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Post by captkurtlevan on Mar 21, 2014 19:15:16 GMT -5
I'm almost finished with my 101st Airborne impression except for one thing. I can't find any jump boots. Anywhere. I wear a 14 shoe, and At The Front is the only supplier that carries Jump boots in that size. They are sold out at the moment, and I was wondering if you guys know of any substitutions so I can go out and start playing in uniform.
Thanks.
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Post by brownien on Mar 22, 2014 10:05:15 GMT -5
Go for some modern black combat boots. Remove the laces and paint them brown, and you should be all set
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Post by kilroysbrother on Mar 22, 2014 16:56:55 GMT -5
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 22, 2014 18:50:26 GMT -5
Modern Corcorans which can often be found in Thrift Shops will work fine once you spray them with brown leather stain which you can get at most shoe repair shops. Th spray looks fine and holds up pretty well. This leather stain is NOT simple brown spray paint
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Post by brownien on Mar 22, 2014 19:41:53 GMT -5
I say remove the laces because the paint getting caked on them will make them tough to tighten and tie up. Once the boots are dry, relace with the old ones or get some new ones. IMO, laces don't really kill a look
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 22, 2014 22:24:28 GMT -5
Brown boot laces are cheap. Leather laces creates a good look for airborne and even a lax as I am black laces on brown boots just looks "wrong".
What a sad state of affairs if someones life is so empty that they would be obsessed enough to see the minute almost inperceptible differences between the WW2 and Korean era corcoran jump boots. To each his own I guess but geez. Instead of welcoming and coaching potential new hobbyists it seems some folks enjoy driving a wedge between new participants and the "i know more than you do" asshats who never show up at airsoft events anyway and seem to want everyone at BF events to feel like crap who aren't 100% perfect and can't figure out why their unit membership keeps shrinking.
There are some fabulously informed folks on this forum whose tone and posts support the hobby and there are some who have large chunks apparently missing from their lives. Sad sad situation. Footwear is a huge factor in establishing authenticity but it is also an expensive proposition for someone early in the hobby deciding if the investment makes sense. Leggings and caked mud or footwear wrapped in strips of wool blankets hides many evils. I guarantee you WW2 vets would be more impressed with that look then noticing the nuanced difference stated in the seperate dedicated posts. I doubt one in 25,000 would be aware or concious of it even given hours to study it. They were kind of too busy fighting a war to notice such silliness.
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Post by Sgt. Squid on Apr 13, 2014 19:00:43 GMT -5
I think doc martins make a good substitute if you can find them in a decent color. Although they are close to the price of the repro ATF boots.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 13, 2014 20:07:44 GMT -5
Jump boots definitely had a distinctive and iconic look which doc martins just aren't quite going to capture even if the color is right. I think they are fine for regular leg Infantry when covered with leggings although in truth most any appropriate show or low quarter boot will work under leggings for our purposes. It is rare that I go into a decent sized thrift shop and are unable to source shoes for $7.00 or under that wouldn't look fine under leggings. For jump boots more modern black corcorans dyed brown with leather lacings or brown laces work fine.
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