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KodiakAK

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Posts posted by KodiakAK

    IC: Bridge Crew Build

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    Agreed with the above.  WampaWeat flightsuits are solid, assuming you fit them.  (it ALWAYS comes down to fit)


    1000% agree on that it has to fit. Easiest approach is measure all of the dimensions on your body that the flightsuit size table has. Add ~2cm to any measurement you take. Order the flightsuit that meets ALL measurements. It’s easier to tailor it down than find material to make it larger.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    PHOTOBUCKET CANCELLED IMAGE HOSTING!

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    I also use Flickr. Terabyte free storage and no ads. Should work great until Yahoo tanks. Lol.


    We avoided Flickr since Yahoo has had an endless string of massive data/account compromises by hackers. I'm glad it's working well for you.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    PHOTOBUCKET CANCELLED IMAGE HOSTING!

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    For anyone unaware Photobucket does have an option to download your images as one folder. Go to your library, on the right side of the page under Share This Album there is another section Actions, download album is there.

     

    Not everyone has been affected as yet, but it's only a matter of time,  unless you want to pay for Photobucket hosting


    That works per "bin/bucket" (I.e., folder) that you created. There is no select all and download. I really wish there was. I spent most of Friday night and Saturday (8+ hrs) downloading our Garrison's troop photos one bucket at a time and on the big ones we had to do manually because the doggone hosting site would refresh the connection mid download of the large download. Ironically it took me only 2 hrs to create/upload the entire same data set to Photos.Google.

    Now to fix the broken connections. Oh and to prevent Photo*expletive* from leveraging our content we deleted it ALL from their site. With them changing terms and now selling off our data for advertising to our emails (new gee wiz products as of this am) we felt that it would not be a large stretch for them to modify the terms so there is verbiage that they have exclusive rights to use uploaded images with auto consent.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    PHOTOBUCKET CANCELLED IMAGE HOSTING!

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

     

     

    So even with the full path above, why is the pic not showing in the post?  I still only see the link?   BTW Photobucket still working for me as you can see in my signature images.  Waiting for them to suddenly disappear.  

     

     

    Because I used the link feature to force it not to show as a picture. If you put it as an image from URL or directly paste the link it shows. If that doesn't make sense PM me.

     

    BVlTN1YcMsJal_bz5S9oOpYsWjsoN4S-js4lqBRodv2KSV4iAM70ZU_Zmmm5SZXYjd9Ll8ax9P2ApBpyx8HPbXtrQtFjT5owPwTZ9D1bZ0jZBvj3R8GStaG1J4awFfqZzCg8O60%3Dw1242-h1656-no

     

     

    Thanks!

    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

     

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

    PHOTOBUCKET CANCELLED IMAGE HOSTING!

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Hmm, not having any luck linking from google photos so the pic actually displays.  Here are 2 link examples, with and without the ?.jpg at the end but no difference.  What am I missing here?

     

    https://goo.gl/photos/bQfQxVrNpvaUPp7B8

     

    https://goo.gl/photos/bQfQxVrNpvaUPp7B8?.jpg

     


    You need the actual image path.

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BVlTN1YcMsJal_bz5S9oOpYsWjsoN4S-js4lqBRodv2KSV4iAM70ZU_Zmmm5SZXYjd9Ll8ax9P2ApBpyx8HPbXtrQtFjT5owPwTZ9D1bZ0jZBvj3R8GStaG1J4awFfqZzCg8O60=w1242-h1656-no


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    PHOTOBUCKET CANCELLED IMAGE HOSTING!

