The Stormtroopers of the 501st Legion Singapore Garrison unmasked!

They are known as Vader's Fist and they will be present at the Singapore Toy, Games and Comic Convention 2009, patrolling the convention centre and maintaining Imperial order. Klik.TV talks to the Stormtroopers of the 501st Legion Singapore Garrison, the largest Star Wars costume club in Asia with close to 60 members!

Please introduce yourselves?

Keith (not pictured): My name is Keith Moss. I am the Commanding Officer of the 501st Legion, Singapore Garrison. My callsign is ALPHA. Professionally, I'm a business man- I run 2 businesses. My activities with the legion are purely volunteer. I joined the legion in 2006 as a Stormtrooper and then a Shadow Trooper.

Ivan (not pictured): I'm Ivan Chee aka erase. I'm the 2nd in command for Singapore Garrison. I joined Singapore Garrison in June 2006, back then we were only a very small outpost which only about 20members. I'm an IT consultant with HP.

Eugene (pictured left) : Eugene here, TK5231, Call sign "AH Beng".

Ole (middle): Ole Jacob Overseth, TD7620, transferred to the Singapore Garrison in June 2009. Joined the 501st in January 2008 with the Nordic Garrison.

Ron (right): I'm Ron, TK 8700, callsign NIPPER. I'm currently a student and I joined the Garrison in early February this year.

What does your wife, girlfriend or family think of you playing dress-up?

Keith: My partner is 100% behind me. In fact she is a member herself. She's a female Stormtrooper and also an Imperial Officer.

Ivan: My wife and 2 daughters think I'm crazy playing dressing up but they think it's good that what we are usually doing is all for charity.

Eugene: Well my family members as well as my girlfriend thinks that it is cool that we can suit up in our childhood dream heroes and be able to do our part for charity as well.

Ole: My wife isn't into dressing up like this, so she sometimes think that I'm really childish. She does however see that the Legion do alot of good charity work, and that it is a hobby that makes me happy. So all in all, she approves.

Ron: My family thought it is just great that I'm doing this. Not too glad about the costs though.

Did you make the costumes yourselves?

Keith: My costumes are all full body armour costumes. Most of the parts are formed in ABS plastic, made by fellow members in the US. There was still alot of work left to me in order to complete each suit - drilling, cutting, heat bending just to name a few.

Ivan: Costumes is being acquired from the states. But certain modification is done by myself for instance handcuffs is being used by the sandtroopers is made by me.

Eugene: All the modifying is like some sort of right of passage to owning a armor.

Tell us how did you guys fell in love with Star Wars. And why did you join the 501st Legion?

Keith: Well I fell in love with Star Wars when I first saw Episode 4 in the theatres. I was no older than 6 years old then. Since then, I've started collecting Star Wars collectables, like display pieces, action figures and vehicles, etc. I only chanced upon the legion one day when I saw a bunch of stormtroopers march into an event. I was always a stormtrooper fan and it was always my dream to own a full stormtrooper suit so that was when I started ordering my first suit of armour, assembled it and applied for legion membership.

Ivan: I like Starwars is becos is cool and it's the storyline that really attracted me.

Eugene: The love for Star Wars started way back in my childhood days when my parents brought me to see the movies in the theatres and got me almost all the toys that i wanted at that time. The only sad part as that i do not have those toys tpday as i had destroyed them as i was a very naught and destructive child. I got to know the 501st Legion when i went with my gf to see the movie "Fanboys" and from that event, i managed to get to know the whole 501st Legion and knowing that i always wanted to be a Stormtrooper all my life...there was no hesitation when i decided to join them amnd get an armor of my own.

Ole: My first ever contact with Star Wars, was back in the -80's. That's when I first saw the movies on TV. From that time on, I was a Star Wars fan, through and through! As for the 501st, I met them in 2007, at the Celebration Europe (celebrating the 30th anniversary of SW: A New Hope). And the armor-bug took me. Managed to secure a suit late in 2007, and joined in 2008.

