kalkamel
Master Member
Its been a while since I was actually inspired to make a costume but after recently watching Zero Dark Thirty for the third time, I really wanted to do an impression of the DEVGRU operators as seen in the climactic seen of the movie. Did some research for a while, frequented a lot of airsoft forums to see what such an impression, or loadout as they call them, would entail. I also read and enjoyed Mark Owen's No Easy Day which shed some insight on the equipment he used during the mission.
Of course, this being a costume based on real world operators, most of the stuff are available to buy if you know where to look. I targeted the look of Patrick (Joel Edgerton) as a base of reference for mine. He is a breacher, as indicated by his morale patches and gear.
As with all the costumes I've constructed, I started with the helmet. Replica Ops-Core Fast Helmet with dummy GPNVG-18 (I used a Rhino mount as opposed to the more accurate Wilcox as that was what I had) and battery pack, replica Manta Strobe, replica Princeton Tec Charge MPLS and dummy Contour Roam. I plan on adding V-lites later.
As for the combat suit, I got the Allwin set, which based on what I read is the closest low budget China made set to the Crye Precision AOR1 combat suit. The ones they used in the movie are Gen 2 AOR1, but the Allwin is a Gen 3, so I replaced the knee pads with Gen 2 knee pads.
The plate carrier is an LBT replica with 5 extra pouches. I used one of the pouches for the dummy PRC-152, which is also connected to a PTT and ultimately to a replica Sordin headset. The vest also has glowsticks which I painted purple to resemble tactical IR ones, medical scissors, a whip antenna for the PRC-152 and a hydration pack (a bladder and tube was added to the pack after I took the pics).
The rest of the vest stuffers were scratchbuilt. The slap charges were made from layers of foam wrapped with electrical tape with wire from an old keyboard acting as the fuse. The EMags are a quick and dirty build out of cardboard and styrene as the base. The flashbangs are also made quick and dirty; 2" diameter PVC tube cut to size with some spare electrical parts from my tool box acting as the top and bottom. Cut styrene pieces and a keyring complete the look. The label's just printed on regular paper and pasted onto the tube.
Since this is a breacher, I'll probably try making some bolt cutter handles out of PVC pipes to stick out of the hydration pack. Just making sure the parts are convention safe.
The primary weapon during the raid was Heckler & Koch's HK416. Airsoft is pretty much illegal where I'm from ( ) so I had to settle for a "pew pew" electronic toy gun. Managed to find one at the local Toys R Us; it was a 1:1 scale M4A1 with suppressor so I just painted it black (thinking of painting it AOR1 now), scratchbuilt a buffer tube to hold the Magpul CTR stock, enhanced the suppressor with a PVC pipe (to get the same diameter and length of the AAC M4-2000) and added an EO-Tech 551, a foregrip and a red laser AN/PEQ-15 replica to complete the look.
I also found a "pew pew" sidearm that looked close enough to a Sig Sauer P226 to go into the AOR1 holster.
The rest of the gear includes a shemagh, Mechanix gloves and a Yates-style personal retention lanyard.
I also need to find myself a cheap pair of hiking shoes that look close enough to a Salomon 4D GTX.
Hoping to debut this at a local con this weekend. The only thing I'm missing is facial hair. Hopefully I can grow, or scratchbuild some.
Of course, this being a costume based on real world operators, most of the stuff are available to buy if you know where to look. I targeted the look of Patrick (Joel Edgerton) as a base of reference for mine. He is a breacher, as indicated by his morale patches and gear.
As with all the costumes I've constructed, I started with the helmet. Replica Ops-Core Fast Helmet with dummy GPNVG-18 (I used a Rhino mount as opposed to the more accurate Wilcox as that was what I had) and battery pack, replica Manta Strobe, replica Princeton Tec Charge MPLS and dummy Contour Roam. I plan on adding V-lites later.
As for the combat suit, I got the Allwin set, which based on what I read is the closest low budget China made set to the Crye Precision AOR1 combat suit. The ones they used in the movie are Gen 2 AOR1, but the Allwin is a Gen 3, so I replaced the knee pads with Gen 2 knee pads.
The plate carrier is an LBT replica with 5 extra pouches. I used one of the pouches for the dummy PRC-152, which is also connected to a PTT and ultimately to a replica Sordin headset. The vest also has glowsticks which I painted purple to resemble tactical IR ones, medical scissors, a whip antenna for the PRC-152 and a hydration pack (a bladder and tube was added to the pack after I took the pics).
The rest of the vest stuffers were scratchbuilt. The slap charges were made from layers of foam wrapped with electrical tape with wire from an old keyboard acting as the fuse. The EMags are a quick and dirty build out of cardboard and styrene as the base. The flashbangs are also made quick and dirty; 2" diameter PVC tube cut to size with some spare electrical parts from my tool box acting as the top and bottom. Cut styrene pieces and a keyring complete the look. The label's just printed on regular paper and pasted onto the tube.
Since this is a breacher, I'll probably try making some bolt cutter handles out of PVC pipes to stick out of the hydration pack. Just making sure the parts are convention safe.
The primary weapon during the raid was Heckler & Koch's HK416. Airsoft is pretty much illegal where I'm from (
) so I had to settle for a "pew pew" electronic toy gun. Managed to find one at the local Toys R Us; it was a 1:1 scale M4A1 with suppressor so I just painted it black (thinking of painting it AOR1 now), scratchbuilt a buffer tube to hold the Magpul CTR stock, enhanced the suppressor with a PVC pipe (to get the same diameter and length of the AAC M4-2000) and added an EO-Tech 551, a foregrip and a red laser AN/PEQ-15 replica to complete the look.
I also found a "pew pew" sidearm that looked close enough to a Sig Sauer P226 to go into the AOR1 holster.
The rest of the gear includes a shemagh, Mechanix gloves and a Yates-style personal retention lanyard.
I also need to find myself a cheap pair of hiking shoes that look close enough to a Salomon 4D GTX.
Hoping to debut this at a local con this weekend. The only thing I'm missing is facial hair.
Hopefully I can grow, or scratchbuild some.