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    if you have a single image in photos.google.com that you want to share if you add the following inside the single quotes (without the single quotes) it will correctly link it '?.jpg' if that does not work try '-tmp.jpg'.
    For this forum its a little easier, right click on the image you want and choose:

    • in Chrome: "Copy image URL"
    • in Internet Explorer: "Copy"
    • in Firefox: "Copy image location"
    Simply paste it in this forum and it will recognize it as an image and add it. Here is an example as the copied image location and below the actual pasted image:
    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7wxaFnzQwE9aQIL0WT7Ki3Uu_5CIqa8XDZ5qbsHEvU2kQD6q1IXIzDKpPBmODy-mzHB-NR6eleMG_i_cJHbmIyI1Z7x43czn__a58bbrg9vOi-RozwUxMitksJHgAqwR2Mm00cbgOLBVLXLx7wH79RMMUCxp5yDX-A7rAMkaCZIOeBwX-TFQT7KsyUr3JtsoyX8pUw8qyTau7vq560dTABUcFCTscMRVeS_O05oDE1wEiZ8x1kCoQRohRJbyc19KfvhOhuGMbsp3lO2OlrVpWLvSW4i5wD3FMqcuIq9lsxGlWMIWhJq-9pAkjbOeD5Z0yk7GJ2I2txqm6o5DFjAc-6zrC4Je28EmesC_Y3qv-5F9ziT2luYJUIp3fmgupU2V9L9nL1U22xsU84qlfPmuQYLu6o6JP7FfJt1sNfr9j1P8IyulNOcAkfpk36QvQ0ir8yt1micZ5aqPCIUvhs5WEslXt6BeD0QSdU04IsZErptu_HQWuwoRka6kLHlnwTe_WZNJZJLz7LaOeZFRtt4zHmgEMSu173E-rC0eUZIlg2be1yW7cLeVFtufzCc_38ALBZh9MMUZDMYND9X3OmWmetHbjCHnRHRjwgBmYudlLC7hQ7l2KSw3=w958-h639-no
    7wxaFnzQwE9aQIL0WT7Ki3Uu_5CIqa8XDZ5qbsHEvU2kQD6q1IXIzDKpPBmODy-mzHB-NR6eleMG_i_cJHbmIyI1Z7x43czn__a58bbrg9vOi-RozwUxMitksJHgAqwR2Mm00cbgOLBVLXLx7wH79RMMUCxp5yDX-A7rAMkaCZIOeBwX-TFQT7KsyUr3JtsoyX8pUw8qyTau7vq560dTABUcFCTscMRVeS_O05oDE1wEiZ8x1kCoQRohRJbyc19KfvhOhuGMbsp3lO2OlrVpWLvSW4i5wD3FMqcuIq9lsxGlWMIWhJq-9pAkjbOeD5Z0yk7GJ2I2txqm6o5DFjAc-6zrC4Je28EmesC_Y3qv-5F9ziT2luYJUIp3fmgupU2V9L9nL1U22xsU84qlfPmuQYLu6o6JP7FfJt1sNfr9j1P8IyulNOcAkfpk36QvQ0ir8yt1micZ5aqPCIUvhs5WEslXt6BeD0QSdU04IsZErptu_HQWuwoRka6kLHlnwTe_WZNJZJLz7LaOeZFRtt4zHmgEMSu173E-rC0eUZIlg2be1yW7cLeVFtufzCc_38ALBZh9MMUZDMYND9X3OmWmetHbjCHnRHRjwgBmYudlLC7hQ7l2KSw3=w958-h639-no
     
     



    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    CosplaySky size ordering

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    I really think the custom vs off-the-rack would depend on your body type. If you're a "standard size", you might have a lot of luck with off-the-rack stuff. For me though, even though Im a pretty standard size, I always go custom. 


    I agree. Cosplaysky is a good option. They are hit and miss. I was one of the fortunate to have a great fitting custom line officer uniform. These are relatively inexpensive costumes, so having the ability to potentially reduce additional tailoring is always worth it.

    I am saving my pennies though to eventually get a clothiers, which will retire my Cosplaysky.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Sunglasses?

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    In Alaska unless it is a official formal event, we allow sunglasses at outdoor events. It gets especially bright here and since the non-bucketed (without built in tinted eye pro) are the face of the Star Wars community here, it helps to not be squinting or grimacing from the light and focus rather on the interaction. We focus on the professional appearance, so we would request someone with Kanye West slit style or Elton John (typically fantastically fun/large), to put on a different style. But as others have mentioned it's Garrison dependent and always check to make sure what you have is acceptable.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Boot too tight for my calves!

