I went to Dragon*Con this year planning on wearing my Battlestar Galactica costumes for the most part as they seemed pretty popular two years ago. However, costuming can be fickle and what was hot one year is not always the next. I think I had only one person ask for a photo while in my flight suit and no one recognized the tan BDU's at all. So off it went and on went the TK. Funny enough, while walking around with my garrison mate in armor we got tons and tons of photo requests. Two take-aways I learned this year:
1. The Stormtrooper never goes out of style. Unless you are doing something dramatic like a Darth Talon (showing cleavage can't be beat) or a Wookie, pretty much no Star Wars character is as instantly recognizable and in demand as the common Stormtrooper. Nobody ever asked if I was Darth Vader (sorry TI's) or was confused as to what movie I was from. Hanging out at the bar there was no shortage of attention from both female fans (admiring a man in armor) and male fans (admiring armor).
2. The real "Stormtrooper Effect" lies in numbers. The more Troopers, the more the desire for fans to take photos. Walking around by myself gets a few requests for photos. Walking with my garrison mate means we can't go 50' without an ask for a photo op. And the more TK's in the group, the cooler we become.
We should all take pride in the fact that the common white Stormtrooper costume is so iconic that 30 years after it's debut it's lost none of it's original appeal and is instantly recognizable by fans of all ages. And what's better, it truly is one of those rare costumes where the more Troopers are together, the cooler we look. 
One other item I heard loud and clear at DragonCon was how many of our troopers rely on the newsletter to be kept up to date with the latest stormtrooper news. We understand that not everyone has the time to visit these forums regularly, and the team has pulled out all the stops this month to ensure you have everything you need at your finger tips. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did putting it together.
With unquestioned loyalty,
Paul Hoeffer
TK-8020 "Daetrin"
Detachment Leader
After the August Newsletter was published, Matt (Shooter), who heads up the Newsletter, called out to the FISD Staff for article ideas for the September Newsletter. My first thought was to do an article about the women who donned the traditional White Armor. Most of the time when you think of a female and Stormtrooper armor, the concept of “Femtrooper†comes to mind. For those who don’t know what a Femtrooper is, their armor is worn with high heels and uncovered midriff. I knew there were female TK’s in the Legion, but, after delving into and researching the subject, surprisingly there are quite a few women trooping in Original Trilogy TK armor. In fact there are over 164 active women TK’s in the Legion, with a couple having their Expert Infantry (EI) status. It doesn’t sound like a very large number compared to the 5,471 active Legion members, but if you took the 164 women in OT TK’s and put them into a single Garrison, they would be the 6th largest Garrison in the 501st Legion.
I had the pleasure of interviewing and getting insight from several of the women that are TK enthusiasts, to find out what made them pick the original Stormtrooper armor. While these interviews were going on, the FISD welcomed its first female Centurion, but more on that later . . .
The following ladies were kind enough to respond and help with this article:
Lisa Basham – TK6646, Badlands Garrison, Outer Rim Squadron
Lisa is a Chef and designs commercial kitchens. Her husband is a TX (Stealthtrooper) and her 5 year old son is a big Vader fan and loves wearing his "mini" Vader costume. Their favorite thing to do is Trooping together as a family.
Sarah Brownlee - TK9463, Star Garrison, North Texas Squad
Sarah is an office manager in her own company. She enjoys costuming, building costumes and props and breeding Ball Pythons. She says she sometimes finds time to read, or play her Xbox 360. Sarah’s husband and son are also into costuming. Her husband is a Clone Commander Fox and her son is planning to start his Biker Scout build very soon.
Leisa Knapp – TK2029, Canadian Garrison
Leisa is the GWL for the Canadian Garrison. She works in the IT industry. Lisa told me the following story, and I thought it was remarkable and wanted it to be shared with the readers:
“A year or so ago I was attending a leadership training course at work. The instructor had split us up in to groups for some icebreaking exercises and told us to tell the group one thing about themselves that had nothing to do with family or work. Of course I spoke of the 501st and the work we do for Make a Wish. Well, the lady sitting next to me gasped. Turns out her son had brain cancer and they were about to disembark on a trip to Japan courtesy of Make a Wish. She was so thankful. I'll tell you there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Before that point, I really didn't consider the good that the 501st really does and that brought it home in a big wayâ€.
Crickette - TK4837, Alpine Garrison, Utah
Crickette is a teacher of the deaf and is currently teaching a 5th grade class in a bilingual/bicultural school (ASL/English) program. She says that “being a TK certainly helps with classroom disciplineâ€.
In an effort to find out more about these ladies and what made them pick OT TK armor, I sat down and asked the following questions:
When did you first become interested in Star Wars?
