Captain Cardinal CRL - 2025

[astrosally[IPM]]

Kicking off the CRL topic again for Captain Cardinal: 

 

I recently completed a Cardinal build in time for Fan Expo Denver (knees hadn't been attached yet): 

 
(don't worry, it was Dr Pershing's idea to get "arrested" and he was very enthusiastic about it) 

 

So I'm kicking off the CRL conversation again! 

 

Summary of my approach: 

• First Order TK (TFA) - based on timeline of Phasma novel 
• but with red armor (and black detailing) 
• and with a Phasma (TFA)-style cape (except silver stripe) 

 

 

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Draft CRL language: 

 

Helmet

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• Lenses are smoky brown or gray in color. They may be bubble in shape or flat and must be sufficiently dark enough to obscure the costumer's eyes.
• A single silver aerator/mic tip is on the lower left side of the wearer's chin.
• The frown is solid black and covered in a black hexagonal mesh pattern that extends to the tears.
• Each tear (area beneath the corners of eye lenses) is solid black.
• Seven recessed tube stripes are present on each side of the helmet.
• Two clip greeblies are present over the traps on the side.
• Two clip greeblies are present on the top of the helmet, parallel to the trap greeblies.
• The clip greeblies must be the correct TFA version. 
• Along the base of the helmet, a black stripe runs from the side of the helmet and across the back to the other side.
• There is a slight groove that circles the helmet above the brow.
• There is a slight groove that circles the helmet along the bottom and over the chin.
• A brow of solid black material spans from the traps over the lenses.
• A small trapezoidal shape is directly below the traps, toward the base of the helmet.

Neckseal

• Black with horizontal ribs, fitted to the wearer, and extending from the base of the neck to conceal the entire neck. No hair or skin should be visible around the neck area.

Chest Plate

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The chest plate overlaps the abdominal plate.
• The center-top of the chest plate is recessed and black on the side and upward facing edges.
• A smaller clasp greeblie shall be present on each side of the chest, just inside a small indented area the size of the greeblie.
• There is a slight groove running vertical on each lateral side of the chest that angles toward the center.
• Six recessed black ovals are on the wearer's right side, left of the greeblie.

Back/Yoke

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The back plate contains a “O II” design, and the O is black in color.
• There are no visible seams on the back/yoke.
• The yoke portion extends over the wearer's shoulders and curves under the armpits.

Thermal Detonator

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The thermal detonator mounting plate sits under the back plate and rests above the belt.
• The control panel is black.
• The righthand recessed end cap is black.
• The lefthand end cap extends from the detonator assembly and is black all around the cylinder as well as the end surface. A red stripe is present around the end of the cylinder that extends slightly onto the circular surface.
• A visible seam is allowed between the cylinder and backing plate.

Shoulder Gaskets

• Gaskets shall be rubber or a shiny black material with ridges.
• The shoulder gaskets must cover all exposed areas under the shoulder bell, between the bicep and chest, and between bicep and back.

Shoulder Bells

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The shoulders are considered effectively symmetrical. They may be worn interchangeably on the left and right shoulders.
• Shoulders have small round extension at the top under the bell itself that butts up against the yoke.

Biceps

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• Biceps have one seam that faces forward, and a seam on the inside of the arm. The rest of the bicep must be seamless.
• A clip greeblie is present low and across the seam.
• Two black ovals are present on the outside-facing side of the bicep.

Elbow Gaskets

• Gaskets shall be rubber or a shiny black material with ridges.
• The elbow gaskets must cover all exposed areas between the bicep and forearm.

Forearms

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• Forearms shall have a ridged rail, similar to a picatinny, embedded on the inside of the forearm, roughly covered 1/3rd by a box shape.
• Forearms shall have a box on the bottom the wrist end. Each box shall have a single black square in the lower inside corner.
• Each forearm shall have two 'clasp greeblies' on the outside facing surface, near the wrist.
• Detail box includes black rectangle on small edge perpendicular and closest to wrist.

