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Belt Tool decisions! Tough calls, but now DONE(ish)
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13070		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  bigbisont [ Tue May 14, 2013 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Belt Tool decisions! Tough calls, but now DONE(ish)
So what kind of color are you guys rocking on your belt tools these days?

This weekend I pulled out my original '1984 secret spy' single barrel pop gun I got a few weeks back and 2 of the 4-barrel versions Dropship Bob hipped us to from the BigZoo.

Image


I'm torn between BB (or BB substitute in this case), OD Green or rolling with simple black. So I blasted one of each!

Image

Still torn though as that didnt help me decide. They each have their cool factor. I dont want to get too heavy into weathering them and "finishing" them until I decide. I do want them to be the same as I fear I would look a bit silly rocking a rainbow belt tool lineup...so I need to chose...

Anyone with thoughts/pics on your own setup?
Author:  SGT KITTEN [ Tue May 14, 2013 6:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would say either green or black. I haven't had a chance to get my hands on a belt tool yet, but I think the green would match the screen look and belt/straps better. I believe that Vasquez's "tool" (as the smartgun battery) is black.

Charlie
Author:  SSgt Burton [ Tue May 14, 2013 6:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
Mine was originally black, however I recently repainted it a BB substitute.

But I found that my substitute is a wee bit too light to be truly BB, so I'm going to give my Belt Tool a blackwash to tone it down.


So to give you a straight answer ( :wink: ), I'd go with BB.


Kevin
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Tue May 14, 2013 6:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Here's another choice to blow your mind further...gun metal!

But of the ones you have, I'd go with BB. Nice work! :)
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue May 14, 2013 6:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
OD all the way baby!

But if you want your kit to match I guess BB makes the most sense for you. Your PR is BB, and your helmet cam too if I recall correctly.

I see you painted the vintage toy BB, so what if you went a different route with the multi barrel ones? It would add to the mystery!
Author:  Moosh89 [ Tue May 14, 2013 8:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
I just got my 2 from BigZOO too!, and I came here to ask that same question!

I haven't taken them "apart" yet, but I have looked at a finished belt tool and theres the wire clip that holds the handle down (simple enough) but there was also a spring under the handle. Is that a found spring or what? Sorry if its a stupid question haha, but I'm heading to town so I want to get everything I need to get started on some projects! :)

Thanks!
Author:  SGM Baldwin [ Wed May 15, 2013 12:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
I see you don't know yet my thoughts on Brown Bess.
Author:  88reaper88 [ Wed May 15, 2013 9:50 am ]
Post subject: 
I'd go with a darkened BB
Author:  ilovethecorps [ Wed May 15, 2013 3:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'd go darkened BB or OD... But the same for all...
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed May 15, 2013 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
Yeah a good ol worn BB was the gut feeling all along. Retro pointed out the fact the "vintage/correct" one got the BB coat and it was no accident. I really did like what he did with his own though in OD. But also as he pointed out, most of my other gear has the BB sub color. 95% sold on BB at this point. Still will let it stew until the weekend...
Author:  nickdaring [ Wed May 15, 2013 5:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I like black or gun metal. Makes it look more like hitech equipment.
Author:  gunny63 [ Wed May 15, 2013 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
BB all the way
Author:  Magnus [ Wed May 15, 2013 8:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
BB with a wash...
Author:  88reaper88 [ Wed May 15, 2013 11:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Slightly off-topic so apologies in advance:

How do those pop-guns actually work?
Does the handle bit cock it or something?
Author:  bigbisont [ Thu May 16, 2013 12:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
88reaper88 wrote:
Slightly off-topic so apologies in advance:

How do those pop-guns actually work?
Does the handle bit cock it or something?


The two halves slide. The big notch in the middle has the 'front' handle when in tact (removed for this use), and you squeez the two handles together. As the two handles move closer together, the gray half slides into the black half where a spring is charged. At a certain point in the compression, the spring releases and sends a puff of air that launches a "gummi pellet". When you let go of the two handles the gray rear half slides back out into start position.

The old ones actually shoot really far. The new ones, predictably, are much less impressive. Much looser and weaker.
Author:  Major Gunn [ Thu May 16, 2013 12:30 am ]
Post subject: 
I am a fan of OD personally.
Author:  bughunt10 [ Mon May 20, 2013 12:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Is it possible to cut the 4-barrels off and glue back just the 1 barrel???

