bamatrooper

Hello Troops, yes, you guys are correct with the history and people, more names escape my memory too that were a part of it all..., Back in 2002 I joined the 501st officially with a TD, and had met up with these guys mentioned too on sandtroopers. somthing.. as it existed as a website then... Back then the 501st wasn't that organized and "detachments" were a new thing , more of an idea really taking shape ... there was the rpf, the dented helmet, and the omega wing sites where everyone built thier first replica costumes.. but those sites were not part of the new "501st legion " thing... Several of us new to the 501st wanted to revive the idea of the MEPD as it was a only yahoo group and a web page with very little activity and the site was not being updated too often....., also no forums yet existed at the time even for the 501st legion ( it was also only a yahoo group until 2005) In mid 2002, the 501st was only 5 years old and the idea of "detachments" was being defined and picking up steam everywhere, the best one was the JRS as they had a forum with topics! and overall were better organized, thus we wanted the same for us sandtroopers.. I think we had sandtroopers.com /.net or some urls too and later got mepd.net ?? So several of us got this new forum and sites up and online ( for the life of me i can't remember the webmaster , Josh?) and we agreed on Joe musso becoming the first DL and I was his XO, this was late 2003 . By 2004, that summer Joe had dropped off online and i took the detachment over as DL and was also the DL again for 2005 too. I then left to co-start the Clonetrooper detachment in 2005 and be its DL in 2005and 2006. So when did the MEPD site first go up and actually "start" ?? it was there as the name of the sandtroopers site and yahoo group in 2001 when i began my build and learning about this 501st thing that was starting online.. ... but the MEPD the yahoo group had probably just 30 people all over the world on it... I don't think we had a "detachment leader" and organization as it exists today.. but we can say the name and website were founded by 2001 then and later "organized" in 2003 that i can attest to. Id say we were the first detachment - technically... -joey TD-152

way cool!

im going to do the exact same thing, I've been waiting on the v3 stuff and following his progress for a while. While it still may not be perfect, it will be a step in the right direction + the quality we've gotten used to with FX kits... my old fx is a v1 also and it has seen its share of troops and room parties! IF you could see the inside of mine where i've patched and repaired it... i feel like a welfare trooper sometimes with it ... LOL I'm hoping someone will have one built by DC, so we can all look at it up close...I'f i can receive it in August, I'll be sporting one for sure..

Thanks guys, I'm still around, spent the last two years concentrating on clones, but we've revived a huge interest in going old school with sandys in my garrison, even started another for fun non-cannon theme with custom blood red pauldrons, Red Rain... Here is a vid from our last photo shoot, I'm the one with the MEPD shoulder patch of course!!!

Wow trooper you dug deep down to find all that from back in the day! LOL! Thanks for the toast, I'll gladly drink up with any of my dirty brothers and sisters out there..! Kudos to you guys for keeping up the place! This is still the best detachment in the legion , by far!

Glad to see everyone and march with the Sandies in the parade again!!! dirt is where it is at!!!

Welcome back you old dirty dog! I hope you've showered since then though!

Grreat pics guys! Its good to see more than 2 sandtroopers at once!

Ok BTW, even thoough we are talking about these unofficial groups, to me they are more just a play on the characters, and should be exclusive to 501st members only. that makes them even more unique as part of the group, but not "official sub- units " so to say...? my 2 cents...

LOL! don't forget the unofficial sandtrooper regiment - the 69th Dewback Cavalry!!" Guys here's a thread on a similar subject from last year where i sorta explained the idea, and how it didn't jive with the legion structure: http://www.sandtrooper.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=196 Basically We came up with the idea of using the designations "regiment" for the units because Squads, detachments, etc were already in use by the Legion ... I like patrols also.. so if we do this, Please add the 69th Dewback Cavalry to the party!

yeah, its black vinyl and velcro. a few of us have them in my garrison.. it basically is two pieces of vinyl sewn up the middle. lay your vinyl over the bell and cut it up the ridge seam. do this for both fronta n back, then sew it up the middle... leave enough extra to wrap it under the bell on the sides so you can attach velcro to the underside of the bell.

What an awsome group of trooper funk! Things are looking good for the Detachment with that crew! I'm glad to see so many step up to the plate and help us all have a great unit to enjoy! good luck this year !! -Bamatrooper

I have a removeable Black cover on my shoulder bell with my MEPD patch on it. when i need to go canon, i can pull it off if need be.. -Joey

Myself in the first pic, and TD6873 signing in second pic, on Patrol for the MEPD For "Kids night" at a Hockey Game in Huntsville, Alabama. Typical patrolling and autographs, and the women just loved the "dirty stormtroopers" !!!

good work! What did you use?