Lisa: I saw "The Star Wars" in theatres when I was eight. I know, I can't possibly be THAT old! I have been hooked on Sci-fi in general and Star Wars specifically since.
Sarah: Oh gosh, I first became interested in Star Wars when the original movie came out. My brother, cousins, and I fell in love with it instantly. We had all the action figures, and one cousin even had the Millennium Falcon. Even back then I was on the side of the Empire, though. I cut off my Han Solo action figure's head, and still played with it.
Leisa: I think it was back in '77 when I was taken to see the movie. I can remember asking my Grandma to put my hair in buns like Leia's. I was hooked and haven't stopped loving the movies since!
Crickette: In 1977, I saw Star Wars. I ran straight to my grandmother's house to make a Vader costume from whatever I could find. I wore it all summer in the Southern California heat. Sometimes with roller skates. That was the beginning.
How did you find out about and get involved with the 501st?
Lisa: I'm not sure how my husband found out about the 501st but when he gave me my kit he explained the group, its members and its purpose. After a moment's hesitation (was I ready to leap out of the geek closet?), I jumped in with both feet.
Sarah: I first found out about the 501st at local Dallas sci-fi conventions. I didn't want to join until I found out about the charity work the Legion does. And when I saw a woman dressed as a Stormtrooper, I knew I had to do that, too.
Leisa: I discovered the 501st at DragonCon back in 2001. I met some folks from the Canadian Garrison in Atlanta and decided on the spot that I would make a Tie Pilot outfit and join. I then met Spat who sold me my first bucket and chest box kit and the rest is history.
Crickette: I had known about the 501st for years, but I didn't know there was a garrison in Utah until I accidentally found it online. I joined the boards immediately and was at my first armour party a week later.
How long have you been trooping in TK armor?
Lisa: joined the legion the minute my armour was done August 2010.
Sarah: Not very long, about six weeks now.
Leisa: Only for a year now. I started off with a Tie Pilot which I bought parts for from Spat back at DragonCon 2004. I reached out to the 501st CDN Garrison back then, but didn't find the inspiration to finish the costume till 2009. To my great surprise, my Garrison CO remembered me from 2004! It was flattering and welcoming all at once.
Crickette: My first troop in armour was 11/26/10. I've Trooped in armor 18 times in addition to 13 non-armour troops.
What version of the Stormtrooper did you do?
Lisa: ANH Stunt.
Sarah: ANH Stunt.
Leisa: I did the ANH, with hero bucket. I have the grappling hook belt in progress. Let it be known that Luke Skywalker rolled a girl for her belt!
Crickette: ANH Stunt
Are you considering becoming EI, or maybe even going for Centurion in the future?
Lisa: I am planning on working on EIB this winter and hope to have it by next spring. Centurion may be the next winter's project.
Sarah: I will soon be EI, and will probably go for Centurion as well.
Leisa: I haven't really looked at the requirements.
Crickette: I'm definitely considering it.
Was the TK armor your first costume and if not what was?
Lisa: I had never done anything like the TK before. I was so excited about my first troop that I couldn't sleep the night before.
Sarah: TK is my first 501st approved costume. I trooped as a handler and as a Sith Cheerleader while completing my TK build.
Leisa: As stated above, my first was a Tie Pilot. I spent many hours playing X-Wing vs Tie back in the day and I fell in love with flying the Tie Interceptors. When it came to making the costume it all just sort of fit in my head. That started it off.
Crickette: Yes, TK was my first.
What made you consider doing a TK, White Armor costume as opposed to any other 501st costume?
Lisa: The TK was a surprise birthday gift from my husband. I had never heard of the 501st and had no idea that there were bigger Star Wars fans than me (incomprehensible until I met them) out there!
Sarah: I saw a female Stormtrooper at Dragon*Con last year, and loved how she "owned" it. I've loved Stormtroopers since I was a little girl, so I was inspired to give it a try myself.
Leisa: I once borrowed a fellow trooper's gear to troop a wedding. They needed an even team and I was the only one available. I had a blast at the wedding reception and that kind of sealed it for me. From that point in, I knew I wanted my own set of armor.
Crickette: Since 1977, my first love has been Darth Vader and my second TK. At 5'10†and 128 lbs, I don't get to be Vader myself, but I'm engaged to one of our garrison Vaders, so I guess I'll have to settle for that!
If you do have other costumes, which one do you prefer to troop in more?
Lisa: Only the TK right now.
Sarah: I enjoy the TK more than any other costume I own.
