iconoclasta_88

Here is an idea... Why not search the forum and dig out a thread where, if I remember correctly, blue prints for accurate holsters were posted. Then use them to modify your holster. Maybe try this before going out for a new one. Chances are you will be able to do it without having to buy a new one. It is not that difficult. Other mods about fitting, have a solution... just understand what needs to be done, and find a way to do it. Good luck. Saludos

Hey bro... How are you? Just a little thing I would like to explain to you, with the best intention... GML in pretty much all garrisons have very different standards when accepting costumes for clearance. Some are known to be extra demanding, and therefore have a very good reputation regarding accuracy and portrayal in all their costumes, as the UKG. Some have very specific rules and habits, as the Japanese Garrison, and more than less are a bit inconsistent. That is one of the main reasons Detachments were created. To set a standard and a higher bar for costume building and portrayal. Then comes the CRL. Yes, those are the main requirements accepted by the Legion, and if you meet them, you will be accepted for sure. But in the opinion of many troopers, mainly members of the detachments boards, the CRL are either too vague or too low. or both. I am sure you may be clear for L1 on Legion standards based on the CRL. Specially coming from the same Garrison, I know that your armor is way better than 95% of the Mexican Garrisons TKs. So you should have no problem... Thing is that coming here, you are now in a brotherhood of troopers that not only love TK armor and SW, but also always try to go one step further, and then anther... with research, development, building, detailing and much more, this community always strives for accuracy beyond 501st general reach or aim. Listen to this guys, they know their stuff and they mean well. We all know things like this can be frustrating, and also expensive... and slow. But then you should ask yourself wich path you want to take... do you want to go the uber accurate way, no matter how expensive of how long does it take? Do you want to go the FISD way, meaning trying to achieve EIB and Centurion badges, with all it requires? Do you want to go the 501st general way, meaning being cleared with the basic CRL standard, even using it in your favor??? Choices to be taken. None is wrong, there is room for all. You dont need to change stuff right awat, patience is a big thing we need in this hobby, but if you aim for accuracy over membership, then you will eventually need to change some stuff. There are many in between "levels" or "styles" you can aim for regarding armor and prop building... But it must be clear that the higher you aim for, the longer it will take and the more difficult it will become. Talking in context fo the Mexican Garrison, that is why even if I try to help as many troopers as possible to get where they want to be, I dont share the generalized attitude of buying whatever is in hand, or whatever is good out of the box. We have talked about this before... I know you got what it takes... Dont take the suggestions made here the wrong way. I know you wont. Just focus and decide what you want to do, and what you want to achieve. If you want to get the Centurion Badge, you will need a new holster and make some mods to your build. CRL is good to set a standard and guidelines. You will see that members here and over the MEPD trying to get L3 will pretty much always go beyond those guidelines, just cause thats the way we are! Good luck bro! Let me know if I can be of any help... BTW, I want to give you some very specific suggestions on your armor now that I have seen you fully wearing it. But maybe just see of anyone elses has something to say that will help, and then, lets starts working. Saludos. Juan

Hey bro, If you need to take apart any part to reshape or make it fit, you can use "Glyco", which is a light solvent for sale at art stores like Lumen. That will melt e6000 but not the plastic. Hope it helps. Saludos.

Looking good bro! Happy to help... Now, lets hear the real experts and their input. For what I can see, once you are done with the Thermal Detonator you should be fine to be cleared for 501st and EIB too. Saludos.

Nice. Will have ro consider this for a future Sandtrooper build. Saludos.

What about finding him in foursquare, find out his location and... give him an Imperial Visit. Saludos.

Maybe it is looks not function... Or maybe, it is not an option for everyone, and whoever wants to achieve it, needs to meet the requirements. Don't know. But, Yeah, I understand your questions. But at the end, it could be a badge, not a level. Like a car elegance contest... you can win a blue ribbon with a classic Jaguar, a Mercedez-Benz or whatever car, but you need to get all the original parts and make it work and bring them to perfect shape. Not for everyone, no. But yet it exists. Don't know, don't want to think of it like an elitist program, but, in the best intention, it is. Just food for thought. Saludos.

