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From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12677		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:38 pm ]
Post subject:  From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
Because I don't have enough irons in the fire, I've decided to try to upgrade my BDU blouse to be more screen accurate.

When I'm wearing my armour all that shows of the blouse is the top of my rolled sleeves and the collar:

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So I thought, why not buy some SA fabric and just cover those areas? Sure, it doesn't replace a full blouse for pure SA awesomeness, but on a small budget it seemed worth a try. Spat sells 22" x 22" bandanas, so that's what I went with. Here's a comparison of the SpatCamo next to my HORPAT helmet cover:

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Aaron has always described his camo as more "brown dominant" and I'd say that is accurate. I'm pretty excited at the variation as I think it will add a sense of history to my character. What do other folks think?

Next up, making a pattern with scrap fabric. I can't stress enough how important this is!

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This photo actually shows a pattern that was not correct. So glad I hadn't just cut the Spat fabric right off the bat.

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So now I have sleeve covers and my new collar. I always keep my sleeves rolled on my BDU's, so the Spat material only needs to cover the 9 inches from the shoulder seam to just under the top fold of the Polish sleeve. I will sew it along the shoulder seam (which will then be hidden by the bell and tab of the armour) and inside the top roll. The flag and USCM patches will then be sewn on and the sleeves will be done.

One nice side effect of this will be that my rolled sleeves will have some camo showing on them instead of being all white. Sure it will be Polish camo, but it's still more screen accurate!

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Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Next up: the collar!

I ironed all the Spat fabric (as per his instructions) and turned the collar material inside out and drew my rounded collar pattern on it:

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From there it was just a matter of sewing it, flipping it inside out and edge stitching it:

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Next up: attaching the collar!
Author:  Osmotic [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
Dude don't you ever stop :D

Very inventive idea, love it!
Author:  bigbisont [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
your crazy man! Crazy like a fox.
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks guys. I'm saving up for some Spat trousers so hopefully by late Spring I'll be a well dressed grunt.
Author:  cosmo_kraemer [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very nice idea i migh thave to do this myself. later........cant wait for the next update.
Author:  Spatman [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice!
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
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So here's the collar just laid on top of the existing collar. I just wanted to see how it was going to blend. Not too shabby I'd say!
Author:  cosmo_kraemer [ Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
well hot damn that looks good......
Author:  SSgt Burton [ Sat Mar 02, 2013 2:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
This is one of the most innovative ways I've seen yet of getting some screen accurate BDUs!

Talk about thinking outside the box! Great idea! :delta:


Kevin
Author:  Revolver Ocelot [ Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Ha, would never of thought of trying this. Nice job!
Author:  retrogarde [ Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
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So here's a test fit with the sleeves. I removed the patches from the original sleeves and just put them back on with tape for this photo.

What do folks think? I'm really happy with how this looks. Sewing these patches down will be so much easier on a flat piece of cloth! In fact, I may give myself a battlefield promotion (for fighting on LV-426 ya know 8) ) and add a chevron under the flag. "PFC Matzke" has a nice ring to it.

I still need to do the actual sewing on all of this. My plan is to permanently attach the collar, but to hand stitch the sleeves as I may someday buy Spat's sleeveless BDU shirt and attach these to it! The real deciding point on that will be when I look at how much material is required to actually make the correct sleeve. If it is at all skimpy in the armpit it won't much matter here, but would probably make me save up the extra cash for a full sleeved Spat shirt.

Other random notes: the curve of the collar came from tracing a CD on the material.
For those trying to mix and match available camo with the new SA camo here's what I've discovered: the warm brown of Polish desert camo matches a little better with HORPAT I'd say, while Spat's Pattern C camo matches better with that Wrangler camo they sell at WalMart. I can do a side-by-side photo comparison later.
Author:  retrogarde [ Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
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Here it is: Aaron's, Spat's, Polish and Wrangler.
Author:  MattRendar [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Love those wranglers . I picked up a pair too. Great work
Author:  Harry Harris [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:46 am ]
Post subject: 
That's a genius idea retrogarde, nice one!

Harry
Author:  retrogarde [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 1:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Harry!

Matt: I've wondered about screen printing just the white frogs from the camo pattern onto the Wranglers. I have an old Goko printers so maybe I'll try that one of these days.
Author:  SgtTony [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:06 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm with Kev....very 'outside of the box' thinking. Nice job!!
Author:  88reaper88 [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Very clever solution, great stuff there buddy! :)
Author:  SGT KITTEN [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Very inventive work. I definitely wouldn't have thought of that solution with the sleeves.

Charlie
Author:  retrogarde [ Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
For those who think the neck mod looks too daunting, Spat does sell those neck guards that almost made it into the film. I'd forgotten about those too until I saw Magnus wearing one in his build thread. If you bought one of them then all you'd need to cover are the sleeves and a bandana's worth of material does that easily!
Author:  retrogarde [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
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Sewing on patches and giving myself that promotion I'd metioned. This chevron was my father's from his time in the Army during the 60's. I'll be distressing the flag a little to better match the fabric and chevron. The USCM patch on the right shoulder will get the same treatment.

Kinda bummed no one has commented on my helmet graffiti: "VENI VIDI VICI" and a list of planets my grunt has been deployed on.
Author:  PVB [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
retrogarde wrote:
Kinda bummed no one has commented on my helmet graffiti: "VENI VIDI VICI" and a list of planets my grunt has been deployed on.

Probably like I did, they may not have clicked on the images, as we were only looking at the camo pattern and you hadn't mention the writing on the cover. :wink:
Author:  retrogarde [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
I guess I was fishing for compliments 8)

"Does this camo make me look fat?"
Author:  Hollis DZC [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Polish to SA: a modest budget BDU conversion
VERY Creative ideas!!! That looks pretty darn good! Well done!!


Hey, nice helmet graffiti! :mrgreen:
Author:  Magnus [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:04 am ]
Post subject: 
Retro, you are a genius!!! I think I may try the same thing until I can save up for some SA bdu's.

How are you going to distress the flag badge? Btw, nice touch using your dads stripe...cool way to honour him.

I didnt click the pics either, just looked at the pics as is :(
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