Hello and welcome!
This thread is a basic 'How to' guide to joining the 501st Legion and Southern Cross Garrison.
There really are just five basic steps to the whole process:
1. Be 18 or over
2. Have a movie-quality costume;
3. Ensure the costume meets all the Costume Reference Library (CRL) requirements;
4. Apply on the main 501st Legion Website; and
5. Submit your photos to the Southern Cross Garrison Membership Liaison (GML)
Let's go into each step with a little more detail and clarification.
1. Be 18 or over
All our members are required to 18 years of age or over.
But for those younglings who still want to do their part in the galaxy, there's the Galactic Academy.
2. Have a movie-quality costume
This is the heart and soul of it all. As a Legion, we basically want to look as though we stepped out of the screen and into the general public. There are many types of costumes and many ways to acquire them.
Often costumes will be sold in kits which have to be built, painted and assembled to fit the wear.
Sometimes costumes can be bought complete and ready to wear.
The key point though is that the costume fits YOU. Should a submitted costume be ill-fitting you may be asked to make alterations.
3. Ensure the costume meets all the Costume Reference Library (CRL) requirements
Each approvable costume has a CRL which is used when judging submissions.
The CRLs can all be found here: http://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:CRL
It is important that you check that each and every part of your costume meets these requirements.
A good way of ensuring this is to start a build thread here on the forums: https://www.501scg.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=18
Update your thread as you build or acquire items and ask questions. If something isn't quite right, someone may point it out let you know the best way to fix it.
It's also highly recommended that you signup on a Detachment forum as well. Detachments specialise in a few costumes so they really are the experts.
4. Apply on the main 501st Legion Website
This step is easy.
Just click here: www.501st.com/members/join_form.php
Fill out all the required fields and hit submit!
5. Submit your photos to the Southern Cross Garrison Membership Liaison (GML)
You are almost there. The last step is having your costume approved by the Garrison Member Liaison!
To do this, you should take several high quality photos of your costume. Take them from the Front, Back, Both Sides, with your Hands Up and if you wear a bucket (a helmet) take one without a bucket on.
Additionally, include any other photos to highlight things that may not be immediately obvious in the other photos.
Things like hook and eye clips in an Imperial Officer's tunic or the black vest of a Biker Scout.
It is important to use good lighting, and make sure there is a plain (as possible) background behind you.
Take photos from waist height so as not to create any distortion.
Once you have your approval pictures ready, you can click here to send them to the GML.
And that is it!
Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you join our ranks.
This thread is a basic 'How to' guide to joining the 501st Legion and Southern Cross Garrison.
There really are just five basic steps to the whole process:
1. Be 18 or over
2. Have a movie-quality costume;
3. Ensure the costume meets all the Costume Reference Library (CRL) requirements;
4. Apply on the main 501st Legion Website; and
5. Submit your photos to the Southern Cross Garrison Membership Liaison (GML)
Let's go into each step with a little more detail and clarification.
1. Be 18 or over
All our members are required to 18 years of age or over.
But for those younglings who still want to do their part in the galaxy, there's the Galactic Academy.
2. Have a movie-quality costume
This is the heart and soul of it all. As a Legion, we basically want to look as though we stepped out of the screen and into the general public. There are many types of costumes and many ways to acquire them.
Often costumes will be sold in kits which have to be built, painted and assembled to fit the wear.
Sometimes costumes can be bought complete and ready to wear.
The key point though is that the costume fits YOU. Should a submitted costume be ill-fitting you may be asked to make alterations.
3. Ensure the costume meets all the Costume Reference Library (CRL) requirements
Each approvable costume has a CRL which is used when judging submissions.
The CRLs can all be found here: http://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:CRL
It is important that you check that each and every part of your costume meets these requirements.
A good way of ensuring this is to start a build thread here on the forums: https://www.501scg.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=18
Update your thread as you build or acquire items and ask questions. If something isn't quite right, someone may point it out let you know the best way to fix it.
It's also highly recommended that you signup on a Detachment forum as well. Detachments specialise in a few costumes so they really are the experts.
4. Apply on the main 501st Legion Website
This step is easy.
Just click here: www.501st.com/members/join_form.php
Fill out all the required fields and hit submit!
5. Submit your photos to the Southern Cross Garrison Membership Liaison (GML)
You are almost there. The last step is having your costume approved by the Garrison Member Liaison!
To do this, you should take several high quality photos of your costume. Take them from the Front, Back, Both Sides, with your Hands Up and if you wear a bucket (a helmet) take one without a bucket on.
Additionally, include any other photos to highlight things that may not be immediately obvious in the other photos.
Things like hook and eye clips in an Imperial Officer's tunic or the black vest of a Biker Scout.
It is important to use good lighting, and make sure there is a plain (as possible) background behind you.
Take photos from waist height so as not to create any distortion.
Once you have your approval pictures ready, you can click here to send them to the GML.
And that is it!
Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you join our ranks.
Legion Membership Officer