sharkbait
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Posts posted by sharkbait
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On 5/3/2019 at 6:56 PM, kman said:
Katie's work is amazing as well, but her prices are in line with other top tier vendors like Clothears and Magnoli.
Unfortunately there isn't a lot of options between the stupendously cheap CosplaySky and the higher end options. They're complicated garments sold in small quantities, so unless you have an entire Chinese sweatshop on hand (like CPS does), the "step up" options are all fairly pricey, sadly.
I came here to say that- you get great bang for your buck with CosplaySky, but if you want higher quality, you have to jump quite a lot. You get a lot for that jump and I think it if's in the budget and going to be your primary costume it's worth it, but it's just not in everyone's budget even as a one-and-only or primary costume.
I personally would have trouble shelling out that much when I got armor kits like my TK for roughly that price range. Hard to swallow a soft costume being in the same price range as a full armor one, for me at least. But again, it's all about your budget, your desires and wants, and what you want and expect out of it. So while I actively recommend CPS, I would also actively recommend the three top tier ones above for that price range.
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On 4/28/2019 at 6:23 AM, PiotrRasputin said:
Was debating on going since I went to both Celebration Orlando and Chicago recently, but considering 2020 is the 40th Anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back", I'll have to see if anyone from my area is going just to cut costs on room and transportation.
Unless you live locally, I highly recommend carpooling (if driving is feasible) or sharing a room. The rooms are what are going to kill us- they're not cheap in LA already, and with an event, let alone a big event, the rates will skyrocket. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for 501st room blocks and rates!
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Good luck! Report back when you hear!
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On 4/19/2019 at 2:25 PM, Hydra said:
Prices will skyrocket for the properties during conventions. Just my experience. Marriott w/ premier status will let you book 50 months in advance, Hilton w/ diamond 365 days - I can't speak for typical booking methods.
Regardless, being close to Disneyland, there's a ton of places to stay around the area.Yes, they will definitely skyrocket- that's how it always works regardless of location, just when there's an event, it skyrockets. New Orleans does it for Mardi Gras, for example.
The best will be the actual Marriott, because of convenience, being in costume, walking in costume or traveling in costume, etc., but there are many options in the area and while best is Marriott, it's not like the other options are terrible. Hopefully they'll do 501st blocks of rooms again.
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On 4/21/2019 at 2:56 PM, nolan2711 said:
Hi
I would like to know what are the requirements to create a patch
thanks
If you're meaning a personal patch, then it must be "unofficial merch," meaning no 501st wording or logos (no Garrisons/Squads/Outposts) on it. Otherwise, it's up to you. Your TKID is generally put on personals.
If you mean official merch- stuff with 501st wording or logos, then I'd reach out to your Garrison Merch Officer- they will know all the (new) Legion rules, requirements, suggestions, etc.
Same basic requirements for unofficial v. official coins and other merch, too.
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On 4/12/2019 at 5:25 PM, Armoredfist5 said:
Does anyone know if Wampa Wear hat and belt is tier three approvable?? My correct boots are on their way and deciding on where to get the hat/belt
Wampa's hats are approvable, but personally I think for what you get you can do better. They're a little floppy.
I agree with @kman, the belts are approvable, but again, you can find better. I have an SW Express one from Etsy, love it. My hat was from Sewing Jennie (no longer active to my knowledge), but there's several on Etsy now that look fantastic. I don't believe I've seen any in person, though, so I can't say personally, just via photos and others telling me they're happy with theirs.
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On 4/17/2019 at 3:34 PM, Trachta said:
Recruit him into the IOC!
He's actually expressed off-handed interest in a Jawa. Of which I also fully support. He's really the type to want a full bucket/face covering costume. IOC would be a good fit otherwise. I did warn him the first costume is a gateway drug, though.
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2 hours ago, Trachta said:
I'm curious to know if it will be 5 days again. I wasn't exactly a fan of the Thursday to Monday idea and much prefer it to be Wednesday to Sunday.
Yeah that schedule makes it tough on us Monday through Friday workforce members. But I already told my boss just to block out April entirely until I know the dates. He said maybe I'll join you at this one, haha. I've been telling him that when he retires, he should join us. He's always saying he'll need something to do after he retires.
