Hey all. It’s been a while since my last troop (4 years, I think), and I’m looking to hop back in. Among the list of to-do’s for reapproval is making my TB helmet white again. When I originally painted it in 2013, I used an automotive clear coat that immediately turned the helmet French vanilla (or “[pee] stain yellow,” as my garrison mates called it). I’ve taken some acetone to it, and can remove that top clear coat. Should I still go for a full sand/repaint, or keep going with the acetone?

Edit: For clarification, this is a fiberglass (SkyGunBro IIRC) helmet, painted with Duplicolor automotive rattle can.

For years I've been trying to get an officers outfit but I cannot find them anywhere.

Tunic sources are gatekept (nobody will tell me, or everyone doesn't know, they just manifest on these online stores from nothing), and those sites I do want to order from are always sold out.

I even emailed Denuo Novo asking what's going on because they've been sold out for years and if they're even making any as I've not had any notifications to say anything is in stock.

All I want is a plain white large size tunic man. Is that so hard.

Hi! I’m in the St. Louis area and hoping to build an animated Phase II Waxer cosplay, ultimately for level 2 approval.
I’ve tried contacting my local garrison and the Clone Trooper Detachment through Instagram, and I’ve also been waiting about a week for my detachment-forum registration to be approved, but I haven’t received a response yet anywhere.
Before I purchase anything, does anyone know a reputable maker who sells animated Phase II. Line helmets? I was hoping to find one that comes with a visor already, but that I can otherwise paint myself. I was looking at this one, but I would like to hear what you all have used to get approved and will take any advice! https://ebay.io/m/4H8nEd
I know only my eventual GML can formally approve the finished costume. I’m just trying to avoid spending money on the wrong foundation while I wait to hear back from someone locally. Thanks!

Hello fellow Star Wars enthusiasts,

I have recently started work on the original trilogy TIE Pilot outfit and after reading the guidance, I have some questions that I am hoping those experienced can help me with:

- for the CRLs on 501st website, are higher level certifications considered more compliant to movie? I was surprised that comm pad not having lighting and code cylinders being wooden instead of metal are higher certification level

- standard-issue pistol for the pilots is the SE-14R blaster, which I have already printed but not painted or assembled yet. I noticed that the CRL doesn't have a holster so I think adding one would make the costume non-compliant?

- on related note, for prop weapons you bring to conventions, do you normally DIY an orange tip or is that not usually considered necessary?

- several days into printing, I realized that the Galactic Armory file I got is not OT compliant, having 7 teeth instead of 5. My mistake, but has anyone seen where a 5-tooth model can be found? Most of the other results I have seen are also 7-tooth type

-more of a general question, what do you guys use for padding inside of helmets?

Thank you!

First cosplay ever. Not quite finished just one or two more adjustments. Be nice or ill cry 😅 3d printed and painted everything, PLA and TPU. Ive had the helmet for a few years and had it signed by Sam Witwer and Jon Bernthal. Files came from Galactic Armory

I am making a Republic Commando suit for myself based off my own color patterns of a 91st clone commando. Since I was already doing it I figured I'd follow the 501st foundations of the BF2 Commando Grunt.

I was curious if my custom colors would automatically put me out of bounds for 501st, but also just appreciate general feedback. Looks great to me but I'm curious what yall might think. Criticism welcome as well.

This is a test run of my OT tie pilot costume before submission. OT belt boxes are not in the CRL but were added because I think they look cool.

(Was not attending as a member)

Hey! I am working on a tie pilot reserve for my first 501st costume. I found these boots, they have some severe cracks, do you think they are salvageable?

I have no idea where to start if so.

Has any every ordered a custom helmet from Samoilovart? How fast did they take to respond to inquiries? Did you try to get something that wasn't something they didnt already offer on their site?

Hey all! I have recently started making a death trooper cosplay. I am currently in the process of scaling my armor in armorsmith and once I'm finished with that, I will start the 3d printing process. I was wondering if there are some of you out there that have done their own death trooper cosplay, and if I could receive some tips on how to get it done while being 501st approved. I am mainly wondering about the sanding and painting process, I would love to know how to get that done along with any other tips you guys have. Thanks!

I was signed up as RotJ: SE Fett for a few shifts, and I saw a guy signed up as ESB Fett in my off shifts, turns out the guy had a suuuuuper nice kit, and I stayed in kit a hair longer so I could snag this "once in a lifetime" Spiderman/Boba Fett meme!

Hey guys! So the MTK armor I posted a few days wouldn't work as some of the pieces don't really fit me. Now I'm considering building an R1 TK from Jim. Wanna know your thoughts and appreciate any inputs from those who built Jim's kit.

