Creation of a functional New Republic Archeological Corps impression will be an exercise in extrapolation, as I have a limited amount of data to draw from. In this post I’ll lay out and unpack the sources I uncovered, and next week I’ll reveal a ‘character design’ I have synthesized from these sources, and my explanation for these choices.
As the main body of Star Wars material for popular consumption generally (and stubbornly) revolves around a cast of high-level generals, politicians, pilots, soldiers, and warrior-monks, ‘occupational’ characters like archeologists are not to be easily found. As I have frequently found in my efforts documented here, when ‘common’ background details are scarce, one can usually turn to role-playing game materials to flesh things out, and this case is no exception.
Continue reading “NRAC: research and insights”
Tag: clothing
Thoughts on Disney Galaxy’s Edge Cast Costumes
Last week, images were released which revealed the costumes to be worn by ‘cast members’ at the forthcoming ‘Star Wars land’ attractions at Disney parks. I don’t actively follow post-Disney developments, but what I’ve gathered via geek-internet-osmosis is that these cast members will essentially be playing the role of NPCs (non-player characters) who visitors can interact with and who will provide in-universe ‘atmosphere’ for the public, plus manning restaurants (food+beverage) and vending?
While I’m not concerned with ‘NewCanon’, I have spent the last three+ years breaking down the conventions of Galaxy Far Far Away fashion and subtly integrating them into my civilian wardrobe…so when I heard that these Disney park costumes would be ‘everyday’ clothing, I had to see how they lined up with my observations.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Disney Galaxy’s Edge Cast Costumes”
the New Republic Archaeological Corps: groundwork for a new persona
As satisfying as it can be to gear up and authentically get out in one’s kit, I have to admit that the brainstorm/planning and obligatory research phases might be my favorite parts of the reenacting hobby. Taking the kernel of an idea, following rabbitholes, and seeing what can evolve out of it can really get my creative juices flowing…especially if it’s working towards a kit that’s not something we’ve seen a thousand times before! It’s one thing to say, ‘I want to put together a Rebel Fleet Trooper kit’ and then buy/sew the requisite black vest, blue shirt, gray pants, and boots, and buy/craft the swoop helmet and blaster pistol. It’s another thing altogether to ask, ‘I wonder how the average Corellian dressed?’ and then research, make a plan, and make it come alive! Continue reading “the New Republic Archaeological Corps: groundwork for a new persona”
Image Analysis: Garqi Agricultural Academy
(image originally published in WotC’s Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds (2004), artwork by Langdon Foss.)
This image is a great ‘slice of life’ for children on an agricultural backwater—sort of a Star Wars Norman Rockwell scene: who hasn’t been a youngling ‘flying’ toy spaceships around while making PEW-PEW sounds? But what’s more important is how especially valuable this image is for the rare look it gives us at GFFA commoners’ fashion. Here are a few pertinent tidbits I’ve teased out:
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Artifact ID: Donovian Rainmen revisited
As we stand on the threshold of 2019, I hope that this blog will help inspire more of you to use this year to break out of the limiting ‘cosplay box’, and experience the Star Wars galaxy in the most authentic way you can! This is a follow up to a post I made almost exactly a year (51 weeks!) ago, which identified several items of European military surplus used to outfit some Episode II background extras portraying a crew of ‘Donovian Rainmen’:
This post would not be possible without the help of one T.K., who reached out from Germany and was kind enough to supply a list of several more items from the various films that he has identified, including several from our friends the Rainmen! T.K.’s observations are backed up by actively serving in the German Bundeswehr (Army) – so he has had first-hand experience with many of these pieces of gear. Continue reading “Artifact ID: Donovian Rainmen revisited”
Revisiting the winter hat
(Apologies for my delay in postings of late…with winter holidays arrived I now have a few weeks’ reprieve from school-matters, which I intend to use to finish up some posts and projects for this site).
Last winter, as I reskinned my Swedish milsurp hat, I was left with a few quibbles. (I find it’s helpful to write down these thoughts for just this very reason, so that I know what needs tweaking should I decide to revisit the project down the road):
“Were I to undertake this project again, I would’ve done a few things differently:
-using a heavier khaki material–like the plentiful scraps I had leftover from my donut helmet (uncovered only after I had finished this project!)
-only using two layers of wool for the flaps, instead of three.
-better copying the shape of the curvy panels that are added to the flaps.
-making the rear ribbed panel shorter (to better match the original artwork), while extending the neck coverage and shortening up the flaps a bit.”
As the weather has been getting cooler, I’ve been having to wear my flap hat more often, and as I’ve also been integrating more and more Star Wars style into my daily wardrobe, I finally felt that the vaguely-close-enough-ness of my hat just wasn’t accurate (or hardcore) enough.
And so, after pondering on what would be involved, I decided to go ahead and tackle the Pfilbee Jhorn Hat, Mark II.
^ The look we’re going for^
Project: Modding a Jacket
In my continuing quest to subtly apply a Star Wars commoner’s aesthetic to my everyday wardrobe, I consistently make at least a weekly pass through my local secondhand shop to look for garments which have GFFA modification potential. As someone who also puts a lot of focus on having a wardrobe that not only looks good but also is practical for outdoor use (i.e. I try to avoid slow-drying cotton and melty synthetics as much as possible) I have been searching for a good Star Wars-y jacket that looks the part but isn’t plain unlined cotton or light linen.
Thankfully, I’ve had some good hunting of late; so when a fine 100% wool ladies’ blazer ($6) made by PENDLETON came up the other day, I quickly snatched it up with an eye for modification.
Continue reading “Project: Modding a Jacket”
Ode to the Side-Release Buckle
While I currently have several projects on the proverbial back burner–waiting on, among other things, a modeler, a printer, and a blacksmith–I am doing my best to keep the blog from lapsing into content-hiatus. This week, I offer a simple collection of images, centered around the humble side-release buckle. This piece of costume hardware was apparently commonplace throughout the Galaxy, and so would be an appropriate item to include in one’s GFFA kit.
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Project: modding the Naboo winter shirt
(My apologies for the unintentional hiatus, dear readers. Back-to-school is a hectic time, but as I get back into the swing of things, I am able to get back to work on projects and keeping up the blog.)
Between the cooler temperatures, low humidity, and new-fallen leaves (ideal for making debris shelters and leaf mattresses), it’s no surprise that autumn is the go-to season for most reenactors.
Even though the events that are most welcoming for a Star Wars ‘living historian’—sci-fi cons and the like—are traditionally held in air-conditioned hotels in summer, there is no reason why you should limit yourself to such controlled indoor events! I believe that if this particular hobby is to (one day ) be taken seriously by the larger Historic reenacting community, we should be as equipped as they are to deal with weather of all seasons, and not be afraid to get Out of the convention center!
Continue reading “Project: modding the Naboo winter shirt”
Building the Rebel persona – 4.1: Naboo soft kit
Based on the broad trends noted in the previous post, I decided that my Naboo civilian impression would need (at minimum) a tunic, trousers, and tall boots, and possibly an outer layer as well.
The tunic would need to follow local style, and so be in a muted color, have an overlapping and/or asymmetrical closure, a high Mandarin collar, and long sleeves, probably without cuffs.
Continue reading “Building the Rebel persona – 4.1: Naboo soft kit”
Living History in the Star Wars Galaxy 