Leisa: Well, it really depends on the situation. I have trooped as a Jedi, Slave Leia, TK and believe it or not, Darth Maul. Each costume has it's merits and the Leia certainly gets quite a bit of attention. When I put on my TK though, I'm part of something bigger. I'm there for the kids who need help and to see the adult kids light up when they see characters from a much loved movie from their childhood. Whatever costume is appropriate for the setting I am more than happy to wear.
Crickette: While I was building my armour, I had plans for all sorts of other 501st approved costumes. However, after my first troop as a TK, knew it was the only one for me.
Have you ever surprised anyone, when taking off your helmet, that you are not a guy?
Lisa: Every troop. There are a lot of photos out there that only she and I know I'm a girl. (I always say thank you after a photo.) It's amazing how many women will rest their hand just under my butt plate when posing for a picture!
Sarah: Oh, everyone is surprised, either when they hear my voice amp or when I remove my helmet. Everyone assumes I am male.
Leisa: Yes and no! I make it a practise not to take my bucket off when Trooping as much as possible. Normally, we're at functions that involve kids and I don't want to ruin the image or mystique they have of Stormtroopers. Some kids have figured it out when I've been quietly talking to handlers though and it's quite a shock to them.
Crickette: I've been told I “stand like a girlâ€, so most people guess I'm female with my helmet on. I've rarely surprised anyone. The armour does attract a lot of male attention, though.
With the legacy Jes Gistang costume maybe in the works, is that something that you might consider? Between the OT TK and the Jes Gistang, would you consider one as opposed to the other or maybe having both?
Lisa: Jes Gistang is a good looking suit. A legit female stormtrooper is a great thing but my heart belongs to the original trilogy. I love the anonymity of the original trooper.
Sarah: Oh, I would definitely consider having both.
Leisa: I really like the Jes Gistang figure. I keep hinting to a certain TD that it'd make an awesome birthday present! I'm not sure I'd want a set of that armour though; I like my ANH OT TK. I would consider doing a Zam before any form of Fem Trooper.
Crickette: Not interested in the least.
How long did it take you from the time you received your armor kit to the moment that you finished your build?
Lisa: About 30 to 40 hours. My husband and I worked on it together. The fit was the toughest part 'cause I'm very girl-shaped (i.e. small waist, round hip) and we'd never done anything like it before. And are any of us ever really finished with our build? I work on it for every troop.
Sarah: Almost 11 weeks.
Leisa: Three days!
Crickette: I bought another garrison member's armour. It took almost two months of work to modify it enough to fit me. I'm still having trouble. I'd like to get some fresh spanking new armour and start all over again.
What was the hardest part, or were there any problems that happened with your TK build, and what did you do?
Lisa: I think the most challenging part of the build was the fit. We bought a great kit right out of the box but hanging rigid plastic off a human form is tricky at best. The learning curve was pretty steep but once we got the hang of it, it wasn't too bad. We also relied a great deal on all the fantastic people of the FISD and 501st boards who are always ready with some advice. Our next build, my husband's TX (TX-5575), was a breeze once we knew what we were doing.
Sarah: The hardest part for me was painting the helmet. I asked my friend Tim (TK-3121), who is an artist, to paint it for me. He did an excellent job, which will help towards achieving EIB.
Leisa: I'm really lucky that I have such a talented boyfriend as I do in Ken Rice (TD-1125). He helped me trim the armour, paint the boots, and paint the pieces (the styrene had a slight pink hue, I didn't want to be the 'pink' trooper). I did all the fitting, fastener assembling, detail painting, bucket adjusting and assembled and installed fans in the bucket for comfort. Without his guidance I would have done things either the long and/or hard way. I think the hardest part was actually trimming down all the pieces; however, my Dremel tool made very short work of that and sanding the edges. White Armor.net provided the pattern for the E-11 holster, the leather I had kicking around from some other past projects. It was a relatively quick build with two sets of hands working on it.
Crickette: I had trouble with the chest plate popping up. I brought in the waist a bit and added some strapping. It worked pretty well most of the time. I've added a strip of plastic with velcro which connects the chest and waist pieces. It keeps everything in place really well. Thanks to bluehickey for the suggestion.
What has been your most memorable/favorite troop in TK armor?
Lisa: CCEE (Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo) was my first big Con. I spent two and a half days in my kit walking the floor and working our charity photo booth. I was exhausted and my feet hurt and I would not have changed a thing. I can't wait for next year!
Sarah: The troops to children's hospitals are the most memorable. I have been on one as a handler and one as a TK. My favorite would be the one as a TK. I love seeing the looks of surprise and awe on the kid's faces.
