Quartermasters Stores - Your kit queries here.

To be honest though I probably won't bother wearing it for a game... Its not as though I'll actually need a gas mask in airsoft...

To be honest though I probably won't bother wearing it for a game... Its not as though I'll actually need a gas mask in airsoft...

You never know with someone like Major in charge! Thanks for the replies chaps - I think I'll just move it more to the centre of my back, which should give a little more room at the side.

I use my resi bag to hold a modern water bottle in, although yith finds his easily accessible i find the carrier and envelope types a pain in the arse so my water bottle is usually empty with modern one in the resi bag.

I use my resi bag to hold a modern water bottle in, although yith finds his easily accessible I find the carrier and envelope types a pain in the arse so my water bottle is usually empty with modern one in the resi bag.

That is exactly what I'm thinking of doing, Gadge.

Just reading Pegasus Bridge again - brilliant book. On seeing John Howard and Brian Priday's pictures, I realise I need a new helmet net. SoF do them, but not specifically para ones - I'm assuming they're OK for airbourne?

Also, still looking for leather chinstrap.

Sabre do helmet nets... probably cheaper than SoF

Hi, I am trying to get my German kit together for the March PBI at F&O. Whilst rummaging around the websites, I have seen a few items of Brti kit and also read a lot about the glider landings, especially at op Varsity.

I can get RAF 37 webbing easily. As many of the glider corp were a hotch potch of other units, especially the pilots who came from all over, would it be acceptable at PBI to wear basically the required kit but use the RAF webbing and come as a glider pilot in the future?

Faqiling that, is it possible to re-colour the webbing?

Finally, any tips for the cheapest place to get an acceptable set of BDU and denison?

That would be fine chap, although you'll probably be the last glider pilot we can realistically fit in!

As for recolouring, unless the raf stuff you're getting is free or next to you may as well by army pattern stuff as its ridiculously cheap from sabre.

If you already have some just try blancoing it green, it should look alright.

I can vouch that blue webbing can be blanco'd green well, especially if you give it all a little scrub when damp with a soft bristle brush (I use a cheap nail brush) to lighten the colour to a grey before applying the blanco.

Thanks for the response. How much is a full set from Sabre roughly as I won't have chance to phone until late next week. the RAF webbing is £15 a full set.

What do you mean by a full set mate?

You can usually pick up war dated army pattern 'basic set' (i.e belt, cross braces and basic pouches) for not much over £15.

Yeah, thats Why I was asking mate, but if he meant he also got a small pack, .38 Holster, E Tool cover, large pack etc.

You can always scrub the webbing with salt water befour you blanko. It just comes out darker.

Thanks for the replies. The set is a bit more than basic but the guy in the shop wasn't sure exactly what the other bits were called. The small and large pack are extra as are Bren pouches (£2ea) so I am going to visit tomorrow for a rummage. I couldn't find anyone with the same for anywhere near the price in army colour. They don't have any blanco so where is the best (cheapest) place to get some and can you use alternatives such as shoe polish to get the right colour?

Finally, I have got most stuff for a first British impression and will be buying the remaining German stuff next week. The German stuff is probably more accurate and I am struggling for British trousers but I figure what I have will do for a couple of times while I learn a bit more and actually attend an event. I am not planing to do British until I finish the Sten, planned some time in April.

I am trying to resist an MP40, however period, as all the Germans having one it doesn't look right in my view. Better most people (British and German) with an M14 that would be totally wrong but would look correct (unless you can get a sten). Am I wrong in thinking most of the glider troops had rifles with only ranks and specials getting Thompsons/ stens/ pistols etc?

I got a beret but I am not sure it is the period size (not arrived yet) but got cold feet adding a badge to the order. Is it just me or is anyone else a bit funny about wearing cap badges of regiments they weren't in? Would it be an option to make a PBI one or something? Strangely, I am not so worried about german insignia?

Thanks for the replies. The set is a bit more than basic but the guy in the shop wasn't sure exactly what the other bits were called. The small and large pack are extra as are Bren pouches (£2ea) so I am going to visit tomorrow for a rummage. I couldn't find anyone with the same for anywhere near the price in army colour. They don't have any blanco so where is the best (cheapest) place to get some and can you use alternatives such as shoe polish to get the right colour?

