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So, you found us! Thinking about becoming a "real" Stormtrooper? Well you are in the right place, I promise. Welcome to the TRUE home of shiny (and sometimes not so shiny) white armor! While some may dive right in, others like to check things out and see what this crazy hobby is all about and learn about what it takes to join the 501st as a shiny white spaceman/woman. One thing I can promise you is that any questions you may have (no matter how strange you may think they are) will be answered in a friendly and supportive manner. We don't judge. Every single one of us has been in your position, and our goal is to assist you in any way we can. SO, it's time to stop lurking, introduce yourself and let us know how we can help you join the ranks and become a member of the 501st and FISD!

It's a good idea to browse other approved EIB's just to check if you missed anything A contrasting background is a good idea too, makes photo editing a little easier, at least for your action photo

Same here!

Children's Hospital of Colorado Holiday Parade 2023 It's been a full year that I've been actively trooping. This is my first repeat event and it's always fun (and cold). No sun this year made it pretty chilly but I like to provide a little excitement to kids who may be in the hospital or urgent care and not having much fun otherwise. (I would love to get to visit inside hospitals but those days seem to be long gone, or just slow to return.) Got the same repeat cast of superheros, Indiana Jones, 501st, Mandos & a velociraptor. Good company. I'm the TK with the out-of-control santa hat.

While there are a number of ways to attach the lenses inside your bucket, I found the easiest and fastest is to use a product called SUGRU. It is a kneadable glue, sort of like play-doh (plasticine) that is super easy to work with, and will hold forever. It does keep somewhat of a pliable consistency after drying, can be removed if you ever need to and does not emit heat during the curing process like CA or Epoxy glue. It is available online (like here on Amazon) and in many craft shops, usually in packets of 3. It comes in a variety of colors, but I suggest using the black. HINT: This can be done if you have already built your helmet, but it is easier if the face plate has not been attached. This whole process will take you less than 10 minutes to attach both lenses. Here is a photo of one of the individual packets, and the contents rolled into a ball. In this instance I am using 1 packet per lens. You will need a craft (popsicle) stick, sharpened at one end: Here is the trimmed eye opening from the inside: The next step is to roll the SUGRU into a small "snake" shape about 7 inches in length. (No longer). After that, you simply press it into the outside edges of the eye opening. Note that I left an open spot at the top. I recommend this for ventilation purposes. (Helps keep your lenses from fogging up). Place the lens evenly over the opening. Using a craft (popsicle) stick, push the glue firmly into place around the outside, making contact with both lens and helmet surface. Don't worry if it seeps through to the front. Hint: This glue is strong stuff. You don't need a crazy amount of contact surface. It will not come off unless you take it off. Turn the faceplate over, and any glue that has seeped through (see red circle) can be easily removed with the sharpened end of the craft stick. Allow 24 hours for it to dry, and you are DONE!

Hi. I have a question about the arm positioning in the demo photos for image submission for EI. The following images show the arm at different angles. Is the one with the arms going forward acceptable for the side with arms up, or does it have to be like the one with the hand reaching towards the camera? Also, do we need to have our blaster in our holster for the photos? I have pictures of it, just didn’t have it in the holster when taking pictures. Thanks!

That's just Carl. He was new there and was last seen looking for the vending machines.

Its preferable not to wear the blaster. why this? usually the blaster tends to bend the canvas belt and make you look like going to the side.

I am still curious about the blaster as well. Do I have to be wearing it when taking the pictures of the body? Or can it be shown for just the required detail photos?

So you're saying my picture looks better... Thanks! Ha Ha!

Either way is ok. My preference is the 1st one because the AB-Kidney connection looks better.

[57] Cookies with cops San Leandro, CA 12/13/23

Normally it's straight up from the side (second pic) but I don't think there would be an issue with the first image, DO's basically want to see the sides.

