Ok here's a little side project of mine that's about 80% done-
We've seen dropship pilots, but the dropship is the "workhorse" of the USCM (the allegory being they are like the Huey helicopters of the Vietnam war). I figure the USCM must have some "fast movers" such as the Harriers or Hornets of the modern era- or at least the F4 Phantoms or F105 Thunderchiefs of the Nam era.
So this is my impression of a USCM aviator:
The flightsuit is an RAF Mk 14 suit that I recently scored from a seller in the UK. I have the patchesnpins subdued Screaming Eagle and Delta on it as well as a subdued US flag on the left shoulder.
O2 mask in place. I have black Nomex flight gloves on.
I've put on my M1969 flak vest for effect here- however I'm on the lookout for a proper survival vest (this isn't a dropship pilot impression after all
)- hopefully something I can attach my canvas VP70 holster to. Steel toe parade boots round out the impression.
The helmet was an old Canadian CF-18 pilot helmet that I've had for ages. it was originally gray and I had painted it black-
I repainted it with Model Masters OD:
"Angriest Angel" is from the Space: Above and Beyond episode of the same name (my favourite episode of that series by the way).
I decided to scratch make the O2 mask myself. I could have purchased a surplus O2 mask off ebay for not too much cash- but the problem was the connecting pins would have to match my helmet for them to work. Finding a correct CF mask is slim and would most likely be megabucks.
My O2 mask started out as an AO Safety respirator half mask like this:
I removed the filters, painted the clear strap housing black, and replaced the white elastic straps with black ones. The main tube is simply ribbed tubing.
I still have to add a set of nametapes (from 1800nametape) to my flightsuit when they arrive. I'm also going to put the subdued Sulaco patch on the left chest. Haven't really decided if I want to add a rank patch or not. Fighter pilots are usually officers- but since a dropship pilot can be a corporal I guess I could go either way with this.
I'm also on the fence if I want to add greebles to the helmet. I kinda want to leave it as is for the moment. Even if I were to add something- it would be bits and pieces of things that I think would "look cool" and not something like the incredible work going on in the Dropship Helmet thread.
Another USCM project in the bag. Feels really good to have this on. Guess I'll always be a zoomie at heart eh Mike?
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