Florida_Phil

Oh sure.. I wear my pack for 9 other parades that summer... but the one day that I'm tired, and a bit under the weather, and have a problem with a strap and decide to leave my pack backstage........... :P :P Yeah, there were usually only 1-4 TDs wearing a backpack on other days too. Sigh.

In 57 days the biggest sci-fi/what ever else convention in the Southeastern United States takes place. I speak of course of Dragon*con (http://www.dragoncon.org). Curious to know who from the MEPD is headed there this year. Who will be in the parade on Saturday, and who will be sporting their TD for the group photo before the parade. We had one of our best TD turn outs in '07, and that picture is currently on the front page. Would love to see something like it again for 2009. I'll be there, and in my TD. Looking forward to seeing old friends, and making new ones. -Phil

Yeah, due to circumstances beyond my control, we were not able to do a group Sandy picture at SWW this year. (But there is always D*C, right guys?) Thanks for sharing these! I didn't actually get to see the parade at any point, except from inside a bucket!

Couldn't get everyone in a single picture with my camera! Was a good time, and is typically the everyone in Florida than can, get together for this convention, convention. Which for a Garrison where some troopers live a 13 hour drive apart, is kind of a big deal! (Texas, I feel for you guys too!) We had Legion members from Ohio, and Michigan, and I don't know where all else. If anyone wants to make the trip down next year, info is here: MegaCon

I don't know if Old Sarge Oberon has been on the boards since the move, but he has a Sandtrooper and troops in it. And he'd have everyone listed so far beat.... But again, I think this was for sandies active on the boards...

Man, I had the same problem with my old MG-34, sob. But once I fixed it, it worked like a charm. I'd encourage you to use a flexible glue (E6000ish) rather than a brittle glue (Like CA/Superglue).

Don't know how I missed this thread (oh right, I've been swamped), but I have something to add. I once read somewhere, and I'm sorry that I can't cite a reference to this, that the actor inside the move along trooper (in Tunisia) had set a tea cup on the pauldron, and it had left a ring/sticky area, and stuff had just stuck to it. I've had a circular ring on my pauldron for a few years now, but now I'd like to go back and figure out where in the heck I'd read about this.

I'll be there. I know we plan to do a group photo after the 501st group photo before the parade Saturday. Other than that, I'm not sure about any MEPD photo op, or get together. Around the 501st table is a good place to bump into each other though! (Or see the thread on the Legion boards about the mixer at D*C.)

No mention of this on the Legion board, but thought you guys might get a kick out of just the variety of costumes we had at the parade last weekend, PLUS the real stars... the TDs. Then there is the part of the parade that everyone REALLY wants to see: Yeah, guess we can include them too... just for target id purposes. Sunday ones I think, slightly different: The only pic here that you can actually see part of me in. I was on the right hand side, or the middle each day. (Sporting the b-stinger) (I shameless lifted these photos from another post made by TB-1738. I didn't get to take any due to um...marching. Thanks to TB-1738 for arranging them to be taken.) Someone also posted a youtube video of the parade. I'd like to arrange a group Sandy photo Saturday the 28th, if you happen to read this, and are signed up for SWW. (Pending an OK from backstage security of course!)

Some of you may have noticed that you can't get to MEPD.NET, or depending on how your ISP setting is setup, some of you might notice that later today. Don't panic! Everything will be ok in a few hours (Ok, it could be like 12 or more), if it should stop working, or if you know someone that isn't able to get in right now. It's a long story, and I'll let someone else explain it, but suffice it to say it's been fixed, but might take a little while for the kinks to work out. Move along!

That's who it was. I didn't actually get to talk to him at FX, since he was in costume the whole time, and so was I when I was near him. He was down for MegaCon too last month, and I actually got a chance to talk to him a little since we created some small breaks where we could all get air, and cool off a bit. It is a really amazing costume, and quite the crowd pleaser. Tatooine, home of the more interesting SW costumes since 1977.

Just a point, this reads like with the changes you can now get MEPD deployment standard with out owning a BFG. If that was intended, then cool. If it wasn't, then just pointing it out!

You know, it may just be me, but I really, really like it when there are Tuskens or Jawas around. It just makes me feel more at home when trooping! Looks like a blast!

