Stormtrooper Trooping Hacks and Ideas

[evnltr[TK]]

Hi all, 

 

Love this detachment and forum.  Amazing folks here.  I'm pretty quiet and more of a reader than a poster.  I'm a longtime trooper (since 2002).  While, I've been working on my Centurion ESB TK application, I was getting out some of my little inventions I've been using for trooping and my costume to have aside.  Over the years, I've got a few ideas with pics that I thought I'd share in case it helps others or they want to use it.   My hacks include:

 

-Changing outside/inside -Using a changing tent for changes in the parking lot - imperial cog stencil used on black tent along with bar and puck light to tilt and light the inside of the tent

 

-Changing inside maximizing space with a tub lid shelf- I use 4 white wood panels as poles which are used to elevate the lid of the tub to act as a shelf to put parts on

 

-Time keeping -Using a black mini finger watch turned backwards - super quick way to check time on a troop

 

-Trooping accessory - For troops with no blaster allowed, using black Police metal ticket holder with 501st Legion tickets to issue for civilians that say dumb things to us or 'break rules'.  Ticket holder also allows easy storage and lid to lift to give out stickers, coins, patches, etc.

 

-Changing inside and being able to check how armor looks- I've added plastic mirrors from Amazon and velcroed them under the lid of the tub to use to help address costume details.

 

- Changing accessory - Mini travel spray bottles of Febreeze to help keep from smelling in the costume - I even took the Febreeze logo sticker off of a refill jug and glued it to the spray bottle so it looks official but lets you know what liquid is in there.

 

-Blaster wrap - Imperial cog golf towel and mini velvet jewelry bags (for the ammo mag) with velcro wraps.  A themed way to wrap blaster to prevent scratching armor but not taking up any extra space in the tub.

 

-Helmet sound effect - Mini soundboard in helmet to trigger compressed air "Tssshh" sound effect when taking off bucket.

 

-Sound - Mp3 player on blaster handle and blue tooth Bose speaker (which is really loud) which fits perfect and hidden inside the holster.

 

I'll show these in some separate posts.  Not all these hacks or ideas are meant for official/canon troops but could be used for fun events.  Hope this helps anyone looking for new trooping ideas.  Feel free to add any of your own!  I'd love to see others!  

 

Edited December 14, 2025 by evnltr

[evnltr[TK]]

Changing Tent

 

Using a changing tent for changes in the parking lot or even indoors.  I got a couple of weights to go with it.  They slide in the little pouches at the bottom of most of these types of changing tents.  I used an imperial cog stencil used on black tent.  The tents will have little loops on the outside and inside of the tent to let you roll up the front door.  I use the loops as a location to put a light.  I cut a 1-inch-wide PVC pipe and got caps for it that I can take on and off.  This pipe can slide through the loops.  Then using velcro, I velcored a push-button battery-operated puck light to it.  Because of the weight of the PVC, it doesn't spin with the puck light on it.  You can literally tilt the light up, straight or aimed down.   The photo below shows the light bar on the outside, but there's loops inside so you can light up the inside of the tent if needed.  I like this to have a place to put a light and be able to easily take it on/off.   I like this for the underwear changing portion of outside changing.   It wraps up nice and I can throw it right back into the truck once the changing portion is done.  

 

 

[evnltr[TK]]

Secret Time Keeper

 

I have found as I've gotten older, I don't make it as long on troops especially in my TK kit.  Often on troops, I'll be looking for the time to know how much time is left in the troop.  I don't want to be seen reaching for a cell phone, look for a clock, or having to ask.  I just want to quickly see a clock but not have it be so visible.   My wife came across finger watches on Amazon.  I got a black one and tried it out during Halloween.  It was great.  Very hard to see from anyone else, but I just look at my hand real quick as if I had a watch on.  I just turn it on the inside on my non blaster handle hand.  

Edited December 9, 2025 by evnltr

[evnltr[TK]]

The Travel Tub Shelf

 

I first saw a version of this from one of my fellow troopers in the Midwest Garrison.   My rolling tub has some little slots on the sides and on the tub lid.  Using white side paneling from Home Depot, I cut four 3-foot lengths.  Then added a small wood block at the top of each bar.  These are screwed into the top of the bars as the base to rest the lid on.    The lid then rests on the bars above your tub.  This maximizes your space when you might be in a small changing room.  It gives you a tub lid shelf.

