Scott M.

Keep in mind, our poll has to do with Elite standards, not general acceptance. I think we can try to educate, but it will be hard to force the FX issue on 501st acceptance until the CRL is more up to date.

If you look at the first post, it is there. I used the Tupperware lid, and used a 1" screw to attach it. I placed the screw though the lid, added a nut, then added the black HDPE circle behind it, another nut, and then drilled a hole in the mortar tube, and a final nut inside, topped off with hot glue on the threads. Hope this makes sense. Scott

OK, more updates: First, i decided to do the Move Along pack before it was in Mos Eisley. Basically, on the trooper in the Dune Sea, so it is missing the tape on the lower box, and I have decided to add the tube on the left side of the pack: Start of tube: Then with it attached to the frame: I also completed my bee stinger, and have that attached (I will paint the screws black once I get the black out) AND...... I decided to go ultra screen accurate, and I added the wire holding the radio face on the box: I believe once I get the cistern done and installed, it should look just right. I do have an exhaust port coming from Seth (Thanks man!!!), and that will complete the parts needed. My hope is to be ready for St. Patty's day for the parade here in Denver. Please keep the feedback coming. I so appreciate everyone's suggestions, comments and ideas.

Cool. Thanks for the info. As I said, I am not TS expert, so I was just wondering.

OK, maybe I need to spend some time on the Blizzard Force forums, but aren't the shoulder bells on this pisc upside down? Maybe the commander is done differently, but it seems the block detail should be on the lower part of the bell. Just curious?????

It will be interesting if he relies. I know TE posted about 3 weeks ago on an unrelated topic, but that was about it. Right about the time we and MEPD came out with the recasting stance, both Matt and Gino stopped posting. Best of luck, bro!!!

Here is one I could find: http://www.mepd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2601 I could have sworn there was another one by MH that also spoke about it, but I cannot find it. Here is mine, prior to painting: I used 1/2" ID (inside diameter) PVC, 3/4" ID black tubing, and a black 3/4" chair leg cap. I paid about $4 at Lowe's for the parts. I will paint it black and add it to the side of the pack as soon as the weather gets warm enough for me to paint. Hope this helps, Scott

Ok, made some more progress: Here is a shot of my Cistern modified (Thanks Rachel!!!) Here is a pic of the whole pack in its current state: Also, looking at the bottles, I did try the Wet Ones (finally found some) to replace the Clorox bottles So what do you think? I feel that neither bottle is right, where the first (painted) is too long, but the Wet one bottle is too short. I plan on using Bondo to fill in the gaps for the cistern, and Seth is hooking me up with the exhaust part, so I am making good progress. I also have a bee stinger, but still need to paint it, and Colorado has been too cold lately to do that. I do appreciate all the help and suggestions and parts many of you have provided. I am also working on my new TK armor, so weathering my armor is not too far off. Thanks again all,

I have been told these are split rivets. I have no way to confirm this, but when I saw them used on a set of armor, they looked really close. Scott

It is resin. I got it off the 501st forum site from a brother trooper. Good unit and good price. Thanks, I will look into that, and measure them Thanks for the suggestion.

I know this is for packs, but I had an update, and thought I would combine. Got my cistern today (Thanks Rachel!!!), so I will be working on that soon. AND.............. MY BFG Arrived!!! My son took a pic of me taking it right out of the box. It still needs some work, but there is nothing better than a huge freakin' gun!!! More to follow.

I just got a set of custom under armor from Wyatt over on the FISD, and it is SWEET!! He does custom jobs that include the neck seal, and this is an awesome idea. He has been running ebay auctions so as not to get too burned out. Just another option.

If you (or anyone else) needs a "negative" in order to paint tube stripes, please let me know. I would be happy to use some extra vinyl and cut some out. Since you do not care about the color, I can use extra stuff that I have, and then just remove the stripes, leaving the negative. Scott

My trays are 13 3/8" wide and 9 1/4" high. Both are the same size, with the five rib tray on the bottom. This measurement includes the lips, or edges. Hope this helps. Scott

NO WAY!!! I will be a TK till I die, but I wanted to expand my horizons, so the TD was the armor for 2008. I do not have the armor yet, and will not weather the existing FX until I get it (want to make sure I have armor to troop in). As soon as I get the new stuff, I will start weathering. Already working on the bucket and pack, so I have a few things to keep me busy.

