Laspector

Any pictures of this set up?

Oh yes. That was the first thing I did when installing my new fans. Make sure EVERYTHING goes in and out easily.

Well, I got kind of lucky. The sales rep and my job has USB batteries he gives out to potential customers. He's got a whole crate full of them! They are only 2220, but I tried one and it lasted almost two hours on the fans. So I got about 5 of them from him.

Can you recommend one? All the ones I see on Amazon seem to have that button.

I am currently trying one of these USB fan set ups. I ordered the Anker powercore 3550 usb battery, but I am having a problem. These batteries have a small button on them that is required to be pushed in order for the battery to come on. It is a SMALL button, not much bigger than a pinhead. If I turn off my fans for more than a minute or so, this tiny button is required to be pushed again (in addition to the on/off switch for the fans). So in essence, when the fans are turned off, now there are two buttons that have to be turned on in order to get the fans going again. The button on the battery is too small to be pushed with my gloves on, so once I turn them off with the regular on/off switch, I'm pretty much stuck. How are you getting around this problem?

It is best to use a light grit sandpaper and sand off the gloss on the area where the velcro sticks down. Also helps to use an Xacto blade and score those areas. I also use a cross hatch pattern when scoring. It gives the adhesive something to bite into.

Go look in the insulation area of a hardware store or Walmart. They have these rolls of foam that is about 1" wide and has it's own adhesive strip on one side. Just cut it to whatever length you need and apply. That's what I have been using for years.

Damn, that is a wicked stand you made. Ever consider making some of those to sell?

First off I want to say I enjoy trooping and I love all my fellow troopers and appreciate their costumes and their love of Star Wars. So I am NOT trying to put anyone down here. So with that said, it seems to me, that when I do get to troop these days (it's not nearly enough, but I do it when I can) I tend to see less and less of the core costumes ie TKs, Vaders, etc. It seems (at least where I am) everyone is going towards the more "comfortable" or easier to build, or cheaper costumes. I have nothing against these costumes as long as they are accurate, but to me those costumes alone just do not constitute a "real" Star Wars event. I know that if I was just one of the general public and I went to an advertised Star Wars event and all I saw was a Tie Fighter pilot, an officer, an AT AT driver and maybe a snowtrooper I would feel seriously let down. I mean let's face it, most of the general public have no idea who these characters are! I can't count the times I have trooped with a Tie Fighter pilot where at least two or more people have to ask them "what are you?". Other than the occasional kid thinking I am a Power Ranger, everybody knows what a Stormtrooper is...Even if they don't know the term "stormtrooper" they at least know the "Star Wars guys"..... Maybe I am alone in feeling this way. Maybe it's just because, since 1977, a Stormtrooper outfit is the only costume I have ever wanted. It's the only one I will ever want. I think it's great people have multiple costumes, but it's just not for me. If I can't be a TK, I don't want to do this anymore. What are your feelings on this matter?

I simply cut off the headset part of my Aker and just mounted the mike into my helmet.

Whoa whoa whoa, are you saying TKBOOTS is no more? This is the first I've heard of this. Anyone know whats going on? EDIT, oh just went to their site and got the story. Man, that sucks!!! I'm so glad I have two pair of their boots (the low cut and the later higher ankle ones). I hope they last a long while!!

Inside of the elbows. It's ruff in summertime trooping and then wearing short sleeve shirts afterwards. Everyone thinks you are a junkie.

I'm 47 and still kickin'....

I've been doing this exact thing for years. Here's a tip tho--DO NOT keep these files on your computer! Put them on a flashdrive or on some other external back up. If they are on your computer--one crash or virus and you could lose them all. I not only do the file storing but I still take my files to Walgreens and get them actually printed. Several years ago I went and bought several 500 count matching photo albums. I still like to look at photo albums (yeah, I'm oldschool), and since I bought several books I've got enough empty space in them to last the rest of my life.

The End of the World party in Batesville MS on Friday Dec 21st.. I'm not really sure where Clinton is but Batesville is about 50 miles south of Memphis TN. I live in Cleveland which is about halfway between Jackson and Memphis. If you could get to Cleveland you would be welcome to ride with me to Batesville. PM me over on the Rancor boards if interested.

Yeah, it was fun! I'm glad your armor made it through the parade, being your first troop. Because I had problems. My right thigh kept coming undone in the back. I had to get a handler to fix it for me about four times!! I dunno what happened! Never had that problem before and I've been trooping since 2006! But it was still fun. Look forward to trooping with you again.

I am the only person in my entire family who does not suffer from this disease. Our family photo albums are nothing but blurred, cut off heads, out of focus pics. The only good pics are the ones I'm not in because I was taking the picture. Oh, and how about those shots where they always put peoples' heads in the horizontal center of the frame? Then the entire top half of the pic is just the background wall. I hate that!

I finally had to just give up on going VOX mode.

I was in this parade. I was the trooper all the way to the left in the back.

Thanks for the info......I figured it was in the instructions but unfortunately I didn't have them with me at the time.

I have a question on the Aker amp. A lttle off topic but I did not want to start a new thread just for this question. I am recharging mine for the first time. I've got it plugged up and the light is flashing from red to green, from red to green. Does this mean it's low, or does this mean yes it's charging, or does this mean it does not need charging? Will it eventually only flash green when it's fully charged? Sorry for the dumb question.

Has anyone tried that spray rubber that is in a rattle can that is advertised on TV?

Yeah, I finally gave up on the VOX method, too. I just had my first troop using the AKER/ICOMM combo and it's great. Took a little bit to get used to having to push the PPT switch everytime I talked (as I was used to my Skullworx having a hot mic) but it all worked out in the end. The only problem was I was with a group of about 12 other troopers and I was the only one with the whole set up so I was the one who actually seemed out of place. Had a few observers ask me why my sound system was "broken".

I live in a small town. Pretty much any troop for me requires at least a two hour drive to get to the larger cities where most of my Garrison does their trooping. So for a long troop I am always looking at an all day affair of driving, trooping, and mostly having to stay the night. So I've only done three troops this year, but hoping to throw in a Christmas parade before the year is out. I can't imagine what it is like for those of you who can just jump in the car, drive a few minutes and be at a troop. It must be nice! For me, doing a troop is almost like having to plan a small vacation. I'm always having the problem of trying to find somebody to share the ride and cost, making sure someone can take care of my dog or kenneling her, reserving a hotel room or making arangements to sleepover at a fellow trooper's house, the drive back the next day, unpacking, etc.. It can be a hassle sometimes.....But on the other hand, it makes it feel really special when I do get to troop. For me it IS more like a small vacation instead of just 'what I get to do on the weekend'...At least that's the way I try to look at it.

I am at work right now and I've just spent almost an hour reading this entire thread. I had to close the door to my office as I have been crying like a baby reading all this. I have to say, this is one of the coolest threads I have ever read...I just don't have the words to express how awesome it is. You guys are simply the best. Okay, I've got to go wash up now, clean my face off and get back to work. Great job!!!!