First Uniform..

Equipment Uniforms
1

Hi,

I have begun making my first uniform. It is going to be GB 1 style.

I bought some of the supplies from UncleSamsDeals as they have free shipping.

This is the khaki uniform. Size 3XL since I am a big guy. Should have atleast 5 inches extra in chest and even more at my waist. Don’t want to be tight when I put on my pack eventually.($30)

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Bought these boots in black. Size 12 since I am a 10.5 or 11.5 depending on the shoe brand. Got a half size bigger to be safe. ($24)

Bought the web belt. Ok, it is not 100 percent accurate. I go through belts some what regularly due to liking it tight. I thought this connector should last better. Also, I get mixed info on if the gray belt supports a 44" waist. Got this to be safe and the color looks between a gray and khaki. ($10)

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Like the store because of free UPS shipping and good prices.

I bought my logo off ebay. Didn’t realize it was coming from Thailand, but I like the black edge and the facial details look better than most other badges online. User patchspicy2009.($3)

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I almost got a VENKMAN name patch, but I always dreamed of being a ghostbuster so I got my own. From katarra. Looks great. Says BURNS. No picture. ($12)

I bought my pads at walmart. I got the Franklin pads in white. I used RIT black die to die them gray. Only took like 5 minutes and a spoon and a half of die with plenty of water. Messy, but worked. They were almost dry this morning. I know the pads are not 100 percent accurate, but close enough for me. ($8 and $1.5 dye)

I will be using a keychain similart to this, but it has a black canvas strap and different writing on the blue. Not going to buy a leather strap when I got this sturdier keychain. Just will use this to hold the proton gun at times. ($0 Free)

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I bought the gloves online for about $2 with free ups shipping. They are the pvc gloves and had white writing on them (not shown in pictures). I used a permanent marker to get rid of the white. They are slightly stiff, but not too bad. I won’t really use them much. More of a belt item.

I had mixed feelings about the ■■■■ hose, but I wanted a gb 1 style uniform.

My Mom has lung cancer, so we have (will have) oxygen tubes that are 1/2 inch thick and come in 7’ long cables. I will just cut to the right length. This will be clear, but no matter. I’ll just say it is unused, lol.

I had some concerns about the connector. I don’t want to sew it on in case I need to wash the uniform. I was going to use Velcro, but that would not hold all the time. I ended up coming up with an idea. What if I kind of copy that security device at JC Penny and use a pin. I am going to use the following supplies, a female hose coupler ($1.5 wallyworld), metal clip with screw tighter (comes with coupler and used to make a loop at other end to tie to belt), magic sliders ($2) (black part fits in coupler perfectly and holds nail tightly, will keep the smooth side within uniform and connect to the black part in the couper, will use hot glue to connect the parts (besides for nail), and will use a velcro between nail, uniform, and coupler) to add to holding strength ($2). Should make uniform washable.

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I am not good at sewing, so I got a no stitch glue tape thing. That way I can put on both patches. I will sew it, but the glue will keep it in place so I don’t have to worry about patches moving. ($2)

I don’t have the gb logo, flight suit, boots, belt, or hose. I will get the hose in a week. Mom is supposed to change the hose every two weeks and I will use the used hose. Nothing wrong with it and I am taking the nose part off. The suit, belt, and boots are coming in on Thursday. As for the gb logo, that is from Thailand and could be another week. He shipped the same day, so my bet is sometime next week between Monday and Thursday. I’ll post pics later. I know there are some changes, but I excuse them as being safe, more modern, and saving some dough. Don’t care about some the belt items like the leather light gizmo, lifegard, or walkie talkie. I know I am cutting some corners, but it is not like you won’t know what I am, some give it a modern look, and some are for simplicity.

I am looking at buying a pair of ecto goggles. Bidding on ebay, but if I lose, if someone can sell me a pair for at or less than $50 pm me. Thanks.

2

If you have the spare time, you can make a solid pair of goggles for under $50 easy. It’ll give you extra money to use on anything else you want to add later.

3

True, but I checked out my local home depot and supplies were limited. Missing/Out of Stock on some parts and I would need to paint the goggles. I suck at painting and most small jobs have too much and too little paint in spots. I am not going to pay more than $50 given how easy they are to make, but I would be happy spending $35-$45 for a pretty accurate pair without lights. I don’t have much time to put it together anymore with babysitting and helping around the house. Once I get all my supplies, I doubt it will take much longer than 30 minutes to put the suit together, sew on the patches, and hot glue the tubing.

4

. . . . must resist . . . . . . . urge to ream . . . . . . . . . . .

:sigh:

5

Good Vinny.

