Well I just went through the entire thread and fixed all the links to my pics. WHEW!


So I'm happy to say that my Dress Blues uniform was a success at D-Con this year! Here are some very good pics:






And from the Parade itself:





So for the major changes here's a quick review:

The cover (hat):

The cover was originally a USMC Dress Blues white cover:




I removed the Eagle/Globe/Anchor device and replaced it with a custom USCM cap device made using a Challenge Coin:



The coin is attached to the cover with a screwpost and washer/nut combo:






The Tunic:




All United States Marine Corps insignias, and Eagle Globe Anchors (on the collar and buttons) were removed. The buttons were replaced with plain brass buttons. I gave the bottom pockets black buttons to create a bit more distinctiveness to the uniform steering it a little more away from genuine Dress Blues.

On the collar is custom Delta pins (you should be able to get a pair from Derek "CPL Smith" if he still has some left). Rank insignia are Army Dress Blue ranks. I permanently attached the Sulaco patch to the left breast pocket and the Screaming Eagle patch is above the left cuff. Dropship wings and campaign/merit ribbons finish off the impression.

The belt:



This is a white parade belt from Paradestore.com:

http://www.paradestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=92

Choose white belt, brass hardware, with eyelets.

Pants are my Star Trek TWOK pants.

Basically black dress trousers with a custom added 1/2" red stripe.

Shoes are Oxford style dress shoes.

White parade gloves round out the uniform.


Now Kerri has asked about a female version. The floor is open to suggestions and it's pretty much up to yourself. Personally what I envision is a black blouse with a black knee length skirt:




This is a proposed new USMC female Dress Blues (not sure if it ever became current or not). As for a cover I would go with the current female service cap:

(photo removed by me)

And switch out the Eagle Globe Anchor with a Challenge Coin.


Of course it's totally up to you!

Might be hard finding a genuine USMC blouse so you might have to find one that simply looks the part with a mandarin collar and have red piping custom added.

I look forward to see what you come up with!


Now there was also discussion of an alternate "B style" uniform (Derek Devildog was interested in putting this together).

The tunic and pants would remain the same. The cover would be a beret (black or red) and the belt would be a black leather garrison or Sam Browne belt.

Essentially it would look similar to this mock up:



(I'll take a better updated pic when I have the time to put my uniform on again ).

Best of success Marines!

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

Wow Kevin, looking at those pictures it strikes me how much integrity and "serious" fun your sheer presence brings to our fandom. Yet another reason why you truly deserve the MVM award this year.

_________________
Cpl. M. Constantineau - Ordnance Technician "Baldwin's Badasses"

Feel free to visit my website at http://wookiemart.com/

Okay, I'm ready to dive into this thread again... Kev, the uniform looked great!

I'm still firmly of the opinion the buttons should be silver. Perhaps gold for staff NCO's or something... but I was never a fan of leaving the buttons gold.

I'm also still a big proponent of the Sam Browne belt, which I think we agreed would be for the "B" uniform.

_________________
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

Just happened to snag a brown Sam Browne belt w/ strap off ebay today for only $18.00 Going to dye it black natcherly...

I like the beret too. 'course, you all knew that.

Since DD and I seem to be the only ones that favor this "B" style, what do you think about this opition- tucking the pants into the tops of dress boots- I don't know about the Corps, but Army Rangers do this, and I always thought that looked sharp

As for silver or brass buttons, I'm good either way on the "B" uniform-

Probably be my dinner wear...

_________________


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

Kevin, that first picture of the woman in uniform - what's that from? That's pretty much what I had in mind for the basic structure of the uniform, and any help I could get for a source on that would be GREATLY appreciated.

_________________
General all around pain in the ass and master of the overshare.
"...a geeky kinda dorky kinda nerdy kinda gurl...and I like it!"

UKCM FOREIGN LEGION:
"DEVIANT DRAGOONS"

It is a prototype of the proposed new Dress Blues for female US Marines (the real Marines ).

Unfortunately I don't think you're going to find these anywhere as I'm pretty sure this uniform never went into production.

