Dimentex

So, back in December (December 6th) I ordered a rank bar and belt from Tiggwolf Creations on Facebook. About a week ago, I received an email from UPS that a package had been sent to me, and today I got a package in my mailbox! I originally ordered a Commander-style rank bar (4 blue, 2 orange) for 10$, and a Belt for 40$. First of all, I want to say these are -- IN MY EXPERIENCE-- the cheapest I've been able to buy a belt/rank bar. My first set, which weren't even 501st-approvable, cost me almost 70$.
 
I was warned that it would take a few months for the product to get back to me. I was perfectly OK with this and appreciated the warning. I paid through PayPal, a total of 62$ (40 + 10 + 10 for shipping + 2$ tax). About a month after I made my order, I messaged them to see what the progress was and was updated quicker than I could even leave the chat window, told that the order was one of a large batch and would still take a while. I expected this answer and thanked them for the response. A month after that, I asked for an update again, and was updated again. At this time, I asked them if it would be possible to change my order from a Commander-style bar to an ANH Captain-style one (6 orange), a request they obliged happily and I was quite impressed as I fully expected them to tell me that it was too late or there was nothing they could do to alter the order.
 
So, today-- officially 3 months after I made my order-- I received the package in the mail. I immediately unwrapped it and was impressed! The belt was uncut and unpunched, as I requested (but also how I'm told they do it normally) and the belt came in a nice drawstring baggie to protect it from scratches. There was obvious care taken to keep the items safe in transit, with abundant amounts of bubble wrap. The belt is truly a work of beauty and I'm excited to wear it in-uniform. 
 
The bar was impressive, to say the least. I didnt expect it to be so sturdy-- it's made of a rather solid bit of metal, with a strong magnet and nicely shaped blocks of acrylic. I had eagerly unwrapped the bar to see if they indeed kept to my request to change the bar, as if they would've forgotten-- They did not! A beautiful amber bar.
 
I've recommended them before based on their response times alone, but now I can recommend them on their product. A saying goes that you have to sacrifice one of the three when ordering 501st accessories/replicas-- Time, Quality or Expense. Well, it took about 3 months, but now I have a very nice looking and very cost-effective Rank bar and Belt in my wardrobe!

My wife likes to wear hers with one of her Racing Shirts - but that puts it into context pretty quick.  She has tried to wear it just by itself and I asked her not to - not because of any political thing, just because by itself it looks odd

What he said.

So, as a Merch Officer (puts on my cap) there is nothing stopping you from making non 501st patches - other than possibly running afoul of LFL copyrights.  Hence why when people ask in public something like "where can I buy a Stormtrooper/Vader/whatever costume, we refer them to the boards - my understanding was it was an agreement we made with LFL.  That said - if you're trying to meet a CRL, yes, make sure you follow the CRL.

As Kalani said, given you're here in Dallas, either Hawk (Midwestern Garrison) or Mark (Northern Darkness Garrison) would be a good place to start to look over your sample.  Or they may jump in here and refer you to a LMO or your GML.

I honestly am excited to see what you do with the Thrawn patch - though I really need to stop buying patches and start putting them on my jacket

Phil is in the UK and she is in Texas.  Probably not necessary to ship multiple revisions internationally for general approval purposes.
 
If you can take a good, clear photograph that includes something to show the scale (like a cutting pad printed with measurement lines, or at least with a ruler showing the size), that should be adequate for people to judge size, adequate coverage, etc.
 
Once you've nailed the general appearance, perhaps one sample at most to someone in leadership (Hawk, maybe, since he's the Merch officer, or even Mark, as the DO) should be enough.  At least, until we get into copyright issues or any sort of legion logos.  That requires a whole different level of permission.  But for recreations of generic stuff right from the movies, the bar is lower.

I think this thread is kinda getting sidetracked by the IDP uniform.  Galen Erso's uniform thread can be found here.
 
 

I'm saying, let's concentrate on the FO officer's we do have pics of.

So what you're saying is we need to get Pablo drunk and get access to the vault at Celebration.

Got it boss.
 

This member can submit as Hux, either with a wig or hair color.  I have a friend that did the same.  Save time and headache everyone, submit as Hux and resubmit if we ever can make the Generic General CRL fly.

You saw what the LMO said.  No amount of debate here will change it.  The Speech scene doesn't have the details required to make the correct call.  Until we have additional pics proving the other generals are dressed exactly the same as Hux, our hands are tied.
I agree with the need for this CRL, but we can't base the CRL on wants and could be, but we do lack the facts to support it.
This kind of post needs to be directed to the LMO staff, not here.  It is not adding to the discussion for the other officers in the movie, it is disrupting it and it bordering on flaming.  Please post only constructively in this thread or I will have no choice but to close it.

