Help Me Get Camouflaged
BaconTheory
Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
in Off-Topic
Well I need a little help to camouflage myself better for when I play paintball woodsball. Me and a couple people usually play scenario/attack/defend games and I want to blend in better. So I'm asking for help from the forum's paintball gurus, military fanatics and anyone who can help out. I'll put pictures of my equipment below to help you decide how best to camouflage it. In the wintertime up at Skirmish I used my poor-man's snow camo which consisted of a white bedsheet for a white pseudo-ghillie and a cut pillowcase for gun camo. Keep in mind that I don't want to spend a great deal of money here, I just want to camouflage myself the best that I can by spending the least amount of money. Equipment pics:
Gun
<img src='http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6682/gun7fg.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Mask
<img src='http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/511/mask5hj.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Those are the things in their actual colors that I want camoed. Other than that I have a full US Army woodland BDU with combat boots. Maybe I need a real woodland ghillie?
Gun
<img src='http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6682/gun7fg.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Mask
<img src='http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/511/mask5hj.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Those are the things in their actual colors that I want camoed. Other than that I have a full US Army woodland BDU with combat boots. Maybe I need a real woodland ghillie?
Comments
I'd say the least expensive method would be the twigs and leaves, while an easier one would be the netting/cloth.
Colors: Patterned greens, browns, and blacks; adding real foliage from the specific environment you'll be hiding in is essential
Recommendation:
painting the gun & mask is trivial and really quite useless compared to wearing face paint and a ghillie suite
1. military grade ghillie suit
2. face paint
3. camouflaged gun / paintball marker
4. camouflaged mask
Ghillie Suit is the best solution for true camo in woods. You also might get laughed at so you better have the skill, experience, and accuracy to back it up.
(at which point they won't be laughing but rather fearing you and making getting you out a primary objective)
Ghillie suits are very effective when you wear the native folliage that looks just like the area you'll be hiding in.
You'll also needed to act like an animal who uses camouflage and be aware of your hiding spot matching your camouflage.
For example:
if you are camouflaged with leaves and twigs from a particular tree, don't go hide in grass.
if you a covered with green leaves don't go hide in leaf litter or vise versa (brown with brown, green with green or you'll show up quite well
if you can't be patient and still when being watched your movement can give you away easily
if you can't be quiet your enemy can hear you and you'll get shot
If you are actually skilled in the use of camouflage and stealth you are truely invisible to your target. This is a huge advantage to those who know how to use it. Like me for example. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> (although some military experts would kick my arse just because they are that much better)
<!--QuoteBegin-FYI+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (FYI)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The word <i>ghillie</i> is an old Scottish term for a special kind of game warden. Ghillies were tasked with protecting the game on their Lord's lands. From time to time, the ghillies would stalk the game by hiding in the grass and lying perfectly still. They would wait for unsuspecting deer to amble by and then leap out and grab it with their bare hands. Ghillies would then haul their prize back to the keep so the Lord could shoot it in the castle courtyard in a “mock hunt.” <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In conculsion:<ul><li>Get a real ghillie suit. </li><li>Don't have shiny or brightly colored stuff showing. </li><li>Wear foliage on you and on your gun. </li><li>Get some skills.</li></ul>PS: Buy a real Ghillie suit not an imation. It's stronger, more durable, padded on ventral side (important!), you can choose a superior camouflage scheme, and can put more foliage on it.
~edit~ Better picture:
Lies. Show us a picture. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Good sites, running list:
<a href='http://www.milcompass.com/ghilliesuit.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.milcompass.com/ghilliesuit.htm</a>
(has excellent suits for mossy environments, and don't forget something like the #65121"Chameleon Synthetic Rifle Wrap" for your gun)
<a href='http://www.ghillie.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.ghillie.com/</a>
<a href='http://www.geocities.com/stalker217/ghillie/' target='_blank'>http://www.geocities.com/stalker217/ghillie/</a>
<a href='http://www.geocities.com/donny75482/' target='_blank'>http://www.geocities.com/donny75482/</a>
<a href='http://www.halo.org.uk/suits/military.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.halo.org.uk/suits/military.htm</a>
<img src='http://www.ghillie.com/images/redad.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Hur hur hur. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
From my experience in paintball... gillie suits and camo in general dont work to well...unless you want to sit down in the heat wearing a big mess of crap so you look like a bush. Which if you did, not only would it be uncomfortable...but I assume your friends wouldnt like playing hide and go seek the bush. If you are only playing with a couple people as you said...after a few games they would figure out what your bush looks like.
