Costuming:TA assault tank driver

Imperial Combat Assault Tank Driver

Model TA-42011 / TA-12110, Photo by Mike Quinones / Taylor A Goodson

Description: Assault Tank Driver Prefix: TA Detachment: Armored Cavalry Detachment Context: Star Wars: Rogue One Assault Tank Drivers operate the Empire's arsenal of armored repulsor vehicles, from troop transports to heavily armored hovertanks. Combat Drivers are lightly armored, relying instead on the thick skin of their vehicles to protect them in battle. Perched in the command seat of the thickly armored Imperial combat assault tank with a view of the surrounding area, the tank commander barks out orders to the combat drivers within to steer the vehicle into battle. The commander stays in contact with his crew and with headquarters to keep updated on changing combat conditions.

A, B Versions of the Tank Driver Costume: Please note that there are two different approvable options for this costume. The "A" version is the basic Tank Driver or the Grunt. The “B” version is known as the Tank Commander. For basic approval, mixing and matching items from the two versions is not allowed. Reference material may be found on the Armored Cavalry Detachment Forums.

This Visual Guide has been reviewed by the detachment staff and the LMO team and is certified for use as a minimum approval guideline for GMLs. GMLs are free to approve this costume type. This document is not intended to be a detailed how-to on costume construction; rather a visual guide to be used for 501st costume approval. Details on construction may be found on the respective costume detachment web forum. GMLs uncertain about an aspect of submitted costume shall post questions in the appropriate DL/GML peer review section of the Legion forum. Measurements given in this document are intended to be approximate and generalized; not criteria for approval. Requirements for all 501st costumes are proportional to the wearer in scale, fit and size. Text descriptions are only one part of the guideline. GMLs and costumers must consider both text and pictures (CRL and Reference) when reviewing the costume.

Helmet Helmet is white and matches base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work. Lenses sufficiently dark enough to obscure the costumer's eyes. Helmet face plate includes an indented u-shaped parting line (or frown) below the visor where a mouth would be. The frown is not heavily painted black - weathering enhances that region. The frown touches the angled sides of the edges of the face plate. A small tapered rectangular indent is present on each side of the face plate positioned slightly above and to the outside of the frown. The chin of the helmet has a small snout greeblie centered below the bottom of the faceplate. The greeblie is positioned on the chin angled downward. The greeblie has fins similar to a vented heatsink. Helmet has a flared lower portion that wraps around the helmet and blends into the angled cheek tubes on the front sides of the helmet. Beneath the flared lower portion of the helmet is a neck line that extends downward beyond the flared edge. Neck line begins at the underside of the cheek tubes and extends around the bottom of the helmet in a horseshoe shape. Two vent greeblies are present in the end of each cheek tube at the bottom front of the helmet. Three small indented notches are present on the sides of both cheek tubes and painted black. Blast shield must be present, including a black detail line near the bottom edge of the shield with a centered vertical indent connecting to the detail line and continuing above it with a rounded end. There is an indented black strip beneath the blast shield that extends outward from each side of the blast shield and terminates with a downward angle toward the front of the helmet. There is a McQuarrie (or telephone) detail on each side of the helmet near the ear. Above each McQuarrie detail is an indented circle, roughly 5/16" in diameter. There is a smaller indented circle in front of and slightly below the McQuarrie detail on the left side of the helmet, roughly 3/16" in diameter. A smaller circle on both sides of the helmet is also acceptable. Below the McQuarrie detail on each side of the helmet is an indented dart painted black. The pointed widest part of the dart begins where the helmet skirt angles downward toward the chin. The dart narrows to a point and ends roughly beneath where the McQuarrie detail begins. There are two sets of parallel grooves, one set on each side of the helmet dome. The grooves start beneath the blast shield and terminate where the dome and the flared skirt meet. Grooves are indented and spaced roughly 3/8" apart. The grooves continue on the neck line of the helmet beneath the skirt at the rear of the helmet. At the rear of the helmet spaced evenly between the sets of parallel grooves are 8 recessed oval vents. There are two more indented vents at the rear of the helmet centered on the flared skirt. They are situated below the parallel vents, roughly below the 2nd and 7th. These two additional vents may be rectangular or oblong.

---

	Balaclava A balaclava is a black head sock/hood that is worn under the helmet and is used primarily to hide any view of the wearer's skin and/or facial hair.

