Imperialrebel

Hello Officer uniform makers!
We thought it would be good to have a quick primer on how to go about creating a NTTL CRL.
 
First, decide what you're trying to accomplish.
Is it a completely new, never done in the 501st costume?  That's NTTL. Is it an officer that wears an existing IOC/501st costume, but maybe with a funny hat?  That's probably not NTTL.  
For completely New to the Legion costumes, you need to consider a few things.
Is the character a "Bad Guy"?  That's the easiest qualifier, though that isn't a hard set rule.  See Bith Musicians. Is the character portrayed by a human?  For example, IG-88, or IG-11 wouldn't qualify as they were droids without people in them.  And before you ask, Gonk droids and R2 units don't count either.  
Once you decide what you're going for, and have a good idea if it will be allowed, you need to think about which Detachment it would fall under.  Take a look through the existing Detachment CRL Lists to see which one will be best suited to helping you in the process.
 
Then you'll want to make a forums account there, introduce yourself and see if anyone has started on the same path as you.  You'd be surprised to see how many times someone will start their research and then have life get in the way.  Why not use that info (if it's there)?  It also helps to ask the staff what they think.  They might not see your project as a good fit, and will almost always suggest where they think it (and thus you) would be better served.
 
So now you have your character.  You feel confident it will work.  You have an idea where to post your project.  What next?
References.  Photos from the source.  Behind the scenes. Deleted scenes.  Art books.  Artist sketches.  Trading cards. You name it, you're gonna need it, and it needs to be official.  Fan art doesn't count.
And keep in mind, we aren't just looked at from the front.  You need all angles.  Front, sides, back.
When you think you have enough, keep looking.  You want this air tight, locked down from the get go.
 
This Legion link is the last word on the issue, because the post you're reading isn't all encompassing.
CRL Guide  Read it.  Know it.  You will be tested.
 
Scared yet? Don't be.  Creating a NTTL is the hardest, most rewarding thing we do as costumers in the 501st.  Not everyone can do it.  In fact very few do.  But don't be discouraged.  The IOC staff is here to help!  We want you to succeed!!

And another update. I fixed up the rank band so now it should be correct. Finally bit the bullet and attempted to make a silver badge and finally got my belt and hat badge. Now just need to finish making the hat and I think I am almost ready. 
 



 

I have been taking the photos from a lower angle which I think may affeact the perception a little but yes, the belt is a stand in and doesn't sit where I want it. Hopefully it will look a bit more accuract now that I got the proper belt

lantern2745, great picture! 
 
I have given it a go. Not sure about the belt in general but hopefully it is ok. I am still waiting to get the Sith Logo for the buckle and hopefully that will work
 

 
I am amazed at how many tiny details there are in this costume. Speaking of, do you happen to have a close up of the rank band? I did a mockup using ones I saw on FO officers but from what I can tell, the Aurabesh is different for these ones and I cannot find a clear picture (and am clearly a novice in Aurabesh) I have no idea what will be on the correct band. Thank you for all your help and support.
 
 

Ask and you shell recieve 
 

 
Still need to get the right belt buckle and gloves, secure the rank sleeve and make the hat and the jacket badge but I feel like I am on the home stretch now. The Shark Pants are so derpy and I love them! (And yes, I am aware there is no neck seal in this picture. I forgot to put it on for the pic and now I can't be bothered retaking it)

So did a quick costest today. Still need to put the rank band and badge on the jacket, need to get a Sith Logo printed for the belt, get a proper set of gloves and the pants and boots are stand ins for the actual ones which will be coming soon.  Oh, and figure out the hat. 
 
Still, really pleased with how its coming along. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.
 

JDos Props is open to doing them as well.  I can't remember if he's done them or was willing to do them.  I'd been in contact with him awhile back about it. 

So did a quick costest today. Still need to put the rank band and badge on the jacket, need to get a Sith Logo printed for the belt, get a proper set of gloves and the pants and boots are stand ins for the actual ones which will be coming soon.  Oh, and figure out the hat. 
 
Still, really pleased with how its coming along. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.
 

So another lockdown update from my Seamstress friend.
 



 
Lining and piping is now on. We just need to add the hook and eyes to hold the collar, add the small metal bar on the shoulder and the rank band and iron it and its ready. 
 
Next stage is the pants. And my friend has indicated, if we manage to get this to pass muster, she would be interested in commissions for these (I think she has had a lot of fun making this)
 
I am about to start working on the belt at my house and sourcing the gloves. Still have no idea on the hat but the ROS Art book indicated it is very similar to the Imperial Officer hat but with the Stormtrooper neckseal style on the inside.
 

 
Not sure what everyone else's thoughts are on this but would love to hear if anyone noticed anything different. 

So another lockdown update from my Seamstress friend.
 



 
Lining and piping is now on. We just need to add the hook and eyes to hold the collar, add the small metal bar on the shoulder and the rank band and iron it and its ready. 
 
Next stage is the pants. And my friend has indicated, if we manage to get this to pass muster, she would be interested in commissions for these (I think she has had a lot of fun making this)
 
I am about to start working on the belt at my house and sourcing the gloves. Still have no idea on the hat but the ROS Art book indicated it is very similar to the Imperial Officer hat but with the Stormtrooper neckseal style on the inside.
 

 
Not sure what everyone else's thoughts are on this but would love to hear if anyone noticed anything different. 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

So due to isolation and my seamstress friend's work closing, she has been bored and decided to work on my Sith tunic (its currently at her house because she had the fabric and mock up pattern on her when she went into isolation) We made the mock up pattern (green one) together but she is bored and made up the whole tunic herself and is now up to adding the red piping and lining to cover the invisible zip. 
 
She wanted me to stress that this is v01 and not nearly neat or clean enough for her but honestly, having not seen it in person since the pattern stage due to lockdown, I am amazed at how it looks. 
 
Me, being in a different home, made up the rank band the other day. 
 

Hi Everyone! I am the cadet mentioned above. 
 
I've been working on and off on this one for a few months now with a seamstress friend who was looking for a challenge and told me she wants to make a ridiculous costume. We have so far patterned a tunic we are both fairly happy with from what we could see from the movie and the encyclopedia guide. We have gone with the idea of an invisible zip up the front, hidden by red piping or embroidery. We were planning to put together a v01 of the tunic in the next few days (already cut out with a medium weight black cotton but since we are both in isolation, we have had to pass it on to each other every few days. I am currently the one without so working on the little pieces)
 
I also made an embroidered rank band based on the First Order Captain ones (glad to know I am not the only one who can't read the one in the picture) and managed to find a 3D file for the Sith Logo on the hat and belt. I have a Imperial Belt buckle on order (sans the central cog) and some First Order boots as it looks like that is the ones worn here. 
 
I have no idea what is going on with the hat so if anyone has a back or side picture of it, I would love to have a look.
 
I have a build thread going on the Knightfall Forum which I am happy to post here if anyone is interested to see my W.I.P. and what I have deduced from my own investigations.
 
Looking forward to working on this with you all and getting your input