The 501st

[msduncan]

I think I'm going to do it. I'm going to order a complete Stormtrooper outfit and join the 501st. My wife has been cosplaying with the kids at various conventions around the area all year. She's wanted me to go, but I wasn't really interested in going as anything -- UNTIL it dawned on me to go as a Stormtrooper. It's expensive, but she says she's probably spent close to that amount on various costumes over the last two years.

You are never too old to be a kid.

[El Guapo]

Sounds fun. What do people in the 501st actually do? Is there a rebellion 'reenactment' type group that they have mock battles with?

[Exodor]

I'm going to order a complete Stormtrooper outfit

Just for a moment I wasn't sure which sort of stormtrooper you meant.

That's awesome! We go to comic-cons a few times a year and I'm always envious of the guys in stormtrooper outfits.

If I did it I'd probably go with a Scout Trooper


How much does a stormtrooper get up cost?

[LordMortis]

I have some friends who do it and they find the charity stuff to be very rewarding.

[ImLawBoy]

Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?

[msduncan]

Sounds fun. What do people in the 501st actually do? Is there a rebellion 'reenactment' type group that they have mock battles with?

Parades, movie releases, and to me the most exciting: charity work like going to Children's Hospitals, etc.

[msduncan]

Here is the one I'm thinking of ordering:



I hope that link works. Yes...the make it weathered to look realistic.

[El Guapo]

Sounds fun. What do people in the 501st actually do? Is there a rebellion 'reenactment' type group that they have mock battles with?

Parades, movie releases, and to me the most exciting: charity work like going to Children's Hospitals, etc.

Isn't charity work sort of off-brand for imperial stormtroopers?

But sounds like fun.

[msduncan]

[msduncan]

Sounds fun. What do people in the 501st actually do? Is there a rebellion 'reenactment' type group that they have mock battles with?

Parades, movie releases, and to me the most exciting: charity work like going to Children's Hospitals, etc.

Isn't charity work sort of off-brand for imperial stormtroopers?

But sounds like fun.

It's part of an Imperial propaganda push to improve the image of the Empire until such time that we can secure the outer systems.

[coopasonic]

I have friends that do it in Ft Lauderdale area. They do children's hospital visits and lots of other charity stuff. They have a bunch of different getups including Star Wars stuff but also GI Joe and others. They mostly create their own costumes though.

[msduncan]

I have friends that do it in Ft Lauderdale area. They do children's hospital visits and lots of other charity stuff. They have a bunch of different getups including Star Wars stuff but also GI Joe and others. They mostly create their own costumes though.

Yeah... I'm not skilled at costume crafting and I want it to be really authentic looking. I considered attempting to build, but I think it will just be better to swallow my wallet and just pay for a top end outfit. It's tax time and bonus time, and I'm also going to sell some things to help offset the cost. The outfit I'm looking to purchase from is called RS Propmasters.

[gilraen]

I see those guys at the Starfest con in Denver every year, They take pictures with the kids and are responsible for putting zip-ties on people's prop weapons

[Sepiche]

Congrats! Some will remember my wife is a member of the 501st and has been doing something like 50 troops a year for the last couple years with the garrison here in KC.

If you have any questions about the group in general (keeping in mind local garrisons vary a lot in how the run things) I'd be happy to answer them or pass them along to my wife.

You've probably already done your research, but make sure any place you buy a kit from makes their gear up to 501st standards. There are a lot of cheaper kits out there that don't meet the 501st requirements, and even some of the better kits out there for various characters need some adjustments.

IIRC there should be what they call a CRL out there for the Stormtroopers (TKs) that show all the requirements you'll have to meet to join the legion. Stormtroopers are pretty much the most popular costumes though, so should be lots of places to get ready made kits.

[Kelric]

A sandtrooper, ey? Your boss doesn't like sand, you know.

[msduncan]

Congrats! Some will remember my wife is a member of the 501st and has been doing something like 50 troops a year for the last couple years with the garrison here in KC.