Leisa: I would have to say that wedding where I wore borrowed armour. While we were trooping the reception I had two girls sexy-pose with me while my fellow Troopers almost doubled over in laughter! Later that same reception an older lady posed with myself and another Trooper. Just as the photo was being taken she apparently grabbed a handful of our backsides, again my fellow troopers were doubled over in laughter! Later after we got out of our armor, it was suggested that I should have removed my bucket. I distinctly chose not to, in order to preserve the spirit of the wedding. Could you imagine what those women would have felt like if I had? Better for them to remember a good time instead of an embarrassing moment they'd rather forget
Crickette: Troops at the school I teach at or troops my students come to. They can pick me out of a line of white armour every time!
Do you have any words that may inspire or advice for women who are considering donning the TK armor in the future?
Lisa: I find freedom stepping out of myself on a troop. Feet apart, authoritative, confident stance, a big ol' weapon in your hands...great fun! Trooping is a chance to play, meet fantastic people and help others. What could be better?...did I mention I get to carry a blaster?
Sarah: My advice is to just go for it. I try to live life without regrets, and I would definitely regret not doing something that brings such joy to myself and others.
Leisa: I would say go for it! It's more fun than you can imagine and it's so heartwarming when small kids come running up to you and hugging you. The feeling of family within your garrison and the whole organization is beyond words. My garrison regulars are among my closest friends. The fact that we all do this for charity is like the icing on the cake. Hanging out with amazing people who have 24 karat hearts, having a blast is enough to have me hooked, but to also raise money for children in need at the same time is priceless. Best. Hobby. Ever.
Crickette: I would love to see more females in armour in general, but you can't beat a female TK. And keep in mind armour is not just for the young. Nothing wrong with a middle aged woman trooping!
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned the first female Centurion recipient. Her name is Olga Plaza, TK9061. She is in the Florida Garrison, Everglades Squad. Olga has been a 501st member since August 20, 2011. She, however, has been trooping with the Everglades Squad since 2010. She has also been a part of the Rebel Legion since April of this year and has had her Jedi costume since just before C5, which was her first troop.
Olga was not into Star Wars when she was younger. She first became interested when she was introduced to Star Wars by her boyfriend, Luis, TK-7164 "bobojuice" while making her Jedi costume for C5. She said she really enjoyed watching the Original Trilogy, but has not seen the Prequels yet..
Olga has her eye on many more Star Wars costumes that she would like to make. She is already been working for a while on a Boushh costume. She says the Boushh is a tough costume to make and to get it right, she is taking her time on it. She is planning on doing a Slave Leia costume for C6, and eventually wants to do a Zam Wessell. She has quite a few others in mind that she would like to do, but they have not gotten to the drawing table yet.
Out of the three different versions of the ANH Stormtrooper, Olga liked the look of the ANH Stunt the best and that is the one that she ended up building. But, it is not her first costume. Her first was the Jedi Knight, but she has also done a few non Star Wars costumes, as well.
Olga said she probably would not have gotten into costuming if not for the influence of Luis. She ordered her TK kit at the same time that Luis ordered his ESB TK kit. Olga said the TK was always a thought in her mind, because it was always her favorite costume. She has found her introduction to costuming, to be a lot of fun, whether going to conventions or doing trooping events. She said she definitely liked trooping more in her TK than her Jedi costume, but her favorite costume is her Leeloo Dallas costume (from The Fifth Element).
Olga is a very petite woman at 5’4â€, but with her Stormtrooper boots with lifts, she stands at 5’ 7†and has a wait and see attitude as to whether anyone will know if she is a female in the OT TK costume.
Olga says that it took quite a bit of modding, because of here petite frame to make the suit fit right. There was a lot of cutting, heating and bending of parts. They ended up using a new ab and kidney plate because the first ones got trashed. But, all in all, it took less than a month to complete her ANH Stunt.
When asked, do you have any words that may inspire or advice for women who are considering donning the TK armor in the future, Olga replied; make sure to do a lot of research and get as much help as you can. It is not that difficult. Once you see the finished product it is totally worth all the effort.
When asked, how do you feel about being the first female Centurion, she replied; It’s amazing. I feel very thankful that I had Luis to help me with everything, because I really couldn’t have done it without him. It is nice to know there will be only one, first, female Centurion, ever, and it’s me.
So, congratulation to you Olga, for being the very first female Centurion!!! Have fun trooping in your White Armor!!! 
I would like to thank the ladies in the White Armor that participated and provided information, so that I could write this article. After spending some time getting to know some of the ladies that don original Stormtrooper armor, I have to say guys, they seem to have a very good footing with their Positive-grip boots in a galaxy far, far away . . .