Regarding the seams. Ugg, I know something that can help you with this, but I can't put my fingers on it at the moment. I bought a DC-15 long, and the same question came up. The general consensus (from the um-manufacturer) is that there is no perfect solution. The rubber of the gun is flexible, so what ever you use to fill and file down with will probably have a different flexibility (Great if you are making a composite bow, not so great for prop guns that are prized for their ability to 'bounce' when dropped.) He suggested a type of epoxy that was still moderately flexible after it hardened. I picked up a few packs of it, but I just haven't had a chance to try it out. I figured if I was happy with it after trying it on the DC-15, I'd redo my MG-34 with it. But there never seems to be enough time for projects. I'll look the stuff up when I have a chance this evening, and you can give it a try if you like. Regarding sealing... I've never sealed mine. I keep tinkering with it, as I learn and try new things. http://johnbooth.typepad.com/photos/megaco...8/dsc_7410.html Her name is Betsy, she is my very favorite gun.

So Megacon was this past weekend in Orlando. It was.... a good time. Despite the name, it is a smaller con, but we had a great 501st turn out from all over: Some were even cool enough to be dirty! Sorting through the other pics still, maybe some off duty stuff is in order!

Ah, the small clone was a teen, not an actual 501st member.

FX is a fairly small con that is held in Orlando, Florida. 2008 was last weekend (Jan 24th - 27th). Had a really good time despite the small size. Some photos: If I'm going to be mistaken for one, might as well pose with one! The 501st booth was fairly freaking amazing for such a small con: -credit to Fred for the pic. Fan built: 501st: The high point of the day for me was when the Virgin Mega Store wanted some 'stormtroopers' to come over and hang out by their Rockband display. Hang out? You mean we can't play? Oh yeah! (Credit to Florida Garrison member Shelia for the photos.) The song, in case you were wondering, was Sabotage. Playing in gloves and a fogged up bucket.. is HARD no matter the song setting. I guess this is my answer to THIS poster...

Easy man. Lol. Sorry if my humor wasn't taken as such. It's very cool that you got yours, and I really am waiting patiently for mine. Was just a joke!

Daetrin... lol... you do know what you have just done to Seth right? There is a whole list of people that have been waiting for the last 9 months.. and they are ALL sending him a PM right now, asking when they can send money and get theirs. HEHE. I approve! Man, I can't wait to get mine. No really, I can't wait. I'm leaving right now; I should be at Seth's house in about 17 hours of constant driving. (I'd suggest you have it ready, I have a bag for of stuffed ewoks, and i'm not afraid to let light them on fire and start hurling them!!!).

I have a set of hot weather, and cold weather underarmor (yeah, it DOES actually get cold enough in Florida to want the cold weather now and then). Depending on troop is what I wear. If you have most of the sharp points sanded down, it seems to hold up to the armor rubbing against it fairly well. It wicks perspiration away fairly well (the warm weather), and the black is nice and black. Can't complain.

Seth, thank you so much for your service to the detachment as DL. I hate to see you go, but I also think you are leaving the MEPD in great hands. I shouldn't even say 'leaving' really... since there better be no leaving It's also very cool to see a MEPD leadership transition that is so cordial, and polite. I'd also like to be the first to say, that I for one welcome our new TD1536 overlord.

Amazing job! All of you!

That's just crazy talk!!! PhpBB can handle inline image uploads just fine, just takes a tiny bit of work!

An interesting discussion came up on the Florida boards today about the plastic 'front part' of the standard TKs belt, and what the ends of the belt where it goes from plastic to canvas should look like. It seems that some TKs have belts like this: _____ / | ** | ** _____ instead of like: ______ | | ** | ** |______ Trying to get some pictures together that I can post, but Mike (http://tk1536.com/) has a good picture of what I'm talking about on his website with the Luke with TK belt shot. What does everyone else use? http://www.mepd.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=6 This guy looks square. Move along here:http://www.mepd.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=67&pos=24 Looks like the top has broken off a bit. Maybe the belts were thin on the corners and they just cut them off for the hero pictures/usage? I dunno. Thoughts, comments, ideas?

I'm no expert, but I like it! Looks very sharp man. (Please tell me that those thin straps you are using for the backpack have some kind of padding going on where you carry the weight at though. I have 2" straps and they kill me on a long troop, couldn't image 1" or 1/2" straps.)