Stormtrooper - Return of the Jedi
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Model TK-15315, Photo by Markus Vock
Description: Stormtrooper, Return of the Jedi
Prefix: TK
Detachment: First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment
Context: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
“An entire legion of my best troops awaits them.” —Emperor Palpatine (ROTJ) Outfitted with newly designed armor and the new series of BlasTech E11's, the Stormtroopers were the main garrison for the newly constructed, second Death Star. The Emperor stationed the Empire’s finest Legion of Stormtroopers to defend the defense shield for the Death Star. They were the main strike unit during the battle on the Forest Moon of Endor.
This Visual Guide has been reviewed by the detachment staff and the LMO team and is certified for use as a minimum approval guideline for GMLs. GMLs are free to approve this costume type.
This is a visual guide used for 501st costume approval, not a how-to for construction. Construction details are found at the costume's Detachment website. Measurements provided here are are generalized, and not criteria for approval. All 501st costumes are proportionate to the wearer in terms of size, fit, and scale. During evaluation, both text and images (CRL and Reference) must be considered. When in doubt about a feature of a submitted costume, GMLs should post questions in the Legion forum's DL/GML peer review section.
Required Costume Components
The following costume components are present and appear as described below. For 501st membership only the requirements in black need to be met. This Detachment defines additional, optional costuming details listed in blue and red. Please visit the Detachment website for more details on these options.
Helmet
- Traps (trapezoids on dome of helmet) and tears (area beneath the corners of eye lenses) are gray.
- Rear traps and tears have vertical black lines.
- Lenses may be flat or bubble, smoke or green in color, sufficiently dark enough to obscure the costumer's eyes.
- The "ear" bars have three or four bumps, and is grey or painted grey, with a black outline.
- Painting the bumps with rank stripes (Highlighted) in black is optional.
- Frown is painted black and overlaps the teeth area. Eight total teeth on the frown are cut out.
- Tube stripes are medium blue, should be 13 per side, but can be between 9 and 16 per side with the curve bends extending backwards.
- Vocoder (vertically ribbed chin detail) is painted black.
- Aerators/Hovi-MIX tips (cylinders on either side of the vocoder) are black or painted black.
- Tears, traps, and tube stripes should be decals, but can be hand painted, or decals that replicate hand painted.
- Mesh may be used behind the frown to obscure the face of the wearer.
- Note: The helmet is accurate in detail and proportion to official references.
- Many commercially available helmets or those considered disproportionate in size or shape are ineligible.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Ears have no visible screws per side.
Traps/tears and tube stripes are decals (with the correct ROTJ details), not hand-painted or decals that replicate hand painted.
Traps/tears may be either ANH gray or a slightly bluer shade of ANH gray.
The ends of the frown are rounded, not tapered to points (not like ANH/ESB) and not square-ended like the ESB MKII.
Ear bars have four bumps only, not three.
Correct Aerators/Hovi-MIX tips.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Eye lenses are bubble style and tinted green.
Ear bars have only two to three bumps painted in black (rank stripes).
Neck trim is of an s-type profile rather than a u-type profile.
The vocoder must be integrated into the helmet, and not a separate piece.
Neck Seal
- Black with horizontal ribs, fitted to the wearer, and extending from the base of the neck to conceal the entire neck.
Under Suit
- Black non-textured material, either one-piece or two-piece construction with no visible zippers or logos.
Shoulder Straps
- These shall be securely mounted in front and may free float in back. They may be affixed with rivets, Velcro, or adhesive.
- The rear tab of the shoulder strap is optional and may or may not be present.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
No visible rivets are allowed.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
These shall free float in back.
These shall be glued in front.
The plastic shoulder straps need to be held down in the back via a white elastic band to the white fabric that connects/bridges the chest and back piece.
Shoulder Armor
- One on each shoulder. The shoulder bells are considered effectively symmetrical; they may be worn interchangeably on the left and right shoulders.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Shoulder bells are rounded at the corners.
Shoulder bell straps 1/4"(6.3mm) wide are present, worn higher and are visible across the biceps armor like in ANH.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Shoulder bells have foam padding inside.
