Predators - Royce Costume

[Art Andrews]

I don´t want to contradict you, Art, as I think you are right. What I believe is that they used one short malice on the top and one on the bottom. But, as yuo´ve used that kind of clip before, and I haven´t, i will follow your advice.

I am not saying definitively that it isn't a malice clip, and don't worry about contradicting me. I am just as apt to be wrong as anyone.

Here are a bit more in regard to my thoughts.

Even a small malice clip has a large connector piece. That piece would stick up above the top of the shell panel, unless it was turned upside down, but even then, I feel we would see more evidence of it.

Beyond that, malice clips are very wide. To me, the attachment pieces on royce's panels seem very narrow. In other photos, you can even see them crushing the strapping. I am not confident it is a zip tie, but it seems to share some characteristics to a zip tie.

I would still agree with you that a malice clip would be a better attachment system and there is no reason I can think of why you couldn't use them, unless they made the overall alignment of the panels mismatch. I can tell you, the way the panel aligns to the vest is NOT the typical way you would see molle style pouches properly attach. They generally align between the straps of the adjoining piece. On Royce's vest they align WITH the staps on the adjoining piece. You might still make the malice clips work, but I am not sure they would align correctly.

 

[Lonewolf1183]

Here's some pics of the test prototypes for you Art, You'll get a chance to test out how they hang and attach by the end of the week. I made 3 variations on the construction, so you can give me feedback on what you like.

And I don't have the proper knife or shotgun shells, so a Kabar and some resin 50 cal rounds will have to stand in.

 

[Art Andrews]

Flippin' AWESOME!!!!! Can't wait to get them in hand!

You are about to make a lot of people (all three of us) VERY happy!

 

[augofett]

VERY VERY VERY HAPPY!!!!

 

[Riceball]

I am not saying definitively that it isn't a malice clip, and don't worry about contradicting me. I am just as apt to be wrong as anyone.

Here are a bit more in regard to my thoughts.

Even a small malice clip has a large connector piece. That piece would stick up above the top of the shell panel, unless it was turned upside down, but even then, I feel we would see more evidence of it.

Beyond that, malice clips are very wide. To me, the attachment pieces on royce's panels seem very narrow. In other photos, you can even see them crushing the strapping. I am not confident it is a zip tie, but it seems to share some characteristics to a zip tie.

I would still agree with you that a malice clip would be a better attachment system and there is no reason I can think of why you couldn't use them, unless they made the overall alignment of the panels mismatch. I can tell you, the way the panel aligns to the vest is NOT the typical way you would see molle style pouches properly attach. They generally align between the straps of the adjoining piece. On Royce's vest they align WITH the staps on the adjoining piece. You might still make the malice clips work, but I am not sure they would align correctly.

Personally, I'd go with the MALICE clips regardless of whether they were what were actually. My reasoning for that is along the lines of what would Royce actually more than what the costuming dept. used, if that makes any sense. I always like to go with realism or what the intent of the costume dept. than going with a strict, literal interpretation of what's seen/used.

 

[augofett]

Personally, I'd go with the MALICE clips regardless of whether they were what were actually. My reasoning for that is along the lines of what would Royce actually more than what the costuming dept. used, if that makes any sense. I always like to go with realism or what the intent of the costume dept. than going with a strict, literal interpretation of what's seen/used.

This word of movie replicas has as many approaches as collectors.
You may want to be as screen accurate as possible, you may make your own interpretation, you may be as screen accurate as your budget, you may buy a found item or construct for yourself that item. Even further you may buy an screen used item. Personally, I prefer to go as screen accurate as possible if I can afford it and does not interfere with what we are able to see on screen.

 

[Art Andrews]

We are just not going to agree on that one. I prefer to go with the way it is in the movie over real world... but to each his own.

Got my blackhawk holster in today and I am NOT happy... The buckles are tan... not black. Going to try to dye them. They are acetal... Not sure if they will take dye or not.

 

[augofett]

We are just not going to agree on that one. I prefer to go with the way it is in the movie over real world... but to each his own.

Got my blackhawk holster in today and I am NOT happy... The buckles are tan... not black. Going to try to dye them. They are acetal... Not sure if they will take dye or not.

It´s vey difficult when buying from internet...
Where did you buy the holster?
Blackhawk sells black replacement buckles and triglides kits ...

 

[Art Andrews]

So, I took the buckles off the rig (had to cut two buckles because they were sewn in place), threw them in a simmering RIT dye bath for 30 mins and what do we have? BLACK BUCKLES!!!

