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Dropship Pilot gear
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6653		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Coredeath [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Dropship Pilot gear
Where does one aquire dropship pilot gear? Dont say make your own! :lol: as I suck at making things, even with intructions. Im not sure what is included in dropship pilot stuff. Im guessing helmet, suit

Gloves?
Boots?

If I missed anything, where could I get them (on all) thanks
Author:  PVB [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Have a look in the Archives section and you'll find this:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2125 :wink:

Jungle boots are a suggested footwear.

There are a few threads on the helmet.

Patches available from various sources.

VP70 and holster a suggested accessory.
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Errrr..... Didn't the Dropship crew wear plain black boots?
Author:  SSgt Burton [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
As PVB beat me to it- A great place to start is actually using the search function. :wink:

Last year I put togethere a 98% accurate Dropship pilot- the only thing missing was the extra bits on the helmet. Here is the thread (with pics):

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4547&hilit=+dropship


I was going to mention in the other thread about cost- really cost boils down to how accurate you want the impression to be. Someone had mentioned that the cheapest, easiest uniforms would be a synthetic (Bishop) or a Dropship pilot. Well to a certain degree this might be true-

For instance let's take Bishop: all you would need is a dark blue jumpsuit with one Sulaco patch on the left shoulder right? Well if you wanted it to be accurate you would need a set of Reebok Bugstompers shoes as well. Those are RARE and would fetch probably hundreds of dollars on ebay (which would most likely be the only place you are going to find them). You might want to also grab a three way emergency flashlight- again the accurate ones are rare and only on ebay (if you don't come across one in a second hand shop).

My point is that a Dropship pilot might seem easy and cheap on the surface, but in reality can cost nearly as much as a decent rifleman impression.

Image

What you would need is an RAF MK 11 flightsuit. These are becomming more and more scarce. I was lucky enough to grab one off ebay in my size. Cost isn't huge with these, just finding one.

Next you need patches- a Sulaco and Colonial Marines patch on the right shoulder, an American (or British) flag on the left shoulder, your nametape above the right pocket, and a Victory By Wings patch above the left pocket (Ferro) or on the pocket itself (Spunkmeyer). The patches are available on ebay however accurate ones are best found by asking around here.

The boots- Ferro and Spunkmeyer did not wear jungle boots. They wore all leather combat boots (probably early Vietnam era US leather boots). I purchased a pair of black Corcoran jump boots.

The vest- it is a US issue M1969 flak vest; the same as Drake's. I already had one for my PIG Gunner impression so it does double duty for my Dropship pilot (the patches are incorrect on my vest for a DS pilot though).

The Helmet- an accurate one is a Gentex SPH-4 helicopter pilot helmet. Your best bet on finding one is ebay (a surplus store might have one so look there first- but they might charge a ridiculous amount due to it beomming rare as well). On ebay these can go from $100 to $400 dollars depending on the condition. I paid $285 for mine and it was in fairly good shape.

You can get a VP70 but you'll need a accurate holster from Men At Arms- I really don't bother with the VP.

For futher accuracy you need some 80s style mirrored aviator sunglasses- I bought mine for less than $20.

And to finish the impression I went with fingerless leather gloves. Ferro just wears one on her right hand but I didn't want to go with the Michael Jackson look. :wink:

Like I said the impression I made was about 98% accurate- and expensive. The cheap route would be-

Generic green flightsuit
Black leather boots
Generic flak vest (Israeli issue is a close copy)
No helmet

You could probably do it for less than $150 this way.

Hope this helps. :delta:

Kevin
Author:  PVB [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Ttaskmaster wrote:
Errrr..... Didn't the Dropship crew wear plain black boots?

