Do you remember?

[bluehickey]

Thought it would be fun if we all shared the first time we saw someone dressed up in white armor, also feel free to elaborate on the effect it had on you. I'll go first...

 

I believe the first time I saw people trooping in armor was at the 2004 Comic-Con in San Diego, but I only saw them from a distance. About 2 years ago the wife and I took our kids to see the "Star Wars One Man Show" and waiting in the lobby were various Star Wars costumed characters. I remember seeing them through the windows as we approached from the outside. I kept telling my sons "Look, look! There's a Stormtrooper! Do you see him?" I was so excited. Vader was pretty impressive as well. My kids were a little apprehensive about getting close to the characters. I got close to the stormtrooper, but was so utterly in awe that I was too nervous to even strike up a conversation with him! I have wanted white armor for many years now, but after seeing that TK up close, I knew that if I were ever to get the costume, I would have to troop in it, and not just bring it out once a year for Halloween. Currently I've only got bits and pieces of my full costume and it will be a while before I get the money to finish it off, but I am totally excited.

I think once I am trooping in my armor that I will always keep that memory of myself being intimidated and in awe in my mind whenever I approach someone. Just because they may not talk to you and don't hang around for long, doesn't mean that you haven't left a lasting impression on them.

[Daetrin[Admin]]

For me it was looking in the mirror for the first time in armor. I had never seen a person in TK armor in person before myself.

[V'Pier[501st]]

I think the first time I saw armor was back in the states at a convention called "Shoreleave", It was Shoreleave 98 where I saw a couple of fellows walking around in TK gear and wearing officers caps kicking back at the Hotel's bar having some drinks.

 

I was very impressed with their gear and the fact they wore their imperial caps, it just gave them some authenticity even when they weren't wearing their buckets (which happened to be on the table nearby).

 

Heck, I even have a photo of these fellows. I wonder if they're 501st these days and if so, CAN THE REAL SLIM SHADY PLEASE STAND UP.

 

I'm standing in the middle, my friend is on my right, and another friend Stacy Meyn (who's also 501st) is to my left. There is another TK elsewhere at the convention, but for this photo, only one is shown. I'm sure you folks will have a million things to say about the possible source/make of this armor.

 

Some will ask what I'm wearing, if you don't know, I'm not gonna volunteer information regarding it, but the Imperial folks in the photo said we looked like we could have been Imperial Surgeons hehe.

[Torisempai]

eh not to sure which year i believe was Anime Expo 2004 or 2005 there were three stormtroopers hanging about and well =) they were cool just lounging about and well thats where it started my fascination of armored costomes. Hopefully i can finish moding Most of my TX in time for 2009 o.o so if those same stormtroopers are there XD i hope to be an addition

[bluehickey]

For me it was looking in the mirror for the first time in armor. I had never seen a person in TK armor in person before myself.

 

Really???? Holy Cow!

[TKDUEUNO]

For me it was looking in the mirror for the first time in armor. I had never seen a person in TK armor in person before myself.

 

Well, me too... but it was awesome nontheless

 

But it's not the same as looking at another person in white armor. The past sunday I took part in my first troop, and standing in front of my first live Sandtrooper was really something special!

[Murray1134[501st]]

I had seen pictures online for years of 501st members and people in TK armor. But, the very first time I ever saw one in person was at a local con called Shevacon here in VA in early 2007. Follow that up with Celebration IV a few months later and I was jealous of all the people in armor having so much fun. One more go around at the local Shevacon in early 2008 and I knew I had to take the plunge.

 

Of course part of the TK mystique was ruined at the con because there was a armor panel which involved a member stripping out of his armor to show how the pieces fit together.

[Runnriottt]

I am about to show my age... LOL.

 

At our mall in Danville Illinois, circa 1982. My Dad was a huge fan of the first flick, and when the mall hosted the tour we had to go.

 

I was 5. I can not remember if it was an ESB tour or a ROTJ pretour, but we went. There was a hall way in the mall that is to this day solid white. That is where Vader and 2 TKs came out to the Imperial march. They did a recorded speech in Earl Jones voice and signed autographs.

 

Just about every one of my friends remembers that. None of us had met yet, we were 5. lol.

 

That was the day I decided I would be a Stormtrooper when I grew up. Now I am and Vader to boot. I love giving that feeling to kids here in Japan. The same awe struck face I am sure I made in 82.

 

Mom has pics somewhere. Damn I have been digging for a long time. Sh cant remember where she put em.

[tkrestonva[TK]]

The first time I saw a stormtrooper in person was at a summer family trip to Walt Disney World in 2007. It wasn't during one of the Star Wars Weekends, it was just a random day in August. I saw a TK standing guard at the Star Wars Exhibit. I was completely captivated, it was all I could do to not gush over him like some school girl crush. I'd wanted a set of TK armor for years, but seeing that sealed the deal, and thus began my journey.

[TD2802[501st]]

I saw a TK suit on tour in Tokyo in '78 when I was about 13 (yeah, I'm a fossil!) when the film was being promoted in Japan. Hard to get a good look because of the crowds but was really impressed. Too bad I didn't have a camera at the time.

[TKCaleb]

The first time I've seen anyone dressed up as a TK was back when I was a kid. I believe it was either 97 or 98. I went to Mt.Trashmore here in Va beach and there was a 2 or 3 stormtroopers and someone dressed as Darth Vader, all I can say is that I was bugging out. I was 8 years old at the time and i was crazy about star wars, especially after seeing the special edition in theaters. It was a very cool experience.

