Chef

I think it might be pertinent for us all to get together and take some measurements of the various buckets up on the forum. This question seems to be rearing it's ugly head quite a lot of late. So I think we should collate a bit of a database for comparison.

Cheers Terry... that's superb. Do you mind if I copy this and stick it on our Garrison forum? Although I think the Lancer specs need updating a little. We know the Belt was secured with Velcro (similar to the TK Belt). But that's just a minor point..

There is no such thing as Legion Approved... Everything we do is unlicensed, and the Legion cannot give any Approval for anything. I think what they are referring to is that the person must be 501st registered. I.E, have a 501st Cleared costume and belong to a Garrison.

hmmmm.... I'd say nay myself... Like you say, they do look cheap, but surprisingly are not! Those ones that Chris posted (two up) are still better. And much much cheaper!

sweet.... I still do like the RG lid too... I'd never do the costume. Too much standing around and being eclipsed by Vader.

Heidi... I don't think for a minute that this is directed solely at you. It's more likely to have come about with the recent shenanigans concerning Crow, and a few others (which have not occurred on this forum). I can understand people's concerns about "not being able to get stuff", but seriously, this isn't the case. Where there is a will, there is a way. Like Heidi, she's getting her own stuff made. I don't advertise any of my stuff here....... purely because it is an unsecured forum. Does that mean I loose out on people asking me for things. For sure, yes. Does that bother me... Not in the slightest. And the intention is not to drive newbies away. Probably completely the opposite. We in the UKG have found that by engaging new recruits early with a personal approach (via PM), then they are much more inclined to participate on the boards than they are just lurking. They have a familiar point of contact, which to refer to. Does it make more work for us... YES, hell, yes. But that's what we are there for. We accept that is the price for doing what we do. Things always have a way of being noticed... I'll take Heidi's DLT-19 as an example. It gets built... I can guarantee that someone will go... WOW can you make me one? And thus the ball starts rolling. That's what happened for me. All it takes is a little time and patience. This forum is not supposed to be an 'off the peg' Biker Scout Store. We have to remember, EVERYTHING that you make/put on is all UNLICENSED. With Disney having the rights. To ALL of it. And that last point may also be a driving factor behind all this. So don't take anything personally. It's a case of CYA. Cover Your Arse!

As it works over on the UK Garrison forum.... 1: Newbie asks the question. 2: Armourer then PM's that newbie with the information he seeks. 3: Job done..... We've NEVER had non-501st access to the For Sales section on our boards, and we're the 2nd biggest Garrison in the world. It isn't a hinderance. Plus it draws them into the community, rather than just browsing the board, finding the information they want and toddling off again.

I have to say that this really is a bit of a contentious issue. As an individual that does make stuff for others (when they ask), and having seen good friends on the receiving end of incredibly bad, bordering on criminal treatment (I won't even say service... because taking your money and not delivering the items isn't service). So what do you do??? On the UK Garrison forums, the for sale section is locked out until you are a 501st Member, for ALL users. Vendors and Purchasers alike. We do use an Armourer based system where prospective recruits can be put in the direction of reputable vendors. These chaps have their finger on the pulse of their chosen costume and know who's giving good product, good service, decent price, good lead times and the such like. I think having the for sale section as a bit of a Private section is a good idea. It does give a vendor a bit of anonymity from potential prying eyes, and if a new recruit can't see something, the usual happening is that they ask.... A conscientious chap would then drop that person a PM if there is something in the for sale section for them. How to protect people from parting with their hard earned money.... I'm not entirely sure this can be done, especially when people are being forced to pay FULL COST, UP FRONT.... and then having to wait 3-4 Months (and possibly more) in order to receive their items... To be honest, this is just plain wrong.... If a vendor has got a 6 months + backlog.... then they really need to sort themselves out and stop taking on further orders. Most plastic based armour can be pulled within a week (tops...). And if they've got your money up front... there is no incentive for them to rush to get it to you!! And this needs a fundamental attitude shift on the part of the vendors... There is nothing you can do on the forums to combat this short of not recommending them... The same goes for those vendors who drop the ball on quality control (as KS did a while back...). I would like to think that a vendor is 501st registered, and not purely in it for the money! The Issue of vendor rep points, is also a very tricky one. Whilst some people are happy to wait 9 months for their stuff... others may not be happy waiting 9 minutes, so this can be at the mercy of the individual and how picky they are. So all in all I don't think that there is any one solution that fits all. But overall, the onus should be on protecting the community and providing them with the best we can. I'd recommend the following. 1: Locking out the For Sale Forum to non 501st members. Recruits to be given information, vendors lists, recommendations etc by cleared members or designated forum individuals. 2: Vendors must be 501st registered. 3: Vendors to state a 'lead time' for their products. 4: Vendors falling behind their lead times without good reason..... (and "this is just a hobby..." ISN'T a good reason!) come off the recommendation list or at least have their for sales threads locked down until they are back up to running speed. My reasoning for this being... If they (the vendor) are not willing to abide by a little common courtesy to their customers, then they should not be taking peoples money! These costumes aren't cheap!!

