MR CE question

[journeymanprotector]

I know we've discussed the requirements elsewhere but I'm not sure anyone has tackled this one.

 

To become acceptable you must:

 

-File the chin seam

 

-Change the lenses

 

-Change the tube stripes

 

-Install three screws in each ear

 

 

 

I get the first three, but what's with the ear screws? Sure it's ANH accurate, but the FX is acceptable with no visible screws.

 

Can anyone who was involved in the acceptance decision shed some light on this?

 

It seems like a double-standard to me, almost just like a hoop to jump through so that a person can't buy the helmet and be immediately accepted.

 

Basically I'm asking, is the FX helmet still acceptable only as a grandfather clause type of thing? For 'old times sake'?

 

The requirements on the MR CE just seem out of place compared to other helmets that are acceptable, specifically the FX helmet. Either it's because the MR CE is being singled out because of its commercial availability or it's being subjected to new regulations that the FX is exempt from because it remains so populous?

 

Definitely don't want to start an argument or anything, just curious what people think.

 

One of our guys has an MR CE in Vegas and it looks great out of the box. I plan to get one and take it apart to move the brow and get it up to standards, then sandtrooperize it.

 

Thanks,

 

Phil

[Daetrin[Admin]]

This came up on my garrison's boards.

 

These changes are for the MR CE with regards to 501st acceptance. The UKG came up with them as what they felt this work needed to be done for UGK acceptance. Then FISD & MEPD said that if an MR CE helmet met the UKG standards that they felt it was OK for 501st acceptance. Now, Elite/Police Officer standards are higher than what is specified by the UKG, the dets just said it was OK as a base.

 

Rhonda (LMO) was then asked to make a decision as to whether - with the UKG standards - the MR CE would be OK for 501st acceptance and she said yes, it was.

 

So...yes the screws are required for 501st acceptance, and yes this means that it's a tighter requirement than the base FX helmet.

 

Actually it would be more accurate to say that the FX keeps falling farther and farther out of compliance as standards evolve, just like the old Marco and Altmanns.

 

And before people start whining...my concern about people concentrating on the FX bucket issue is that there are more changes, and more significant changes, happening in other costume standards. In the big picture the FX bucket is actually one tiny piece. Visible to many perhaps, but the overall impact I think it much smaller than people make it out to be. Your GML can attest to this - as a former GML I've seen at least 20 CRL's come through.

 

Secondly, I think it's unrealistic to believe that costume standards will be static forever. They've never been, and never will. This too is playing out on detachments Legion-wide, as well as the GML forum.

 

My $.02...

[journeymanprotector]

Thanks, Paul. That's exacty the kind of 'who decided what' that I was looking for.

 

I have no problem with raising the bar, I think it's important to have standards. I think there should remain a 'right of passage' quality to completing a costume. I was just explaining to a coworker about the value of actively assembling or modifying your armor yourself as opposed to just buying it all at one go. Nothing seems to kill a conversation at a convention faster than asking a fellow costumer about some detail on their costume only to be told, "I don't know, I bought all of this from somebody".

 

Granted, I don't make my own boots or scratch-build a blaster, but I've come to appreciate the right of passage that is dremeling out your frown, trimming your armor to fit better, and dirtying up your sandtrooper armor.

 

Phil