 

[evnltr[TK]]

The Tub Lid Mirror

 

This is probably the most popular idea I've had at troops.  So many times, we have to use car reflections or random things to try and see if our costumes look ok during events.  There isn't always a mirror.  Amazon carries plastic mirrors that I velcroed a couple to the bottom of my tub lid.  When you lean your tub lid up against a wall, you can angle it to see how you look!  I use this so much.  And I'll find many of my fellow trooper's hover over my way to do a review of their kit as well.   I also don't have to worry about heavier real mirrors that might crack, shatter, or add weight to your lid.  Especially if you use your lid as a shelf like I do too!  

 

Amazon.com: JUNEBRUSHS 4 Pack Self Adhesive Acrylic Mirrors, 12x 16 Inch Mirrors Tiles,Flexible Plastic Sheets Wall Stickers,2MM Thick Mirror,Frameless Small Mirror : Home & Kitchen

 

 

Edited December 9, 2025 by evnltr

[evnltr[TK]]

Mini -Febreeze Spray Bottle

 

I know some troops can make us get a little ripe.  I like having some Febreeze to put on the fabric before you suit up can help in addition to the shower and deodorant.   But I don't want to carry the big bottle of Febreeze with me.  So, I got a pack of mini misting bottles and filled them up with Febreeze.  I took the Febreeze logo off of my refill bottles and then stuck that to the mini bottles too.  That way I know or anyone else knows what that liquid is.  Now the Febreeze is travel small and won't take up a lot of room.   (Note:  the lids on these are not super tight, so I use a rubber band to wrap around the top and bottom to keep the lid from popping off.  There's probably other travel misting bottles out there that won't do this, but this brand does a nice just actually soft misting and not straight squirting. 

 

Amazon.com: TOSERSPBE Spray Water Bottle Hair Mister, Fine Mist Stylist Sprayers 360 Empty Small Misting Spritzer, Perfume Atomizer with Pump Clear Containers 2PCS/2oz : Beauty & Personal Care

 

 

 

[TK-32700[TK]]

Neat ideas. Do you change into the entire armor in the tent, or just the undersuit?

 

My "hack":

I always wipe down the inside of my armor with isopropyl alcohol (60 % or more) after each troop. It is safe to use on ABS, kills smelly bacteria and funky fungi, and evaporates quickly. A cloth dampened in the alcohol works fine, but for the nooks and crannies of the backplate I use a spray bottle.

[TKSpartan[Staff]]

Great tips!! thanks for sharing.   

[evnltr[TK]]

For the changing tent, I usually do just the undersuit as it is not a super large tent.  If I can put the tent close to the back hatch of the car, I can kind of drift in and out to put on armor with the front pulled up.  It's not always possible, but I try not to visibly be seen suiting at those the 'change by the car' events so I don't spoil the magic for the young ones.  Thank you for the tip on the isopropyl alcohol hack!  Great idea!  I'm adding that to one of my mini bottles tonight to add to the medical kit.  

[evnltr[TK]]

Trooping Accessory - Citation Holder

 

This is one for those 'no blaster' or more fun type events.  I still like to be holding or carrying something at a troop.  I always miss the blaster.   I really liked the citations we had on another trooper thread. So, I decided to expand upon it.  I got a Citation Holder like what law enforcement used to use more commonly back in the day.  Mine was a black metal Saunders brand Citation Holder that I believe I got on good old Amazon.  This lets you clip the citations to the top.  But what is nice is you can carry it around and the lid will flip up and inside you can have more citation sheets, but also your coins, patches, and trading cards.  As a TK, it's hard to carry and hand those out.  This citation holder helps with that.  Plus, you can issue citations to rebels and civilians.  I put an imperial cog sticker on the back side so someone would see the logo while they saw us writing up a citation. 

 

 

It's not too heavy so you could also put velcro wraps around your belt and velcro on the back of the holder so it could attach if you wanted to "holster" it for a bit.  I haven't tried this yet, but I seems feasible.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2025 by evnltr

[evnltr[TK]]

Blaster wrap

 

This one isn't too special.  I think most of us all have a preferred way to transport the blaster.  I just thought I'd share what I do as it's worked well for me.  I've tried several different blaster transport ways over the years.  I tried a separate blaster case, carry bag, different padded wraps etc.  I found in the end, for me, I do want the blaster in the tub for blaster allowed events.  But, I want it to take up as little space as possible and also not scratch my armor.   I found a Star Wars Imperial Tri Fold golf towel out there.  I got mine on Ebay, but it's out there on golf stores too.  It's around 16" x 24" which is just about perfect length for the blaster.  It's also a thicker towel.  I removed the golf bag clip at the top.  Then I also added mini velvet jewelry bag for the ammo mag.  I doubled the bag up since the set on Amazon I got came with several of them.  Having it a little thicker coat on the ammo mag prevents those scratches.  You then just use longer black velcro cable wraps to keep it all together.  It's a nice, themed way to wrap blaster to prevent scratching armor but not taking up any extra space in the tub.  The ammo mag could always be removed and still put in the jewelry bag, but I like to keep it all together.  

