Embark on a journey to create your authentic Battlestar Galactica uniform. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the components needed to assemble a screen-accurate green BDU uniform, perfect for cosplay, fan events, or adding to your collection. We’ll walk you through each element, from the base BDUs to the finishing touches, ensuring you have all the resources to bring your Colonial warrior look to life.
Essential Components for Your Battlestar Galactica Uniform
To construct your own Battlestar Galactica green BDU uniform, you’ll need to gather several key items. Below is a detailed list with brand recommendations and considerations for achieving an authentic appearance.
Base Uniform: Green BDUs
The foundation of your uniform is the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). For the most accurate representation of the uniforms seen in Battlestar Galactica, consider the following:
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Brands and Styles: Tru-Spec Ripstop BDUs in Olive Drab are highly recommended as they closely resemble the screen-used uniforms. Look for:
- Tru-Spec Long Sleeve Tactical Shirt Poly Cotton Ripstop (2 pocket): Ideal for the upper body.
- Tru-Spec 6 pocket BDU pants Poly Cotton Ripstop: The correct style for the trousers.
- Fiber Content: Ensure both shirt and pants are made from the same poly-cotton ripstop material for color consistency.
- Alternative Brand: Propper BDUs offer a similar aesthetic and can be a cost-effective alternative. Propper poly cotton ripstop long sleeve shirt Olive Green and Propper 6 pocket BDU pant poly cotton ripstop Olive Green are good options.
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Over Dyeing (Optional but Recommended for Accuracy): Screen-used BDUs were over-dyed to achieve a darker, more screen-accurate olive drab. To replicate this, consider using RIT dye in a combination of colors:
- ¾ box of black RIT dye
- ½ box of brown RIT dye
- ⅓ box of green RIT dye
- Use a large plastic tub (approximately 20 gallons) for the dyeing process.
- Note: While over-dyeing enhances accuracy, it’s not essential, and many fans opt to skip this step.
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Pants Modification (For Dedicated Cosplayers): Accurate Battlestar Galactica uniform pants feature three wide belt loops. This modification requires sewing. You can source extra fabric from:
- Removing lower pockets from a 4-pocket BDU shirt.
- Purchasing an extra set of pants or a spare shirt.
- Decide whether to dye the fabric before or after adding belt loops for best results.
Tank Tops
Worn underneath the BDU, tank tops are another visible part of the uniform.
- Availability: Tank top sets are available from Anovos and Amazon.
- Options: Anovos offers both budget-friendly and screen-accurate versions.
Patches
Patches are crucial for indicating rank and unit affiliation in the Battlestar Galactica universe.
- Size and Source: Aim for 3 ½” patches, not the commonly available 4” size.
- Vendors:
- SGpatch.com
- Amazon (verify sizes carefully)
- ANOVOS (for screen-accurate patches)
Boots
Footwear completes the practical, military look of the uniform.
- Recommended Style: New Balance TAB 8 inch side zip tactical boots from LA Police Gear are a suitable and readily available option.
- Screen Accuracy: While the exact boots used on screen (believed to be Galls 8 inch side zips) are hard to find now, screen captures can help you find close matches in tactical boot styles.
Belt
The belt is a distinctive element, featuring specific buckles and webbing.
- Buckle: 1.5″ Duraflex Buckle, available from www.questoutfitters.com/plastic.htm.
- Webbing:
- 1.5″ forest green nylon webbing for the belt itself.
- 1″ nylon webbing (forest green) for wrist and pocket details.
- Sources: sailrite.com or strapworks.com. Strapworks also offers OD green webbing as an alternative color seen on screen.
Green Shoulder Suede
The suede shoulder pieces add a unique textural element to the uniform shirt.
- Material: Ultrasuede Light in “Ivy” color is ideal. Ultrasuede Soft in “Ivy” is a slightly thicker alternative if “Light” is unavailable.
- Source: fieldsfabricsonline.com.
- Local Fabric Stores: Ultrasuede can also be found at local fabric stores, but color matching may be less consistent.
Patch Velcro
Velcro is needed to attach patches to the uniform.
- Source: supplycaptain.com (4” x 12” size recommended).
Pocket and Wrist Buckles
These buckles add functional detail to the shirt.
- Type: 1″ black side release buckles, Duraflex 1″ stealth is the specific brand.
- Vendors:
- Amazon (sold in packs).
- questoutfitters.com (alternative source with 1” and 1 ½” sizes).
- Finishing: Buckles can be left black, painted gold, or weathered for a used look.
Rank Pins and Dog Tags
These are the final touches for personalizing your uniform.
- Rank Pins: Available from various sources, including Amazon and Anovos.
- Dog Tags: Custom Battlestar Galactica dog tags can be ordered from QXM dog tags.
Assembly and Research Resources
Assembling your Battlestar Galactica uniform requires some sewing, particularly for attaching the shoulder suede, webbing, and buckles. For detailed visual guides and instructions, refer to these helpful online resources:
- Shoulder Suede Tutorial: http://www.scifihero.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8251 – Provides a photo-rich tutorial on sewing the shoulder suede pieces, focusing on achieving square corners.
- General Research Forums and Guides:
- http://www.scifihero.net/forums/index.php?s=a21f97c43ceebfacba55a70d593f09d0&showforum=244 – A dedicated forum for Battlestar Galactica costumes and props.
- http://kay-dee.net/costumes/bsg-green/index.html – A detailed personal guide to creating the green BDU uniform.
- http://propreplicas.yuku.com/topic/11082/OD-BDU-guide#.Upz4WNKth8E – Another helpful guide on assembling the OD (Olive Drab) BDU uniform.
By utilizing these resources and carefully selecting your materials, you can create a high-quality, authentic Battlestar Galactica green BDU uniform.
