. Our shiny white armor is going to be VERY popular come this December (well, even MORE so!) Thanks for the updates these are really awesome!

Kids have a sight line that is right up into your bucket. After one comment of "I can see your beard!" and glimpsing a photo pretty much exactly from the angle Todd shows above, I was convinced that balaclava was the way to go. I tried to do without, because I didn't want the added discomfort. However, I've found it's not that bad, and it helps prevent that break in the illusion and is one of those little details that all add up to a really amazing interaction.

Independent trooping is not a great idea in this unfortunate age of literal masked evil doers. Showing up unannounced in kit is no Bueno.<br><br> Going to a con or something in kit is totally cool! Basically anywhere the public is encouraged to dress up and wear masks, you should feel free to do so as well. But as for official troops or just going out solo, probably just best to wait. But it will go fast. Plus if you spend time and care building your armor that's gonna take a while too.<br><br> Your enthusiasm and energy are appreciated and understood. Reach out to your local Garrison and introduce yourself. They can point you to more specifics on activities you may be able to get in on right now.

Hi there! I am dealing with this issue right now in a bit of a different way so let me share my thoughts with you. My daughter will be 18 in August and we have completed both a Tusken Raider and a TK for her. As you can imagine, she is SO READY to get out there and start trooping. She has been able to come along with me on a few troops before and is really ready to be a part of the 501st. Unfortunately, because she is not yet 18, she can't be an official member and can't troop at events. In fact, I am trooping tonight at an event that she really wants to attend, but understands that she can't. The reason for the 18 year old age limit is very simple, it's a liability issue. That's why it's very clear cut and why exceptions cannot be made. The relationship that the 501st has with Lucasfilm (and now Disney) and the responsibility that we have at events just requires that everyone who attends be a legal adult. So, as a result, you have to be 18 to be a member. If someone under 18 got hurt at an event as a member it would create liability issues that just don't exist with adults. To protect the organization as a whole, there have to be some rules that have to be upheld. This is one of them. It's a bummer if you aren't 18 yet, and I totally understand. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN ANSWER! There is an organization called the Galactic Academy. People who are under 18 can become members in that organization and there are troops where Galactic Academy members are invited if they have an adult with them. You can also reach out to your local Garrison to ask them about meet and greets or other events where there may be more relaxed standards. You may be even able to help out in some way with them. Check out those opportunities and work on your kit. So I totally feel you. My daughter shares the same excitement/disappointment/desire for time to hurry up and get to adulthood. It's not that we don't want YOU, it's that we all have to make sure the 501st is still here for you to enjoy and be a part of when it is legally appropriate. Hope you understand. In the meantime, hang out and socialize and look for ways to participate - they DO exist. May the Force be with you!

Thanks for this great newsletter. I really appreciate the effort put into it. It looks awesome and is full of quality info.

Nice job on that bucket those ears are TIGHT. Looks sharp.

SHINY!

Thank you so much Tony! Your Anovos build thread was of great assistance not only for this build but the Anovos I am finishing right now for my daughter! She turns 18 in August and is excited to join the ranks.<br><br> I will certainly be making the suggested changes and will be submitting for Centurion in the future!<br><br> Thanks to Sly and the others for the great tips. They will be part of my ongoing quest for perfection!<br><br> Very excited to be awarded this honor!

Sorry for the GIANT photo just wanted to get to you ASAP. Curve is the right way but it probably could be more pronounced. Hopefully it is acceptable if not I'm sure I could muscle it some to increase the bend.

So this is weird because I swore I would have noticed that so just pulled out of bin and confirmed it is the right way I don't know how that photo we took at my brothers house is tricking that. Tried to even recreate the angle and I'm stumped. Anyway here is updated shot:<br><br>

Crazy! I got it from Hyperfirm that way and never caught that!