Several places. Seed trays from a local armor builder (I am doing his decals for his armor, so it was a nice exchange) The radio I got from Crashman here, as well as the mushroom caps. The Mortar tube is a 2" piece of ABS, with the white parts from a Thermal Detonator kit for a TK. The radar dish I also got from a local guy. The backpack frame is from a local army surplus store The round containers are Clorox wipes (Target does not carry Wet ones any more, it seems) Finally, the black box is an old Wahl trimmer box. It is almost the perfect size, and has the ridges that are more accurate than the flat boxes. I think that is it. I still have the bee stinger which is not pictured, but I got a faucet cover from Wal Mart and then used the JC Whittney funnel spout.

Here are some in progress pics of my up and coming sandy pack. Feedback and suggestions are certainly welcome. Here are a few pics of the back half of the seed trays and the pack frame. Here is my radio faceplate and the parts for the mortar tube: A few pics of the lower tray, and adding the radio faceplate: Now for todays pics, with the mortar tube compete and some of the upper tray: I am waiting on my cistern (Thanks Rachel), and looking to figure out the small back box on the far right. Bee stinger is coming along, but I will have to repaint it. Let the comments begin!!!

They look close, but the elastic U-shape on the sides is too low and not rounded as much as the CABoots.. By painting/dying them, you would be certainly close to what they had on screen.

COVERED!!! Burger stackers are on the way!!!

Guns, you seek Guns (aka TD-2581). PM Guns, you must.

OK, I guess I should do the formal thing and get the intro out of the way! Name is Scott, and I have been in the legion for about a year. Started as a TK, and I am currently the Deployment officer for the FISD. I decided that I needed to do a new set of armor every year, so I am converting the TK to a sandy and getting a new TK. I live in Colorado (where we are getting round two of 8" snow storms)!! I am married and have two boys, 10 and 6. They are all very supportive, and most of them troop with me. I did Celebration IV and spent around 30 hours in armor over the five days. I also spent some time in partial armor during the World Series, rooting for the Rockies (not Costa Rica ). My biggest passion outside of Star Wars is my connection with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I have had Juvenile (Type 1) diabetes for 21 years, and have been a part of the local fund-raising walks in Denver for the past 7 years. This year, I got some of the local Garrison together and we made it a troop. We mingled with the kids, and I walked the three miles in armor, and raised over $2,000 for JDRF!!! Here is a link to the local JDRF website where our Garrison is mentioned!! Well, that is about it. I need to get back to work so I can start getting my pack trimmed, and work on the TD bucket. Thanks for listening.

I believe the issue is not that black and white, although I believe and understand the comparison. Maybe a better comparison, using the electronics, would be if Person A purchased a very expensive stereo that was no longer sold, but in high demand. Person A then spent the next two years figuring out how to replicate the electronics inside, and the began selling his stereo. Now Person B comes along, and figures out how to also make the stereo, but spends no time and invests no real funds, because the re-engineered stereo allows for it to be reverse-engineered for almost no cost. Now Person A can claim he has the original replica, and he would certainly be right to say his is the best, and many would agree. Person B also has "the same stereo,", but the parts are not 100% authentic. Person A can charge what he wants, and probably has the better product, but he cannot LEGALLY claim anything was stolen from him, because he did not have the original manufacturers OK to reproduce the stereo in the first place. The 501st can and will make sure people know what they are getting, and that is really what education is all about. What it cannot do is be able to uphold any type of stance from a legal perspective. I believe education is the key. Make sure people know what is the original stereo and which one is the knock off. I also believe the problem many people here is the stance many prop makers take that their stuff is "original" and the recasts are the "stolen property." Provide lineage info, show work, provide details and documentation of what, where, and maybe most importantly, when. Then we will all know what is 2nd generation, 3rd generation, etc. I know there will always be people who will recast stuff, and I for one do not want that to become a bigger issue than what reality dictates. But right now, reality is saying people are frustrated and the attitudes of the prop makers, and will look to other sources. Come a few steps towards the guys who buy the armor and actually wear it, and I think the whole community will come your way as well. Until that time, if you dig in and refuse to help educate and allow the community to know the difference, most people will not care that there is a difference.

