Brattie

Hey Scott, yep, I totally hear ya on that one as well. However.. money is always an issue to so many and that is where I struggle the most. These things aren't cheap. I also know through wise words of others and such that an officer or crew man items can be used for many other costumes. Perhaps in time.. but I would rather save up my money to put into a TFA outfit now. I would like to have that option.. so I know I need to save a lot of funds for that down the road. I have only a small amount left for costume items that I have put aside. So unless I can get the needed items for under $200 CAN, I am out of luck for a bit. Thank you for your input

I hope to be in my armor for it as well

A few have asked me to update people on the Relay For life stuff I'm involved with this year.. So the Brampton relay for life will take place June 11th in Brampton at Harold M Brathwaite Second School at 415 Great Lakes Drive. Please note guys, a few had asked me for this information. This is not a 501st event ( I'm not a member yet so no idea what is or isn't but I believe it isn't)

Yeah.. I was just so happy that I didn't have any Customs issues!!! I have loads of work to do on it.. priming it and sanding a bit.. but over all it's awesome! So now it's just a matter of time.. everything is falling into place and just in time for the nice weather.

ATTENTION ATTENTION!!! Do I have your attention yet? okay.. so not to get your hopes up.. this isn't the BBB has been delivered attention post.. HOWEVER... My BLASTER From Chris Zuk arrived!!!!! No Issues with Customs!!!!!! Items arrived marked SW Prop Samples and everything was AWESOME!!! I'll have pictures in a while. I have to clean it up and prime it.. I am so going to love this project!! Anyway.. for anyone unsure about ordering from him due to customs.. I had NO issue. Hopefully I'll be able to order a DLT from him down the road!!! Does a happy dance

Lol, A-Aron I know I should see it soon. Mark has been great giving me updates and letting me know how I am progressing on the list. I am sure it will be. Any time now. I'm guessing before the end of the month, but fingers crossed for sooner.

OMG!! WHAT DID YOU DO!!! Oh.. Nooo.... KIDDING.. looks great!

heheh.. at least someONE gets it! Laugh Alright.. Serious question for a minute.. My Facebook has EXPLODED with Star wars stuff.. and I love it.. but it made me wonder.. do people create separate Facebook accounts for their Star Wars stuff? Thoughts, Feelings, Experience? Let me know what you have all found works best

Hi Scott.. yes it will - Laughs - Bucket is built and all ready to go.. a few more tweaks for it and need to sort the padding. I think I'm going to play with the pads some more. I'd like it snug but not too snug if that makes sense. Re: the Crew woman Uniforms I have listened to many say I can build a crew woman for cheaper than $200 CAN. I don't have more than $200 to put into it though all said and done. Here is what I know from my research: Crew-woman (linked CRL) Coveralls / Black Flight Suit - $50 USD to $120 CAN (Various Stores) Hat - $50 USD Belt Buckle with belt - $38 to $70 USD (eBay and others) Jack Boots - $70 to $190+ USD (eBay) I have tall Doc Marten's but they won't work according to CRL. Patches - $3.00 USD x 2 for each shoulder (Trooperbay) Above est. costs - $100 + Boots $90 + Patches $6 = 196 USD = $254 CDN -> Already over $200 CAN without the flight suit. So I'm asking if anyone knows where to get all the necessary items that will meet the CRL and 501st approval for $200 CAN or under and I'll begin that build. Please keep in mind I don't have a sewing machine so if sewing is required I will have to pay someone to make the adjustments. Thank you.

Alright, so I'm getting a little heat about my choice for having a Jawa as a backup to my Trooper. "Another tall Jawa" yadda yadda yadda. Financially it was the right move although a lot of people are saying crew-woman etc is cheaper costing around $200, or officer even. This kinda puzzles me as I spent the last 3 months looking at all the pieces and builds for the Officer and the cost of the hats, belts, etc etc etc and there is NO way I could do that in $200 Canadian. I'm not sure if people are buying their gear at the BiWay or where they are looking.. anyway.. with all the comments I'm going to look at it again as another build.. but I'm still getting my Jawa.. I like em.. so If you know of CHEAP approvable items for an Officer or crew-woman than let me know. Thanks

~ peeks in ~ Alright I have the highest hopes to see my armor soon.. maybe this week or next? Fingers crossed. Twiddling thumbs and hoping for an exciting week.. I might have a few orders arriving this week.

Well now.. I am home.. yep.. enjoying a nice drink of Crown.. what a night / day / wow.. Laughs What happens at an armor party.. stays at an armor party - LAUGHS - Was so great to meet so many people and chat about the builds and the differences and and and.. I am not going to ramble on and on here.. Was great. end of story. I think the most interesting comment of the day was not about my bucket but about my armor carrier.. or Coffin as someone (not naming names) referred to it. LAUGHS. Was great to hear I don't have to do too much to my bucket. Over all it's passable. So now just have to wait for the armor itself and then join in on the fun!

