Hello there,

I plan to make the Iraki set of Masterbox (Marines), and paint them in ACU uniforms (beige or grey, I don't know yet).
For that I would detailled reference on the uniform and on the gear that current marines wear.
I know also that this set lacks a pair of details often seen on field, like the infrared shoulder patch.
If anybody could tell me what are the missing details, I would be happy to scratchbuild them, and I would be very grateful if someone of you can give me a link towards full detailed gear and ACU uniform of the marines.

Thanks and best

Julien

BTW I wrote marines, but the masterbox kit do not depict marines, simply infantry division I guess.

you'll have better luck in finding some info if you search for the "marpat" term. It's the marine pattern you're looking for not acu. The masterbox figures are not the happiest solution if you're going for accuracy. I think they would be ok for an earlier time frame say 2003?

Thanks Mario,

I though Marpat and ACu were the same..
I know accuracy is not that good, but I wnat to make small improvement to make them more accurate, and for that I need some good website full of reference.

Best,
Julien

MARPAT is the USMC Digital uniform and it comes in desert and woodland patterns.

Desert MARPAT


Woodland MARPAT


ACU is the Army Combat Uniform and it comes in Universal Cammo Pattern (greys) and Multi-Cam pattern (more like Woodland). The standard color worn in most areas is UCP. The Multi-Cam is only worn in Afghanistan.

UCP ACU


Multi-Cam ACU



ACU and Marpat are cut similar and have similar features such as upper shoulder and lower calf pockets. They are not the same cut though. You can tell the difference between the two.

The Masterbox figures are not wearing either ACU or MARPAT though. They are wearing the older DCU/BDU pattern uniforms that were worn up until about '05 or '06 in the US Army and around '02 in the USMC.

Thanks Gino, very usefull images !
Would it be possibe to make the DCU/BDU looks like the desert marpat, or would I have to make heavy changes ?
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with me.

Best,
Julien

ps : how can the left guy on the left picture play with his PS3 in such a situation :) ?

The console controller is used for controlling remote operated vehicles such as drones and bomb disposal robots.

To change the look of the BDU/DCU into MARPAT, you would have to add pockets on the lower outside calves and to the upper arms. The rest of the uniform is close enough that it will look OK once painted.

Thanks Gino.
I will try to find a uniform magasine where I could have in detail pictures.
The Desert Marpat is a real challenge to paint. I've seen an how to from calvin Tan on the ACU but I guess the technic could apply also to Marpat.

Best,
Julien