Not even sure if I am painting the belt tool, for now I'm good with my two painted resin casts of the single barrel version.

The camo will be salty and weathered with scratches and paint chippings all the way.

Thanks, guys, I'm quite fond of the motion tracker myself. Once the original Matchbox trafo will be installed, the hunt for the pump part will begin.

Here's 2 pics showing the ALIENS version of the headset having the headset the way I finally installed it for Vasquez and Hicks:

It was outside on the STAR WARS version, since it can be installed both ways on the original RACAL.
You can see, though, that my mic stalk is a bit too short, but that is how it was on my kit I got.

Oops, I wasn't clear: I meant the BDU's. If you look at the Marines in the film there's a range in how new versus faded the material looks. Dietrich's trousers in some shots look quite new, while Vasquez's trousers are faded and worn.

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

Ah! Haven't really thought about that, but what good is weathered armour when the duds are clean? Some grime and wear will be mandatory I reckon.

Ah yeah. I'll be damned and I stand corrected.
BUT, with all due respect to Michael Biehn, I'm not sure he had a clue in how to wear it. He seemingly wore it different in every scene including these terribly uncomfortable ways smashing his ears. I wouldn't call these the "aliens way" of wearing the headset.


And for what its worth, Gorman wore his the way it was designed in some scenes. But others he wore it like the two pics you posted. I guess, as with all things, it comes down to personal preference.


Overall I guess I'll be reversing mine! Metal clip in contact with the temple be damned, it does indeed seem more common.

Hilarious how apparently the cast had no clue how to wear the damn thing.
I need that clip and will probably also wear it different each time, thinking about it.

Michael Biehn, legend of RACAL wearing methods. So there was at least one thing Gorman was more competent in than Hicks was. Must have been the (only) reason for his higher rank!

I finally got around to doing my armor grafittis and weathering the whole gear. All is done besides scratching and chipping the paint, and after that, I will give it a final layer of smudges from various materials to really make it pop.

This is where I am so far, there is a clear ALIENS/Full Metal Jacket crossover going on in some places.
The rest is my own design:










Here's a flash pic:


I also weathered the belt tool, helmet cam and shoulder light:




Soon it'll be time for suiting up!

Awesome job man!

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

That dirtied up nice!

Great job! Nicely weathered.

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

I like the Vietnam connection with the helmet graffiti from animal in FMJ, it's good to pay homage to the connection james Cameron had with the marines and Vietnam, I did the same with some graffiti on my armour

_________________
Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

Absolutely nothing short of ultimate badass level. Looks great!

_________________
PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Great start for 2015, and Happy New Years everyone!

And just for good measure, here's a daylight pic with both belt tools and the harness/suspenders plus the pouches:



What do you guys say, go for more natural weathering and chipping or go all out and mess the thing up, with big shiny metal scratches and "dents"?
Also, clean BDUs or dirtied up as well? If dirty, then how to grime it all up best? Same goes for the rest of the fabric components like the pouches, webbing and straps.

Still undecided.

For weathering BDU's... I'd just wear them for a while. Go and do the gardening, or clean the garage out in them. They'll weather in quite naturally.

I have to say you've done a sterling job, it looks great.

_________________
You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

Thanks mate! Wouldn't have been possible without you, so... really, thanks again, Chef!
The BDUs look so snazzy clean, but will probably look quite badass dirty as well. I'm still in two minds about that.

One resolution for 2015 will be to finish this whole bad boy ASAP and wear it as often as I possibly can.

Cool Stuff!! Keep up the good work!

Thanks, man. I now also did the paint chipping and scratches, that really brings the whole thing together. Some pics will follow ASAP, I am thinking weekend. One step closer to the first complete suit-up!

To help you with your New Year’s resolution: http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=15089
Just sent me prior to a certain drop a PM in case you need a specific item and I see what I can do.
It would be great to get enough interest to do another grenade run.

_________________
Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Dennis, really like the sharpie graffiti on the helmet.

I'm a big fan of simple sharpie work.

My favorite is spam in a can.

Keeping is simple is key.


Nice looking kit!

Agreed, one of the best loadouts ive ever seen.

Holy moly.

That is one fantastic piece of armour. Love the camo pattern and the graffiti !!!

Thanks so much guys, all your feedback means a lot to me - I have to say it, especially Matt and Nick chiming in with praise is quite the honour.
You guys have made it all possible!

Here is my final weathering, and I am calling it done. Just a tiny few bits and pieces for my marine now, and the first combat drop will soon be possible.
More pics, I just can't stop pointing a camera at it:









Man, is it a pain to cut the foam padding in half and to shape!
But yeah, I finally found a dutch Army sleeping mat.

I love the three belt tools! That's what Frost rocked!

And the padlock is damned cool.

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

Thanks, man! And soon, there will be a kickass welding tool as well.

Here's another original part added to my motion tracker, now I only have one resin part left to switch out, that darn "pump widget".
This is how the Matchbox trafo looks like installed, and I also have my first natural weathering going on where the red of the Kango shows through, underside of the grip:



Here's the OD foam padding installed for the helmet lobster plates, really makes the thing look so much more complete: