German impression on the cheap

[ssgjoe]

German Impression on the Cheap

Alright, this is a thread for an inexpensive German impression. It is a list of affordable gear, but may lack in authenticity and quality. Keep in mind that if you want a very accurate high quality kit, this is NOT the way to go. But it is affordable and could work if you aren't an avid airsofter, are on a tight budget, or want to get a kit and replace it with better stuff as you go. Anyway, here ya go. This list does not include links for insignia, but I touch on the subject. Those are relatively simple to find. It does not include links for a gun, but will include magazine pouches for the MP40, KAR98, and STG44. Lets get started shall we?

Insignia:

Heer: collar tabs, shoulderboards, and breast eagle (they sell some without swatstikas on ebay. Just search "German Breast Eagle") required. Awards are optional, rank insignia is optional. Make sure to get Heer breast eagle and SS sleeve eagle. There is a physical difference between the two!

SS: Sleeve eagle, shoulderboards, appropriate SS collar tabs.

REQUIRED GEAR:

Uniform:
This will include a wool uniform
and an HBT uniform

Wool
Tunic
www.hikishop.com/wwii-world-war-2-german-m43-em-wool-field-tunic-wh-p-540.html
Trousers
www.hikishop.com/ww2-german-m42-m43-field-grey-wool-trousers-pants-p-526.html

I cannot vouch for the quality of these items. They definitely appear better than a lot of the eBay items, but I am not sure.

HBT
Tunic
www.hikishop.com/wwii-german-heer-em-soldier-hbt-m43-field-tunic-jacket-wh-p-449.html
Trousers
www.hikishop.com/wwii-german-hbt-m43-field-trousers-pants-reproduction-p-423.html

I cannot vouch for the quality of these items either, but I believe they are also better than a lot of eBay items. I believe that there weren't really HBT pants during the war, and HBT tunics were worn with wool pants. But HBT pants are cheaper, and if price concerns you over authenticity, there's nothing stopping you from buying them. Early war uniforms like the M36 and M40 never were produced in HBT, I would stick with the later war models.

Footwear:

Jackboots
www.ebay.com/itm/321165708120?nav=SEARCH

Now I tend to refrain from linking eBay due to the fact that listings end, and in a few months this link will no longer work. But if you can't see it anymore, this is a pair of East German jack boots for only $50. It only goes to size 9 1/2, so if you've got big feet like me, these wont work. I'm not sure if they're the same height as WWII period jack boots, so I wouldn't resole these to leather, but use them as a stand in until you get a better pair. But it is very affordable and gives the correct look, but lacks authenticity. But it works.

Low boots
www.atthefrontshop.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=56361

Since all gaiters are relatively the same price, I won't post a "money saving" link here, but a regular priced link. But what you could do as a stand in is to wear black combat boots under the German gaiters. Make sure you know what gaiters your looking for.

Headgear:

Before I start posting links, I'd like to bring to your attention the three choices of headgear. First is the stahlhelm (steel helmet). I have included a link for an M35 stahlhelm (model 1935). There is also an overseas cap, which is the preferred stand in for a stahlhelm, then there's an overseas cap, which was typically worn in your walking out uniform or in garrison. You eventually want to get a stahlhelm for your completed impression, but the other types of headgear work as well.

Stahlhelm
www.worldwarsupply.com/cart/M1935-German-Helmet

I cannot vouch for the quality, and appears to be fine. It's not high quality, the metal looks a little cheap, but it will definitely do the job and will be sturdy. There's also an M40 and M42 helmet which I will not cover.

M43 cap
www.ebay.com/itm/360876485978?nav=SEARCH

Again, I don't like posting eBay links for the reason stated above: they expire. This link won't work in a few months. But it is an M43 cap for about $20. Insignia not included. But the insignia isn't that much of an investment. This is the recommended stand in for a stahlhelm.

Overseas Cap
www.ebay.com/itm/360482536935?nav=SEARCH

I have not done a good job of refraining from eBay links. But this headgear is an M40 overseas cap. It looks good, but not typically worn in combat. It's about $25, and works.

Belt and Buckle:

This is a very important part of your gear because, well, it holds it up. Contrary to popular belief, I have not found DAK belts to be cheaper than black leather, so I'm going to put a black leather belt up.

Belt and Buckle:
www.ima-usa.com/german-wwii-waist-belt-wehrmacht-buckle.html

Unfortunately these guys are out of stock. So when they get back up, you can get a belt AND buckle for $25. That's a pretty good deal, but I'm kinda wary on the quality just because of its price.

Ammunition Pouches:

MP40
www.ima-usa.com/german-mp-40-magazine-pouch-set-wwii-green.html

STG44
www.ima-usa.com/german-wwii-mp-44-magazine-web-and-leather-pouch-set.html

KAR98
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CZE3HKY?pc_redir=1395781665&robot_redir=1
Kar98 cartridge pouches are the most expensive for obvious reasons.

That's it for required gear. Now lets do recommended gear. This section doesn't really include links except for a few. So it's time for you to do bargain hunting!

RECOMMENDED GEAR

-Y Straps or Belt Hooks
This is HIGHLY recommended as it helps keep up your gear do your belt isn't slipping down.

-Wool cover canteen
A cheap alternative is buying a post war canteen for $10 and getting the appropriate wool cover for it. An appropriate cup and strap wouldn't hurt either. Me personally, I just buy the repro and have accuracy.

-Bayonet
Some airsoft fields might not let you carry one on the field for obvious reasons. But it is always a Kar98 bayonet, not an MP40 or STG44 bayonet.