With Unquestioned Loyalty,
Tom Gardner
TK5940 "RogueTrooper"
Tactical Officer
Tom (RogueTrooper) and Mason (Dashrazor) here, saying it’s Time To Get Your Game On!!!!!
It is pleasure to announce that the all new FISD “ Set For Fun Arcade†is up and running. Knowing that TK builds can be somewhat stressful we felt everyone needs a moment to take a break from cutting and gluing your suit together. So, Mason and I were brainstorming ideas for something fun to add to the NCO section of the forum. I mentioned the Arcade that the Clone Trooper Detachment has, and suggested that idea to Mason. So we started cloning an Arcade for the White Armor forum. We both worked on finding a Galaxy of Star Wars games to be linked into the Arcade. The â€Set For Fun Arcade†is jammed packed with some of the best online â€flash†Star Wars game titles like “Rogue Squadronâ€, “The Kessel Run“, “The Death Star Trench Runâ€, “Star Wars Triviaâ€, “Star Wars Puzzlesâ€, “Stormtrooper Dress Upâ€, and for those people who are not a big fan of Jar Jar, there is even the â€Gun Down the Gunganâ€. We will be adding more to the “Set For Fun Arcade†as we find games. If you have any comments or suggestions, there is even a place in the Arcade for that. So if you find a game that you would like to see in the Arcade, post it and we will add it to the roster.
In the beginning the FISD “Set For Fun Arcade†was in beta form and only 501st members could enter and play. But, we have recently opened it up to all FISD members. So we hope that you will all find time to stop in and get your game on, when you are not hard at work on your armor.
The following warnings apply when playing in the "Set For Fun Arcade":
If your boss catches you, and you get in trouble at work for playing in the "Set For Fun Arcade", remember the Jedi mind trick may not work on your boss especially if your boss is a Toydarian or a Hutt.
The other thing to remember is, if you are playing against a Wookie, always let the Wookie win!
With Unquestioned Loyalty,
Tom Gardner
TK5940 "RogueTrooper"
Tactical Officer
Mason Carson
TK4603 "Dashrazor"
Deployment Officer
New Legion Approved Costume
Look, up in the sky! Is it Boba Fett? Is it a Tie Pilot? Is it a Stormtrooper? or is it a Clone Trooper? No!, it is the newest Legion approved costume. It's the Sky Trooper!!!
The Sky Trooper is a new Star Wars character that is featured in Disney's newly revamped Star Tours, The Adventures Continue, 3-D attraction ride.
The Sky Trooper has combined elements from a Stormtrooper, Clone trooper, Tie pilot and Boba Fett however is still unique as it's own character.
The Sky Trooper has been Legion approved and is now an official costume, meaning that there is a CRL and GML's can approve it.
This project was no simple task: first I started out with my old Incinerator armor. I did a total re-paint and added all the Sky Trooper markings. This was a very tedious and time consuming task and I had to go back and make corrections. From the very few references that we have of this charcter, I took on the task of building the chest box and jet pack from scratch and tried to use primarily the elements from the screen grabs. I also had to build a DC-15 Clone blaster to finish it up. The next task was to put it forth for approval, but my first submission was denied the first time with elements needing to be tweaked. Finally after fixing the problems it was re-submitted and the Sky Trooper is now approved!!
However approval is not where the work ends. I actually started working on the suit before we had all the reference materials. Now with several variations to pick from I am making small improvements to the entire suit to get it to where I am happy with it. Then the CRL will be ready for action! Be sure to check out the new Sky Trooper section of the forums HERE,
I hope to see more people making this costume in the near future.
With Unquestioned Loyalty,
Mason Carson
TK-4603 "Dashrazor"
Deployment Officer
FISD Intelligence Officer: Pandatrooper / Terry
My opinion of the finalcourt ruling :- Ainsworth vs Lucasfilm by Brian Muir
My initial thoughts on the court case are that I’m glad it has now finally concluded. Once the judge had labeled the Stormtrooper armour as ‘industrial’ I very much doubted that it could have been overturned.
From my point of view, I’m satisfied that the judge found in his verdict that I sculpted the armour. I’m disappointed that as hard as I fought for Liz Moore, she did not get the credit she deserved for the helmet but at least her name and portfolio of work have now come to the fore.
Although Ainsworth continues to work the media-machine and put his spin on a ‘win,’ the judgement will always be there for all to read which discredits him and his reputation. It’s unfortunate that the media chose the David vs Goliath analogy, as although it may have made for a good eye-catching headline the story behind it is not such an outstanding victory.
