Bulldog1653

I either do the fist pose like this one, pointing forward, or hands behind my back. One side effect that my wife caught me in last week is that I've started unconsciously defaulting to these poses for any pictures. Not always the best look for your happy family pic!

Salutes are supposed to be when covered (meaning a hat on for those of you who are unfamiliar with military terms) and outside. There are many movies that show saluting inside a building with no cover on (mostly World War II movies, shows, etc) but that has since changed. 
    For those of you who are interested, when you're in military uniform (at least with the US military), any time you enter a building, you are supposed to remove your cover/hat and put it on any time you're outside. (I speak from experience having these regulations drilled into my head
    I am well aware that this is cosplay and not a rigid requirement to salute, etc but I do think that it's important to have the bearing of a military officer/ crewmember. In my eyes, it makes it that much more realistic to people when you make an appearance.

Hello all,
 
     After a lengthy absence, I'm back and this post caught my eye. First and foremost, I agree that a work in progress thread should be started. Any and all questions could easily be answered by veteran members with expertise.
     Secondly, I have to strongly disagree with the assessment of the CosPlaySky uniform. The uniform shown in my profile picture is from Cosplaysky. When I received it and submitted pictures for, it was immediately approved. Now, I do need to add the fact that this is a tailor made uniform and it cost me an extra $25 (I think). I was NOT taking the chance of having it rejected because of a problem with the way it fit me. The ONLY complaint I have with it is the zipper failed after my 15th troop (I'm on #36 now). I looked into having it fixed and found it would cost me quite a it to have it redone.
     As for the hat and belt from Cosplaysky, I can't speak intelligently about it because I never bought those items from them. Having said that, EVERYTHING I've heard about them steered me away from pulling the trigger. A friend of mine in my local Garrison (Mountain Garrison) makes the hats and it is DEAD on accurate. To give you an idea about how accurate it is, I was at Disneyland in September and was repeatedly asked about where I got it from. They were pretty impressed by the workmanship.

Regarding the salute, it's true that it's not something done/shown in the movies. However, I've done several troops where people (civilians) have saluted me an because I used to be in the Navy, I returned it automatically.
There was a troop I was doing where a guy held the door open for me, stood at attention, and saluted me, saying "Good morning, sir".  Without even thinking about it, I automatically returned it and responded with "Good morning. Carry on." We both had a good laugh over that one.
As far as military bearing goes, you definitely want to have that air of authority and confidence. Remember that you want to leave an impression on people when they take pictures with you.

Regarding the salute, it's true that it's not something done/shown in the movies. However, I've done several troops where people (civilians) have saluted me an because I used to be in the Navy, I returned it automatically.
There was a troop I was doing where a guy held the door open for me, stood at attention, and saluted me, saying "Good morning, sir".  Without even thinking about it, I automatically returned it and responded with "Good morning. Carry on." We both had a good laugh over that one.
As far as military bearing goes, you definitely want to have that air of authority and confidence. Remember that you want to leave an impression on people when they take pictures with you.

All good stuff.
My 2 cents: 
Around Stormtroopers & the like, look confident and act like you are in charge. 
Around Vader, be attentive while looking nervous.

As I slowly work on my Staff Officer build (hampered by finances... sigh), I just thought I'd share two mistakes I've made, in the hopes that other rookies won't waste their time and money.
 
First and foremost, read through the forums.  Go back a long, long time through them.  There are answers hidden several pages back that might be what you're looking for.
 
Second, start a thread.  Ask questions (after you've looked a long, long time back through the forums).  The people here have been wonderfully helpful to me, and I trust they will be to you as well... we're all doing this for the same reason.
 
Third (and this is to save you going back too far for this information), don't get the hat and belt from cosplaysky.  I read the thread about the belt not being approvable (the buckle's corners are too rounded, and the belt itself is REALLY cheap material), about 10 days after I ordered it, and of course, it had already shipped. As for the hat, it only took a glimpse to realize that there's no way it will pass in the condition it arrived in... the brim's a couple cm (a little over an inch) too long, the side flaps are stitched on the wrong way, and not centred, and it just generally sits wrong.