If you have any questions about the group in general (keeping in mind local garrisons vary a lot in how the run things) I'd be happy to answer them or pass them along to my wife.

You've probably already done your research, but make sure any place you buy a kit from makes their gear up to 501st standards. There are a lot of cheaper kits out there that don't meet the 501st requirements, and even some of the better kits out there for various characters need some adjustments.

IIRC there should be what they call a CRL out there for the Stormtroopers (TKs) that show all the requirements you'll have to meet to join the legion. Stormtroopers are pretty much the most popular costumes though, so should be lots of places to get ready made kits.

Thanks! I just checked and RS Propmasters guarantee 501st standards.

The first step is to get my armor. The second step is to apply for the 501st which is sending pictures or showing up to get inspected with a garrison.

[msduncan]

A sandtrooper, ey? Your boss doesn't like sand, you know.

Depends on whether you are referring to Trump or Nick Saban. I think Nick Saban and Alabama more closely resemble the Empire.

[Sepiche]

The only advice she had is that each costume has what they call a detachment, and that you might get in contact with the Mos Eisley detachment for advice on some of the details or ordering. That link also has the CRL for sand troopers.

No doubt they're fine, but she hadn't heard of that RS Propmaster and said a lot of the local guys get gear from Walt's Trooper Factory if you'd like somewhere else to compare.

Good luck getting approved!

[Scuzz]

Here is the one I'm thinking of ordering:



I hope that link works. Yes...the make it weathered to look realistic.

How do you use the bathroom in that thing?

[msduncan]

The only advice she had is that each costume has what they call a detachment, and that you might get in contact with the Mos Eisley detachment for advice on some of the details or ordering. That link also has the CRL for sand troopers.

No doubt they're fine, but she hadn't heard of that RS Propmaster and said a lot of the local guys get gear from Walt's Trooper Factory if you'd like somewhere else to compare.

Good luck getting approved!

I went to whitearmor.net and solicited for high end movie accurate armor sets. RS Propmasters and Troopermaster were the two that were recommended. It's made in Manchester England.

[El Guapo]

The only advice she had is that each costume has what they call a detachment, and that you might get in contact with the Mos Eisley detachment for advice on some of the details or ordering. That link also has the CRL for sand troopers.

No doubt they're fine, but she hadn't heard of that RS Propmaster and said a lot of the local guys get gear from Walt's Trooper Factory if you'd like somewhere else to compare.

Good luck getting approved!

I went to whitearmor.net and solicited for high end movie accurate armor sets. RS Propmasters and Troopermaster were the two that were recommended. It's made in Manchester England.

I'm glad that whitearmor.net is not the other thing that it could have been.

[Sepiche]

I went to whitearmor.net and solicited for high end movie accurate armor sets. RS Propmasters and Troopermaster were the two that were recommended. It's made in Manchester England.

Awesome, that sounds like it should be good then.

For my wife's imperial guard outfit, one of the only people to make the helmets is down in Argentina, so she had to pay quite a bit to get it shipped here, and then had to take it to an auto paint shop to get it properly painted. It looks amazing, but it was quite an investment.

[Pyperkub]

Looks great msd! Post photos with the fam in costume if you get a chance and feel comfortable!

[LordMortis]

If they are sandtroopers how come that is the uniform they wear on starships?

[msduncan]

I went to whitearmor.net and solicited for high end movie accurate armor sets. RS Propmasters and Troopermaster were the two that were recommended. It's made in Manchester England.

Awesome, that sounds like it should be good then.

For my wife's imperial guard outfit, one of the only people to make the helmets is down in Argentina, so she had to pay quite a bit to get it shipped here, and then had to take it to an auto paint shop to get it properly painted. It looks amazing, but it was quite an investment.

Is she a member over on whitearmor.net? Sometime this morning I lost my ability to reply or create new threads. I don't even know if my messages to admins are going through. If she's a member over there, I was hoping she could message them and communicate my problem to them. My profile over there is Plainsrunner.

