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kman

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Posts posted by kman

  1. If the adjustment strap is not listed as optional, then yes, it's required.

     

    Otherwise, both boots look about right for L3.

     

    It's unfortunate that there is only one or two vendors who formally make the boots with the adjustment strap.  This is because they are not a historical boot... the costume designers custom made them for Krennic by taking the adjustment strap of standard jack boots (worn by lower level crew and pilots) and putting it on Krennic's boots.  They then decided to go with that style moving forward, so now pretty much ALL Officer boots have that fake "adjustment strap" (which, again, was custom made for the show... so any vendor would need to be custom making them for the customers).  Of course, many science fiction characters wear boots that are NOT historical or off the shelf, so I suppose we should be grateful that they're not all that hard to replicate, as a minor modification to standard boots that ARE pretty readily available.

     

    Fortunately, they're not all that hard to add to any regular boots (like the ones on the right, in the OP).  Any halfway decent boot repair store (cobbler) should be able to make a flap and a strap with a little buckle, and stitch it into the back and side of the boots.

  2. That tunic doesn't look super tight to me, but you'd know best how it feels.  The cheap overseas cosplay sites tend to not leave much extra fabric in the seams (pinching pennies) for alterations, but you never really know until you get in there.  The issue with sizing up tends to be the neck, which ends up way too big and is *really* hard to alter, especially without a lot of extra fabric under the seams to pull from.  Just the way these tunics are patterned, unfortunately.

     

    But in that photo, I think everything looks mostly ok?  A little hard to tell, but doesn't seem bad.  The flaps on the pants are kinda oversized, as usual, but those are pretty easy to take in and tame the curve.

  3. At one point I seem to recall Gio at CrowProps actually bought an original boot, and was going to offer recreations.  Not sure if that actually made it to market.

     

    Cosplayers get crazy creative... I'm sure something approximating the boots could be mocked up from a vaguely similar boot, regardless.

     

    That said, yeah, if no one can make them, I guess jack boots would be our only option.

  4. On 1/15/2024 at 9:17 AM, PiotrRasputin said:

    So I decided to buy WampaWear's hat to match their uniform that I already have.  It arrived with a crease in it and was wondering what would be the best way to get it out.  Otherwise fits well.

     

    Try heavy steam?  A steamer is super useful, else your iron's steamer may suffice.  Be careful not to use too hot an iron on Wampa's fabric, as the polyester threads are very fine and can MELT if too much heat is used.

  5. 15 hours ago, haringjr said:

    @AdmiralJag Your photos disappeared. Any way to repair?

    @Bowrider Nice work on the suit pattern. 

    What fabric do we think is correct for the suit? 
    The suit has contrast visible stitching, correct?

    Could the CRL be built with the jackboots as the standard, and the insulated boots as the option?
     

     

    I'm running out the door, but off the top of my head: I seem to recall we did see both, right?  Or did they ALL wear the ski boots?  I haven't had coffee yet so the brain isn't up and running just now. LOL

     

    But we would probably (normally) build the CRL with the most common configuration... assuming we can find someone who actually has the costume set up that way.  But then make Jack boots an optional variant.

  6. That fabric looks a little more silver and a bit lighter than ideal, if I'm being honest, but it's in the right ballpark.  Accurate greys are going to be the death of us LOL  It's almost has varied as feldgrau.

     

    Stealing an image from another thread:

    310742862_10159494156084825_3653533080638481172_n

     

    Note the variation in lightness just based on lighting... the guys on the left side, near the wall, with less direct light, look WAY darker than Heert (next to Meero), more in the middle of the corridor and under the main lights.  That being said, I think the guys on the left are closer to the correct shade: A bit darker, when the lighting isn't blowing it out.

  7. On 12/23/2023 at 3:52 PM, Skywise said:

    Kalani directed me to the WampaWear White ISB Tunic.  I simply love it!  High quality suiting material in good weight.  Easily my best Imperial tunic so far.  Won't look "frumpy" like the thinner tunics.  You get what you pay for.  IMHO Thrawn (as seen on Ahsoka) should have gone to WW!  His uniform is looking a bit worse for the wear. 

