Cheapest (but still ok) impression possible?

[mikkel]

Hi

I trying to get a few friends to get into some ww2 airsoft, and for that i need to find some very cheap uniforms for them. Repros is too expensive for this. So i'm looking at getting other products that could be modified slightly and would look ok.

For jacket, im going with a Swedish jacket, with some modifications, so that one should be covered. Insignia will also have to be what there are, which means good copies.

For trousers, i have looked at these:
www.ranger-onlineshop.de/118104N-.ahtml (click the image for bigger picture)
If the pattern is not too much off, i can remove the pockets and reinforcements, and give them a hot wash in the machine, so they will look more authentic. I think that wouldn't be too bad?

For headgear, a cap would be cheaper than a helmet:
www.ranger-onlineshop.de/123521N-.ahtml (click image for bigger picture)
The camouflage would be ok, with some washes in the machine, but i'm not too sure about the pattern of the cap itself. WOuld this be too bad, or would it be ok?

Footwear will be modern full leather boots with old bundeswehr gaiters on top. Cheap and good looking.
Breadbag will also be old Bundeswehr. Again, chepa and good looking.

Belt and buckle i'm not too sure about. Repro buckles are a bit expensive, as are the belts. I think I will have to find another solution. Maybe modern bundesehr parade belts could do the trick.

Waterbottle is one thing i really can't seem to find a good solution to. Maybe east german can be used, if they are not too expensive?

The guns and ammunition pouches are not yet covered, but it's somewhat secondary right now.


What do you guys think, could this be pulled oss as a ok solution to the cheapest possible german ww2 airsoft impression?

[kellhound]

I don't know the level of realism related to airsoft where you play, but mine is more or less the same, and much more good-looking than many of the supposed "pros" around here.


Belt is modern Bundeswerh, mag pouches and MP40 sling are Sturm repros.
With time, just add bits of equipment and helmet.

Someday I will wear all this in a game ;D :

[azeeze]

Mikkel, why not try a m43 cap, those are fairly cheap.
-Nick

[2ndranger]

Kell hound are those Wermacht camo HBTs? Also Mikkel Just get "peaked" Caps they are usually cheaper, I think the cap you have isnt too bad...

Franz

[YankeeDiv26]

atf has converted swedish tunics for $50 and trousers for $40. I find those to to be perfectly acceptable for airsoft use. You might just be better off getting a repro m43 cap for when/if you plan on getting more authentic gear or selling stuff off.

[Jager.Drü]

Those are modern Splinter is a US BDU cut. Kellhound, I would mod those modern things to make them more "WWII". I would get some E.German wool trousers, cut the top pockets off the camo top,add soulder boards.

[kellhound]

The only modification I could do is remove the pants leg pockets. After all, it's only a 30€ Sturm BDU.
I did it on purpose, I only want it to look as a german uniform for airsoft and that's why I haven't bought a repro full uniform. And only bothered enough for the blouson (tarnhemd? schlupfhemd?) and look-alike combat kit. Also have a mountain infantry M43 cap with a metal (modern) edelweiss sewn, but no other insignia. Most of it comes from Sturm because availability (one of our suppliers) and price.
Reversible splinter/white overpants are too think for this country, even in winter.

I do the same with all my playing uniforms (3 US, 2 German, 1 Spanish), leaving out unit patches, badges, etc, and making some glaringly obvious (for those who know) mistakes. Some more people around here do the same to avoid trouble at some places/game fields.
Others prefer more uniform and less airsoft, and often end up at the local news leaving the rest as a bunch of crazy nazi warmongers.

Here is a delicate issue in some places, and airsoft, being a-legal, doesn't need more trouble. We have enough pseudo-nazi-wannabees at soccer matches, concerts and political rallies.

[Doom]

Mikkel, wearing a Splinter Zeltbahn can do wonders for those on a budget. When worn as a poncho with a belt and y-straps, it covers more than half your body, is WW2 authentic (issued to most troops) and exposes only a little bit of sleeve and pants. Zelts are only about 50 bucks on Ebay. I think the past "elitism" on these boards actually hurts WW2 Airsoft. I was intimidated when I first came here and was flamed for almost every post. I almost deleted this site from my favorites as I was tired of the aggressive/negative toned replies I received on questions. Things have settled down and everyone plays nice these days. I would rather see people trying to do WW2 impressions and failing than the modern 3 color desert (or digital) BDU's I see on my local fields all the time. Out in Arizona, we have big games with 50 modern impressions and MAYBE 5 World War 2 guys. That's lame. Kellhound, those Sturm Splinter pants and top certainly get the idea across that you're German soldier. I know that the guys I play with would think it was 100% authentic as they have mostly modern impressions. So I encourage those with little funds to be creative and do the best you can do as I would love to see more WW2 players. Accurate or not.