Gloves/Handplates

• Gloves are black with red palm, thumb, and forefinger.
• Gloves extend underneath the forearm.
• Red area is made from leather or leather-like material.
• Handplates are rigid square boxes and the hand plates are mounted securely over the back of the glove. Handplates are finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The recessed oval detail is aligned with the index finger of each hand.
  • A black decal or paint may be used to emulate the recessed oval detail.

Abdomen Section

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The abdomen section must wrap around the wearer's body without a visible seam.
• The abdomen has 7 boxes attached that match the order and placement shown against the armor.
• The large box has a small black recessed square on the lower left to the wearer.
• The second box to the right of the wearer has a small black recessed rectangle near the top.

Codpiece

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The codpiece sits below the abdomen and under the belt.

Posterior armor

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The posterior armor sits below the abdomen and under the belt.
• The top portion of the part shown is hidden by the belt and used to connect the plate to the abdomen armor.

Belt

• The belt is ribbed and made from a rubber or a rubber like material. The width of the belt is approximately 2" (50mm).
• Five red rectangular boxes and one pouch sit on the belt. Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• There are 2 horizontal boxes on the front, on each side of the center. They are painted red on the outside half and black on the inside half.
• There are 2 vertical boxes on the right of the wearer.
• There is a large vertical black pouch with a red cover behind the left side of the wearer.
• A small black cloth pouch is worn on the left side and hides the buckle or remaining belt material.

Undersuit

• An undergarment must be worn such that the space between the thighs and the belt shows a black material. The black material may be shiny or matte.
• The reference photo shows the type used on screen but is not required for basic approval.

Thighs

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• There are seams on the inside and outside of the thighs.
• A clip greeblie is present high and across the outside seams of each thigh.
• The right outside thigh to the wearer includes a base for a holster (holster must be present).

Knee Gaskets

• Gaskets shall be rubber or a shiny black material with ridges.
• The knee gaskets must cover all exposed areas between the thigh and shin.

Knee Plates

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The knee plates mirror each other and are placed evenly between the thigh and the shin.
• Convex edge of knee plate faces upward.

Shins

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• There are seams on the inside and outside of the shins, with the opening on the inside.
• A clip greeblie is present high and across the outside seams of each shin.
• The wearer's left outside shin includes two vertical thin boxes that are seamless.
• There is a rounded rectangle at the bottom outer front of each shin, which is visible above the spat. The recessed area is black.

Spats

• Finished in a high gloss deep red that matches the colors of the entire costume. 
• The spats wrap around the lower ankle, just below the black ankle rectangles.
• The spats are enclosed on the outside of the ankle with a greeblie that overlaps the open side.
• There is a visible seam on the inside of the ankle.

Boots

• The boots are above-ankle height, and made of red leather or leather-like material.
• There is a seam down both sides of the front that swoops out to the side of the foot.
• There is a vertical zipper on the inside that spans the height of the boot.
• There is a black flat sole with no heel.
• No buckles or laces.

Cape

• The cape is a black canvas material that crosses the chest diagonally from the right shoulder to the left elbow area.
• The cape drops down the left side of the body to within a few inches of the floor or can slightly drag along the floor behind the left foot.
• There is a silver stripe approximately 1.25" - 1.5" in width that follows the front seam of the cape from the right shoulder to the bottom of the left side of the cape.
• The cape should fit across the shoulders and may have some slight bunching on the left shoulder.
• There is no visible clasp, hooks or snaps at the right shoulder connection
• Light wear-and-tear and weathering is permitted.