Shoulder bells are slightly pinched and worn slightly higher, compared to ANH/ESB.
Biceps
- Biceps are fully closed.
- Overlap construction is recommended.
- Butt join and cover strip construction allowed for kits that do not come with the cover strip molded in to the part.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Biceps must be constructed using overlap construction. The butt joint and cover strip method is not allowed.
Forearms
- Forearms are fully closed.
- Overlap construction is recommended.
- Butt join and cover strip construction allowed for kits that do not come with the cover strip molded in to the part.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
No return edge on the inside of the front of the forearm is allowed.
Forearms must be constructed using overlap construction. The butt joint and cover strip method is not allowed.
Hand Plates
- These shall be clamshell, or Snowtrooper-style hand plates and not the trapezoidal design seen in A New Hope. The hand plates shall be mounted securely over the back of the glove.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
If rubber gloves are worn the hand plates will be affixed via an elastic strap over the palm. No stitching/holes are permitted.
If silk or satin gloves are worn, the hand plates have the correct visible stitching with a 5 point/star pattern, equally spread out with 2 on each side and 1 in the middle front, double stitched with 2 holes at each point and sewn to the glove at each one using black thread.
Gloves
- Black in color, made of either rubber, nomex, leather, or leather-like material, with no visible straps or logos/designs. The fingers are enclosed.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Gloves shall be rubber or rubber-like chemical gloves, in black.
Chest
- Chest plate overlaps the abdominal plate.
- A white flexible U shaped gasket or molded lip is present around all edges.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Fabric or elastic strip connecting chest to back is either black or not present.
AM chest plate is replaced with a more screen accurate version.
Back
- Back plate contains a "O II" design.
- A white flexible U shaped gasket or molded lip is present around all edges.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Back Armor has no overlap, or minimal overlap of the kidney plate.
AM back plate is replaced with a more screen accurate version.
Abdomen Armor
- A white flexible U shaped gasket or molded lip is present around all edges.
- The Abdomen Armor has a button area that matches the color pattern shown (3 dark blue + 6 charcoal grey or black); buttons are approximately 7/16" (11mm) in diameter. The three dark blue buttons will be the three buttons closest to the belt.
- Abdomen Armor button detail is inverted compared to ANH/ESB.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
There are no visible split rivet/brad on the cod/crotch and no visible rivets or brads on the left or right side of the ab plate, unlike ANH/ESB.
Kidney & Posterior Armor
- A white flexible U shaped gasket or molded lip shall be present around all edges.
- A separate kidney/butt plate is not allowed - the kidney and butt plate shall be combined/fused to a single plate/one piece.
- The crotch tab of the butt plate area may or may not have visible snaps.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
The edges of the hip area should be rounded/curved (not like the straight lines found on the ANH/ESB butt plate).
Kidney/Butt plate should be lightly scuffed (battle worn), but not weathered like a Sandtrooper
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
There shall be one visible snap on the crotch tab of the posterior plate, painted white.
Belt
- Belt face is made of plastic (TK ammo belt).
- The soft belt proper is tightly woven nylon/cordura like/style material or material with a tightly woven nylon/cordura like/style covering. Size is 2.25" (57mm) to 2.5" (64mm) wide. The color is to be white to off-white.
- The drop boxes dangle from the sides of the front plastic belt (ammo belt) via white straps and are aligned under the plastic tabs of the ammo belt.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
There are no square buttons covering the belt rivets.
There are two rivets, one on each side of the ammo belt.
Corners of ammo belt are cut at right angles.
Not 45 degrees as in ANH/ESB.
Drop boxes are closed in the back.
Thermal Detonator
- (A.K.A. O2 canister) attaches to the center back of the belt. This is an all gray cylinder without silver stickers or silver paint. The cylinder is between 2” (50mm) and 2.68"(68mm) in diameter with white end caps on each end.
- Ends caps shall be approximately .78: (20mm) in width.
- The white control panels raised ribbed pad faces rearwards, with the controls/round washer style detail closest to the right end cap.
- The total length should be approximately 7.50" (190.5mm).
