New (old) member in Summerville potentially

[drftfan]

Hello! My name is Jamie from Summerville, SC. I used to be a 501st with the Mountain Garrison around 2011-2013 if I remember correctly. I had a TK and at one point had an Emperor. I am currently building my third TK that I have owned since 2013. It is an early MTK set. I started trimming it at some point and then we moved so it was kept in a storage container.
Last year I assembled the helmet but never actually finished it. It just sat in my office unpainted but more or less assembled.
I put together an off the shelf Mandalorian for halloween this year and the bug bit again. The Mando turned out pretty good. I used Xcosers hard armor base with a modified Black Series helmet. The helmet really turned out well for it being the first time I weathered anything.

I come from a Batman costuming background. You can look up my IG or Facebook if you want, Iconic-FX. I used to make stuff full time but now I have a regular job that keeps me on the road so I quit taking commissions more or less.
As you may see I really focused on the movie replica suits. If you want to know anything about running urethane I will be happy to answer any questions.

As of now I am about 40 percent done with the TK. I currently have the forearms on the bench with e6000 drying. The helmet is painted, but orders new paint brushes to do the detail around the ears and maybe repaint the vents. I have a helmet liner ready to go in once I get the new visor here today.
I already have the soft parts other than the undersuit but that is easy. The armor for the most part is in good shape.
The armor has a few spots on it I am having to clean up. A little leaching occurred from it sitting so long in storage from the holster/neck cover. I had to sand the leaching out of the cod area and will need to polish it up prior to approval.

I have really missed costuming in general. I was very burned out from making Bat stuff all the time that my own desire to suit up was non existent. But I am actually getting excited again. Once I get the armor complete as soon as possible I will submit for approval and will hopefully be trooping soon with you all.

Does anyone happen to know if it is possible to regain your old TK number?

[bobafett4ever]

Hello and welcome (back)!
Absolutely... your TK number is yours only, forever. You're probably just listed as retired now. What you would have to do is resubmit approval pics again and once approved, you'd have your old number reactivated with your new armor.
I'm sure our CO, Jeremy Pastros, or any of the other staff, could help you with any further questions... but I'm pretty sure it's as easy as that... assuming you retired on your own and it wasn't due to a disciplinary action.
There's a lot that goes on around that area... so I'm sure you'd have some great troops to participate in.
If you have any other questions just let us know!
-Chris

[drftfan]

That is great news! I swear it had something to do with my mother... a homage of sorts.

[bobafett4ever]

If you're unsure, you can PM me your full name and I can look up your details if you'd like. Just let me know.

[NegativeEleven]

Welcome back. I'm in North Charleston and happy to help if you need some cheerleading to motivate you to finish. You're also welcome to help out as a handler at any local events if you wanna meet people. Mt Pleasant xmas parade is the next big one.

[drftfan]

Thank you! I may actually come down for that. My wife loves Christmas parades.
As BobaFett4Ever now knows I had a serious set back with the armor. The lower legs were simply not fitting. Even went up to 25 mil strips and a 30 in the back with a pretty big gap down the middle and still wasn't working.
The inner left calf was heavily swooped in for lack of a better word. I tried heating it up with a hair dryer to reshape but that wasn't working. Then I went to the heat gun and flat out ruined the left leg.
While it is frustrating, there was no way that left leg was going to fit and still look decent.
I ordered a new set of armor last night from Moncal since he made my last complete set but it will be a bit before it is here.
I have a helmet ready to go and I still am going to finish the rest of this armor excluding the lower legs. I am going to get a replacement set from with the maker of this armor (MTK) or see if Cal has a set of b grade pieces lying around.
If anyone happens to have a source for a set of lower legs at a reasonable price please let me know.

Like I said, in the mean time I am going to finish this set of armor the way it is and I am starting to source out pieces for a Kylo Ren set up. Big Bad Toy Store had the lightsaber on sale for 50% off for Black Friday so I grabbed that. I also downloaded a few STLs of the helmet to make but I ended up finding a helmet last night which should be here this week.
I always liked Kylos look. I am too short to do Vader and Darth Maul can't be approved with a silicone mask so Kylo seems like a good alternative.

[NegativeEleven]

Man, MonCal has a reputation for being very, very slow to deliver. People in our Garrison waited over 4-5 years for Snowtrooper armor. Good luck. I know he does good work, but I don't think I would order from him.

As for another source... I'm partial to Intergalactic Supply, since he was our Garrison GML for a while and I make all his vinyl decals. I know he's taking a break for the month of December, so I can't imagine the backlog he's going to have in January. I got a set of TK shins from him earlier this year to make a Shoretrooper (not going well for a variety of reasons) and those look very good. https://www.facebook.com/IntergalacticSupply/

[drftfan]

Yes, I do know Cal in the past had delivery issues. Supposedly that has been rectified.
I purchased my set through Etsy using PayPal for the protection (my standard process) and I have been given an expected shipment date which is in about 4 weeks from now.
I did hear back from MTK and ordered a set of replacement shins.
My Kylo helmet and lightsaber will be here this week.
I also got a shipment notification for an RSprops Hero helmet that I doubt I will wear.

[drftfan]

MTK shins have shipped already so that’s good.
My Kylo helmet showed up and I have ordered the pieces for the Starkiller Base CRL. Unfortunately the basketweave fabric is out of stock practically everywhere so I as of now cannot do a TFA. I found some Basketweave in a city I have to drive to on Monday so I may be able to scratch enough together for the hood and robes.
But the Starkiller will probably more comfortable anyway ha ha.
Thanks everyone for the help.

[fxdl2002]

Welcome back! High point NC here, I got a tk half done too. But I lost 80 lbs so I got re fit parts. Lol. I did get some new parts from intergalactic supply. Jason Hill. He's in our garrison and in nc. I grew up in Georgetown near you though. Hope to see you out there

[drftfan]

An update.
The current "good enough" TK is entering the strap creation phase. Arms and legs are done other than the calf closures. It will be funny if the new kit shows up prior to my submitting this current one for approval.
On Kylo I am awaiting just the upper pieces at this point.
And finally I am working on an Emperor Palpatine. I picked up some robes and the cane. I already have boots. Now I am just considering all silicone mask options including making my own from a 3d file I have.

[NegativeEleven]

Man, I'd love to talk to someone experienced with casting silicone. I'm making a latex headpiece for Ahsoka right now cause I know you can do a latex/acrylic mix paint base coat on that. I have no idea how to color silicone other than tinting it before it cures. Silicone is a much better material than latex.

[drftfan]

I just got told my sleeves and surcoat for Kylo shipped. I am supposed to have those by the end of the week. The only thing left is the neck piece.

And silicone... as far as painting silicone there are a few ways to do it. One is to use silicone based paints. The other is to create your own by thinning the silicone with silicone thinner.
Currently I am leaning towards making my own Palpatine mask. A friend of mine took the file and added shoulders and a base to it. This will make it easier to print. I am now considering whether to simply print the bust and mold it or print a mold. Both would work and flesh colored silicone won't show print lines from the mold.
Both options are on the table.

[drftfan]

Hey everyone.
I submitted my Kylo Ren (s) set ups and both should be good to go. Just waiting on my transfer to go through.
I have completed the TK but haven't submitted the pictures yet. There are things I would like to change but currently it is what it is.
If anyone has an extra sniper knee lying around I would love to grab it from you. I messed my trimming on mine a little bit and would like a different one.
Thanks!