I stand corrected. :oops: :D :wink:
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
And if you do find a helmet, you'll need the parts conversion kit offered by Stephen210.
Author:  Coredeath [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
sounds pretty good, I'll have to check my local army surplus shop for this lot, thanks guys, *worships the all knowers*
Author:  clanger68 [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Image

You'll need a ships cat too! :P
Author:  Coredeath [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Aww kitty kat!!! *wants!!*

Flak jacket, with or without the padding/armour. Or just get the shell?
Author:  Russ Krook III [ Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Most people (except for the sadists) remove the armor and add thin (1/4" or so) foam padding
in place of the armor to give the vest a little bulk without the weight.

Russ
Author:  clanger68 [ Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Image

Quote:
(except for the sadists)


One sadist stepping up! :)

I left my armour in, the jacket kept its shape better.

You get used to the weight and heat...................eventually! :lol:
Author:  hellkat [ Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
I left my armour in also.
Author:  Scapey [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Masochist... Unless it was Mrs Clanger wearing it when you insisted on leaving the plates in ;)
Author:  Coredeath [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Thanks for all the help guys, now to the busniess of finding the stuff lol, I tried both my local and one out of town surplus shops today and they only did desert flight suits, no flak vests, and £137 black boots lol, how hard can it beeeeeeeeeeeeee!

But alas, I shall keep looking
Author:  PVB [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Coredeath wrote:
Thanks for all the help guys, now to the busniess of finding the stuff lol, I tried both my local and one out of town surplus shops today and they only did desert flight suits, no flak vests, and £137 black boots lol, how hard can it beeeeeeeeeeeeee!

But alas, I shall keep looking

eBay is your friend. :wink:
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
So too are Sabre Sales in Southsea.... which is where I got mine from.

I take the armour out if I'm on the bike - Saves packing space.
Author:  Coredeath [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
I found this on ebay (mods I apoligise for putting an ebay link here but I cant add topics on the PX yet)

Its a flak vest shell, and was wondering if its worth it or not for the dropship gear, Im unsure as to get it or not as I dont know if you can put foam in it or if it will match the colour of the flight suit if I ever find one. Your thoughts please?

[eBay link removed as per board rules]
Author:  Harry Harris [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Sorry Coredeath, our rules here state that there's to be no linking to live auctions. That applies to the PX section as well, unless the auction is yours and you're selling the item.

The forum rules can be read here.

Harry
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
I can't see eBay on my PC here at work, but I think that linked to Israeli Body Armour.

If I understand, some people use that as an alternative to the exact SA version, yes.
I use a British Mk1 Flak Vest, myself.
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
You'll also need a tanker style holster and VP 70.
Author:  SSgt Burton [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Coredeath wrote:
Its a flak vest shell, and was wondering if its worth it or not for the dropship gear, Im unsure as to get it or not as I dont know if you can put foam in it or if it will match the colour of the flight suit if I ever find one. Your thoughts please?


I didn't get to see the auction before it was pulled but for what it is worth- my vest is just the shell. And I wouldn't worry about the colour of the vest matching the flight suit. I have a screen accurate flight suit and vest, and they don't match either.

Kevin
Author:  Coredeath [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
The guy was asking a tenner for it, should I just go for it?
Author:  Coredeath [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
and another thing, can it be any old olive green flight suit?
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
I think you should go for it. A tener is what, $20 USD? And this is for a flak vest shell?
Go for it.

The flight suit is of British origin, I can't remember the make/model, but I'm sure someone will post it. I, however, used an American flight suit, it works fine with me.
Author:  Russ Krook III [ Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dropship Pilot gear
Quote:
and another thing, can it be any old olive green flight suit?


Yes. We won't kick you out of the group for not having the exact, screen accurate
atttire like some other groups will. Aspire to as accurate as you can afford and upgrade when you
can or if you want to.

For myself, I prefer to be as close as possible, but sometimes the finances (and item availability) win out over that idea.

I gave up on finding the right size UK flight suit (RAF MK11) ages ago.

From the archives: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2125

Others have gone completely "Expanded Universe" with their costumes, using different camo patterns
and custom armor paint schemes.

It's all good as long as you stay with the theme of the films, you should be okay.

Russ
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