Kbs-1, The Pictures are Here!

Well here it is, the Kyrbej Borar Soludar v1. Or Battlefield Work Uniform Mark 1. This is dare I say the first or one of the first original articles Mandalorian clothing. I designed these but my wife actually did the sewing. I was curious about the new Army ACUs and did some research. Apparently the soldiers don't like them too well. Alot wanted to go back to the BDUs. So I decided to come up with a list of problems with the ACUs and create a design that fixes them.

My design starts with the BDU and them adds certain features to improve them. Here is a list of features:

Pants:
Hip Pocket flap covers.
Larger thigh pockets.
Thigh pockets are slanted forward for easier access.
Knee pockets for inserting knee pads.
Lower leg pockets.
Lower leg pockets are slanted back for easier access.
Tie leg bottoms.

Jacket:
Button up Mandarin collar.
Upper arm pockets.
Slanted chest pockets.
Straps for holding up rolled up sleeves.
Buttons for attaching magazine and other equipment pouches.

All pockets and closures use buttons. NO VELCRO or ZIPPERS!

My wife was amazing in making these for me. Her sowing machine was crying for mercy at times. I cant really believe we did it. The final product has some flaws in the design but nothing simple design revisions couldn't fix.

The biggest problem is the material. The camo material I used is a more grey instead of regular woodland. It was really hard to sew and it is white inside.

Things to fix in next version:
Jacket:
Upper arm pockets need to be moved further back.
Maybe add pockets for elbow pads.
Maybe add some sort of lower arm pockets for pencils and stuf like on the ACU.
Shorten jacket length.

Pants:
Wider butt pockets or possibly remove them.
Maybe move thigh pockets up ond forward.
Make knee pad pockets bigger and lower.
Maybe add straps to hold up pant legs if they are rolled up.


Front:
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Side:
(Posted Image)

Back:
Note: The adjustment straps in the back don't have any buttons yet.
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Mandarin Collar (In Down Position):
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Mandarin Collar (In Up Position):
Note: The button for the collar closure hasn't been added yet.
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Angled Chest Pockets:
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Shoulder Pockets:
Note: Missing some buttons here too.
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Sleeve Roll-up Strap:
Note: Again missing button.
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Pockets:
Note: Here's the butt pockets, hip pockets, and the angled thigh pockets. The right side of the picture is the front.
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Kneepad insert pockets:
(Posted Image)

Lower Leg Pocket:
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Nice overall design vod, what made you decide on camo?

I like it. Looks similiar to the ACU in design, not camo. The urban color scheme is cool, but if you do another design, go for light colors. Lighter colors, like those in the ACU, MARPAT, and multicam patterns, generally enable easier blending with the natural environment. The angled pockets are sick, and the hard lines of the uniform remind me of beskar'gam. You'll have to let us know how it stands up to wear and tear, and maybe also actual camoflauge.

nice design, but one problem The knee pad pockets are opened up downward, so if the button were to come off then the pads would simply fall out the bottom. Maybe put the opening on the top instead.

I typed up another reply but lost my connection on my laptop so I'll post it later.

Thanks for thet ideas Military. I thought about that with the kneepads. But the problem with having it open on the top would be snagging on branches and stuff. Or even getting mud and crap shoved inside.

I guess some solutions could be:
- Top opening with a flap. This would keep stuf from falling down in the pocket. But then it would require that much more fabric and sewing.
- Side opening. I guess technically it woud be rear opening since the revise kneepad pocket will be wider.
- Velcro the inside so that pads would get stuck. The problem is that it's velcro.
- Pass through button. There would be a button inside the pocket maybe at the top that would pass through a flap attached to the kneepad and probbaly through the pocket to the outside.
- I guess another option could be no pocket but have buttons which would attach to flaps on a kneepad. But then this doesn solve the problem of snagging.

But this is a good point if this is to be a quality uniform.

Also when ever the final version is completed I'd be willing to make some for anyone here who wants a set or two. Not sure what the price would be but I'd probably let 'em go for about the same price as BDU's $20 for top $20 for bottom. I don't have the facilities for mass production so it would be more of a favor. Since I'd be taking a hit with labor. But if it was made using old BDU's it'd probably be better cost wise for me.

