USAF ABU painting

Hercmech

If you go here you can read about the developement of the ABU by the company contracted to come up with the pattern. The company is scathing in their editorial about the Air Force, and if they are to be believed, it was a pathetic way to run an aquisition program if you ask me.

Interesting link.  Sounds typical, from my experience.  Don't see the need for service-specific camo uniforms.  Patterns for specific theaters-of-operation make more sense.  But, then again, they didn't ask me.

Here is a tip I was given for painting faces, but it works for everything.

go online and find a picture of a real soldier, not a model. 

Save the image then open it in Ms Paint or something

use the dropper tool to sample the different colors on the uniform and make a pallet of them.  Label them and leave it up then mix your paints accordingly.

Perhaps Robert McNamara, the SecDef in the '60's, was on to something with his decision on "Commonality."  Maybe we need just one (1) uniform board who decides on ONE uniform for all of the services.

Amen...change management sucks.

 That sounds like a similar story for the Army wide Black Beret. Most soldiers did not want that switch. But Gen Shinsecki was in charge and wanted it, so now it is. As I said on another forum where I was an active member once that decision had been made, our job as NCOs was to make the change over get done as well as can be. We did not have to like it, we just had to carry it out.

Quick story about the ABU...the Air Force decided that they would conduct a survey on what the Airmen wanted in our new uniform. They received lots of input from the troops on what we wanted. However in typical Air Force fashion the input was noted and ignored. I was in a meeting with the CMSgt of The Air Force and he stated "yeah we saw the results of the surveys and saw that the troops wanted slanted pockets and peaked hats, but the CSAF and I didn’t like those options so you get what we want"

Having worn the O.D.s, the BDU and the ABU I can say I liked the BDU the best. They all have their pluses, I liked the lightweight of the OD, I liked the wash and wear of the ABU, but the BDU hid grease and dirt well, were not too expensive, and you could get them anywhere be it Army Air Force Marine or Navy bases. All the services going their own way really makes it hard to get what you need if you happen to be away from your service locations.

Look, if you need pictures, all I need to do is run up to my closet and pull out my ABU's for ya...

Just say please.

Good luck on digital camo. Tried it once--twice, actually. Once, on two 1/35 Dragon soldiers--that was fun--and another time on a small metal miniture of some scifi soldier. Both times turned out good, but had to be painted with a toothpick. Good luck, and bring pics!

Interesting tale there Hercman. And yes that company has indeed cornered the market and copyrighted the "tigerstripe"camo pattern for their own commercial uses. As to why each service went with their own patterns and uniforms after the success of the all service BDU/DCU is beyond me. If an Air Force CCT is wearing that uniform while attached for operations to an Army SOF unit, it just makes those guys easier to single out and target by the bad guys. But it is true that 95% of Air Force personnel do not need a "combat uniform" per se, why not just go back to good old OD Green fatigues with the blue/white service tape and name tape over the pockets? I always got a chuckle about how so many MOS's in the Air Force are prefixed with "combat" in the title, such as "combat weatherman" or "combat camera", yet those folks do not get involved in the up close and personal world of combat. If they did, somebody messed up.

That's the problem with always accepting the low bid...the buy before you try and test is also a failing in the current procurement system...whether it be uniforms or F-35s.

Back in the day when we worn standard BDUs, some of us used to do our shopping from private resources versus the AAFES Clothing Sales. We found the uniforms were a bit more expensive, but lasted longer and held their 'press' better. When Gore-Tex came around, only the special ops guys got the good stuff. Again you either scrounged them from friends or purchased it from civilian sources. In those days a $150-$200 BDU parka was way more than most junior enlisted could afford!

I served from what I call the tan to tan years...1505 tan to desert tan camo...in between there were green and camo utilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms_of_the_United_States_Air_Force

Hercmech

If you go here you can read about the developement of the ABU by the company contracted to come up with the pattern. The company is scathing in their editorial about the Air Force, and if they are to be believed, it was a pathetic way to run an aquisition program if you ask me.

I remember the problems the AF was having with that company.  They were the low bid on the project and the ink wasn't even dry on the contract when the company started to try to make changes.  The AF insisted on that color and patern but the company tried to sell them on their own design.  Finally the AF told them that if they couldn't go with the original contract, they would cancel and go with another company.  They relented and produced the "Smurf Uniform" as some AF members call it.

It hasn't lived up to the claims the company promised.  They fade quickly when washed, stains easly and not very long lasting compared to other utility uniforms.  The AF isn't very happy with the uniform and is now looking for another company to make them.  The company told the AF, they have a paten on that color, pattern, and design.  That prevents the AF from having another company manufacture the uniform, even though it was designed by the AF.

If you go here you can read about the developement of the ABU by the company contracted to come up with the pattern. The company is scathing in their editorial about the Air Force, and if they are to be believed, it was a pathetic way to run an aquisition program if you ask me.

Same principle just in a tiger stripe pattern. (kind odd that the AF went with Tiger Stripe)

Basically look at the overall pattern and copy the look, there is tons of reference out there.

Division 6

This may be of use for the painting.

 

that'shelpful with how to do the digital camo, but it shows the Army's uniform. Does that site have the Air Force's uniform?

This may be of use for the painting.

good luck with that digital camo!

Upload this image to this site (copy and paste the address in the Load image from url: upload line) once it's on the page click the cross hair over each color (one at  time) then hit the show matching paint then select what ever looks the closest to you on your monitor.