You dont need to paint your gun, or hang stuff off your gun. Learn your gun, and learn to snap shot; Being able to shoot is much more important than hiding somewhere. Go to your local field, play a bit there
Went to check about what mask you have, saw your bottom line about your bdu's. Thats all you need. I havent worn combat boots before, running shoes have always worked well for me.
How long have you been paintballing?
Optical-Camouflage for the wiN!
<img src='http://www-ihm.lri.fr/~roussel/digital-library/snapshots/2003-OpticalCamouflage.png' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Once you have this you will be the l33t.
Stealth is the way to go
From my experience in paintball... g<span style='color:red'>h</span>illie suits and camo in general dont work to well... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Depends on what you're objective is.
If you play speedball, tourney-style then camo is stupidly useless.
If you are playing a scenerio in woods where a single game lasts hours and hiding & sniping is vital then normal green or brown clothing is woefully inadequate compared to somebody with actual camouflage.
It's relative and dependant on the type of game you play. I personally love woods and large stategic scenerios. It's more athletic, challenging, and fun than speedball by far. And it's not all about who's the rich guy with the Angel and unholy ammounts of paint to spam.
It's obvious you've never played (or had experience with) a large scenerio where there <i>are</i> very skilled players in ghillie suit. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> (this is see fairly commonly in serious "outlaw-ballers" or serious woods scenerio players; not to mention serious hunters which is a whole other sport)
PS: A ghillie suit is much more quality and effectiveness for your dollar than a green shirt and brown pants. It's not a fair comparison at all.
PPS: "eventually figure otu what your bush is like" Not if the sniper is skilled and know to change around their foliage depending on what they are hiding in. And if it become obvious that people know you are wearing, then any experienced or common sense using individual would simply wear different folliage. But be serious here, nice camo is very, very hard to pick out when done right.
I don't exactly see optical camo in that or camo of any kind. Probably thats what the General said when he saw the finished product.
"Cool! Wait no camo? Damn I knew I forgot to add something to the wishlist"
<!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Paintball = Real Combat - Death - Serious Injury (with proper protection)
Ok, so I don't have to repeat myself:
"IT DEPENDS"
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Paintball = Real Combat - Death - Serious Injury (with proper protection) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I want to be able to call in an air strike.
I want to be able to call in an air strike. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well if you got a friend who has a plane at the local airstrip I am pretty sure that can be done. Have the plane drop bombs filled with paintballs.
You want artillery instead? Then make an artillery paintball ;p
"Oh Noes!"
<img src='http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/entomology/mpb/management/fire/images/plane2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Me and my friend thought up some paintball artillery. It was one of those 3-man waterballoon launchers loaded with a paintball greande... <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If you don't want to spend a lot on camo, just try to wear colors similar to your surroundings. Make sure they're not noticeable, and try not to fidget a lot.
I wrapped my tippmann 98 w/ flatline barrel with camo tape, just put it over the shiney parts and along the barrel. Use a toothpick to poke out the holes for your barrels ports, but it dosent really matter the ports are useless anyways nomatter what anyone tells you.
Paintball = Real Combat - Death - Serious Injury (with proper protection) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought real guns haven't been that innacurate since flintlock rifles.
That's my main gripe about paintball. I'm a fairly good shot, but the markers just weren't accurate enough to be useful at anything but extremely close range (either that or you have to fire machinegun-like to compensate, which sucks when you have to pay for ammo).
Ghillie suits can be constructed in many different ways. Some services make them of rough burlap flaps attached to a net poncho. US Army Ghillie suits are often built using a pilot's flightsuit, battle dress uniform (BDU), or some other one-piece coverall as the base. Unscented dental floss is used to sew each knot of fishnet to the fabric, in the areas to be camouflaged. A drop of Shoe Goo is applied to each knot for strength. The desired jute is applied to the netting by tying groups of 3-4 strands of a color to the netting with simple knots, skipping sections to be filled in with other colors.
A ghillie suit is usually prepared by assembling it, beating it, dragging it behind a car, and then rolling it in cow manure or burying it in mud and then letting it ferment. This makes it very much like wearable humus. As with the foil blankets mentioned above, a ghillie suit that closely matches the actual terrain of the zone of operation will stand out less, so elements of that general environment (local foliage or other matter) may also be included in the netting.
An inherent problem with ghillie suits is internal (and sometimes, external) temperatures. Even in relatively moderate climates, the temperature inside of the ghillie suit can soar to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This can also proposes fire concerns, and usually suits have spray on flame retardant applied.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
you can make your own ghillie suit. you'll need some manure, or mud. real men use manure <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo-->
"Oh Noes!"
<img src='http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/entomology/mpb/management/fire/images/plane2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
ROFL. that'd be excellent <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
there are no "oficial Ghillie suits". They are more or less all handmade and unique ...