Troop 12 : Collectimania in Regina December 3, 2023. Supporting, along with the Grinch, the Carmichael community outreach. This is another "bonus" troop for 2023 thanks to the unusually mild fall we have been experiencing making driving to these much easier. This one was just two hours away and just a one day, afternoon event. Unfortunately neither we, nor the grinch, was put in a traffic area so we didn't see many people at our booth. We also were low in numbers and no handlers so we took turns in both rolls that afternoon. With not much traffic we spent a lot of the time wandering the vendor floor, the lobby and the concession to see what fun we could make for ourselves. Probably the best interaction this time was when a mando and myself attempted to score some free food at the concession from a young guy who was working there. No, we weren't seriously looking for free food, but that's how we attempted to shake him down. His co-workers loved it because this poor guy had no idea what a shakedown even was which made it even better as we tried to imply to him what it was going to take to get us to go away and it just was not clicking. Come to the collecting show and stay for the mania: I don't look very festive with the tree. I can't even wrap my bucket around the idea that Christmas is just three weeks away. I tried to check my armor at the coat check: You can put your hands down. I'm not here to rob you: This dude was trying to steal Christmas so we took action: Hey, that's me! I'm not sure if there will be any more bonus troops for a while now. While there is a Christmas one scheduled in a couple weeks it's the one that is three hours from me and even if there is not much snow now that can change in an instant this time of year. I also anticipate that by February next year I may be in line for the cataract surgery that I need as a result of the retina surgery complications back in January and I think with the timing of that, with both eyes now needing to be done now, plus needing new eye-glasses when it is all over I will be grounded for a month or more unable to even drive. Time will tell. Bart

Bonus: Small little me with Stormtroopers at Star Wars Celebration V (Orlando FL) in 2010 I came across some pictures of me (I'm the child) when I attended Star Wars Celebration V! It's funny how now I'm a stormtrooper. I hope that one day some child that I meet at a convention will be inspired to join us in the future! Edit * Found better quality versions of these photos plus an additional photo added it below

70) 05/12/2023 - ToySoul 2023 Press Event (HKG Recruitment Booth) @ CWB

I Knew someone would spot that sir! This was a pic of the prototype. The released version does come with all rivets present.

IIRC Troopacoola makes ROTJ E-11, from a recently acquired MGC

Troop 11: Saskatoon recruitment drive November 18, 2023 This is a "bonus" troop for me as once we get into October we never know when the weather is going to cause plans to be cancelled and this was a three hour drive for me one way. Thankfully no snow or ice to stop me. It is also an anniversary of a sort. It was just under a year ago that I attended this annual troop to meet the members that I would end up spending most of my trooping time with. Last year I had the armor by this time but it will still sitting in the box as I was too scared to touch it. This year I attended, not as a potential 501st member, but as a 501st member. Some fun things this day. The venue was not very big so basically had little more than a small bathroom size room to change and with a bunch of shelves everywhere in the main area I didn't spend a lot of time trying to move around for fear of knocking over something. So I sort of played statue for the couple hours I was in armor. Caught a few people off guard. I was the only TK in costume at this one. The other in attendance was handling most of the Q&A from people. Always a bit of an ego boost when people want photos with the stormtrooper more than any of the other costumes! As it should be right?! When I thanked the venue host before we left he said he would have a stormtrooper there every day if he could. Two notable encounters. The first was meeting a guy who we had first talked to back in May at my first troop. I kind of recognized him. He saw us in May and decided he wanted to be a bounty hunter and had been working on that ever since and is almost ready to submit. He spent some time chatting up the members and was just pumped about almost being at the goal. The second happened while I was in the armor. A guy came in and was talking to one of our members at the club table. I was not paying a lot of attention to the conversation but did see and hear him when he turned around, pointed at me, and said, "That is what I want to be - a Stormtrooper." Then I took more notice. We happened to have a member working on his first TK kit in the basement of the venue so I suggested he take at least 5 minutes to check that out and ask questions. He was down there a good 30 or 40 minutes so hopefully he caught the bug and starts the process. The team told me later that he came across as very serious about it. You never know at these things who is ready and who is just kicking the tires. Afterwards we had a group supper and talked about all the big ideas we'd like to do with our few members in the province. We want to build sets. The post-troop de-brief supper is always nice to ease back into reality. I did find on the drive home the next day that I had a bit more post-troop depression than usual. Maybe because I know troops will be harder to do as winter sets in so there could be a long wait time between them for me. Not many photos because not much room to roam, but here we are: We had comic books to give to any kids. I should have snatched one for myself... Just standing here trying not to bump anything... Had this Imperial wallet handed to me for a photo: But, alas, no credits in it. Might have been just as well. Lots of shinny things there distracting me. Someone brought us cookies and muffins. So I got to watch while the officer had a couple after posing with me. A mini me! Group shot with Rebels and Imperials. We think we should ask about using this place for some photoshoots. Very Tatooine bar-like and much darker than the picture shows. The traditional supper after is really the icing on the cake for many of us: We have a local, to me, meet and greet in a couple weeks, but for that one I'm just handling the Q&A and PR. No costume. We hope to drum up more members in the southern part of the province but also make additional contacts for groups that could use a hand with fund raising. There are December troops planned that I would love to get to but all out of town so weather may have different ideas. Bart