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Great thread and helpful not only for the new to trooping but also us old timers. 

 

A lot of things I recognise here as I do similar, deodoriser spray, towel for blaster (I sewed a couple of tabs of velcro to it so it stays closed). Made a pouch for the citations, normally a wrangler helps to get them out and pass the pen (darn these plastic gloves). We had some silicon wrist bands to hand out to younglings (my design) and I made a pouch to hold those too. 

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing more 

[Sithping[TK]]

Thanks for sharing your ideas!

I like the mirror for checking dressing issues, gotta look our best for the Emperor

 

I use a lightweight folding camping table attached with velcro to my kit box.

it's ideal for all those parts you can't reach once you have the torso armour on.

[evnltr[TK]]

That's great Paul!  Love it!  I had never seen that rig before.  This was what I was hoping to see for this thread.  More great ideas for trooping.  Thank you for sharing the pics!  

[evnltr[TK]]

Micro Med Kits

 

My first troop I ever did was before I was a member of the 501st.  I went to a Ren Fair in Colorado in the summer in the summer of 2001.  I had the Armor FX and it was all velcro.  It was near 100 and that kit fell apart after a couple of hours.  I never considered having a repair or med kit for a troop.  I didn't have the experience. A fellow trooper saved me with some white tape.  I knew a med kit was a needed thing.  I have a repair/med kit for each costume, but I've found that when I go to a troop like a parade or even that takes us far from our tubs, it's all about what you have on you if something goes wrong.  In my TK, there's not a lot I can have on me compared to my Scout with my pouches.   

 

So, I created what I call Micro Repair or Micro Med Kits.  I use our Challenge Coin sleeves and as my base for the pouch as it's thick and flexible.  I used CA glue to glue the back side of the coin sleeve to a little ABS piece.  Then I glued a black nylon piece to the top to act as a tab.  The back side of the ABS has a tiny piece of hook velcro.  I glued that on the ABS piece too just make sure it didn't come off.   What I do is I tuck this micro kit in the arm armor.  The black nylon tab can either be tucked in to hide it or have it out to easily grab it.  (Think of it like Spiderman's web shooters, just angle your wrist out a little and grab the tab and pull out your kit.)  In the arm armor, there's a strip of loop velcro where the kit attaches.   This little kit is small enough to pull in and out as long as you have a little room at the wrist part of the armor.  The ABS Piece is solid enough it helps you push it back in to the arm armor when you are done with it.  I only take these on events that take me a good distance away from the storage tubs.  They really don't bother my arm or are in the way.  You also won't have them fall out and not notice.  Because it's light enough, even the little velcro keeps it from falling out.  I did have to experiment a little to get the right amount of hook velcro to make sure I can pull it out, but also that it won't fall down when arms are down.  I don't really notice them, but haven't had long troops with them yet. This is a newer idea with not a ton of hours on them.  Oddly, I've not used them for myself aside from Advil, but I've pulled them out for a couple of other troopers at an event. 

 

Here's what is in each micro kit:

 

Micro Repair Kit:  Roll of white duct tape, swatch of industrial velcro, cleaning wipe, sewing needles with heavy nylon thread both white and black, pencil erasure (to put the point of the needles and to use for scuff marks) and safety pins

 

Micro Med Kit: Band-aid, tissue, $5 (for a bottled water if the situation occurs), and medicine pills (these include meds for headache, stomachache, heartburn, allergies, head cold, and a breath mint)

 

I added some labels with the mini-imperial cog logo for fun on each one too.  (Not pictured is a mini multi tool used for cutting if needed that is attached to one of the kits)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2025 by evnltr
Add note

[evnltr[TK]]

Back Plate "Altoid Power Packs"

 

This is a very new idea I will be trying out in 2026.  I've had some batteries rigged in the back plate for a long time on troops but it was just haphazard velcroed pieces with no real order to it.   I came up with an idea using Altoid tins.  Note: I've not trooped with this yet.  I have some attachment strength, positioning, and making sure they are not visible to work out, but I love how this came out.  I will only troop with it if I have the front plate with my speaker and ABS bracket mounted on the chest plate to counterbalance the weight.  It's not heavy on the back, but the power bank adds just enough to it. (I weighed the pieces, and the total weight is right at 16 ounces for all 4 pieces.  I got a different USB Power bank that was even closer in size to the Altoid tins and only weighs 3.8 ounces.) 

