DarthValkyria

We all lurked at one point! I just want to help others understand how the process works so it is clearer and better understood from the getgo.

Here's the thing: these are animated characters. There isn't just one right answer because these are like art; the reference can support a handful of interpretations. The armor color is mottled, and is not just one color. I'll give an example of my favorite boots. These are black underneath, and the wax polish on top marked them look anything from grey to dark brown, but I know for a fact that the leather is black because I'm the one who put the polish on. It is the weathering that dictates how people interpret it, but these are what they looked like when I bought them: This is a real world translation of what the armor looks like in the cartoon. Now to the CRL. It is an animated cartoon, and just like 99% of the rest of our CRLs in TFE, the colors change as much as the number of times the character is seen. There is an accepted level of colors on a gradient that could be argued for the character's armor, but that does not make the CRL wrong. We only make CRLs for, "variants" that are approved, otherwise we'd have a 48 page long CRL for Aphra, alone, with all the Barbie dress up versions she has in the comics. So the correct statement isn't, "how can we make it not inaccurate?", but, "do I have the references to validate my interpretation for approval, which can then be ADDED to the existing CRL that already has done so?". The answer to that lies with the Detachment Leader, LMO, and your GML on how well you replicate the references to the real world.

The tabard looks good, I was just worried about the texture more than anything. That fabric will get dirty quick, just a heads up, both shouldn't affect the actual piece. The mask is looking great! With regards to the chest armor, if you are wanting to but armor, I don't know of any other accurate armor outside of 3D printed that someone had in their thread (VK3Design, or something like that) that will fit female forms with big chests well. I've tried on other's armor and they are flat and bulge out against boobs. For fit, it depends on how you adjust the straps. Mine sat right at my gigantic hips when I was using his stuff.

SLD stopped offering merch to TFE members, so it was reciprocated.

Comm-Tower Spotlights: August 2019 We’re pleased to introduce you to The Flagship Eclipse member DZ-31201; otherwise known as Strength! Strength is from Star Garrison (North Texas Squad), and is our TFE Member in the spotlight for this month’s Newsletter! He took some time to have a chat with Nina / DarthValkyria, our TFE DL. DV: Thanks for your time, Paul! I know you're busy being a teacher with the start of the school year again. So, when did you join the Legion and what was your first costume? Strength: I was approved in July of 2016. my first costume was a TK, I finished it in a month. Netflix and trim, all the time. DV: Sounds like an efficient use of time! When did you decide to make your A'Sharad and why? Strength: I've always found it really interesting that there are far more Jedi in the Star Wars Universe than most of the general public and fan base know of. So when I found out there was a Tusken Jedi, it actually intrigued as to how they looked and how that worked. After finding out his whole story about his father, Order 66, his fight with Obi-Wan, I was truly blown away by this individual., and it was solidified when I found out that later he killed a bunch of Sith as Darth Krayt. I really found his story interesting with its ups and downs and different turns. He's a pretty dynamic and in-depth character when you really see where he came from, the paths and choices he took, and where he ended up. Also, I can just wear his helmet and not have to shave my beard. I hate having to shave my beard. DV: The least amount of actual physical alterations the better! Is he your dream costume, or is there another that has your attention? Strength: Hhhhhmmmmmm, while I'm currently building my C2-B5 droid... for a character on the Imperial, or bad person, side I think it would be Darth Krayt. What has that costume, I think it's super interesting the transition from a Jedi to a Bounty Hunter to a Sith Lord, but it would be really interesting to have A'Sharad and then Krayt in my costume closet. For Rebel characters I would definitely love to do Mythos Obi-Wan Kenobi. I wouldn't have to shave my beard for it either! DV: It would be interesting to have both given their history! Strength: Heck yeah! DV: So as TFE's Graphics Officer, what have been the hardest and most rewarding moments to date? Strength: That’s an interesting question to ask, I never think about these things. I want to say the hardest moments are when your OCD kicks in and drives us all insane. HAHAHhahahahahaa, but that's not really an issue. You and I get along GREAT and work really well together. The hardest moments are mostly time related. You and I game-plan the merch that we want to put out. We have SO MANY great ideas, but we are also merch junkies and know not to overwhelm the members. I WISH we had the time to make all the merch we have come up with. Also, I’m a teacher. My school kids come first, and you have been amazingly fantastic at understanding that. We usually spend the summer months knocking out merch…and ideas like Darth Nihil-hiss. I still remember the conversation of adding a bell to his collar so the other force users will hear him coming. As for rewarding, that’s weird to me. I’m proud of what I make, I’ll never put something out I’m not proud of, or wouldn’t want my name on. It is always great when you and the TFE staff dig my designs, but I enjoy seeing the members get excited about something we put together for them. DV: Yeah, my OCD can definitely be a pain in the ass, and I appreciate how well you've worked with me on it! Also we definitely have fun on projects! Darth Nihil-Hiss is also probably one of my favorite moments given my love of puns, Sith Lords, and cats. So, what has been your favorite design(s) you've done? Strength: That would normally be a hard question to answer, but I DO have one…or two. It’s a tie. The 2nd racing shirt was the first one that I couldn’t believe became a reality. I was so stoked to make other detachments jealous, and it worked. The images of Korriban we used were just so beautiful I had to have them showcased on the shirt. The 13th anniversary is my other. It was a team build with you but all I could see was the lightsabers making the roman numeral 13. It ended up being FAR better than I imagined. DV: I'm glad that idea was able to come to fruition on both the shirt and patch! The publishing company was nice enough to let us use the images for the shirt. So, do you have any advice for other members? Strength: Hhmmmm, always follow your dr...no. Always look on the bright side of lif....nnaaahhhh. Be cool, wrap your to, no no no. In all honesty, I live by the quote from my favorite book series; "Don't panic." Having trouble finding a piece of a costume? Don't Panic. Run into a snag, literally or figuratively, with your build? Don’t Panic. Someone ate the last taco without checking to see if you wanted it? Don’t punch them, but don’t panic either. Keep a calm head and the solutions will be easier to see. DV: Hahaha! I can't guarantee the taco part, but a great motto to live by. Lastly, anything you'd like to add about TFE or A'Sharad? Strength: I'm elated at the liveliness and activity since joining the Detachment. I'm talking to more TFE members about the Detachment, costumes, etc. With Regards to A'Sharad, HE'D BETTER BE IN THE F****** OBI-WAN SERIES! BECOME CANON! DV: Rofl, I guess we will see! Thanks again for doing this interview! Strength: Sure thing!