I don't really know what other people think but... I, as a member of the 501st, would like to have a replica award. I mean, once I get EIB and Centurion, I would like to go further. I am building a replica Stormtrooper armor, and my plan is to go over the centurion standard. I will be very happy to achieve both FISD badges, but I know they are easier to get than I plan to go. For me, and I don't mean to compare, but the Centurion is somewhere in bewteen EIB and Deployed Officer status, and SWAT. EIB and Deployed being the very basic level of accuracy, and SWAT going a bit further than Centurion in looks. But I also consider Centurion goes a bit further than SWAT in terms of build, not in replicating looks anyway. Cause it is just generalized even if specific in build terms. So, for me, having a Replica Bagde would be the thing to aim for, and would be over both Centurion and SWAT. That is what i intend to do with my latest build. But then, other forums have been created based on the über accuracy idea and the replicating style I am talking about. Forums like the LSD... with a limited success anyway. But why not incorporate that spirit that pushed the founders of the FSD to create it and incorporate it to the FISD? Why exclude when we can include... and by including this kind of push, we would be encouraging the community to go further with their builds, and... ins't that the whole purpose of the Detachments? Just my thoughts anyway. Saludos

Thx for the heads up. If he does post, i guess he will, we will be ready to apply the rules. No false claims will be welcome. Saludos.

Man, this is weird... This guy is crazy. Ill be on the look out over the MEPD. Hope he doesnt show over there, he doesn't want to mess with a Sandtrooper brotherhood. Saludos.

I think the levels of the different CRL and the accuracy badges are easily misunderstood. But that is due to the fact that the badges or awards were made for members needs or ideas, not necesarily for the Legion needs. But anyway, we need to make them work. I am in favor of a replica badge or award, can see it happen for non 501st members too. It is quiet something making it work, not to mention achieving it, but yes, I think the FISD needs something like that soon. Saludos.

Sí clme and visit us then bro. Saludos.

Very interesting. If you have any new info or references, that would be very cool to see. Ill be patiently waiting for a set of those TD handguards... Saludos

Does that mean I am going to need two sets? 1 for my Sandtrooper and 1 for my ANH Stormtrooper? Interesting. Saludos

Those look awesome Karin. Im in for one set. Let me know the details... Saludos.

Of course. Actually the topic started about the same time here and there. I'll post some more directed comments over ther and link both threads to each other. Just in case anyone wants to follow the whole conversation. Saludos. PS. If anyone else wants to dirty up their armor, jut let us know. Just saying. lol.

Terry developed one of the two most popular techniques over the MEPD. The other one being the single pigment by sir dave. Trust me when I say he knows his weathering! And it is awesome. I will post some references from behind the scenes and will try to find something about your specific trooper to replicate. Maybe we get lucky even if it is not the most popular one. But allow me to go back to my comp on Monday. And, hope you guys don't mind that I do that over the MEPD, Sandtrooper topic after all. Saludos.

Hey. I am on my phone and am too lazy to read all on the small screen and images are not loading. But since it is TD you are talking about and my armor (my name) was mentioned, I'll come back tomorrow from my computer and try to give my opinion too. Have an RS bucket and a Gino that are very thin. Thinner than my 1.5mm TM. But both have great details. No big deal if you are careful. Will post more tomorrow. Saludos.

If finished correctly, I dont see why not. But for 200 plus shipping you could get a better pulled kit. Saludos.

Time to update my reading on the chapter and such, I guess. Anyway, what I wanted to make clear is that if anybody is willing to go all the way to create their own armor, is not different at all to anyone designing their own pattern, cutting and sewing their own jawa robe. I never even talked about the members that are selling anything. I once tried to make my own hand plates out of plaster and hot glue. Results were not aweful but not great. I used them for a while, just cause I believed what someone told me, and I think I remember that someone was you Paul... They are cool cause you made them, and that is a lot more than most can say about their stuff. I do think that as a club, we should encourage members to develop their skills and try harder to make better suits. Not only telling them who is it cool to buy from and who is not. Thx Vern, Paul and everyone for an interesting chat. Saludos. Juan.

