Newbie in TX with a general question

[nasakat]

Hi everyone!

I've decided to try for GM as my next 501st approved armor (I have TK and TI currently) since I wanted something from the prequels and as a 5'6" female, most of the clone armor sets are just not going to work well for me.

I've started poking around on the boards and I've noticed many people repeatedly saying that GM is one of the hardest of all the clones to do. I'm interested in knowing why everyone says that. Is it just because of all the different sources for pieces and parts or is it also the process of making those assembled pieces magically become a Galactic Marine?

I'm trying to gauge if between my husband and myself, this is a project that is doable without TOO much headache. My husband just completed an Animated Cmdr Cody so we're familiar with the fun of seamless-ing Clone bits. And we're relatively prolific in our costuming in general. I wouldn't call us Master Costumers or anything but I'd say we qualify as Journeymen
So with that, should we take all the warnings as a sign to stay away or as an ever better reason to take this costume on?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone wants to give.
Thanks!

Kat from STX

[Kylar]

If you want to do it, I say go for it.

The major issue I have seen starting off here is just getting the necessary parts. Not many suppliers of the parts for the costume. Other than that, it is just little extras that a good clone builder shouldn't have much of a problem doing.

[coozco]

Hey Kat!

i say go for it as well, i think it'll definitely be a good one!

[midniterider]

Greetings Kat and welcome to the 53rd Fast Attack Company. As a current member who has assisted, built, and received 501st approval for three (3) of the hardest clones: Shocktrooper (Episode III), Galactic Marine, and BARC / Kashyyyk Trooper, allow me to provide my $0.02.

All clones, no matter which class or style you chose, are not easy builds. Originally, one of the main reasons was making the armor " seamless ". However, you and your husband have experience with "seaming", so you have an advantage right out of the gates.

Now in the past , Galactic Marine parts were very scarce and most costumers had to try to make their own props. But today parts are now more available than ever before. When I worked on my Galactic Marine, a couple of items that were scarce or had to construct yourself included: the special ribbed right hand shoulder bell, the mantle/cauldrons, the backpack, and Kama. Now Steelblitz is offering the pauldrons and special ribbed shoulder bell as well as many other high quality parts. However, you will be buying parts from several different vendors so keep that is mind.

This website is also a major tool and advantage to new recruits versus veterans who did not have WIP's to review. My advice would be go for it. It may be a difficult build, buy very rewarding in the end.

[nasakat]

Thanks for the encouragement and advice everyone! I'll probably be stuck in research mode until after D*con...too many new costumes in work for that. But I'm hoping to make this my main project through the fall so I can wear it starting some time in 2012. I'm also thinking about being crazy and trying to built a few of the pieces from scratch just to have the experience. I'll be sure to post both my successes and my failures on those for others to learn from


I'm now super excited about this project

[darren1970]

Commander Bacara says hi

[RamZnation]

Hi Nasakat, welcome to the 53rd Fast Attack Company, and sorry for the delayed welcome. A little friends of mine was recently admitted into the ICU, and also I've been helping spread the word about my friends' (Deltasquad boss & his wife Frani) baby (Princess Leah).

Midniterider pretty much answered your question on the ball. Though not as difficult as before to acquire most parts, that was one of the toughest parts about the Galactic Marine as far as getting started. Also another reason was because there are not that many Galactic Marines world wide (501st/RL) so getting advice through a fellow Legion Mate with a GM is pretty hard to have for Advice. For prop-makers, the lack of available reference is pretty hard since most of the stuff that's out there is a Hasbro Action figure, the Sith image of the GM with his DC-15, a Gentle Giant bust, about 7 seconds of screen time on the movie, and a few other renders here and there. Compared to other troopers such as phase I/II clones, TKs, etc that is nothing.

The Seamless part shouldn't be too hard. Most troopers here I assume have used a little Bondo here and there, which as you have mentioned with your husband's Animated Cody have some experience there.

The GM isn't an impossible build, for many (I include myself here) it is/was their 1st build which is just an added challenge. Reading up on the message board here, checking other's WIP, Convention pictures, and discussion boards here will steer you in the right direction to getting your Galactic Marine looking good. One thing to keep in mind here in the 53rd is that we're here to help, there are lots of great troopers here who are willing to help and also learn a thing or 2 you might be able to suggest with your prior armor building knowledge.

I look forward to seeing you on the boards, and once again...Welcome to the 53rd FAC.