Anywho, I'm also thinking of some hat designs. I figure I would go with two styles, a boonie and a regular cap. Apparently the ACU has a pocket in the cap. I was trying to think of some features to add to a cap/boonie. Any ideas?

Here's what I typed earlier:

I'm not sure what pattern this actually is. It was just a cool looking one at the fabric store. They don't have alot of patterns but they do have many I haven't seen before. But I thinkI might go and by some pieces of the different patterns and go out and test them. But once I get a final design for the uniform I want to get it in different patterns.

It probably would be pretty easy to modify a regular woodland BDU to get this design.

The angled pockets are NICE!!! The chest pockets and lower leg pockets are the prefect angle. The thigh pockets need moved forward.

I also want to test out my modular attachment design. I want to put two buttons at the rear side of the lower pockets on the jacket. One at the top and one at the bottom. Then there would be differet things you could attach to it each with too botton holes tomatch the buttons. The main idea is to put magazine pouches on it. But I'm sure there are tons of other attachments that could go there.

I haven't done any real wear an tear tests yet. But I'm going to go out paintballing or something and give 'em a good shakedown. I haven't had any problems with them so far execpt for the design flaws I mentioned and the shortage of buttons.

Nice catch on the knee pad pocket, Eddie. I didn't even notice that. As for caps, I don't really have any suggestions, except for maybe doing a full helmet instead of a hat :P I like the BDU's because they're like a Mandalorian take on a modern military garment, and they can be easily worn under armor and made in different colors to match one's preference or needs.

I do realize that the helmet isn't the most socially practical piece of clothing, but that's something I'd be willing to stand out for.

I couldn't afford a helmet right now.

Perhaps if some sort of hat that is uniquely Mandalorian.

Yeah, they're bloody expensive. Even making one from scratch is going to put you back a chunk of change. And after all, verd ori'shya beskar'gam.

Well i can up with a hat design and have the parts cut out. It's sort of a combo between a boonie and a cap.

The top is based ona cap. The brim is like a boonie but it doesn't go all the way around. It ends toward the back of the hat leaving a seven inch wide space without a brim. The sides of the brim can be buttoned up to give it a more cap-like look. The space in the back with out a brim is a piece of cloth that can be unfolded and drapes down to cover the back of the neck.

I'll post some pics when it gets made.

YEAHY! I got enough buttons to finish it. I also bought some boots. Once I get all the buttons on I'll take some better pictures. I just need to figure out ranks and unit patches.

haha well if you need help on were to put your patches im your man i have served in the marine core for 4 years now soo just hit me up if you need questions

Well I came up with some ideas. One will be on the hat. One on each shoulder. One in the center of the collar when it is in a closed postion. The theory here is that if a vest was to be worn it would cover the ones on teh shoulders and the collar would be up. The last rank would be on the pants somewhere. So if the uniform was worn without the jacket then rank would be visible. Of course you'd have to look at someone's hips to see their rank. Rank on a t-shirt would probably be better.

The unit patches will be on the shoulders above the shoulder pockets.

Great job on the KBS-1.
I had been given a set of Multi-cams and you can darn near disappear in a wide range of environments. Big drawback with that uniform is that like the ACU, Too Much Velcro! Noisy, and a pain in the shebs! Also the mandarin collar is a little on the puny side. The plus side is that they already have the knee and elbow pockets for pads. I was looking into making a set of pads for mine, cushioned on the user side and hard plated for the receiver's side.

My plans are to keep an eye on what you come up with and stamp as official.

Building a buy'ce was going to be my next project, and definitely not a costuming project!

Any ideas on that would be great. Should it have a more modernized look, traditional Fett , or something completely different all together. My idea was to build off of the current military issue helmet,( Kevlar!!!) or the previous steel pot, but make the appropriate modifications that scream Mandalorian.

Since I finally have al the parts of the uniform together I'm going to takes some more pictures.

Yesterday I want to some yard sales with my wife and at one I found a ACU jacket. It was anything you can fit in a bag for one dollar. So instead of paying the marked price of $8 I got it for a few cents.

It was interesting to see the differences between my design and the ACU. The velcro was crap as I thought. It was either really hard to undo or didn't stick. Yes the collar was pretty small. I think my final version will be bigger than the ACU collar and smaller than the KBS-1 collar.