---

	Neck Seal The upper neck seal ribbed section is black. Fitted upper neck seal has horizontal ribbing. (Optional) The neck seal has a bib with horizontal ribbing that is the same colour and material as the undershirt.

---

	Under Shirt Black ribbed material with Horizontal ribbing on arms and torso. Separate shirt and/or separate neck seal with bib. A neck seal attached to the undershirt is acceptable. The attached neck seal must meet the same criteria as written above. Ribs are approximately 4mm or 1/8" in thickness. There may be a black honeycomb pattern mesh panel under the armpit.

---

	Chest Armour For 501st approval: Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work. Dark Grey foam extends past the arm openings. Recess on the bottom left must be present and painted black. Chest and back plate attach with shoulder straps and meets flush at the lower sides. Buckle greeblies attached to upper chest plate and are painted black. Shoulder straps are white and are attached to the chest plate at the buckle. The chest plate overlaps the abdominal plate.
	Version A: Chest plate is plain white and matches base colour of the armour with no additional grey or red markings.
	Version B: Chest plate is white and matches base colour of the armour with an approximate 5cm horizontal stripe across the upper chest painted dark grey leaving white indentations in between sections. Features red "L-Square" emblem on the bottom left above the black recess.

Back Armour Dark grey foam extends past the arm openings. Back plate has a collar that extends upwards and tapers to the chest plate. The collar piece is seamless and not permanently affixed to the chest armour. Chest and back plate meet flush at the sides beneath the arms. This is achieved with a third plate that bridges the distance between the chest and back pieces. Back plate has two large cut-out recesses with vent details and greeblies inside. The walls of the recesses and the floors are black. Each recess has a different specific set of black greeblies inside. Left side recess has a rectangle shape greeblie with an angled right side end with five panels. The first left panel has a tube on top that then runs up the left side and then across the top of the recces. On the right side a heat sink greeblie is fitted. Right side recess has a long thin strip has two flat ends with approximately seventeen cylinder shaped teeth in the middle. Below it is a rectangle shape greeblie with a moon shaped end on the right. Approximately 1/3 of the left side is flat followed by a thin line recess and 7x3 rows of oblong shaped indents. On the right side is a circle type hose connector. The vent details at the top of the recesses may be cut out and backed with foam. If they are not cut out then they must be painted black in between the slats. Bottom left features a smaller rectangular cut-out with the left side stepped. The floor of this cut out shall be painted white and darkened with weathering. Half circle indent detail beneath the backpack section must be present. There is a long thin raised detail positioned central and below the 2 large recess. There is a small raised circle detail positioned central and below the long thin raised detail mentioned above. There is a raised slot on each shoulder for the straps to fit into. Armour is white and matches base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Shoulder Straps Shoulder straps are white and are affixed to the chest plate at the buckle. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work. There are horizontal ribs running front to back overlapping the chest and back armour. Can be made from Latex or a similar flexible material. Buckle greeblies attached to upper chest plate at the front of the shoulder straps.

---

	Shoulder Armour For 501st approval: Shoulders should be symmetrical with the ridge along the center of the shoulder bell, this is raised and beveled. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.
	Version A: Armour is white and matches base colour of the armour with no grey sections or black stripes.
	Version B: Upper half of left shoulder bell is dark grey with two thinner black stripes present below. The thinner black stripes are no wider than 1/2". Upper half of right shoulder bell is dark grey with the bottom half remaining white. No black stripes are present on the right shoulder bell.

	Bicep Armour Cover strips are raised and beveled with an added strip layer on top. Appear to be fully enclosed, but may open beneath the rear cover strip. Armour is white and matches base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Forearm Armour Forearm cover strips are raised and beveled with an added strip layer on top. Raised section with a hard corner. Contains twelve recessed areas. Forearm may be shortened due to height restrictions. Forearms must appear to be fully sealed and enclosed. Armour is white and match base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Gloves and Handplates Black gloves with black leather or leather-like material on the palm, thumb, and forefinger. The palm has 5 raised padded sections. The black oval detail is aligned with the index finger of each hand. Gloves extend underneath the forearm armour. Roughly pentagonal in shape, with an oblong recess on the front edge. The hand plates are mounted securely over the back of the glove. Hand plates are white and match base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Abdominal Armour The vertical areas on both sides of the raised center abdomen plate are painted black. Inside the right hand black area is a stepped pyramid detail. Central abs section has a raised square section with a raised plate, on the left side of the plate is a one large ridged rectangle with nine rises ridged below. Above the central section is a double lone rectangle greeblie. The left hand black area contains a longer rectangular detail. Armour is white and matches base colour of the armour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

