TK-77217 – From Academy to the Front Lines – Director's Cut

[Schmetterhemd[TK]]

After more than 10 years of dreaming I decided to start my journey to become an imperial Stormtrooper by end of December 2016 to celebrate Star Wars’ and my 40^th anniversary

After a short dispute with my uncle I left his moisture farm and registered at the imperial academy of the FISD on Carida early in January.

During my first steps towards the topic I was happy to find the great forum of the academy with its kind and helpful community. I started my research to find out which armour would be the best for me and could fulfill my requirements of getting a screen accurate looking Centurion Stormtrooper who just left the academy (clean and shiny ). At the end I had to make a decision between RS and TM. I decided to go with TM because I don’t like the bubbles on the RS helmet on the one hand and I like the original/organic look of TM’s armour and its overall appearance on the other hand.

So master armourer Troopermaster got my order early in February 2017 after one month of very intensive research. Because I did not dare myself to assemble belt and helmet and paint it, I ordered Troopermaster to do this for me. I also decided to go with the snap strapping system because it is a bit handier than the original brackets. Yes I know, it is not screen accurate at the end, but my requirement was to build a stormtrooper which has a screen accurate appearance while taking the advantages of the allowed building methods

While waiting for BBB-Day I forced the local imperial research department to focus on how to build the armour and what common mistakes I should and could avoid during the build. I also gathered the necessary materials and tools as well as the needed accessories like boots, neck seal, under suit and blaster. I also cleaned up my garage, the weapon test area and the workbench and installed a holonet interface (some call it laptop) to have an easy access to the imperial archives and its huge database of blueprints and holo-vids for answering upcoming questions during my work. This special developed interface was also capable of receiving audio transmissions from the imperial propaganda department, so I could listen to the latest news from all over the galaxy while working on the holy duraplast parts. From now on the garage was called “imperial armoury” whereas my wife called me just crazy, although she was the one who encouraged me to spend so much money for some pieces of plastic But anyway, when BBB-Day would come I will be prepared.

However, some days of waiting were to go, so I had time to practice my patience. An easy thing for a Jedi, I guess, but for a simple Stormtrooper having an itch to jump in his armour and maintain peace and justice in the galaxy that is very very difficult

But finally end of May the BBB arrived from UK. Full of beans and quite confident of having gathered enough knowledge I started right away, always one eye on the holonet, the helpful build threads and the requirements for Centurion (my final target). During my build I faced three major time-killing issues regarding the forearm fitting, the torso strapping and the ammo belt assembly. But at the end I could solve all problems thanks to Troopermaster‘s helpful advice. End of August, after three month of blood, sweat and tears, I finally managed to complete a wonderful piece of art. I prepared for the final test immediately, the approval to become an imperial Stormtrooper

 

         

 

 

Only three days after TK-61276 aka T-Jay and I took the photos for 501^st approval I got my own TK-ID. The imperial army command assigned me to the White Shadows Squad of the German Garrison. So, now I can call myself imperial Stormtrooper and member of “Vader’s Fist”, the 501^st Legion. Great feeling and I am looking forward to my first mission on the front lines.

Although my main mission objective was not completed with being a Stormtrooper and member of the 501^st, a secondary objective, not less important, had to be accomplished to call the entire mission a full success. I wanted to become a Centurion of the Legion, so some more steps were still to go. But with attention to the Centurion requirements during my build I was confident to achieve this target too.

 

 

Additional Director’s Cut content starts here

 

With being assigned a unique TK-ID end of August, I got march orders from the imperial army command immediately. My squad should protect and secure an imperial recruiting event at the city archives (public library) of the neutral city of Bergheim at begin of November which would include patrolling the building environment also. Because the imperial reconnaissance unit reported hostile surroundings and a small possibility of rebel activities at the operation area, mission command ordered our squad to prepare for the upcoming mission carefully.

So, in the meantime I enhanced the wearability of my armour to have better movability during combat, improved the filter system and the optical system of the helmet and corrected some minor issues regarding the armour part positions to improve the overall appearance. My intention was to show the galactic public how precise imperial Stormtrooper could look like and that is an honor to serve the Emperor by maintain peace and justice throughout the galaxy

Confident to be well prepared I, fully armed, took part in my first ground mission at the front lines. With eight other fearless members of the White Shadows Squad of the 501^st Legion, including my brother in arms T-Jay aka TK-61276, the deployed fire team accomplished the mission objective without any incident and no casualties.