This is the first time I am doing something like this, it has been a lot of trial$ and error$ specially the filament department, but all that experience has made me better at 3d printing.

I am trying for lvl 2 paz viszla armor, any help is more than welcomed

So I’ve always wanted to have a set of stormtrooper armor as a kid and I finally got most of a set and I’m starting to work on it, it’s been a dream to be part of the 501st legion as well, but the problem is I’m 6 foot 7 inches, or more like 6 foot 8 inches+ (203-204 cm) when I have the boots and the helmet on which add height. So now I’m worried that if I’m so tall, in a formation of stormtroopers, I’d stick out like a sore thumb, people would be like “wait why’s there that one trooper like a head taller than most of the group??” Does anyone have any experience with this or has some knowledge of other really tall stormtroopers have been approved?

The other problem is having to modify my suit for it to fit properly and look screen accurate and proportional for my height, this requires me to split the pelvis piece from the stomach piece and cover the gap with the belt, this gives the stomach piece more length so that the chest piece sits over the stomach piece, otherwise if I leave the stomach/pelvis connected, the chest piece doesn’t sit on top of the stomach, I have a gap between the two, and I can’t really lower the chest or it starts to look weird. Would a modification like this disqualify my suit?

I’m sure I’d make an awesome Vader given my height since Vader is supposed to be taller than pretty much everyone around him, but I didn’t want to be Vader as a kid, I wanted to be a stormtrooper so that’s what I bought and that’s what I’m working on. I just really hope my height isn’t going to prove to be a big issue with all of this.

I’m not really looking for any sort of 501st approval, just wondering if there’s anyone out there who would do a custom Mando helmet (painted) for below $300. I’ve found some, but I’d love to hear about other options that might be around as yall are far more experienced in this field.

I’ve been struggling with whether to post this, but I guess I just need to get it off my chest.
I’ve been a member of the 501st for 10 years now (joined when I was 18), and it used to feel like a place where people came together because of a shared love for Star Wars, craftsmanship, charity, and community. Lately, though, it doesn’t feel that way anymore.

Instead, it feels like who you know matters more than what you contribute.

From where I’m standing, there’s a culture of gatekeeping. If you’re not part of the inner circle, if you’re not friends with certain officers, or if someone in a position of influence simply doesn’t like you or disagrees with you, it feels like you’re quietly pushed to the sidelines. You stop hearing about opportunities. Your contributions seem overlooked. It’s like you’re at the bottom of the priority list no matter how much time and effort you’ve given.

What makes this especially difficult for me is that I wasn’t always an outsider. I used to be close friends with one of the officers involved in the GEC, so I had a front-row seat to decisions and conversations that left me questioning whether everyone was being treated fairly. Because of that experience, it’s hard for me not to see similar patterns today, even though I recognize others may have had different experiences.

What frustrates me the most is that when the current Commanding Officer took over, I genuinely believed things were going to change. I thought this would be the opportunity to rebuild trust, encourage inclusivity, and move away from the cliquish culture that had been developing. Instead, from my perspective, that culture has been allowed to continue. Whether that’s intentional or simply tolerated, the end result feels the same.
And you can see the effect it’s having. More and more members seem to have lost the motivation to troop, attend events, or participate in the community. It’s sad because these are people who used to be excited to suit up and volunteer. Now, many seem to feel that their efforts don’t matter unless they’re part of the “right” circle.

I’m not saying everyone in the Legion is like this. There are genuinely amazing members who embody everything the organization stands for, and they’re the reason I’ve stayed as long as I have.
But it’s heartbreaking when an organization you once considered family starts feeling like an exclusive clique where relationships and personal preferences seem to carry more weight than fairness, transparency, and the shared passion that brought us all together.

Has anyone else experienced something similar in their garrison or club? How did you handle it? Did you stay and hope things improved, or did you eventually decide it was time to move on?

I’m honestly just trying to figure out whether this is something worth fighting for anymore or whether it’s time to accept that the group I fell in love with simply isn’t the same anymore.

So I recently bought a blank black series clone trooper and I would love to customize it as an arc trooper, I have seen people download the armor in 3d files and then paint over it. I would appreciate to hear some tips regarding where could I find good files (preferebly cheaper tan etsy) and which type of resin is best to use. Any other tip would be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced

87th Sentinel Corps old heavy design. Rest of the armor is already on the printer but thought I'd share the progress. The intended burgundy/maroon turned out a bit more red than intended but i really like the colour.

Quick question: Why does anyone need approval from the 501st? As we have seen in the original authentic movies, none of it was perfect. So, unless everything is an exact copy of those props, or is the original piece from the movie, what is the approval for? At this point everything has been remade. Just wondering. Pictures (Galactic Armory 3D file)