neophyl
Sr Member
Plenty here http://cnperforatedplasticsheet.com/ although they would hgave had to use the press form method rather than vacform due to the perforated sheet 
The Expanse: Props & Found Parts
- Thread starter Mike J.
- Start date
Can you cut Kydex with a diode laser? I'll have to give it a try as I've got some Kydex on hand and that really seems like the idea material as it's pretty easy to shape by hand with a heat gun.
That would be ideal - kydex is used all the time for holsters and as you note, easy to form in a home oven or with a heat gun. Would just need to get the hole perforation pattern right, etc. The Prop Store auctions I've found to be the best reference and looking at them more and more am convinced the holster itself was made and not purchased. I fear they used some material just lying around so we'll never have an exact match.
When might you give the cutting a go?
As far as my progress I tracked down and purchased a T-Rail belt in black and man that wasn't easy. The remaining element is the belt loop. I couldn't find anything in 5.11's past product offerings that matched but on a hunch, knowing the Expanse team used BlackHawk gear as well, and staring at a lot of images, bingo. Looks like they used the Jacket Slot Belt Loop for the officer's uniform setup and CQC Belt Loop with flight suits, so I have the latter on order. For reference:
Buy Jacket Slot Belt Loop with Duty Holster Screws And More | Blackhawk
Shopping for the Jacket Slot Belt Loop with Duty Holster Screws? Learn more about the latest Holster Accessories and more at Blackhawk.
www.blackhawk.com
Buy CQC Belt Loop with Screws And More | Blackhawk
Shopping for the CQC Belt Loop with Screws? Learn more about the latest Holster Accessories and more at Blackhawk.
www.blackhawk.com
Good detective work!That would be ideal - kydex is used all the time for holsters and as you note, easy to form in a home oven or with a heat gun. Would just need to get the hole perforation pattern right, etc. The Prop Store auctions I've found to be the best reference and looking at them more and more am convinced the holster itself was made and not purchased. I fear they used some material just lying around so we'll never have an exact match.
When might you give the cutting a go?
As far as my progress I tracked down and purchased a T-Rail belt in black and man that wasn't easy. The remaining element is the belt loop. I couldn't find anything in 5.11's past product offerings that matched but on a hunch, knowing the Expanse team used BlackHawk gear as well, and staring at a lot of images, bingo. Looks like they used the Jacket Slot Belt Loop for the officer's uniform setup and CQC Belt Loop with flight suits, so I have the latter on order. For reference:
Buy Jacket Slot Belt Loop with Duty Holster Screws And More | Blackhawk
Shopping for the Jacket Slot Belt Loop with Duty Holster Screws? Learn more about the latest Holster Accessories and more at Blackhawk.Buy CQC Belt Loop with Screws And More | Blackhawk
Shopping for the CQC Belt Loop with Screws? Learn more about the latest Holster Accessories and more at Blackhawk.
Having some very basic familiarity with how these holsters are often made, I'm going to wait until my MCRN pistol replica is done before I attempt to form a holster for it.
After doing a bit of research it seems like Kydex is mostly PVC which should not be cut on a laser. I think I would need to create a template with the laser on wood and use that to cut the hole pattern on a drill press.
I did order the CQC belt loop which is the one for the Rocinante so I'll do some more experimenting once I get that.
I did order the CQC belt loop which is the one for the Rocinante so I'll do some more experimenting once I get that.
Yes, definitely would need some type of jig to execute the repeating pattern. A couple of thoughts pouring over the Prop Store pictures again:
- The holster is one piece/sheet, folded and rounded over the top of gun, the back basically flat with the front formed around the barrel, slide, trigger, etc., and must be glued where the two pieces are joined. So, it starts as a single bigger piece. I’m going to make a cardboard template to try and better understand the size sheet needed to start with.
- Looks like the final effect of the holes net a 45 degree ‘diamond’ pattern.
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My CQC belt loop arrived today, so I have one on hand if I ever get around to trying to make a holster for my MCRN pistol once that is complete.
This is the place to share expanse props, right? I managed to pick these bits up in the auction but never got round to posting pics.
Clarissa Mao's jump suit and vac suit from S3, complete with savage insustries screaming monkey. Im a small guy so none of the leads costumes were ever gonna fit me - Clarissa's fit just nice though!
suits both seem to be custom made. The boots are the same tourmasters somone posted earlier, pretty much identical. There were also 2 pairs of gloves that i'll dig out and post pics. Those look like found parts that have just been weathered nicely.
sometime I'd love to make up a the Savage industries helmet to match the suit, but I know the base helmets don't come cheap so it'll be a while till I get round to it.