I'll be doing another post soon, with information about the pieces that I've been accumulating for my build, and the things I've learned soon.  I just want to get a couple of pics first, and I'm notoriously bad for hiding behind the camera.
 
So.  New Builders.  Learn from our mistakes.  Then go out and make new and exciting mistakes of your own, and share them with us! 

I haven't gotten my costume ready for the IOC yet, but I've been a Mando Merc for awhile...of course "Boba", one time "Lolita Boba" (I'm obviously a girl, but that made me sad lol). "Hey, Star Wars" often. "Look, Mandalorians!", fairly often, which is wonderful. "Darth Vader"...what?! A mom to her little boy "look, Darth Vaders friends!", we waved and nodded
With my husband, also in kit (he's tall with blue armor, I'm short and green) "love the Batman and Robin/Boba crossovers!"...that bummed my husband out, I thought it was funny.
Lining up for the DragonCon parade: "Yo, yo, YO!! Jabba Fett!!"...that made me smile.
And my favorite, DragonCon Con Crawl...50+ Mandos marching through the Marriott...drunk guy shouts: "Whoa!!! That's a whole ____load of Boba Fetts!!! #$@!"

While wearing my bridge crew on a hospital visit last week, I split off from the rest of the group while they were getting changed to find a staff member. While I was in the elevator, a lady with a pram was watching me worried. She asked "Is that a costume?" and when I replied, she seemed very relieved and said "That's a relief, I thought you were from the bomb squad and there was a threat in the hospital or something" O_O

I got called Tarkin a bunch of times during a Christmas pageant also... do I look that old? Really!

No, that's what the Scanning Crew is for.

As a stormtrooper officer I was reffered as "Police Officer" from a japanese tourist, who asked the way.
Once we were hired in a shopping mall, we entered the mall to the backdoors because it should be a surprise for the customers. Very conspirative action! After we leaved the changing room in costumes, one of the employees behind the scene, who also was not informed about our mission, looked surprised and ask me (whispering) if we are special agents from the german customs and looking for illegal workers. For kicks I said "Yes, of course, we are VERY special agents, but it´s top secret!" I asked her in which shop she´s working. She answered "housewares". I said "Oh good, first we start our investigation in the toy store, but later we also come to your shop too." She nodded her head, said "thank you" and disappeared. The whole day I never saw her again!
And a 501st-comrade of mine, also in black uniform, was called "russian submarine crew member" from an older woman. Further she told him her sympathy because of the Kursk-Disaster, because he lost so many comrades. Very weird situation.

Ha, ha!
As a TK the most off someone said was clone, but I've seen many a TIE pilot being referred to as Darth Vader *facepalm*

I'd advise you to have the elastic as much to the front of your foot as possible. That way when you put your boot on it doesn't ping off straight away (speaking for experience).
 
As Kris says make sure you register on the 501st UK Garrison forum, if you haven't already. Introduce yourself and explain which uniform you plan to do. They should be able to help you. You can also have a look at the Officer work in progress thread there to see the standard of uniforms and it may give you some more insight into the costume, even some insight into things to be aware of.
 
Good luck.

"continue with the operation you may fire when ready" Tarkin's Line

Exactly. Lucas didn't know much about military rank & didn't bother enough to create a realistic system before throwing these ranks on uniforms. All that mattered at the time was that the audience could identify these characters as military officers. 
 
Despite what many fan-made lists might say, Commodore never appeared on a uniform or was spoken aloud on screen. So we do not recognize it.  
In real life, it is not used by the US Navy any longer, but would be a rank roughly between Captain and Rear Admiral. 