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For me, it's never too early to start planning! I'm a planner and I like order and dislike surprises and change.
I've been saying for three years (since I joined the 501st and found out Celebration existed), that when it came back to Anaheim, I was going, hell or high water. So I AM GOING. I've been building my patch and coin trade stash for three years for this.
It's the hotel that's gonna kill me- I'm room sharing for sure, but I've heard the Anaheim Marriott can be anywhere from $400 - $900/A NIGHT. And even splitting that three or four ways is a big ouch. There are other slightly cheaper options nearby, but honestly for me I really want to be in the hotel. Walking to and from another hotel, in costume, or after each long day/night at the Con, not being able to de-costume or change in between by slipping up to a room, the relative safety of not stumbling home after a full day and late into the night partying (especially as a woman), or how much would you drop on Lyft/etc. if really far away... there's too many conveniences that will make a big difference over five days. One day, maybe two, I'd figure it out, but not for all five. I'm lucky in that I shouldn't have any issue finding friends to share a room with, we've got a close-knit Squad and many of us are planning to go, so it's more going to be can we get the rooms and who wants to room with who.
I also plan to carpool, but that's easy and a given. My hope is we'll get enough Squad and Garrison members together to rent a van or a bus or something, that'd be one awesome carpool! (We're in the Central Valley, Anaheim is about 4 - 4.5 hours away).
I signed up for the Celebration newsletter- I expect they'll release when tickets will go on sale and possibly when 501st hotel blocks will be available, so I'll be in the first to know and be able to snag my tickets and room quickly. Not going to bother trying for the master pass thing- too expensive and sells out so ridiculously quickly.
I'm really looking forward to the patch trading, meeting other 501st members, the 501st after-parties, and the merch more than anything. I've heard legendary stories from friends who have gone before and I can't wait to be a part of that. I would also skip Disneyland. As much as I love it, I'm there for Celebration, not Disneyland, and both require my full and undivided attention, which I can't give to both. Plus, I'm avoiding Galaxy's Edge like the plague for a good year- far, far too crowded for my tastes.
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11 hours ago, emtramone said:
Chris "emtramone" Nicholson Requesting an advisor in the aberdeen, Washington United States area for an imperial Staff Officer. I have a Uniform I bought on the forum that I will need help altering to fit a little better.
If you don't mind that I'm not local (I'm in Central CA), then I'm happy to help. I'll drop you a PM. (Please if there are any local advisors available, I'll defer to you, though!)
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On 3/20/2019 at 4:59 PM, Armoredfist5 said:
I am currently checking out CosplaySky for the ANH Imperial Officer kit that comes with pants, tunic, hat and belt. There is an option for an additional $50 for 501st customization along with custom measurements. Very worth it in my opinion. My question is...has anyone had experience with their “501st customization”? Do I need to include all the approval requirements in the comment box? Or, do they make it to 1st tier specs ? 2nd tier? Or Centurion?
You want to stay away from CosplaySky's hats and belts (and anything leather or pleather). They do well with uniforms, but fail epically with leather and hats. Neither would be approvable.
You just want the standard officer uniform (one color, black I believe, is called Deluxe, but it's the same as the other that's not labeled as such). Their jumpsuits are also approvbale.
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They're active. The next wave starts April 19th. I believe they are also attending Celebration, but as you said, they work in waves, so they're in their downtime right now regardless.
I've never seen them put a year on their run dates- just the Day/Month. But I've seen a few of those notices and they've always been for the upcoming date listed of that same year (or next year, if in December and re-opening in January, for example).
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Many ANH officers are seen with Merr-Sonn blasters.
In a quick look at the most common officer CRLs, ANH Staff Officers and Staff Officers can have DH-17s or MerrSonns (both black). Warrant, Social (black) and Line (green) officers do not have blasters. (There are a ton of other officers, as well, but I'd check the CRL directly for their specific weapons allowance (if any)).
The rank bars depend on the officer portrayed, primarily what color. But generally, black Staff Officers can have any of the following single rows: three reds; four blues and two ambers; or four blues*
That last one I'm not positive on- I had one, but I seem to have lost mine, so I can't remember exactly how many blues there were on it. A lot of people like the four blues two ambers because it's the biggest. I personally have all three and rotate between them depending on what others are wearing that day and what I feel like putting on.
