Question about "standards" in organized Star Wars groups

[NickDanger]

I am considering making a custom Mandalorian armor outfit and also considering joining an organized Star Wars group that has certain standards. I have developed some skill working with EVA foam and will make the armor with many foam pieces. The helmet will be the biggest challenge having to fabricate a near seamless crown. Will an "expertly" crafted outfit be acceptable or does everything have to be professionally made costume pieces? Will a mixture of both handmade and purchased items be OK? Does membership in the organized clubs demand replicas of actual characters, costumes, uniform and weapons or is being influenced by or creating a character who could fit right into the Star Wars universe OK?

 

[GotWookiee]

It's best to drop by the relevant costume group (sounds like the Mando Mercs are what you are looking for) and ask them. Generally speaking, the standards are all about the results, and don't rule out specific techniques or materials, unless it is known that said materials would never work no matter what you did.

You can also get some advice on how to build the pieces you are looking into.

While most people in the clubs buy kits and only know enough to finish them, there are still plenty of us who know how to scratch build stuff, make molds, sculpt, and can help you out.

 

[ManitobaMando]

Mandalorian Mercs Acceptable armor material:

• Sintra
• Kydex
• PVC
• ABS
• Styrene
• Fiberglass
• Metal
• Fiberglassed/resined paper board

For more information please see http://mandalorianmercs.org/get-involved/costume-requirements/

 

[Jinyo]

Membership standards will vary by group, so it depends on which group you mean to join. It is best to contact the group you are interested in, to get specific answers to your questions.

Generally speaking, the 501st is for the "bad guys," and you will find a lot of Boba Fett and Jango Fett cosplayers in their Bounty Hunter detachment.
Rebel Legion is for the "good guys," and there you will find people who cosplay as Mandalorians such as Duchess Satine and Sabine Wren.
Both the 501s Legion and the Rebel Legion require costumes to be (more or less) accurate reproductions of characters and costumes that exist in official films, TV shows, and publications. If you want to join either of these groups as a Mandalorian, you must reproduce an existing character's costume.

Mandalorian Mercs is for those who cosplay as Mandos, with an emphasis on people who invent their own characters.
If you want to create a Mando costume inspired by the Star Wars universe, this is the group for you.

None of the groups require a "professionally made" costume, and none of these groups accepts applicants based solely on their costume. It all comes down to how you look in the costume. If you have a great, professionally-made costume, but it fits on you like a 9-year-old wearing his daddy's shirt, then prepare for rejection. If it looks good on you, then it doesn't matter if it's made of toilet paper. (But it better not look like toilet paper. It better look like real combat armor from outer space.)

Generally speaking, if you submit a membership application and you are not accepted, they won't just mail back your application with a big red "REJECTED" stamped on it, or laugh you out of the room. Most of the members of costuming groups like these encourage new members, especially those with sincere interest. More likely, they might say something along the lines of "we can't accept you, the gaps between your armor plates are too wide. But here are some techniques you can try, to fix that problem. Or here is a link to a forum where people discuss how to deal with that issue." Just take the advice, put in a little elbow grease, and you'll be a full-fledged member in no time!

Also, don't expect people to kiss your butt about how great your costume is, just because all of your buddies and family members who have never built a set of armor or weathered a prop before, tell you how amazing your costume is. You're talking to people who have seen, inspected, and judged hundreds of costumes. They have higher standards than that dude who thinks a shadow trooper is Darth Vader. Don't take a rejection personally. They actually want you to join their group, they just want your costume to be a little better first.

Here is some info on what the Mando Mercs are looking for in a costume:
http://mandalorianmercs.org/get-involved/costume-requirements/

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

^^^ Everything that he said, with a couple further enhancements that I feel deserve emphasis...

The Mercs don't accept EVA foam as a building material. Doesn't matter how good you are with it. A nonzero number of members there do EVA builds for Mass Effect or Halo or Iron Man, etc., and are brilliant at it -- it just doesn't work well for Mando armor. Do some searches on the site and you'll find plenty of discussion on the matter and the reasons behind this decision.

As for DIY versus professionally made... There's a whole spectrum. Much of it depends on one's resources and skills (workspace and tools available, budget, time, etc.) and what I call the Reality Equation (others call it other things) is crucial: Time, cost, quality -- pick two. If you want it good and don't have much money, it's going to take forever. It you want it fast and don't want to spend a lot, it'll be awful. If you want it good and you want it now, it's gonna cost. All these groups have pretty high standards (exercised in different ways), so "good" is a given if you want to get approved. So that means finding the right balance for the individual between cost and time. People will recommend -- rightly so, I feel -- doing what you can, what you're good at, what you have the tools for, and that sort of thing... and outsourcing the things you aren't set up for, or don't know how to work with, or just don't want to have to fiddle with. Most people neither make everything themselves nor buy everything from others, but fall somewhere in the mix'n'match in between.

Both of which bring me to what @Jinyo finished with, above. If you get dinged on something, listen to the advice and don't take it personally. I've seen many people over the years refer to one or another (or all) of the sanctioned Star Wars costuming groups as "elitist". Granted, there are issues with individual members or locations at one time or another, but in general? No. Elitism is using some set of arbitrary standards to keep people deemed "unsuitable" out. By and large, the people in these clubs will bend over backward to help you get everything up to standard so you can get in. Far worse, is the feeling, to turn someone loose in a kit they feel looks great, but really doesn't -- it doesn't represent the club(s) or Star Wars in the best light. If you want to just throw on whatever and go to a con? Go for it. If you want to be out representing one of these clubs? You'll be held to a higher standard. You should look like you just stepped off the screen -- or better.

--Jonah