newbie alert - inquiry about imperial insignia

[rickrickrick]

Greetings.

I know you are sick of reading it - I am, too - but, yes, indeed, I am a new member and this IS my first post. *faint, unenthusiastic applause* I thank you in advance for your patience, tolerance, and all those other -ance words.

A lurking non-member for years, I have searched these boards for many, MANY hours, and have not been able to find info on what I'm looking for - imperial cog insignias for my WIP tie fighter coverall sleeves.

I saw some insignia for sale on a banned ex-member's site and obviously didn't buy there.

Any suggestions?

BTW, what is this inverse tie insignia thing I've seen a couple places? From reference photos in the VD, etc, I don't see that the tie sleeve insignia are any different than those on the helmet.

Again, many thanks for your help!

Rick

 

[Funky]

Hi, Rick, and welcome. Always happy to see new faces.
Don't screw up!

I'm assuming you're talking about the patch that goes on the sleeve? If so, look on eBay. There's a company called Galaxy Trading that has them in their eBay store all day long. It's been a while since I looked for them but IIRC thay were about 9.00. Hope this helps in your search. :thumbsup

 

[Servo]

See if we've got anything here that you're looking for.

 

[superjedi]

Hi!
Can't help with the Imperial cog patches, but I just had to say your user name made me chuckle cuz it reminds me of that skit from SNL. :lol
Is that the source of your name?

 

[Invicta]

Welcome Rick,

Sorry I can't be of any help on the patch dept. But one thing I will say is this. You won't find a more welcoming bunch when it comes to new members.

So welcome to the boards...and above all have fun.

 

[rickrickrick]

Thanks for the kind suggestions.

Searched ebay - could not find "galaxy trading" store, or any variation on that name.

Patchgeeks looks good, but, again, my question remains: what's the diff between the imperial cog patch, and that "inverse" tie patch? They look slightly different, but neither really looks like the MoM pix and admittedly fuzzy screen grabs I've seen of the insignia on the tie sleeve.

Yeah, the user name came from people calling me that after the #$% SNL skits started airing.

Rick

 

[electric jay]

Patchgeeks looks good, but, again, my question remains: what's the diff between the imperial cog patch, and that "inverse" tie patch? They look slightly different, but neither really looks like the MoM pix and admittedly fuzzy screen grabs I've seen of the insignia on the tie sleeve.



Rick

The AT-AT drivers have red-on-white cogs on their helmets...that's the only difference I know of.
The 3.5" standard white-on-black cog patch is correct for the TIE Pilot. I just sold a pair of those last year.

 

[rickrickrick]

Thanks for the help, everyone. But the mystery still remains: what is this "inverted" tie insignia? It is very similar to the imperial forces patch, but the border is different and the dimensions of the internal black and white cog are different. I don't have my helmet here to reference what those decals look like.

Which do you think is right for the most accurate tie fighter coverall?

Any other ties out there? Your recommendations?

Thanks!

Rick

PS - attached sample pix from the PatchGeeks site. I'll remove them if this is a no-no. Remember, I'm new here.

 

[Servo]

I honestly don't know... sell a lot of them both, so I guess it could be personal preference..?

 

[defstartrooper]

Welcome to the site Rick the one on the left is the one you want mate :thumbsup

 

[rickrickrick]

OK, attached is an uncredited photo from a MoM tie fighter pilot display I found online.

Again, if you recognize this photo as yours, and want me to remove it, just ask.

Looks like the truth lies somewhere between the 2 available patches I've found.

Rick

 

[defstartrooper]

AFAIK the originals were screen printed but i have never seen anyone use anything other than embroidered patches on costumes so in that sense it is never going to look 100% right but the logo on the left of the two you posted is the correct design.
These ones here look closer though.
Could try asking him if he has any to sell.
http://www.patchdaddy.com/others.htm

 

[rickrickrick]

Screened - that's an interesting thought.

Having never seen one close up in person, I always assumed they were embroidered, but it makes sense that in the small quantity that they'd initially need for the film, they'd silkscreen them rather than go thru the rather arduous process of setting up embroidering. Of course, with computers now it's easy to render an embroidered pattern...

Also, I have to say, in relative scale, the currently available +3" patches look oversized compared to how the original looks on the sleeve (see attached). The sleeve patch actually looks little bigger than the cog on the chestbox.

Rick

 

[defstartrooper]

I could be wrong but i don't believe the exhibit flightsuits are original or the chestbox.
Certainly that style of chestbox is never seen on screen but there is only one scene where a chestbox is seen it might be possible that different styles were made but they weren't seen in the movies.

 

[rickrickrick]

Yes, there were lots of reproductions in the exhibits. Many things on display that were not used on screen or even especially accurate. The "original" Yodas always made me laugh - we all know foam latex that old would largely have turned to dust (as the reconstructions member Wampa has done show). As always, we are left to create whatever we think is closest by concensus, preference, or ability.

For example, no screen-used tie helmets ever had those knurled knobs or imperial disks on the ear pieces that I know of - but then "screen used" refurbed helmets showed up in auctions with machined greeblies on the earpieces, and now people take that for canon. The truth of course is that "canon" is largely up for interpretation, because the films themselves are internally inconsistent - things broke or were lost or replaced or custom-made items differed subtly one from the other...

Thanks, all, for your insights and guidance.

Rick

 

[electric jay]

For example, no screen-used tie helmets ever had those knurled knobs or imperial disks on the ear pieces that I know of - but then "screen used" refurbed helmets showed up in auctions with machined greeblies on the earpieces, and now people take that for canon. The truth of course is that "canon" is largely up for interpretation, because the films themselves are internally inconsistent - things broke or were lost or replaced or custom-made items differed subtly one from the other...


Rick

The actual screen-used chestbox was a plank of wood with rocker switches and buttons glued on. The origional coveralls had a vest underneath the armor, too.
Us TIEs have a hard time with screen-accuracy and usually end up just following the 501st rules.
Oh, and that second cog patch you're referring to is a pre-Empire patch...somewhere between ep3 and ANH....a transitional cog. I think.