Planet Jump

Troop #24

The 501st Legion received an invite to participate in a birthday party for a young boy who is particularly fond of Star Wars. It was hosted at a place named Planet Jump in Largo, FL. The establishment houses large inflatables, similar to what people my age refer to as a "moonwalk". They had a cake made for the event that resembled a .75 scale R2D2, which not only looked awesome but tasted just as amazing.

There were about 15 kids at the party and it was a lot of fun. Then it happened....

After we got out of costume the family invited us to stay for a while and hang out. I was meeting with my family about 25 miles away so I dipped out, the others stayed behind to play on the inflatables. So about 30 minutes after leaving I get a call saying "we are taking Robert to the hospital, he broke his leg." Purportedly he had been on a large inflatable with a long slide and made an unfortunate turn at the end, snapping his leg in 3 places.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Trooping For The Troops

Troop #23

We visited James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital located in Tampa, Florida to show our appreciation, respect, and admiration to the soldiers who are there in recovery, permanent residency, or treatment due to injuries obtained in the line of battle. Fair warning: the images below are very graphic.

As many of my friends and family know I am vastly opposed to war. I know, I know...everybody is, too. But I find it a repulsive example of our inability to evolve as a species beyond murdering each other in countless numbers for pride, resources and sovereignty. After a long debate on whether I should go or not I decided that I would go just to support a fellow members' troop regardless of my opinion. I am glad that I went.

We met some pretty amazing individuals that ranged from young to old. Every war within recent, modern history is covered here within it's patients. Seeing the death tolls rise on television, hearing about suicide bombings in Iraq and Afganistan, and hearing the horror stories about Vietnam is commonplace for us Americans, thanks to our ever-so-agenda setting media. But seeing the result(s) of war firsthand was a life changing experience. Standing beside the bed of a man who is only alive because of artificial means while looking up at the wedding pictures of him as a healthy young man 11 months prior changes your perspective on things to say the least. My opinions slowly started to melt away and I felt like my chest was going to collapse. Do you say "thank you" to them? Do you see this and realize just how much more you hate war, or more appropriately, the reasons and pathetic existence of war? A great divide indeed. But how about both options?

One mother in particular made me lose my invariable position and mindset. She wheeled out her son who I am guessing is about 23-25. He can no longer speak, walk, use his arms, feed himself, shower, play sports or video games, hug his loved ones, or create a child. As she brought him to us she was very excited and announced "I told you I'd bring you Star Wars for your birthday! Here they are! Look!" His face brightened up enough to be visibly excited about being within a foot or so of Darth Vader and other Star Wars characters. As his mother repeated to him her excitement for him experiencing this she started to break down and cry, reaching quickly to one of our members and holding onto them. This was the one and only time I have ever been thankful that I was wearing a helmet hiding my face because I was no longer able to hold back my emotions.

Did this troop change me? Absolutely. Did it make me sympathetic to the reasons for war? No. I learned and grew emotionally and mentally from this event. Though I despise the fact that war exists and bite my tongue at most pro-war idiots out there, being able to spend time with and brighten the day of somebody who was dedicated to something knowing the risks is much, much bigger than my opinion or ego. They did something selflessly because of passion, it's only right that I do the same.

Clone Wars Premiere

Troop #16

We made it into Star Wars Insider!!!!! Wo0T!

This event was massive! That Guy Brian (Vader, well...sort of) setup this event at the local Regal theater. I made a sweet ass promo poster for it and had it printed on 20x16 inch glossy to hang around the venue. Of course, they were all immediately stolen. Which is in one way shitty, but in another awesome because that means somebody liked my work.

We had 40+ people come out for this event and it was awesome. I am pretty sure That Guy Brian drank about 10 beers once home. And he deserved it. This event was massive on scale, coordination, and physical demands.

