I should probably put some pics up at some point, huh (Posted 5th March 2013)

Ocelot's dry run at Minami went exceedingly well! Minor issues were identified, mostly to do with the holster fit/angles and belts, so I'll work on those for later wears. Initially I tried using a wig on TheKillingDoll but it turned out his hair worked much better, despite being a bit too dark (light brown rather than blond), so may see if I can convince him into a small bleach job for Ayacon.

In general, very happy with how it turned out, and also UNF

ROWR (Posted 18th February 2013)

Ocelot's going to make an appearance at Minami, because I was sensible and started him early. My first forays into leatherworking have gone quite well, the shoulder catridge belt is essentially done short of deciding to dye it or just oil it and the holsters are cut ready to be sewn up. It's all real leather, 8-10oz saddle tan, and I've enjoyed working with it :) I have a few photos I'll put up later.

Currently tearing my hair out over the small details like the collar tabs, medals, ribbon bar etc... everything else is just about done.

Chuffin' love iDye Poly (Posted 8th January 2013)

Drowning the Ocelot didn't work, so I boiled it to death. AKA, redyed the breeches using iDye Poly whilst furiously praying it would work. Welp, 1 packet has made them a very, very dark grey, which would do in a pinch - but I bought extra, so I'll probably give them another round. Hurrah!

Unfortunately, there is absolutely no way the jacket will fit in my dye pot, so I need to get a bigger one :(

Also did more research and discovered that the holster I was planning on getting is only part of the costume when he's using the Makarov, and I'm making the SAA version. So no, I can't just buy the holster. Instead I have to make TWO cartridge belts, AND two Heiser-style holsters. Yaaaaaaaaay. Learn ALL the leathercraft. Buy ALL the leather. Spend ALL the money.

WHY IS THIS COSTUME SO EXPENSIVE ;__________; (Posted 27th December 2012)

AKA why couldn't I crush on Raikov instead, would have cost a fraction...

The last things I need to get are another belt and two holsters, plus whatever pouches are on the SB belt (need to check refs). Can't spin guns if you've nowhere to put them. Apparently Colt holsters aren't common gear in the UK so it may need to be import time, yay for shipping costing as much as the item :(

EDIT: LIES I NEED TO ORDER THE BULLETS AS WELL GODDAMN IT

Leather (Posted 19th December 2012)

SOMEONE was very keen on having the cartridge belt, so what the hey, guess it's time to learn leatherworking.

I was looking at belt blanks on a leathercrafting site, but they were all undyed and frankly I didn't fancy dyeing leather as WELL. Instead I went to Camden yesterday, where there's a custom belt-making place that will cut belt leather of your choice and put on a buckle for you for an individual belt. It took some explaining that I only wanted the leather strips and not for them to make a whole belt, but I got there in the end. It's pre-dyed, saving some time, and frankly not much more expensive than the undyed blanks would have been.

The pattern assumes moderate expertise, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I won't include the cost of the tools I'll need to buy in with this costume as they'll be used elsewhere (and also it will make me cry).

Muh (Posted 12th December 2012)

Tried to dye the uniform with Dylon Hand Dye in the hope that it was cotton or wool. Apparently it is not natural fibre, because it took up absolutely zero dye (save for the jacket lining, which I would have assumed was polyester?!).

Have ordered iDye and will pray it doesn't shrink in the dyeing process...

Goddammit Yoji Shinkawa (Posted 29th November 2012)

This costume is proving harder than I thought to put together. It's not accurate to any historical uniform (except the beret) and there are no visible fasteners on the jacket! I'm adapting an East German uniform as screw patterning breeches like that so I'll have to decide if I want to use black buttons instead or find some other fastening method.