Guys i got mine from cosplay sky but went through amazon (AKA you have a lot of buyers protection.) It took only a little over a week. I'm very happy with it.  It needs some touch up (one of the snaps is really loose)
Heres what i got 
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00X5EXBHM
 
Thats a picture of me in the review (i did the review) for the cost you REALLY cant beat it.  
 
Flip side is the Cosplay sky hat is terrible. I told them as much. They actually asked me for some in depth reasons over whats wrong with it so they can try to make a better one. And other than the very broken english emails with them they were very responsive and loved feedback.
 
Sorry for thoes that had a bad experience with them. I've been really impressed

I like to keep my hair "high and tight" like I did when I was in the (US) Navy. As far as facial hair goes, I stay clean shaven but sideburns or a mustache work fine too. ( Look at Admiral Ozzel).

I'm just reading all of this.  Under no circumstances should we salute since we are costumed characters, not an actual military unit.  Disney will frown upon it.  Even saluting to kids is not kosher, not all kids know what it means.  And as an ex-army soldier I spent my time saluting for real.  I don't need to salute to the public with a costume on.  I personally take it as a sign of disrespect to our actual military who do have to salute every day.  Please do not salute in costume in public.  No matter how much you think we are portraying a "military" unit, we are not.  Again, I'm going to say that Disney would not even allow it at this point.  I never will salute in costume.  And absolutely big fat NO to any "Hitler" style salutes.  If I see anyone doing that even as a joke you'll be meeting "Sgt Phillips", and you don't want to meet that gal ever.  Disney will shut us down in a big fat hurry if anyone does anything even close to that.  Be careful out there, and just don't salute (a nod of the head is all that is needed). 

Salutes are supposed to be when covered (meaning a hat on for those of you who are unfamiliar with military terms) and outside. There are many movies that show saluting inside a building with no cover on (mostly World War II movies, shows, etc) but that has since changed. 
    For those of you who are interested, when you're in military uniform (at least with the US military), any time you enter a building, you are supposed to remove your cover/hat and put it on any time you're outside. (I speak from experience having these regulations drilled into my head
    I am well aware that this is cosplay and not a rigid requirement to salute, etc but I do think that it's important to have the bearing of a military officer/ crewmember. In my eyes, it makes it that much more realistic to people when you make an appearance.

Keep in mind that I am still fairly new to this and still working on my Staff Officer Uniform. Having said that, if someone does salute me, I will return it (former US Navy) out of habit. If I am in uniform, I will salute during a National Anthem, etc.
 
Side Note: Very interesting discussion/topic.

Salutes are supposed to be when covered (meaning a hat on for those of you who are unfamiliar with military terms) and outside. There are many movies that show saluting inside a building with no cover on (mostly World War II movies, shows, etc) but that has since changed. 
    For those of you who are interested, when you're in military uniform (at least with the US military), any time you enter a building, you are supposed to remove your cover/hat and put it on any time you're outside. (I speak from experience having these regulations drilled into my head
    I am well aware that this is cosplay and not a rigid requirement to salute, etc but I do think that it's important to have the bearing of a military officer/ crewmember. In my eyes, it makes it that much more realistic to people when you make an appearance.

When will people finally learn, that The Empire weren't the bad guys?! They were the peacekeepers of the galaxy that made sure everyone who OBEY THE LAW are safe and secure, and the Rebels were the thieves, smugglers, murderers, deserters and terrorists, who forced The Empire's hand to go to desperate measures, and throwed the entire galaxy into a war, which led to massive destruction and loss of life, just so that the bureaucracy, politics, and corruption could rule again and cause even more conflicts? Arrrrgh!!!

Keep in mind that I am still fairly new to this and still working on my Staff Officer Uniform. Having said that, if someone does salute me, I will return it (former US Navy) out of habit. If I am in uniform, I will salute during a National Anthem, etc.
 
Side Note: Very interesting discussion/topic.

BJ,
Thanks for the quick reply. I plan on buying these boots within the next few days and should have my uniform completed by the end of next month. My next major question is where can I find the belt buckle and the officers disc for the hat?