Clarissa Mao's jump suit and vac suit from S3, complete with savage insustries screaming monkey. Im a small guy so none of the leads costumes were ever gonna fit me - Clarissa's fit just nice though!
suits both seem to be custom made. The boots are the same tourmasters somone posted earlier, pretty much identical. There were also 2 pairs of gloves that i'll dig out and post pics. Those look like found parts that have just been weathered nicely.
sometime I'd love to make up a the Savage industries helmet to match the suit, but I know the base helmets don't come cheap so it'll be a while till I get round to it.
Great stuff! That's a really nice vac suit. Thanks so much for posting/sharing those purchases. I love when fans add to the record of what these prop details were. Cool that it fits you too!
Hopefully you can make up a replica helmet as many other have done. I do love the Savage Industries screaming ape logo. Nice you got boots too, do they happen to fit as well? That would be lucky.
Maybe you could add a shot of the front chest logo from the jumpsuit, which looks interesting.
I have one of Amos' jumpsuits, but I'll resist the urge to call you "Peaches."
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Hah yeah I'm really happy with the fit. Boots, gloves, suits, the whole lot fit like a glove. Nice to know I have roughly the physique of Nadine Nicole - I'll take it as a win. I bid on some of Amos' suits. They'd have been cool to own, but you could fit 2 of me in there
Heres a pic of the Lovel City logo from the jumpsuit, plus several pics of the gloves.
I can't see any branding on anything on them. The black gloves look like insualted ones you'd wear as an under layer for skiing or motorbiking etc. They've been elasticated at the cuffs and the textured pads looks like they mightve been added by production too.
I really dig the brown vac suit gloves. Looks like lightweight motorbike gloves. The grey palm detail has been added and I think the thumbs might've been cut off and replaced. Lots of nice brown weathering, and it looks like a brand might've been sanded off the hard plastic wrist straps. I think some of the material was blue to start off with.
Heres a pic of the Lovel City logo from the jumpsuit, plus several pics of the gloves.
I can't see any branding on anything on them. The black gloves look like insualted ones you'd wear as an under layer for skiing or motorbiking etc. They've been elasticated at the cuffs and the textured pads looks like they mightve been added by production too.
I really dig the brown vac suit gloves. Looks like lightweight motorbike gloves. The grey palm detail has been added and I think the thumbs might've been cut off and replaced. Lots of nice brown weathering, and it looks like a brand might've been sanded off the hard plastic wrist straps. I think some of the material was blue to start off with.
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More good stuff, thanks! That's pretty awesome that everything fits you. I bid and won one of Amos' jumpsuits because I knew from a Con that I was roughly about the same size as Wes Chatham, minus all the muscles!
I also know that Steven Strait (Holden) was taller and thinner than me.The brown gloves to look like dirt bike or possibly even mountain bike gloves. They're very nice.
Hello all. Haven't had much time to work on the holster itself (hoping to over the holidays), but I did get a chance to grab and clean up the Tachi label that's needed (attached here, oversize, for others).
Also, for those looking for the belt, there's one Ebay right now. If you don't have one yet, would recommend grabbing quickly as they don't come up often. Don't worry if it's too big - fairly easy to remove the buckle, cut the plastic, and put back. Just note the back buckle screws are softer metal and have a little Locktite keeping them in place.
Also, for those looking for the belt, there's one Ebay right now. If you don't have one yet, would recommend grabbing quickly as they don't come up often. Don't worry if it's too big - fairly easy to remove the buckle, cut the plastic, and put back. Just note the back buckle screws are softer metal and have a little Locktite keeping them in place.
5.11 Tactital Apex T-Rail Belt Black - Plain Size XL 40-42 Model # 59504 | eBay
<p>5.11 Tactital Apex T-Rail Belt Black - Plain Size XL 40-42 Model # 59504 1.5 in wide B10 webbing TPU coated sold as is see pictures for reference</p>
www.ebay.com
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Thanks for the heads on the eBay belt. I picked that one up. Thanks also for the image file.Hello all. Haven't had much time to work on the holster itself (hoping to over the holidays), but I did get a chance to grab and clean up the Tachi label that's needed (attached here, oversize, for others).