	Kidney Armour The sides have one diagonal raised strip. There is a black stripe behind the diagonal raised strip. Armour is white and matches base colour of the armour. Joins the ab-plate at the sides of the wearer, cut at an angle. The rear has a central cover plate. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Belt Belt is black and made from two nylon straps sewn together with a zig-zag stitch pattern down the middle. The belt width is approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm). Belt buckle is centered and matches reference photos. (Buckle matches that of the Shoretrooper Squad Leader) There are two small trapezoidal studs, one on each side of the center buckle. Two longer two-part hinged belt boxes are on the belt next to the belt studs, one on each side. There are two medium boxes with angled top detail following after the hinged boxes. There are two standard drop boxes following after the medium boxes. Boxes are white and match base colour of the armour Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

Thermal Detonator Each part of the assembly is attached to a belt cover plate the same width as the belt. Assembly consists of one horizontal thermal detonator and two standard drop boxes. The horizontal thermal detonator is a cylindrical canister with evenly spaced grooves extending to the end caps. The end caps have a recess on the top. One standard drop box on each side of the thermal detonator. All parts of the assembly are white and matches the armour base colour. Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

	Trousers Fabric is a black or charcoal grey cotton canvas/duck cloth material. Breeches style that flare out to the sides like riding breeches above the knee and below the drop boxes. A front fly is present - does not need to be functional.

---

Shin Armour Cover strips are raised and beveled with an added layer strip on top. Shin greaves should close in the back. There is a large cover plate attached to the front of each shin. The trapezoid shin plate (sniper knee plate) is affixed to the left greave. The “T” shin plate is affixed to the right greave. A harness style buckle greeblie attached to the outside edge of the upper shin plate. A ski boot style buckle greeblie is attached to the outside edge of the lower shin plate. Straps extend from each buckle, and the inner side of the shin plate. The straps may have a gap in the back of the shin or extend around the shin in one piece. Shins are white and match base colour of the armour Armour components are weathered. Black and grey tones are suggested to recreate oil and grime from vehicle work.

---

	Boots Boots are Orca Bay Brecon Chelsea style boots or an accurately close replica. Boots are above ankle height and made of white leather (or similar material). U-shaped white elastic sections on both sides on the ankle. Elastic section may also be black (though white is preferred). Black sole with tread and a low heel.

---

	Spearhead Initiative For higher level of costume accuracy see the Spearhead section on the Armored Cavalry Detachment forum. http://forum.501starmoredcavalry.com/index.php?/topic/3365-spearhead-program-requirements-crl-imperial-combat-assault-tank-driver/

---

Optional Accessories

Items below are optional costume accessories. These items are not required for approval, but if present appear as described below. If adding in an accessory after initial approval, the item still needs to be submitted to local GML for approval before use.

E-11B Blaster Based on a real or replica Sterling submachine gun, scratch-built, or a modified commercial toy *stormtrooper blaster. Tactical flashlight (surefire scout M300 or replica) mounted on right side of barrel. Magazine shall be full length. Based on a real or replica Sterling submachine gun, scratch-built, cast, 3D print or a modified commercial toy stormtrooper blaster. (added detail) Tactical flashlight (surefire scout M300 or replica) mounted on right side of barrel. Magazine is extended length. Power cylinder is larger with 2 outer cylinders and 2 smaller central cylinder Scope is a M38 1943 version. Scope rail can be fitted with rail blocks and a middle rail support block is optional.

---

	SE-14R Blaster High-end replica. As seen in various promotional material & merchandise.

---

• This CRL is available as a PDF

This document and all of the images within were created by and are the property of the 501st Legion. Other media owned by Lucasfilm Ltd and Disney are used under authorization. All other uses are prohibited. The 501st Legion is a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans. While it is not sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd., it follows generally accepted ground rules for Star Wars fan groups. Star Wars, its characters, costumes, and all associated items are the intellectual property of Lucasfilm. Copyright and Trademark Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.