|
Post by gunslinginotaku on Jan 16, 2014 22:16:35 GMT -5
I'm not terribly new to the WWII reenacting/airsoft, but years of doing German, I feel like I should compliment the impression with an allied infantrymen. I've been doing research and wanted to post what I'm going to start with, and have a questions or two, so first off I will be getting in the near future: M1 Helmet with linerM1936 pistol beltM1936 suspenders M43 HBT UniformGaitersI already have a canteen/cover, Thompson and Lucky Strikes . I'm going to have to cheat with the boots, however, having a size 14, makes it VERY difficult to find the proper boot and in the right size, I'll make it work . One of my biggest questions is the Thompson magazines. For the most part the US Army used 20 round magazines, until late war (44' onward, I think). Now unless I want to shell out ALOT of money for airsoft 20 round high caps (as if I could find them!) I'm going to either have to stick with the 30 rounders or convert them to 20 rounders (which I may do, depending on the difficulty.) So, my question being, did the Army use enough 30 round magazines to warrant me getting the three cell pouch or use a spare magazine bag? I've also seen photos of troops with the 30 rounders sticking from the tops of the pouches, but I have a feeling I'd loose them kinda quick. Anything helps, if something is wrong let me know, this isn't my final purchasing list either, of course, will end up switching buyers and the like, and in the future (when I have more money...) I'll get the haversack, medic pouch, etc. Edit: I'm going for a mid/late war impression, so if you happen to know of an M41 that's well priced, (I'm not against ordering from China, but dot doing so would be great!) then shoot it this way!
|
|
stuka
Sergeant
The one and only
Posts: 1,205
|
Post by stuka on Jan 16, 2014 22:29:03 GMT -5
I don't think i have heard of leggings called gaiters but ok. For the leggings(gaiters?) you can find some on atthefront that way you won't have to worry about messing with originals. Also, find some way to measure your calf because the last thing you want to do is order the wrong size.
For the practicality of airsoft and the historical discrepacncy if you will, you'd be fine with 30 rounder's i am sure as well as the 30 rounds mag pouches
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Jan 16, 2014 23:03:45 GMT -5
I did 11 of the 30 to 20 mag conversions, and they are pretty easy! All you really need to do is push the pin that retains the spring cover, and remove the spring and follower, then chop! I would highly reccomend adding in a structural support inside where the cut is, because they can tend to break very easily if not.
I would reccomend doing up enough to fill one 20rd 5 cell pouch. Most of the time that's all that was carried for ammo at the ready. You could do more up to put in the haversack for longer games, and just swap your emptys for the full ones. As for gaitors, they come in 2R, 3R, and 4R normally. 3R is about average, so if you have a larger calf go for the 4R. Don't worry too much about getting the correct roughouts, if you have German low boots, they are pretty close in general look and feel
|
|
|
Post by gunslinginotaku on Jan 16, 2014 23:17:16 GMT -5
I don't think i have heard of leggings called gaiters but ok. For the leggings(gaiters?) you can find some on atthefront that way you won't have to worry about messing with originals. Also, find some way to measure your calf because the last thing you want to do is order the wrong size. For the practicality of airsoft and the historical discrepacncy if you will, you'd be fine with 30 rounder's i am sure as well as the 30 rounds mag pouches Maybe it's wrong, I've heard them that my whole life, not sure, but yeah that was more of an example of what I was looking at, and I did take size into consideration, just have to get around to it lol. Second from the last they have low boots, that from pictures look about as close as I'm going to get, they have my size to! What did you think, or have you seen something else? Also, with gaiters on, don't think anyone would notice (not like anyone knows)
|
|
|
Post by newcomer on Jan 16, 2014 23:17:41 GMT -5
For M41's, your options are basically 120 for ATF wool lined, 200 for WWII impressions, or 50-70 for the others. You can google various reviews online, but in the long run you may be best served by the ATF model, as it will hold up longer.
As for footwear, m43 boots are the easiest but they don't really fit mid war. Original gaiters are cheaper if you have small calves, but about equal or more expensive if not. Measure your calf size before you decide on where to get them.
|
|
|
Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 17, 2014 9:04:27 GMT -5
I'm confused, Do you mean an HBT uniform or the M43 field uniform? If you mean m43 uniform you would not be wearing leggings. Also the Tommy gun in its self bothers me. But if you have to at least cut the mags down. In my vast archive of original pictures I've seen 3 or 4 five cell pouches. Never seen a 3 cell in an original picture. And maybe 5 to 10 guys with thompsons. But if you have to i'd use either your pockets or a Thompson ammo bag.
PS I can tell your not to worried about complete accuracy but to me it makes no sense why people don't wanna go all the way. I'm just a stich Nazi like that.
|
|
stuka
Sergeant
The one and only
Posts: 1,205
|
Post by stuka on Jan 17, 2014 10:45:59 GMT -5
Well he is just starting his kit, he'll pry ad on to it if he likes where it is going kilroy
|
|
|
Post by gunslinginotaku on Jan 17, 2014 15:15:51 GMT -5
I'm confused, Do you mean an HBT uniform or the M43 field uniform? If you mean m43 uniform you would not be wearing leggings. Also the Tommy gun in its self bothers me. But if you have to at least cut the mags down. In my vast archive of original pictures I've seen 3 or 4 five cell pouches. Never seen a 3 cell in an original picture. And maybe 5 to 10 guys with thompsons. But if you have to i'd use either your pockets or a Thompson ammo bag. PS I can tell your not to worried about complete accuracy but to me it makes no sense why people don't wanna go all the way. I'm just a stich Nazi like that. Why does the Thompson bother you? Because it wasn't handed out as often as Hollywood portrays? If that's the case then I agree with you, but $400 for a Garand is simply far to much and gas guns like the carbine don't work to well here, and again, the price, and parts commonality. I do strive for complete authenticity, just being a waiter (making 2.13 an hour...) really prohibits what all I can buy in a short peiod of time. Go ahead and be a stitch Nazi, correct my list of things I need, I just won't be having them all at the start Also, could you tell me the difference (or provide links to reference sites every time I try and research, it's either, models, legos, airsoft or video games, no matter what I search . Books of course are more than helpful if you have good refernce material.) about the HBT vs. M43? I thought the M43 WERE the HBT's, or is there something I'm missing here.
