Iain Hamilton (TD6598)

Thanks guys! Bit of a bummer really but not a total disaster just means this wee project is put on the back burner for a bit as I will go for a complete new TK/TD suit so once again get the best of both worlds. Btw- dunno what has happened with my settings but when I type any reply/question it just goes on and pressing "enter" to start a new line doesn't work for some annoying reason. No matter what I will get the TD started so Rick just make sure you have plenty of Move Along Packs and Jay don't forget to keep a black pauldron handy!

New lid it is then when I have the cash.

As the title says looking for info on whether a TM Hero lid will be acceptable to become a TD lid when I start in a couple of months?? Any info will be gratefully appreciated folks!

Thanks for that Juan. That sounds like an idea!

Hi Guys!Just a quick wee question if you have the time.Just about finally finished with the plumed Senate Guard helmet and once that is finally out of the way I plan on starting my second TD (still really regret selling the original Mc.Sandy).My question is "How vital for clearance are green lenses??". The reason being is that for some ridiculous and long winded reason I get a splitting headache looking through them so my last Sandy had the plain smoked lenses and seeing as it's been about 3yrs since my first TD I was wondering if the criteria for clearance was more strict.

Howdy Chris! The originals were made from horse hair and most people doing this lid have gone for the bristle route for more practical reasons such as the humidity in the States and in warmer climates is so much more higher than what we have in the UK and that humidity plays havoc will real hair but I wanted to go 100% horse hair mainly to satisfy myself that I could do it TBH. And for folk planning on trooping a lot with the double plumed helemt the bristle idea is a lot more durable as well but I reckon I would be looking at wearing this maybe twice or at most three times per year. I plan on using the lid as a display piece when not being worn. Also with the other costumes I have and would be wearing this lid would be kept for large troops and not the bread and butter ones we all do.

"Previously on Battlestar Galactica" I have always wanted to say that! Anyhoo!Just thought I would show the best **** troopers in the galaxy what I have been up to since I left the fold of the down and dirty! Awhile back I decided to do a Senate Guard costume and at this moment in time I am still the only one in the UK Garrison but I know of at least one member who is in the process of getting this costume together:- It is a very comfortable and cool costume to wear after years in armour and sweating under the robes of a Royal Guard. The only prob I ever had was wearing the boots for hours on end which does tend to make the feet throb a wee bit but I don't think English riding boots where ever designed for walking any great distances in. For practical reasons I went for the visored version as at the time it was the simpler to do and I had'nt a scooby as to how I could achieve the double plumes like these guys have:- The costume has always got a fantastic response from the public but the Holy Grail of Senate Guards has always been that double plumed helmet and a few months ago I decided to go for it and bought another helmet from the maker of my original and so subsequently this arrived on my doorstep one day:- I have been plugging away at it for the past few weeks and today it got it's initial undercoat to see what areas still need a bit of work. Going to need some work here and there but nothing that was'nt expected and nothing too drastic. I did find that the car body filler (and other brands) used most commonly in the UK did'nt quite cut it so I hit on the idea of using straight fiberglass resin (+ hardener) to fill in gaps and imperfections and it has worked a treat:- The final piece of the puzzle will be those plumes and thanks to a fellow Guard over on "Forcepike" I have taken delivery of 5lbs+ of horse hair from America:- Still got a long way to go yet but just thought I would show you folks what's been occupying me whilst I endured the world of the neat, tidy and disgustingly clean. Going to get this project out of the way first then it will be full steam ahead for the TD mk.II.

Thanks for the heads up mate! I did have another look at those leather pouches I liked and went off them TBH. Juts fancied a leather pair as my original ones where leather but I have looked at the canvas ones you mentioned and they seem the way to go these days!

Hi Marcus! It feels good to be back amongst the working troopers of the 501st and I have been away too long from these forums. The Senate Guard WIP over on the UKG forums is moi! Got a long way to go with it yet but I will get there. I actually did order one of "trooper1's" pauldrons back in the day before I sold my original Sandy but cancelled it as I no longer had the TD. I did still keep coming back to these forums just to see what was what with the best **** troopers in the galaxy! Will be a while yet before I start getting all the bits 'n' bobs needed but I do like those Pauldrons and Rick's pack does look better than awesome but methinks the shipping to the UK may be a bit too much (just assuming there) so may well go for the kit version but seriously conssidering the built one (wonder if I could persuade Santa to bring me one!).

Abso frackin ' lutely! Got a few things to finish off before getting started but already sourcing the parts I will need and have already seen a very nice set of leather ammo pouches on the bay of fleas which I quite fancy. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c27f0264d TBH the big prob will be the pack and I am torn between getting one ready to go or building it myself from parts bought (ie:- Rick what comes in your kit and do you possibly have a quote + shipping to the UK please). The build is a bit of a way off yet but it does'nt stop me "window shopping" in the meantime - going to need to save the pennies as well! My only 100% dead cert is that my pauldron will be black (just got to find one now). As much as I love my Royal Guard (has to be my favourite costume) and being the only Senate Guard (at the mo and just wait for the plumed helmet to be done!) I am already getting excited and looking to getting that TD designation again.

Sounds good - any info you can forward would be much appreciated. Priority at the mo is getting the plumed Senate Guard helmet finished but then it will be full speed ahead on TD mk.II.