 

         

 

 

Thanks to this epic success the imperial command on Coruscant will welcome some new recruits in the future definitely.

Encouraged by passing my baptism of fire successfully, I decided to go for my personal mission objective, becoming a Centurion of the Stormtrooper Corps at last. After my fellow war photographer and weapon specialist T-Jay had taken the required photos I prepared for the next step towards this target immediately. Only two days after requesting level 2 approval at the imperial army command I was promoted to the rank of Expert Infantry and got my badge on 21. November 2017 from Deployment Officer Tony, TK-10116.

Reaching the second level without any complaint made me proud on the one hand and nervous on the other hand. Only one step was left to end a long journey and, after more than 10 years, let my dream come true. Excited and with my heart beating I prepared my request for third level approval right away.

After 7 days of nail-biting suspense I was promoted to the rank of Centurion on 28. November 2017 by 501^st Deployment Officer Tony, TK-10116. Being surprised positively, I reached this final target without no complaints again. According to some rumors, even Lord Vader himself was pleased with my work. That’s some kind of honor I never had expected. “Someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the Battle of Taanab, äähm I mean my first Mission at Bergheim.”

 

 

Ok, what I want to say is, the hard work at the imperial research department and the imperial armoury payed out in a way which makes me very proud at the end. Finally, with being allowed to call myself Centurion of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps, Member of “Vader’s Fist”, the 501^st Legion, my personal mission is a full success. I am very pleased of reaching this target within a short year after starting that mission in December 2016 and within a very special year also, the 40^th anniversary of Star Wars and myself.

It’s a great honor to be part of this great community, connected by one of the greatest hobbies in the world.

 

Additional Director’s Cut content ends here

 

 

At last I want to thank some people, who helped me throughout this mission. Without their help it would have been much more difficult.

First of all I have to thank my wife who tolerated my absence at several evenings during my armour build. She encouraged me to let a dream come true and furthermore helped me out when more than two hands were needed. So at the end it took three month of building only, what I never had expected when I started the project end of May.

Second I want to thank Troopermaster of course, for providing me this wonderful piece of plastic and particularly for all his helpful advice during my build and his patience while answering my many many questions before and after BBB-Day.

Third I have to thank T-Jay who gave me great support by building a very detailed and unique E-11, using his completion set. He also made his TM armour available for me to take it as a reference which helped me out a lot. I am pleased that he was part of my first troop, we together could maintain peace and justice in the galaxy and made children, big and small ones, smile

I also have to thank JustJoseph63 and Darman for their stuff and the very fast delivery. Great job guys.

Last but not least I have to thank you all, the community, for this forum with its depth of information which helped me to start my journey and stay on target. Great to be part of it.  Thank you.

TK-77to17 salutes you   

Edited November 30, 2017 by Schmetterhemd

[T-Jay[TK]]

Hi Patrick, glad to finally see you joining with this wonderful armor. You really went the extra mile on this build and it was totally worth it. Hoping that blaster can keep up with the rest of your build. Great introduction text as well. Looking forward to your EIB and Centurion submissions and our first troop together.

[Shanester[TK]]

That was a great read.  Welcome aboard trooper.  Outstanding work. 

[Novak Dimon[TK]]

Thank you for sharing your story with us. It was great fun to read it! 

Great job!

[Schmetterhemd[TK]]

Thanks for  the kind words, guys.

 

I am also pleased that you had fun while reading my short story, it was fun to write it too

[starsaber25[Admin]]

Congrats Patrick and welcome to the battlefield!

[msouza[TK]]

OK now that was an EPIC introduction! Welcome aboard trooper! 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Congratulations and welcome to the ranks trooper

[Daetrin[Admin]]

At least you made it - great job!  My first armor was out of the box FX and it looked it.  What matters is the journey and having a good time with it.

[Tolo[TK]]

Welcome to the ranks


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[Schmetterhemd[TK]]

Hi all

 

after reaching my personal mission objective, becoming a Centurion, I added some new content to my introduction story

 

For those of you who don't want to read the whole story again, I marked the new "Director's Cut" content.

 

For all others, enjoy reading the fully finished story line of "From Acadamy to the Front Lines - Another Star Wars Story - Director's Cut".

Feedback appreciated

[Harbinger[IPM]]

Great post and congratulations on reaching your goals! I'm following a similar path, making some tweaks to my TK after a couple of troops, as well as some small accuracy updates, for my own EI/Centurion applications.

[ukswrath[Staff]]

Awesome read, glad to have you in the FISD family. Congrats again