Blackwatch

im liking what Im seeing. Which gloves are you using? It looks like the sleeve is tucked in. I still need a helmet, so Ill be waiting for a while on that. But my Trooperbay pouches came in today--how did you mount your pouches to your pack? I was going to take the slanted loops off the back and make a sleeve to put back there for the belt to pass through.

Raider I have read and re-read your point about L2 and L1 approval for packs. If I read it correctly, L1 is basic pack, with a standardized , set charge. L2 would be options per a single individual pack. Would this also require matching belt pouch layout? Neal that was my original intent, a level of mix and match up to the person laying out the pack. Looking between the three options, and after consideration (as well as experience as a judge with mix and match Rebel Commandos), IMO it may be better to go with the L1 L2 setup described by Raider above. If a Sapper wants a specific layout, match the panel. For a L1 layout, we pick a basic layout (IE top charge, side charge, bottom charge, shovel). Im with you on the use of the term Sapper ; I do not want to start an all new topic, but the term has been used quite a bit within the forum. Lets get the CRL bits nailed, then lets discuss why we feel its the more correct term for the art.

i looked up the pantone. There ARE model colors that shade, but model paint isnt very tough.

Theres certainly a happy medium. I joined when it was mostly text and a crappy picture. Thats what I had as a Rebel Infantry judge. It gave me leeway when I had applicants from Eastern Europe that could get something close to right, but were unable to obtain US goods due to import duties and did their best with paint colors. EDIT- back to the CRL proposal, looking it over, and the past discussion, other than what weve just discussed here I agree with what I see, unless Im just completely missing something.

IMO and based on ten years in the club working with GMLs, who will be the final authority to approve it, I see two things with colors: 1: its GREAT. Tells you exactly what to get, and GMLs will love you for using the colors listed in the CRL. 2: it defines the only acceptable color per the CRL when it comes to the L2 standard. Ive seen time and again where overzealous GMLs reject things because of how defined it was, especially internationally. In my experience using the term "such as Pantone350U" will solve problems for approval down the road. Its a very small change but adds up over time.

ive gone back through the discussion about four pages in an effort to catch up. Two things come to mind: While we do strive for accuracy, we can paint outselves into a box when we use specific item codes. What is available now in your part of the world may not be in two years in another part of the world. Rebel Commandos outside of the US deal with that all of the time with the paint colors and boot availability (Import duties and all) , and when I was judging I had to keep that in mind. I have also seen GMLS read something so critically that what was accepted by almost any other GMl was refused because it edid not meet the exact model number or description in the GMLs opinion. Ive dealt with that plenty of times. There has been a lot of work put into this, and it will be approved as a CRL, but we want it to be right, as well as reasonable to obtain, and these points have been brought up on most of the parts of this discussion.

That was the call that Izzi had made several posts back: there would be one version of the pack, which would loaded. I had originally written the proposal with an "unloaded" version [returning from the canyon] and loaded, as described above. After thinking about it, I concur that the pack SHOULD be loaded to some degree. I wrote it based on the various configurations we see in the panels, broken down the way I described them. I even found one panel that had a shovel and "grenade string" on the same backpack, so I altered how the proposed CRL was written. To me these troopers each carry a part of a complex explosive. Even their pouches are different. The charges are different sizes and shapes, and not all have a shovel. One has a box on the side that looks like an old antenna pouch. to me, from this panel it appears that almost all troopers have a top mounted charge. The guy to the far left is hard to tell the way it is drawn, we cant see it but that does not mean its not there. Assuming the two paths for the pack, either a la carte as above or a single universal loadout. Here's a proposal for a single loadout, at least what I would personally want to carry: Top charge which spans longer than the pack is wide Bottom charge which is smaller than the pack Shovel, which will be flat, and not tubular. In a couple of panels the shovel looks like pressed / stamped steel with a bicycle grip added to the handle. Cheap! Optional string of grenades which is seen more often than the box on the right side. https://i.imgur.com/M45LiWY.png

I updated the boot part of the CRL to reflect the commuter boot as the preferred boot. super happy to see the strikethrough and color options back!

I dont think the level 2 requirement line got added in, referencing back to my reply above. While It can be added in but I havent seen much of a difference in the pouches in the panels they are in, other than whats already described. New boots Original boots https://i.imgur.com/DuHoMhc.jpg

This looks like a good start the color flap tab should be pointed like the art shows. You can tuck it under and Stitch it. To me the color on everything else looks good. Adjust your built so that it sits lower and you might try moving the H harness back straps in one hole to get it to lay down on your shoulders. When you look at the backside of the trooper their harnesses are slanted. I had to rebuild my harness three times to get it right. Also you will want to remove the velcro patch tabs with a seam ripper or very sharp knife.

Here is the start of my Imperial Army Trooper. Elbeco coveralls, straigth from the box. Commuter boots (see how short they are, and no extra stitching) I have made my harness and pistol belt, but not put them together yet. Both are painted Montana Gold olive green spray paint. Painted up a couple of dump pouches in the MGOG paint, and I ordered a few M47 cuff pouches. Need more pouches! i will order the french green gloves found at sportsmans guide. My hat maker is on recuperation but she will make my hat when shes ready and healed, and I sent her vintage OG107 fabric to make it with. I have had discussions with a holster maker to make a green holster matching my gear color.

