CB2001
Master Member
Before I begin, this isn't me showing off a prop I own. I figured this would be a good idea for a post, something to use as a reference for those who may be interested in doing this particular item as well.
As of right now, since I'm trying to figure out where I want to purchase the liquid latex to mix with paint for my Michael Myers mask repaint. But until I can finally decided, I figured I'd share a little info on another item I'm considering on making (in fact, I had been considering on constructing one for quite some time now). So, I figured I'd share some reference material and information I've come across about this particular video game prop that is just as iconic as the characters in the game: The Left 4 Dead first aid kit.
Here are a couple of pictures of the kit. Granted, the pictures are not really big, but it gives you an idea on how the med kit appears in the game:
Now, for those who haven't played the game, some of the props (other than the weaponry) are based on real world items. For example, the equally famous "pain pills" in the game have a label that is similar to the design of the Target brand ibuprofen (the differences between them are really small, including the lack of the "Target" symbol and how the information about the count of the tables on the real label is where "PAIN PILLS" are located on the label in game). While I was attempting to find information about the first aid kit in the game, including more pictures in higher quality of the med kit, I discovered the real world counterpart to the first aid kit:
The above kit is Ortovox First Aid Pouch. Honestly, I considered on buying a pack from here to use as a base, but according to the site where I found this, it is currently "inactive and not for sale." However, some of the information on the site about the pack appears to be rather useful. The only differences between the real world first aid pouch and the first aid kit in "Left 4 Dead" that I can tell is that where the brand name is on the real world pouch, "First Aid" is located on the in-game item. Also, the First Aid cross is actually inverted (instead of a white cross, it's a wide box with a red cross).
Of course, during my searches for info, I found one person who was making and selling "Left 4 Dead first aid kits" from a video that was posted at Gametrailers.com, the user who posted it received one, back before the "First Aid" patch was added to it . However, from the pictures as you can see, the kits aren't 100% accurate. But the real issue I had with it is the pricing for them (this person is selling them for $45, but from what I've heard, it's mainly because the person who is selling them is actually stocking them like real first aid kits, with everything from bandages, alcohol wipe pads, etc). Here's a couple of pictures of them.
Now, here comes some "important" information about the first aid kit. From the website of the person selling the L4D First Aid kits, the dimensions of the kit is 8" w x 10 " l x 3 " d.
The above information sounds like it's correct. However, the real world counterpart, Ortovox First Aid Pouch, the size of that particular kit is: 28 w x 18 l x 6 d cm.
Another thing that was somewhat confusing to me was the black strap that went across the front of the pouch (in both the real world and in-game pouches). After doing some more looking around, I found another site that was also selling a similar pouch (even from the same company) that is also discontinued, when I found this picture on its site:
I don't know if the pouch in the first picture does the same thing (which would explain the black strap in the front), but it does explain why there are two black zippers and why it seems a little odd why there'd be two zippers for someone to use to reach into the pouch for. Honestly, unless someone happens to have the Ortovox First Aid Pouch or knows someone who does, it's hard to say if the black strap is mean to be a "handle" to open the pouch (if it does, then that would mean the in-game version of the kit, or at least in the fictional world of the game, would do the same if it were a real life item).
Another detail that varies is the pouch's ability to stay on a character with no straps. According to the information I read about the Ortovox kit, it is an item that would be stored in an backpack, which suggests that it wouldn't be worn like in the game. Now, a lot of fans who have done cosplay who have made their own packs normally include straps the same color as the pouch itself. Of course, many of these cosplayers often use an already existing pouch (namely the kind of mini-girls purse bags) that does not look at all like the pouch in game. The pouch being sole for $45 (mentioned earlier) appears to have black staps that may be used to "wear" the pack (as you can see in the second picture).
I hope that the following information is useful to others who are also interested in making the "Left 4 Dead" first aid kit pack. If any others have any additional information or even better shots of the in-game pack or its real world counterpart (even potential material that could be used for the replica), by all means, feel free to contribute.