It's certainly useful to at least have the small pack - you'll also need two L-straps if you want to wear it on your back. Blanco - it's like gold dust! There is a square, waxy type, which is rubbish - you want the round, crumbly type, but it is very difficult to get hold of. I don't know of any really good alternative.

I got a beret but I am not sure it is the period size (not arrived yet) but got cold feet adding a badge to the order. Is it just me or is anyone else a bit funny about wearing cap badges of regiments they weren't in? Would it be an option to make a PBI one or something? Strangely, I am not so worried about german insignia?

Some people have reservations about insignia and ranks - personally I don't. To me, it's part of the impression.

Hiya

things one at a time.

Webbing, buy army pattern if you can it saves a hell of lot of messing about, we're working on obtaining blanco and i'll be doing some experiments with dylon in the new year. Unblancoed army webbing is much better than faffed about with raf pattern to be honest.

Shoe polish isnt going to work.

For PBI you want a South Staffords cap badge (although as i said earlier i'm happy for you to have a glider pilot regiment.)

Dont worry about not having been in this regiment *nobody* has been a South Stafford since 1959 (the north and south amalgamated then) and nobodiy has been a Stafford for a good few years since they were raped and turned into the 'Mercians'.

What i'm trying to say is that you are wearing a 'dead' capbadge, nobody will take offence as you are in fact keeping a tradition alive. People only get narky abut people trying to be something they *could* be but are not.

So if you can please get a South Staffords badge to join the PBI. Other acceptable badges are services or corps (in very limited numbers) but we'd really prefer south staffs... honestly as a former stafford (and member of 'friends of the regiment' and the museum association i know our regiment are *happy* about PBI and think its great were doing it.

Cheap Brit trousers, Keith on Ebay is currently doing very good looking denims in brown or green (green prefered as most of us with denims already have them in green), otherwise 49 pat trousers are acceptable.

An Mp40 is perfectly fine for South Staffords as they were knicked whenever possible in combat at Arnhem as RAF supply drops fell out of their held area and they took Sten ammo.

To my knowledge although woodlander will know the score (check his website 'totalsoldiers') the GPR was supposed to organise as regular platoons upon landing and so had the same mix of weaponry as a regular platoon.

Hope that all helps, sorry if it comes acorss as a little direct, wonders of multitasking and having ruckloads of stuff to do.

Re- Blanko, Sentimental Journey had a load of the stuff a few months ago, as did Warren at shoot and scoot.

Gadge, Can you do a HOW TO - Blanko mate, Their are four different ways of applying it that I know of, And would be nice if we all use the same method & Get the same finnish, It might save time repeating it over and again as well.

Thanks again for the answers. I know some of this sounds a bit dumb but it is quite difficult to easily (affordably) get the correct (well best as) kit, especially when you are as clueless as me!LOL!

Gadge, thanks for the words about the cap badge, I feel a bit better about it now. I have spent a few hours reading throught the BBC peoples war stuff that comes up when you search for information and kit and it is very upsetting to say the least.

I am not set on being a glider pilot, in fact I would prefer to be just an ordinary soldier. I came across a good site defining the glider load up and South Staffs equipment. Basically I want to get either an Enfield, Bren or possibly a sten (i.e not a Thompson). Problem is they are all way to much to buy so I'm afraid it will have to be a modified M14 first or a disguised M249 (that will look a lot like a Bren) or a sten if I manage to build it OK.

I'll see where I get to with digging out the Brit kit and keepn a looking out for Blanco (No3?).

I'll be turning up as a German initially anyway.

Where is the best place for a South Staffs cap badge then?

No worries mate, im worried about coming across as aggressive at the mo as i've a lot on my mind.

Cap badges come up on ebay quite often.

As for blanco Yith and i use more or less the same technique, Yiths is a tad more economical and looks exaclty the same as mine.

Prob best to get yith to write it.

Where is the best place for a South Staffs cap badge then?

Me, I have Loads of em, EVery one that wants one, can have one, PM me and you can have one.