RD, thats some good lookin outfits ya got there. You make a good Soap.
Spent bout 8 months of research on this outfit before making them for Dragon*Con 2010, buddy and I made just bout everything from scratch, if I didn't purchase which was the rifle and kneepads and drop holster. So I kinda self proclaim to be a Ghost expert with all the research we did...
We were going with the "Favela" Level look. Thats me as Soap, our friends as Rangers and my buddy is Soap. And the illustrious Art Andrews and another friend of ours as Roach and Random SAS soldier #4
Now considering you are going for the Statue replication, you dont wanna go with a Tac Vest, you want to look for what we call a "mag pouch carrier" a group called Tactical Tailor makes a very similar rig like the Statue that you can get made in tan and even get custom specs like the rings and buckles.
But as far as your knit cap (stocking cap), thats exactly what we did. Heavy acrylic paints and a knit balaclava from Walmart. Alot of modding though, we had sewn a hemn liner around the eyes to make it more accurate. But it is what is looked at most. I feel that having that most accurate to everything else is the seller for the costume. People see a bad mask, and they rate the rest of the costume the same. Which yours look awesome, just keep it up, and seriously if you have any questions about any of the gear let me know, 8 years as a combat infantryman in iraq and afghanistan. I got a bit of knowledge on all the gear out there.