So much for this thread.

Remember this story...

"I thought you guys were Canadian?"



EDIT- just to continue the uniform discussion:

Dom mentioned cost effectiveness. I don't want to go el cheapo, but at the same time- it's not a case of "sky's the limit" with cash for me either.

So aside from the jacket here are some cost breakdowns so far:

Cover: $25 (If we could hear back from Derek C. about this? )
Cover device: $13 (Challenge Coin from Dom)
Pants: $45 (Black dress pants-$25 Bloodstripe-$14 tailoring-$6 approx )
Belt: $61.50 (Sam Browne belt from paradestore.com)
Shoes: $40-$50 (leather Oxford dress shoes)

Total: $194.50

No patches, Delta pins, or shipping costs have been included.

Most likely a custom jacket would add roughly $300: $494.50

Or a USMC jacket for approx $100-$150: $344.50

Of course, these are rough estimates. Expect another $50 to $100 for shipping, custom patches, ribbons, miscellanious unexpected costs etc.

So USMC jacket option- $400 to $450.

Custom jacket option- $550 to $600.

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

The cover's been stretched for a few days now and seems great. Getting these is workable... just not in a huge bunch all at once. It has to be done... tactfully.

Are we decided on going with a Sam Browne belt? If so, with or without shoulder rig?

If we go with the Browne, that means there's no Screaming Eagle device on the belt buckle to mirror that on the cover. The question then is where to represent the S.E. on the main body of the uniform.... if at all.

Oh, I meant to mention the piping: It looks to me to be damn difficult to remove from the jacket. I could be wrong, as I'm not a tailor...

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

Glad to hear the news about the cover. Should we start a batting order?



I want to go with a black Sam Browne. Personally without the shoulder rig- but if most everyone likes it, I'll go with that.



Indeed- it would save on having to have a custom made Eagle for the buckle.



Hmmm... didn't think so. I was considering the possibility of dyeing them black (sound nuts?). Maybe they should be left alone (of course all depending on if we are going with a USMC tunic ).

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

Removing the piping will be tricky.

It will require cutting the stitching that holds the piping and edges of the fabric together, taking out the piping and then stitching the fabric back together.
It's not really viable without a sewing machine and will be a long job for anyone without alot of experience.

Dying them black is uncertain.
It depends on the type of fabric used as to whether it will even take the dye and because it's a strong colour (red) it will be more likely that the black dye simply turns it a sort of muddy dark red.

My suggestion would be to leave the piping. I do think the jacket would look better without the extra piping (as per the Marlow) but I don't think it's worth the time and trouble to remove it.

I'm also aware that I haven't sorted that photo tutorial for removing the cuffs yet... I've been busy all weekend judging a drill competition and now I'm getting ready for a visit from the Group Captain on Friday but this weekend I'm actually free for once so I'll give it a go then.

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"The other Gareth"

No hurry.

Is that Group Captain Mandrake?

(He's the only Group Captain I know... and a big cookie to whoever knows who he is as well).

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

No, a different Group Captain. There's a few of them

_________________
"The other Gareth"

Have some potentially quite exciting news on the jacket front...

Was talking to Cat last night (the gal that made the leather Savanna pouch replicas) and told her about our project.

She said w/ all the detail involved a custom jacket would cost as much as we've seen.


That said, she right away came up wtih this. Said it's really easy to take a regular suit jacket (NOT a double breasted version), take it to a Alterations shop, tell them what we want, convert it to a Mandarin collar. Either have them add the piping or we sew it on ourselves. You know how much I hate sewing, but the way she explained it, it sounded pretty darn easy!

I asked her to send me a email on all this, as I was mind boggled by the possibilities and knew I couldn't keep it all straight!

She's done Ren Faire outfits for years and years for folks on a "budget" and knows all the tricks for making something work from nothing.

One thing, we sure could get sizes we want much more easily!

_________________


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

The only problem I can see here is ensuring that we each purchase an identical suit jacket and that the alterations are done to identical specifications.

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"The other Gareth"

Welllll, yeah, while those could be a bit tricky,black suit jackets are plentiful, and if a material is specified... it may be worth pursuing, simply because of the cost factor...

_________________


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

Oh yeah, I agree it's worth looking into!

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"The other Gareth"

What the hell..we fell to page 2..



Derek

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


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

Good save Pvt Smith!!

Glad to see someone is on the ball!

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

Sooooo, no further comments on converting a suit jacket into one w/ a Mandarin collar? We should not bother following up on it then?

_________________


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

I don't even know anymore. This whole thing has me addled.

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Jay Pennington

I agree.

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

The pins arrived today...freaking AWESOME is an understatement...

Ill be posting pics tonite..when the wife gets home with the camera..

Derek

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Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


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

It's an understatement because that's not what I texted to you!

Yeah, but we have kids present on the board...

like Rex, Sarge, Derek C....had to censor it a bit


Derek

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


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

At least you managed to TEXT the right person...

_________________
CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

Hahaha... go back to sleep you freak.

No no... really... I'm awake now... it's all good...

DEREK! POST PICS!

_________________
CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

I didn't want to say anything as I felt there has been enough disagreements in the thread as it stands (I also felt I had been a nay-sayer one too many times). However I will give you my opinion-

There are suit jackets made with Mandarin collars:



I actually suggested this tuxedo on page 8.

Problem is that a tuxedo or suit just doesn't have the same lines as a military tunic- the suit has more of a relaxed fit, while a tunic is tapered slightly at the waist and a little more form fitting.

For our needs not only would we need piping added to the tuxedo, but we would have to have custom epaulettes added, as well as the breast pockets at least (a military suit wouldn't look right without them). The question is would all these custom alterations be less expensive than buying a USMC jacket?

I really would like is to get everyone motivated again, so I'm going to try an experiment. I'm going to get my hands on a USMC jacket and have the cuffs professionally removed by a seamstress (shouldn't cost more than $20). The red piping would remain on the front seam (similar to the Seigeluniforms jacket). To me this should create a decent amount of dis-similarity to an actual set of Dress Blues.

I'm also up for pretty much any combination of patches. With the cuffs removed it should open up many possibilities. Hell I might even warm up to the Eagle on the cuff again.

In the end however if everyone participating is eager to have a custom jacket- I will get one like everyone else.

I just don't want the concept to die with everyone thinking it's hopeless.

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

Heres a quick shot of the pins...hope you all like..Dom sure did


Derek

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


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

Looks like the camera picked up my finger prints...but trust me, this is the only one Ive contaminated


Derek

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


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

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