Requesting Access

[Haruka]

Hello everyone! 

My name is Sheila or you can call me by my forum name Haruka, I respond to both. I've been interested in joining the 501st for a while, more like a few years. But I was bit shy and was a little bit intimated because I'm into Star Wars but I'm not like a super geek into it and I don't know all the little details, found out that I can join that part of the dark side later! Thank you person who manned the Comic-Con boot on Sunday while everyone else was at the panel! 

Anyways, I've been always fascinated by the amount of work and dedication into you guys and gals making your costumes. I'm not sure what sort of costumes I want to make. I've been thinking about starting off as an officer since I know how to sew already and then drive into making a bounty hunter/mando armor, or just do the other way around to start out. I'm not sure what kind of officer or bounty hunter I want to become yet and I know there's a bunch of images that I need to go looking in the data bases. YAY! I'm also looking forward to going to an armor party! Darn you covid for not having one for a while! I just hope there's going to be one held on Sundays since I have to work on Saturdays.

Okay! So a bit about me. I'm a native San Diegian. I've been going to Comic-Con since 2000 and I did my first cosplay and loved it since. I also volunteer at Comic-Con for the past 10+ years and now I'm going to start volunteering at the museum too when I can of course! I'm also into Steampunk and D&D. I know how to sew a bit too as mentioned before.

Oh yeah! I do have a question! I have a 3D printer, could I use that to make any props or part of the costume? Or is there a better method, like using worbla? My printer is a anycubic chiron if that helps any. I know that the whole costume has to be held to a certain standard so that's why I'm asking. Thank you!

[DymnDog]

Welcome Haruka! 

We're glad you found us, and especially a South Bay trooper! I'm in Bonita, and there are several of us around. Please ask questions! We want to help you with whatever costume you decide (when you decide) and avoid making expensive mistakes. 

[PunkRocketScience]

Hi Sheila!

Welcome to the ISG forums!  glad to have you here!

Here's a small assist on your decision for which officer or bounty hunter costume to build!  These are links to the Costume Reference Library (CRLs) for the Bounty Hunters Guild and Imperial Officer Corps.

https://databank.501st.com/databank/BHG_CRL

https://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:IOC_CRL

I would also recommend signing up for an account on whichever detachment forum you decide upon to get the best and most complete information available for whatever you decide to build!

You can absolutely use a 3D printer to make props and armor.  Sheet plastics can be used as well for scratch building.  Pluses and minuses to both routes...  Many armor suits are available in kit form in vacuum formed plastic.  For 3D printing the main concern is that all of the layer lines have been filled and sanded and filled and sanded and filled and sanded...  While you can print with PLA, it does have a fairly low softening temperature so a short time in a hot car in the San Diego summer is enough to ruin a prop!  Often PETg or ABS are better options.

[Haruka]

@DymnDog Thanks for the warm welcome. I'll definitely ask questions because I know the costumes are expensive to make

@PunkRocketScience Yikes. I didn't know that about PLA and melting in the car in a short time. Good to know. I've never printed in ABS, I'll give that a try. The only thing I've heard is that ABS is smelly.

Also thanks for the CRL links!

[PunkRocketScience]

1 hour ago, Haruka said:

I've never printed in ABS, I'll give that a try. The only thing I've heard is that ABS is smelly.

ABS can be challenging to print for a number of reasons.  I've never gotten it to stick to the print bed correctly without the edges lifting.  I'm a big fan of PETg personally.