i think i got mine off some ebay store, it was 501st approved. The armour is the stuff thats really hard to source though.

http://www.anovos.com/collections/the-imperial-collection/products/star-wars-tie-fighter-pilot-ensemble

Thats quite expensive. I put my entire suit together to pretty much film standards (need to replace the belt) for UK £400.

That was about £60 on the flight suit, £40 on the gloves, I already had the boots from doing WWII living history and about £220 for the armour (second hand). The other £80 or so was on stuff like belts, off duty cap, code cylnders etc and some improved lens and padding for the helmet.

Full suit here:

i think i got mine off some ebay store, it was 501st approved. The armour is the stuff thats really hard to source though.

http://www.anovos.com/collections/the-imperial-collection/products/star-wars-tie-fighter-pilot-ensemble

Thats quite expensive. I put my entire suit together to pretty much film standards (need to replace the belt) for UK £400.

That was about £60 on the flight suit, £40 on the gloves, I already had the boots from doing WWII living history and about £220 for the armour (second hand). The other £80 or so was on stuff like belts, off duty cap, code cylnders etc and some improved lens and padding for the helmet.

It is pretty expensive, but hey, officially worth it.

All I need now is a custom patch with an Assault gunboat or Phantom on it.

I wouldnt put any patches on if you want to do any 501st/181 events or be part of all that as it wont get approved for wear.

If you just want to wear it all for parties or whatever do what you like

I wouldnt put any patches on if you want to do any 501st/181 events or be part of all that as it wont get approved for wear. If you just want to wear it all for parties or whatever do what you like

This is more for Halcon - there isn't much of a 501st/181 presence in Halifax. Shame really.

Likewise not much round my way but i've kept mine as close to 'standard' as i can in case some event comes up that i can go to.... other than that it doesnt see much use other than at fancy dress parties

That makes sense. Once my kit is together I think I'll join the 501st. Who knows, maybe more will.

This patch is definitely not 501st approved, though some of my 501st net buddies really love it. So there's that. My goal with this was just what I laid it out to be - I had a black leather jacket I got for cheap at a resale boutique and it needed to become a TIE interceptor pilot's off-duty jacket, much like the leather jackets worn by the USN and USAF (and to a lesser extent the RAF).

Kinda like the inquisitorial badge i have on a set of BDU's...

Still V cool.

I wouldnt put any patches on if you want to do any 501st/181 events or be part of all that as it wont get approved for wear. If you just want to wear it all for parties or whatever do what you like

These 18st patches are the same size as the 501st regulation Imperial Cog. If you velcro 'em on, you can swap one out for the other and should be just fine (which is exactly what I plan on doing, albeit only as a reserve pilot, at least to start, since the armor/helmet are so pricey).

These are all spoken for at this point, barring some things falling through. I can't believe how easy they were to get rid of. Thanks, guys! When I make my rebel A-wing fighter pilot jacket, I may post up something similar again.

So, my rank badge came in the mail today, which means the jacket is nearing completion. I have mocked everything up in two different ways, and I wanted your opinions. Which jacket looks cooler?

Option A:

Option B:

I think it's important (to my OCD self, YMMV) to have the rank insignia on the opposite side of where your image has it. Other than that, I think the wings above it, the Empire patch on one side, and the 181st patch on the other.

When I get mine in, I'll have the 181st patch on the right shoulder, so that the Interceptor is facing forward. (Also, because the Empire patch I already have is already on the left shoulder.

A looks better to me. Love the Sqn. patch!

Option A looks better to me. Not sure why the symmetry of having the imperial patch on both sides just looks _wrong_, but it somehow does.

Looks sharp either way, I think. Nice find with those cool imperial wings, too.

I think it's important (to my OCD self, YMMV) to have the rank insignia on the opposite side of where your image has it. Other than that, I think the wings above it, the Empire patch on one side, and the 181st patch on the other.

When I get mine in, I'll have the 181st patch on the right shoulder, so that the Interceptor is facing forward. (Also, because the Empire patch I already have is already on the left shoulder.

Yeah, I was running out of the house when I did this. Rest assured it is in the proper position now. Wings and Fruit Salad ALWAYS go on the left. So I couldn't have it any other way either. For that reason, I'm also going to go with Option B, I think. The squad patches in real jackets go on the right breast, and the carrier or service on the shoulder. Since I don't have a Star Destroyer patch, that means the cogs should be on the shoulders. That or I need to custom make a Star Destroyer patch to put on the other shoulder, but I think not at this point.

I think it's important (to my OCD self, YMMV) to have the rank insignia on the opposite side of where your image has it. Other than that, I think the wings above it, the Empire patch on one side, and the 181st patch on the other.

When I get mine in, I'll have the 181st patch on the right shoulder, so that the Interceptor is facing forward. (Also, because the Empire patch I already have is already on the left shoulder.