 

First, I logged all the electronics I'm using which include: helmet fans, wireless mic, TRamp speaker, air pressure sound board in helmet, MP3 player on blaster, and sound fx/music speaker hidden in holster.  I currently am using two 9 volts, two CR2032 batteries, one device charged with USB-C, and two devices charged by Micro USB.  That helped me determine what I needed in my power packs.  Here's what I did:

 

Using Altoid tins, you can simply paint these black or white or whatever you like.  I decided on black since it will go up against the black skin-diving suit.   And it matched the color of the USB Power Bank.   I then made some logo stickers to represent what is stored in each power pack.  I wanted a symbol instead words or lettering.  It looked neat.  Then of course slapped the imperial cog decal on there on the right side. 

 

 

Each power pack stores what I need for power.  You could make an internal liner in the case.  But I found some folks on Etsy that make cheap 3D printed storage parts for Altoid cases.  I got one the holds three 9 Volts batteries.  Another one was a piece made for storing headphones - I used it for the two types of cables -Micro USB and a pigtail USB-C cable.  The last case was a neat little mini tool chest that I use for brackets and screws but also for my CR-2032 batteries.  Finally, I found a USB Power Bank that was as close in size to the Altoid tins as I could find.   Then added the stickers to show was stored in each case.  

 

 

 

Next was the mounting.  The Altoid tins work great for using earth magnets.  I found small rectangular earth magnets on Amazon.  It was so strong, I decided to wrap them in 6-inch strips of white duct tape to reduce the draw power.  That worked great.  I used two strips of 6-inch tape around them.  If I troop and find it's a little loose, I'll drop one of the tape strips that wrap around the magnet to make them stronger.  Small tests around the house don't seem to be a problem so far with the two layers of tape.   I'll do a test troop in full armor at some point to verify though.  I also need to see how much the screws/nuts rattle in the one tin.  Test walking in the house didn't make much of a sound which surprised me.  

 

 

I used clear double sided Gorilla tape to mount the magnets on the interior of the black plate.  Since these power packs are not too heavy, there's not a lot of weight for the magnets and Gorilla tape to hold the tins.   I wanted it to be easy for someone to reach inside my back plate to easily remove the needed power pack without the tear and pull of velcro.  However, I didn't want to use magnets on the USB Power Bank. I put just a little hook velcro on the back of the bank itself and then a piece of loop velcro in the back plate.  

 

rt 

 

Finally, the pieces in place.  It looks awesome and everything is neat, organized, and labeled. I put a "safety hold" black rubber band around each tin.  I don't think they'll pop open, but I thought that would be a good safety to have on them just in case.   I really hope this works in my test troop.  I'll post results once I give it a whirl.  I did want to share this idea though.  I'd love to see how others hide and store backup power and batteries on their armor.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 3 by evnltr

[evnltr[TK]]

Traveling Tub Dry Erase Mini Boards

 

This is another idea I wanted to share that is a small one, but really helpful.  This is something that was a long time coming.  For many years, I always seem to find something to change or need a reminder to do or bring for the next troop.  By the time I de-kit and get home, I've already forgotten what I needed to write down.  And thus, I'll run into same problem again.  I wanted something where I could write down my note to self that was fast and easy.  I found a set of small magnetic 4x6 dry erase boards.  These are just the right size.  I velcored these to the inside top of my trooper tubs and velcroed a dry erase marker next to it.  (I probably could have used earth magnets since these boards are magnetic, but it was easy enough to go with velcro.)  Now it's easy to take quick notes during or after a troop to make sure I don't forget something that I need to bring the next time.  I can simply either add my notes while it's mounted in the tub or just take the little dry erase board off and mark my note down and then put it back in the tub.   The next troop, I can wipe it clean and it is ready to go. 

 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Great thread, Justin 

 

I carry several similar items, but I really love your onboard Med kit, that's an excellent idea.

Always carry a repair kit in my armour case, I'll add an image later, but the list of items are as follows.

I carry stuff not just for my own repairs but others because someone always needs something on troop day.