[rapstertee]

I'm another 'fossil!' - I saw my first TK in London, outside a cinema around 1978.

 

It was on a mannequin, so me and my friends all had the oppurtunity to see it in detail. I remember seeing thin green gels in the eyes, and was surprised to see that the tube stripes were just a strip of white paper with blue curves on it, not cut vents as I thought they'd be. The trooper had black rubber gloves and from what I remember, the armour was beginning to yellow.

 

It was only 2007 before I saw the next one - when I invited Leigh and Julian from the UKG to my book launch party. They thought I was pretty strange, asking, "er...do you mind if I touch your armour? It's been a while!!"

[Trooperman]

The first time i saw TK armour up close was at a star wars convention in Basildon about 12 to 13 years ago with Dave Prowse ,Jeremy Bulloch, Kenny Baker, Don Henderson and and some crazy guy in the audience claiming the FORCE was real .I remember staring at the armour and helmet thinking how can i get one of those ,here i am all these years later im on my 2nd armour build and belong to the UK Garrison and FISD websight ,what an honour

[troopermaster]

The first time I saw a real stormtrooper was at the Kellogs Power of the Myth exhibition held at Wembly in 1999. There was two troopers wearing LFL tour suits and I remember how awesome they looked, even though they kept on bumping into people I had already started on my trooper project when I saw them and I based my first set of moulds on the ROTJ because of how much I liked the troopers I saw at Wembly.

 

Later the next year, I visited the Magic of Myth exhibiton in London which had a real ROTJ stormtrooper on show which I took lots of photos of from all kinds of angles to help me with my sculpts. I can tell you I got some funny looks from the staff and from some of the visitors too. It's not every day you see someone laying on their back taking photos of a troopers cod piece

 

The next real trooper I saw was at an exhibiton in Sheffield. It was a moving images exhibition and only had one starwars related item, luckily for me it was a real ROTJ stormtrooper. Again, I took lots of photos and a couple can be seen on starwarshelmets.com.

[Tiepilot1138[TK]]

My first time was at a John Williams concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in the fall of 2007. There were TK's, TD's, rebels and Jedis. The second half of the concert was all Star Wars, and Vader came out to a stormtrooper escort. It was awesome. I had my picture taken with some TD's, and looked like a little kid at Christmas! I'd said since I was a kid that I'd have a TK suit (I always expected it would be on a mannequin). I never thought I'd get to wear it! I guess it was seeing other people suited up made me realize it was possible for me too. (I wonder if my wife regrets taking me to that concert now...)

[xxcombzxx]

Really???? Holy Cow!

 

Iv never seen somone in a suit before

[bluehickey]

Iv never seen somone in a suit before

 

Wow, you should look up your local garrison's website, find out the next event they are going to be at go take a peek!

[littledragon88[TK]]

The first time I saw people in armor must have been during the premiere showing of episode III in Oslo, Norway. I saw the movie at the cinema called "Colosseum", which is the world's biggest THX certified cinema, it was a blast! Seeing live stormtroopers was indeed a big part of the experience!

 

I've soon met many of the troopers I saw that night after joining 501st

[Rolf[501st]]

Mine was to episode 1, in 1999.

I saw a poster, where it says:

Meet Darth Vader, and he´s stormtroopers.

It was i a down town, DVD store.

I went there, and talk whit them.

I join 501st short after, whit my first suit.

And been a member, ever since.

 

I have have been a fan, since 1980.

Where my dad, took me in to see ESB.

 

Once a fan, all ways a fan.

 

Cheers

[oiftanker]

halloween 2008 gatlinburg tennessee. out on the strip near the big tower... he was walking with his family...

 

i wonder if he is on the forums

[Jumpin Jax]

I THINK it was in 2000. Sadly enough, that was after meeting TE so I have little or no excuse. I trooped a TRU X-mas toy drive. I got into my then ok-ish royal Guard armor made by someone else, then saw the others get suited up in their various suits of fx armor. It was pretty cool, even with the santa hats on the helmets

[Jello[501st]]

The first time I saw anyone in TK, it was at a book signing Troy Denning was participating in here a year ago last May (wow, time flies!). I just sat in the audience with my jaw in my lap staring at something like a dozen and a half TKs, TDs, TXs, and so on drooling and thinking to myself "I have got to get me one of these!!"

 

While waiting in line to get my book signed (the last one in the Legacy of the Force series, I spoke with what turned out to be the Squad Leader about appearances and just where I could find such a cool suit; I'll admit it, I felt like a kid at Christmas while I was. Two months later, I'd finished my TK, and then it was on to the next costume...

[ThayNerd[TK]]

I saw my first TK in person at a small local con in 2006. After that I contacted my local garrison got my armor started building and then joined up. The rest is history now.

[Random1156]

I haven't seen anyone in armor either...

 

But, that hasn't dampened my enthusiasm to get my armor together...hell, I've been talking about it for about five years.

 

Gotta love the internet...I know I wandered across something 501st, and said, "That's what I want to do!"

 

But, that's ok...I'll save my awe and jaw dropping under my helmet...

 

This is a great thread to read...

[bluehickey]

I think that there is something awe-inspiring about seeing someone in TK armor up close! Once you see the detail, high gloss etc, it's breathtaking.