Lucas had to bring Ainsworth to task because the licensees, who had paid $2.5 million to make replicas, had complained to them that he was illegally taking their custom. The witnesses for Lucasfilm including: - John Mollo, John Richardson (for Liz Moore) and myself had no choice but to ensure that our contributions towards the creation of the Stormtrooper were recognised and not stolen by Ainsworth.
Thankfully, many true Star Wars fans, who have followed this saga, know the truth but still far too many continue to be deceived. Hopefully, with the aid of the collation of facts and knowledge on great sites like this one, ‘the truth will out'.
Regards,
Brian Muir
- by "tkrestonva" FISD Provost Marshall
What an incredible experience! This was my third D*Con and by far the best of the bunch! Before I went to my first D*Con in 2009 I was told “the first time you go will blow your mind, the second will be a bit of a disappointment because the expectations are so high, the third and subsequent D*Cons will settle out into just being awesome.†Pretty much sums up my experience so far, although the fact that this year was Dragon*Con’s 25th Anniversary (and the D*Con Parade’s 10th Anniversary) I think added a bit more shine to it. Starting from Thursday:
Thursday, 1 Sept (Day 0):
I arrived at the Marriott Marquis at around 930pm after an exhausting 12 hour drive. As tired as I was, my energy level seemed to spike as soon as I pulled into the hotel driveway. It was clear that although the con wasn’t to officially start until the next morning, the party was in full swing. Checking into the Marriott and unloading my gear was a breeze, I can’t say enough about the level of customer service. Unlike some con hotels I’ve been to, they are genuinely glad to have you as a guest and will bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. They are definitely my hotel of choice, and the center of the con action to boot. Picking up my con badge over at the Sheraton (an absolute necessity – security is now such that the days of just “showing up†and hanging out in the common areas are over) was also a breeze, I was in line for all of about 5 minutes. I gave them my proof-of-registration postcard (which they mailed me months ago), they scanned it, had me sign for and handed me my badge, and I was done!
What to do first? Consult the Dragon*Con 2011 Guide – now in the form of a smartphone app! No more fumbling with paper guides and pen & ink changes. I simply downloaded the app onto my iPhone (also available for Android and BlackBerry devices) and had everything right at my fingertips. Maps, event schedules, speaker lineups, even a feature that allowed me to pick the events I was interested in and move them to my personal calendar! The app automatically downloaded the most recent schedule changes whenever it was opened, so I was always up to speed. Whoever thought of this was truly inspired. Many D*Con regulars I know go simply to drink, take photos, people-watch, and hang out with old friends. While I did plenty of that, I actually like going to the panels and other events – no better way to learn more about your favorite fandoms than to hear from the folks who live and breathe it.
Friday, 2 Sept (Day 1):
Today’s lineup (in addition to drinking, taking photos, people-watching, and hanging out with old friends while making new friends) – a William Shatner interview / Q&A panel, followed by an intro to the SW Expanded Universe, and a lightsaber dueling exhibition by the New York Jedi. But first, a morning shift at the 501st fan table. There are those who think I’m wasting my time actually “working†at a con (quote from a fellow garrison member: “so I see you got roped into working the fan table, eh?â€) but the way I see it, the fan table is command central for the 501st at Dragon*Con. It’s where nearly every Legion member in attendance (and a good deal of fans & admirers) visits at least once during the con. Not to mention that being in the marquis level of the Marriott right next to one of the registration booths, we were occupying prime territory. Basically, the con comes to you. Plus, you get the satisfaction of contributing to someone else’s memorable experience, and you might end up being the one to recruit a few new members. After the panels and fan table duty ended, what next? You guessed it - drinking, taking photos, people-watching, and hanging out with old friends while making new friends. No armor today, saving that for tomorrow.