Seeing the differences has inspired a few design improvements. So I'm still working on improvements to be put into the KBS-2. I'm also looking for some better fabric. Multicam is great but its fierfeking expensive. I found some multicam jackets at the surplus store and the fabric felt really thick. The pattern is great. I've been looking into dying some of my own patterns. But that is still up in the air.


Here's a helmet someone on TDH made. Maybe it will give you some inspiration:
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Modified classic is good. The fresh air intake to keep the inside of the visor from fogging is a must. I have an old rubbies helmet that I put riot lens on and used for paint ball; fogged like crazy. One of the guys that used to go out with us was a reserved sheriff's deputy. He loved to pull "mir'sheb" stunts like freezing his paintballs, and he had access to pepper balls. Needless to say that some of the other guys with run of the mill masks ate some pepper, my buy'ce kept out most of it and I made it through my peppering with minor irritation. We caught him off guard later and he went home whelped up really good.

A forward intake over the visor could also be used to blow away that kind of stuff, and with proper mico-ducting keep it from being pulled in from underneath. Of course someone seeing a real life Mando coming will probably go for something a little more lethal, or run! Mad tactical scientist in deep thought now, I get like this with little sleep.

Hey, what's up?

I am Matt.

What made you pick the camo over muted unicolor fatigues? I have found that I am able to wear unicolor fatigues out in public with little to no second thought. When I wear any type of camouflage I get more looks. Maybe a dark grey or black set the next time you try to make some. These fatigues should be able to be work, recreation, and tactical, if ever the need arose.

-Matt

I had received a set of multi-cams from the wife of a friend who's unit was designated to give them a test drive so to speak, and he loved em'. He was K.I.A. two years ago, "Training Accident!"

He wore a size large, and when going through his things, his wife come across a set of mediums that he had been sent by mistake and she sent them to me along with one of his helmets.

Mine is more of a sentimental choice cause of he and his family being good friends, and on the top of my list in daily remembrance.

If there is a specific uniform color pattern that is decided on then I'll definitely go with that. I'm basically keeping an on the design layout Sola'lor is working on.

With the Mandalorian culture promoting the acceptance of diversity, I would think that color scheme would be that of personal preference, but the design layout should be the same and stand out as Mandalorian. But as I said, If anything is decided on as specific I'll go with that.

I'm very new here also, Su'cuy Matt.

Matt, I really just picked the camo pattern because I didn't want same ol same ol' woodland. I also didn't want digicams. So it was really one of the only patterns left that fit what I was looking for at the fabric store.

But my focus right now isn't the camo pattern. My focus is the design. Once the design gets finished it could by used with any camo pattern.

I prefer having a wide variety of patterns for many different environments rather than one that tries to fit them all. But Multi-cam is a great pattern.

So yeah as Koto said pretty much any pattern would work with this design. And as you suggested even muted single colors. I'm also working on a black varient that would be used in non-combat settings like in an office or something. And then there's a training/classroom setting varient based of the uniform the clones/Boba Fett wore on Kamino.

Well, I practically lived in ACU's from August to December, only being allowed to remove them for PT, Sleep, and to Change into a higher class uniform, and I have to say, arm pockets are a blessing as is velcro. Velcro may not be the best for combat, but it is by and large, more convenient than buttons. Velcro can be manipulated with one hand easier than buttons. The suit should be functional in any environment, classroom or field, so the pen holders would come in handy as would the note pad and cargo pockets. I have been working on a 'work' gauntlet concept that revolve around the iPhone in a sleeve on your forearm. With a stylus, it would provide the ability to rapidly communicate verbally and non verbally, as well as provide many resources like GPS and Maps.



Just things to think about.

I like the gauntlet concept Matt's got going on. Practical and would provide the user(s)
with a whole host of resources w/ modern mobile internet capabilities.

Yeah, it is a great idea. It reminded me of the gauntlets that are on the Sith uniforms from KotOR.

Another design revision I just thought of. I'm going to try making pockets like those on Boba Fett's armour. The ones on the pant legs.

I almost forgot bout those. I'll probably start pulling the pockets on mine and get some extra material for relocating them in the proper spots.
I went out an bought two helmets from the local surplus store so that I can get started on those projects. Got lots of character on em', that 'll keep me busy for a while.

Is the goal a suit that can interface with fully functional battle armor?