Aloha from Hawaii

[Stratt]

Hi everyone,

My name is Mark and I'm new to this forum but have been a member of the Pacific Outpost since June 2016. I'm not sure that Hawaii has a TS, so I'm hoping to be the first once I've got everything together.
I started out as a black-flightsuited Imperial Crewman, built a "Samurai cheese grater" helmet and got approved for Imperial Navy Trooper. Then to get max use out of the soft goods I put together a Reserve Pilot and then a built a full ANH TIE Pilot costume. I still might do the Gunner someday but I was sidetracked by my Executioner FOTK build.

That came to a screeching halt these past few weeks, as I became highly allergic to the Milliput I was using to give the armor a seamless look. So while I'm sealing all those pieces up and storing them away waiting for my hands to recover, I thought about what my next project would be. I was almost 6 when I saw Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and always loved the look of the Snowtroopers.

So I'm hoping to save up, get the money together for this new effort. I'm starting out smalltime, the bad thing about Hawaii is all the high shipping rates. I managed to find some Dickies painters pants which I got slightly large to give a loose-fit appearance. Walmart also had the off-white Wells Lamont gloves. The white nylon/polypro belt I'll probably order online but I have yet to find a place that makes them 2.25" wide -- really easy to find 2" and since I'm on the shorter side at 5'7" it might look okay (but wanted to hear from some of you on this requirement).

Hard armor, I'm thinking of Walts Trooper Factory since RS Propmasters is 3 years of saving for me. I have Walt's TIE and Navy Trooper, but my build skills aren't the greatest even though both have been approved. So I'm really tempted to hold out and save a while for the DL set.
Anyway, thanks for any feedback - I look forward to hearing from some of you!
-Mark TI81774
Pacific Outpost
Honolulu, Hawaii

[Captain_Wordo]

Hi Mark and welcome to the Blizzard Force detachment!

Seems you have been quite busy

The DL kit is nice and I think he also offers (pre)assambled suits. But maybe this thread is interesting to you: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=6340 It's the WIP of a WTF kit.

Stay frosty, even though it could be a bit difficult at your place

[Stratt]

Hi Markus, great to make your acquaintance! Thanks for the link - a very current build, and I love the folks at WTF, the do-it-yourself kit is one to consider. One of the guys here in Hawaii just ordered a kit, though I'm not sure the maker. I'm definitely leaning toward the Dan Laws preassembled kit with all the positive reviews.
Thanks for posting your own build thread too, I find these very helpful. I'm sort of glad I chose painters pants, since I can use the belt loops with a belt rig to keep the codpiece nice, secure and in place.

There are not many places to shoot a cold-weather scene around Honolulu, though we do have an ice skating rink.
I'm sure my fellow Pacific Outpost troops will have us Snowies-in-the-making taking silly shots in a Snowie bucket, board shorts and Aloha shirt on the beach. Or enjoying a snowcone under a palm tree. Lots of potential postcard imagery here haha!

[Captain_Wordo]

You're very welcome!

If you need help, just give us a shout

And of course we wanna see the postcard shots when you finished your build

[RebelRach]

Aloha Mark!
Welcome to the frosty side of the Empire!
You live in a beautiful place, lucky you!
How cool to be the first snowtrooper in Hawaii, hope you do it! I want to see a snowie sipping a Mai Tai cocktail on those beautiful beaches! We have lots of troopers in very in-Hoth like conditions. I am from Australia!!

I would also highly recommend Dan Laws kits I have one and its excellent. He is based in Washington State perhaps the postage cost won't be too much, or could someone visiting the mainland perhaps bring it in checked luggage with them?

My Dan Laws build is here, have a look.

[Stratt]

Great stuff! There’s one other guy doing a SnowTrooper build now, he may end up as Hawaii’s first. I think he went the Walt’s Trooper Factory route but I want the Dan Laws setup.

[Stratt]

Noob question, I know they're not screen accurate but if we opt to use a holster during troops does the color matter?

[MIEO]

Welcome to coolest detachment Markus!
I am friend of Anna and Yosuke.

[Stratt]

Welcome to coolest detachment Markus!
I am friend of Anna and Yosuke.

Hello, MIEO !

Anna and Yosuke are wonderful people, we like trooping with them.
I have seen pictures of the Boba Fett Yosuke is building, and it looks great!

[Sn0wflake]

Noob question, I know they're not screen accurate but if we opt to use a holster during troops does the color matter?

The holster, as you say, isn’t canon but is popular (and very useful - I always have one. Hands free when necessary or looking armed to the teeth with E-11 in the holster and DLT-19 in my hands ). However it needs to be white, as per CRL. And weathered to match the rest of your costume, of course.

[Stratt]

The holster, as you say, isn’t canon but is popular (and very useful - I always have one. Hands free when necessary or looking armed to the teeth with E-11 in the holster and DLT-19 in my hands ). However it needs to be white, as per CRL. And weathered to match the rest of your costume, of course.

Yes, I do like the option of having a place to stow the blaster if I want to be hands-free for a while during a non-canon troop. Those are most of what I do anyway.

I was trying to find the CRL portion stating explicitly that the holster needed to be white, but I must have missed it?
Also the CRL almost makes it seem like a Snowies have the option to carry a Power5 or a DL-44.
Wow, a DLT19 is a years-away wishlist item for me, but someday...and a sling to go with it!

[Sn0wflake]

Under optional accessories on the CRL "Holster For 501st approval: Holster is the appropriate colour and style for the specific blaster. Holster is not present if no blaster is carried" thereby white as we're Snowies. Technically, as SW Battlefront is canon, we can carry any weapon but some look more fitting than others. The E-11 is the only one we carry on-screen but the DLT-19 looks badass and the DLT-20 was what the toys had in the 80's (and is on MY years-away wish list ha ha).