The pic was from this page:

http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/ ... iative.ASP

Reading through the page- it looks as if the new design was voted down.


Kevin

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

It was voted down... thank god. The only difference between uniforms was the proposed addition of a mandarin collar for the female uniform.

_________________
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

Bah, it would have saved me a bit of trouble in having to restructure a blouse.

Oh, well.

_________________
General all around pain in the ass and master of the overshare.
"...a geeky kinda dorky kinda nerdy kinda gurl...and I like it!"

UKCM FOREIGN LEGION:
"DEVIANT DRAGOONS"

There are at least 5 USMC Women's Dress Blue "jackets" on Ebay for $4.99 starting bids...

_________________
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

A female Marine in blues in the colour party next year would be FCUKING awesome.

I agree!

_________________
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

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

_________________
General all around pain in the ass and master of the overshare.
"...a geeky kinda dorky kinda nerdy kinda gurl...and I like it!"

UKCM FOREIGN LEGION:
"DEVIANT DRAGOONS"

I know I'm something of an outsider, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT use a beret anywhere on any Marine uniform! Berets are army/air force/whatever headgear, and are a continuing source of ridicule by the Marines. Just my $0.02, but I feel pretty strongly about it!

SSgt, when to comes to the Dress Blues that you've put together, I'm going to pay you the highest compliment one Marine can give another: you look squared away. Well done.

Seeing that pic of you guys in the parade carrying the flag was especially meaningful today. You've done all servicemen and women proud.

Carry on,
HUMVEE Driver

Dave,

I really don't know what to say other than thank you! Your kind words mean a lot to me Bro!


Kevin

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

Unless you happen to be part of the real Marines, the Royal Marines that is.

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


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Not these Marines... berets are sexay.

Yeah, the French "Fusiliers Marins" have berets as well:





Of course, as far as dress uniforms go, they wear this:



Maybe we could go that way. Would make things easier for me - I still have one of those.

_________________

Hey Dom,
Does Canada have Marines?

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


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Nope. All infantry, ground, airborne or seaborne is done by the Army. We do it ALL baby! Although vessel boarding is done by the Navy itself.

OK, wasn't sure they hadn't, but heard they are thinking about it though?

Got me confused though now by what you meant by 'Not these Marines' with your military pic?

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


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

That was in reference to Colonial Marines.

Sarge

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


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Well I'm proud to say that I've lost enough weight to close the bottom part of my Dress Blues jacket! Woooooot!!

I've begun putting together my uniform. Ordered my ribbons, and won a cover off ebay! I'll be ordering the belt sometime soon. I've a pair of Dress Blues pants, kinda feel awkward about cutting the bloodstripes off the pants to reuse them. But, even though they are only $14.95 + shipping, it's money saved.

Kev, I can't remember the reasoning behind putting the Screaming Eagles patch on the left forearm instead of the right shoulder. I know there was a reason, and even though I went through the entire 37 pages of this thread I missed it.

Yeah baby! Been wanting to do this outfit for a lonnnnggg time!

_________________


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

It was because you can't fit both the Screaming Eagle and your rank on the same arm. Especially members with larger rank patches such as myself.

We debated and decided that just one rank on say the left arm did not look right. So the conclusion was to keep the rank on both the left and right arms, and move the Eagle to the left forearm.

And it's good to hear you are moving forward with the Blues!

Kevin

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

Ah-HA!! I knew you'd know!!
Yes, that does make sense, it would most assuredly get in the way of pretty much ANY rank patches! Damn, and can't really go with NO rank patches either. We do need to keep a sense of continuity.

That said, there still will be a smattering of differences on our unis, as I'll have the Cerebrus, not the Sulaco on my uni. I've never bothered much with ranks thus far, but this old fart, being the oldest Marine, I sure as hell ain't going to be a pvt!

btw, I have a present for you, Derek,Dom and Sean. I'm making something that will go on Dress Blues and Service C uni's. I talked with Derek about it already, and he thought it was pretty darn cool as well.

Feel free to PM me to find out what it is, otherwise I'll just have to surprise you at DCon!



Is the suspense building yet??

_________________


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