 

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Draft CRL images (will be retaking with better lighting, kit-up fixes, and some updates): 

 

 

 

 

 

================

 

Written references: 

 

Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson

p.9 “His bright-red armor is a strange twist on the regular stormtroopers’, but the sanguine violence of the color lends it an air of bloody menace their tidy white just doesn’t possess.” 

p.9 “An armorweave cape falls from one shoulder” 

p.14 “with a gloved hand” 

p.15 “His red helmet” 

p.16 “His blaster is clipped on his hip, red and gleaming.”  

p.16 “His red-gloved fingers”  

p.19 “gloved hands” 

p.20 “She spits blood on his boots from her bitten tongue and stares at the splotch on the flawless plastoid. The blood and the boot are not the same red, much as Brendol Hux might’ve liked them to be.” 

p.33 “The black chasms of the helmet lenses” 

p.35 “sweaty blue-black hair”

p.35 “His skin is golden tan with freckles and darker patches that speak to years of sunburn. Smile lines crinkle at the corners of his eyes and lips, but he’s not smiling now.” 

p.36 “gloved hand” 

p.110 “His fingers briefly tug on his own armorweave cape, identical to Phasma’s” 

p.354 “He holds up his arm, displaying the flawless red.” [“[Hux] designed it himself because he said red was a color of power.”] 

p.364 ‘Cardinal storms through the hallways, his captain’s cloak flying behind him.” 

p.377 “on the glove”... “on the shin guard”... bodysuit - fresh and sharp”... “he polishes the shining red” 

p.379 “blaster at the ready and captain’s cape flowing behind him” 

p.381 “he polishes his red armor to a high shine” 

p.382 “in his gloved hands”... “cradled in the shining red”

p.389 “his armorweave cape equally long and impressive”

p.394 “a solid wall of shining, flawless red, his cape swinging behind him” 

p.428 “piece by piece, and shines it until there are no scuffs, no rough places”... “freshly pressed captain’s cape and arranges it flawlessly over his shoulder”... “boxes of ammo on his belt”... each of his weapons, ensuring his blaster is primed”

p.429 “polished to a shine”... “polarized lenses”... “violently red uniform”

p.430 “reflective darkness of the helmet lenses”

p.432 “his red blaster”

p.433 “Cardinal rams his blaster home in its holster”

 

Visual references: 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2025 by astrosally

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Nice work.

 

You may want to have a look at your belt boxes and there positioning, they are a little loose. Positions of knee armor too. Also you will need separate images not combined, it would be a great help to have your images (especially pieces) taken on a contrasting background, makes editing a lot easier. Also note position of pieces should be as they are worn, your forearms are opposite in the image above. You will also need to provide all images of pieces,  gaskets, cape, etc, compare with other FOTK CRL's, TFA, TLJ, Phasma 

 

This may be of help 

 

 

FYI currently there are no CRL's being finalized or published due to the Legion Web Team transferring to a new CRL platform, no date on when this will be completed.

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Thanks for getting this up and running, Sally, and for reaching out to Chris the DO's and myself.

Glad we can get into this costume again.

[astrosally[IPM]]

Yes, definitely working on retaking all photos! Was having issues with the knees and belt boxes during kit-up, and didn't have great lighting/background for these. I just wanted to throw these in the thread as a draft preview, in case there is other feedback that I should address before retaking photos. :) 

 

@Sly11 gave me a heads up about the pause on CRLs during the platform transition. Will be patient, and happy to work on fixes/finalization as best we can in the meantime. 

 

[TheRascalKing[TK]]

I love seeing this moving again and the people demand a Captain Cardinal CRL!

Definitely a few tweaks to be made as noted above, but overall the kit looks great and we just need someone to push this forward once CRL updates unlock. Well done!

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

I'm not sure if this was ever sent to LMO for approval so will get this over to them.  As a warning there's a long line at the moment whilst they sort out the new CRL system.

[Sly11[Admin]]

15 hours ago, themaninthesuitcase said:

I'm not sure if this was ever sent to LMO for approval so will get this over to them.  As a warning there's a long line at the moment whilst they sort out the new CRL system.

Kris Kobus and I had discussions regarding references, and the boots were really the only thing at the time that wasn't locked down.

