The Aliens Legacy
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My (no longer) micro-budget Dropship pilot
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12056		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  My (no longer) micro-budget Dropship pilot
I really hadn't intended to do a Dropship Pilot impression, but when I happened upon a helmet it just seemed like it was worth considering. Here's where I've gotten so far:

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All the patches are on, but I've got to fix that collar:

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Looking at the photos of Ferro on Harry's site I see that she had hardly any collar at all, so I'll need to modify that. I'll be doing a screen accurate nametape (i.e. Sharpie lettering) as I don't feel like ordering more nametapes from Camotech at the moment.

The ship patch on my shoulder is the oversized Sulaco patch I modified into a USS Conrad patch a few months back. On the shoulder it doesn't look as outlandishly large as it did on the front pocket of my BDU's.

The real work will be in making that helmet screen accurate(ish). I'm not going to kill myself over every little greeble on the sides, but I do want to match it as closely as I reasonably can.

Has anyone made a cast of the recreated helmet sides? That would be one option I suppose. My first job is to recreate the front plate. I'm not going to worry about the smoked part that pulls down, but the plate is a must. Looks like a plastic mixing bowl would be a good place to start.
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Micro-budget Dropship pilot
damn dude! You are just a freight train of everything Aliens! Your juggling projects and knockin' em out like nobody's business. Cool stuff.
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks man, I've got another project primed to drop in the next day or so 8)
Author:  Russ Krook III [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 5:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Does your helmet have a boom mic?
I have an OEM arm if you need one. You'll still need the microphone and mounting hardware though.

Let me know if you need one, gratis.

Russ
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Russ: the helmet is just the shell, I'll need to find or fabricate all the eblls and whistles, so thank you very much! PM inbound.
Author:  Russ Krook III [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
No problem. I had to buy like a dozen of them just to get one, so I have a couple left.
Still haven't refurbed the spare helmet I have either. Should get on that one of these years...

Look at eBay for parts, also check out I believe flighthelmets.com or flightsuits.com.

One of them sells parts for the SPH-4 helmet.
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sweet!
Author:  Hudson [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Excellent start. Good luck!
Author:  CPL Vengeance [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Micro-budget Dropship pilot
Yea i have all the patches, the jumpsuit, boots, pistol belt, vp70, holster, pulse rifle. I just have to put it all together. Got comicon next weekend. gotta be squared away. I hope i can win this helmet in time.
Author:  J2H [ Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:31 am ]
Post subject: 
What boots do you wear
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:30 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm probably sticking with my black and green jungle boots, but I believe Dropship Pilots may have worn all black in the film. Pretty sure Ferro did at least as all the female Marines wore black. Bigbisont is the expert though!
Author:  bigbisont [ Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
retrogarde wrote:
I'm probably sticking with my black and green jungle boots, but I believe Dropship Pilots may have worn all black in the film. Pretty sure Ferro did at least as all the female Marines wore black. Bigbisont is the expert though!


Hey, I'm trying anyways! But yeah, everything I have been able to gather shows the females, Gorman, and the drop ship flight crew all wore black leather combat boots. Everyone else had the OD jungle.

I also read an article on the footwear of Vietnam era chopper pilots and it was clear they would never wear the same boots the troops on the ground would use. Their boots would have less intense patterns on the bottom to avoid hanging up on the foot pedals and stuff like that. Black leather combat/jump boots seem the best choice for the pilots.
Author:  gunny63 [ Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Micro-budget Dropship pilot
aliens is heavily nam influenced, alot of helo pilots wouldnt wear the jungle boots cos they were worried about the nylon parts melting on them and they felt that leather is more protective,
Author:  demoncase [ Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Micro-budget Dropship pilot
bigbisont wrote:
retrogarde wrote:
I'm probably sticking with my black and green jungle boots, but I believe Dropship Pilots may have worn all black in the film. Pretty sure Ferro did at least as all the female Marines wore black. Bigbisont is the expert though!


Hey, I'm trying anyways! But yeah, everything I have been able to gather shows the females, Gorman, and the drop ship flight crew all wore black leather combat boots. Everyone else had the OD jungle.

I also read an article on the footwear of Vietnam era chopper pilots and it was clear they would never wear the same boots the troops on the ground would use. Their boots would have less intense patterns on the bottom to avoid hanging up on the foot pedals and stuff like that. Black leather combat/jump boots seem the best choice for the pilots.