     

    I heard Thrawn tried, but Azman wanted too much to ship to the far away galaxy. LOL

  8. There are lots of vendors on Etsy.  I know many have used 20EyesDesign... I think she's in Colorado?

     

    I had my most recent hat made by PilotBay (based in SoCal), using fabric I purchased from WampaWear so it matches (since I couldn't stand wearing their hat anymore).  That's more critical for the Olive suits than black, though.

  9. On 12/28/2023 at 2:27 PM, Naradriel1994 said:

    Hello!

    I'm making an ISB uniform and I was actually planning to put a rank of 5 blue on it (for when I make Ysanne Isard). But investigating and for a first suit it may be too much.

    My question is: would a range of 3-4 be appropriate for a 30 year old ISB? (the truth is that I get lost with the ranks).

     

    Personally I wouldn't overthink it.  If you want to get the 5 blue so you can use the same one for Ysanne, go for it!

  10. On 1/5/2024 at 8:19 PM, IceManHG said:

     

    If what you get is "as pictured" (not always a sure thing), then those should work fine, assuming they fit you of course.

     

    I'd be very curious to see photos, if you decide to order them, because that's a really good price.  (Apparently I already had them in my watchlist but have not ordered them since I already have too many boots LOL)

     

    If you want to improve them (since they're so cheap), any decide shoe repair place should be able to lop off the top bump and make them flat top, which would make them more accurate.  But that's not required.  Note with soles like that, you'll likely want to have rubber anti-skid pads attached.

  11. Hi Alexandra, I saw your PMs which SharkBait responded to.

     

    I agree with her: Those boots are the Derby PVC/rubber versions.  They do work fine for basic approval, and many troopers use them as starter boots, to see how much they want to commit to the costume, before going for better boots.  (And some just use them for long periods of time, because they simply can't afford better, or don't wear the costume often enough to justify investing more in it.)  They can be had for quite inexpensive prices.

     

    All that said, there are definitely drawbacks to those boots, which is why few stick with them long term: They're extremely hot.  As you can imagine, PVC boots with zero ventilation doesn't breathe at ALL, and your legs and feet will get extremely sweaty in them in mere minutes... on a hot day, your legs can be soaked!  They're also not very comfortable.  They're intended as actual horseback riding boots, where you aren't actually on your feet much: You're seated on a saddle, with your feet resting in stirrups.  So there's zero foot or ankle support to them, despite the appearance.  And finally, in terms of fit: Well, they're literally molded plastic.  So if they fit, cool, but if not, no amount of stretching can help, and there's no way to take them in.

     

    You'll definitely be happier with a quality pair of boots, and frankly, the $230 or so from Hessen Antiques is a steal, for what you get, compared to what REAL riding boots cost.

     

    Boots can be the most expensive part of an Imperial costume, in some cases costing more than the rest of the costume.  But you can also get super lucky on the used market... that can require patience, though... you could get lucky and find the right style (which is tough, since it's no longer a popular style for riding) in your exact size, you can score an incredible pair of boots for dirt cheap.  I know people who lucked out and found some right away, and I know others who are still looking and hoping after over a year.  (More common sizes are likely going to be luckier, too, and smaller people, moreso than anyone on the larger side, since serious dressage hose riders who would own these sorts of boots tend to be more petite)

     

    Whichever way you go, good luck! :)  Feel free to ping me if you have any other questions.

  12. 5 hours ago, chicken45 said:

    Updated with LMO changes.

    They had me clean up, and tighten some of the language (which weas very helpful) and found some things like "visible closures" which would absolutely be visible on a uniform torn to shreds. 

     

    The only "big" outstanding things are the boots, the gloves, and the hat.

    The gist of it was explaining to them our OPTIONAL hat language. There's zombie officers seen with and without hats, (same with gloves!), and we want people to wear what they want without making it complicated (you can only NOT wear a hat IF you have don't wear gloves AND have zombie hands AND ripped sleeves with exposed flesh). Officers are infinitely configurable when they are NOT zombies, so writing a CRL that is super restrictive and complicated is now what we want to do. 

