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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 12, 2022 15:55:19 GMT -5
I have hosted dozens and dozens of WW2 events and supply costumes to players who dont arrive with a satisfactory look to enhance the emmersion. Trousers, shirts, jackets and assorted headgear and web gear can usually be facilitated as fit doesnt have to be precise. Footgear is another issue I can't inventory sufficient boot sizes to accomodate all comers. I generally ask loaner gear players to arrive with generic round toed shoes or boots which they can buy cheaply at a flea market for under $10.00. I then camouflage their infidelities with GI leggings or British spats/ German gaitors. Leggings can be a pain the put on so I have modified a dozen sets with velcro. The time and hassle savings is enormous. There is nothing worse than delaying game phases with time wasted getting people suited up. A year ago I managed to find and buy 3 pair of the leather double buckles tops from WW2 GI boots. My plan was to attach them to approoriate looking lower boots in assorted sizes and indeed I did so with one pair of boots. These came out looking quite good actually. It occured to me this morning that these leather ankle covers could be issued as is. They, like the Gamashes could just be buckked into place with trousers bloused over the top of them with rubber bands. If it works out I may look into fabricating something similar to enhance my costume hand outs. In looking at old event pictures the overall look is pretty good with footgear being the biggest disappointment. In a perfect world I could access a dozen of the double buckle tops. In the real world I think I can make them with carefully cut leather and attached buckles. They'd be quick and easy to put on and together with my velcro leggings would enhance and improve my footgear problem.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 20, 2022 2:23:49 GMT -5
I put on just the double leather spats on top of a pair of leather low quarter boots and bloused my trousers over the top with turned under rubber bands. (Poor mans blousing straps. The buckles were drawn tight. I wore than through the day both indoors while working on projects in the garage and while doing yard work. The stayed in place better than I thought they would and werent particulary annoying. As the day wore on I kinda forgot they were there. For GIs its an item that will definitely enhance the overall look of my GIs and less work than the legging to put on and take off. One size fits all.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 20, 2022 17:07:25 GMT -5
I found some very convincing Faux leather at a fabrick store along with some properly sized and shaped buckles. Using my actual double buckle "Spats". I will cut out a pattern doubling the material smooth side out to create the proper thickness. My daughter has a commercial sewing machine (She's a designer). Tuesdays Shop if you want to google her. Yes my wife is pretty hence my gorgeous daughter. Thus she can sew the two haves to create proper stiffness. At the fabrick shop they have eyelets and rivets to attach the buckles. The shade and look of the " leatherett" is spot on so I think they will look at work quite well. Matterials should run me about $10.00 for each pair. I plan to make 10 although initially I will just make one to insure I can in fact do it. Conceivably they could be attached permanently to appropriate looking civilian boots to make cheap double buckle boots. The upside here would be lighter weight probably more comfortable boots that you wouldnt worry about fielding.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 28, 2022 21:17:57 GMT -5
Using the originals as patterns I cut out several. The faux leather isnt particularly stiff even though I purposely selected heavy furniture material. Doubled up they seem to be adequately rigid. My daughter had some actual saddle thick leather which she donated to the cause. I made two pair out of that and they look great. With the actual leather I need only to punch holes in the straps. For ease of production and issue I think I am going to use velcro. I did one set that way and will wear them about and guage my satisfaction before mounting actual functional buckles and rivets / eyelets. If it works I will have a dozen on hand and ready for use. Second hand hush puppies and brown doc martins even modern desert GI boots can be transforned to a more acceptable look.
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