The Ultimate X-Wing Pilot Thread

[JHVanOphem]

Well here is a pic of me taken by Joe Corroney a few years ago:

http://dragobit.com/jc/jc3.jpg

You can see that the Krylon primer and semi-gloss coat does give the box a blue-ish tint when photographed.

 

[Guri]

I figured I could use this thread as an excuse to post a picture of the cutest little X-Wing Pilot I know. :lol

This is my niece and my son - I made both costumes...

And with the helmet:

He won something at the contest at the mall, I forget the title...

 

[Miana]

Awwwww! They're adorable!

 

[Treadwell]

I believe they really did have a bluish tint, but a very subtle one to a color that overall is still mostly gray. Any "blue" paint is going to be, well, too blue!

I found a "denim" color that I think is pretty close.

The middle rocker switch is grey, the box is denim.

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

Here is the paint scheme that I used for all my Xboxes.

It is called Smoke Grey...it does have the bluish tint in it. For comparison...the middle rocker switch is medium dark grey.

HTH

 

[stormtrooperguy]

i just got one of mansugi's chest boxes, and it certainly looks the part to me! excellent work there!

 

[Brinn 71]

i just got one of mansugi's chest boxes, and it certainly looks the part to me! excellent work there!

I AGREE! thumbsup

 

[Brinn 71]

I figured I could use this thread as an excuse to post a picture of the cutest little X-Wing Pilot I know. :lol

This is my niece and my son - I made both costumes...

Adorable!

 

[Guri]

thanks! I am a proud mommy/aunt. :love

 

[R2B9]

I'll chime in on the "Blue Box" topic-- if you look at some of the stills of pilot groups, the boxes range from gray to blue-ish. I think about it this way--(in the SW Universe) the Rebellion is made up of all kinds of volunteers from many different worlds. Would they bother to paint them all the same? Maybe one imperial manufacturer makes them, but who's to say that they weren't different colors over the production years, for different squadrons or what have you.

One thing I'm pretty sure of. If it IS a life support unit, you can darn well bet your wookiee that they'd be the most clean, shiny and well-kept piece of equipment they own.

 

[R2B9]

..and because I'm blathering on... if you have the metal flares, and don't want them all blingy shiney, you could always spray them with a coat of clear flat laquer. But, they do look mighty purty all shiney nice.

Damn you Kenny, you and your "must have those" accessories!!!!!!!

 

[SandtrooperScout]

Great thread! Glad I found it. I'm starting work on my own X-Wing Pilot concurrently with my 181st TIE Pilot, so this is a treasure trove for me. The wife is going to make the flak vest for me (she sews costumes, officers, jedi, etc) and I'm thinking of going the modified coverall route for the flight suit. I have a lead or two on a helmet and chestbox, but any other options would be appreciated if you feel like pm'ing them.

 

[Darth Lars]

Mansugi's chest box is darn nice, and I have ordered one for a friend.
But I want to customize mine with working push-buttons and lights, and I wouldn't dare to cut up a pristine one that I had bought.

Btw. Were the straps really green?

 

[stormtrooperguy]

so here's my mostly finished costume, using the costumebase suit and vest:

breakdown of the stuff:

- mansugi chest box and assorted hardware
- richies helmet
- chest box knob, arm tools and misc flares by elvistrooper
- boots are german officer style
- leg flare holder by me
- gloves i've had for years and years
- costumebase vest and suit
- strapworks.com straps, sewn by me


vest was customized a bit:
- replaced built in velcro strap around the chest with the insertion locks
- added in adjustment buckle in the back
- shortened shoulder straps
- added tubing to the vest

 

[Treadwell]

Wow, nice job fixing up the costumebase vest (and everything else)!

Were the straps really green?

Yup. Olive Drab cotton webbing material.

 

[JHVanOphem]

Back to the flak vest insertion locks.

I just went over this entire thread again to make sure this information was new. I have been making some screen caps from a HD copy of the films and I managed to get a really decent framegrab:

Click here for the image

The proper name for the lock is a Tuck Catch Lock.

Mansugi seems to have the closest match I've seen yet, however a few points of interest:

The bottom is backwards in relation to the top piece.

There is a gap in the centre of the lock tab. So far I have not found an exact match.

The bottom is attached to the vest via some kind of base attached to a tab.

The top is attached via a wedge-shape along with the strap itself.

So any chance we can find an exact match for the lock?

 

[JHVanOphem]

I found this picture in my archives. I have no idea where I got it from. However combined with the picture I posted above it gives a bit more of a clue on how the lock was attached and how it looks.

A bit better detail on the top piece, and the two joining pieces look like white leather?

 

[Miana]

White leather indeed, though if you want to wash the thing, I'd suggest vinyl.

 

[Darth Lars]

Recently, I found some Tuck Catch Locks in a local store that appeared to be not perfect, but at least a little bit more accurate than Mansugi's.
What is the correct size? Maybe I could acquire a pair of them.

I bought a set of coveralls today that I intend to convert. Dickies Red Hawk WD4839. It is huge. Porkins would not have any problems fitting into these, and the legs and sleeves are long. I have no need of any extra orange fabric for the conversion.

 

[RogueSolo]

Can you say where you get them? I have a Porkins sized friend (who costumes as Porkins...) who is looking for a new flightsuit around the 5x range.