And in addition, realize that there are TWO sides to this, which is obvious by the continuance of the thread. Everyone try to see this from both sides (or all sides, and it might even be hard to determine only two). Be open to listening to what is being said, as well as the background. It appears as most have drawn lines in the sand, and will not budge. It might not hurt to try removing the line, and stepping across and viewing this from the opposite views perspective. Again, this can only be helpful if both the buyers AND THE PROP MAKERS do this.

Many are. Didn't you see the fury of the possible discussions on the FISD board about FX being banned or no longer allowed? I think you are generalizing. This is also true, but again, this is not all 2,380 501st Stormtrooper and Sandtroopers. So may people are 100% fine and happy with their FX. I am, and plan to use it to become my sandtrooper. Much of the issue is when the prop makers begin to insult the armor many people have poured so much effort into. No specifics, but I have seen so many posts that state "all FX is crap", or only "my armor is 100% accurate". I believe this is where the thoughts of the Elitist mentality starts. If everyone hates my armor, but someone else has a more accurate set, I would be interested. If one is $500 and another is $5,000 and I don't know why, I go with the $500 set. I think this is WHY Mike and Seth said education is key. If I know the $500 set is a recast, I will have to decide if I am willing to take that step. If all I know is one is ten times more expensive, and I can't tell the difference, most will not pay too much for the sake of paying too much. I truly believe the prop community has itself to blame for some of what has gone on recently. Too many stories and infighting makes it hard to know what is real and what is made up. How many sets of molds can a person sell before people start wondering which ones are the "real" molds. The lack of consistency makes it hard to know who is telling the truth and who is not. Being up front and honest about everything makes life easier. Sure there are people who will rip stuff off, man has always had that nature. Fortunately for us, those who will go to that level are in the minority as well. But when some hold themselves to be "superior" to everyone else; people start to take shots and knock them down. Without question, but not having the same goal as the prop makers. You stated earlier that this forums command staff had to step up and be leaders, and I think they have already shown that they are. Leadership is (to me), about being the head servant. In my short time here, I think I have seen nothing but service from the Command staff. That to me, is true leadership.

I don't even know what a 501st charter is, so that means nothing to me. Not everone who visits this board is a 501st costumer. And if you have the ability to end anything, then I'd say someone has been given too much power for their own good. Anyone wanting to squash debate about a topic usually means they know they are in the wrong and don't want to hear it. Makes it easier for them. For the record, from the 501st.com website: If you read through this, it might help you to understand where the disconnect is. I am not saying you are wrong, but only to provide an point of perspective. Since this is run as a detachment of the 501st; these values are to be the core of the community. Now, as stated, not everyone here is a 501st member, but those ideals are central to what the forum is about, and are to be respected and understood. I believe most people here respect your contribution to the hobby, but it is seen as that, a hobby. If we take this line and examine it: The Legion's aims are to celebrate the Star Wars movies through the wearing of costumes, to promote the quality and improvement of costumes and props, and most importantly to contribute to the local community through charity and volunteer work. This is what most of us focus on. Reading the last part, that is what makes us tick: ..charity and volunteer work. Many of us will strive for accuracy, and want the best, but when we troop and see the seven year old boy about to jump out of his skin, that is what we are in it for, not the uber-accuracy, not the $2,000 bucket, not the 100% accurate armor, but the work we can do IN armor. I realize sometimes one cannot exist without the other, but it goes both ways. For the 501st to exist, we need prop makers who can create amazing sets of armor for us to troop in, and the prop makers need us to purchase the stuff we troop in. Not all of us have the talents to do both, and some only can do one or the other. If I could sculpt, I would try to make my own helmet in a heartbeat, but I am not talented that way. I imagine you have never put on a set of armor and volunteered for any charity, and that is OK. No one is saying you have to, but please keep in mind that is what the 501st is about. And since this is a detachment of the 501st, it is also what most of us are about.