The Black series figure release wasn't helpful as the timeline is TFA not TLJ for this character and all they did was make a red TLJ FOTK and added the cape.

The book reference information as little as it is should be what is followed, plus the limited artwork.

We had a member build the costume and unfortunately disappeared, so this was never brought full circle.

[astrosally[IPM]]

If there's no significant feedback on my approach/armor, I'm going to go ahead and take the nice for-CRL photos. Then it'll be ready to send to LMO whenever the process gets going again.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Sly11[Admin]]

Thanks Sally, send them through when you're ready, but if you have any questions about how they need to look, certainly check the TFA TK CRL images and replicate those as much as you can.

We can photo work any of the compilation images into sing if needed, plus we can cut them from the backgrounds if you can't, so all is good.

 

 

[astrosally[IPM]]

Updated app photos attached. Updated CRL photos to be posted this weekend, just cleaning up the reflections in the armor. :) 

 

Edited October 3, 2025 by astrosally

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You are better taking photos inside to cut down on shadows and light reflections, also use a blank background so it makes editing the images a little easier

 

[Nairy[Staff]]

I think the background is great for editing, but I agree with the reflectins, there is a lot of yellow light!

[astrosally[IPM]]

All of my individual armor shots were taken indoors against a white background. They still need a little editing for reflections, so that's in work.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[jsilvius[Staff]]

This looks so amazing! I hope we can push it to the finish line soon. I would love to make a Captain Cardinal!

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Hi, 

 

I was trying to look at the part images but when I click through I am getting a "That page doesn't exist" error. Is there something like a good drive I can look at?

 

Looking at the smaller images there are some perspective issues that if we can would be nice to sort out. The issue is the cameras on phones are quite wide angle which introduces perspective distortion. Ideally you'd use an actual camera with something in the lower telephoto range, but I realise that's a rarity these days. If you can use the highest non-digital zoom you can on your phone and stand slightly further away. Also if you can try get as close as you can to straight on then we would get the best possible view of the parts.

[astrosally[IPM]]

Armor photos! 

 

Here's also a google photos link, as requested: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6RvoDEakAYWhRp3U6 

 

Is there anything else I need to provide? 

 

Edited October 12, 2025 by astrosally
removed duplicate of front of shins

[jsilvius[Staff]]

If these are for the CRL, we'll need cape and undersuit photos as well. I'm sure we can find a photo of a FOTK undersuit and a balaclava if needed. But definitely need the cape.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Other than what James has mentioned this is a good start. I'll start to complete a CRL template and check we have all we need.

Just be aware this is a very time consuming job so might take a while! Fortunately I just got Affinity Photo for free so hopefully that will make things a bit easier.

[astrosally[IPM]]

Sorry, forgot the cape photo! 

 

 

 

My thought was to use the same photos from the FOTK Force Awakens CRL for the undersuit, balaclava, and neck seal for consistency, since these aren't unique to Cardinal. But let me know if photos of any of those are needed! 

[Sly11[Admin]]

8 hours ago, astrosally said:

Sorry, forgot the cape photo! 

 

 

 

My thought was to use the same photos from the FOTK Force Awakens CRL for the undersuit, balaclava, and neck seal for consistency, since these aren't unique to Cardinal. But let me know if photos of any of those are needed! 

I tend to agree that the neck seal and undersuit for consistency, but will still need the gaskets as in the TFA show parts of the white armour so we would prefer to have the correct red.

 

 

 

[astrosally[IPM]]

Gasket photos (also added to the google photos link above): 

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Thanks Sally 

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Just so you know I am not doing nothing, I am slowly working through these. Looks like it's all there so far part wise but if I find anything I'll shout.

We will need some better full length images, front and rear as the ones in the folder are very small.

 

[astrosally[IPM]]

Thanks for the update!
You're right, those photos got compressed. I just uploaded full res versions to the same link above. Let me know if you have any problems with those.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Thanks got them.