It's not true that 'Nam chopper pilots never wore jungle boots- some did, prefering the comfort/breathability that the canvas and vents gave in the hot climate....But they had to swallow the risk of melting in a fire situation. Likewise, the issued nomex copy of the standard tropical uniform was not popular as it was very hot to wear.

If you look at (say) Shelby Stanton's seminal book on Vietnam War uniforms, you'll see a LOT of group pictures of pilots wearing a mix of the (authorised) black leather combat boot, DMS and (unauthorised for flight crew) jungle boots....Further, pilots tend to get a lot of leyway sooner that ground troops when it comes to variation in their chosen equipment- this is mostly due to pilots having more access to the juicy stuff from the base areas they flew to.

From a US Marine perspective, they persisted with the all leather DMS combat boot in Vietnam due to a combination of supply chain issues and the perception that the DMS boot was simply smarter in appearance....Likewise, even in the Army and Navy, you would see the all leather boot worn by base/command personnel with the Fatigue uniform, even in units where everyone had ample issue of Jungle boots to go with the Tropical Combat Uniform that was used in the field- it was authorised wear and perceived that the all leather boot looked 'neater'. Some went the whole hog and bought an extra pair of dress Corcoran Jump Boots in black at the PX.

How I believe this cascades upwards to Aliens- and in particular Gorman is that his uniform is close to based on the standard Fatigue sateen uniform you see on command staff, base personnel and (dare I say it) is synomous with the REMF in the rear with the gear....Note how different it is to rest of the platoon's gear- sensible officers during Vietnam wore the same gear as their NCOs and troops to reduce the risk of being picked out as a target of oppurtunity- not even wearing rank insignia and carrying the same load of ammo and an M16.....The difference in uniform and equipment is another little touch to mark Gorman out as someone not in tune with his sub-ordinates, his role and still too 'green' to really command in the field.....Something that would be clear to most Vets watching Aliens during the 1980s.

Or that's how I see it. ;)
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
So here's an update: I've got a set of Stephen's side greeblies coming, I just won a GENTEX visor housing on evilbay, and Russ thinks he might have a spare OEM arm for the mic. I have the woven cable already, and a set of headphones to cannibalize for the ear pieces. I'll need to improvise the rest of the interior and the mic itself unless I find one cheap. This became a bit of a splurge all of a sudden for me. I blame J2H!! 8)

Then there's the question of markings or graffiti. Still loving what Mole did on hers, but I also like one I saw on the RPF that just had a stenciled number on the front. Super generic and fun!
Author:  Noble [ Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Micro-budget Dropship pilot
I have an inner helmet web suspension liner, if you need that.

It is not accurate, but it will do the job.
Author:  J2H [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:13 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm watching a boom arm on "that large auction site"
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Noble: that would be great! PM inbound.

J2H: good luck!
Author:  J2H [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
I need the inner suspension liner, boom mic/arm, and the visor control knob widget...

ALSO... what boots are recommended? I keep finding Rothco, but I hear they may be substandard
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
My Gentex visor housing arrived, and came with a visor! It's clear, but i may try some of that spray-on window tint to make it dark.

So I don't have the bells and whistles for attaching the visor housing to the helmet, so I've improvised. This black foam came with some sort of electronic device, possibly my XBox? I traced it out and cut it down to size. With a coat of OD paint it should look pretty spiffy.

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With a few bolts I've attached it to the visor housing with room to attach it to the helmet.

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Here'a the front of the housing. I'm still deciding on what to put here. It's such a nice big space, it sort of screams "draw on me!".

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More updates coming soon. I just bought the microphone mouthpiece for $7 on eBay. The seller still has nine more if anyone is looking! :delta:
Author:  J2H [ Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lookin' good
Author:  Hyde [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:49 am ]
Post subject: 
love your build threads dude
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Two photos of the helmet, visor, and visor housing (mostly) attached. I've got to say, this build is making me really nostalgic for my youth. I first saw Aliens in '89-'90 when I was about 12 or so. I had this beat up old helmet even back then and would wear it when my best friend and I would play Colonial Marines with our Lazer Tag rifles. Somehow I never noticed that it actually was the right helmet for the pilots! Over the years I've almost gotten rid of of it a few times and always thought better of it at the last second. So seeing this thing come together is making me damn proud.

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I took the helmet to my local hardware store and I think we have a solution for the visor knob. Pics coming soon!
Author:  J2H [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good to see more drop pilots aboard
Author:  cosmo_kraemer [ Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Very nice looking. with all the DS talk on here makes me want to make one...
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