Building your MARINES - CORRECTLY

[thundergod]

I fancy replacing the boots on my Drake and Hudson , does anyone know where I could find the type like the earlier Marines are issued with ?

 

[Stendec]

Yeah the boots that came with Hicks and Apone look much nicer than the ones supplied with Hudson and Drake, which look way to small in my opinion.

I bought a pair of ACE cloth Jungle boots from monkeydepot.com which look great and are similar in size to Hicks's boots, they just need to be weatherd up abit.


The ACE boots on Hudson on the left, Hicks botts on the right.

 

[lerath666]

Ok, I think I'll get that one then. Anyone got any suggestions on where i can get the Asian New generation life body?

 

[thundergod]

Thanks Stendec, I'll chase down some of those boots . I'm in the home straight with my marines , just a few details need refining now . ( I was de-railed slightly when I decided the team needed a Bishop! ) . Saying that ,I'm pretty interested in Hurricanes working lamps , so it could still be a while before they're ready for battle . DOH!!

 

[Stendec]

Damn! Your squad is looking awesome Thunder! Your custom Bishop looks perfect too!

Another modification I did and thought Id mention is to the grenades. Really simple to do and makes them more screen accurate.

Screen used grenade prop https://www.harryharris.com/grens.htm

1.Sanded the rounded tip of the grenades flat.
2.Painted the end of the grenade red.
3.Cut a thin strip of white electrical tape with a hobby knife and wrapped it around. I tried painting the white band first but its impossible to get it looking tidy. The tape does this perfectly

I also removed the fifth grenade loop from the bandolier, just pick at the thread with something pointy till it comes loose. Cut off the excess loop elastic and singe the end to stop fraying.

 

[lerath666]

Wow those look GREAT

 

[lerath666]

Hey thundergod, question for you, where did you get the gloves for your Hudson?

 

[Stendec]

The black gloves come with the Hudson figure out of the box. A shame really because he didnt even wear gloves in the movie and finding replacement light skin hands to fit the HT body is nigh on impossible

 

[Reinhardt]

outstanding work STENDEC!! love those grenades. i think i'm going to have to do the same now.

 

[thundergod]

The black gloves come with the Hudson figure out of the box. A shame really because he didnt even wear gloves in the movie and finding replacement light skin hands to fit the HT body is nigh on impossible

That's right Stendec , I've yet to find loose H.T hands that are suitable . Like the tip about the grenades , think I'm going to have to nick that idea! Thanks for the comments , still need to work on Bishop . First time I painted him I made him look "too human", so this is my second attempt . Also thinking of swapping the head to a D.M.L body , but I'm a bit worried about the head looking too big . ( He already suffers from the infamous Sideshow melon-head syndrome ).

 

[pjam]

Damn! Your squad is looking awesome Thunder! Your custom Bishop looks perfect too!

Another modification I did and thought Id mention is to the grenades. Really simple to do and makes them more screen accurate.

Screen used grenade prop https://www.harryharris.com/grens.htm

1.Sanded the rounded tip of the grenades flat.
2.Painted the end of the grenade red.
3.Cut a thin strip of white electrical tape with a hobby knife and wrapped it around. I tried painting the white band first but its impossible to get it looking tidy. The tape does this perfectly

I also removed the fifth grenade loop from the bandolier, just pick at the thread with something pointy till it comes loose. Cut off the excess loop elastic and singe the end to stop fraying.

Lovin' this Sten, very nice Bro! Just another thing for me to do now that I'm running out of things to do for my guys.

 

[Stendec]

Thanks guys. Yeah I like finding little details to change and add, especially if they are simple to do. I am bordering on the obsessive about accurizing my marines lol Next on my list is finding some suitable rubber trim material to line the neck of the torso armor I also need to fade the BDUs and weather the body armor. I hope to be done soon though or else Il drive myself insane lol

Regarding the grenades, I know that the marines used different coloured ones to denote different grenade types (frag, incendiary etc) but Im not sure what exact colours where used. Besides I know that Hicks only had the red explosive types. Suprisingly, Hudson didn't wear any grenades at all on his armor.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Thanks guys. Yeah I like finding little details to change and add, especially if they are simple to do. I am bordering on the obsessive about accurizing my marines lol Next on my list is finding some suitable rubber trim material to line the neck of the torso armor I also need to fade the BDUs and weather the body armor. I hope to be done soon though or else Il drive myself insane lol

Regarding the grenades, I know that the marines used different coloured ones to denote different grenade types (frag, incendiary etc) but Im not sure what exact colours where used. Besides I know that Hicks only had the red explosive types. Suprisingly, Hudson didn't wear any grenades at all on his armor.

Stendec, you really are getting your details just right at every level. I love it.

You should post detailed pix of your marines so we can all follow your lead as to accuracy. Even maybe photoshop text to point out what you've changed. It might be easier for people to SEE rather than READ that long list in the first post.

I know I'd like it anyway.

 

[Stendec]

Stendec, you really are getting your details just right at every level. I love it.

You should post detailed pix of your marines so we can all follow your lead as to accuracy. Even maybe photoshop text to point out what you've changed. It might be easier for people to SEE rather than READ that long list in the first post.

I know I'd like it anyway.

Wow, thanks Wor-Gar, I'm honoured

As soon as Im finished tweaking my figures I'd me more than happy to post some pics with a breakdown of the changes I made. I only have Hudson and Hicks though but Id like to add Vasquez at some point.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Wow, thanks Wor-Gar, I'm honoured

As soon as Im finished tweaking my figures I'd me more than happy to post some pics with a breakdown of the changes I made. I only have Hudson and Hicks though but Id like to add Vasquez at some point.

Excellent. Can't wait. I think your pics and details will be very popular and allow people, like me, to really get their marines in tip-top shape.

I'm entertaining the idea of posing my Vaz without her smart-gun. But I noticed in the movie that she had a black chest-holder for her pistol. Anyone got any ideas where the heck I can get a chest-holster? I know I've seen one before on a Dragon/BBI figure.

 

[Stendec]

I'm entertaining the idea of posing my Vaz without her smart-gun. But I noticed in the movie that she had a black chest-holder for her pistol. Anyone got any ideas where the heck I can get a chest-holster? I know I've seen one before on a Dragon/BBI figure.

Yeah I'd like a Vasquez to display without her smart gun since I'm looking to display my figures like they were in the final confrontation in Ops. I might try to custom bash Vas since it would be a shame to buy the HT figure and not display her fully geared up.

I think you could make her chest holster by canibalising some webbing and a generic holster. Her sidearm was a Smith & Wesson M39 not a Vp-70 though.

This is a long shot but does anyone have any leads on a Vas headsculpt?

 

[thundergod]

To be honest Standec , I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the H.T headsculpt . Although the paint job does it's best to obscure it ( like Drake's), it's a pretty good likeness . Does anyone have a pic of the holster in question?

 

[Wor-Gar]

Does anyone have a pic of the holster in question?

Best, and only, I could find:

BTW, thanks for the info, Stendec!

 

[thundergod]

That looks pretty straightforward . I should have something pretty close .( It should be easy enough to fabricate the straps), Stendec , let me know if you need the holster .
Oops, sorry Wor-Gor mis-read the post , it's you looking to bash the holster ! Same applies .

 

[Wor-Gar]

That looks pretty straightforward . I should have something pretty close .( It should be easy enough to fabricate the straps), Stendec , let me know if you need the holster .
Oops, sorry Wor-Gor mis-read the post , it's you looking to bash the holster ! Same applies .

I would like the holster -- where do you get one?

I've seen it on a Dragon figure I think, maybe a German officer or something.