Apologies for the delay in joining the discussion fully. I’ve been meaning to post for a while but have been busy.
I’ve now found some time to collect my thoughts and chime in with my stream of consciousness.
First up, any chance we could actually refer to the name Mudtrooper as one word? It’s how all official reference material and production assets state the character.
In regards to the W.I.P CRL the images used so far are questionable. That’s understandable given how early in the day we are and the lack of HiRes public reference imagery. Of the photos currently on show the back plate is certainly incorrect, the shoulder bells don’t look quite right in shape, the lower belt is missing the long box and the boots look too short.
Here’s my thinking based on each of the CRL entries. It is by no means conclusive. Some of the finer detail may be reserved for Lvl 2/3 consideration.
HELMET
The detail here relates to specifying the appearance of the code disks:
A stepped cone shape appearing to be 3 disks stacked on top of one another. The discs are of equal thickness. An indentation appears in the centre of the top disk.
The code disk does not include the "V" shaped groove sometimes found on the two outer discs.
UPDATE. Trim on the helmet is confirmed as rubber. The join is on the back on the helmet in the centre.
GOGGLES
The goggles were never designed to be worn in action. Anecdotal comments from those involved in production state that goggles were never removed from the helmets. The only character seen on film to wear the goggles is Rio. Rio’s style of goggles is different to the standard Mudtrooper goggle and has a more rounded rubber seal.
The goggle detail relates to a few of things…
1. The step-up in elastic size - the strap that joins the goggles is stitched to a larger elastic that forms the band that goes around the back of the helmet. Variance could be 25mm-38mm, or 40mm to 50mm. Yet to be determined.
2. Goggle strap features large buckle greeble on left side and two black plastic tri-glides on the right rear.
3. The top frame of the goggles shall feature a gold screw-action nose adjuster sourced from Halcyon Mk9 SuperJet goggles.
4. The goggles shall feature angled lenses.
RESPIRATOR
The respirators were not designed to be worn in action. Anecdotal comments from those involved in production state that the respirator was only worn around the neck. The only two characters character seen wearing a respirator in the movie are Rio, and Han – for all of two seconds!
Respirators were suspended around the neck on the end of a 20mm khaki webbing strap that had two D-RINGS at each end. D-RINGS are sourced from the Yugoslav backpack. The D-RINGS attached to the respirator via the carabiner clips also sourced from the Yugoslav backpack. The webbing strap connects to the backplate.
It should also be stated that metal mesh should be present behind the vocoder and the respirator canisters.
BACK PLATE
A couple of points here…
Black foam extends past the arm openings. Same as Shoretrooper, though back only. UPDATE: Whilst unconfirmed the foam is most likely to be 5mm Plastazote, the same as the Shoretrooper and Tank Trooper.
The back plate should feature two round raised circular sections for the hoses to attach to.
TUNIC
I stand by my previous observations on the tunic – that it is a combination of an Imperial Officer and First Order Officer in design. The seams and cut are comparable.
I believe the colour to be field grey but it’s hard to say exactly WHICH field grey!
The weave looks to be a heavy wool twill. SW Costume Department has stated it was a heavy wool material. Anecdotal comments from those involved in production state that the tunics were heavy to wear. They also do not recall any pockets on the tunics, as shown in the Hot Toys version.
PANTS
SW Costume Department has stated that pants were made from a heavy black cotton material. Anecdotal comments from those involved in production state that the pants were thick and heavy to wear, and that many chose to wear braces (button type) to help keep them in place.
Pants have double stitched reinforced thighs - not knees as currently stated.
BOOTS
There appear to be a few types of boots used in production. SW Costume Department has stated many were left over from Rogue One and re-used.
There is a shot in circulation showing a mid-calf boot with no shins. This is of Rio and should be discounted.
Hero Mudtroopers - such as Han and Val - have a buckle present on the top outside of their boots. Standard Mudtroopers appear to be wearing boots most similar to WW2 Soviet Officer boots. The boot is just below knee height. The leather is smooth and not textured. The boots do not appear to have any tread and anecdotal comments from those involved in production supported this.
SHINS
Whilst similar to the Shoretrooper shin it should be noted that the straps are both of the same width. Also different is the fact that the knee plates angle out and away from the kneecap.
GLOVES
There are two types of gloves used in production, the first being the Shoretrooper black glove. The other is the Highlander Spec Ops glove as noted.
CAPE
The cape used in production was confirmed by SW Costume Department to be the WW2 era Soviet Plash Palatka which was dyed black prior to weathering.
As noted, the most accurate style of Plash is pre-70s where NO brass grommets are present. In addition, wooden toggles and stitched eyes are present rather than small brass eyelets.
OFFICER BELT
For clarity it should be noted that the two metal boxes are Rogue One Officer style rather than OT Imperial Officer style.
LOWER BELT
I’ve seen nothing to suggest two options for the lower belt. All reference I have seen shows the six boxes in situ. The only variance I have seen is the sequence of the middle four boxes – either Large/Small/Small/Large or Large/Small/Large/Small.
**UPDATE** I knew I'd forget stuff, so here to update. Both belts are kept in place at the rear of the costume. One pic appears to show a drop-down loop - approx. 3-4in in width - from the back plate through which both belts pass. However, another pic suggests the belts could pass through a large belt loop on the rear of the tunic.
SCARF
Mudtroopers are seen to be wearing scarves and at least two types have been sighted so far. Based on onscreen reference, with the addition of personal behind-the-scenes images of a screen used scarf, the most seen scarf appears to be dark grey in colour. They have an open weave similar in look to hessian/burlap, however, the production source states they were very soft to wear. They were approx.. 52in in length.
UNDERGARMENT
Whilst it won’t form part of the CRL it may be of interest for people to know that the undergarment worn by Mudtroopers during production was a British Army Anti-Static Self Wicking t-shirt in Brown.
AMMO POUCH
So far, the Yugo M49-M56 has been sighted worn in three different – left and right shoulder/chest, and left hip.
BANDOLIER
M855 Post-Vietnam US Army four pocket bandolier.
So, there you have it. Like I said, a stream of consciousness. Do with it what you will. I’ll continue to add as I uncover or remember! I appreciate anecdotal evidence doesn’t count but I felt it interesting to share.
There’s no doubt that come the home release of S:ASWS in September we should have more to go on. Not so much from the movie itself but more from any BTS documentaries and featurettes. Here’s hoping!
Finally, here’s a link to an album of pics that will be useful for this CRL. Some are simply better versions of images already posted, others are new:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150772035@N08/albums/72157697274233291/with/42622196074/