But not Han or Luke in Stormtroopers. But you're right, this isn't the place.

This is unfortunately true. Ive been working the last few days trying to see if there is enough visual evidence to make a generic Grand Moff CRL too. What I thought would be a 'trivial' exercise has turned up rather fruitless. Ive literally found only one good (maybe 2 or 3 if you include no-so good) photo of a Grand Moff, dressed similarly to Tarkin, but who is not Tarkin  Not sure if thats good enough to make a new CRL

Working on that right now with citations on where we get these ranks.  For example, Colonel Yularen's rank first called "colonel" in the Decipher card game from 1995.  It is canon now because of the recent Rebels episode.

I am not just listing ranks, am listing where they come from.  For example, Captain Kurghee's rank from ANH is also taken from the Decipher card game.  There was no rhyme or reason why these ranks were assigned and while it is what we call them now, they don't make much logical sense in light of Rogue One.  The same rank there is a general.
 
I am not making conjecture.  I am just listing everything out in every permutation and citing what we do know and where it comes from.  If we haven't seen it yet, it is left open.

Shoot me an email and I'll send you the excel file and a PDF of my work in progress.  

In my experience with Hessen riding boots, they run foot wise they are true to size. Calves seemed 1/4"-1/2" smaller.

But let me caveat my comment. I own a pair of pointy toed cowboy boots that are a close equivalent to what these boots feel like in the foot. They are designed for someone controlling a horse with their feet, they are not supposed to have sliding room for your foot to move about. Because the toe is pointed and not rounded like a jack boot, your toes are going to be pushed together and many people think this means they are too small. That is incorrect, it's the style, just like what women deal with many styles of high heels. Same concept.

Hessen boots are Italian leather. So leather stretches and shrinks. The more you wear it they stretch naturally in their own, and conversely if you don't often they will contract. It is recommended to have a boot stretcher to keep the leather used to your shape or close to it. I've seen people use the real tool, newspaper, rolled up magazines, the air bubble packs (found in amazon orders), etc. personally I don't use anything like that. I heat up my boots that I have not worn for a while when I go to polish them. You can use a hair dryer but a paint peeler does wonders quickly. Notice I said while polishing them! Doing this without additional polish such as kiwi will lead to the leather drying out which leads to cracking. But after I polish them I put them on and squat in them and wear them around for up to an hour. At that point they loosen back up to me comfortably.

Some last thoughts on these boots. If you have wide feet or narrow feet you need to take this into account. These boots do not. They were made for a standard (regular) sized foot. If you have wides go up a size, narrow same size or down a size. I also could not wear insoles in my boots, not that much room for the aforementioned reasons. But a good set of calf length wool cushion socks will keep your feet feeling fantastic. A cobbler can do wonders with the leather, but you have to be patient and understand the leather can only be stretched so far, before it will fail.

Worst case, go to a store that has pointy toed cowboy boots and try on a few styles. See what size works best for your foot. Then use that knowledge when ordering from Hessen Antiques. Just keep an eye on those calf sizes. At most a Cobbler can increase a calf 1" in the mid to upper shaft area.

Bottom line I LOVE my Hessen boots and would not get rid of them ever!


Thanks!
KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

"If once you start down the droid path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will..."

Hey guys. I know Im late to the discussion, but I think I identified where the ID designation comes from (or at least one possible origin for it). I was doing some research into another costume, going through some old RPG books, and I came across a supplementary book for Star Wars: Galaxy at War (Saga Edition). On page 97, there is a chart. Here is a scan of the chart:
 

 
Now, why those authors decided ID is unknown, but I thought Id post this for your guys' info.

Looking forward to seeing what you have Kate.

On this particular issue, I do think it's a detail that probably doesn't need to be required at lower levels and at lower levels a seamline could certainly be done instead, however fir the highest level of accuracy, it's probably just topstitching.

I agree with Meg that abuse wouldn't make it look like top-stitching. If it is was a seam, there would be shadowed dark solid line where the 2 folded edges of the fabric meet when seamed together - but the only shadowed fold line is the folded edge of the yoke's outer side. Also the single angled line of top-stitching going through the yoke looks just like the 3 rows of top-stitching edging the yoke's side edge in terms of coloration and spacing of broken up dark shadows from the individual stitches.
 

 
I also think the top-stitching goes up to the High Point Shoulder (HPS) - which is where the shoulder seam (if there was one) would meet the collar - just like Meg said. I just didn't want to say that for certain until I draped the cape.
 
I'm meeting up with Mark this weekend to fit his jacket, and I'll get measurements for his cape - once I drape out the pattern, I'll post more info and a detailed drawing on how the cape is constructed.