[sgoldj]

If you are going to be displaying the uniform at the MCM Birmingham Comic Con. Please let me know. I would love to get a pic.

[Sepiche]

Is she a member over on whitearmor.net? Sometime this morning I lost my ability to reply or create new threads. I don't even know if my messages to admins are going through. If she's a member over there, I was hoping she could message them and communicate my problem to them. My profile over there is Plainsrunner.

Sorry, no. She's only active on the Sovereign Protectors forum.

If you don't have any luck getting ahold of anyone let me know and I can see if she can ask some local TKs if they're active on there and can message the admins.

Edit: Another option might be to contact someone at the local Birmingham garrison and see if anyone there can point you in the right direction.

[Sepiche]

How do you use the bathroom in that thing?

As I understand it the abdominal and posterior pieces are split, so it's not too hard to pull the abdominal plate to use the head if you need to, or pull your junk around and pee out the side.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Is she a member over on whitearmor.net? Sometime this morning I lost my ability to reply or create new threads. I don't even know if my messages to admins are going through. If she's a member over there, I was hoping she could message them and communicate my problem to them. My profile over there is Plainsrunner.

Try contacting the staff via email, as suggested in their FAQ:

If you have tried all the above and you are still having problems signing/logging in, then please contact the staff at forums@whitearmor.net

[msduncan]

If you are going to be displaying the uniform at the MCM Birmingham Comic Con. Please let me know. I would love to get a pic.

Not sure if we are going to that one. We are going to Jamaica the last week in March.

Which weekend is the MCM?

[msduncan]

Is she a member over on whitearmor.net? Sometime this morning I lost my ability to reply or create new threads. I don't even know if my messages to admins are going through. If she's a member over there, I was hoping she could message them and communicate my problem to them. My profile over there is Plainsrunner.

Try contacting the staff via email, as suggested in their FAQ:

If you have tried all the above and you are still having problems signing/logging in, then please contact the staff at forums@whitearmor.net

Yep. Already did. No response yet. Not sure where the site is hosted. It might be European and thus could be the middle of the night over there.

[LawBeefaroni]

I know that's authentic/"true to life" but the back kit didn't age well. Looks like the accessory area of a vacuum cleaner.


But otherwise very nice.

[Daehawk]

Safest group around. Cant hit the broad side of a barn and will never have any friendly fire for the same reason

[msduncan]

I know that's authentic/"true to life" but the back kit didn't age well. Looks like that accessory area of a vacuum cleaner.


But otherwise very nice.

I think they age it too. This was just a stock photo from their online store.

[LawBeefaroni]

I mean the concept. Some of the props just didn't age well.

It looks exactly like from the films, which is awesome, but the films had some... interesting prop designs.

"Let me shoot you, then I'll give your landspeeder a nice clean and detail."



Don't get me wrong, still very cool. Just thought that back vew was kind of funny.

[msduncan]

I mean the concept. Some of the props just didn't age well.

It looks exactly like from the films, which is awesome, but the films had some... interesting prop designs.

"Let me shoot you, then I'll give your landspeeder a nice clean and detail."



Don't get me wrong, still very cool. Just thought that back vew was kind of funny.

I see what you are saying. Yes I agree. Although I do think it looks better on camera (on film) than in modern pictures. Plus toss some dust and dirt on it....

[Blackhawk]

Hey, when you're combing the desert for escaped droids, you don't want to be without your tupperware and plunger!

You never know when some guy with windshield wipers glued to a camera flash is going to show up!

[JSHAW]

"TK-421 Why aren't you at your post???"

[Grifman]

I find it funny that your weapon is a knockoff of a Wehrmacht WW2 machinegun, an MG-34.

[LawBeefaroni]

I find it funny that your weapon is a knockoff of a Wehrmacht WW2 machinegun, an MG-34.

Most of them were based on or built from real-world firearms.