[chigster]

I’m new to the forums, so I hope I don’t get crucified for doing something like this. Here is another suggestion for a cheap alternative to repo german uniforms, a modified US Propper BDU!

(My gear is a mix of repo and east german)
I bought some Dark Gray Propper 2 pocket with shoulder epilates and dark gray BDU pants. I cut off the cargo pockets on the pants and sewed it to the lower half to the BDU top. I also moved the two pockets up two inches because they are kind of low. I stuck them into a bucket with some Rit Kelly green Dye to try and get it a field gray color.
The whole out fit (not gear) cost me about $50 for the BDUs, gaiters, and the repo M43 hat. I’m wearing my regular US combat boots

Its close to the WWII german uniform, but I don’t think that I will be going to any reenactments anytime soon. I do plan on getting a repo uniform soon, and since I already have the insignas and gear, im well on my way to looking good. If you want too look like a krout from 20 feet away for cheap, this is good option

[hoodude]

finaly a use for that grey BDU in my closet thats been there for about a year

[Doom]

As I stated before, I would rather see 100 guys like you running around with modified BDU's than the 3 color desert and Army Digital I see every weekend! Blah.

[YankeeDiv26]

I find those very acceptable for airsofting. In my opinion an impression should be as good as someone can reasonably make it but if money's an issue than the uniforms chigster and kellhound are some of the best subsitutes avalable. I especially don't mind if it's an axis impression because I'm allied and really won't be seeing you as much as my comrades during a scenario.

[CharleyNovember]

It's hard for the Allies to see much except the Allied respawn area they are there so often:D

[jaeger]

Great ideas for those getting started or with little funds to begin with. Oh yeah, and thanks alot for the p38 Doom, I really like it! Thanks guys!

Nick

[hribal]

I don't want to bring this topic back to life, but i would like to know where chigster got His BDUs, Field hat and gators for $50. I really like the look for it being that cheap.

[2ndranger]

Not to sound like a @$$, but if everyone else spends $100's on an impression I dont think since a person "cant make room in the funds" they have an excuse...but I also do support the enthusiasm of doing that to get into this hobby...remember reenactors you may not see...but they are everywhere...

Franz

[CharleyNovember]

Everyone has to start somewhere Franz....applaud the effort and encourage people to strive to do better.....flies with honey vs vinegar and all...

[hribal]

I am not going to major in reenacting this stuff, i just want to have a uniform i can wear on those special events. I am not trying to impress any one around me where i play with 1:1 German WW2 uniform. So there for i just want a quick and dirty solution for those couple of games where it's WW2 based. I mean forgive me for sounding like a cheapO but i didn't pay over $50 for my flectarn uniform. So there is no way i am going to pay $120 for a older uniform. Besides, the Grey BDU look is very convincing with out looking to close, but at a glance it looks pretty good.

[chigster]

I found the dark grey BDU top on clearence sale in a army store $8 for top, $15 for bottom
The hat was from ebay for $15
The Anklets were belgium post war from what price glory $7
onlinemilitaria.net/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=121&cat=FOOTWEAR

Check around the local surplus stores and ebay for good deals on BDUs, but if you cant find them, you might have to shell out $50 for brand new BDUs. Still thats not too bad as they are machine washable to save on the dry cleaning bills.

Of course with shipping cost, the dye, the in sigs, and the gear all added to the total cost, but it was still cheap.

If anyone wants to do this, when its time to dye the BDUs, use 2 boxes of rit kelly green dye with the dark grey BDUs and let them sit for at least one day (24 hours) before taking them out. The cotton/poly material makes them not hold the dye easily.

You could even try the regular grey BDUs with Rit dark green dye and it might get the color even closer to the german field grey like my hat.

[hribal]

thanks, this helps me a good bit. I will get back to you guys on how it goes.

[Lev]

Kameraden!

I'd like to offer an alternative suggestion. Rather than buying blatantly incorrect junk (sorry but that's how I see it), why not just pick up better equipment, get fewer pieces and ramp up slower? For example, if you only have $100 to throw in the pot for the moment, pick up a good and correct jacket rather than some goofy jacket, pants, hat, breadbag, etc.

I've found that it almost never pays to cut corners. Generally speaking guys who get into this kind of hobby who cut corners regret it in the long term.

Personally I would rather see somebody take to the field with a partial impression consisting of one or two correct items over a "complete" bad impression.