Before I vote, I'd appreciate clarification. This statement: Seems to me to be at odds with this statement: I recently noted from the reference shared over here posted by Heritage Auctions: ...that not all blasters used on screen for FOTKs had a movable front handle, and many did not have lights. This (and many other) blasters were made by production for use on screen and did not have these features, so I am of the strong opinion that they should be optional and not required at any level. This isn't a Mr. No Stripes situation where a one-off escaped scrutiny - these were intentionally made and used without moving handles. So... can I submit a blaster with a fixed handle for L3 approval and CRL amendment using the clear reference above? Or if we're still going to claim only Hero blasters have validity in CRL consideration, what's the point of this proposal? CRLs should not be about having 'the bells and whistles that make [costumes] stand out", but rather accuracy to what was used on screen, tempered with consideration for what is practical for trooping, and achievable with the resources and materials currently available.

Johnstown Trick or Treat Street I have discovered a lot of small towns in northeast Colorado since joining the Mountain Garrison. This was another. A great day and first troop in my First Order TK kit. For the First Order! One of my favorite photos. Serving with Lt. Galek Trying to keep warm on a 27 degree (-2 celsius). Darn cold whatever your unit of measure. That is the advantage of the FOTK over the OTTK kit I discovered. So much warmer. This will not be something to brag about when it's summer time.

I got my first crack after 33 troops, not a bad run. I decided to try something different, having had to work with fibreglass building my death trooper costume, I picked up some new techniques. Here is the crack in the chest piece at the neck line. Materials used: UV resin paint brush tape UV light scissors Bondo fibreglass cloth sandpaper First, I taped the outside side of the crack to align it and hold everything in place. Next I brushed on a thin layer of UV resin and cured it. Took about 10 seconds Next, I cut a piece of the fibreglass cloth to cover the area . Then I painted on.another thin coat of resin, applied the cloth onto the wet resin and then dabbed another layer of resin onto the cloth to soak it in. Once this was done, I cured it again I then added a few more layers of resin curing them as I went. Finally, I sanded the repair smooth with 11pm grit sandpaper There was a slight edge to the repair, so I sanded it with 220 grit sand paper, then buffed with 1000 the 2000 grit sand paper and finished with Novus polish All repaired in less than 5 minutes

27th April - Tanya’s Funeral In May 2018, Tanya was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In August 2019, her twin, Kim, reached out to Albin, and myself, Gary and Tracey visited her at St Joseph’s Hospice for her birthday. After all the fun and games, Tanya looked me square in the eyes and said “Just making sure you guys will be at my funeral” “Lord Vader would be honoured, my Master” I replied COVID came and went In August 2022, we once again visited Tanya for her birthday, played with lightsabers and ate cake. March 2023 came and a message from Kim saying the end was rapidly coming and could we get there….now. Gary was able to drop everything and get there and I sent a video message the same day. On the 31st of March, Tanya became one with The Force. This week, the four of us were able to keep our promise to Tanya and join her on her final journey. 🤍🤍🤍🤍

Here's one masterfully finished by Paul Prentice of Mr. Paul's Shoretrooper Build. And yes, when finished properly, I can say with some authority, having held a screen used one, that it is the most accurate currently available and absolutely worth a purchase if your goal is a Rogue One/New Generation suit. Jimmi's is excellent as well, but Nico's is truly impressive. More photos at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008239635269&sk=photos_by

Sugru works great for the frown mesh too. Thanks for the great walkthrough @justjoseph63