Went to Sabre this afternoon. The guy is larger than life - I entered to hear him finishing off a tale to some young kid who was there trying to hire kit for a school play... "...and that's how he won his Victoria Cross. He ran out of grenades so threw tin cans of food at them...!" 
Even he didn't have any blanco, but Warren said he'd try and order some more from the wholesalers. Got meself some size 12 DMS boots and a green / brown scrim scarf.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
You can put on a new chinstrap but its aballache and really just knacks a shell that wil itself be rare soon enough.
They had one or two left wheni last went there,
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
So what are the options for british para helemts short of finding a rare original? Any reproductions out there?
Yith got me something for £25..... dunno what it was. 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Yith got you a late/post war RAC armoured troops helmet the shell is mor eor less identical to and airborne lid but the chin strap is different.
You could make a repro leather chinstrap (secured at three points rather than two ) and bolt it on but its not really neccesary for our games.
Your options are:
sabre rac helmet (about £20 + £5 for a net) they reckon they are out of stock but when we went down last week we found a couple under apile of mkiv helmets.
same helmet from SOF £65
Pegasus repro airborne helmet £100
Post war belgina army para helmet over £100 to £250
Real wwii para helmet £300+
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Ooh, I got a deal then! RAC helmet, chin strap, net, officer's tie - all for £16!
Edit: For which I have Y & G to thank - they dug the helmet out for me and sorted a fitting liner. Nothing like having chaps who know what they are talking about with you when you are shopping!
Would this be acceptable as a brit para helmet (would obviously look to net and scrim it) ........ ??
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Terms & Conditions of Sales :
Payment by Paypal only > Cleared funds must be available when deal is agreed - no e-Cheques.
Possible Swaps/Parts-Exs (with regular forum members only) -
* British BD Trousers & Blouse, to fit 48"-50" chest, 40"+ waist, tall fitting/long leg
* British Gaiters/Anklets, not blanco'd, largest size available
That looks pretty close... yup add a helmet net and some hessian and it'll look pretty good.
I have picked up an RAC helmet and was thinking about making my own replica para helmet lining. I have found some photos but was wondering:
1) How is the para helmet suspension attached to the helmet shell? It looks like there is a band of something white or grey around the inside of the helmet & under the foam (with the strap screws through it) then the suspension straps are attached on to that. I am starting to thing that the white/grey band might be metal(aluminium?) and maybe the suspension is riveted to it.
2) how are the foam and the leather parts of the lining secured in place? Glue?
Does anyone have an original that they can look at for me and maybe take some more detailed photos?
Cheers,
CHThree
re para helmets,
i do a para helmet,RAC helmet shell, fitted with a leather chin strap for £50, + net
sizes are getting to be a pain as i,m geting short on RAC helmets,
warren
ps, hope you dount mind me saying that 
team shoot and scoot, TL
Warren, no thats great info! I didn't know you did them.
Do you have any pictures?
re para helmets,
I do a para helmet,RAC helmet shell, fitted with a leather chin strap for £50, + netsizes are getting to be a pain as I,m geting short on RAC helmets,
warren
ps, hope you dount mind me saying that
Do you sell the chin straps seperately at all? i already have a RAC helmet, as i suspect have quite a few of us, but with the 'normal' strap at the moment.
well i,v dun them for years, and they are /should be on my S&S form sale forum pages,
ye i can allso do the straps on there own, but i use more supply leather than the SOF ones, so a fare bit more cumfy,
team shoot and scoot, TL
Gadge / Yith, can you guys give some guidance over BD blouses? I did enquire at Sabre, but Dickie told me they didn't have any wartime equivalents in my size. But he said the later ones had different collars, so I didn't know what to do - in the end I didn't buy anything, also because I sweat like a racehorse when running around anyway! A Denison is probably quite sufficient.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Its better to get a repro to be honest... try SOF or replicaters... talk to Pete about replicaters BDs before buying...
I can personally say SOF are good (I have jacket and trousers) but they do have some crap stuff they may try and push on you. Post piccies of what you get from them... if its bollocks then we'll tell you and they will swap it!
49 pattern is what the guy at sabre was talking about and yes it does have different collars as well as other differences. Barrie and Anne have sets as does Gadge... Really its only available in the smaller sizes... The collar as it stands would only really do for officer impressions, but Gadge is working on a guide that explains how it can be converted to be accurate for wartime.
I do have a size 13, 49 Pat BD jacket available.
Height: 5'11 to 6'00
Breast: 38" to 39"
Waist: 33" to 34"
£15 if you want it (plus postage)... Its in MINT unworn condition, unlike those trousers I sold you!
If you sweat (don't we all?) then the BD jacket will only be useful when you aren't wearing the denison anyway... so don't stress... yet!
Very kind offer, Yith - I'm more like 35" waist and 40" chest - is it going to be a bit tight on me?
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Thats exactly the same as me... so yes... it'll fit, but will look tight and feel tight.
My recommendation is to get a SOF repro when after a while...
I'd like a chinstrap too please warren!
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Hi All
I am planning on doing some shopping at the Malvern Military Convention on the 19th November and would like some help confirming my shopping list.
South Staffordshire Regiment Cap badge. What shape and colour is backing?
S.Staffords shoulder titles. The Yellow on marroon version is this correct for our unit?
Glider qualification badge. Do you bother or think it OK for us to wear these?
Pegasus Division patch. Is printed or embroided version best?
Airborne straight tabs. As above regarding Pegasus.
York and Lancaster Regiment Cap badge. I will it is a KC version. Is there anything else for it to be correct for Hallamshires?
Hallamshire shoulder titles. Are we going to wear the Red on Khaki Serge "unofficial" one.
49 Division badges. I will look for 2nd pattern aggressive bear. Am I looking for printed or embroided badges?
Hi All
I am planning on doing some shopping at the Malvern Military Convention on the 19th November and would like some help confirming my shopping list.
South Staffordshire Regiment Cap badge. What shape and colour is backing?
No backing. If you want, plain hessian can be glued to the back of the badge. Gadge will confirm.
S.Staffords shoulder titles. The Yellow on marroon version is this correct for our unit?
Gadge? Not to be put on denison anyway.
Glider qualification badge. Do you bother or think it OK for us to wear these?
Don't bother on your denison... means you can use it for other units without a change.
Pegasus Division patch. Is printed or embroided version best?
Airborne straight tabs. As above regarding Pegasus.
Gadge? Again only on BDs... so don't stress
York and Lancaster Regiment Cap badge. I will it is a KC version. Is there anything else for it to be correct for Hallamshires?
Sounds about right... should be bimetal.
Hallamshire shoulder titles. Are we going to wear the Red on Khaki Serge "unofficial" one.
Yes as that's the one worn in late war.
49 Division badges. I will look for 2nd pattern aggressive bear. Am I looking for printed or embroided badges?
Printed are best Embroided are acceptable.