-Gas Mask Can
I found one for $30!
www.worldwarsupply.com/cart/German-Gask-Mask?search=Gas%20mask

-Bread Bag
Every German soldier had one. It's nice to use to carry extra bbs or other pieces of gear.

-Shovels and Carriers
You can get a Swiss shovel. Very similar to German ones. And get a black leather German carrier.

-Messkit
Post war works, but it's more accurate and nicer to have a period repro or original. A carry strap is a necessity to strap it to your belt.

I won't get into assault packs, a frames, or zelts. Thanks guys! Hope this is a help for those on a tight budget!

[2nd Bat]

Very helpful. Thank you for organzing and putting that together.

[ssgjoe]

Yeah, no prob!

[minzen]

Great post! I'm eyeing a couple of your links.

[2nd Bat]

I know this will grate some people as I walk through this but in an effort to provide costumes for up to a dozen OPFOR players for local WW2 themed events I have been piecing together very minimal and approximate looks that are simply designed to create an "at a glance" impression of a German soldier. I went by my local thrift shops and flea markets and have been buying appropriately close wool trousers. (Greyish green) in assorted sizes and medium grey shirts upon which I can affix collar emblems. My daughter is sewing some canvas gaitors which will go over 3/4 tall shoe boots. Believe it or not I have found some very decent look alike footwear at thrift shops for $5.00 a piece.

I have costume helmets made of plastic that are quite horrid but when a camo cover is installed or a decent paint job and chicken wire they look pretty decent. For the main look I have been buying mostly splinter pattern reversable camo smocks and East German surplus belt and Y straps (dyed black) along with inexpensive East German canteens which I have covered in felt. A smattering of bread bags, etools, pouches, potatoe masher grenades and gas mask canisters along with supporting players in full on impressions and the overall group look is actually quite good. My budget per impression was $120.00 each and thus far six + costumes into it I have managed it.

Weapons wise a super cheap but skirmishable Kar 98 would be fabulous to go along with my Mp40s and two MP44s. For now the cheap carbines are filling the ranks.
I have received some wonderful supportive help in assembling this most noticeably from Volks and Brownien.

[princeofpinoys]

How would East German Wool Trousers fair for a stand in?

[LϟϟAH1944]

nope. they're more like doeskin than the feldgrau wool. just save pennies and get a proper pair.

[LϟϟAH1944]

One piece of advice; Look for deals. You don't need everything right away. If you don't have everything, then wait out an event or two until you have a good enough impression to attend. Wait for good deals, and buy high quality for nearly nothing. I paid $150 for my LB M43 feldbluse, while on their website, theyre $375. the key is patience.

[ssgjoe]

Man the Line has a great used items section. I have seen LB tunics go as low as $150


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[kilroysbrother]

2nd Bat, i'd like to see some pictures of the setups your doing.

[2nd Bat]

I don't want to degrade the generally wonderful examples of good to great impressions by posting mine here Or even putting in a link but I will happily send photos of the impressions directly to anyone who is interested. Just PM me with your direct email. Keep in mind my goal is to outfit 12 guys for what it would cost to do one really good complete impression. This is not the route I would suggest for folks looking to outfit themselves. I have found over the years that at this point in our hobby there has to be a decent pool of adequate loaner gear to outfit the extra numbers of walk ons if you hope to have an event with reasonable turn out. I have had a great time with as few as eight guys but really prefer events with 30 plus. I find I can rent a complete costume and weapon for $40.00 and while it takes five to seven events to break even it really helps to promote attendance. Incidently I have yet to break even on my efforts but maybe some day?

[insterburger]

Apr 4, 2014 20:05:04 GMT -5 princeofpinoys said:

How would East German Wool Trousers fair for a stand in?

As Issah said, they're not the greatest thing, but they're not the worst either. They could kinda-sorta be used in a pinch, especially seeing as they're so cheap.

A better option would be Swedish or Swiss wool pants. They are often priced as high as lower-end repros (especially in larger sizes), but can be found at excellent prices if you're patient. Make sure you don't get the ones with the cargo pockets-- exceptionally inauthentic. But the earlier ones w/o caro pockets are very nice wool, very similar in cut to the German ones, and the colors are within the range of WWII Feldgrau. The Swiss ones are a bit too on the greenish side (though still OK to my eye), and have black piping down the leg. Anyone with basic sewing skills can easily open up the seam, remove the piping, and resew. Worth the effort if you can find them cheap enough. Iwore a pair for my first few events, and have been consistently loaning them out, and no one has had anything but good things to say about them.

[2nd Bat]

The key when shopping for yourself is to be patient and dilligent. Used impressions are an especially good deal IF the prior owner has done it right. be aware of the fact that many used impressions are being sold because the prior owner has discovered that they fall short of the authenticity standards they set for themselves once the hobby sinks its teeth into the player and they know more about what they are doing. The best buys are ones where the prior owner went top drawer but has out grown their purchase or has left the hobby.

Often people acquire more then they can use or changes their impression altogether. You'll find many such listings on assorted reenactor sites as well as the marketplace here. My cheap cheap looks only look good in mass when sprinkled in with good impressions. They are decent enough not to be too big of a distraction for all but the most anal living history folks and my only thought about them is to have fun with the other four or five perfectionists they meet who also don't have a life. The folks who most impress me. (And there are many on this site). Are the ones who have done tremendous research and set high standards for themselves, are generous with their knowledge but still tolerant and accepting of those making a decent effort and striving to improve.