Tonight was the first night I really made an effort to try on the costume and see how it all fits... and boy did I have a lot of things wrong. I really have not appreciated just how horribly sloppy the fit of Royce's gear is. I initially had mine all strack and tight... and it just didn't look like Royce at all. I had to majorly loose the gear belt and the straps for the thigh holster and basically dishevel everything to make it look right. It is a bit funny when you realize this because to me, it goes in the face of Royce's character. Anyway, I think I got it a lot closer.

I am weathering up the holster tomorrow and with any luck the prototype shell panels will be in tomorrow and I will have more pics for you guys! Getting closer!

 

[TK1536]

Following with interest. I may not do the costume, but I'm intrigued.

 

[Art Andrews]

It is a great costume and relatively simple, although the cost is beginning to add up a bit. The knives and guns get pricy. Still I am enjoying it.

 

[augofett]

Today is almost impossible to buil up a Dutch costume, so the second chance is here: Royce! Affordable if you don´t focus on the guns and watch, and you can relatively easy track the items. The only misteries are the round pouch and the shell holders (whe are close to own the closest replica you could find) So you can have an 99 % accurate replica costume on a budget!

 

[Art Andrews]

Alright... here is what you have been waiting on! Check out the shell panels!

 

[Lonewolf1183]

Man, you got those weathered Fast! :lol I can already see that I need to change a few stitch lines on the shell holders. The 3.5" width seems good, I may shorten the shell holders from 10" to 9.5", depending on what you think. Did you happen to get a chance to check out the fit of the loops with some actual shells?

 

[Art Andrews]

When it comes to ruining things, I work fast! :lol. Here are my thoughts on the shell panels. First, the velcro idea worked like a DREAM! When you buy the TOPS knife it comes with a plastic insert that easily slides out of its sheath and in to the shell panel. I just added velcro to both sides of it (so they were opposite what was inside each side of the shell panel and adjusted it appropriately inside the shell panel. I was really worried with the weight of the knife it wouldn't hold but it holds PERFECTLY! Couldn't be better in that regard.

The width has to be pretty close because if it was much narrower, the sheath insert wouldn't fit.

I think on the length we are actually approximately 3/4" too long. Here is what is a little weird to me. The panel extends ever so slightly above the 5th row and ever so slightly below the 1st row (counting up from the bottom. Now, if you line up the rows on the back of the panel to just beneath the top and bottom edging, as you have done, that seems to push them above the fifth row and below the 1st row a bit too much. If you notice on the originals, I actually believe the panels might be just a bit too short to truly fit the rows as they should... but since they are tied to the rows, they crunch the vest a bit. Again, I think we should go for 3/4" shorter and we would be right on the money, but I worry that at 3/4" shorter it is really going to crush the vest because of the way the overhang works due to the binding. Does that make sense?

The only other thing I can think of is that the final panels should have double stitch lines instead of single stitch lines.

On the non-knife panel, I cut and stacked several sheets of styrene and inserted them in the panel to give it some body. Without them it just didn't look right. In the movie the non-knife panel is clearly not as "puffy" as the knife panel, but it still has some body and thickness.

Getting some shells to verify the width tomorrow.

You really did an outstanding job on these and I am thrilled to see them on the vest. It completely changes the look and ties it all in together!

 

[Art Andrews]

BTW, I attached each panel with 4 zipties and they are rock solid in place and do not move at all.

 

[Art Andrews]

Just a note for anyone looking to pick up shotgun shells for the shell panels, Royce's shells are 2 3/4" shells, not 3" shells as I initially thought.

 

[Art Andrews]

Picked up a 15 pack of Winchester 12 Ga 2 3/4" 00 Buckshot (XB1200VP) tonight. They seem to be a very good match for Royce's shells.

After looking at these on the shell panels, I have come to a couple of conclusions. First, I think the width of the inner part of the shell panels should be a consistant 2 5/8" to give the proper amount of placement for the shells. On the panel on the right in the photo below, at the bottom, the innser part goes down to 2 3/8" and that is just not enough room.

I am also wondering if the main material for the panels isn't a thinner, less course material. in relooking at the photos of the original, the material seems to 1) be padded from the backside, causing it to flare out around the edging and 2) be very wrinkled in a way I feel this heavy duty material would not do.

On a final note, I think the elastic needs to be sewn differently so there is more gap between the shell loops, causing the loops themselves to bunch up and stand taller when no shell is in them.

Take a look at my photo, then compare it to the original and see what you think.

 

[terryr]

Yep. The loops are thinner with bigger gaps between them, padded on the back, and two rows of stitching around the edges.

 

[augofett]

I always thought the material of the main panel to be something like a laptop backpack material style. The double stitching between the loops looks to be almost the same width as the first double stitching.

This is out of scale, since I don´t have the vest with me yet.

Art: Do you have the full picture you posted above?