Vern, I understand and know everything you said. And actually agree with it. Just be very careful when you say something in name of the Legion 501st. The FISD is part of the legion, but it is not the legion. Even staff members officially are only regular members except for the DL and XO. The rest of the staff, including the DO in all detachments are official only for the detachment. Not for the legion. So even if the command staff of a detachment or garrison make a decision regarding anything, unless vetted by the legion counsel, it is only official for such chapter and not for the entire legion. That regarding the vetted makers thing. Now, don't take me wrong. I only wanted to make it clear that what you stated as official rule of the legion, well, it is not. About the recasting and selling stuff, I never, if you read again, said that someone should make new armor and sell it. Nothing wrong with it by the way. But I never said it. Not to mention that I never have encouraged anyone to recast armor Here or anywhere. Again, I agree with almost all you said. Just dot want to confuse new members with I existing rules. FISD habits and own ruling, that's different. Don't mean to start a discussion here. So stay cool bro. Saludos.

Hey bro. Welcome! Just wanted to say some stuff that has not been said. The fact that the legion needs to approve a make of armor for you to join or that they won't approve recasting, that is not true! If you get to build a fairly accurate looking armor that you can troop in made of papier mâché, abs or metal, is up to you and you will be approved. You don't need to buy from any specific vendor or maker to join. You can make your own mould anytime and make armor for your own or for selling. The legion has no say or stand on that. That is a fact. The legion is not just about getting the most accurate armor possible nor is it about saving money. It is about getting professional looking costumes representing the bad guys on the saga, having fun, trooping, making charitable work and over all, celebrating SW. In the other hand, yes, it is frown upon the community, specially among the detachments to recast or not be super accurate. Some members will even get very aggressive over the subjects of recasting. That is not what I or anyone here would recommend. Recasting is not good. But the legion has no official saying or stand on that. Having said that, if you want to build your own moulds and try to make your own armor, and you have the skills, time and resources, go on!! If you rather buy a kit, there are more than a few options that will give you a great starting point to build an armor. If you decide to get a kit? Or if you decide to make your own armor, then two different discussions and processes will need to be started. Hope that helps. Saludos. Juan

Thx a lot for all your comments and encouragement. It does mean a lot. This is not over yet. Just need to find some time to keep working on it. About heights, I am 1.78 m tall. That is roughly 5'10". Saludos.

Thx for your kind comments!!! Here is a picture of my first test run with the RS bucket. What do you think? Saludos.

Well, I am happy to see the result of this thread But if still looking for opinions... I think you should do what you feel like. As opposed to many members here, I dont think going Sandtrooper is a matter of trying out Stormtrooper armor and then converting. I know I went that way, but only after a few years in TD armor, I realized that I always have been a Sandtrooper. Cause it is not about the pauldron or the bfg. If it was that, there would be more HWTs in the Legion... It is not about the weathering, cause most armors and costumes in SW are weathered, from TBs, to TS, to BH and Tuskens... Becoming a Sandtrooper (specially a MEPD Sandtrooper) is a big big thing. We consider ourselves to be real Sandtroopers, not just troopers (no ofence intended to anyone). We consider ourselves to be part of a close brotherhood, a secret group, a gang of bad a***s. And a happy bunch of friends. Why? Just because it is really difficult to get spot on Sandtrooper armor, but we all stand next to every other guy to help them get there. . Being a Stromtrooper is the most iconic character and image across the galaxy. And most of us love it too. I am actually just building a TK armor as we "speak". But being a Sandtrooper is something else. Lots of guys you will find with both armors, but chances are that if they built an accurate Sandtrooper armor, that guy will claim to be a sandtrooper... There is a sense of achievement that makes us feel really attached to our armor and character. yes, it sounds weird and cant be really explained here, specially in a forum dedicated to all kind of stormtroopers but the Sandtrooper. But that is no coincidence either... And just to mention it, actually the FISD came after the MEPD. And yes, a big many Sandtroopers come from here, but also, there are many more that went directly into Sandy armor! So... to finish the commercial... hehehhe... Welcome to the dirty side... You will enjoy it for sure. And if I may say so, do not leave the FISD either. Lots of great guys and great info here that need to be made part of your 501st and trooping experience! Man, we both rock, each on our own style and way! Saludos. Juan