NEWSLETTER

o you have a whole workshop for building your suits and guns. What projects are you working on at the moment?

At the moment I am assembling a set of Snowtrooper armour. It’s almost done, just a few minor details to finish. I’m also building a second E11 Stormtrooper blaster. Future plans include a Stormtrooper to stand in my hallway and something special that I’m keeping quiet for now.

Where does George Lucas stand on all this?

Technically he could pull the plug on us at any time. Luckily the relationship is a good one—he even flew one hundred 501st Legion members from around the globe to the US on an all expenses paid trip on New Years Eve to commemorate the 30th birthday of Star Wars.

What happens on a tour of duty?

Essentially we provide entertainment and activities for sick kids. We do things like take them ten pin bowling, to the cinema and even do hospital visits. That’s what sets us apart from other fan groups I guess. We all obviously love Star Wars and collecting and modifying our costumes but our primary interest is making kids in unfortunate situations happy with our unique passion.

How much would a scout trooper suit like yours set you back?

I paid over $1,000 for mine but the more expensive costumes are the Darth Vader and the even rarer Bobba Fett. They can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 depending on which version you are after and their accuracy to the movie.

Does it get toasty in there?

It’s pretty warm but most of us have fans built into the helmets and when we’re on trooping events we take time out every now and then to rehydrate. Last thing we want is a legion of stormtroopers passing out during an event.

You had a bit of trouble with customs recently right? What was that about?

Well, all of the Star Wars’ guns are based on real life weapons. For example the Stormtrooper gun uses a Sterling submachine gun as a base, with a few bits added to it. I had to order some resin pieces in from overseas to reproduce the gun grips and magazines. Apparently it all looked too real to the blokes in customs and they destroyed the whole lot.

So what do the neighbours think?

Well it’s not like I mow the lawns every weekend dressed as a Stormtrooper but they’re aware of what I do and find it entertaining. I have a harder time convincing the blokes at work but they’re ok with it.

LANGLO WEST
More photos from our Storm Trooper shoot can be seen at www.langlowest.com and on the official 501st Terra Australis Garrison website, www.501tag.com.

MICHAEL BLOWFIELD / ATAT Driver 28 years old, Self Employed BRUCE HARRISON / Stormtrooper 30 years old, Professional DJ

CAMERON KING / Bobba Fett 24 years old, Qantas Plane Engineer DOUG McSWAIN / Sand Trooper 36 years old, Gas Station Attendent

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