Saturday, 3 Sept (Day 2):
The Big Day. Today’s panels: “Meet the Stars of Star Wars (Fisher/Mayhew/Morrison/Eckstein)â€, a entertaining panel with the cast of “Star Trek – The Next Generationâ€, an informative panel on NASA’s “Dawn†deep space mission to the Asteroid Belt, and capping it all off with the 501st Legion / Rebel Legion Mixer. But first – the Dragon*Con Parade! This is always the highpoint of my con experience and the main reason I’m willing to drive 650 miles each way in a loaded-down, gas-guzzling SUV. It’s hot, it’s early, and there’s a lot of “hurry up and waitâ€, but outside of a Star Wars Celebration convention, you won’t find a larger number of 501st and RL members gathered in a single location anywhere in the U.S. I got to meet troopers who I’d only known and interacted with via online forums. We chatted about trooping, armor, our families, trooping, armor, our professional lives, trooping, armor - you get the idea. Obviously I’m not the only person who thinks the parade is something special – all along the parade route, fans were packed three and four rows deep, standing on balconies, and crowded against windows. Many of them were there specifically to see the 501st Legion and weren’t at all shy about telling us how awesome we are, telling us how attending the Dragon*Con parade has become a family tradition, punctuated by the many children along the parade route watching while wearing their favorite Halloween costume. Even the local and national news outlets (CNN in particular) covered the parade. One moment that stuck out? Hearing a little girl on the sidelines exclaim “now this is a parade!†as we passed. Following the parade and panels (and some time to de-armor, get in a shower, some food, and even a short nap), came the 501st Mixer. It was great seeing old friends and making new friends in a relaxing environment, where we could kick back, swap stories, and raise our glasses. After the mixer – you guessed it: drinking, taking photos, people-watching, and hanging out. On Saturday night, the more risqué costumes are in full effect, with bustieres, fishnet stockings, and corsets being the preferred evening wear for the ladies. Definitely not a suitable environment for young children, but no complaints here. Camera ready – check!
Sunday, 4 Sept (Day 3):
A morning shift at the fan table (ugh – someone pass the coffee and aspirin), followed by some time browsing the dealer rooms (can you say “buy stuffâ€? I knew you could) and art rooms, and what would be the high point of the day – a Q&A panel with Carrie Fisher. For those of you who have never seen her being interviewed when the LFL censors aren’t around or didn’t catch her “Wishful Drinking†autobiographical one-woman show, the lady doesn’t mix words. Ten minutes into the panel, she had already dropped the s*** bomb twice, the f*** bomb at least that many times, commented on which fandoms were bad in bed and/or suffered from erectile dysfunction, and shared her thoughts on celebrity lapdancing. Throw in an on-the-lips kiss she shared with a random female fan, her experiences on trading choice four-letter words with George Lucas during filming, and some interesting stories on the hazards of wardrobe malfunctions while wearing skimpy gold metal bikinis (!!!) and the hour-long panel was over before I knew it. Despite the 1.5 hour wait to get in and see the panel, I would do it again in a heartbeat. After the panel and some dinner, time to armor up, hit the fan table for some guard duty (read – fan photo ops), and patrol the con, keeping the peace for the good of the Empire (read – more fan photo ops). One thing that struck me is what the FISD detachment leader referred to as the “stormtrooper affectâ€. What’s that? Simple, stormtroopers are most impressive when in numbers. One stormtrooper = “hey, that’s interestingâ€. Two stormtroopers = “that’s worth a quick photo or twoâ€. Three stormtroopers = “can I get a photo of you guys arresting me?†A squad of four or more stormtroopers = Paparazzi City. Under those circumstances, a good handler and helmet lenses made of dark green welders shield are your best allies. Fortunately, there were other stormtroopers on duty besides myself, and we were able to successfully complete our mission that night, much to the delight and appreciation of the Imperial citizenry.
Monday, 5 Sept (Day 4):
Time to pack up, checkout, and hit the road for the 12-hour drive home. Although the con isn’t officially over until around 4pm today, somehow I don’t think my boss is going to accept the next morning “I was attending a pop-culture convention hundreds of miles away over the weekend while dressed as a Star Wars stormtrooper, and I’m pretty tired†as an excuse for curling up under my desk and sleeping the work day away. So time to get home, start some laundry, eat a late dinner, and get some real sleep. Goodbye to my weekend escape, hello to my weekday reality. Until this time next year, that is.
"Trooper Tim" was present and had his "Helmet Cam" in full effect for the Parade. To check out a real Trooper's point of view from the Parade, visit the following link:
Thanks Tim for this awesome footage!
With Unquestioned Loyalty,
Brian Robinson
TK-2918 "tkrestonva"
FISD Provost Marshall
Congrats to "Rick330!"
A forum regular and all-around nice guy, Rich is always willing to help out when needed. No stranger to Armor builds (Rick has built 2 beautiful Troopermaster kits for himself and an AP kit for his partner) Rich needed an ROTJ kit to round out his ANH and ESB suits. Rich invested in the go-to kit for ROTJ and got himself a very nice CFO kit. However, instead of going the traditional "Weathered Endor" look, he went a different route and is emulating an ROTJ "Deathstar" Trooper.
For Rick's amazing build thread visit here: http://forum.whitear...l=&fromsearch=1
Congrats Rich!!
Star Wars Blu Ray Release event
Thanks to "SW1" for sharing these great pics of the UKG at celebrating the Star Wars Complete Saga release on Blu Ray!
For the complete thread which includes other UKG troops this summer, visit here: http://forum.whitear...showtopic=16789
Swag Alert! - Trading Cards and 12" Patches!
