DarthValkyria

Yes indeedy!

They are rings in the files, and the claps do not match up to the shape, especially that tab that seems to be metallic. Even black series has interpreted it as a ring with tabs and not clasps (hard to see here but the mold shows the room in the curiass mold).

That's my point. It didn't call it out specifically, and so people didn't do it. Instead of looking at references and figuring things out for themselves, they rely on just the CRL. And again, I agree with your calling it out in morph masks, but you are putting way too much faith in folks actually following that part and not just leaving it as a morph mask regardless of features.

Don't feel ashamed about it. Previous standards were hazy and lacked detail specifics! If you decide to go for more accurate details while currently being approved, great! Can't ask quality without offering quality CRLs.

That goes back to what would actually be translated to correct details by the public (and some GMLs). Yours be surprised what the majority can translate (or ignore and try to get through with) when you offer several options. Makeup would be a bad idea because then you have to tell them to worry about their hair. You can't have any hair showing, and how do you block the hair while wearing makeup? We've already had an issue with applicants just ignoring the facial features aspect of balaclavas and morph suits/blackout masks, which is why the text was changed in the first place and removed blackout/mask not being the only piece. The problem was with the majority of applicants, and so it was decided that masks for features would be the accepted bit. Honestly, if people come to me during their application and say, "You know what? I think I shouldn't have to use a mask, because you can see my lips and nose through this blackout/morph mask" I would give it the go-ahead and tell the GML to thumbs up the costume. But, most applicants either won't care if it requires an under mask, or won't bother to try and keep details regardless of what options we have listed. This next part I say from a completely factual POV and is in no way meant to be seen as mean or rude, but the bottom line is that 80-85% of applicants for all the major costumes in TFE are lazy and look to do the absolute bare minimum that will get a GML to approve them. Add to that the fact that a good handful of GMLs approve whatever they have come across their desks, and it turns into a landslide of sub-quality costumes. This is why I have been pushing so hard to get CRLs completed/updated since I started in 2017. Over 2 years of seeing photos submitted to the GML forums and even more approved without GMLs submitting the photos, and we have seen a large number of costumes that should not have been approved (not just with Nihilus). This isn't just a Detachment observation, but an LMO one, as well. Since CRLs are usually the only point where we, the Detachment, have anything to say or offer in regards to details that need to be present to match the standards of the 501st in approvals, we write them to be as absolutely general and translatable to ensure that future costumes approved to the Legion adhere to the same level of quality in a blanket-coverage. So, while I applaud you for personally being able to make the morph work and not require the mask to get the required facial details, I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that there are 25 other people who either can't or won't bother with matching what you have done if a morph mask is kept as an option.

The cape is supposed to be excessive in the amount of material there is, so it will be fine if you make sure to keep the front pulled back like the CRL picture here: You can also put an attachment like a hook or snap on the back of the knot and the under shirt where it should sit to make sure that it stays in place. I have also recommended people do the same for the part of the cape that goes over the shoulders so thy don't fall forward.

I'm glad to hear it! That's why we stress the importance of working with the detachment (either our costume mentors, DXO, or myself) to ensure as smooth of a process as possible. Always easier to redo a step instead of having to redo an entire costume if something is wrong.

The layers are just difficult to see due to the lighting and the knot being so low. Not an issue if there are, in fact, two layers that you can see along the part that crosses over from the left to the right. I see the bump now that you meant. I was looking at something completely different, so disregard that! I agree that it is still probably fabric or attachment from the mask, so not a difficult fix.

I just had a talk with some folks about the possibility of a blackout mask that has the features somehow INSIDE the mask. An idea that I came up with that would still allow the use of the blackout mask (I really do understand the bulkiness and heat issue) without losing the facial features would be to have a lower jaw only mask section inside the black out mask and then the white mask over the mask. The blackout mask could be attached to the lower mask section so that it sat naturally while being worn and expressed the facial features. What do you think of this as an option? I'm not at all against finding "other" methods to create the necessary details, it is just finding one that doesn't compromise overall requirements.

The knot issue will actually be fixed quite easily after you pull back the cape behind the shoulders (should always be behind the shoulders). When you say deformation, do you just mean the sides of the mask looking like they have pieces cut out? I also thing that is just fabric, so shouldn't be an issue. I agree on the cat ears (what you referred to as horns) in rounding the tips out just ever so slightly. The cape width should also be fixed after you pull the cape back behind your shoulders. As for the mask, there are premade ones you can buy online for very cheap that fit under the white mask OR that are attached to the balaclava so that you don't have overlap of the two masks for fit and comfort. My only concern is that I can't see the upper part of the tunic, so I can 't tell if you have the double layers or not.

That is, by far, the only blackout mask photo I have seen submitted to actually have a lip. That's the problem. In the hundreds of photos submitted in the GML thread, none of them have facial features. So, we have to go for what the majority are capable of replicating and successfully achieving, not a single person's ability to do it.

Congrats! I'll upgrade your stuff now.

Looking good. They seem large, but the references show them as such. This is the clearest one I could find right away. It was actually a rendering done by a friend of Thomas' but it gets the point across.

It was changed because both references for the COTF version of Nihilus have very pronounced facial features that a blackout mask or balaclava do not and can not replicate. Many of the CRLs are changing because they were wrong or lacked vital details for accuracy of characters that has led to a slew of inaccuracies seen over many different costumes in the Legion. DarthSkeletor is right in that this does not apply to already approved COTF Nihilus, but it is advised for the sake of accuracy to the costumes. We've been working very closely with the LMOs to bring the CRLs up to a level on par with other detachments in terms of quality, and this was one of the things that was added to support the decision.

It looks fantastic. My only concern, is the fabric pleather-like?

I can get measurements when I get back home this week if you can remind me.

Good luck!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Email notifications seem to be slow to me (or Gmail decides it wants to filter them), so if it takes a couple of days, you can send me a PM about it.

What are you intending on making it out of? Need an idea of what you are planning to do before we can offer advise

I just got to see a DC Props one in person and as a word of caution, there are several issues with it, so I would steer clear while looking.

Neat!

The metal piece on the heel would also have to be removed, but the rest would meet minimum requirements for the boots. Also, when you get to the soft parts, don't pleat the shoulders! They are bunched and gathered.

So long as you use a design that matches the references and it is sealed and painted so that it does not look 3D, then there is nothing saying you can't. The kicker is that most people don't fill and seal the prints, so they have the lines still. Even if faint, the lines should not be visible at all.

Is this foam? Make sure you seal it and paint it as the armor shouldn't have any texture to it and should be completely smooth.

Congrats!