A-Aron.. I would have to say something like... "Young grasshopper.. today is tomorrow's yesterday" for it to work right.

https://youtu.be/QWlJndr3BKE

This is still my Ultimate fav!

Doing the crazy head banging at work today.. just need an outlet. Laughs... One of those days.. but this is kinda how I feel.. Laughs...

Nevah!.. Laugh I will never put pressure on someone with this stuff.. it happens when it happens. That is life and I'd rather have 99.9% perfect armor than someone rush something and hurt themselves or the gear. Good things come to those who wait. My whole life has been a waiting game.. why would this be any different! Laugh

Looked like a lot of stitches.. Owwie! Cut-proof Gloves!

Did you guys hear about the guy that sliced his hand wide open during the trimming and cutting of his kit???!! As a friendly reminder because you guys are awesome.. be very careful!

Alrighty.. Yesterday as many of you know.. I met up with Pickles at work. We were able to grab a bite to eat and have a really good chat.. We did the customary Pickles picture with her AT-AT as well as having a goofy woman over her shoulder. Laugh. If you are on Facebook you've seen it! Laugh. (okay I admit.. I talked A LOT.. laugh .. I do tend to become a bit of a chatter box sometimes when I'm excited about something and in a relaxed setting).. not when I'm working or in character though. Anyway she had some great words of wisdom and answered so many questions. It was a privilege to have such a great opportunity to sit down one on one with a female member of the Legion and Canadian Garrison. Words can not describe how thankful I am for everything I learnt yesterday. It was some girl talk.. chuckles.. and some Legion.. and some everything. Laughs. shhh girl talk is a Secret.. not for the ears of boyz. Laugh. sorry guys!! Laugh I was interested to understand how everything works and it was comforting to find out that it has many similarities to the dojo where I volunteer in teaching Judo. Yeah yeah.. A-Aron will remind you about how curious I can be about everything. Laughs!! Anyway... I could go on and on. I do try not to do that though!!! Over all The experience of getting to know another woman within the legion was... uplifting is a great word for it... Pickles is a strong, confident, beautiful woman. While speaking with her you can feel the love she has for the 501st and working within a group that can only be described as "the family of the Canadian Garrison". It made me smile. In fact I think I had perma-grin through most of our visit when my mouth wasn't moving. LAUGH It helped me to better understand everything as a whole. It also reduce the scatterbrained overwhelmed feeling I've had the past few weeks of not being sure about everything. The best part I think was hearing about some of the horror stories that can take place during troops (like Birthday Parties). - chuckles - All very valuable information!! I'm sure it was horrible when it happened.. but wow are some of the stories funny.. and at the same time SCARY! I shared some of the stories you all have shared with me within my thread. ~ laughs ~ It was great to connect with a new friend that ... "got me" is the best way to put it. I look forward to Saturday and meeting others and learning more. Thanks Pickles!

The image is burned into our minds like a bad dream!! Laughs - KIDDING!

Thought of this.. heheheh

whoohoo - fist bump -

awww thanks A-Aron - teary eyes -

Today I finally admitted that I am getting Old.. one day I will look like a female version of Palpatine. Okay.. I know I'm not the prettiest in the world.. probably not even a 5 on the 10 scale.. Laughs.. but I'm okay with that.. but this getting old stuff.. Perhaps I'm having an early mid-life crisis .. I still like to think of myself as 20 with 19 years experience.. but the fact that will change towards the end of this year to 20 with 20 years experience.. burrrr.. just scary.. I do think though that it was this feeling of needing to do something for myself. The realization that I've spent the past 10 years pretty much just trying to survive and putting other people before myself all the time. This causing more stress in my life than needed and throwing me into the gutter of debt and despair. I pretty much became a hermit that would just work, eat and sleep. I tried to do some volunteer work helping others again but in something that I too was passionate about.. like star wars.. I've always been into Martial arts.. so teaching youth Judo was and has been a great experience.. and got me out of the house and exercising. It was at the end of 2015 that I found FISD and the 501st and realized that it was possible to do something I always wanted to do since I was little and have my own stormtrooper armor and bring smiles to peoples faces. There is something about seeing the smile on a kid face that just warms your heart and energizes you... or maybe that's just the force. Laugh.. Sounding like yoda.. this is scary... laughs Anyway.. I know I'm rambling but this thread is about a journey.. and with that it's about the person under the bucket as well. I know my armor will be arriving soon and that will be another start to another crazy brattie adventure.. and soon after / or before my new blaster with working folding stock should arrive and that has to be put together.. so I'm hoping to keep my hands busy.. Laugh.. I am looking forward to connecting with others this weekend more so than anything. This journey is just as much about meeting like-minded people as it is about forcing myself back out into the world. That's all for now... ~ Brattie out ~