This file here pretty much matches exactly to the tee of the game design's mask. I would highly recommend going with this one. It isn't so much the metallic as the lightness of the metallic. The mask is a gunmetal grey meaning there is a metallic aspect of it, but the silver is too light. It is a combination of at least two reds for the contrast of what I will call the nose stripe and the cheek patches. One is a darker red that you see for the nose stripe, and lighter red for the cheek patches and such. The model you currently printed looks more akin to the Jedi comics featuring Revan's beginning roots vs Darth Revan in the KOTOR I/II games. Storywise, yes, they are technically the same person, but we have to match reference to reference and keep them congruent. So, 501st can only accept Dark Side Revan versions. Currently, KOTOR model is the only Dark Side model that has been submitted and approved. SWTOR: Shadow of Revan model (the shredded robes version with gashed armor), the Revan statue, or the Revan Black Series 6" are also candidates for New to the Legion costumes/versions of Revan, but nobody has submitted them. So, it is far less a case of, "not possible, don't think about it" as it is, "with the versions that COULD be submitted as New to the Legion costumes, nobody has, so KOTOR Revan is all we have to go off of for what can and can't be approved". That means all Revan details SHOULD match the KOTOR model from the game, and that's it. Other versions can't translate into it, even if they are the same character, and are not interchangeable. P.s. I really hope people eventually submit the other candidates as it would be neat to have more than one Revan version approvable, but even then, parts would still not be able to be interchanged (though the thought of a Barbie outfit-type Revan makes me laugh).

No problem! Overall, that file set really does look good as a base. Glad to see more people offering more true to reference options outside of the normal vendors and in contrast to the blatantly inaccurate ones!

The color scheme and internal construction does not match the KOTOR style that is approved with the 501st. The silver does not exist on the model, and the two side nose sections, along with the undereye, "V" section are missing. The center red strip that goes up from the bottom of the mask to the V is also missing.

Nothing can be called 501st approvable until it is seen on the person who is supposed to be wearing it, as things like fit and proportion are as necessary to the term, "approvable" as the design. With 3D printed stuff that becomes easier given the scalability, but it is still not guaranteed approved. Now, given that information, the details of the file match references pretty well, so there would be no issue there. All it comes down to is how it is sized, finished, painted, and assembled. It does seem pedantic, but it would help the community as a whole if people stopped referring to armor sets as approved given the number of variables that play into the term. It becomes confusing (and sometimes frustrating) for both applicants and staff alike when someone buys somethig under the guise of the term, "approvable" only to be denied because of something like proportions or sizing on them.

Currently on hold until we figure out how to manage the fact that some costumes have crap references and some have crystal clear shots. Have to figure out a way to make it accurate and fair without creating an unbalanced system!

That is the issue as there are limited references for the armor.

You would submit to the GML of the Garrison you would be joining and they can walk you through the whole application process. You can find the email for them here.

I have yet to see any manufacturers of SWTOR style Revans. They have all been self-built costumes. I also just want to point out that if you are wanting to do SWTOR Revan, it will need to be the beat to hell and shredded version of Shadow of Revan, as the normal Revan model doesn't meet the requirements for the 501st (though they have it in RL already, I believe).

The only issue with these references is that we would need the specific references from KOTOR (screenshots) as the main source. Since the character isn't actually IN SWTOR, the game outfits can't be used as a main source given their inclination towards not being 100% to the original game sources.

The actual box art was used for that call, though the era in which that CRL was created did not have the same requirements as now for validation of references. If you can show a contrasting point to it not being as such, we can look it over.