Do yourself a favor aburns,don’t buy that suit,from what I can tell it’s a Rothco,do yourself an even bigger favor and search on ebay for desert tan nomex,you can get a real nomex for about the same price as a Rothco,the color is so much better than a Rotcho.

Also,you can get the accurate elbow pads on ebay for BIN 9.99 plus shipping.

6

Kind of already bought the suit. Gonna wait and see how it looks and fits. The Nomex, just on quick searching looks like it costs about 170 for me. They do have some on ebay, but the max size of the tan only has a max chest size of 53 at 52L. I have a 44 inch waist and 51 inch chest, so it may be cutting it close with the Nomex brand. I know you unzip the chest a bit, but if you were a pack, then it could be a little tight up top since I have very broad shoulders. If the quality sucks then maybe. I can always try dye on the suit. I only paid $30 for the flight suit, so it won’t break the bank to try a light dye on it.

I may get the pads later. Technically I snuck in the Franklin pads on a walmart shopping spree for about $7 as well as the hose items. Not really out of my money. Only the patches, belt, suit, and boots have been on my card. At the very least they will be good practice material. I don’t have to be 100% movie accurate, just look the part. Depending on how well it all works and how much I get into this then I might go for near complete accuracy. I don’t plan on attending conventions or any contests. It is more a dream come true kind of thing around the house.

7

I’m going to be very surprised if that suit fits you fine. Rotchos are very unforgiving on us big guys, especially if you have wide shoulders. I can barely get my shoulders into my 5XL and I normally wear 2XL shirts.

8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGWbt3DSje0

9

Because doing so dozens of times in the past has effectively gotten the point across.

I went instead and edited the Wiki page of the uniform section to at least try and help new members instead of taking a shot at each and every new Rothco owner. According to your last revision in the Wiki, you failed to mention specifics. You simply stated that there were uniforms made by different manufacturers. With as much as you seem to really care to inform (or criticize) the Rothco owners, you could have noted it in the Wiki. As long as this board exists, searching the posts here will yield results showing uniforms made from Rothcos and Tru-Specs. Even if you somehow got people to stop using the uniform, the past posts would still remain and be searchable. Until there is a sticky made at the top of the Uniforms section warning others away from the Rothcos the best we can do is to put it in the Wiki and at least hope that someone uses that as reference.

Kind, I respect you and the knowledge you have but tearing someone down each and every time they buy a uniform you don’t like isn’t going to teach anyone anything.

10

A stickied thread is something i want to do for quite some time but have had trouble setting it up and wording it properly. i have several drafts saved that have never been posted, perhaps i should finish it.

As for a stickied thread “warning” people about Rothco, not gonna happen.

A biased thread of that nature would not be considered fair and definitely would not be worthy of stickying.

What you have done in the wiki is add the information that a proper flightsuit thread should have and as far an i can recall, i have never edited that part of the uniform wiki, i simply added the photos of the venkman GB1 suit that was auctioned off by Profiles in History last year.

and yes i will address my attitude. I realize i go about it the wrong way when i tell people about their uniforms and i am trying to work on that. . . . . .taking Dr. Venkman’s advice and practicing a little thing we adults like to call “self control”

11

spread the good word brothers! Rothco…! Nomex GOOOOOOD!

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12

Kind,

Sincere apologies for my attitude as well.

I wasn’t trying to suggest putting up a biased sticky, but more along the lines of things to look for when purchasing a flight suit. When I said “warning against Rothcos” I was more referring to informing new members about certain details of the different flight suits they may not be aware of, much like I did in the Wiki. Address all options for what they are and nothing more.

I know that not everything can become a sticky but I think “Selecting the flightsuit” would be a good topic to have stay at the top for all new members.

Abntroop, that’s funny. :slight_smile:

13

Not a good sign. Thought I would be fine since the measurements are about 10 inches extra around the waist and 7 inches around the chest. Their customer support is really good, so if it does not fit, I bet I can exchange it at the cost of return shipping.

I’m getting the flight suit from UPS today, so I should know tonight.

14

If it fits don’t worry about spending more money

The only big problems with Rothco is the two breast pockets sitting low and the color. If the pockets don’t bother you, then it doesn’t matter. If the color does its a simple fix with 30 mins, hot water and a bottle of dye.

15

I’ll have to see the color in person. The pockets won’t bother me at all. I used the black dye on the franklin knee pads and although they are gray, there is a hint of purple in the color. Walmart didn’t have the gray dye and I thought just a tiny bit of dye and plenty of water could make it gray. It could just be the lighting. I am doing this in my room and I only have a 40 watt bulb in there and the fan’s glass is slightly blue. I may get the authentic pads later and get the actual pearl gray from hobby lobby and dye both the suit and pads. Really depends on how purple the pads turn out and how off I think the suit actually looks. I know you guys had a problem with one of the suits color, but I always thought that was that cheap costume with the inflatable packs and not a rothco flight suit.