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    1/2" -1" is about all a cobbler may be able to do over 2-3 weeks. At that point you are risking having the leather blow out on the inside of the boot (something gives eventually).


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Will this Belt Make it? Was I Ripped Off?

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    That's Brian's Etsy shop.  He has a sales thread here on IOC as well. (you may recognize the photo as well)

     

    I'm surprised he would send a belt out the door like that, but quite I'm sure he'll make it right.  His belt are normally of very high quality.  I probably would have bought one from him as well, when I was buying mine, had I not needed to order a rank badge at the same time.


    I agree with this. Brian's are the best quality and I've received two from him with over a year difference and they look nearly identical. I'm sure it was just an unfortunate fluke. He has always stood behind his work so I'm glad to see that is holding true with sending a replacement belt.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Imperial staff officer

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    It was mentioned above that the Hessen Antiques boots do not run large as stated on their website. So do they run true to size or slightly small?  And are we talking about the foot size or the calf size. 



    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..."

    Collar stiffener

    in Costume Questions - Ask Here!

    Posted

    I use this technique and left a slit in the collar to remove the plastic bit when I go to clean the uniform. Slide a new one in if it breaks. Most clothing stores have lots of it lying around. I have 5-10 stashed for each cleaning. Only real adjustments I do is curve and painters tape the edges so the plastic does not tear apart the collar from the inside.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Q1 Anovos stuff

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted


    ...Safety Test?  What the hell are they safety testing on a belt?  It's leather with a metal buckle.



    I know growing up I'd wished my Dads belt had safety training!!


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Imperial Officer Phrases

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Lets see... since as an Admiral I also double as an Imperial Support Crew (handler) for our bucketed friends. When with Vader and it's time for a break, I walk away, come back 2 min later... "Lord Vader, the Emperor commands you to make contact with him..."

    To children: "Do you like school? The Emperor needs smart cadets. Do you want to fly tie fighters? Or storm rebel bases as a storm trooper? Or crush rebellion will driving AT-ATs? Or would you rather command all of that and more as an Imperial Officer?"

    When one of our Mandelorean Mercs comes by, "Bounty hunters, we don't need their scum. Those rebels won't escape us."

    Other misc phrases:
    We have a visitor.

    Good. Our first catch of the day.

    Track them! They may come round for another pass.

    Alert Command. Deploy the fleet.

    We have thousands of probes searching the Galaxy.

    Take this... thing, to the detention block.

    I have a good crew, a bunch of rowdy TKs, and a Vader with a quick wit, so impromptu happens with ease.


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Which Costume?

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted

    Ok but that's not what an officer is about



    Absolutely! As an officer I can function as an Imperial Support Crew but in costume. I can manage crowds to protect my armored companions, I can assist them to navigate areas because I understand what their vision is like, and I can interact with the crowds freely. But like Kris said, I am an Officer of the Empire when I wear it. I'm not a stage hand. I can maneuver and crouch to talk to kids on their level and get them excited about flying Star Destroyers, deploying hundreds of troopers, deploying TIEs, bearing dozens of walkers, and commanding the fleet to travel the Galaxy, as well as meeting members of my crew. In fact, in many of our Children's Hospital visits, I'm the preferred member the kids want to interact with because I'm not in armor or a bucket. They can warm up to me and allow me to introduce them to the visitors I brought with me. But if they get scared they want me to stand by their side.

    So embrace the Officer!!


    Thanks!
    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

    Inclement Weather Troops

    in The Officer's Lounge

    Posted · Edited by KodiakAK

    When it looks like rain, I carry my Darth Vader Lightsaber Umbrella.

    Nice!! I didn't know if we could use umbrellas or not. Is that a personal choice or garrison authorization?

    I'm used to a land where we laugh at the Air Force and their umbrellas and chant "If it ain't rainin' we ain't trainin'!"

    Thanks!

    KodiakAK (Brian "Kodiak" Peterson)

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

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