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Troop for charity! First one with Ed, the Officer, who has since built a TK and ERG. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another unofficial troop, due to the evils of alcohol (oh, brother), but good fun at Star Wars trivia night. Some tough questions like how do you spell Kashyyyk?? Troop 21 at an end of the school year party. Needless to say, some of the kids needed a stern Stormtrooper to put them in their place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troops 19 and 20 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My first troop actually on May the Fourth. Detroit Tigers game and charity event at the zoo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good call, thank you

My first May the Fourth! Although this was actually on the third, since it was a weekend long event and we were swamped with other events on the fourth. And because of the horrific evils of alcohol, it’s not allowed to be an “official” troop due to ridiculous rules… because in the films, we can see violence up to the level of an entire planet being blown away, but the Force forbid we see a Stormtrooper at a bar. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rewarding event with some Rebel scum, my friend Scott. But, he does venture to the Dark Side as a Scout. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This was the first Con they tried at this school. Bad timing, up against Star Wars Celebration not far, far away from us in the Detroit area (Celebration was in Chicago that year, during this Con’s weekend). Then Covid cancelled the next one. I’ve since moved out of state, so not sure how they’ve gotten along since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My first two-a-day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troops 11 and 12 were pretty small, but they all count and all have meaning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troop 10. Shaving head for charity. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troop #9, very rewarding. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troops 7 and 8 were both shorter than the amount of time it took to don the armor! The adults seemed to enjoy them more than the kids, but hey … Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What a fun Con this was! I met fellow Michigander, Lydia Graber, credited in ROTJ as Lydia Green, the dark haired Ewok who stormed the Scout Walker with Chewie in the Battle of Endor. Also met Roscoe Orman of Sesame Street, with whom I regret I did not get a photo. He told me he was their second choice after Billy Dee as Lando. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First hospital visit! Not a children’s hospital, nor a lot of patients to visit, but the staff sure had fun. [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troop #4, my first Con… although, it was a bit different than the traditional Cons I discovered. I dubbed it MarijuanaCon, after the state of Michigan passed the legal smoking of recreational pot, the odor in the parking lot and by the doors made me wish our buckets had filters. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not much to troop #3, but it was was short and sweet with a free meal. I think the Scouts were more interested in getting their awards at the end of the dinner than with us. Can’t blame them for all the hard work they do, and Star Wars isn’t for everyone… but hey, nobody’s perfect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Troop #2 - I found a PowerPoint presentation I started to create back when I was a teacher, and was on a roll making these presentations! This was my first troop with other 501st members (remember, my first one was official, but no other 501st were present). What a great time! And this little girl was a bit scared of my at first, but I just stood with my hand out and let her come to me. What a great moment.

Troop #2 - I found a PowerPoint presentation I started to create back when I was a teacher, and was on a roll making these presentations! This was my first troop with other 501st members (remember, my first one was official, but no other 501st were present). What a great time! And this little girl was a bit scared of my at first, but I just stood with my hand out and let her come to me. What a great moment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! I started it - labeled TK-82611 Troop Log.

My first troop was technically not "official" since I did not post it for the rest of our garrison to be able to join (I began in the Great Lakes Garrison - Michigan, USA). It was a bell ringing event at a local Kroger for the Salvation Army on Christmas Eve, 2018. I'm including a photo of that, since it was my first time out in public in armor. I was on duty for 70 official troops in the Great Lakes Garrison, then I moved to Tennessee (USA), where I have logged 31 more official troops with the MidSouth Garrison. But, my real, first official troop was an event on January 19, 2019 in Grosse Point Park, MI. It was an annual winter event called Chilly Fest. Being not an atypical Michigan winter morning, there was about 10 inches of snow that I was in the middle of on my drive to the event. Being one of the only cars on the road - desperately wanting to finally don the armor at an official 501st event - I basically found a relatively not hazardous track in the snow and slush on I-696. I arrived safely, only to be the sole member of the 501st to attend. But, a member of the Mandos was there to assist me in my armor donning. It was a good time. After my photo at Kroger for the Sal bell ringing, the following is the only photo from my first official 501st event. The tiger is "Paws" - the official mascot of the Detroit Tigers. Troop Count: 1 official, 1 unofficial.

Awesome! Yes, I will be doing this for sure. Much appreciated

Greetings, fellow soldiers! My career in the vaunted Empire began in the Great Lakes (Michigan, USA) Garrison in November of 2018. Unfortunately, my first troop could not be considered "official," since I did not post it as an public troop on our forum, but it was a day well remembered (I will begin a troop log on here soon). It was not until January of 2019 that I did don the armor for the first time in an official 501st troop, and I went on to 70 total (official) tours of duty with the GLG in my all too short 24 months in that awesome garrison. Then came a major change in my life - moving to Tennessee at the age of 48. I quickly joined the MidSouth Garrison, and have gone on to 31 more (again, "official") troops. My 100th troop was on Feb. 4, 2023 at Star Wars Night for the Knoxville Ice Bears - a semi-pro hockey team. Pics to enjoy, and keep a look out for my total troop log forthcoming. MTFBWY! And Long Live the Empire!!

That makes sense. I want to use the same PVC because it has padding on the inside to make it fit snug over the support rod. But, the more I look at the whole thing, I could use duct tape just on the parts that you can't see through the barrel holes. I was worried it would look bad, but there are sections where there are no holes to see through the barrel where I can put the tape without it showing. Thanks!

Howdy. I purchased a 3D printed kit for a DLT-19. The wooden rod, which I am replacing with almuminum tubing, has a PVC tube that supposedly is to help support the barrel from the inside. However, the diameter of this tube is quite smaller than the diameter of the inside of the barrel, and it seems it will be useless as support from inside the barrel. Should I use some kind of other material to wrap around the PVC tube that will help it to support the barrel? I'm a novice builder, so any help is appreciated. Thanks!