Out of irony That Guy Brian allowed somebody else to dress up in his Darth Vader costume for the event as he would be to busy to do so himself. So Butah Fett (Carlos) suited up. And low and behold...the one time he isn't in his own costume, we get published in the Star Wars Insider. Irony: it spares nobody, even fictional characters.

St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Troop #15

Text Coming

A link to their website.

Metrocon

Troop #14

METROCON, held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, is a weekend-long celebration of the numerous facets of Japanese popular entertainment from anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comics), J-pop and J-Rock (Japanese pop and rock music, performed by "idols") to cosplay (costume design and performance) and video games.

Programming and Events:
Video Programming: Anime Screening(s)

AMV ContestPanel Programming: Guest Panels, Fan Panels, Workshops

Costume Events: Hall Cosplay Masquerade / Cosplay Competition

Art Programming: Artists' Alley
Music Programming: Concert, Dance, Formal Dance, Karaoke

Game Programming: Video Gaming

Other Events: Autographs (free), Dealers' Room, Game Shows, Other Events

Guests:
Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Johnny Yong Bosch, Greg Cipes, Cipes and the People, Ashley Clark, DJ HeavyGrinder, Eyeshine, Lauren Goodnight, Ya Ya Han, The Heroes Alliance, Scott McNeil, Select Start, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, and David Williams.

Stars of Hope [Recap]

Troop #13

The Heroes Alliance, Tampa Bay Ghostbusters and the 501st Legion teamed up throughout the month of June to raise many for various charity foundations. I am not sure what the total was, but it was a really cool event. It was hosted at the Park Place 16 in Pinellas Park.

This event was held four consecutive Saturdays throughout June of 2008. Which meant that after doing the Star Wars Weekends troops at Hollywood Studios, Florida That Guy Brian (Vader) and I would leave from Orlando and drive straight back, get back into costume, and troop for about 5-6 hours. It was exhausting. By the final Saturday I was so worn out I could hardly stand the idea of trooping anymore. Thankfully that silly idea wore off by time the next troop came along.

Stars of Hope - Week 3

Troop #11

Please see complete recap for details and pictures. Link Here

Stars of Hope - Week 2

Troop #8

Please see complete recap for details and pictures. Link Here

Stars of Hope - Week 1

Troop #6

Please see complete recap for details and pictures. Link Here

Armor Party

Troop #2

Last Armor Party before Star Wars Weekends 08'!

I was told that during SWW even industrial strength Velcro lets go because of the heat so I wanted to get everything done that needed to be tip top. Mobus & Disney Deb threw the AP at their place. I was going to drive from my place to northern Florida, sleep in my car, do an official troop at a convention, and then drive straight back in order to get my one more troop in to meet SWW trooping requirements. Let me tell you...I'm very thankful to Mobus and his family to this day.

So after all the time panicking over the "frown" line on the helmet I've decided to take off the compulsively placed sticker, file out the nostrils, and paint the remaining ABS with gray to allow more airflow. I am also going to install some small 1.5 inch computer case fans inside the helmet. These fans are going to run off of two 9-volt batteries. Also, where I am drilling nostril holes into the face, I am going to place a strip of black screen behind so it still looks like solid black but allows air circulation. One wouldn't want a Storm Trooper passing out in front of children. This may scar them.

Sheila, Mobus, Allison and I worked on my costume. We even got Allison suited up in a Snow Trooper costume. WIN.

Armor Party

Troop #1

And so it begins...

So I have all of my armor ready to be made. It's made of ABS plastic and vacuum molded into the Storm Trooper costume shape. In the photos below you can see how it's received, how it's put together, and how it looks once complete. This Armor Party was hosted by Sheila Price and had a good turn out with members coming out. I got to meet the majority of people I had talked with on the forums leading up to my induction into the group so it was nice putting faces with names.

Plastic Wield, white industrial strength Velcro, super glue, one pack of cigarettes, and the ability to stand in front of total strangers in a full body unitard is all it takes to get your cotume together. A few of the guys were awesome enough to build my entire helmet, sans the stick decals and expression points.