Ahhhh, I do remember now! Hmmm, yeah, I was purely looking on the pricing issue. I assumed if both coats are the same, and if we convert them into something else, that once we're finished will look similar, yet different enough it would be okay.

That's why I originally went for the beret...

As far as a garment that was originally issued to a Marine, yes, without a doubt it was. No question. Odds are the others on ebay were too. We could look at it this way, we continue to honor it, by converting it into something else. And, we prevent some goth/emo from getting it and doing worse...

(okay, so maybe that's stretching it...)

But, I really can't justify the extra cost if the two coats look the same. $385 vs $65. That's the whole difference between doing the outfit and not doing it at all. Depending on the cost of the hat, belt & ribbons, patches, delta pins, etc. we can drop the cost of the whole shebang to under $200.

That cost makes the potential to have several of us in full dress, rather then a few.

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Im with Wookieegunner....we need to establish a "HANDS DOWN" what were going to do...
My impression is...

Black jacket
Black Pants/Red stripe
White hat
White Belt


Is this what weve concluded?

Also, we need to establish if this will be a group buy, or are we going to purchase this stuff ourselves...risking the chance that it wont all match..just a thought. I prefer if its NOT going to be a group buy, we at least need to purchase from the same companies to insure that we match next year...

Derek

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Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

Totally agree there Rex!

I'm just concerned about getting the blessing so to speak.

And to make it clear:

-Black jacket red piping on collar/epaulettes
-Back pants, solid red stripe
-White service cap
-White belt (preferably the wide USMC style) with plain brass buckle

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Sounds reasonable to me... So, when will Dress Blues (or Dress Blacks?) night be..? Saturday? Sunday? I'd say Sunday.

I'm putting my vote on Kevin as keeper of standards for the uniform... once again, we don't want the "too many cooks syndrome".

Well, I can't speak for the Marines here but I certainly don't have any issue with someone using my old RAF No.1's for the basis of a costume and I'd be fairly certain that none of the guys I know would.
At the end of the day, on it's own it's just a piece of clothing.

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"The other Gareth"

I second that vote....

and Dom, its Dress Blacks and I agree, Sunday.

BTW...what do you guys think of this?? Since Dom had the coins done, could the same guy maybe make some emblem that we can put on the belt buckle?? So we wouldnt have to use the anchor symbol...like maybe the Screaming Eagle...


Derek

_________________
Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

As much as people are in love with the Delta... the screaming eagle has always been known as the "official" USCM emblem... so I would go with that.

I agree, the Screaming Eagle is the first symbol when it comes to Colonial Marines, the Delta a close second.

And as for Sunday...Sunday evening I assume? But, since we all usually go for Dinner on Friday and Saturday, why don't we wear them to dinner as well?

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Had the same thoughts about the buckle. I was playing around with a variation of the Screaming Eagle- nothing worth showing yet.

Should come up with something for the cap badge too.

With the jacket here's the thing: Are we willing to go with the Marlow White high collar jacket or not? It is very expensive, but would pretty much guarantee no flak about using genuine military issued tunics.

Rex has gone ahead and ordered a Dress Blues tunic that he plans on altering. If we are all going to look the same- really we'll have to follow suit. Otherwise Rex might be the odd man out (I'm just thinking out loud here).

Another option I've been looking into (although definitely not as cool as the Marlow White tunic) is a mandarin collar tuxedo:



These are readily available on ebay in whatever size we need (I can provide the seller's store link). $20.

The buttons could be switched out for brass. We could then look into having epaulettes/ front pockets/red piping added? Again just throwing ideas out there.

Much like Rex, money is a factor for me. Personally I like the Marlow White tunic. Finacially, I'd like to do what Rex did. However I do feel a strong obligation not to offend the real USMC. (And please don't think I'm saying that Rex doesn't feel the same way toward the USMC).

Need some feedback from our Marines here.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Hmm, I'm not sure the cut would be right.
But obviously cost is a big factor. I can totaly relate to that!!!

I can't honestly understand why there should be any offense taken by using an old issued uniform jacket.

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"The other Gareth"

No, this won't do... I military tunic will need pocket flaps IMHO or else you'll just end up looking like a 21st century James Bond.

Here's a source for numerals, thans to Derek for the link...

Sgt Grit Ribbon/Medal Accessories



I'll see if we can get ribbon made cheaply.

Fair enough!

However I think you just gave me another costume idea. James Bond in outer spa... Oh wait that was Moonraker.

Or Outland.

Sooooo... Marlow White?

Oh just to throw it out there- this is the idea I was toying with for the belt buckle (maybe cap badge?)--



Like I said- just an idea. A diving eagle in front of a starfield. Personally with the background silver and the eagle gold, I think it would look supercool. Doesn't have to be exactly like I posted- just a rough idea of what I'm talking about.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Hey, are you accepting the nomination of standard keeper? Look a little higher.