With all the excitement in trading cards throughout the legion we are happy to be a part of that by offering our very own FISD trading cards. As an ongoing run of cards you can get your own FISD card anytime you want. We offer them in quantities of 1000, 2500 or even 5000 with the ability to get 10,000 cards is you so desired. You can even order more if you run out. They are great to give out and the kids love them.
You can see the whole collection so far here http://traynichols.c...sd/tradingcards. Come visit us and sign up for your card today. Don't miss out on all the fun. Be a part of the 501st Legion and the First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment history. Get your cards today.
And from Albin:
As Albin was doing maintenance on the 501st archives he noticed there are a lot of FISD cards we're missing. Remember that you must send a set to Albin as part of the trading card process. Darth Vader *is* watching, and you don't want to make him displeased.
12" Patch artwork has been approved and we're getting quotes now. Look for the sale thread to come in the next few weeeks.
Hi All,
For the very first time, Star Wars will be coming out on Blu-ray.
On September 2nd I had the opportunity to get a sneak, full viewing of all 6 Star Wars movies on Blu-ray. Yes, I am disappointed that George Lucas has once again tweaked the beloved Saga. The major thing that has gotten news media attention and every Stars Wars fan in an uproar is the extra Darth Vader dialogue at the climatic scene of "Return of The Jedi". Not only did that have me upset, it was un-necessary to say the least.
Here are some of the highlight tweaks that you can look froward to seeing: "The Phantom Menace" Yoda puppet is now changed to a CG version, the Ewoks eyes now blink, the new thawing of Han Solo, the now 3 stadiums long front door of Jabba's palace, the added rocks that R2 hides behind in "A New Hope", a quicker pace of the showdown between Han and Greedo, (I guess they did this so you don't have time to think about being angry that they changed it from the original, where Han is and was the only one to shoot at the table). But, one of the worst mistakes is the re-re-revision of Old Ben's Krayt Dragon howl in "A New Hope". This will be the second time that they have tweaked Ben spooking the Tusken Raiders. LFL tweaked/changed it for the '97 Special Edition, but they have changed it once again and this time they have gone too far. Ben's howl no longer has a menacing sound but is now what I would compare to a guy hollering at a wet tee shirt contest "WOOoooOO Hotties!!" I guess old Ben was at the Cantina having himself a couple of Guinness beers and was coming back when he saw the Tusken Raiders.
I could keep going on and telling you about all the things that I saw that were un-necessary changes, but I know most of you will be purchasing it on the 16th.
However, here are some of the good points to buying "The Complete Saga" box set. All six movies are in outstanding high definition - I could literally count the pores in Luke Skywalker's face. Plus, all the archived and rarities that will be in the bonus material. One of the major things for the 501st members is that there is a documentary call "Star Warriors". This documentary is about the 501st Legion and their journey to march in the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade.
Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures, the 501st members become the action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
Not only the founder of the 501st Legion, Albin Johnson, and over 200 Legion members from around the globe are in the feature, but our own Detachment Leader / Founder Paul Hoeffer TK8020 (Daetrin) is in it as well...
This documentary is only included in the Star Wars "The Complete Saga" Blu-ray box set on the ninth disc. "Star Warriors" has a run time of 84 minutes.
Even though there are a lot of good things taken away and a lot of un-necessary things added to the "beloved Saga", there are things to look forward to on September 16th. So, if you have a very bad feeling about this, and were going to say "NO.... NOOOOO!" to picking up your copy of the Star Wars "The Complete Saga" Blu-ray box set, just remember that you never know, you might see yourself or your Garrison mate in the "Star Warriors" documentary.
With Unquestioned Loyalty.
Tom Gardner
TK5940 "RogueTrooper"
Tactical Officer
Ask what you can do for the FISD!
Got info? ideas? or even a theory that you think might advance the quality of Stormtrooper costuming?
Don't be afraid to post your opinion or ideas!!!
I would urge all members to take a look at this shining example of what teamwork and open discussion can accomplish!
Take a look at this new thread: The Best Sterling Templates EVER!
This may seem like a insignificant endeavor to some, but for those who strive for accuracy this is a HUGE leap forward in costuming excellency! I would ask that anyone who has the ability to contribute to this project step up and give whatever help they can to achieve the ultimate goal of creating the BEST E-11 blaster templates in the known galaxy
Don't Forget We're on Facebook and Twitter!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitearmor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@FISD501st
With unquestioned loyalty,
Matt MacNeil
TK-4887 "Shooter"
Public Relations Officer
On behalf of the First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment Command Staff.
End Transmission.
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