     

    The boots from the video game have the black dye weathered completely off which makes them look brown. The applicant's boots have that sanded off, but have a rubber grip sole. I am trying to reconcile with with the LMO team to get a path forward. I understand in the applicant's first submission, the boots were not "two toned".

     

    Stand by, @soodohej

       
     
     

     

    Zombie-Officer-CRL-Parts-boots.jpg Officer Boots,
    • Knee-high black, riding style, lace-less, smooth non-textured, leather or leather-like material.
    • There are no buckles, snap tabs, or decoration.
      • A top adjustment strap may be present.
    • The there are no center seams on the front shaft of the boot.
    • Boots have conservative heels.
    • A single stretch panel or zipper may be present; they are to be hidden on the inner part of the boot shaft.
      • Not visible from the front, side or back.
    • The top of the boots may be flat or Spanish Style, but not Cowboy or Super Hero (pointed at the front) style.
      • A small V-shaped notch may be present on the back of the boots top.

     

    OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
    • Boots are made of leather and may have hidden zippers.
    OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
    • Boots are made of leather and may have hidden zippers.
    OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
    • Exact replicas of English riding (dress) boots, German marching boots, or Equestrian boots.
    • Boots do not have a top adjustment strap on the outside of the boots.
    • Boots to have a flat top.
    • The straps are set slightly to the rear with the tabs facing the rear.
    • Boots can be distressed with scratches and stains that emulate aged dry blood.
    • The outsole/heel may be two tone black/brown.
     

       
     
     
     

     

     
     
     
       
     
     
       
     

     

    Perhaps instead for the boots we have a line such as "boots may be weathered down to the point of showing the natural brown leather under the black dye"?

  13. On 12/4/2023 at 12:43 AM, ChrisLie said:

    Any faux leather boots in the correct style without zipper will do just fine then. But as costumized, don't know if it's easy to find. Cactus leather as pointed out is a good option too. Hope you find what you are looking for.

     

    Zippers are fine, depending on where they are and which CRL you're aiming for.  All the newer shows had boots with zippers.  OT, not so much.

  14. On 12/1/2023 at 3:18 PM, Aesmodan said:


    I just asked Wehrmacht, so confirming for the forum that they won’t do custom.


    @kman Thanks for posting this.  410 Canadian plus ship, doesn’t seem horrendous for custom… I’ll message Hessen with measurements, my issue is the need for a wide boot, wide calf, but short height… Kman, did you add a “non skid sole”?  (Presume the “Boot Top, Shaft Opening Tab”) is the adjustment strap at the top of the Non Saga style boot?)

     

    Thanks to @ChrisLie too, also messaged Mux, will report back…

     

     

    I don't have non-skid soles on mine, but I'm used to wearing shoes with leather soles (way too many years in dress shoes at the law firm), and live in a warm climate, so YMMV.  That's something any shoe repair shop can add later if you change your mind.

     

    No adjustment straps on Hessen boots, they're straight OT-style riding boots.  You could have a non-functional flap and strap added at a shoe repair shop later, if you want.  Crow Props is the only place I've seen that makes the boots with the adjustment straps.  The ones you see on screen were all custom made for the shows (no idea what shop they used), so that style is not really manufactured anywhere.  You need someplace that does custom work for that.

  15. If you fit the Ovation Derby PVC riding boots, those are a popular starting option (both here and for Vaders, and even ROTJ Lukes).  Vegan-friendly.  Limited sizes and utterly non-customizable, of course (nor can they be stretched or altered after the fact).  But you could probably pick up a pair (cheap) on Amazon, and return them if they don't fit you.

