shovelmaster88

Andor's ISB staff are a stylish group, and Dedra Meero's modified Rimowa attaché case is my favorite of their accessories. I'm a huge fan of Rimowa's designs and have a couple of their (secondhand!) small cases, so I'm excited to be putting this prop together! I'll be making this its own thread, as well as putting the same process information in my main build thread, in hopes that it might be useful to others in the future. 
 
 
 
First off, here are some screenshots of this gorgeous prop! (Huge Imgur album link) 
 
And the CRL description, for reference: 
- Based on a vintage Rimowa “Limbo” Attaché. - Approximate dimensions are 13.78 inches (350 mm) x 7.09 inches (280 mm) x 3.94 inches (100 mm). - Has a black ribbed pattern on the sides. - The center where the two halves meet gives the appearance of aluminum. - A silver greeblie that gives the appearance of being made of aluminum is present on the lower left side. ________________
Hmm, as I'm writing this, I realize that instead of starting right off with my build process, I'm going to have to go on a tangent with some math. Sorry! Scroll to the next horizontal line to skip to the build. 
 
I don't think the dimensions listed in the CRL are correct. I think this is primarily typos with unit conversion (the millimeter measurements look decent, but the inch measurements are listed first and are definitely way off), but I'll back up my thought with data because that's how we make Partagaz proud: 
The body of the case (excluding the handle, feet, and strap loops) is slightly over 5x the height of Meero's belt, making a good estimate for its height a little over 10" tall. This checks out when counting the grooves: It has 11.5, each of which (standard for aluminum Rimowa cases from this time period) should be about 22.5mm high. Add .5cm at the top and bottom for the exterior curve and the aluminum framing, and we're at about 260mm, or 10.2" tall.  Zooming out to think about proportion generally, the bottom of Meero's case hits just above the tops of her boots when her arm is straight down.  7" (plus handle) would not reach that far. One can also picture carrying a briefcase smaller than a sheet of legal paper: It would look silly!  Based on what's onscreen, I would list the dimensions of the body of the case as approximately 35cm (13.8in) x 26cm (10.2in) x 9cm (3.5in), and perhaps note for proportion that it hangs approximately to the costumer's knee when carried. (I'm using cm rather than mm here to avoid giving a false impression of exactness.) 
 
Side note: I know we work from the CRL text, not the photos, but I think it's worth noting that the case in the CRL image is not the screen-accurate size either. It appears to be a modified "Limbo" attaché case, with 15.5 grooves, reinforced corners, and locking press latches on the top (rather than on the sides, as on the prop). The average eBay listed height for a case that looks like this is 37cm (15in), ± a few cm depending on whether you're counting the feet, handle, or other attachments, with a width of 47cm (18in). That larger-size case hits me (177.5cm / 5'10", long legs and short arms, narrow frame) mid-calf and looks proportionally enormous. It might be perfect for the costumer who made it! But if you are much shorter than I am you'll start endangering your ankle bones, and if you're much slighter you'll look like you're lugging a battering ram around. Importantly, the larger size attaché is by far the most available on the secondhand market, so I'd like to warn people in advance about comparing the CRL photo to, for example, eBay listings. If you count the grooves in that photo, they'll match lots of available cases, but you might be surprised by the size of the thing that ends up at your door. 
 
As a last suggestion, unless we have absolute proof that the screen prop started as a Limbo model (and maybe not even then), I would also recommend not specifying "Limbo" in the CRL
Rimowa is notoriously bad at keeping archives, and the styles of cases within their classic pre-LVMH lines have changed a lot over time, so I don't think the line name is actually helpful information to costumers.  The dimensions onscreen are closest to the case most frequently listed as a "Topas" notebook attaché; conversely, searching for "Limbo" attaché cases brings up primarily polycarbonate ones that are much too large. The only case I've ever seen listed under the Limbo name (by an eBay seller, not an expert) and with the right dimensions was navy blue. I think it would be smarter to leave it at "vintage Rimowa attaché case," and let the dimensions and physical attributes – rather than the assumed line name – govern decision-making.  
 
Edit: I've found a thread about this that I didn't see in my previous searches. It looks like some of the issues I mentioned came up in discussion – @kman, I'd love to see how your very-tall-person-scale, drunk-eBay-purchase version turned out – but I don't know when the conversation took place in the timeline of the CRL. I'd be interested to know where PartsOfSW got the idea that it's a Limbo line case. 
________________
 
"A little damaged, perhaps, but I’d say it’s held its value."

