I'm still in for the USMC blues jacket. Modified or otherwise.

Well it's time to resurrect this old thread...



So here's what I've been quietly working on the last month or so:










This next one is for Chris:





So obviously this is a USMC tunic- I've added the Dress Blue Army rank (really works well with the midnight blue of the tunic), Delta pins (my Mike Rush set), and my Dropship wings. The Sulaco patch is temporarily held on the pocket with tape.

For the moment- I'm wearing a knock-off Sam Browne police duty belt (actually the prototype for my Grayson Robin costume ). It's a little undersized compared to an actual Sam Browne. I'm also wearing my Wrath of Khan pants. No cover device for the time being.

I still have to replace the USMC buttons. This is proving to be a little more difficult than I first imagined; the "stem" behind the USMC buttons (that the little ring attaches to) is longer than the average off the shelf shank style button. As a result, the regular buttons do not go completely through both sets of holes (you will understand what I'm talking about when you obtain a tunic).

Here are a couple of closer pics:






There are still some details to work out but I figured this was finished enough to post a few pics. Hopefully this will generate some excitement again.



Or controversy.



Couple of things- While it feels amazing to wear this- it still feels a little too Marine like. Maybe I'm just being crazy paranoid again. I dunno.

How the hell do you Marines do up the collar on a regular basis? <-- "choke emoticon"

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

:O

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Nice. Looks good, Kev.

Simplest way to make it less USMC is replace the cover with a beret.

*shrugs*

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

As long as I don't see any civilians wearing honest-to-god GI Issue Navy Dress Whites at D*Con again this year...

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Very sharp, Sarge!

I do see what you mean about being almost too Marine-y. Maybe lose the brass buttons altogether? (& replace with black or matching dark blue ones). At least the ones on the pockets, anyway....the top ones look like nipples.

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Jay Pennington

Heh.

The buttons definitely have to be replaced as they are USMC issue and have the Eagle & Anchor symbol. I would still retain the upper pocket and epaulette buttons in the same metal as the front buttons (gold or silver- whichever. I'm on the lookout for buttons that will have the "stem" that is long enough).

Silver has been suggested- just remember that with silver, the buckle of the Sam Browne belt will have to match.

I'd really like to stay away from a beret- perhaps a different branch of service cap? I have access to Canadian Navy service caps- they are white with a black band around the middle (instead of all white like the Marine cap).

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

There's no real reason the buttons have to match the belt buckle.

I think we agreed months ago the buttons should be silver... again to stay even further away from current USMC issue.

And, I'll bring this up: What's the status of the deltas we ordered? I know they're safe and sound, but.... any ETA on when they may ship out to us?

Also, Kev, the other cover looks good. But as with everything else, we'll need a mock-up or actual pic of the cover with everything else to really make a good decision.

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

Upon further review of my comment, I would like to point out that my statement of irony with regard to a certain random stranger's extreme poor taste in garb at last year's Con (yes, that actually happened) in no way means disapproval of this project

Kev, it's coming along great

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Looking sharp Kevin, darn sharp!

In regards to the possible changes, perhaps it might help to have photoshop in the silver buttons and the black stripe Canadian style cap?

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

Many thanks guys!

About the buckle matching the silver buttons- I was kinda talking from a fashion point of view I guess. God I must be watching too much TLC with my wife!

Alright then I'll keep my eyes open for some silver buttons that have a long enough shank to be compatable.

Friday is my day off- I might just grab one of those Navy caps (I don't think they were terribly expensive). That way we can judge it properly.


Oh here's a quick photoshop of how the silver buttons might look:




I think they look pretty sharp!!

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

All of the brass needs to match - IE the buttons, buckles, clasps, etc or it tends (In MY opinion) to look very shoddy and cobbled together. Smaller things like pins and ribbons are excluded of course. But everything that is part of the "uniform" persay needs to be matching in color.

Truth be told, I like the way the uniform looks as it is now. Switching the buttons to plain "smooth" brass ones would be more than enough. I know it looks very "Marine" but they are Colonial Marines, right?

Also this reminds me of a line in the Aliens novelization. When Gorman and Burke go to meet Ripley for the first time at her apartment, Gorman is described as wearing dress "blacks." I think this fits that bill pretty good!

Looks awesome Kev...

Might I suggest a red forage cap? I feel it would look great with this uniform.



I have a local source from which to obtain.

Another photoshop Kev!!!!

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

Way ahead of ya.

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

Holy crap! A red cover like that may just work... I really dig the way it all comes together.

Very cool idea Dom (I remember you posted this idea a while back, too) and Kev, good job on the photoshop.

For the record, Sam Browne belts are available with silver buckles.

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

Yep... red looks good to me. My regiments obtains them from William Scully... interesting selection of buttons that may serve for the uniform, too.

Kev,
Fantasic work mate,the red cap certainly make sit more appealing & less current USMC,thus perfect for the USCM.

Looks like you guys are really steamboating this project now,if Kev`s No1 is anything to go by.

Jason

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What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

Ok I've gotta say I'm not too keen on the red cap- however (not to sound like a broken record ) if everyone likes it I'll run with it. Maybe it will grow on me.

One thing I'll say is I think after all this time, I do like the idea of the Screaming Eagle on the cuff- After watching a couple of movies in which Marines are in Dress Blues, the "hash marks" flashes are pretty large. Combined with the rank- they almost take up the entire arm!

So I wouldn't be opposed to the Screaming Eagle this time around. Maybe even on both arms to denote years of service?

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

I don't like it. sorry. Would go along w/ the group, but I don't like it.

I know the idea of a white beret was nixed, but it would look pretty cool, what about a black beret? Again, I'd go with the majority, but not sold on that red hat...mebbe a red beret...?

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

I would say that either a red forage or a red beret would be a suitable alternative for who prefer whatever head-dress. The dress blues of my regiment can be worn either with the red forage cap or our black berets, so I don't see why one or the other wouldn't be acceptable for our project.

Kev, if you give me your hat-size, I can have one shipped to you FOC. You can see how it will go with you uniform.

BTW, just a suggestion... your dropship pin should be lower and closer to your breast pocket.

Well, if the red was a dull red, even a Kirk TWOK uniform red, rather than the bright color of the 'shop job, it might look okay. As depicted though, yeah, I don't think it works.

(Mind you this is coming from the "not even doing the costume" peanut gallery, so take it for what little it's worth....)

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Jay Pennington

The only other red available is maroon... which is airborne.... and I tell you... I'm not opening that can of worms.

Yeah only a crazy arse SOB would jump from a perfectly good aircraft.

Oh WAIT.

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SFC
Michael Larson
Minnesota-USA

A03/TQ1.0.92141E1

Ssgt I hate to say it, am I the only one, but I think the Red cap is wrong for the outfit. Just me but the color variation throws the focus of the outfit off. Where a persons primary focus of the outfit should be the tunic, the cover color stands out so much that it draws away to much attention. I say stick with White. The Original idea of the dress blues color variation was the have the colors of the American flag incorporated into the uniform itself. You've done away with the White, in the hat, and your pants are black, blues gone now too. Hmmmmmmmm.....

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If you accept pocket lint as a currency well I'll take it all!