- June 30th, 2019, 5:14 am#4920183
I know much of this information has been covered in Dan AKA's guide , but for the purpose of illustration I thought it would be best to touch on some of it again.
The quality and ruggedness of original parts simply isn’t matched by the aftermarket gear.
This may not be all that important for costumes where the Alice gear isn’t a load bearing element but when a Heavy and expensive part of your costume is at stake , the last thing you want is for it to be wrecked as a result of the failure of a part of the alice gear.
While aftermarket gear is easy to source, it’s usually more expensive than buying the real thing if you shop around a little.
Being that genuine gear has often already been issued, it’s fairly common to see mixed up parts when they’re being sold, with later straps on earlier frames etc as well as fading of the OD colouring on both strapping and the packs themselves.
Here are some key details to look for to ensure what you’re buying is genuine:
There are three types of genuine Alice frame and strapping.
On all of the genuine frames, the centre bar features an indent only on the top half above the crossbar which is indented outwards, away from the wearers back (these can be less pronounced on the MK2)
From left to right: LC-1, LC2, LC2 MK2
LC-1
Used on the Ghostbusters Hero packs, Ray's GB2 semi hero pack and Winstons slime blower.
The hero packs used in GB2 had all of their original webbing for the scene when they blast the slime wall on location in NY. For the courtroom scene, the LC-1 kidney pads and belts are replaced with LC-2 versions, and for the remainder of the studio shooting in LA, the LC-1 straps are reinforced with extra padding.
These were the first sets to be issued.
They consist of a black anodised aluminium frame.
Shoulder straps with minimal padding featuring V webbing at the top and an uncovered quick release only on the left strap.
A thin kidney pad with a turnbuckle style tension mechanism and a thin waist strap separate from the kidney pad with a quick release for a buckle.
The belt adjustments are small metal clips with teeth to grip the webbing.
All strapping was OD green.
The cross bar on these also sits almost flush with the tube frame unlike later models.
There is often a makers mark on the cross bar.
LC-2
Used on the Ghostbusters 2 semi hero, stunt packs and Ray's Slime blower
Consisting of a green anodised frame painted black for GB2
Better padded shoulder straps with straight stitched webbing at the top and a covered quick release on each strap.
A thicker kidney pad which wraps around the wearer slightly with a metal buckled tension strap at the back of the kidney and a wider belt which is integral to the kidney pad featuring a grey plastic pull buckle.
The belt length adjusters are large metal pass-through’s with rollers.
All strapping was OD green.
The cross bar on these frames(and the MK2) protrudes past the tube frame as can be seen here.
There may or may not be a makers mark on the crossbar.
LC-2 MK2 (more modern equivalent)
The frames on these were very similar to the LC-2 with a slightly more muted colour.
Larger shoulder straps with more padding were added.
they had a similar kidney pad to the older LC-2 belt with the addition of a plastic fastex belt buckle.
The shoulder straps on these tend to be woodland camo, OD green versions do exist but these are rare.
All other strapping is OD green.
How to identify an aftermarket copy:
The frames on aftermarket copies are generally sold as LC-1, come painted black with a cross bar flush to the tube frame with no makers mark.
The centre bar features an indent on both halves above and below the cross bar which are indented inwards, towards the wearers back.
This bar is noticeably thinner than the bar on a genuine frame and tends to flex with a pack on it, giving the feeling of the pack bouncing a little as you walk.
They are also often lacking the oval shaped mounting holes at the base where the motherboard would normally be bolted through.
These frames are notably, lighter and more flexible than the genuine Alice frames and use thinner materials in their construction.
The shoulder straps are styled after LC-2 with noticeably softer material, less dense padding and thinner metal retention buckles.
The kidney pads are similar to the LC2 MK2 with attached fastex belt.
Strapping comes in a variety of patterns, the most common being OD green but it’s a brighter hue and has a sheen to it due to the different material (polyester?) which the genuine strapping lacks.
(See images bellow)
If you’re buying a set which comes with the Alice pack, here’s what to look for in a genuine pack:
Genuine Alice packs come in two sizes, Medium and Large.
The most noticeable difference when you don’t have them next to each other to compare the size is that the Large pack has three magazine pouches above the three main pouches, where as the medium lacks this and has more webbing in that area.
The Large pack only comes in OD green.
The medium pack comes in OD green which is most common and a relatively rare woodland camo.
Genuine packs will have NSN numbers and manufacturers information at the rear of the bag nearer the bottom on the large packs and near the centre on the medium, this may be faded due to age and use but usually it’s still somewhat visible.
They will feature either metal spring clips for the pocket closures and main compartment straps (on the earlier models) or metal retention buckles like those seen on the top of the shoulder straps.
Aftermarket copies:
Come in mini, medium and large sizes.
A wide range of colours and patterns.
The OD green like the strapping is softer material, with a brighter hue and a sheen to it.
The padding at the rear (top) of the pack usually features the makers info instead of on the body of the pack itself as on the genuine packs.
Once again, aftermarket Alice gear is readily available and will do the job for the most part when carrying lighter loads.
The only real concern comes from supporting heavier props.
Case in point, this frame which unfortunately failed on me mid event, causing a nasty gouge into the bargain when the full weight of the pack dug it into my back :
Thanks to Demon Vice Commander for contributing the following information:
- Ernie and Ray’s Hero Slimeblowers used LC-1 and LC-2 frames respectively.
- The LC-2 frames were all spray-painted black.
- Ray’s semi-hero pack used an LC-1 frame and straps.
- The hero packs used in GB2 had all of their original webbing for the scene when they blast the slime wall on location in NY. For the courtroom scene, the LC-1 kidney pads and belts are replaced with LC-2 versions, and for the remainder of the studio shooting in LA, the LC-1 straps are reinforced with extra padding.