This is for Level 1 basic approval- if you do L2 or L3, you would need to replicate exactly an on-screen officer, with their combo of rank bar and weapon or no weapon.
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The top ones are jack boots, which are the most accurate. The CRL states "Boots may have a single adjustment strap..." so it is not required for L1, though you may add it if you wish. Based on the photos, they appear to be the ones I have, which cover many different costumes both 501st and Rebel Legion. I would recommend them. I use them for a Warrant Officer, TIE Pilot, TIE Reserve, Willrow Hood, and... I think several other Officer variations. They will also do X-Wing pilots.
The second ones looks fine to me, no real comments yay or nay- they appear to be jack boot style which is what you're after.
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22 hours ago, Armoredfist5 said:
I am currently checking out CosplaySky for the ANH Imperial Officer kit that comes with pants, tunic, hat and belt. There is an option for an additional $50 for 501st customization along with custom measurements. Very worth it in my opinion. My question is...has anyone had experience with their “501st customization”? Do I need to include all the approval requirements in the comment box? Or, do they make it to 1st tier specs ? 2nd tier? Or Centurion?
While I really like CosplaySky, their leather goods and hats are terrible (plus also their Krennic cape). They are not approvable and are just... bad.
You want just the Deluxe Uniform found here: https://cosplaysky.com/collections/star-wars/products/star-wars-imperial-officer-uniform-costume-deluxe-version-new
I highly recommend custom sizing, unless you happen to be exactly perfect measurements for one of their standard sizes (rare, but it does happen).
Even with customization, you'll still have to do a few minor mods to look best and, depending on your GML, approval. The jodpur punch outs tend to be elephant ears, and need to be tamed, and best if interfacing added to stiffen them so they sit better, and the lower legs also need to be taken in a bit, as they don't taper down, but tend to go straight down. It's pretty easy and you can do it with even basic sewing skills.
After that, provided the suit fits, and your other parts are L2 or L3, then you can achieve L2 and L3 with a Cosplay uniform. On the IOC, L2 is Executor and L3 is called Imperator (EIB and Centurion are FISD names for L2/L3
I know because my ESB TK is Centurion). And of course, if you can get L2/L3, then you can obviously get basic approval.
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Have you also gotten onto the 501st forums (501st.com/forum) and your local Garrison forum?
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If you have multiple photos or intend to have multiple photos, a photo hosting site such as Flickr, Imgur, etc., are your best bet. The in-house forum ones tend to fill up pretty quickly, though I can't say what the exact limit is.
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4 minutes ago, GOTE said:
Regarding cosplayskys imperial officers hat, has anybody attempted to disassemble one from them and reassemble it. It looks as though the angles of the individual panels are off and it is not tapered. Has anybody seen one in person themselves ? I am thinking it would be easier to put together a correct hat using the panels from cosplayskys hat instead of starting from scratch ?
opinions ?
I've not seen one in person, just heard now terrible they are. From what I understand it's not just how it's put together, or the shapes of the pieces, but the materials as well.
I have a pattern for hats, and looking at it, and all the components, I'd think it would be easier to start from scratch rather than mod something existing. That's based on sewing and pattern knowledge and looking at my hat (Sewing Jennie) and pattern I'm using and it's parts. You use a liner, canvas, interfacing and heavy duty stiffener. The interfacing and stiffener can't effectively be added later, a liner would be tough but more possible, and if the base fabric isn't right, well then you can't really do much there.
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I tried this for Florida from the 501st unit listings (I have Outlook installed) and it came up with these addresses: CO, Dan Smith (SL 7644),: flgco@fl501st.com, GML, Timothy Boyle (TB 7079): Tradeliphine@aol.com
I'd try dropping a line to them, explaining what's going on and asking if they know anything on their end. If those bounce then we'll be back to square one, but I'll still see if I can't figure out who that Florida guy was (patch trading with him semi-recently... digging through Facebook messages to find it...)
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26 minutes ago, Jennafoni26 said:
Hello everyone, thanks for responding.
