Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Caltek 1/6 scale Dress Blue Marine 12-inch Figure Preview

The Marine Corps dress uniform is an elaborate uniform worn for formal or ceremonial occasions. Its basic form of a blue jacket with red trim dates back to the 19th century. It is the only U.S. military uniform that incorporates all three colors of the U.S. Flag. There are three different variations of the Dress uniform: Evening Dress, Blue Dress, and Blue-White Dress; only officers and staff non-commissioned officers (SNCOs) are authorized to wear the Evening Dress. [source: wiki]

The most recognizable uniform of the Marine Corps is the Blue Dress uniform, often seen in recruiting advertisements. It is often called "Dress Blues" or simply "Blues". It is equivalent in composition and use to civilian black tie.


Blue Dress "A" has a long-sleeved midnight blue coat (enlisted members have red trim) with a standing collar and belt (white web belt and gold waistplate for enlisted; midnight blue for officers with a gold M-buckle), white barracks cover (a peaked cap), plain white shirt, sky blue trousers (midnight blue for general officers), white gloves, and black dress shoes and socks. Full-size medals are worn on the left chest, with ribbon-only awards worn on the right.




Blue Dress "B" is the same as "A", but medals are replaced with their corresponding ribbons and all are consolidated on the left chest. Marksmanship badges may be worn. Officers, NCOs, and SNCOs wear a scarlet "blood stripe" down the outer seam of each leg of the blue trousers.


It seems Caltek will be releasing a 1/6 scale Dress Blue Marine 12-inch Figure soon. The Caltek Dress Blue Marine figure will come with U.S. Marine Corps Flag, Flag Post, NCO Sword - Metal, Engraved, NCO Sword Scabbard, White Sword Frog, Flag Bearer's Harness, Dress Blue Gabardine Jacket, Dress White Trousers, Dress Blues Trousers with Blood Stripes, Enlisted Dress Blues Cover / Cap, Dress Blues Belts, Black Corfams (shoes), White Gloves Hands, Corporal E-4 Cpl Chevron Patches, U.S. Marine Corps Gold on Red Service 1-Stripe, Rifle Expert Badge, Collar EGAs Eagle Globe Anchor set and Ribbons






Prior to 1998, the "Blue-White" dress uniform was authorized to be worn for the ceremonial units at Marine Barracks, 8th & I in Washington, D.C. (most famously the Silent Drill Platoon and Color guard). Since then, it has become the authorized summer dress uniform for all officers (it replaced, in 2000, an all-white uniform, similar in appearance to that of the Naval Officer / CPO white dress uniform), SNCOs (unless they are in formation with NCOs and junior enlisted personnel who are not authorized to wear the uniform), and by NCOs and junior enlisted personnel for ceremonies and social events only, if authorized and provided by the command structure.





1 comment:

Richie said...

This looks great! A must for any US Military collection..not a lot of dress uniforms come out with great details.