Just about nearly done! There are still a few little tweaks I want to make, but this is essentially what my Dropship helmet will look like.









I added a few water slide decals (just as I did with the belt tool and binoculars on my Rifleman build), did a bunch of aging, and added my last name just as Stephen210 did. Thanks to Mike Rush for the name stencil!

The graffiti on the right front lobe is courtesy of my friend Frank Wong from Hong Kong. I was having a heck of a time coming up with something as I've really been focused on my Rifleman build and didn't have a handle on who this Pilot even is. He suggested the motto from Bruce Lee's Jeet Koon Do (translating roughly as "using no way as way" and "having no limitation as limitation"). I then added the fist given that Jeet Koon Do means "way of the intercepting fist". Doing it entirely in sharpie gives it a nice Vietnam era feel.

What do folks think?

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

It looks awesome man. Amazing to see what you started with and where it ended up.

Charlie

_________________
"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Quick question: is the '09' too distressed? I wanted it to look utilitarian, but did I make it look sort of slapdash instead?

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

It looks like the edge of the stencil wasn't down and you had overspray. Me personally, I would have made them smaller and centered more, but that is just my preference. I've seen clear sharp lines on military stencils,and I've seen the blurry edges too. All depends on the look you wanted to achieve.

Charlie

_________________
"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

great helmet mate. Im putting mine together now. Very fun build. the 09 looks good but id give it a light sand to weather out the edges a bit.

This AMAZING helmet was my inspiration for the stencil:



Charlie: you called it. I hadn't accounted for the amount of curve there is in the front plate, and my stencil buckled in a few spots. I think I will try again (smaller), and see if I can get a better result. Also I should have checked my notes, I need it to say '06', not '09'. More on that soon!

Trigger Happy: indeed it has been a fun build! My blending skills leave room for improvement, but these pictures make it look worse than it does to the naked eye. I've added a few slight modifications just for fun, maybe I'll snap a few photos to highlight those areas.

As for the rest of the costume, I am going to draw inspiration from the Technical Manual and add a harness over the jumpsuit instead of a flak vest. I have a backstory simmering, so I'll no doubt justify all sorts of EU foolishness.

Trivia: the cloth part is from an L.L. Bean coat (as mentioned before), and the straps are from a military style purse my wife donated. The black rubber circle on the back of the helmet (pic. #3) is the top of an XBOX controller toggle. It came loose after a few days of playing A:CM so I snipped it and saved it, knowing I'd have a use for it eventually!

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

looking damn good cant wait for you back story.

_________________
SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

So here's the basic idea:



Flashlight (as seen in the Tech Manual), belt tool and quickdraw holster for my VP70 on a harness over the flightsuit. Notice the redone number on the helmet too! I think a belt with some small pouches might be needed too, but I'm just playing with it at the moment.

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

I like it. I do think it looks a bit empty, but then again, you're a pilot and wouldn't necessary have a lot of stuff getting in the way. Every type of load bearing harness I've used (esp for things like fall protection) has a belt though.

Charlie

_________________
"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Looking good so far.

In all honesty, not sure of those gloves though, to me it looks more like you are about to jump on a motorbike.

Martin

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


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

yeah i agree the gloves are off. you need to get a set of nomex flight gloves they would go great with this.

_________________
SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

Totally agree on the gloves. They make me look like a TIE Fighter Pilot. They will go with my deep salvage costume instead!

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

http://www.evike.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_737_148&products_id=28290 like i said i think these gloves would be a great addition to this

_________________
SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

Those gloves look pretty cool Chris! I also may go the Ferro route though.

So I got inspired by Yellowjacket's design and repainted my VP70. It's no longer SA, but it looked so plastic anyway I decided to just go for it and really make it a companion to my Pulse Rifle.

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

You got a vote for the "ferro" look out of me in regard to gloves. I also agree with the above posted comments about the need of a belt or something to break up the look a little. Love the 'sampling' from the Tech manual though. Damn cool man. Looking awesome!

Here's the Tech Manual pilot for comparison.



yup, I need a belt. I've got a few surplus options, but I think I want to stay with the plastic snap closure like Gorman and the Marines all used. Shouldn't be too tricky. Any thoughts on those pouches she's wearing? As i'd probably be belting lower I don't want anything that would make it hard to sit down.

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Airsoft ammo pouches?

Or maybe better (for price anyways) "flashbang pouches"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-New-Molle-S ... 19dcbe4b8e

(thinking I am not violating ebay post rules because item is 'buy it now' from online store with multiples available)

Lots of smaller options when you look for "grenade", "fragmentation" or "double pistol magazine" (single thickness pistol pouches probably too small) pouches too.

I've just had an idea: I wonder if I could attach my Rifleman belt and webbing to the harness?? All I'd need are a pair of clips at the top for the straps to snap onto. It would solve the belt issue and probably double my potential recognition quotient.

Thoughts? I'll try to snap a photo of the concept.

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

I like the harness!
That's something I'm intending to do with mine. Being a loadmaster a harness is virtually a given.

I also actually like the overspray on the stencil. It makes it look 'real' to me. I see military stenciling a lot. From the manufacturer it's usualy a nice neat stencil. Done locally there's usually a little overspray.

_________________
"The other Gareth"

Looking great Retro!

I like the over-spray on the helmet, kinda looks like a field mod.

You may want to make the life-jacket around the neck/shoulders, a bit of canvas stuffed with something and a strip of velcro for the seam should do

_________________
AKA: Simon

Funny you say that... I also toyed with a life vest.

_________________
"The other Gareth"

I just found this coat at the Salvation Army for $3.



It would probably make an okay Gorman overcoat in a pinch, but I have a more radical idea, what if I could make a Flak vest out of it? If I take off the sleeves and shorten the length I would have the basic shape all set as well as plenty of material for making the padded collar and wide placket down the front. I'm thinking two layers of yoga mat would give the rigidity I'd need. I have a bunch of spare waxed canvas with eyelets already in place that I scavanged from my work, so the lace up sides won't be hard to recreate. The detail I'll have the hardest time hiding are those slash pockets, but if I sew them up maybe it won't be too bad.

So am I crazy?

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Great job on the helmet! Love the fist and the stencil work .

_________________
Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

Keep it up!!

_________________
AKA: Simon

I am dubbing my handmade Flak Vest the "M78" as a way to acknowledge that it is different than the actual military surplus "M69", and also as a fun reference to the time period of Aliens (i.e. this Flak Vest was issued in 2178, a year before the LV-426 incident).

First things first, off with the sleeves! I'm saving these as material to make the padded collar and placket.



Next I cut off the bottom. I will actually be losing about three inches off the bottom of the coat, but I didn't want to cut too much too soon.



I'm using doubled up layers of yoga mat as my padding (shown here just getting the size right).



And here's what it looks like on. I need to make the collar, placket, side laces and sew the whole thing up still.



And what it would look like with patches on. These are just what I had on hand, not the final arrangement or anything. I didn't have my picture of Spunkmeyer handy!

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751