Very true. For me, it was the true follow up to ROTJ too. Amazing books.

We had to buy my wife a pair of motorcycle boots and cut the straps off of them - and still had to have them stretched in the calves.

Only other option we had was to go full custom.

Hi all, wow lots of replies to this. As some of you may have seen on the progress thread for this outfit, I'm the one constructing and who will eventually be submitting the uniform. I am currently in the process of recording as many high-res screenshots from pretty much every angle I can think of to capture all the details. While reading through the replies in this thread, I think the idea to submit it as a more generic Sith Empire uniform is fine, it makes perfect sense to do so since it is a 'stock' outfit in the game and as said would make the CRL more useful in general. I've got a few questions as I start to think about the actual write up process, and I'm sure I'll think of more along the way.
 
Concerning references, I've also ordered the SWtOR official art book so if I find any thing good in there I will for sure include that in my notes. I'm not really sure where else to look for reference for the game though, possibly comics? I'll keep digging. Or if anyone knows of another source I will be happy to look into that as well. Possibly the other Old Republic era games?
 
If we are working from the generic uniform angle, would I need to write up the variations or is that something that would be done as a group? I was planning on making note of the variations of the uniforms Quinn himself wears in the game (first when he appears as a Lieutenant, then Captain, and the preview Bioware has released for the next update where he is allegedly now a major), so it would fall into that I think as these variations, like his default outfit, are seen on various NPCs. Obviously I am only going to build one actual costume but I am happy to do the research and help make a list of the differences in detail if need be.
 
If accepted, I would like to specifically be Quinn for trooping, would I need to do anything special with submission when we eventually get there? Or would we just submit it as Old Republic Imperial Officer and just be Quinn when in character? (I hope that makes sense I'm half awake typing this)
 
PS- Thanks for inviting us to the armor party, it was nice getting to meet some of you guys in person and start getting a feel for what we are getting into!

For now, Ive amended the proposed CRL to be white or cream colored, cause I cant think of anything else. We want to be specific enough so that something like what you said can't happen.

To me (on my monitor), the shirt looks white or cream colored to me. But without a better picture, its really hard to say. Its possible its a light grey.

Like James said , sounds to me like one of those costumes who's likely to end up in both 501st and RL , just like the Clones and a few others .

He was technically an Imperial researcher even though he worked against the Empire after Lah'mu , nobody knew .

I hope to see more people have a go at Galen's uniform soon

I would say if it looks appropriate on you, check with your GML.  On my chest 1/4" looks fine.  I have no idea how big or small you are (I'm 6'6" and 205 lbs, for reference, and wear a 42 or a 44 size coat).

Your GML is going to be the best answer - they're the ones who say what is approvable and what isn't.  The CRL is their guidelines, but it is a guideline, as I was reminded - so ask for their opinion based on you.  Do a mock up on paper like the guy above did.

Proposing on Galen Erso (Project Lead Uniform). Sorry if I am not writing much in this. But I can show is pictures on what I did or found so far which some are on the post. 

 
Code Cylinders
2 Code Cylinders
Basic Style: silver "chalk holder" tube with short clip and blue colored top.
 
Belt
The belt is constructed from a non-textured leather or a leather-like material.
Approximately 2" (50.8 mm) in width, up to 3" (76.2 mm) is acceptable.
There are no loops on the belt.
A single large snap or rivet is visible approximately 1" (25.4 mm) from the buckle.
The belt may be worn with the snap to the right or left of the wearer.
The buckle is constructed from a horizontally brushed metal, or metal looking material.
The buckle size is approximately 2 5/8" (66.7 mm) high and 4 1/8" (104.5 mm) wide with 0.5" (12.7 mm) radius rounded corners.

Tunic
Olive and Fren (around the neck)
York design
One Code Cylinders on each side
Death Star Engineer patch 3.5''
The Back have no sim line. 
Hidden Zipper on the side of the tunic
Gabardine style weave
There are code cylinder pockets on both outside panels of the jacket from about half way between the top and bottom on the arm hole.
Sleeves are long, and without decoration, cuffs or buttons.
Tunic is constructed with no top-stitching (stitches visible on the exterior surface of fabric)
The standing collar has square corners and is about 1.25" (31.8 mm) tall.
Collar closes snugly and includes a modesty panel behind closure. Collar edges are closed with two eye hooks.
Trousers, Olive
Straight legged trousers
Pockets are acceptable, only if hidden by the tunic.

Wig/Hair
Brown with a mix of light brown

Shoes
Ankle height
black color

You mean we're not supposed to make the third TK though the door slam his head?

Damnit...