- The thermal detonator is attached via metal or metallic-appearing clips approximately 1/2" (12.7mm) to 3/4" (19mm) wide.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Thermal detonator belt clips are positioned halfway between the center of the detonator and the end cap.
Vertical (straight) section of clips do not extend past the bottom of the canvas belt
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
The thermal detonator control panel has the correct ROTJ details, not ANH/ESB.
Thigh Armor
- Thigh armor shall be closed in the back.
- The small ammo belt is installed on the bottom of the right thigh.
- The bottom corners of the thigh ammo belt are rounded off.
- Overlap construction is recommended.
- Butt join and cover strip construction allowed for kits that do not come with the cover strip molded into the part.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Thigh ammo belt is attached to thigh with pop rivets, painted white, in the upper corner and fastened to the lower thigh ridge.
The thigh ammo pack may have an extra rivet on the front, located toward the top between the second and third boxes on the wearer's right. May be painted white.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Any mobility cuts on the back, do not extend beyond the top of the raised ridges.
Thighs must be constructed using overlap construction. The butt joint and cover strip method is not allowed.
Lower Leg Armor
- Greaves close in the back. The trapezoid knee plate (sniper knee plate) is affixed to the left greave.
- Overlap construction is recommended.
- Butt join and cover strip construction allowed for kits that do not come with the cover strip molded in to the part.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Sniper knee plate must be aligned with the ridges on the shin.
Sniper Knee plate shall have one rivet on both sides, painted white and located below the ridge.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Lower legs must be constructed using overlap construction. The butt joint and cover strip method is not allowed.
Boots
- Boots are above ankle height and made of white leather or leather-like material.
- Small U-shaped elastic sections on both sides of the ankle.
- Flat sole with a short heel.
- No buckles or laces.
- Jodhpur/ Chelsea-type boots or an equivalent style is acceptable.
- Elvis or Mariachi boots are not allowed.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
There is no seam present on the front of the boot.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Boot soles shall be white, off white, or have the sides painted white.
Optional Accessories
Items below are optional costume accessories. These items are not required for approval, but if present appear as described below. If adding in an accessory after initial approval, the item still needs to be submitted to local GML for approval before use.
Holster
- Holster is made of black leather or leather-like material.
- Holster is worn on right side of belt.
- Holster is attached via the straps behind the belt using two fasteners in the middle of the belt.
- The fasteners may be rivets, snaps, or Chicago screws.
- Note: The straps are slightly longer for the ROTJ holster than seen on the other Original Trilogy Stormtroopers.
BlasTech E-11
- Based on a real or replica Sterling sub-machine gun, scratch-built, or a modified commercial toy Stormtrooper blaster.
OPTIONAL Level two certification (if applicable):
Folding stock (does not need to function).
No ammo counter is present.
D-ring mounted on the rear.
Correct style scope.
No power cylinders on the magazine housing.
Scratch-built, resin cast, Hyperfirm rubber cast blasters have a total of (7) U shaped channels on blaster (all holes on barrel are covered).
If using the popular commercially available Stormtrooper blasters, you shall grind off the T-tracks and replace them with U shaped channels and cover the open rows of holes (total of 7 U shaped channels in all).
Correct greeblies on the left rear area are present (door catch and two "hammers").
3D printed blasters can not contain visible print lines and must be sanded smooth for a more realistic appearance.
OPTIONAL Level three certification (if applicable):
Hasbro blasters are not allowed, even conversions.
Forward D-ring is mounted underneath the front sight on the left side of the barrel.
Use of the correct front sight (which differs from ANH and ESB).
The scope rail is unique to ROTJ E11 and is not like the normal open ANH/ESB scope rails, but is a solid, one piece, with a unique sight design on the front. The scope connects to the notched out area of the solid rail. The scope is the correct design (as seen in ROTJ), and will attach to the scope rail via one scope mount.
The muzzle is unlike the normal ANH style. It is flat with two counter sunk Allen bolts (one located at the four o’clock position and one located at the ten ‘o’clock position).
The door catch is correct, not a "close enough" attempt as seen on the Cinemastery blaster.
The Grip shall be black with no silver/metallic weathering allowed.