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Who needs camouflage!? Why would you spend a ton of money on all that stuff and not let the enemy see how bad *** it is? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Because there is not so much armour you can put on a human (being before it collapses) that would stop a good rifle round or two, not to mention such ugly things like mashine guns and auto cannons. Thats pretty much money wasted on a soldier walking the eath robocop ...
To come back to the topic and help the poster a bit....
Don't think too much about it.... Ghillie suites and such are overkill.
Get some basic camo that fits the environment and cover the shape of your helmet and gun.
The most important thing is to know that movement is the #1 element that makes you visible. the best camo will not save you from being spottet when you are observed while moving. Metal reflexions are #2 and colours #3.
Get a few sheets of fabric in natural colours (olive or brown ), cut it in strips and tow it around your gunbarrel and the ammo pod, as well as around your mask. Make sure there are enough free spaces for breathing or you lenses will fog up really quick.
the next thing is to cover up all metallic parts of your gun (crome barrel etc.) and overly brightly coloured parts of your gear. Best do this either with some nato green duct tape or dark paintings (some you can wash away later...)
that's all you need. if you want to cover up your shape any more, get a rain-protection poncho from an army store, it will cover up the shape of your arms and shoulders while you are in cover. You can also use it as foundation for a ghillie suite if it is of strong enough fabric...
If you want to go through that trouble of making one.... just google for it. There are plenty of websites about them.
Basically, all you need is textile paintings in 3 - 5 natural color ranging from brown to green, plenty of fabric (old t-shirts etc.) and natural (hemp is best) rope.
Cut the fabric in strips and take some bundles. Twist them (like a steel wire) and dip them into a color. After it dried, untwist them and they will be coloured in an irregular pattern. Rinse and repeat until they are completely coloured and sew them to the poncho, starting from the bottom. This way, the strips will overlap.
Then take the rope and cut it in short parts about one feet lengt. Now "undo" the rope. I don't know the proper term for it in english, so basically ... you know, you dissolve it.
When you do it properly, the rope will look like a bunch of hair that haven't been washed for too long ... (make sure its not dissolving completely... either glew or sew it secure on one end...)
You take those and dip them in in a single color. Be careful that the painting does not glue all the strings together. The hemp should take the textile colour quite nicely, just make sure to shake it out before letting it dry.
Now sew those bunches to the suit.
You have to make sure, with both the fabric and the rope, that they are of unregular lengt and arranged irregularely. The idea is that there are no clearly visible structures the eye might recognise to be human made. Any regular pattern, like all pieces having the same length (makes it kinda look like rooftiles) is unnatural and attracts attention.
Hope I was helpful.
Just make sure you don't do something silly, like hit the dirt to avoid enemy fire! You may crack the visor and let the bad air in!
Balaclavas are out of the question because they'll steam up a cheap mask but more importantly will make you die of heat exhaustion. Yours isn't a cheap mask(anti-fog protection on the inner surface of the lens) but I'm wondering why you didn't get a green mask instead of that one.
Facepaint, x5, is useless when you have a mask on (you're not allowed to take of your mask at any time on the field [by law in the UK, at least])
You could think about tying a bandana over parts of the
For the body I went with a cheap green-brown boiler suit from the fleamarket in Paris, you can probably pick one up somewhere. Problem with this is that you wanna make sure it's light and preferably breathable. Problem with that last part is that the paint will usually go through to the layer underneath a breathable material.
---
My best advice would be to go in green clothing of some description that gives decent manouvrebility. Don't worry about the mask because if you can see 'em you can shoot 'em and if you don't want to be seen you should just pop your head up to eye-level.
Keeping an eye on 'enemy' movements will allow you to take the best vantage point and either ambush them or flank them. Either way, if you concentrate on effective movement and keeping your whole body unseen when you're stationary, you won't have to worry about what you're wearing because they won't see you 'til it's too late <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
P.S. Play a SupAir tourney sometime, the adrenaline rush is insane!
Paintball = Real Combat - Death - Serious Injury (with proper protection) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought real guns haven't been that innacurate since flintlock rifles.
That's my main gripe about paintball. I'm a fairly good shot, but the markers just weren't accurate enough to be useful at anything but extremely close range (either that or you have to fire machinegun-like to compensate, which sucks when you have to pay for ammo). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If the guns are inaccurate there are several solutions:
- Get your own marker
- Move closer for better accuracy
- Out-manouvre your opponant (bunker king ftw!)
- Fire in bursts to minimize loss of accuracy
- Get friendly with the guys who run the site and ask them to increase the pressure on your marker for straighter (and faster) firing! They'll usually only do this if they know you're not going to shoot people in painful places, though.