That must have got your attention. Anyhoo!After a long, long absence from the world of the working trooper who likes to get down and dirty I'm back and I can't wait to get all mucky again. I sold my beloved original Sandy to a fellow UK Garrison member a couple of years back and it has had to be the biggest mistake I ever made as I had so much fun in that outfit and at the time I was "the" only TD in Scotland and loved it. But all was not lost!The sale of the TD allowed me to get the Royal Guard and subsequenlty the Senate Guard (only one in the UKG so far) so it was a sale that led to other things but I always wanted to go and do another Sandtrooer. Not quite starting from scratch this time as I have the BFG (a DLT-19 nicknamed 'Stumpy'), a crackin' TM1 suit of armour which is calling out to me to get all mucky. And somewhere I still have the original Woodland Scenic pigments I used (but probably better off getting new stock). As much as I love trooping as a TK I always wanted to go and get my TD designation again. So!After reading that Testors Dull Cote was newly formulated and was again legal in the UK my wee brain started to work overtime as that stuff finished off my original TD to perfection. Got the double plumed Senate Guard helmet to finish off before I get 100% into the TD but I am already sourcing parts and whatever else I need. I see some gorgeous backpacks for sale but methinks the shipping to the UK would be as much as the pack would cost but it is an option I will explore. Pauldron will be black as it's different and not many (can think of one other) over this side of the pond has one. Looking forward to joining the ranks once again folks as "Once a Dirty Boy!Always a Dirty Boy".

Looking to sell my Sandtrooper(not leaving the MEPD just yet as my SDS gear will be converted at some point in the future) as funds are needed and seeing as I've had no experience in shipping overseas(if I go down that route) I was wondering if any of you guys had any thoughts on the matter?? I'm looking to sell my complete outfit(minus the Romfx) and I'm looking for advice on the best way to do it!Have you any thoughts on the best couriers/costs and so forth??? Just thought I'd ask about before putting it up for sale officially. Thanks for helping out folks!

That was fun! Once again the Colectormania event came to Glasgow.Whilst certainly not as busy as the August event it was **** good to put on the "dirty" gear once again and go forth for the MEPD. The Saturday started off mega quiet-so much so we seriously toyed with the idea off packing it in and going back home to our beds!But it soon picked up and off we went,doing what we do best. There wher only three of us on the Saturday-myself,Ian McMillan in his biker-boy gear and our very own Shane Manning making an appearance as the Predator and he was the draw of the day. The "Alien Legacy" guys where there as well and the banter between us was as good as always.Once their Alien met up with our Predator the crowds just went mental. There where a few independent costumers on the day and one guy went from Boba Fett to Batman in no time at all(he must have been roasting in his Batman gear though!!! Sunday was pretty much the same but busy from the word "GO".The big draw on the day being Peter as big "D" himself.The reaction from the crowd when Vader appeared flanked by troopers and a pilot where awesome.The crowds just went nuts with cameras and cell phones. Strangest happening was talking on the phone to some girls hubby who did'nt believe she was talking to a Sandtrooper whilst out shopping! <_< .The guy turned up about 20 minutes later with his kids in tow. Dunno if Collectormania will be back to Glasgow as we where talking to a lot of the vendors who where sayiong they were'nt impressed with the turnout and would'nt be back which is a bummer but to be honest this event was certainly not as well advertised as the August one was(only heard the first advert for it on the Tuesday before whilst the August one started getting plugged back in May)but we'll be keeping our fingers crossed. Still the only Sandtrooper in Scotland and it looks like I'll be for some time now. Would be nice t have a "Comrade in Muck" to troop alongside but as always it was still a pleasure to troop with the Scottish contingent. Hope you guys like the selection of pics I've sorted out.

What a weekend that was! Not often you get to do three troops in one weekend and certainly not in Scotland. First off the bat was the Collectormania event held in Glasgow on the 23rd and 24th of August. And what an event it was.Started off pretty quiet on both days with a few early birds attending the show but once the crowds started it was manic to say the least.Top marks to the spotters for the weekend 'cause those three where having **** trying to keep track of us all.It got so busy on the Sunday we later found out the spotters wanted us out of there as they could'nt get to us it was so busy.But!All worked out in the end and a great time was had by all. Have truly never had so many people wanting their pictures taken-we all must have had a crowd of at least 50 people each clamoring to have their pics taken. Have decided that when I die I want to die in the arms of Marina Sirtis then I'll be one happy bunny(hubba!hubba!). Big draw on the Collectormania front was Peter on his first outing on home soil as Vader and he took it like a pro. The two stealth troopers got a good crowd around them too which they milked for all it was worth.But all of us got a brilliant reception from the crowds. We where stunned to be told that we had free rein of the Braehead Shopping Centre so off we went in various groups to bring joy to the masses much to the annoyance of the security guards' and we took every opportunity to wind them up to get them back for being jobsworthy ****heads the week before at the Pre-Collectormania event. I think a few shoppers will need therapy after trying to get their shopping done only to turn around at the till to find a load of troopers glaring at them. Was well chuffed to be recognised as a Sandtrooper and not "The Rusty One" although I did hear "He needs hosed down" a few times. <_< <_< But!I really need to get those helmet fans sorted out once and for all as the **** things kept packing in! The Collectormania event is still in it's infancy in Scotland but going by how well it went at the weekend it's only a matter of time before it really takes off. Even got to meet some other costuming groups and the Colonial Marine guys where a scream.Even got my Sandie lid in one of their home made videos so keep an eye out on YouTube for it's moment of glory. Three of us had a half day Saturday as we where asked to attend another event on the Saturday afternoon for a Scottish Childrens Cystic Fibrosis Charity(BOBATH).So!off we went and I think we had more fun there than we did at Collectormania in the morning.Made a nice wee change for me to troop in my home town of Balloch and even my mum made an appearance to see what I get up to at these things(the pic with the lady in pink and the Sandie if you're wondering!!).Classic moment of this troop was the two stealthys' getting two Spanish lads on their knees-making sure they were'nt allowed to move and then walking off with their arms around their partners! Those two guys had'nt a clue what to do and you just had to see the looks on their faces when they realised what was going on! Anyhoo!On with the show!The first three pics are from the BOBATH event and the rest are from both days at Collectormania!