Duke's Reach Army BDU - Military Counter Intelligence

[PerniciousDuke]

I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this foam stuff. Been at this 4 hours doing the hardest part of the foamsmithing so far. The Shins.

 

[Sean Anwalt]

Shins seen to be a gamble. Either they're easy enough or blinking difficult.

That's some good foam work, though. I'm really looking forward to these bucket-to-boots builds being done.

 

[TurboCharizard]

That's some good foam work, though. I'm really looking forward to these bucket-to-boots builds being done.

You'll like Wednesday's stream then! I'll be suiting up in one of them. Not sure when ArcSol will be jumping in his.

PerniciousDuke which shin files are these? They look a little different than the one's I used.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

You'll like Wednesday's stream then! I'll be suiting up in one of them. Not sure when ArcSol will be jumping in his.

PerniciousDuke which shin files are these? They look a little different than the one's I used.

It is the same file. The PDO in the armory. We just unfolded it for foam differently. I'm not in love with it, but I couldn't figure out how exactly you did yours.

Mine still has a ways to go. Straps, clean up, craft foam, but as is they are okay.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

No pictures, sorry. But I've only got 4 weeks left and I really need to wrap this up.

Once I get the base foam construction done I can move on to seam filling and craft foam details.

Current status from bucket to boots:

Helmet- being commissioned
Shoulders- constructed
Shoulder mounts- constructed
Chest- constructed, needs one more piece
Abs- constructed
Thighs- 80% constructed
Shin tops- constructed
Shins- constructed, needs back straps.
Boot covers- constructed


Tomorrow I'll start a list of what I need to do to finish the costume.

I've got to thank TurboCharizard for doing so much of the trailblazing with this version of the Reach Trooper. I don't think I'd be making this if it wasn't for you.

 

[TurboCharizard]

THE LZ IS HOT
REPEAT, THE LZ IS HOT
ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT HAS FAILED AND WE'RE TAKING HEAVY CASUALTIES DOWN HERE

REQUESTING IMMEDIATE BACKUP OF ANY AVAILABLE UNSC PERSONNEL

Trailblazing is tough work sometimes. Occasionally you lose a Marine or two along the way.

This is a behind the scenes cell phone picture from Outpost taken by Lt.Dan during a photoshoot we did with CplYapFlip featuring iac300 and Viper 466 . There's a bunch more scary high resolution images inbound thanks to CplYapFlip of Hanamaru Photography and we're finally back in Victoria so the photo editing game can begin.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

Four weeks left... time to draw up the checklist:

D = This weekend
C = Next weekend
B = Getting Close
! = Save till last


Bucket:

Get 3d printed helmet - !

Epoxy together - !

Smooth lines - !

Install light - !

Paint - !

Decal - !

Mask:

buy mask and goggles

add foam details - D

Neck:

buy balaclava - D

Body:

buy BDU shirt and pants

Shoulders:

construct from foam

add foam shims, shape more - D

cut out lower tabs - D

affix to shoulder mount - C

fill seams - C

paint/weather - C

decals -B

Shoulder Mount:

construct from foam

fill seams - D

add foam detail - D

paint/weather - C

nylon to chest - B

Chest Piece:

construct from foam

add more foam - D

fill seams - D

add foam details - D

paint - C

decal - !

add velcro - B

add nylon and brackets to front - B

Chest Pouches:

buy chest rig

attach to chest piece - C

Flak Jacket:

acquire templates - C

buy fabric + interfacing - C

sew - B

Ab pieces:

construct from foam

fill seams - D

attach to belt - C

Gloves:

buy fingerless gloves

Battle Rifle:

fill seams - !

smooth print lines - !

paint/weather - !

Thighs

construct from foam - D

add foam details - D

fill seams - D

paint - C

add lights - !

decal - !

buy pistol holster and ammo pouch

lengthen nylon to wrap around thighs - B

Knees:

buy knee guards

add foam details - D

paint - C

Shin top:

construct from foam

add foam detail - D

attach to shin - D

fill seams - D

paint/weather - C

Shin:

construct from foam

attach back straps - D

add foam detail - D

fill seams - D

paint/weather - C

decal - !

Boot tops:

construct from foam- D

fill seams - D

paint/weather - C

Boots:

Buy used

 

[Sean Anwalt]

That's a long list, Duke. Gonna be sick when it's done!

 

[PerniciousDuke]

That's a long list, Duke. Gonna be sick when it's done!

It is a lot. But it goes by pretty quick. I got most of the D list done this weekend. Here's the best piece so far:

 

[PaiganBoi]

Those are some serious looking leg armour.

 

[he4thbar]

It is a lot. But it goes by pretty quick. I got most of the D list done this weekend. Here's the best piece so far:

View attachment 274851

How do you get those perfect circles where the "rivets" are? especially on the left side of the picture.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

How do you get those perfect circles where the "rivets" are? especially on the left side of the picture.

I have a metal hole punch set for leather working. I used my heat gun to heat the punch up. Pressed it in and turned.

HOLLOW PUNCH SET CUTS HOLES IN LEATHER PLASTIC RUBBER GASKET VINYL PAPER -- 6pc - Walmart.com

Buy HOLLOW PUNCH SET CUTS HOLES IN LEATHER PLASTIC RUBBER GASKET VINYL PAPER -- 6pc at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Careful. Heat will eventually travel through the whole punch.

 

[he4thbar]

Thanks! No wonder it looks so clean.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

Man, some things seem so simple then the longer you look at them the more you find.

I don't know how many times I've looked at this shoulder only to finally realize the center bottom has a recessed tab.

Not to mention all the decals!

 

[xXDashIVXx]

How do you get those perfect circles where the "rivets" are? especially on the left side of the picture.

You could also use a dremel depending on the bit, and brass tubing works great too

 

[he4thbar]

You could also use a dremel depending on the bit, and brass tubing works great too

Oh man... I wish I thought about this before I botched my center stomach piece circle.. maybe i'll do this and just sand down the middle so it's one circle and then make another solid circle to put inside the hollowed out center.

I may be able to save that piece yet, thank you.

 

[PerniciousDuke]

I've got the graphics done up for the decals.

I was surprised at how very little decals are on the Marine compared to the Spartans. More than half the decals are on the shoulders alone.

Keep in mind these have been altered to fit our base color of black.


Here's my waterslide tutorial for applying these kinds of decals:

Tutorial: Weapon and Amor Waterslide Decals (no high tech equiptment needed!)

I never knew this was even possible! Create professional looking decals at home with your own color printer! It takes some time to set up, but the application is super simple. So let’s get you started! Materials you need: An electronic image of what you want, pre sized and in a printable...

www.405th.com

 

[PerniciousDuke]

I wanted to show you guys what I did for the back of the shins...

The pep shows the back as full armor, but the in game you can see camo in between the "back shin straps". I know that foam, especially in a high stress area like legs, is not going to hold up well with lots of support. Luckily it's back to school so I picked some super cheap plastic peachies!

I like them because they are super cheap, super flexible and suprising good plastic (doesn't crack).



Cut out my foam straps, traced them onto the peachie. I over extended on the ends so the I could get a nice glue surface inside the shin.


Hot glued them together.


Then hot glued the extended part to the shin.
They are pretty strong.




If I get some comments before the day is out I'll post the pre-seal photos of all my foam pieces.
I don't want to double post.

 

[he4thbar]

That's looking good dude! Loving that foam strap pulls it together

 

[Sean Anwalt]

I will post here after he4thbar just so I can see the pictures!

Also, that's a smart idea what you're doing with the straps. That oughtta hold pretty well.