Approvable Shadow- / Blackholetrooper Armor

[RAIDER[COTG]]

19 minutes ago, ImperialLoyalty342 said:

I guess my best bet then is to wait for the armor. It’s tricky because I can’t get even a partial refund if I go through with the shipping.

Hopefully my GML will work something out with either Rs or the detachment managers or whoever would be in change or a situation like this.

i appreciate the help

I am the detachment leader and one of your GMLs did reach out to me earlier today.  I showed him pics of RS kits, versus standard gloss Shadow Troopers and stated exactly what I posted here. My personal opinion is it is not gloss enough (it actually looks satin to me) but ultimately it will be up to his judgement to decide if RS will be gloss enough for your garrison’s interpretation of the standard.  The comparison pics were provided for him to make that assessment.  I made him aware that there is a similar issue in Germany.

Your GML, nor myself, have any influence over vendor products.  We, the detachment, manage the CRL and the garrison GMLs apply it.  Vendors are their own operating business.

I totally understand your concern. The money invested is significant (though it sounds by price like you ordered a fully built commission...would be much cheaper if you connected with local members and did the build).

Hope that gives you some insight.  Lets see how it goes with @Halycon this weekend.

[RAIDER[COTG]]

5 minutes ago, Halycon said:

Mason it totaly differs from garrison to garrison, maybe your GML/GMO is like IcyTrooper. then you will get approved.

In my case. it's just bad luck, most of the shadows have a super glossy armor, so my one does not fit in!

we also have different squads in germany, the RS Shadowtrooper was approved many times in diffferent squads but that do not help me today.

I can only clear coat it and i will do so... don't worry bro, you will make it in!

I love your positive attitude.  Thank you!

Yes there are a few RS approved in Germany (most are not though...and once approved you do not get unapproved just because the standard has changed) and I believe this became a concern for them when they did one of their major troops and there was one RS kit next to all of the glossy Shadows.  It looked well out of place and prompted the change.

I look forward to seeing your progress this weekend and am hoping for the best.

[ImperialLoyalty342[TX]]

Yeah I understand that you all aren’t consulted by the companies before they put “501st approved” on their sites. 

I will have to wait for @Halyconto figure out a way to fix his armor and then try to do the same thing. 

I was and still am involved in my garrison even before joining the 501st. I have made 2 jawa costumes with the help of garrison members and seen them at events. I just didn’t have the confidence yet in building my own hard armor as I am only 5’6“ (heard it’s difficult) so I thought rs was a good option. 

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

To avoid this problem in the future, i think it is only a problem for people who just buy a fully finished commission what means they don't have the skill or the time to build them on their own.

I would recommend to mark the word glossy in the CRL or at least say it could differ from garrison to garrison, i think this is barrely fair. 

What i am saying is, we all want the same, have fun with our costumes and make others happy with it, let's find a way in the future to avoid problems as good as possible.

And RS Props should do the same on their homepage, to say it is 501st approved ready is just not up to date anymore, i will tell them this as well...

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

19 minutes ago, Raider said:

I love your positive attitude.  Thank you!

Yes there are a few RS approved in Germany (most are not though...and once approved you do not get unapproved just because the standard has changed) and I believe this became a concern for them when they did one of their major troops and there was one RS kit next to all of the glossy Shadows.  It looked well out of place and prompted the change.

I look forward to seeing your progress this weekend and am hoping for the best.

thank you Raider,

see i am also new to the Star Wars costume scene and i bought my first costume from RS cuz they promised on their homepage it is 501st approved.

But after a couple of weeks of reading, meeting cool 501st members and building my own binoculars, i found out this is what gives me a good time, makes me happy and that's the most important thing for me, you guys are a bunch of crazy, cool star wars loving people.. that's simply me  and i wanna be part of this great Legion!

[RAIDER[COTG]]

23 minutes ago, Halycon said:

To avoid this problem in the future, i think it is only a problem for people who just buy a fully finished commission what means they don't have the skill or the time to build them on their own.

I would recommend to mark the word glossy in the CRL or at least say it could differ from garrison to garrison, i think this is barrely fair. 

What i am saying is, we all want the same, have fun with our costumes and make others happy with it, let's find a way in the future to avoid problems as good as possible.

And RS Props should do the same on their homepage, to say it is 501st approved ready is just not up to date anymore, i will tell them this as well...

I understand your point but the CRL does say gloss (and only gloss) in the Special Notes section towards the top.  We could add it to every armor piece description but that could be redundant no?  Garrison interpretation verbiage I cant say we would add unless the Legion LMOs ask us to add that to every CRL in the legion as a broad statement.  But that could open up a can of worms of things that get approved in a negative way.

Its too late for this advice (and I do not intend it as a jab), but that is one of our primary functions as a detachment...to help, give advice, and guide builders before they pull the trigger on a purchase.  ...we are the resource to help clarify (and hopefully prevent) issues.  I always tell prospective members...pick a costume you like, then visit that detachment to gather your info before you do anything else.

Anyways...whats done is done and we are here to help you both finish your builds and get you to approval.  Will keep following through the weekend.  Good night!

PS @Halycon are you meeting with @Janem to do the clear coat or by yourself?

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

I concur with @Raider on his points.

I'll be here to assist in any way I can up to the limits of what I do. All of this is doable no matter which course is taken, we've got some experience behind all of our belts. Keep us updated!

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

5 hours ago, Raider said:

PS @Halycon are you meeting with @Janem to do the clear coat or by yourself?

I do it on my own.

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

good morning from the lacquer front....

i have some first impressions for you.

i cleaned the armor up, sprayed it twice and let it dry now... this is the actual status..

 

please let me know what you think about it...

[RAIDER[COTG]]

Just woke up (and heading out)...but can you post a pic of the product you are using.

At quick glance here it looks like you may need another coat or 2 and need to get it on a little more “even” so it has a smoother look to it.  Do a coat.  Let it sit before applying the next.

[ImperialLoyalty342[TX]]

Hard to tell without much to compare to beforehand 

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

2 hours ago, Raider said:

Just woke up (and heading out)...but can you post a pic of the product you are using.

At quick glance here it looks like you may need another coat or 2 and need to get it on a little more “even” so it has a smoother look to it.  Do a coat.  Let it sit before applying the next.

I will do when I am back home, am on the way to a medieval christmas market.. but it needs to dry for about a day then this uneven look should disappear, it’s working meanwhile. 

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

Thats the clear coat i used...

i will take some new pictures after 24h to see how it worked out, what i can say right now, its a big difference to before the clear coat..

it definitly has gloss now, that's for sure.

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

good morning,

after the drying i wet sanded a part of the shoulder bell so you can see the difference to before the clear coat:

like Raider mentioned before, it still looks kinda uneven, to fix this, i have ordered two more cans of the clear coat.

i think they will arrive in 2 days and i can finish the armor then...

i mean i could even let it like it is now, you can see the difference and how glossy it is but i try to get the surface perfectly even... 

[RAIDER[COTG]]

@Halycon you can indeed see a reflection (which in the comparison pic you could not)   I think to really make it smooth some extra even coats should work.

 

[ImperialLoyalty342[TX]]

What grit sandpaper are you using to wetsand?

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

1 hour ago, ImperialLoyalty342 said:

What grit sandpaper are you using to wetsand?

i use a 2000 grit sandpaper to wetsand it

[Halycon[PR-CMD]]

2 hours ago, Raider said:

@Halycon you can indeed see a reflection (which in the comparison pic you could not)   I think to really make it smooth some extra even coats should work.

 

i hope the 2 other cans will be enough , can't wait to wear that bling bling boom chicka wahwah armor ?

[RAIDER[COTG]]

1 hour ago, Halycon said:

i hope the 2 other cans will be enough , can't wait to wear that bling bling boom chicka wahwah armor ?

Not sure if did this but try doing some light fine grit (1500 or 2000) wet sanding in between coats (make sure they fully dry)

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

What others have said about the wet sand and coats is correct. That shine/gloss  is great!

[ImperialLoyalty342[TX]]

So approvable if glossed? And what changes can we expect for specialist. I know the hand guards are flexible over latex gloves.. @Raider

[RAIDER[COTG]]

1 hour ago, ImperialLoyalty342 said:

So approvable if glossed? And what changes can we expect for specialist. I know the hand guards are flexible over latex gloves.. @Raider

This is the current proposal.  There aren't any major changes to Specialist requirements...mostly making sure they are embedded into the CRL (which they currently are not).  We do need the T-21 as an eligible weapon to the proposal in the top thread as well.

https://forum.specops501st.com/index.php?/topic/6939-proposed-crl-modification-shadow-stormtrooper/

 

[IcyTrooper[CMD-DL]]

2 hours ago, ImperialLoyalty342 said:

So approvable if glossed? And what changes can we expect for specialist. I know the hand guards are flexible over latex gloves.. @Raider

Depending on what the GML said and is looking for (can show them this post too) I'd say it would be glossy enough for Level 1 (basic). As for the Specialist changes here is the current thread for CRL revision, the Specialist stuff is in blue text under Level two details: 

 

 

This is the current shadow stormtrooper Specialist requirement thread:

 

 

[RAIDER[COTG]]

@ImperialLoyalty342 For Level 2 Specialist...I personally would NOT approve the RS kit as a qualified gloss.  The comparison pic that @Halycon posted shows the armor is dull enough to be satin in my eyes (there's no actual reflection).  Your GML might for Level 1 (though in the talks I had with him it sounded like he wanted it more glossy).  Best practice...if your GML already gave you a response/suggestion, I would say to follow that.

[ImperialLoyalty342[TX]]

1 hour ago, Raider said:

@ImperialLoyalty342 For Level 2 Specialist...I personally would NOT approve the RS kit as a qualified gloss.  The comparison pic that @Halycon posted shows the armor is dull enough to be satin in my eyes (there's no actual reflection).  Your GML might for Level 1 (though in the talks I had with him it sounded like he wanted it more glossy).  Best practice...if your GML already gave you a response/suggestion, I would say to follow that.

So possibly specialist if you can see some reflection but not level 2 unless glossy as a kit like anovos? 

Anovos will be hard to match for us rs shadows haha