As of right now, since I'm trying to figure out where I want to purchase the liquid latex to mix with paint for my Michael Myers mask repaint. But until I can finally decided, I figured I'd share a little info on another item I'm considering on making (in fact, I had been considering on constructing one for quite some time now). So, I figured I'd share some reference material and information I've come across about this particular video game prop that is just as iconic as the characters in the game: The Left 4 Dead first aid kit.
Here are a couple of pictures of the kit. Granted, the pictures are not really big, but it gives you an idea on how the med kit appears in the game:
Now, for those who haven't played the game, some of the props (other than the weaponry) are based on real world items. For example, the equally famous "pain pills" in the game have a label that is similar to the design of the Target brand ibuprofen (the differences between them are really small, including the lack of the "Target" symbol and how the information about the count of the tables on the real label is where "PAIN PILLS" are located on the label in game). While I was attempting to find information about the first aid kit in the game, including more pictures in higher quality of the med kit, I discovered the real world counterpart to the first aid kit:
The above kit is Ortovox First Aid Pouch. Honestly, I considered on buying a pack from here to use as a base, but according to the site where I found this, it is currently "inactive and not for sale." However, some of the information on the site about the pack appears to be rather useful. The only differences between the real world first aid pouch and the first aid kit in "Left 4 Dead" that I can tell is that where the brand name is on the real world pouch, "First Aid" is located on the in-game item. Also, the First Aid cross is actually inverted (instead of a white cross, it's a wide box with a red cross).
Of course, during my searches for info, I found one person who was making and selling "Left 4 Dead first aid kits" from a video that was posted at Gametrailers.com, the user who posted it received one, back before the "First Aid" patch was added to it . However, from the pictures as you can see, the kits aren't 100% accurate. But the real issue I had with it is the pricing for them (this person is selling them for $45, but from what I've heard, it's mainly because the person who is selling them is actually stocking them like real first aid kits, with everything from bandages, alcohol wipe pads, etc). Here's a couple of pictures of them.
Now, here comes some "important" information about the first aid kit. From the website of the person selling the L4D First Aid kits, the dimensions of the kit is 8" w x 10 " l x 3 " d.
The above information sounds like it's correct. However, the real world counterpart, Ortovox First Aid Pouch, the size of that particular kit is: 28 w x 18 l x 6 d cm.
Another thing that was somewhat confusing to me was the black strap that went across the front of the pouch (in both the real world and in-game pouches). After doing some more looking around, I found another site that was also selling a similar pouch (even from the same company) that is also discontinued, when I found this picture on its site:
I don't know if the pouch in the first picture does the same thing (which would explain the black strap in the front), but it does explain why there are two black zippers and why it seems a little odd why there'd be two zippers for someone to use to reach into the pouch for. Honestly, unless someone happens to have the Ortovox First Aid Pouch or knows someone who does, it's hard to say if the black strap is mean to be a "handle" to open the pouch (if it does, then that would mean the in-game version of the kit, or at least in the fictional world of the game, would do the same if it were a real life item).
Another detail that varies is the pouch's ability to stay on a character with no straps. According to the information I read about the Ortovox kit, it is an item that would be stored in an backpack, which suggests that it wouldn't be worn like in the game. Now, a lot of fans who have done cosplay who have made their own packs normally include straps the same color as the pouch itself. Of course, many of these cosplayers often use an already existing pouch (namely the kind of mini-girls purse bags) that does not look at all like the pouch in game. The pouch being sole for $45 (mentioned earlier) appears to have black staps that may be used to "wear" the pack (as you can see in the second picture).
I hope that the following information is useful to others who are also interested in making the "Left 4 Dead" first aid kit pack. If any others have any additional information or even better shots of the in-game pack or its real world counterpart (even potential material that could be used for the replica), by all means, feel free to contribute.
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Let me know if you have pictures of your med kit...
