Combat engineer question

Sounds good. We always need more Heer . Google the words Heer and Pionier (or Pioneer) for more combat engineer info. The Waffenfarbe piping on your shoulder boards should be black for that impression, but the collar Litzen can be generic grey late war stylee.

EDIT: I'd also go for an M43 rather than a 44/45. Much more iconic for a German.
RE-EDIT: Actually, an M36 would be even better as it works for any WWII scenario (and also is the best design and cut of all the German tunics),

If you want to go the whole hog you will also need:

low boot gaiters or grey socks to tuck the trousers into.
eagle and cockade for the field cap unless it comes supplied.
eagle for the tunic ditto.

Extra equipment would be:
water bottle.
gas mask tin.
bayonet.

I may be wrong, but I think you can also dispense with the Y-straps in favour of belt hooks for a 1944+ look if money is tight. The cheap tunics aren't really up to carrying a full load on belt hooks, but if the gas mask tin, water bottle and bread bad are empty then it should work OK.

im going basic for the moment, but extra detail is being researched as we speak

hmm, where could i find belt hooks?? do you have a weblink or something that shows them? Moneys not really tight. i mean in not too keen on a nearly £60 tunic, but for moral reasons im avoiding SS camo.

The Y straps i found from Epic militaria cost £25.95

://www.epicmilitaria.com/product.php/657/heer-em-leather-y-straps

they look quite good, but as im newish to this, i need a bit of help.

im going to get eagles etc after i have the complete uniform, but i assure you, they WILL be bought

SoF sell belt hooks for an eyewatering sum but you can make them yourself with long nosed pliers and some baling wire (as I'm sure many Landser did).

How about a Heer splinter or tan and water camo smock? That way you can skip tunic, shoulder boards and some insignia. You'd need y straps with that though.

EDIT: There are two types of Y straps - Infantry straps, that have a pair of rings which can attach to an A-frame and cavalry straps, that don't. Contrary to what the stitch nazis may tell you, war shortages meant that some infantry were issued cavalry straps and vise-versa. Unless you desperately want to wear an A-frame just get a good price on any pair you find and leave it at that.

I may be wrong, but I think you can also dispense with the Y-straps in favour of belt hooks for a 1944+ look if money is tight. The cheap tunics aren't really up to carrying a full load on belt hooks, but if the gas mask tin, water bottle and bread bad are empty then it should work OK.

Early look would be belt-borne on belt hooks, later on Y-straps (later tunics don't even have belt-hook holes). Even cheap tunics can take the full weight of belt gear as when worn correctly the weight is borne by the internal belt hook suspenders carried on your shoulders, not the tunic itself. As a Major I often use cavalry straps since I have no need for an A-Frame, staff can carry the crap for me.

If I had any recommendation to make, it would be that an early war loadout can cover all periods in the war and still look right.

Regarding specific pioneer equipment, they had a special pouch set that was issued on a limited basis, plus dems bags and other crap. Full size pioneer tools are available as well if you really want to run around with a 4 foot long shovel strapped to you.

Oh and don't forget the wire cutters

If I had any recommendation to make, it would be that an early war loadout can cover all periods in the war and still look right.

The man speaks sense, get for an M36 or M40 uniform and you've got pretty much all bases covered. Tunics are also much more universal and widespread than smock, especially for Heer so are the better choice by far. If you go for generic litzen (collar insignia) you can switch unit types just by changing shoulderboards as you require.

If you're going the Pioneer route Y-straps are a must have for all the kit you would be likely to have to carry. As CW says belt hooks are an early war thing and you need the internal suspenders to be able to put some weight on them which are awkward to get hold of. I wouldn't put more than parade order (ammo pouches & bayonet)on unsupported belt hooks.

As for pioneer equipment like Kermit has already said there are numerous different bits of kit you could use; pioneer pouches, demo bags, poineer backpack, grenade bags and all kinds of tools. However these were usually spread throughout a squad so you wouldn't see more than one or two per man. The most useful in airsoft terms would either be the grenade pouches (if you use lots of grenades) or the pioneer pouches which can be used in place of ammo pouches. The pouches are quite bulky but the size means you can store lots of kit in them. You'll probably only need one for all your kit which is accurate as a your average pioneer would probably only have one of these anyway. They're usually sold in paris but you may be able to get hold on a single one or just buy a pair and sell one on.
A helmet would also be a good choice if you're going the assault pioneer look- lots of nasty shrapnel fly about.

hmm, well looks like i should go for Y straps then. im sticking with a cap for now, as requiring money at the moment, (and the helmets i found are about £60)

im going to go for a grenade bag, as it seems that it would be beneficial for general things (ammo, grenades) etc

i saw the M40 tunics for sale, but more expensive, than the M44s, depends oh how much money i have on me.

Full size pioneer tools are available as well if you really want to run around with a 4 foot long shovel strapped to you.

Go on, do it

You could do the Steiner Full Kit Challenge in all that lot.

mmmmmm im not sure abiut that one, surely an E-Tool would suffice??

Even cheap tunics can take the full weight of belt gear as when worn correctly the weight is borne by the internal belt hook suspenders carried on your shoulders

The cheap Spearhead M42 that I have is not up to having ANY load on the belt alone. There are internal loops theat the hooks attach to, but they are just sewn to the tunic fabric and there is no internal load-bearing webbing inside the jacket. A full load will certainly tear that tunic by ther end of a game day.

Aye, silly aren't they! Its similar to the vestigial ones in the HBTs - I'm not sure how authentic they are (maybe it proves the transition between belt borne and Y-strap borne kit) but you are OK if you use proper suspenders (don't have to buy 'em, easy to make). Anyhoo, I use M36 jacket and tend to use both belt hooks and Y-straps
Practically speaking, Y-straps are a better option all round.

im going to go for a grenade bag

Dont get the SoF, one it's rubbish. Bright blue straps, yuk.

Straps and hooks are the way to go for anything after 1940. The two together make for comfortable load carrying.

i saw the M40 tunics for sale, but more expensive, than the M44s, depends oh how much money i have on me.

Judging by what I've seen the difference in price is negligible; £5 or so. The greater usability (and style) of the M36/40 tunics is definitely worth the extra. Idon't know about the practicality of carrying ammo in grenade bags either, they're quite deep so it might be awkward to get to.

Dont get the SoF, one it's rubbish.

isn't that the case with 3/4 of SoFs stuff?

Some is ok, some is absolute pants.
Much better to buy from them at a show where you can see and handle their kit. Some of their stuff comes from WPG and is passable repro. Some they start selling the WPG version then get their own version done on the cheap.
Wool shirts that are not wool? That's pants.

looks like i better steer away from SoF then

mmm, good point Lardass monkey, the M40 tunic is indeed only about £5 more than the M44 from Epic Militaria, so im probably going to go for that.

As far as a grenade bag goes, theres a bread bag (not the RIGHT thing, i know ) that looks quite nice, was thinking about going for that

http://www.epicmilitaria.com/product.ph ... ark-green-

Help is appreciated

Rob

Here's my two penn'th: first priority Feldgrau tunic and trousers. This will enable you to do a whole load of different impressions with very little change required. Build up the kit over time - don't give your credit card a heart attack!

well i HIGHLY doubt that i will give my credit card a heart attack just yet what with being 15 and all

i already have enough money for either a tunic or trousers. and i know where i can get some Y straps for £10 p&p (thanks BedsnHearts )