 I own a very old, very ratty, very smelly Rimowa aluminum attaché case that I bought for basically nothing. It's the right size and has most of the right details, but will need some color changes and one structural change in addition to massive refurbishing and addition of the greeblie. It's also been in storage, and today I made the unhappy discovery that the old trim adhesive is melting in the heat, so I can add sticky to its list of charming attributes. 
Most important visually, my case has bare aluminum faces. I plan to cover it with the sort of vinyl used to wrap cars, the stuff I have is made by 3M. Glossy, snazzy, Imperial!  Most important structurally, my case has riveted-on corner protectors. Clearly, they haven't protected it well enough, as it has a gigantic dent under one of them. I'm going to Dremel out the one with the dent and have a look at what's going on in there while I fix the dent. Either I'll end up taking them all off and filling any resulting holes with steel putty, or I'll put the one back on and sand down the edges of all of them so they're less noticeable under the vinyl.  The black grip that's supposed to be at the underside of the handle has worn away entirely. Impressive! I'll fill the shape back in with epoxy putty and then either paint it or apply vinyl wrap.  The ribbed trim around the central aluminum between the halves has discolored with age, it was once grey but is now a nasty brown. Luckily, it seems to be structurally fine in most places, just… sticky. I'll take it off, remove the old adhesive residue, paint it black to match the prop, and put it back on with the same kind of double-sided tape that it started with.  There's a thin rubber gasket running around the case on one side of the opening. It used to be grey to match the aluminum around it (the screen prop appears to have the same), but it's now brown. I've found some 3mm-wide rubber tubing for putting in under caulk where there's significant thermal expansion, it fits in the space and matches nicely. I'd like to avoid permanent adhesive with it, I'll see how it fits.  I scaled JeanetteMakes' beautiful greeblie model down and printed it in plastic and resin. I'm currently sanding it and plan to hit it with silver Rub-n-Buff. It'll be the most fragile part of the case (I'd like to get it in metal, eventually), and it sticks off the side just waiting to get bonked on things. I'll need to attach it so that the connection fails before the part itself breaks, and right now I'm thinking… Command strip? I'll have to experiment.  There's also a black rectangular protrusion on top, where the combination lock is. At first glance, it looks like… a replacement combination lock from Rimowa, haha. It's only visible for a split second, so I'll return to it later.  The interior lining smells like cigarette smoke and mold, and it's rotting and peeling away at the corners, exposing some sharp bent metal bits. This is going to be annoying to remove, as it has some kind of paper backing that's glued on intensely. And I'm sad to lose the nice little pockets. Oh well.  I'm not sure what I'll do with the interior once I'm done. If I can think of a fun/useful item to carry while trooping, it would be cool to carve out some foam to fit it. (My full-sized datapad does not fit, nor would a stunning vintage Imperial Starpath unit.) Suggestions very welcome!  
Here's the case at the start, with its very nice plastic/adhesive tentacles. 
  
  Detail of the latches on the sides, plus the very nice dent at the corner. 
 
On the right,
The gross lining and rubber gasket I wrestled off of the case. I wore a mask, but I've literally got hives.   Approximately a mile of accursed double-sided tape that refused to stay on the case but stuck so hard to my rubber gloves it tore holes. On the left,
The plastic trim I'm saving to clean and re-paint later, sorted so I don't get the pieces mixed up A sample piece of rubber gasket (original color just barely showing on one end that was hidden under a hinge) in case I need it. 
 
And here's my nice greeblie modeled by JeanetteMakes, with the front just starting its long sanding journey. 

 
I've taken hot water and dish soap to the case as a preliminary step – it at least feels psychologically less disgusting now – and the obnoxious paper interlining is now soaking overnight and thinking about the consequences of its actions. To be continued! 
 

Actually, right off the bat I do notice a few things about your men's coat diagram that could be confusing for someone trying to create or work with a pattern. The men's and women's coats are obviously counterparts, but they have some strikingly different shapes and proportions.
 
I think these are some of the most distinguishing elements of the men's version that the diagram isn't currently clear on: 
The men's coat is longer in its lower section than the women's, with the hip pockets halfway between the hem and the shoulders. The coat is belted slightly above the natural waist, about 1/3 down the total length. The split up the back vent therefore ends well above the middle point of the coat, at the belt or just below.  The topstitched section at the bottom of the coat should be taller than in the diagram, and it should continue all the way around the back. Most importantly, it's currently missing the right angle that gives it its relationship to the cutout/center panel in the women's version.  The men's collar has a steeper angle, and ends further forward than on the women's coat. Where it terminates, its bottom edge is parallel to the floor, not far above the code cylinder pockets. It typically stays within the raglan seam bounds.  On the men's coat, the lapels aren't as wide as on the women's, they stay closer to the center of the coat body and leave more space on either side. They extend to approximately the same width as the collar. If you look at Partagaz, Heert, Grymish, or (especially) Joydali, for example, their lapels don't touch the raglan sleeve seam the way Meero and Lepori's do.   The hip pockets are larger and lower than in the current diagram. On the coats, the topstitched D-shaped outline is 4-5 belt widths high!   With the exception of Heert, who seems to wears his coat notably similarly to Dedra's (aww), the breast pocket is almost completely invisible. I might move it inward on the diagram so it's past the edge of the overlay.  Since that turned out to be a lot of words, I've done a VERY rough sketch right on top of the diagram for you, and grabbed a few more photos for reference. 
 