16

Well, it did fit. Kind of. I barely got my wide shoulders into the uniform and it didn’t have much length in the back so I could not sit without getting a wedgie. With a pack, it would be way too tight in the chest, but standing up was fine if I zipped down a little bit. I am returning it. The place I bought from does not have the larger khaki. Rothco has discontinued sizes bigger than 3x in their khaki flight suit line. I am going gb 2 style. So, I am exchanging the suit for a larger 5x or 6x (plenty of room) black flight suit, swapping the khaki belt for a black pistol/web belt, and exchanging for a size smaller boot. Most boots you need to go two sizes bigger, not with the one I got. I felt like a clown and had a good inch and a half extra so I am dropping to a size 11 (was a 12). Won’t have to worry about dying now. My fault for picking a smaller size so paying return shipping, not bad though considering that is all I have to pay.

Mixed thoughts on the gb logo. Should I get the GB 2 patch or stick with the GB 1. I like the GB 1 better. Also, some of the GB 2 patches look a little off and more difficult to sew on. I am thinking about sticking the gb 1 logo.

I always liked the GB 1 suit, but the black looked nicer on the busters. Not to mention the khaki is iconic, but black is mondern. I am fine with black since it should fit and will still be authentic.

I got two questions for you guys. First, for those that have Rothco suits. There is a velco ■■■■■■■■ the upper right chest, can you peel that off including the base? Or did you just put the name patch on top of that?

Second, given I am going with the black suit, if you had the choice would you pick the gb 1 patch or the gb 2 patch. I know the gb 2 patch is authentic, but the reproductions look a little off and the gb 1 patch looks better. Mixed feelings. Going to wait till I actually have the $3.50 gb patch I ordered to see how well I like it before I make the decision. Thanks.

17

hmmmm, you bought a Rothco and are displeased with it . . . . . . . why am I not surpised? Here’s where I swoop in to save the day my friend. If you fit in a 3XL Rothco but its tight in once place and not others, then a 3XL Tru-Spec will fit you perfectly. As stated in other threads, Rothco’s have sub-par tailoring making them fit the way they do. It doesn’t seem to be a problem in the smaller sizes but once you go above XL they seem to go out of proportion. I wont go into the chest pocket placement problem.

Tru-Spec suits are better all-around for big guys like us. The first suit I ever bought was a 3XL Rothco and it fit but was very tight around my stomach and was a constant crotch and ass biter. I bought a 3XL Tru-Spec and it fits perfectly everywhere. I have both a khaki suit and black one that I bleached/dyed to GB2 charcoal gray and I love both of them.

Check out the Tru-Spec Here in this topic, and I recommend buying one Here at Galls.com

18

Ugh vince drop it

Anyway I also like the GB2 black, if you want it to be screen accurate you will have to do a little dyeing but its not needed. I say if you like the GB1 patch just use it, no real reason to go with GB2 patch unless you are creating a full fledged GB2 replica suit. If you just plan on having one suit (or don’t mind buying more name patches later) it looks better to remove the velcro and sew or liquid stitch it on.

19

So the velco can be removed. Do you just pull it off … It didn’t look like it was sewed on, but I did want to yank the velcro off and rip the suit.

As for the previous comment. I kind of already filled the paperwork and mailed the items back. The issue I have is I am a tall, beer like belly, and wide shoulders. I have difficulty finding regular clothes any more since I am between 2xl, 3xl, and almost a size up mainly due to my shoulders and tight around the chest. (Not good if you got some man ■■■■■) I measured my chest and I am exactly 51" around my chest and under my arm pits. Most of these suits stop at around 52", which would not work around my chest (let alone shoulders) since it would be tight and look even worse when my pack is finally done. You do unzip a little at the top, but just a little not a lot.

That 3xl rothco was big on arms and legs, tight around stomach and lower regions when I sat down, and was cutting it almost completely too close on my chest. Worried I was going to rip the stupid suit just trying to get my other shoulder in the uniform. I am getting a 6xl. I don’t want to have to send it in again. Another user posted the real measurements and the 6x is only like 6" wider at the top which should make it really baggy, but perfect with the pack. As for the waist, arms, and legs, that can be adjusted with the velcro bands/zippers on each. Glad I bought the wrong elbows (not in above pictures). Using that to pay for the $5 exchange fee and $5 suit price increase. Just have to pay shipping which I hope will be around $10.

I’ll probably hit up home depot to try the ecto goggles again. If they don’t have the weilding goggles, then I will just continue with buying them. I may get the blue goggles on ebay. I saw another user the blue ones recently and it came out very good.

20

The backing for the Velcro is sewn on the suit. Just take some time and remove the stitches