Yeah, I was running out of the house when I did this. Rest assured it is in the proper position now. Wings and Fruit Salad ALWAYS go on the left. So I couldn't have it any other way either. For that reason, I'm also going to go with Option B, I think. The squad patches in real jackets go on the right breast, and the carrier or service on the shoulder. Since I don't have a Star Destroyer patch, that means the cogs should be on the shoulders. That or I need to custom make a Star Destroyer patch to put on the other shoulder, but I think not at this point.

Here and elsewhere, your posts suggest a military background. Would you indulge my curiosity on that front, if it's not to invasive?

And a Star Destroyer patch would be awesome!

I think it's important (to my OCD self, YMMV) to have the rank insignia on the opposite side of where your image has it. Other than that, I think the wings above it, the Empire patch on one side, and the 181st patch on the other.

When I get mine in, I'll have the 181st patch on the right shoulder, so that the Interceptor is facing forward. (Also, because the Empire patch I already have is already on the left shoulder.

Yeah, I was running out of the house when I did this. Rest assured it is in the proper position now. Wings and Fruit Salad ALWAYS go on the left. So I couldn't have it any other way either. For that reason, I'm also going to go with Option B, I think. The squad patches in real jackets go on the right breast, and the carrier or service on the shoulder. Since I don't have a Star Destroyer patch, that means the cogs should be on the shoulders. That or I need to custom make a Star Destroyer patch to put on the other shoulder, but I think not at this point.

Here and elsewhere, your posts suggest a military background. Would you indulge my curiosity on that front, if it's not to invasive?

And a Star Destroyer patch would be awesome!

My brother was regular army, my cousins are fighter pilots, I missed out thanks to poor vision and will probably never cease regretting that.

As to the Star Destroyer patch, if you could come up with a design, I could get it made. I'm no artist at all. But, it would be a cool thing to do. Though I'm still dead-set on making an A-wing jockey jacket next.

Here and elsewhere, your posts suggest a military background. Would you indulge my curiosity on that front, if it's not to invasive?

And a Star Destroyer patch would be awesome!

My brother was regular army, my cousins are fighter pilots, I missed out thanks to poor vision and will probably never cease regretting that.

As to the Star Destroyer patch, if you could come up with a design, I could get it made. I'm no artist at all. But, it would be a cool thing to do. Though I'm still dead-set on making an A-wing jockey jacket next.

Heh, my poor vision kept me from being a part of one of the last cohorts to be conscripted into the Dutch military. I don't regret that one bit. I honor those who serve, and would obviously serve if called, but I know my talents lie elsewhere.

Hm, I probably could design a patch. I'm not an artist, but I'm a fair hand at photoshop (GIMP, actually). I imagine we could hawk even more ISD patches than 181st patches. I'll give it some thought.

My brother was regular army, my cousins are fighter pilots, I missed out thanks to poor vision and will probably never cease regretting that.

It was asthma that kept me out of serving. I found out the hard, sucky, un-fun way; while at Ft. Leonard Wood, halfway through BCT. I had bronchitis throughout, and went on sick call one time too many. They were checking my lung capacity and breathing out of a concern for pneumonia (since I'd been sick for so long), and instead that turned into asthma tests, and next thing I knew, I was on my way home, deemed physically unfit for military service.

I'm thinking option B looks pretty snazzy myself.

Looks good to me.

I think two cogs is right (my flightsuit has one each side) and could you PM me the source of your rank bar as its loads better than the one my wife has for her officers kit and i need to buy her a new one!

Personally i'd have used the 'racing jacket' style of jacket that they used in star wars for pilots and off duty staff (like the one luke wears in the medal ceremony in ANH) as its very cool but i think those ridged/segmented sleeve jackets scream 'star wars'.

Good stuff all the same though!

I've since got her proper 'jackboots' for the outfit but as you can see the rank bar isnt great....

My brother was regular army, my cousins are fighter pilots, I missed out thanks to poor vision and will probably never cease regretting that.

It was asthma that kept me out of serving. I found out the hard, sucky, un-fun way; while at Ft. Leonard Wood, halfway through BCT. I had bronchitis throughout, and went on sick call one time too many. They were checking my lung capacity and breathing out of a concern for pneumonia (since I'd been sick for so long), and instead that turned into asthma tests, and next thing I knew, I was on my way home, deemed physically unfit for military service.

Stuff like that sucks mate. I signed up for a commission in the British Army did regular infantry training to build up skills while waiting to go for my officer training.

I spent just over two years as a PO (potential officer) in the infantry and army reserve (TA at the time)

I prolapsed two vertebrae carrying a section mate over my shoulder , running over broken ground in training and at my medical was told I couldn't go on for a commission.

Talk about gutted.

It was like training for an olympic race for years and then pulling a hamstring before the starting pistol went off

Gadge, my badge came from Corellian Exports. He said that I lucked out and he just happened to have one of the Lieutenant rank badges in stock. This is their website: http://corellianexports.astromechbuilder.com