@Evan1701 - I would be in the Makaze Squad in Florida. I've posted on these forums, but not on the overall 501st ones since I need to register and to do so I need to be a member with an assigned number.
@sharkbait - I've looked on the 501st website, and the GML and CO e-mails are listed as private. I do not know why it won't let me e-mail the GML thru the e-mail tab. A window pops up giving me an error when I click on the links, not allowing me to contact them. I don't know if I need a certain type of e-mail?
@Hask - Yes, that's what I did and never got a response back. :/
Thanks. Anyone have any other ideas or helpful input, or know the email address of the people I need to contact?
I'm surprised the CO and GML emails are private... you'd think they'd need to have an email out there as part of the job territory (even just a burner/only for that purpose if they didn't want their personal one out there; many of us have a specific 501st email). Sometimes when clicking the hyperlink, if you don't have Outlook or similar set up or installed, it can kind of "dead end" into a default email program which may or may not even let you see the address to copy/paste it somewhere else.
Huh... um... I think I know someone in Florida and maybe in Makaze area- I'll reach out to him and see if he can't get a contact for you.
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October is really way too long (in my opinion)- but a week or two (and sometimes three, depending on timing) is not unheard of for first time approvals.
I would reach out (email works) to your GML and verify they've received it, and CC the CGO. No harm is just asking.
Elections always slow everything down, but that was February, and now all the new officers have taken office as of March 1, so almost two weeks ago (which can also slow down stuff if someone new is in the position or there's otherwise transition).
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I just skimmed a few CRLs, but to my knowledge all the (Original Trilogy) belts are the same requirements- I don't see anything about unused holes. That would be kind of hard- because sometimes you need to loosen or tighten a belt, therefore unused holes might show. (I wear it in different positions and therefore different holes for my Officer v. Crewman/TIE).
They probably shouldn't be obvious, since they weren't obvious in the movies, but the Anovos belt is fine.
Mine is from SWExpress on Etsy- https://www.etsy.com/listing/236755230/star-wars-imperial-tie-pilotreserve. I had to drill my own holes and trimmed off some excess length, but that was less than five minutes with a drill and some good scissors.
Wampa Wear also has an approvable belt: https://www.wampawear.com/product/imperial-officer-belt-and-buckle/
There's other sellers on Etsy, too. Just look closely at their photos, and at the CRL photos, and makes sure the components are there. Black leather belt, brushed rounded buckle, cog with no notch, rivet.
This is all assuming you're talking about Original Trilogy.
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1 hour ago, TwistedZen said:
Thanks for the info. My wife went to this seamstress before and she does a bunch of costumes, so hopefully she can help me there.
You're fine, then! Lucky to have an in-house seamstress! (I'm good at sewing, my mom is very good, but my Great-Grandma was the real true seamstress).
Line Officer costume sources?
in Costume Questions - Ask Here!
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I'm a big fan of CosplaySky for entry level and for non-primary costumes. If you want to be an Officer and nothing else, and want to troop all the time, I think you can justify spending the Tier 2 - 3 prices. That said, CosplaySky is the best bang-for-buck and if it's one of multiple costumes, of even multiple officers, you can't do better on the budget. And, even for a primary, some people's budgets just can't take Tier 2 - 3, or they're like me and can't justify spending as much or more on a soft costume uniform (not including extras), as they would or did on a full armor kit (my TK kit was $700 shipped, for example). If you want to do Veers/AT-AT Commander, then I'd recommend getting at least a nice tunic, if not pants, because that armor is known to wear on the shoulders. I think those Tier 2 - 3 vendors are great- it's nothing against them, I just really wish we had a Tier 1.5 or something.
We have almost all CosplaySky olive locally, so we all blend well and honestly, the general public has no concept and never even notices. Not that they always know the difference between a TIE Pilot and Vader, but still, you get the idea there. It's all in how you weigh it and what works for you- and if your local area looks generally like they came out of the same ship, you're good.
The trick with CosplaySky olive is to get either 1 extra yard of fabric (about $30), and send it to a hat maker or make it yourself (hats are rough- and I sew, so I don't recommend that unless you're really good), or there is a vendor on Etsy that does good hats and has the matching CosplaySky olive as a hat option- 20EyesDesign. They have other Star Wars stuff too.