 
I hope that's helpful! 
 

I've ordered a blue tunic from Wampawear, which is supposed to be very similar to the actual series. I will upload the pics when it arrives.

813 and 4004 seem to look right for the costume!

Congratulations!

goooooood...welcome on the IOC

Welcome aboard!
 

Just got my line and military officer approved. Good luck 🤞 

Congratulations and welcome to the IOC ✌️

Thank you @kman 
 
I am now approved! 
ID-25301

Hello guys, my tailor has sent me the uniform and it looks great but I just want to make sure it fits the crl (until level 3) 
Hope hear from you on this one. 
@kman








I think I am almost at an end of this journey towards officers. 
I really hope this meets the standards but of not, PLZ give me a feedback 
 

Here's some pics taken from outside




 

Thank you for your kind feedback.
I've arranged a meeting with another tailor to get the neck fixed with a panel(not sure if that is what she meant, but she said she can do it, although it would be a tough job for her since the collar is sewn not by her), and the job can begin in June this year. Hope to get it right with other small improvements I've planned to get for this uniform. Now I just have to get the ISB officer with my Mazcave uniform with the pants and the hat, which is okay. I've also got ISB Attendant Tunic from Jim so that is another officer to be approved  
 
 
Regarding with the code disk on my hat, the code disk is from Klaus. 
 


 
Here is the close-up on the hat.
 
Also good news! My Merrsonn 5 blaster is ready, and it is beautiful! Just need some brown paint on the wooden holster side  

Thank you for your kind feedback.
I've arranged a meeting with another tailor to get the neck fixed with a panel(not sure if that is what she meant, but she said she can do it, although it would be a tough job for her since the collar is sewn not by her), and the job can begin in June this year. Hope to get it right with other small improvements I've planned to get for this uniform. Now I just have to get the ISB officer with my Mazcave uniform with the pants and the hat, which is okay. I've also got ISB Attendant Tunic from Jim so that is another officer to be approved  
 
 
Regarding with the code disk on my hat, the code disk is from Klaus. 
 


 
Here is the close-up on the hat.
 
Also good news! My Merrsonn 5 blaster is ready, and it is beautiful! Just need some brown paint on the wooden holster side  

So excited to see them soon!  I better get my uniform approved soon as well!

I am so glad the fabric worked out! What an adventure it’s been. 

Thank you for your feedback. It really helps me find the fault and get it fixed to be as authentic as possible. 
I've requested the hat to be changed... Hopefully, it can be done. 
 
For the bubble look on the fabric, I think it is because it wasn't ironed and was folded in the box for too long. (I just took them out and wore them to see the fit so after the modification is done, I will get them drycleaned and iron them to get them to look straight. 

Looks good overall!  My one main critique would be the hats.  The bills on those seem very long, like baseball hats.  These are not baseball hats.
 
Minor stuff, I think your rank badge should go a little lower, as it looks a bit high.  And there's an odd almost bubbled look on the fabric right dead center in the front of your tunic, does that just need some ironing, perhaps?
 
The sleeves are a little short, yes, although you could probably cheap that some with gloves.  Better if they can be lengthened.

Yeah, I don't think I'd approve that for Level 2.  There are a number of issues with it, some easy to correct with a repaint, some less so.  Biggest issues are the muzzle color (should be all black), that odd heat sink mounted on top under the "scope" greeblie, and the silver side greeblie with the red "power levels" (I assume) indicated, which also should simply be black.

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the info!

Merry Christmas from Frankfurt!

After months of late nights patterning, dyeing, sewing by machine and hand, painting, gluing, leather work, learning to do hair and makeup… I am finally finished with my first costume and approved! I am now officially ID-73340 of Empire City Garrison! 
 
Thank you so much to everyone from the sewing "support group" and my build thread (which I need to update massively) for all your ideas and encouragement, especially @kman and @Halcyon – and @shadan for being the best possible friend when I was having a dark night of the soul over my approval photos. 😅 I can't wait to get trooping. 
 

 

Keep trooping also provides a tailored uniform.

She is finally approved!
https://imgur.com/a/wife-501st-approved-luI5Axj
I am so proud of my wife. Now, all I need is to get approved...