Paras - Uniform, Kit and other Particulars

Or you could get the original sten mag pouches! Just picked up a nice 41/42 dated set myself..has 2 internal dividers in each one to hold 3 sten mags in each. Then use a bandolier will post some photos up later!

Regards

Euan

Or you could get the original sten mag pouches! Just picked up a nice 41/42 dated set myself..has 2 internal dividers in each one to hold 3 sten mags in each. Then use a bandolier will post some photos up later!

Regards

Euan

I bought a pack of King arms sten magazines but I can only seem to fit 4 in a universal pouch. Looks like it needs stretching.

How do you find the bandolier? Does it get in the way at all? I do actually have one but I always assumed it would be awkward to wear.

Or you could get the original sten mag pouches! Just picked up a nice 41/42 dated set myself..has 2 internal dividers in each one to hold 3 sten mags in each. Then use a bandolier will post some photos up later!

Regards

Euan

I bought a pack of King arms sten magazines but I can only seem to fit 4 in a universal pouch. Looks like it needs stretching.

How do you find the bandolier? Does it get in the way at all? I do actually have one but I always assumed it would be awkward to wear.

Don't forget ammo limits for WW2 games; I think it's 300 rounds at a lot of sites so having seven or eight mags on you may not be necessary. Four spares and one in the gun doesn't sound bad to me.

Not that I ever get through 10 rounds before I'm shot.

Just scrimmed up my helmet. What do you guys think? Overdone or is it OK?-- attachment is not available --

Umm, isn't that my helmet from a few pages back?

Umm, isn't that my helmet from a few pages back?

You're totally right! I uploaded the wrong picture as it turns out we have similar flooring. Sorry about that mate.

Here's my helmet-- attachment is not available --

No worries mate, just did a double take because it was so similar, then noticed the edge of my carpet .

Most of the period pics I've now looked at have less scrim than you and me (and you seem to have less than me), but I doubt it was possible for individuals to have more. And like the others have said, it comes off when you play wearing the helmet. More camouflage is always better in my view.

I found a lot of pictures with varying amounts of scrim so I just went with what I thought looked OK. Will wet the material now so I can get it fraying nicely. Did you find spraying it with water worked well for you?

Was not too pleased with the results, I think the swirling is better (I did it afterwards). They need to be really wet to get the effect. I suppose you could spray it to be more wet.

I've done the deed (with a bucket) and I think it looks better already. Now to let it dry and stop the kids from pulling at it. Will post results when ready.

Next thing on the list is to sew para wings on the smock.

Here is something I found of interest,

Nice little find. How much did it set you back?

A little too much, equivalent of GBP100. Not something you would find often in south Africa, plus if I brought one in I would alone pay about GBP50 or more in shipping and taxes.

Does anyone know if the hessian strips were attached to the Para lid with string or passed through the holes in the netting? I've always assumed the latter, but it never quite matches the 'look' of the period photos I've seen, and frequently just falls apart when it's passed through.

The hessian in the pictures appears to sit on top of the netting in clumps, and I thought that tying it on would achieve the same effect. Any ideas?

The camouflage is there to break up the outline of your head/helmet, not for decoration. So, randomness is good, clumping is good, looking different to the next man is good and fixing in anyway practical to stop it coming off in use is good too. If you are jumping out of a plane then firmly tying on is an excellent idea, as is adding natural foliage once you have landed, should conditions dictate.

A little too much, equivalent of GBP100.

What??? That's a fantastic price for a replica Mk1 para helmet!!!

Does anyone know if the hessian strips were attached to the Para lid with string or passed through the holes in the netting? I've always assumed the latter, but it never quite matches the 'look' of the period photos I've seen, and frequently just falls apart when it's passed through.

The hessian in the pictures appears to sit on top of the netting in clumps, and I thought that tying it on would achieve the same effect. Any ideas?

As Chommers says, random is good.

A good, secure method is to pass the scrim strips through the net holes and then tie a knot in the scrim itself. It can then stick up and fray to its hearts content without falling out. I wouldn't muck around with bits of string. If you are just going to pass it through the holes, you need a fairly long strip and to put it in and out of several holes (this is commonly seen on Mark II helmets).

Ideally you'd decorate the helmet with local foliage as well to turn it into the sort of head shrubbery so beloved of the BAOR (and being careful to have lots hanging over the edge of he helmet to obscure the shadow under the rim).

BAOR Mark Vs were usually done permanently as head shrubbery using lots and lots and lots of scrim over netting over hessian.

Cheers
Martin

Cheers for the responses regarding the helmet scrim, lads. I assure you, making it look as messy as possible is the idea, I was just having trouble passing it through the narrow gauge netting without it falling to bits!

I roll it into a sort of tube to push it through, but yes, it does have a tendency to fall to bits as you do it.

Cheers
Martin

Maybe a dumb question, but better safe than sorry: MK1 leather chinstrap, good to go on the MK2-helmet?