Hi marines,

I'm another new guy and would like to share where I am so far with my USCM armor and gear. Here's a quick pic to show the basics:


PR is a working Airsoft TM with Matsuo shrouds, old Hyperdyne counter, HCG grenade launcher and a noble sling. Ignore the cable, there is no invisible way to store the Airsoft battery...
Real Reflecta lamp, real HAMA slide viewer, steel helmet, fake repro boots (real ones are in my ebay watch list, i have big feet ).
Helmet components (ear piece, mic, Pentax 110) will follow ASAP. Soon I shall get my resin Gerber and grenades, but we're looking into machined alu grenades.
All cloth parts (uniform, patches, pouches) and the "suspenders" will follow once I can spare a couple more pennies.
Oh, and the brackets are self made from aluminium.

I am just now starting to paint the camo with the correct Humbrol paints, that's gonna be something... wish me luck.

Here's a pic of my action figure collection, and thanks to NECA, this might just expand very soon:


Criticism is most welcome, I am still quite new to all of this!

Welcome! Looks like you're off to a great start!

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Good luck , can't wait to see your finished armor !

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

Welcome again Dennis.
Looks great. More than "just" a start.

Do you plan to build a Motion tracker?

Let me know if you need help.

Cheers,
Frank

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Awesome start!

I think it was discovered recently that the boots used in the film were in fact reproduction boots! So there's a few pennies saved right there!

Welcome by the way!

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Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

Really great looking pile of goodies there!

Are you planning to reproduce a specific Marine from the film, or make up your own? Both are cool, I'm just interested in what people choose to do.

Welcome!

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

Welcome aboard!

Nice clips bud. I shall be speaking to you later.

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You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

My thanks go out to Chef, who was beyond awesome in helping me out. Wouldn't be here if it weren't for him, so thanks mate!

I'm looking into doing my own version Marine, but everything so far is based (as close as I can get it) on Wierzbowski's armour, bracket and rivet placement and such. Also the camo pattern will be mostly Wierzbowski, but I will stencil my own name on it I guess.
Haven't decided on grafitti and "motto" yet, but I have some ideas.

I will indeed build a motion tracker, finding the Hama stuff is quite easy here in Germany. I will probably go with a Nickatron kit for the base body, though.
Great thing about the boots, but my repro ones just look off compared to screen grabs, so they have to go eventually. Better than nothing for starters, I reckon.

Thanks for the warm Welcome, girls and guys!

Oh, forgot to take a pic of the torso front, here ya go:


And just for kicks, here's my hand made shoulder lamp brackets:

@moosh89: you were recommended to me by Matt Noble, he asked me to contact you for patches. That I just did, so...
Did I mention I am in dire need of screen accurate patches?

Sweet kit. I dig your username too. Looks familiar.

Looking great! I love the OD armor.

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PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

I too dig it, but it's just a base coat.

@Obiwan kowalsky: great minds think alike!

One question regarding the green for the camo pattern: I did try Humbrol 80 and it looks too vibrant and grassy to my eye, so I am now trying my luck with Humbrol 30.
Any experience with what is the best choice after weathering? What did they use for the movie gear?

Humbrol Paints ( you can find the reference picture if you use the search function)
No. 147 - Light Grey
No. 91 - Black Green
No. 30 - Dark Green (matte)
No. 63 - Sand
No. 160 - German Red Brown
No. 33 - Black ( for the Name)

Suggestion for weathering: MIG Weathering Powder - P023 Black Smoke- 20ml Bottle.

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Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Here's some pictures of screen used suits without the obvious lighting and filming oddities.








30 in my opinion is just too dark.

As for weathering.

Terry used Stove/Grate polish on the suits to darken them down.

You can get it pretty readily on eBay.

But I use a combination of weathering powder (either MIG or Humbrol dark smoke) and then grate polish over the top.

_________________
You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

These are great suggestions, to quote Johnny 5: "INPUT! IIIINPUUUT!". Thanks guys!
Since weathering will considerably darken everything down, I will try my luck with Humbrol 80. Chef, you have me convinced, always great talking to you.

That is a beautiful pulse. I need to get building another one myself.

Congratulations, your gear look outstanding so far. If I could afford that I would order all the parts too. Good luck with the camo scheme. I think that's not an easy task but you did so such a good job so far, I'm sure you will get this managed too.

Thanks MandaloreSC!

I'm just in the middle of painting the camo patterns using as much reference as I can.
Intimidating to say the least, but I think it is coming along nicely.

Here's a quick pic of the camo so far, sand and light grey still to come, also "dirty" weathering and chipping:

Good progress!
What BDU do you plan to use?
Ping me if you're looking for sources.

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Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Dude, I see Demolition Man, Harry Potter, the Hangover films and Blade, where's your copy of Aliens??

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

It's with the other quality BluRays where it belongs. Also, got the DVD Quadrilogy with the additional bonus disc from back in the day.

What BDUs do you guys recommend? Spatcave seems like a good option for a newbie with a bit of research behind him, but I'd like to hear from more seasoned, experienced Marines. Also, I have just seen Chef's sample print and it looks good - European source FTW!

That is an awesome paintjob. The line work especially; it has a nice organic feel.

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"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."

Spat is the closest to screen accurate on the market. If you can find a set of MAA bdus in the PX, I would suggest those because those are 100% screen accurate. Another good route to go if you want to find something commercial is Polish desert camouflage bdus.

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PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

I was going to say that it better be in the DVD player.

Thanks, I am in the middle of doing the sand color today, and after that the light grey veiny thingies.
So SPAT is indeed a good way to go if a screen accurate look&feel is my aim? Have not yet heard or read about MAA BDUs, I take it they are no longer in production?

ALIENS is more often than not in the BR player these days. I put it in for reference and end up watching the whole flick again and again.