[Sticky] Where Can I buy British Kit from ?

I have to admit that the forum does give out the wrong message, some of my guys wanted to play Husky but think they need real kit, no matter what I say to them they think it has to be genuine, there is so much kit about even I am afraid to buy the wrong stuff, I think when I see all you guys and listen to you it will be a lot easier, seeing kit for real is a lot better than finding it elsewhere and its wrong when it drops through the letterbox, then finds it way to the back of the shed.
Can't wait for Husky to see what you guys do and look like

I suppose the truth is that most people on the forum are non-players and have different agendas and criteria.
Those that do want to play WW2 airsoft want to get decent kit. In my experience almost all airsofters are geardos whatever look they are portraying and happily spend fortunes on loadouts, that's just the nature of blokes, kit and toys!

CiA games have always had a policy of looks-like and personal choice in kit 'authenticity'. Heh the information is available from the menu on every forum page you look at!

Kit guides show you what you can achieve, where to get it and how much it costs.

It's an inclusive community and kit tolerant too. Chap was wearing a black boiler suit at Haggard - good for him, hope he enjoyed it so much he plays again. In time he will accumulate stuff.
Hell, it took me two years to get my US kit to a level I was happy with, a year for German kit and nearly done with Brit kit after another year. And I am one of the organisers. Above all a player - games first, kit second.

Just an addition note. The Comrades in Arms forum remit is much wider than CiA game policy (it's a community forum) - therefore the content might skew perception. For the true-blue CiA approach please take a look at the web site by hitting the 'Home' button on the top menu. Luckily not everyone are forum whores - the web site is usually the point of entry for web searches!

I was also going to comment on the guy at Haggard. He was an important part of our unit and I was really glad he was with us. For me it's better to have 3 active players in looks-like kit than 1 who is historically accurate. However I can understand both sides of this debate. I've spent money on kit that's "wrong" - not because it was all I could afford, but because I didn't know any better at the time and didn't take the trouble to research. Mistakes like that are annoying and expensive as that stuff now sits unused in a box in the attic. I think that it's up to everyone to make a conscious effort not to knock "looks like" kit or equipment on the public forum as I'm sure it could put off many new players and is contrary to the CiA ethos. Maybe a dedicated Research area within the forum would help separate the topics of historical accuracy (which is clearly of interest to lots of members) from the gaming side? This is also the only bunch of airsofters I know who are actually prepared to loan their personal and valuable kit out to strangers. It's really an admirable trait, but I think a first timer might assume that kit loan didn't apply to newbies (I know I did when I started). Maybe time to reinforce some core values...

Just my 2 pfennigs.

How about some picture Kit Guides for looky-likey kit just to show how good a budget impression can be?

There has been thoughts on doing just that, but they didn't get anywhere and the guides are all there to help people get it 100% spot on, or as accurate as can be.

The best look-a-likes are the ones made from kit you already have... for instance I am working on a jap look-a-like at the moment.

The basis of this is a green BDU set I have anyway... I bought it from flecktarn for next to nothing, but they don't sell them anymore.. hence there is little point recommending people to get one the same as I already have.

Its much better to show what stuff should really look like and then people use their own intelligence to find something close for not much money!

I believe its always better to buy the right stuff if you can... and only use look-a-like if you already have it.

eg... don't go and buy an expensive PASGT helmet for a look-a-like german look when you can buy a repro german helmet for about the same.

The trick is to just buy the minimum kit required to make the impression seem authentic and the rely on stuff you already have.

For instance the only two items I'll be buying for the jap kit to start out are a cap and some puttees... The rest is stuff I already have!

I've considered looks-like guides but I won't be spending any time on that. IMO if players compare photos of looks-like with aspirational then it might make matters worse. It's there to be seen on game photos of course and there is nothing to stop chaps putting up photos in the forum sections, just don't expect me to do all the work!

The main kit guides are there because folk constantly ask what kit to buy and where, so it saves posting repeated replies. Plus as I say, it gives something to aim at, if you want something to aspire to at all.

Edit: echo Yith's words above.

the guides are all there to help people get it 100% spot on, or as accurate as can be.

But that's just my point. It can often seem as if 100% spot on is a requirement. Taffyjohn has guys that WANT to play at Husky but don't think they can put together an impression that will cut it. That's a bad state of affairs.

Read my second post for an answer to that.

Photographic kit guides for the minimum requirements don't make sense.

just don't expect me to do all the work!

.

I don't blame you mate

But if other people supply the assets i.e text and piccys do you think it could have it's own section rather than be buried in the kit pic thread (if it passes the organisers' quality criteria, natch...)

Kit guides like this really do make sense as it's purpose is to show just how good a look you can look on a budget.

Please dont get me wrong-the last thing i want to do is put people off

Im guilty myself of being more of a collector and not actively involved in the hobby-wish i was.

I agree 100% that the main aim is about having fun NO MATTER what you want to wear BUT the way i see it is if you are going to try to build up a WW2 type loadout then it realy is worth scrimping and saving to get the better kit otherwise i can guarantee when you get the addiction you will decide that your £50 Belgian Denison(or any other bit of kit)realy isnt that good after all and you would im sure struggle to get your money back on it if you decide to sell it to buy a "better"smock

At the end of the day no one will give you a hard time over your Belgique Denison-or any other bit of "incorrect" kit you decide to wear-it will be you yourself that will one day decide that it isnt right for you after all so spend once wisely

Thanks

I tend to suggest cheaper options whenever possible in my articles.

I think the point a lot of folk try to make is that now its really not that expensive to buy right first time when you compare the prices to 'modern' airsoft kit.

Full set of jungle greens posted to your door from replicators... £55

Try getting a shirt, jacket and trousers in multicam, ACU or Russian kit for that.

You might get a used set of DPM or flectarn for £15 but most folk spend £30 - £50 on their jacket and torusers combo for airsofting.

As we've all said we say 'counts as' you can use a vietnam era set of jungle greens to count as a GI but you'd be foolish to buy them for counts as as you can get an WWII airborne jumpsuit for £50!

Just for the record, Keith7524fnl in Hong Kong has started selling brit denims:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ww2militaria-k ... 6QQfrsrcZ1

i've not bought any yet, but just a heads-up to people who are looking to start a brit outfit.

Does anyone know what happened to this guy?

Cheers

CHThree

best guess is like alot of the chinese retailers hes shut up shop during the olympics either due to supply problems or shipping problems

Damn those olympics, spreading their message of peace and unity throughout the world!

I was hoping to get some of his reasonably priced demin BD trousers for Husky. Can't rely on Sanjay getting them in time. I ddin't want to spend a great deal to be honest, but I suppose WPG or SOF then, unless anyone knows another source?

Cheers,

Ranj

Are these any good for you? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/British-army-deni ... .m63.l1177 currently $15 + $27 postage

Thanks for the link, Pete, but just a litle bit small - need a 44" chest and a 36" waist (which is a teeny bit tight but I have ambitions of sveltness as I'm struggling slightly to do up my wool para trousers and I'm not buying another pair!

Might be worth asking him the actual sizes as these were designed to be worn over the serge BD's so they could be larger then the label suggests.

They will be... the ones I have are marked way smaller than me and fit fine.