As this beast comes together I wanted to get some feedback etc. I'm not probably breaking new ground with any of this, but I'd still like to document the process.



So I went with Polish camo as it was in my price range, and with it came a lot of details that needed fixing. I removed the bottom two pockets from the shirt, the buttons and tabs from the sides, and fixed the collar into a Mandarin style (not anywhere near as hard as I'd feared it would be). I had to raise the top flaps on the remaining pockets a little bit as the pair of USCM patches weren't going to fit otherwise. You will notice that is my modified ship patch for the USS Conrad.

The name tapes are from Camotech. After watching the behind the scenes interview with "Apone" a few times I noticed that the tapes go a little bit above the top of the pocket, not directly above as I had first believed.

The shoulder patches are also positioned based on Apone's. The Weyland-Yutani garment label comes courtesy of HORPAT Industries (thanks Aaron!) and is such a nice added bit of detail.

For the moment I've left the added material on the sleeves alone as I plan to leave them rolled up, but when I have a chance I will seam rip them too to make the sleeves less bulky.

I still need to move the right leg pocket on the pants and then my BDU's will be complete. Comments or concerns at this stage? I'd love to know now if I've messed anything up! Hopefully I can get a photo taken soon of me in the uniform so folks can see how the shoulder patches look (they seem strangely placed in the photo above).

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

looking good

_________________
"I am the ULTIMATE BADASS , state of the badass art"
Alpha squad. Burton's Bandits

Too 'new' for my taste personally (I like a used look myself) but your doing great so far.
Aaron's tag looks brilliant, really sells it as a real-world item

_________________
AKA: Simon

Love it. If you roll the sleeves more Marine Corps style, the'll fit better and look better. Don't worry about them being "bulky" because fixing that is all in the technique. I can show you in person. No need to take material out of them as a work-around.

_________________
BANNED USER

Thanks guys!
Simon: any techniques you have used to break in uniforms would be of interest! I got a second name tape for the back of my helmet and distressed that with a serrated knife (to fray the edges a bit), coffee and a touch of brown ink (photo coming soon).
Aaron: Much as I would love to have you show me in person, I'm not going to be at DragonCon and I live on the wrong coast for an impromptu visit! Is there a YouTube tutorial or something that I could learn from?

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

It's a skill... It's hard to learn it from watching a video, but here's the best one I could find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSy-344m-Xw

Lay your uniform out flat. Get the wrinkles out.

Rolling sleeves depends on your uniform size and your arms.

Your first fold will be the cuff length, but a fake uniform might not have the right cuff length for a USMC style rolled sleeve. The first fold should be 3 fingers thick, and the last fold should be 4 fingers thick. You should have 5 or 6 folds by the time you're done. They should also hug your arm tight, but not so tight that they cut off circulation.

Each time that you roll, your sleeve up, think of it like folding. You want to smooth out each roll and get it as flat as possible. Upon each other fold, keep your fingers and thumb holding the existing folds together. This will help keep wrinkles out.

When you're done, try it on. If your sleeve are too loose, you'll have to do it again. This time lay the uniform flat down facing the deck. Then fold the upper/top part back up so it's facing up. Your crease should be at the bottom edge of the sleeve, across the center of the chest. Depending on your needs, you may want to have a 1/4" or 1/2" of the bottom edge of the sleeve folded up in the sleeve roll... Also depending on your arms, that fold should run half the length of your sleeve, up to the full length of the sleeve. You will have to keep this extra fold tight, maintaining pressure with one hand at all times while doing these folds.

When your sleeves are tight and crisp, they would only wrinkle or bunch up when you curls your arms up, if at all.
Now you should have the sharpest sleeves in your section! OOH-RAH DEVILDOG!



Also, your local Recruiter may be kind enough to show you how. He's just down the street.

USMC Recruiting
242 Bath Road
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 729-0067

_________________
BANNED USER

Hot damn, I think I'll swing by the recruiting office tomorrow morning. They'll either think it's cool and help or they'll slam the door in my face. Here's hoping they're Aliens fans!

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

As promised, some shots of the blouse on me. First, one from straight on:



Now the left sleeve:



And now the right sleeve:



How is my patch placement?

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

The best way to break kit in is....... WEAR IT!
Do the housewok in it, sleep in it, go for a run in it, basically over use it for a week or so and it'll have a good used 'vibe' to it.
Wear it, wash it, repeat

But remember military uniforms get replaced easily so don't go mad with it.

_________________
AKA: Simon

I did the same thing with Polish camis. The only difference. Is i have pockets on the shoulders but i made it work. Thanks for sharing mate.

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

Matt: do you have any photos? I'm curious to see the difference.

Simon: I'll start wearing my BDU's to the gym!

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

No USMC offices here, so I used the YT vid.

Before and after pic:

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Retrogarde, could you at all possible replace that top button with velcro? That'd make it more "Screen Accurate".

PVB, that's a heck of an improvement! You went from Army-ass to Gunny-roll.

_________________
BANNED USER

Aaron: velcro is a great idea. I'll do that tonight. I tried to find the recruitment office today but they seem to have moved. So , with PVB's photos giving me confidence, I used the YouTube link as well. Suffice it to say my sleeves are *much* improved!

So is the screaming eagle patch on my right sleeve placed high enough? I haven't sewn it in place yet, so I can still move it if I need to.

Also, I ended up taking the extra material off the sleeves, and I think I may have enough material for... a helmet cover. ( viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11460 ) I'm torn on that one as I just put in a bunch of work making mine, but how cool would it be to have the helmet cover match my BDU's? Sigh...

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

Looking at the SU BDUs on Harry's site, they look fine:

http://www.harryharris.com/tunic.htm

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Admittedly, they were just rolled up before, rather than any attempt at folding them up in stages.

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

I'll post them tonite

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

heres my modern uniform top . just have to get my name tape .

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

Matt: I'm jealous that your Sulaco patch and the arched patch beneath it (runner?) fit without needing to modify the pocket height. Name tapes through Camotech are easy and cheap, they do great work!

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

I've moved the right pocket to the front:



There is a seam at the knee that made it really easy to line up with the left pocket, so this was a very simple modification.

I'm still going to put a small piece of velcro in place of the top button on the blouse, but other than that the BDU's are as screen accurate as I can make them!

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

Looks very cool guys! Congrats!

_________________
All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!

Two quick shots of how things are progressing. First, the right side:



Now the left side:



Since taking these pictures I have cut into the helmet another 1/2 an inch so that the "ear defender" lines up with my ear better. Also, a pair of Spat-made lobster plates are on their way courtesy of a fellow CM.

I made a cover for my helmet entirely out of spare material from the Polish camo blouse and it turned out pretty well I'd say, except the material really is too thin and I had a tough time around the helmet camera. Luckily, a screen accurate cover is on the way from HORPAT industries, so I will be replacing this one. Sure it won't match my BDU's, but a painted helmet wouldn't have either!

I'm making a Medic's uniform so I put a Caduceus on the helmet strap just like Dietrich had.

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

Looks awesome retrogarde

Helen

Thanks Helen! It's getting better, bit by bit.

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

Looking great! The collar is the real kicker once you got that going.

And BTW, ladies, I've been selling retrogarde a bunch of stuff, and he's on the ball getting his uniform and gear squared away!
Kudos and Delta!

_________________
BANNED USER