Allfather

Kinda super late posting in here again. Seems my old link to the forums died and I just found the new one. My IK was finally finished, submitted, and approved late last month. I R finally a 501st member. TR-33313 (I like 3's ) I also wound up making the tunic with tabbards out of actual leather. I got a fantastic deal on a full hide of motorcycle jacket weight leather and just couldn't pass it up. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210333529587327&set=pb.1014580021.-2207520000.1486055142.&type=3&theater

A small update: Got the extensions added to the chest plate to allow it to reach around my fat to meet the back plate. Gonna sand and trim the extension pieces tonight (now that the liquid plastic has finally set up) and add in the closures between the chest and back to be as seamless as possible while letting me actually put the armor on. Then on to making the harness to hook all the armor parts together to wear. I also picked up some really nice, Kenneth Cole riding boots to replace my old ones. No straps on these. Just plain leather boots that are actually comfortable (not really used to comfort in my costume boots ). Tunic material is laid out with some batting to make the quilted lines. Gonna give the liquid leather material a try since I have about half a bolt of it. Pants will have to be disassembled and quilted at some point (but I want to get this wearable by next weekend for a convention, so that will probably have to wait till after that). Leather and hardware for the belt is also laid out for cutting and the dye is now on hand.

One thing I have noticed about the sizing issue with the shoulders is that the first set I bought were absolutely HUGE. But...so were most of the pieces. This set has much smaller shoulders and they seem to be fairly proportionate to my frame (I can't use these for a bloody Mando ab plate like the last set ). Hopefully, I will get the garage at this new apartment set up as a workshop and the extensions on the sides of the chest plate so I can get the armor strapped together for a test fit. I will be sure to post some decent pics to see how the sizing matches up to references when I do. I'll take your advice on the pouches and just whip up a couple of simple leather ones. Thanks.

Howdy. Yet another silly question: Are the Imperial Knights approvable for 501st membership again? Last I had heard, Thomas said there was a moritorium on them, but I was just told that others have been approved in the last month or so. Could I get an official answer on this as I am now completely confused (kinda my normal state...but whatever ).

I would appreciate any help and advise I can get. Thanks I understand the costume is not being accepted for 501st again, so it was kinda a long shot asking around here. But this place has the best collection of references and discussions on the costume (as well as the only 501st approved one as DCO ), so figured I would ask anyway. Thanks again for any help you all can give.

Well...let us see if this question gets any better (or any) responses For the tunic, I had planned to use upholstery leather or some black vinyl (I have a ton of that stuff). But, while moving and cleaning out/rearranging the sewing stuff, I found an almost full bolt of black "liquid leather" material. It is used in everything from leggings to purses to give the leather look without the weight. I am thinking of using it to make the tunic to keep it light and pliable. But I don't think it will hang right for the tabbards. So my question is: could the tunic and tabbards be a different material so long as they look the same color and texture wise?

Never got around to seeing the original IK CRL proposal (and can't find it anywhere now), but the Rebel Legion one has a line about an optional belt pouch. Would any of you guys or gals have a pic of what their pouches should look like? I finally got moved into the new apartment and hope to get started on the tunic, strapping, and belt in the coming weeks and would like to have an appropriate-looking pouch to hold my stuff while trooping.

Well, I got reinterested in this costume when I saw it had been accepted by the 501st. Since ordering the armor and reshaping the back plate some, I found out it is no longer accepted (a least for now). Pretty bummed about that (not a fan of most 501st costume choices), but gonna finish it anyway cuz I have just spent too much time and money on it to stop this time. Here are some pics from my initial reshape and quick paint job. I still need to get the chest plate extensions added to fit around my fat gut. But I'm in the middle of ditching my house and moving into an apartment, so might be a bit before I get back on it. Maybe this thread will help keep me motivated through all these set-backs. Pics: Good thing is that this set seems to fit me much better than the first set I bought. That one was bloody HUGE. I have material for the cape (gonna make a hood that can velcro in for when I want a hood), gloves, boots, and a pair of leather pants I plan to take apart and quilt. Leather is on hand for the belt and planning to buy back my saber I made and sold to a bud since he upgraded to a nicer one. I'll try and update this as I go. Wish me luck.

Now that the 1st IK has been approved (congratz, again, Thomas ), how long do you all think it will be before a written CRL is available for the costume? I am restarting my IK thanks to a smaller set of the armor and would really like to get it as close as I possibly can with my limited skills and equipment.

Thomas, Could you link to the original CRLs for this costume as I have no clue what got changed and what would have to be modified from the only kit I know of that can be bought by those of us without the skills or equipment to actually make our own from scratch. I see a few variations in the armor and the soft parts between costumes and artwork (much like many of the other comic-based costumes and even movie/TV ones) and don't know for certain exactly which, specific version you would consider the one all the IK costumes have to be based off of. I like to make my costumes as accurate as possible (even my customs if based on something specific). But, if no one openly questions or offers notes on what would make something actually pass muster when looking at drawings which can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on the artist, colorist, and even the printer...makes things virtually impossible to get it "just right" in everyone's eyes. I, for one, would appreciate any help I can get as I have wanted to do this costume since the first time I saw it in the comics (even shot you a message about yours right after you "finished" it).

If you have not got an answer yet, go check the Rebel Legion forums. There is a for sale thread there (and one here as well, but the RL one is updated with new sizes ). As far as the 501st approval goes, IKs have not been approved as of yet. I don't have access to the 501st forums to see if it is even up for discussion anymore, but I really hope it is since it looks weird having one character approvable...but his guards are not . So I would not be surprised if they wind up approvable for the 501st at some point.