When looking for recruits any time they start a question with "what's the cheapest..." is a big yellow flag for me. If you're interested in looking good, do it right and take it slow.

-Tad (22 Infanterie Division Luftlande)

[CharleyNovember]

I started cheap moved on to a better more correct impression and never regretted it. I gave away the incorrect stuff or lent it out as I moved on.

Chigster is going to be able to resue parts of his uniform on better stuff once he gets it. IT may cost him a bit in the long run as you say. However I would much perfer him dress like this then say in a correct jacket no hat and a pair of jeans. From a distance it will look ok for now and he can replace tunic and pants latter on.

[hribal]

I plan on going with an OK look and then as time progresses and i lay money aside i will get better things. If i can get the pants ans tunic for about $50, then it's not a major loss.

[jaeger]

Seems like a decent plan for the time being.

[chigster]

I knew I would upset someone out there for this ;D

This is my example for the cheapest but still ok impression. Right now for me there is no need for a wool uniform in 100 degree (38 Celsius) weather. Geography speaking, this incorrect uniform works so much better for me in Alabama, where its hot, humid, has many thorny plants in the woods, and WWII airsoft is non existent. If I lived up where it did get cold and maybe snowed, and where there were games that wanted more correct uniforms, this uniform might not work, it all depends on where you play.

I think that this is a great stepping stone for people that are on the budget. The whole purpose of uniforms in airsoft is to tell which side you are on so we don’t need red and blue arm tapes, and I think this uniform says that I am not on the US side.

I was just trying to give people a cheap uniform that is still OK and can be easily gotten.

[Ripper]

I'm putting my new team in the Dot 44 HBT's for the same reason. It's 100 in the summer with 80% humidity.
Until I started showing up at our games in some kind of cool looking camo, NOBODY was interested in doing WWII airsoft.
I've worn Oak-A and B as well as feldgrau. Trying to convert guys from ultra modern (multicam,UCP, etc) and MOLLE gear and offering them nothing but itchy wool uniforms and leather suspenders was a non-starter.
Our primary interest is airsofting dressed as German soldiers. I want as much accuracy is practical on the surface, but we aren't re-enacting so I could care less what is in their bread bag or what kind of socks they have on. That anal retentive stuff can stay with the non-player types. Over time, the guys will either decide to get deeper into their impressions, or they won't. But we will be slinging a lot of BB"s in the meantime.

[2ndranger]

The only imp i look at is whats on your head your clothes and on your feet. The gear shouldnt make too much a fuss and you dont need every little thing they had in your bread bag. But remeber germans got hot too...so thats what the HBT uniforms are for and as Ripper said the camo.

Franz

[Lev]

I understand the position of comfort over authenticity, but when one claims to be interested in history and takes on a hobby with the prefix of "ww2," I would hope that said person would eventually like to "do it right." When your collar tabs cost more than your whole uniform, me thinks there might be a general lack of interest in authenticity. One thing that reenacting has taught me is that somebody is either interested in doing it right, or they aren't. "Budget," "safety" and "comfort" have been the battle cry for the authentically challenged for decades. I always find that people of this ilk will go and add a second or third bad impression instead of redoing their primary.

I'm not saying it's wrong. I just don't find it to be in the spirit of something based in history.

[Jager.Drü]

, not to be rude, but you sound like quite the snob. You are placing re-enacting above airsoft. I have seen some really Flaggrantly Wrong re-enactors and some ultra correct airsofters. So I would say that they are pretty even. Please get off your high horse, don't pick on others when you haven't posted a picture of yourself.

[YankeeDiv26]

I think everyones getting a little too hot headed here (must be all that stress from finals). When someone criticizes/critiques another's impression they don't need to necessarily have more/better guns, uniforms, and equiptment, they just need to have a more valid point. Unionman's points are very valid in my opinion and never directly hacked someones impression. WW2 airsofting is a obvious balance between the tactical realism of airsoft along with the realism of world war 2, so the realism of one aspect shouldnt override the other. I dont think that everyone needs to wear the right socks and perfect their impressions to the point of insanity (I'm on a slowly slipping slope towards that level though) but should put as much entheuasm as possible into their hobby. If it means earn money for all the things we love, then do it. I mow about 9-14 lawns any given week and spend a huge slice of the profits on ww2 airsofting. People like chigster and kellhound have done phenominal jobs getting the right look for their budgets but have a long, long ways to go until they reach that "stitch-nazi" level .Although some of the impressions here are fantastic and others well...not I'd still consider the typical re-enactor on a level above the typical airsofter. there's a fine line that is mostly based on personal opinion where a impression is really acceptable, I think anyone can voice their opinion as long as the respect others.