So after finishing my Marine Space Aviator, and being inspired by the Dropship Helmet thread, I decided to put together a screen accurate (or as close as possible) Dropship Pilot.


Today I grabbed what is one of the last pieces of this impression: a set of mirrored aviator sunglasses. And now I can post some pics!





So starting off is an RAF Mk 11 flying suit (or a clone: it doesn't actually have a Mk 11 tag- but is identical in every way none the less). I have silk screened patches (except the Victory By Wings patch*), an 1800nametape nametag, and standard army ssgt rank. The map in the leg pocket is a star chart of the Zeta II Reticuli system.




Ready to fly!

Gentex SPH4 helmet (unmodified for the moment), M1969 flak vest (serving double duty from my PIG gunner impression), black Corcoran jump boots, and of course... no DS Pilot impression is complete without a set of those mirrored shades.




The helmet art. I drove myself crazy deciding on an appropriate slogan.




Giving one of those smarmy USAF salutes.




And finally (on a cue from Dom at Polaris)... my cheesiest Tom Cruise impression!

So now all I'm on the lookout for is a pair of fingerless leather gloves (Ferro only wore one glove on her right hand... but I ain't Michael Jackson ).

* I had an accurate Victory By Wings patch on the way- but it was lost in the post. The one I have on is the more common commercially available patch. While very high in quality and detail, it is glaringly inaccurate:




This is the common inaccurate patch.




And this is what it an accurate (albeit embroidered) Victory By Wings patch should look like: the border is black, and the 13 stars inside the border have black outlines. Also the SA patch is larger- about 95mm or 3 3/4"-- the inaccurate patch is too small at 87mm or 3 3/8" (thanks Harry for the correct size).


This is definitely coming with me to D-Con!!

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

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Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Very nice .... Thanks for the photos

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Cpl. " Radar " West - A08/TQ0.0.72128E1
The sleeper has awaken...
Long live the fighters..

Looking good... I do think you could get a better shine on those boots

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A12/TQ1.0.22137E1
PVT. Schmaus, Christopher J.
2nd Batt 6th Regt
USS Tahoma

Okay, that's actually pretty sweet, especially when you throw in those aviators. Definitely looks the part. Nice work!

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-Brian
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"Engineers are merciless men bent on the nullification of art and the worship of functionalism" -Garrison Keilor

Tower, this is Ghost rider requesting a flyby.


Great job you've done there. Loving the sungigs!

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"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

More cocky flyboys,

just what we need!!



Looking great Kev, is it coming to D'con?

Andy.

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A72/TQ6.6.95356E8





"I plan to live forever.........or die trying!"

Thanks everyone!

Yeah it's coming to D-Con with me Andy! I'm definitely going to have to work out a costuming schedule with all I'm bringing this year!



Heh! Truth be told, I could shine those boots up to such a high gloss that you could shave with them... but I don't think it would look right with a battledress impression.

Man! Do I ever look like a dork in that pic from Polaris!

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

You know Fleet and MI don't mix.......

Wait, thats the wrong movie...never mind


Derek

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Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

Well, 'CHEESY' sprung to mind!

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A72/TQ6.6.95356E8





"I plan to live forever.........or die trying!"

"Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full."

*sigh* If only I could find the correct flight suit. They're pretty scarce these days.

Nice job Kev!

Russ

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"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

MAA is supposed to be making them eventualy

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Rob Slater
A08/TQ2.0.42136E1

wow looking great. niiiiiiice

(what's with the thumbell)

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impressive...most impressive

Nice Kev. You can be my wingman anytime

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http://www.tentaclechris.com

Thats a great suit there!

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Pfc. Wells, Brandon. W
"I am the ultimate bad-ass. State of the bad-ass art."

Awesome set up Sarge!

Contact Stephen210, he should have some victory patches left..

Sidearm... plans?


Now need to get that guy to finish those damn helmet parts.....

Right on Kev!! You are the man!!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Thanks again everyone! Feels really cool to have this get up on! Might end up becoming the designated driver of the group eventually.




The way they carry a VP70 is rather crude- it's just a standard USCM canvas holster with the flap looped backwards around a common pistol belt. The belt is then worn bandolero style across the chest:




It wouldn't take much to replicate this as I have all the components- it's just that for me wearing a set up like this with the flak vest unzipped looks rather... "improper" for lack of a better term.


What I would like to know is if they made a custom "lefty" holster for Ferro... or reversed the shot where she reaches for her VP.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I think they used a right handed holster and just turned the pistol around.

As for the gloves, we got a pair of weight lifting gloves from 5 below. Not great, they have a knitted back, but they are black and fingerless. For $5 they will work.

I will post pictures tonight, you can let me know if you would like a pair, I can run back to the store. Just have to cover the Everlast label, or take it off.

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Rob Slater
A08/TQ2.0.42136E1

Karyn and I just wear our sidearms in a quilted holster on a standard pistol belt.


Andy

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A72/TQ6.6.95356E8





"I plan to live forever.........or die trying!"

Thanks Rob. I've seen those knitted back gloves around here. I want to try and grab a full leather set first.

If push comes to shove there are cheapo gloves on ebay- but I'm going to have a looksee for a pair around here first.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

This brings up the question again. Dropship pilots are like bomber or chopper pilots- they are not the navigators of the carrier ship. Who is the astronavigator for a deep space mission? Mother? I wouldn't think you would need that map, as "hopefully" you're not going farther than a a normal parking orbit around a celestial body, to dock with your carrier. Any farther than that, and I don't think you have enough life support equipment.
gomi_

Okay thanks!

I'll scrap that inaccurate map immediately.

Really it was meant as a little inside joke or tip of the hat to ALIEN- those in the know would "get it" and those not wouldn't know the difference anyway.

But I do get what you mean- the Dropship isn't a deep space vehicle.

Oh and while I was out today I did manage to snag a very cheap pair of fingerless leather gloves at a costume shop... Cheap as in quality... in fact I think they are vinyl. But they will do until after D-Con.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I thought these pix were a nice addition to this thread. Both taken at Polaris 2008.





You look bad ass who is VERY screen accurate. Great job Kevin! Also kudos to Martin's power loader in the background.

Mike

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There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!