Sure.

What's it involve?

So basically I make sure everything is the same? Like making sure we all purchase the same tunic, same cover, same belt, etc?

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

And making sure you keep up with the "official" uniform regs. For example black tunic or blue.


And just to throw an idea out there. When I was working on my Service Uniform one thought I had was to get a white service cap and then JB Weld (a high strength epoxy) a pin back to the Delta side of my spare bronze challenge coin, using the Eagle side as the cap decoration.

Don't know if Dom could get a run done of the bronze challenge coin, single sided or not.

Minimum order is 150... I'm not covering that... I still have gold ones to sell off.

Sleeping on a pile of money with many beautiful ladies.

Dont blame you...maybe we'll think of something else..

Also, who was it that made the Delta/20th Ann. Pins last year??
Maybe we can get another run of the Deltas...


Derek

_________________
Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

Uhhh.... Mike Rush I believe? He made a run of 100 as I recall. I'm sure he could get that much interest. I managed to nab two of them for when I was using them as collard dogs on my Charlie shirt.

Well, this is looking like a lot of fun!

I didn't intend to jump the gun but when that jacket was my exact size, and $69- shipped, couldn't resist.

If I'm the odd man out, so be it, but if you guys feel really strongly about everyone having the same jacket, not a big deal. I can't justify it, to be honest guys. Just can't. I'll buy you all a round, but just can't go there. I'd just soon give this jacket away as cause any strife in the Corps. I'll bow out before that happens


Look forward to seeing how it all turns out!

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

The Delta pins Mike Rush made in 2004 were a (very) limited run of 50. Not sure if he would be willing to make a second run of the coloured Deltas as it pretty much negates the point of them being limited editions.

Maybe we could get them done again in gold? Like what real EGAs would be on a uniform?

Rex- I don't know what to say man. I certainly don't want you to be left out. And I don't want you to give that tunic away.

This project certainly has a head full of steam (in a good way) but for now I think we should take our foot off the gas for a bit.

Yes we should have ourselves all look identical. However I think at the same time we need to find a balance between this being as if we are an actual military unit with ridged rules and regulations and just having fun- which is what we costume for right?

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I fully agree with that one... ideally, we would need these as collar dogs and buttons.

It's all good bro! I just don't want to cause any dissension within the Corps. I like the full steam ahead, that ensures that it gets done.

But, I don't want also to upset any of our USMC brethern. I looked at it at the most basic way. Buy a custom made jacket and have it look like a Marine Corps dress jacket, minus the buttons, stripes etc.

It would then look exactly like a real US Govt. Issued Marine Corps dress jacket that had the buttons, stripes, etc. removed.

Sooooo then, who can then tell which is which?

You see where I'm going with this right?

Yes, we would know.

But to anyone that might potentially be offended if we use a Marine Corps actual issue jacket as opposed to what is basically a re-creation of an actual Marine Corps jacket, how do we, how does anyone discern the difference? The Colonial Marines badges, pins, ribbons and patches.

They will look alike.

We utilize our costuming skills in a USCM way that makes the outfits similar, but very, very differerent.

Should I do this, and my jacket offend someone, I'll strip nekkid, throw it the trash and walk back to my room.

Well, mebbe not all the way nekkid...

It's purely a cost standpoint for me bros. Nothing more, nothing less. Minimum bid was $25.95 At that price, there may be alot of these going unwanted. And then what happens to them? Do they end up in some thrift shop?

Or, do they live on? Reborn into something else...?




But hold back? Naahhhhhh, let's keep it rolling!

Last thing we need is last minute details before DragonCon. Lead times for custom patches, pins, badges and ribbons.

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Personally, I dont think anyone would be offended..Im my years of costuming, Ive had military guys come up and comment on the Colonial Marines gear...saying that they wish their armor was that cool, or they wished they had a "gun like that".
Even my neighbor, who is Army and has served in the Sandbox, saw me putting on my helmet cover the other day and really liked the pattern of our BDUs.

Im willing to bet they would consider it a "nod" to the real deal...just my opinion...and experience.


Derek

_________________
Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

I've been doing some searching to finding a less expensive alternative to the Marlow White jacket-

Came up with this:

http://www.siegelsuniforms.com/?link=2&subcatid=315&catid=6&prevcat=

It's a bit less expensive (just $50 bucks less).

Really a real Dress Blues tunic would be the least expensive option.

The question is how much alteration would have to be done to it before it no longer is considered Dress Blues?

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Because I'm still confused. I thought this was the last post involving uniform specs that we were following. In it the jacket is black. Now we are discussing the jacket Rex picked up, which I am assuming is blue. So are we doing a black one or a blue one?