     

    Otherwise, I don't have any particularly good news or advice for you.  IMO, $400 for a custom made pair of boots isn't terrible, especially using customer-specified non-standard materials.  Custom costs... the main cost is not the relatively small amount of leather in the boot, it's the labor involved with hand making something outside of a mass-production factory environment.  (And of course international shipping, in this case). I suspect the extra $50 over their regular boots is not a materials cost, rather it's basically a built-in cushion against things going wrong, building boots in a new way with a material that is not as well-known, in case something good poorly and they have to start over, wasting all the man-hours that went into the first attempt.  (For instance, synthetic leather tends to tear pretty easily, compared to the real thing, and is just not as strong)

     

    I've never seen a pleather 2" belt with the incised lines... those would likely need to be moulded in at the factory, and I'm sure sure if anyone mass produces that.

  16. MazCave is fantastic, all good there.

     

    Most decent shoe repair shops can do alterations on shoes as well... that really shouldn't be hard.  And lots of tack shops do boot repair work, too, you might consider trying there.  I can't imagine there isn't a plethora of places that deal with riding boots, in Texas.

     

    There's no specific search term for flat top riding boots, it's just a matter of finding the right style.  Spanish style boots, such as the ones you bought, where the outside is higher than the inside (for increased leg protection while riding) is more popular than flat tops, in the modern riding world.

     

    But depending on how much you want to spend, and the size of you feet and legs, there are sellers out there.  One of the most popular is Hessen Antiques, which makes fairly perfect boots for our purposes (and the price is and quality are both fantastic), BUT their sizes are limited (especially since they run SMALL contrary to what the listing claims... if you wear size 11 you'd better buy size 12!) and the boot shafts tend to be pretty slender so if your legs are at ALL meaty (or even the larger side of normal) they can be too tight for some.  Stretching can help but only a little.  https://hessenantique.com/riding-boots/. They do have custom boots for a slightly higher price but it's a slow process as I understand.

     

    Mux Leather is a step up, they carry the same kinds of boots, but the price is noticably higher (and probably shipping from the UK as well).  They do full custom sizing as well, but again, the price is definitely higher.  I've heard they tend to be more responsive on eBay than direct, ironically.

     

    KeepTrooping sells the right boots, but their quality is a little lower than Hessen and their price is higher.  The shafts of their boots are a little larger than Hessen.

     

    Crow Props can make boots without the zipper (which is very poorly hidden despite their claim, and may not be approved), and do full custom, but they're in South America, not fast, and have had enough issues with sizing on custom boots (and always blame the customer) that I hesitate to recommend them.

     

    There are some others, but these are the usual top choices.

     

    All that said, the boots you have are fine, and if they're comfortable for you, I'd think it's going to be better to just alter them than buy all new boots.

  17. Great to hear!  Yes, I think dyeing the costume black will go a long way to getting you ready. (you'll still need a new hat, though)  And I highly recommend getting those stirrups on your pants... I have them on all of mine, and it's hugely helpful.  If you have any (even poor) skill with a needle and thread, it only takes a few minutes to sew a little piece of elastic to the bottom, and it goes a loooong way towards keeping your legs looking much better.

     

    20170417021221-21562236-me.jpg

     

     

    FYI, the CRL you are looking for is this: https://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:Temp-Imperial-Staff-Officer_(Non_Saga)

     

    ... NOT the ANH Staff Officer.  That one has a completely different tunic which is very rare... only a few places make them.

     

    I do recommend you share your etsy source here before buying a new costume, just so we can confirm, it's good to go. :)

  18. On 11/26/2023 at 8:38 PM, Terunis said:

    As for the approval process, i think it's worth me summarising just so you have a rough idea of the steps:

     

    You would make an account on your local garrison forum. 

    Choose a CRL

    Put on all elements required in the CRL - for you would be hat, jacket, jodhpurs, boots, gloves, belt, rank badge, code cylinder(s). 

    Take full body photos on a plain background from the front, left, right, back, without hat, and action pose. 

    Send photos in an email to your GML.

    You will then receive your approval, or rejection with notes on what was not to standard.

     

    Note there is no requirement for a "without hat" photo.  The requirement is for a photo without a helmet, when the helmet covers the face, just so we can be sure who it is in the costume.  For open face helmets, or simple hats, there's no need for that. :)  Otherwise, yes, this is the general process... plus, you also need to fill out the actual application to join, on the main 501st Legion site.

     

    https://www.imperialofficercorps.com/join

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