Are they the same width etc.?
Author:  Moosh89 [ Wed May 22, 2013 2:17 am ]
Post subject: 
the 4 barrel version is a bit wider on the end, you can see in bigbisont's first image at the top of this thread. I imagine you could make one barrel with a wider base though. Might be tricky
Author:  bughunt10 [ Wed May 22, 2013 10:53 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Moosh, yeah looks to be too tricky. Will just have to continue to search the globe for the one barrel model. Hudson definitely wears one of these (I think)?
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed May 22, 2013 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
bughunt10 wrote:
Thanks Moosh, yeah looks to be too tricky. Will just have to continue to search the globe for the one barrel model. Hudson definitely wears one of these (I think)?


'Belt Tools' are a prop that I disrespected and didn't care about for a long time, but now I have come to see them as extremely underrated. They are actually pretty key if you are building a "screen accurate" kit.

Hudson: x 1 on belt (left pelvis)
Hicks: x 1 on belt (right pelvis [and upside down?! Most others go barrel down. Hicks has barrel up])
Apone: x 3 on belt and strap (on each pelvis and one left strap)
Frost: x 3 on belt (two right pelvis, one on left pelvis)
Dietrich: x 2 on belt (one each pelvis)
Crowe: x 2 on belt (two right pelvis)

The smart gunners and Ski were the only ones to not have at least one.


Anyways, back to the original point. They are all painted the same color now, pictures to follow. The sticking point now, like for all props, comes down to weathering. "Kicked to crap" used....or "fresh out the box" clean? I'll be posting pics of both shortly (I love having more than one to play with!)
Author:  demoncase [ Wed May 22, 2013 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Re:
bigbisont wrote:
Anyways, back to the original point. They are all painted the same color now, pictures to follow. The sticking point now, like for all props, comes down to weathering. "Kicked to crap" used....or "fresh out the box" clean? I'll be posting pics of both shortly (I love having more than one to play with!)


For questions like that, I tend to look at archived images from troops in Vietnam: Look at the state of the smoke grenades and similar you see festooning the webgear of a groundpounder in country- they tend to be lacking paint and have plenty of bright spots.

The flipside of that is everything was new and box fresh once! ;)

Me, I'd try to match the level of 'ageing' on my armour set for this particular greeble.
Author:  SGT KITTEN [ Wed May 22, 2013 2:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I agree with demon. I wouldn't have them totally beat to hell unless your armor is too. A light dry brush with silver mainline highlighting the edges to give the feel of carried on your gear but not through a warzone. I always recommend start very light on the weathering and work your way up. It's always easier to add more than try to take away. When you hit that point where you want to add just a little more, stop and wait a day and see if you still want to do it. :)

Charlie
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed May 22, 2013 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
I'm a "too light" over "kicked to crap" man, myself. I'm not sure this will help anyone else but I slapped together this compilation when trying to decide.

Image


For most pics, its real hard to tell because the they are just not well lit or too far away, BUT...there is clearly some weathering. Varying amounts in fact. It looks to me like Hicks', Hudson's and Apones have the most weathering. This could well be because they got the most screen time. Frosts and Crows look a little more 'clean'.

The production photo of the prop is absolutely minty fresh. I can only assume it was taken prior to filming (and prior to weathering?)

Food for thought.
Author:  SGT KITTEN [ Wed May 22, 2013 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am beginning to see your point about the belt. I wasn't going to include it in my kit, but you've made a good argument about how it seems to be a pretty standard part of any marine kit.

Charlie
Author:  bigbisont [ Wed May 22, 2013 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Belt Tool decisions! Tougher than I thought it would be
And the 2nd draft is done! I need to paint the wire clip things I added but otherwise I am pretty happy for now.

I left the 'vintage' one in a little better shape than the other guys on purpose. Pics from a couple different 'lighting' effect below:

Outdoor (but in shadow)
Image

Indoor with camera flash
Image

Indoor (but near 'bay door' so lots of natural light)
Image

Overall, I may still tweak but am damn happy with the BB (alternative) paint on it. I think it was the right choice.
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