I have always used some good quality liquid latex like RD407 or something. I have heard good things about a new(ish) version of prosaid that is more like a thicker foam and fills seams very good. I've never used it, though, so I don't have a first-hand review of it.

I had problems with removing the battery pack on my Ultrasaber, too. It was just too tight a fit to get a grip on. I glued a small piece to the bottom of it that I can grab hold of with my needle nose pliers and haven't had a problem since.

Mine is BEDLAMX (cuz I'm soooooo original and clever ) and my wife's is MNDOGRL (closest she could get to Mando Girl). My favorite of all time was a buddy of mine's tags on his late 60s Cadilac Hearse: U21DAY . Classic

They are good for the cost. I have 3 or 4 now and never had any problems with them. But I have only bought the cheaper "stunt" ones with no sound or extra goodies. If I want all that stuff, I'd rather build it myself from TCSS parts. I can not build one for what they sell their lower end ones for.

I get called Boba when in my Mando...but it's mainly because my colors are EXRTREMELY close to Boba's (what can I say? Love customs, but Boba's the man ). My Jedi is always called Coran Horn because of the green and black (even though the look is based more off of Dass Jennir cuz I liked his long white hair).

I tend to do more obscure characters (or at least keep trying...darned finances always getting in my way of finishing Tol) because I hate shaving, the thought of cutting my hair, and not too big on helmets. So to do a "face" character, that usually only leaves the more obscure ones. Tol Skorr is my next obscure one (maybe...if I can ever get the frakin thing done). But, like Thomas, I costume for myself. There is a reason I am not in the 501st. It's because I just don't like many of the costumes that are approvable and I refuse to do one just to get into a group. I love my customs (my Mando and my Jedi) because I like to get creative and use my imagination. Maybe one day I'll get Tol and the IK done. I'd also like to do a movie style Odin since I was told I have the look for it (my dad actually looks a lot like Anthony Hopkins in the roll). But, as usual, cash and time kinda keep me from doing a lot of the things I want .

I guess when I get mine done and (hopefully) approved for RL, I may go ahead and throw it to the 501st just to see how it goes. Hey...worst they can do is say "no"

Daritha: It was pointed out to me that the boots can also be plain, black riding style boots (just below the knee) with a buckle at the top, but no other ornamentation. So I can deal with this much easier than I had anticipated. I would really like to see this costume get dual approvals as a good case can be made for both sides.

Hope you're right about that. Seems I'm going to have to make my boots from some other riding or engineer boots. Luckily, I like working on things like that. It's just kinda tough to find a good base in a small size that isn't ungodly expensive Really diggin your IK, by the way. Nice job

Love that it got approved somewhere. Had hoped for 501st, but totally understand the reasoning. Too bad they restrict the boots to one specific style, though. Them things is tough to find in my size and budget

Well...small update. No actual sewing or building done yet, but I did hear back from Jan and she gave me quite a bit of wonderful news and pointers. I now know I have the correct boots, the buckle is MUCH easier than I had thought, and she approved the saber design as being perfect for Tol. I had hoped to get this done by Dragon Con this year, but that is probably not going to happen due to lack of funds and time (and too many other costumes to get ready for the rest of the family). Hopefully, I will be able to get some extra cash after Dragon and try to get it done by year's end. I have the materials for the shirt, pants, and under vest. After the e-mails with Jan, I plan to do the chest, shoulder, and forearm armor in a rigid and figured material (most likely plastic, but you never know with me). The belt and pouches should be fairly simple and the kama is a no-brainer. I think if I had the cash for the saber, I could pull this off pretty quickly. Like I said, hope to have some updates and pics after Dragon.

take twenty (Yeah...I'm a true geek )

I use it to blend my edges. It's a lot thicker than the slip/slush latex you usually get at costume or halloween shops so it fills in the gaps nicely. One other thing I have had to use before on thicker appliances is using a Q-tip dipped in witch hazel to smooth out the edges. You have to use a VERY small amount of the witch havel, though. It reacts with the latex and kinda "melts" the latex and allows it to blend edges to almost invisible. A light coat of latex finishes it up nicely. Only problem with the wh is that, eventually, you'll have to replace the cap due to the edges moving back a fraction of an inch each time you put it on. Since I rarely reuse my appliances, this isn't much of a problem for me, but may be undesirable for you. Oh...if you haven't tried it yet, there is a new(er) adhesive out there called Beta Bond. It's a little less irritating than Pros Aide with the same hold. I wore my Wraith full face appliance for about 4 or 5 hours at Dragon last year with no peeling at all. Telesis makes a WONDERFUL remover (I think it's called Super Solv, but I'll check when I get home to be sure) that disolves just about any adhesive and does not irritate the skin. It can even be sprayed over lace that has been glued down to remove it without destroying it. Removes tough make-up like nobody's business, too . I think both of those came from FX Warehouse. I only order from them and MonsterMakers, so it has to be one or the other. Hope some of this is helpful to you.

Looking good. As far as a hole in the bald cap, if it is a latex cap, you could cut the hole for the parts to come through and then apply a few light layers of RD-407 mask latex to it in the inside around the holes. Monster Makers sells it and it is some seriously durable stuff. I use it for prosthetics and appliances all the time and it's actually difficult to rip them when done. Can't wait to see it with the rifle.