TechPB Forum: supertux1 - Viewing Profile - TechPB Forum

I made this today out of some netting I found on sale at Dick's Sports, a bicycle innertube and some twine. Cost about $20 and I have lots of materials left for a head shroud of the same design:
The netting is kind of like cheese cloth only a little bit stiffer and printed with a realtree pattern. I found that the realtree netting was a little to light for my area and needed more greens and some of that 'white' birch covered up, so a little spray paint:
So to make fake 'leaves' I cut strips from the netting, stacked about four of them up at a time, folded them in half and cut triangles out of the sides.If you've ever made snowflakes in kindergarten, or still do (I do), you know what I'm talking about.

These leaves work great because they're very thin and can be stacked for added density, and they tend to let some of the background color through while diffusing the sharp edges and outline of whatever they're attached to.
The secret to the system is a bicycle tube that I did two things with. First I sliced the tube to produce a bunch of tiny but strong black 'elastics' of various thickness .Then I cut it lengthwise into and made two long rubber strips.
I attached  the elastic loops to the main rubber strip with a hitch and this allows the camouflage leaves and jute to be re-positioned.
There are also lots of empty loops for adding natural vegetation. Nothing is permanently attached to the marker, so it all comes on and off easily and is adjustable. I even made one for the bi-pod which works well.

It looks bright because it's new and some of it is reflecting the flash, so it's going to be dragged through the dirt a few times before play.
I've got plenty of material left over and some fishnet so I'm going to make head and shoulders shroud that fits around a paintball mask.
This leafy stuff is super light and I think combined with jute it gives a nice blend of texture and shape.

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