|
|
|
Post by newcomer on Jan 17, 2014 17:52:41 GMT -5
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 17, 2014 19:04:32 GMT -5
Under the leggings (they were also called gaitors) just about any reaonably close shoes or low quarter boots will look fine for most people. Your German shoes a very close to the pre war GI combat shoe. The 30 round low caps are easy to cut down to the 20 round length. the plastic low caps are pretty cheap and work great. Even late war it was common for soldiers to put the longer magazines in the five cell pouch and wrap the flap around to hold them in. Lots and lots of pictures to support that. The 3 cell khaki thompson pouch really was unusual hence not something to replicate for your impression.
i think for all of us who can manage it having an impression that covers both belligerants (allied and axis) is a good idea so we can suit the needs of the events we attend and our moods.
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Jan 17, 2014 19:35:02 GMT -5
For a uniform, don't go with the m43's unless you want to do only late war (after battle of the bulge). Depending on the climate, I would reccomend the brown wool shirt and pants, with the m41 parsons jacket over top. Everyone, like in the Germsn army, was issued the wool uniform, and most normally the m41. Not too many units wore the hbt'a in combat, but they were worn quite often (not rare to see). The wools would still be worn underneath the hbt's just basically to protect the wools from wearing out too easily. You could also wear the hbt jacket in place of the m41, or wear the m41 with the hbt pants as mismatching was also done quite often (not unlike the use of German camo garments).
If you really want the m43's, just get the jacket. With the amount if friction in high command against adopting the m43 system, the supply wasn't up to the demand. Most troops were only issued parts of the m43 system. It was common to see the m43 jacket worn with wool pants and gaitors, or m41, wool pants and m43 double buckle boots. I would reccomend against m43 boots with your need for much larger sizes, and the fact that it would be limiting you to events based later than late '44 and early '45. If anything, get the m43 jacket as a backup or swapout for your m41 for late war events. Actually if you did get the double buckle boots, you could use them as is for late war, and just slap on gaitors for early war! They were essentially the same boot, as the double buckles were just roughout boots with a leather gaitor sewn on
|
|
|
Post by captkurtlevan on Jan 17, 2014 22:05:58 GMT -5
Have you thought about French Resistance? It's cheap, and easy.
|
|
|
Post by halfnelson on Jan 18, 2014 15:58:17 GMT -5
kilroysbrother; Are you saying that the Thompson submachine gun (M1928A1, M1 and M1A1) was rare? Because you've only seen "5-10 guys" carrying them? If that's the case I recon you haven't seen many pictures/videos from that era. I don't mean to sound like an ass or anything, but stating that the Thompson was a rare weapon amongst US soldiers is outright wrong. If you're not saying that, then I advise you rephrase as that's what it sounds like to me.
|
|
|
Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 18, 2014 20:48:52 GMT -5
Halfnelson,
I'm not saying the weapon was "rare" what I mean is that compared to the amount of M1 Garands Tommy guns were barely used (which is common knowledge). So that is what I mean by "rare". It seems that is what everyone uses. I'm more of a blank firing accuracy type of guy rather than airsoft. And understand Tommys are considerably cheaper than M1 Garands.
PS, sorry for the late replies folks.
|
|
|
Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 18, 2014 20:58:50 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by gunslinginotaku on Jan 19, 2014 18:16:48 GMT -5
I completely agree, like on the German end of things, there are just about all MP40's and StG's, however, until more rifles by lower end companies come out (which they are) it'll be like this for a while, but I'm totally with you on that. Thanks alot for the suggestion, I'll have it on the way soon enough Thanks everyone on the input, made this alot faster/easier/more enjoyable. I think I will go with the M41 rather than the M43, curse it being Sunday, I'd like to throw some money in the bank and get some of this stuff on the way, but alas, I must wait. Also, the helmet I linked, is this a correct model for army infantry? I know the strap is wrong
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Jan 19, 2014 19:32:45 GMT -5
Its not a period correct helmet, but for airsoft, it will work fine. You willactually find that this type of liner will stay on your head much better when running around. All you would need to do, would be to get a web helmet strap, and possibly install a leather liner strap, if you feel it nesseccary.
|
|
|
Post by gunslinginotaku on Jan 20, 2014 1:33:36 GMT -5
Its not a period correct helmet, but for airsoft, it will work fine. You willactually find that this type of liner will stay on your head much better when running around. All you would need to do, would be to get a web helmet strap, and possibly install a leather liner strap, if you feel it nesseccary. Ah, I figured by them not specifying the model and all it wasn't 100% correct. I may consider another one in that case, unless the difference is very slim.
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Jan 20, 2014 10:13:52 GMT -5
That helmet would work good for airsoft. The outer shell is the same shape as the ww2 model, and once it's on your head, you wont be able to tell the liner is non ww2. You can always just pick up a ww2 liner and pop it in later
|
|