The quality and ruggedness of original parts simply isn’t matched by the aftermarket gear.
This may not be all that important for costumes where the Alice gear isn’t a load bearing element but when a Heavy and expensive part of your costume is at stake , the last thing you want is for it to be wrecked as a result of the failure of a part of the alice gear.
While aftermarket gear is easy to source, it’s usually more expensive than buying the real thing if you shop around a little.
Being that genuine gear has often already been issued, it’s fairly common to see mixed up parts when they’re being sold, with later straps on earlier frames etc as well as fading of the OD colouring on both strapping and the packs themselves.
Here are some key details to look for to ensure what you’re buying is genuine:
There are three types of genuine Alice frame and strapping.
On all of the genuine frames, the centre bar features an indent only on the top half above the crossbar which is indented outwards, away from the wearers back (these can be less pronounced on the MK2)
From left to right: LC-1, LC2, LC2 MK2
LC-1
Used on the Ghostbusters Hero packs, Ray's GB2 semi hero pack and Winstons slime blower.
The hero packs used in GB2 had all of their original webbing for the scene when they blast the slime wall on location in NY. For the courtroom scene, the LC-1 kidney pads and belts are replaced with LC-2 versions, and for the remainder of the studio shooting in LA, the LC-1 straps are reinforced with extra padding.
These were the first sets to be issued.
They consist of a black anodised aluminium frame.
Shoulder straps with minimal padding featuring V webbing at the top and an uncovered quick release only on the left strap.
A thin kidney pad with a turnbuckle style tension mechanism and a thin waist strap separate from the kidney pad with a quick release for a buckle.
The belt adjustments are small metal clips with teeth to grip the webbing.
All strapping was OD green.
The cross bar on these also sits almost flush with the tube frame unlike later models.
There is often a makers mark on the cross bar.
LC-2
Used on the Ghostbusters 2 semi hero, stunt packs and Ray's Slime blower
Consisting of a green anodised frame painted black for GB2
Better padded shoulder straps with straight stitched webbing at the top and a covered quick release on each strap.
A thicker kidney pad which wraps around the wearer slightly with a metal buckled tension strap at the back of the kidney and a wider belt which is integral to the kidney pad featuring a grey plastic pull buckle.
The belt length adjusters are large metal pass-through’s with rollers.
All strapping was OD green.
The cross bar on these frames(and the MK2) protrudes past the tube frame as can be seen here.
There may or may not be a makers mark on the crossbar.
LC-2 MK2 (more modern equivalent)
The frames on these were very similar to the LC-2 with a slightly more muted colour.
Larger shoulder straps with more padding were added.
they had a similar kidney pad to the older LC-2 belt with the addition of a plastic fastex belt buckle.
The shoulder straps on these tend to be woodland camo, OD green versions do exist but these are rare.
All other strapping is OD green.
How to identify an aftermarket copy:
The frames on aftermarket copies are generally sold as LC-1, come painted black with a cross bar flush to the tube frame with no makers mark.
The centre bar features an indent on both halves above and below the cross bar which are indented inwards, towards the wearers back.
This bar is noticeably thinner than the bar on a genuine frame and tends to flex with a pack on it, giving the feeling of the pack bouncing a little as you walk.
They are also often lacking the oval shaped mounting holes at the base where the motherboard would normally be bolted through.
These frames are notably, lighter and more flexible than the genuine Alice frames and use thinner materials in their construction.
The shoulder straps are styled after LC-2 with noticeably softer material, less dense padding and thinner metal retention buckles.
The kidney pads are similar to the LC2 MK2 with attached fastex belt.
Strapping comes in a variety of patterns, the most common being OD green but it’s a brighter hue and has a sheen to it due to the different material (polyester?) which the genuine strapping lacks.
(See images bellow)
If you’re buying a set which comes with the Alice pack, here’s what to look for in a genuine pack:
Genuine Alice packs come in two sizes, Medium and Large.
The most noticeable difference when you don’t have them next to each other to compare the size is that the Large pack has three magazine pouches above the three main pouches, where as the medium lacks this and has more webbing in that area.
The Large pack only comes in OD green.
The medium pack comes in OD green which is most common and a relatively rare woodland camo.
Genuine packs will have NSN numbers and manufacturers information at the rear of the bag nearer the bottom on the large packs and near the centre on the medium, this may be faded due to age and use but usually it’s still somewhat visible.
They will feature either metal spring clips for the pocket closures and main compartment straps (on the earlier models) or metal retention buckles like those seen on the top of the shoulder straps.
Aftermarket copies:
Come in mini, medium and large sizes.
A wide range of colours and patterns.
The OD green like the strapping is softer material, with a brighter hue and a sheen to it.
The padding at the rear (top) of the pack usually features the makers info instead of on the body of the pack itself as on the genuine packs.
Once again, aftermarket Alice gear is readily available and will do the job for the most part when carrying lighter loads.
The only real concern comes from supporting heavier props.
Case in point, this frame which unfortunately failed on me mid event, causing a nasty gouge into the bargain when the full weight of the pack dug it into my back :
Thanks to Demon Vice Commander for contributing the following information:
- Ernie and Ray’s Hero Slimeblowers used LC-1 and LC-2 frames respectively.
- The LC-2 frames were all spray-painted black.
- Ray’s semi-hero pack used an LC-1 frame and straps.
- The hero packs used in GB2 had all of their original webbing for the scene when they blast the slime wall on location in NY. For the courtroom scene, the LC-1 kidney pads and belts are replaced with LC-2 versions, and for the remainder of the studio shooting in LA, the LC-1 straps are reinforced with extra padding.
Last edited by RedSpecial on June 30th, 2019, 9:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
- By Abby Shan-anigans
- By mrmichaelt