 

1. Touch up paint Blue and Grey for Ab plate buttons

2. CA Glue, several small tubes, as someone always needs to do a quick fix.

3. Adhesive Velcro 

4. Spare snaps and snap tool

5. Spare Elastic in several sizes

6. Small amount of Novus polish

7. ABS Scraps for crack and reinforcing repairs

8. Sandpaper

9. Sharpie pen (to conceal blaster scratches and scrapes)

10. Washers

11. Spare fly screen mesh pre-cut for behind frown

12. Spare AA and AAA batteries for helmet fans

13. Toothpicks for fine paint work

14. Thin paint brush

15. Small utility blade

16. Small polishing rag

 

 

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

9 hours ago, Sly11 said:

Great thread, Justin 

 

I carry several similar items, but I really love your onboard Med kit, that's an excellent idea.

Always carry a repair kit in my armour case, I'll add an image later, but the list of items are as follows.

I carry stuff not just for my own repairs but others because someone always needs something on troop day.

 

1. Touch up paint Blue and Grey for Ab plate buttons

2. CA Glue, several small tubes, as someone always needs to do a quick fix.

3. Adhesive Velcro 

4. Spare snaps and snap tool

5. Spare Elastic in several sizes

6. Small amount of Novus polish

7. ABS Scraps for crack and reinforcing repairs

8. Sandpaper

9. Sharpie pen (to conceal blaster scratches and scrapes)

10. Washers

11. Spare fly screen mesh pre-cut for behind frown

12. Spare AA and AAA batteries for helmet fans

13. Toothpicks for fine paint work

14. Thin paint brush

15. Small utility blade

16. Small polishing rag

 

 

Case:

Super glue

Hot glue gun

Mini mart, no joke 

 

On me (palm of one glove):

Cash, credit card, pain meds

 

[AW2066[TK]]

Fantastic Info !
Making Use of internal armour space !
Haven't seen many make use of these spaces.
I did make cloth cotton tape hinges on my drop boxes & use 2 small pieces of Velcro (1 hook & 1 loop) to secure them closed.
Also available spaces are the belt boxes !
I know, to get to them a trooper would need to take the belt off. Thought this can be done away from public eyes. 

[evnltr[TK]]

Andrew, Tony, and Anthony thank you for the notes!  I love it!  This is what I was hoping to inspire.  Andrew and Tony, great additions to put in my tub for my main repair bag.  I'm already going to copy some of those!  

 

Anthony, interesting idea on the drop boxes.  I've heard of something like that, but I hadn't run across a pic example of that before.  Thank you for sharing.  Does the drop box close and stay closed by velcro?  

 

I have another post I'll be doing soon is on using the ammo belt for storing mini kits kind of based off of what I saw in the Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition.  I may be dropping my micro med and micro repair kit for what I'm doing on these next.  More coming.  

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Before I started trooping I made my detonator a carry container, I had thought of carrying keys and credit card, shortly after I heard stories of TK's having their detonators pinched, probably pesky Jawa's.

 

[ukswrath[Staff]]

1 hour ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Before I started trooping I made my detonator a carry container, I had thought of carrying keys and credit card, shortly after I heard stories of TK's having their detonators pinched, probably pesky Jawa's.

 

I like it!

[AW2066[TK]]

@evnltr Indeed they do stay/keep closed.

by small pieces of Velcro I cut (thinking off the top of my head) 1/4 inch Wide &  1/2 inch or less long. imo, I think I overkilled it a bit 😂. They can be tricky to open.

A further idea about the belt boxes ... putting small cut squares of velcro (Loop) on the flat spaces in between the boxes on the Back of the ABS belt (in between the open boxes spaces, & A flat piece of ABS cut to match the ABS belt with matching Hook velcro to the Loop. This is to keep each of the boxes contents from finding it's way out.

 

@gmrhodes13 Yes sir !

A fellow trooper in my former garrison, who was a smoker, used to carry his Marlboro's & A BIC lighter in his TD. tho in these days we were wearing the old FX kits.

Short Story time:

I'm a smoker too, so, when we'd go out of sight of the public & outdoors, we'd pull each others TD's to get to our smokes 😂 then get each others back in place & get back to keeping order.

[AW2066[TK]]

was thinkin' while on my workday about those small  MedPacks & Repair Kits ...

(as 1 does I suppose)

they could be tucked hidden & accessible in a few places ...

just inside thighs tops, shins tops, insides of biceps bottoms ... Heck meybe cod (I Know - that sound weird).

I'm gonna borrow an Idea that TK 42128 did with his ... Pockets on the body undersuit legs !

See for yourself

 

(Time stamp at 16 m 55 s) if you have or find 60 mins ?

It's Great Stuff !