The tube diameter should be somewhere in the region of 40mm... The original was some sort of swimming pool hose or something. I can't find anything over here that is even vaguely similar, so most of us end up using a vacuum cleaner hose. Dyson do a good silver colour.

I normally just put the strap under the suede edge, I don't bother going all the way round the thigh.

As a rough guide, the patch should extend down the inside of your leg, about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way between your crotch and your knee. The bottom section should be rounded. I basically do an arc from the lowest point to it's outer edge. The outer edges (front and rear) should run down the seam lines (or what would be the seam line if you had them....) or there abouts, so effectively the inner half of your leg has the patch on. The strap then goes around the outer half. The patch should go up high enough so it goes up underneath the cummerbund and doesn't end below it. This doesn't tend to be so critical on the back, because the butt flap tends to cover most of that area, So which ever template you use, you will generally have to scale it to suit your frame. Hope that makes sense.

Yeah, agreed Chris, they are indeed possibly the closest that I've seen in a long time. And you could probably argue the knuckle rib too. They do look pretty good. Nice find.

Yeah, SC is much bigger than MonCal armour. Not sure how it stacks up to KS armour though.

Nice and crisp there buddy. Looking good. really impressed.

Yup, or go one further and add a pop stud into the middle of your velcro patch.... That's my method and it's what I term "trooper-proof"

Given you my feedback on the Garrison boards buddy...

I think John (LoneWolf) had done a really snazzy and uber accurate cast of a Sierra sole. it was only in a size 10 or something though. Might be worth dropping him a line.

Chris... did you know if you get a load of ABS, cut it up into tiny bits, stick it in Acetone and leave it over night, it melts down into a kind of paste. You can use this as a filler for the gap. It bonds to the original surface and tends to stick much better than adding bondo or the likes. If you're really clever, you can then sand it back to the right shape, and might not even need to paint the bucket (but you'd have to be very good...). Just a thought.

Always the way Greg... Don't rush anything. Might as well get it right at this stage, rather than having to muck it all about again at a later date. If you are re-doing the cod piece, then you might want to make the top bit of it a bit wider too. The screen used ones are actually pretty wide when you look at them. I make mine with them being 10" across the top. But I wouldn't change it just for the sake of it.

Yup... hit it.

Yeah, the suit is easy to sort out. Just turn it inside out, put it on, take up the slack (leave yourself some moving room mind you... It doesn't want to be skin tight!), pin it together along this new line. Take it off, and then run the sewing machine up your new line, from top to bottom. When you turn it back out the right way, and put it on..... Hey presto, all the slack is taken out. Vests are a dog to make... If you've had a go, then kudos to you brother! And if you've managed to get that far, then really... sorting it out will be no bother. Again, the process will be the same, turn the vest inside out, take up the slack in the arms, mark and pin it, then run the machine down the new line. You can then cut off any of the excess. Do this under the bottom of the arm, because then it will be hidden. If the length is too long, just tuck it up back inside as Marcel says and just run a seam around the new bottom to hold it in place. SIMPLES!

You make a wish, spin round on your head 5 times and then whistle dixie.

You need an / in the second image tag.... [/img] Having had a nose through your pics... I'd make the following observations. I'd sort out the pouches a bit. They seem to sit funny. The left hand one (on you) seems to be a bit fly-away. The strapping on your drop boxes, the loose ends could be hidden on the insides, or better still, sewn together so you can't see them. Your bund is below your belt line at the back. You shouldn't be able to see any of the bund under the belt line. The flak vest arms seem a bit baggy, not a drama, they just balloon out a little. Same goes for the upper legs on your suit. The fish-hook on your lid seems to be a touch close to the corner of the visor. So all small stuff, but then I am being picky.... I'd also go for the extra strap on your knee armour (I can't quite see if one is there or not). Other than that, all good. All the bits are there, and in the right places!

I think we have to look at these in conjunction with the screen grabs and MotM and the Blu-rays. What didn't we know before the MotM exhibit: The Belt loops at the back, the rivet under the tank, the Knee rivets. These were found on the exhibit, and confirmed by checking the screen grabs. What didn't we know before the Blu-Ray The Det Greeblie, and the Bund/Pouch Stitching, Bund Material. These have been checked back against the screencaps to make sure. Yes, there are differences, omissions and a few goofs with both the MotM exhibit and the Blu-Ray, but I don't think we can dismiss them in their entirety. The only way to really nail it down would be to link up the weathering to a screen used suit. I've had a very brief look, but can't find anything definitive. I think what Patrick is trying to get at is that "would the usage of this material be clearable?" I don't think he is trying to say that everyone should go and change their bunds, it's more of a question of he thinks this material is the more screen accurate, and he is going to have to get that past his GML, who by the sounds of it, is not very open to new ideas. So with this being on the very head of the Lance so to speak in terms of development, is he likely to have the back-up of the Detachment or is he going to have to push this one on his lonesome?

+1 for TrooperBay. Mike's stuff is excellent, and his delivery time is spot on too.