I updated the names. Gianluca I edited to show you have received yours. If others who are on the list here have received them please let me know so I can update the topic and keep it current. Josh its good to see you in here!

that is good news! I am back now, I will go through this topic and post up who currently needs them on the front page.

freakin wow

Jon did the pair you have have decorative stitching like the pair linked above? I may be able to slink into a shoe store and have a look see tomorrow. Notice I said slink--not stroll. I like to get IN and OUT of shoe stores!

back when I was building BSG Deck Gang helmets I made the outside from a custom mold and the inside was pool noodle foam wrapped in black spandex. I will likely do the same for mine.

im with you. It looks like I dont have all the editing tools in the current forum setup that I had on the last forum, i had some pretty sweet moderator tools. This one is basic, so it was easier just take text out since I cant do strike through or color change, etc. Under level 2 in the blue text I had put that the boots need to match source art , which "should" have covered the commuter style but I will set up the boots for level 1 jack and level 2 commuter, and we can discuss that and how that will shake out. I found a pair pretty easy---that is NOT something I have said often in ten years of costume building! I carried the PRC-77 radio mount backpack and it was not at all comfortable, but has a similar appearance. For now I will leave mention of the frame and how the boxes out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/PRC77-PRC25-CARRYING-HARNESS-CARRIER-RADIO-BACKPACK-FRAME-BAG-PRC-660T-SEM35-/173280050729 ADDITIONALLY, this is another item to discuss. In the image below you can see that the artist intended for some text on the tab. it does not show in other panels because the tabs are too small, but this tab (highlighted) is clearly showing some sort of text. I feel that this needs to be an option for the uniform since its represented here. I also agree (other arrow) that the pack has a slab mount. Everyone please go back through the document and make sure I have not missed something, or if you see something that needs to be fixed.

hey everybody, my floors are done, I have my house back, and I am back! Ok, let me catch up on a couple of things. ...... Ok I read up on a couple of things, and I see what you are saying. Matt Nelson did the original art for the commlink, binocs, pack etc. He works with Crookknight, so the discussion could be made that his renderings would be intended to mount to one of the backpack frames. Honestly, Im with you either way--I have a BSA pack and it looks wrong for this application. Lets say for discussion I just edit out the part about the frame, how will it all hold together? Neal I totally agree that the frame could be concealed- we have been making internally framed packs for a long time, but those have a sack around the frame. I made a Squirrel Girl tail a few year ago and put the whole rig on a back board made out of sintra with hidden straps that went under the fur suit. Would it be advisable to make the pack out of a luan board, heavy sintra, etc? That would remove the frame, and keep in kind with the art. Here is something my research turned up, I remember seeing stuff like this in old books. https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/history-of-the-backpack . I need to make a mockup once I get my table moved back in place, but I have a few large sheets of heavy cardboard I use to mock things up and can come up with a protoype based on Matts renderings, without the tube frame. On the boots I have also received my commuter boots (THEY FIT! Im size 14EEE and they FIT!) and I will modify the CRL to reflect this as well. ADDITIONALLY---I have continued to study the photos and realize that I made an error. There is an image of a trooper with the "grenade string" on his back as well as the shovel. In THIS panel (below) the shovel looks like stamped steel!!!! it does not look tubular at all. maybe I am wrong, but the shading does not look like tube stock, and the cheapest thing you can issue a grunt is stamped steel.

thank you! we have been painting rooms, moving boxes and crates, moving furniture (we found the couch tonight, havent seen it in a month!!) . Im sick of painting--the hallway is left and we are DONE painting. The tile guy is a commercial tile guy and doing this after work now that he is back to three jobs a week. This is all after hours stuff for him. But its pro level work!

Dig it. Whats the source for your triple mag pouches?

Im back in the forum, and looking things over. Neal you are on track with the harness and pouch. I dont know that I agree with the chelseas after being around TKs and TXs for ten years, the commuter boots look much closer. When the day comes that I can find my coveralls in this construction mess Ill get a pic of the commuters with the coveralls. There's no pull loops on the chest pouch but thatll come right off with a sharp knife. The snaps are perfectly located. Roy the patches certainly are an issue. I dont know what the final outcome will be on that. EDIT I looked back at the source images and i can see where the artist drew the TX chelseas differently than our engineer boots. there are a couple of good images of the TK shoe vs the boot, int he same frame, posted at the top of the topic.

Im finally back online after what has seemed like forever. We flooded in 2016 and the last three weeks we have moved our house into our kitchen and dining area and living room. its a mess. I dont know where anything is. But tonight my room finished with new baseboards and I can start setting up my work room and office again. now I will be back in here working and helping out. I have a bit of reading to catch up on. No more busted concrete floors. yay!

Shane I did a search on the 'bay for commuter boot and those came up. Ill do my best to get to them this weekend. I need to see how they look in relation to my suit since I lopped off a little of the legs of my suit, but they should be fine for blousing and I have Army blousing rubbers.

Thanks for the update Walt. I know several people do not follow the page and are not aware of the ongoing situation.

The patches are an ongoing issue and I dont know what the outcome of that will be. Im looking forward to your build. I have sent WTF several messages about the helmet I ordered back in February.