Also, for those looking for the belt, there's one Ebay right now. If you don't have one yet, would recommend grabbing quickly as they don't come up often. Don't worry if it's too big - fairly easy to remove the buckle, cut the plastic, and put back. Just note the back buckle screws are softer metal and have a little Locktite keeping them in place.
5.11 Tactital Apex T-Rail Belt Black - Plain Size XL 40-42 Model # 59504 | eBay
<p>5.11 Tactital Apex T-Rail Belt Black - Plain Size XL 40-42 Model # 59504 1.5 in wide B10 webbing TPU coated sold as is see pictures for reference</p>www.ebay.com
Once I get my MCRN pistol complete, I have the holiest base and now the belt, so I'll just need to come up with a plan for the custom holster itself.
Thanks again, and happy holidays all!
Scary moment when I was traveling internationally. I had packed my Holden S4 Arcteryx Gamma MX pants for the cold snowy weather and we lost that suitcase! Unbelievably, they found it at the airport train station with pants intact. Second guessing traveling with these pants now but they're just so nice I want to get some good wear out of them.
Maybe consider buying a used pair on eBay and not lose or put the wear & tear on a unique set of screen-worn pants that are likely worth a lot more?
Ah! I wasn’t clear. These are not screen-used from the auction. Just a pair of the same model pants, “found parts.” Though they aren’t particularly valuable (only in that it’s $ Arcteryx) they’re precious to me and fairly irreplaceable because that style of pants is no longer available and they rarely come up used at all let along in the right color/size.
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Ah that makes perfect sense.
And... I think the material is found! After many, many interations of searching on perforated plastic online, jackpot. This has to be it.
Looks like the holster is made from thermoplastic as used in the medical industry for splits, casts, etc. And let me tell you, this stuff is magic. Completely stiff/solid at room temperature, place it in hot water for a little bit and it becomes plyable to wrap around whatever shape's needed (can even cut with a scissors), let it cool and it's solid again. Don't like the shape? No problem. Place back in warm water and it's plyable again. I assume, haven't tried yet, a heat gun could be used as well for small refinements. Working with a small test sample today I was able to form it and the effect/look is just like the pictures from the PropStore holsters. A few more refinements to my pattern and it's time to make a holster!
The specific material is Aquaplast-T from Rolyan and is available on Amazon as a charcoal/black sheet, perforated of course, for under $100.
www.performancehealth.com
Looks like the holster is made from thermoplastic as used in the medical industry for splits, casts, etc. And let me tell you, this stuff is magic. Completely stiff/solid at room temperature, place it in hot water for a little bit and it becomes plyable to wrap around whatever shape's needed (can even cut with a scissors), let it cool and it's solid again. Don't like the shape? No problem. Place back in warm water and it's plyable again. I assume, haven't tried yet, a heat gun could be used as well for small refinements. Working with a small test sample today I was able to form it and the effect/look is just like the pictures from the PropStore holsters. A few more refinements to my pattern and it's time to make a holster!
The specific material is Aquaplast-T from Rolyan and is available on Amazon as a charcoal/black sheet, perforated of course, for under $100.
Rolyan Watercolors Perforated Thermoplastic Splinting Material
Features balance of conformability and resistance to stretch 100% memory allows material to be reshaped and reheated Available in a full range of bright and metallic colors Non-toxic, latex-free, and radiolucent
www.performancehealth.com
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That looks like it as far as I can tell, comparing it to Bobbi's holster from the Propstore auction. Great job! 90-something bucks is a lot but I think one sheet of "ultra-perf" should do it. I'll have to mock up a big sheet of paper or something and get a ballpark shape. Then comes the tricky part, deciding how to put the thing together and with what hardware/attachments/etc. Forming it to an MCRN pistol should be relatively simple based on the description of the material... *should be*
There appears to be enough in a sheet to make four holsters. After I'm done, any leftover material I have is fair game to anyone here.That looks like it as far as I can tell, comparing it to Bobbi's holster from the Propstore auction. Great job! 90-something bucks is a lot but I think one sheet of "ultra-perf" should do it. I'll have to mock up a big sheet of paper or something and get a ballpark shape. Then comes the tricky part, deciding how to put the thing together and with what hardware/attachments/etc. Forming it to an MCRN pistol should be relatively simple based on the description of the material... *should be*