Ron: Ah, the very first scene of the Revenge of the Sith took my breath away. It was like "woah!" and then I was hooked. Pretty much the same reason why I joined the Legion. It just gives me an adrenaline rush when I first saw the Sandtroopers with their big guns, backpack and all.

This is a strange question to ask a Stormtrooper but what is really your favourite Star Wars character?

Keith: My favourite character is really Darth Vader! He's dark, imposing, powerful, quite frightening and awe-striking the first time to see him in person! Especially with the breathing. LOL. But yes, I do also love Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers very much!

Ivan: I'm a Sandtrooper, which also known as the "Heavy Weapon Trooper" aka HWT. We carry more weapons and stuffs compared to a Stormtrooper. We are the elite as compared to the normal troopers.

Eugene: Well frankly my favourite character is Han Solo as i like way he project himself as a smooth and suave talker and comes leadership qualities. Well i wanted o say Stormtrooper but you wouldn't let me...so i gotta find my second favourite character instead.

Ole: Stormtrooper! Nah, not a stormtrooper, but the sandtrooper! Dirty is the way to go!

Ron: Yes, I would have to say its the stormtrooper, specifically, the 50st Legion stormtroopers. They aren't called "Vader's fist" for nothing. Next up, would have to be the Republic commandos. Not in the movies, but still kicks ass.

Do you guys prefer the original Star Wars trilogy or the prequels? And which film among the 6 is your favourite?

Keith: I'm a fan of the original trilogy. My favourite is still episode 4 - it was the first Star Wars movie I ever watched. My favourite scene happens to be the opening scene where the Tanive IV is attacked by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer. Its the scene where the stormtroopers assault the Tantive IV.

Ivan: Yes, I'm a fan of the original trilogy. I was born during the era. My favorite is Episode 4: The New Hope.

Eugene: I am still a fan of the original series as i liked the storyline as well as George Lucas's visionary to create a trilogy that would eventually have a prequel many years down the road when technology would eventually catch up with the vison that he has in mind and to portray it to all fanatics alike globally.

Ole: I prefer the original trilogy, but the prequels has its place in the total history, of course. My favorite would be Empire Strikes Back.

Ron: I would say the Original Trilogies are better. 'A New Hope' can be considered the best there is.

You guys do a lot of events and even charity work. What's the most memorable one that you've participated in?

Keith: I don't have a single memorable charity event, but for me, the most memorable ones are the ones that concern children's charities. We've done a couple of events for the Children's Cancer Foundation, Children’s Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Club Rainbow. It always seems to move me more everytime I see the eyes of a child light up whenever they see our troopers.

Ivan: To me all the events are worthy of trooping because main objective is to perform charity work. By the way, I'm a grassroot leader as well. I have been actively serving as a volunteer with People Association since 1993.

Eugene: For me there isn't any particular event that i would say that it was my most memorable but what i can say is that i have enjoyed suiting up and trooping with the rest of the guys and gals in the Garrison and being able to do my part for charity. What makes it even more memorable would be to see the joy and smiles of the people and especially the children when the approach us to have a picture taken with them and if i were to put myself in their shoes, i know that being able to meet and take a picture with a childhood hero of mine, it makes everything worth the effort.

Ron: It has to be the one at St. Patrick's Day this year. It was held at Boat Quay and Raffles Place and it happened to rain very heavily just as we're about to start. Nevertheless, we marched through the rain. I guessed it really made the crowd go wild when they see us walking through it like we're completely oblivious to the rain. That was also when I discovered how dedicated we can be and that's what set us apart.

Ole: So far, my most memorable was in summer 2008, when the Nordic garrison participated in the opening weekend of SW The Exhibition in Sweden. The biggest get-together of Nordic Garrison, and a HUGE crowd over the weekend, made it unforgettable!

How does one sign up as a member?

Keith: In order to qualify for membership, an applicant must be over 18 and own a high quality costume of a Star Wars villain. For prospective members, my advice is to get in touch with the garrison on where and how to get yr costume. As for assembly of armour (Eg. Stormtrooper armour) we usually have Armour Parties where seasoned members help new/incoming members assemble their armour. Applicants can get in touch with us through www.501st.sg.